Meet Auric "Rory" Graham

My newest edition. "Auric" in old english translates to "golden". Get it? Golden Graham? lol

Theme Song of my Life

Dug this out of a dusty Hard Drive I've had forever. I used to play guitar in the bathroom ALOT. What do you want from me, I was married. ;)

Who's Bright Idea Was This?

They're unwanted in Cuba, Hugo Chavez is trying to kick them out of Venezuela, Australia and Canada are on timetables to get rid of them, the European Union says they soon simply won't be available and now the U.S. is considering new rules that effectively would ban the incandescent light bulb.

An energy bill passed by Congress yesterday bans the incandescent light bulb by 2014. Australia was the first country to announce an outright ban this year. It is part of the effort to counter the dire forecasts of global warming, but that’s not the only benefit.

What most people don’t realize is that only 10 percent of the power used by incandescent bulbs is turned into light, with 90 percent being released as heat. A typical 60 watt bulb lasts up to 1,000 hours, while many fluorescent bulbs can last up to 10 times longer. In addition, ordinary incandescent light bulbs generate only about 12-15 lumens per watt as opposed to the newly proposed CFL bulbs that generate near 60 lumens per watt.

So forget about the immense energy savings; the measureable lower cost on the environment or the simple fact that you get so much more for your money personally; it seems the only thing that people are worked up about (mostly Republicans it seems) is someone telling you what to do? What grade are we in again?

According to the Department of Energy, one energy efficient bulb can prevent the release of over 450 pounds of greenhouse gases! It is estimated that the actual energy demand reductions would save consumers (you and I) and business owners about $18 billion annually, and the annual energy demand for lighting would drop by the equivalent of the generation from 30 nuclear power plants or 60 coal burning power plants. Holy shit! And all I can see on the news is people (mostly Republicans) bitching about the government telling them what they can and cannot buy??!?!! Really? Is that all you got?

Well, I suppose in a way they are right. Hear that everyone? You SHOULD have the right to buy any freaking energy, draining, earth polluting, higher cost in the long run product that you feel like purchasing. You also have th right to shoot yourself in the face for being so stupid too, and though that is also frowned upon, you would not get any complaints from me.

They also complain about the brightness (which will improve in time) not being as bright as an incandescent bulb. Remember this people; when bulbs were first invented they were not so bright either. In fact, the first production incandescent bulbs couldn’t hold a candle to a ….uh…candle.

Get over yourselves. The next thing you know is everyone will be jumping all over Michelle Obama’s shit for suggesting that our schools encourage more exercise and adopt healthy eating programs for our overweight, lazy, Xbox generation children. Oh wait, they already did.

Who buys into this crap anyway?

Apparently Allstate pays attention to your Zodiac sign, but does it affect your insurance rating?

It makes you wonder especially after Allstate issued a press release Wednesday listing accident rates of drivers based on their "new" zodiac signs, according to CNN. Is anyone else shocked to think that the signs were actually being used to determine insurance rates.

Allstate's original astrological sign accident breakdown, from CNN Money:

•Virgo - 211,650
•Leo - 179,657
•Taurus - 177,503
•Pisces - 172,030
•Sagittarius - 154,477
•Gemini - 136,904
•Capricorn - 128,005
•Aries - 112,402
•Libra - 110,592
•Aquarius - 106,878
•Cancer - 101,539
•Ophiuchus - 83,234
•Scorpio - 26,833

After some backlash, Allstate quickly retracted the press release, and issued an apology for the confusion.

From the Allstate retraction press release:

"We recently issued a press release on Zodiac signs and accident rates, which led to some confusion around whether astrological signs are part of the underwriting process.

Astrological signs have absolutely no role in how we base coverage and set rates. Rating by astrology would not be actuarially sound. We realize that our hard working customers view their insurance expense very seriously. So do we.

We deeply apologize for any confusion this may have caused."

Well, at least we all now know for certain that Scorpios rule! Ha! Like I believe it that crap.

Silence

The best silence is that which is filled by the sound of our own thoughts.

When I think of the word ‘peace’, a sundry of words flash through my mind: quietness, health, freedom, United Nations, treaties…...I find myself confused in trying to define what peace means to me.

I don't believe that wisdom can always be communicated. The wisdom that a learned man tries to communicate to others often sounds like madness. Maybe this is what prevents us from finding peace: too many words.

But these pictures do so winsomely…..

Oh, this is recent snow fall in my hometown of Johnstown, NY.

Now I KNOW money talks, I just heard it say goodbye.

You would have to be an idiot to take the bait. Things like the Big Red Button with the dire warning signs; the dark alley in Vampire Town; the conspicuously untouched treasure chest or the unexpected email cheerfully boasting “You’ve Won”! And to say the very least, the promise of quality 3D at home.

That being said, I am now the owner of a brand new, top of the line Samsung 55inch LED 3D 240Hz Edge Lit 1080p Smart HD Internet TV. Whew…...

Now the question is: “How dorky do I look in those 3D glasses?”

More Aqua Puppies

Aqua Puppies too....

Aqua Puppies

Here we go....

I know shortly the dreaded election ads will start to appear again. This time, can we get a break from the endless annoyance of untrue and misleading political attacks? They get worse every election cycle.

But there's one type of ad in particular that drives me crazy. The one where the candidate him or herself appears in person to give you the sales pitch and closes by saying something like "I'm Joe Scumbaugh and I approved this message."

Is that really necessary to say? You're the one speaking the freaking words! Is there any chance that you don't approve of the message?

I'm just sayin....