11 Responses to “Open Thread Friday”

1. n.n Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   Lesbian Teen Sues School Over Prom Drama

   There is no way to know how, when, or where integration would have occurred between blacks and whites; but, previous government intervention has set the precedent for just such a case.

2. IT Nerd Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 3:24 pm

   Those kids need a good ass whupin….

3. Nicolas Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 3:50 pm

   great photo with Mac, Bob!

   if I may toot my own horn here, I finally got 20 good, solid, verified signatures to be on the ballot in order to be elected to the Solano County, CA Republican Central Committee this morning, after going through a REAL PERSONAL hell in the past 48 hours to GET there. I’m told I’ll more than likely be elected by the committee. hope so
   Sad part is I’m struggling to feel happy..maybe just it’s because I endured more hell just to get my signatures this morning..but I got 20 valid sigs, no A.C.O.R.N. bullshit here

   maybe you folks can help me out a little by helping me feel better?

4. Nicolas Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 3:52 pm

   also, my having autism, hope to god I don’t run into punks like these. Going to have this learning disability for the rest of my life here…

5. n.n Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

   Congratulations and good luck, Nicolas.

6. Sayers Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 4:32 pm

   Are they old enough for the death penalty?

7. IT Nerd Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 4:47 pm

   Nicholas –

   Yes, congrats!! Best of luck to you.

8. The Machine Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 9:05 pm

   Strong Performance, Nicholas!

   As for the news clip, well, it is “the UK” — formerly Great Britain, but they’ve given up their God-given right to defend themselves over there, voluntarily turned ‘em in, they did. America, take a good hard look.

9. Nicolas Says:
   March 12th, 2010 at 10:18 pm

   thanks folks. appreciate it

   Mac – I’m curious as to why your user name is “machine”? where does that come from?

10. The Machine Says:
    March 13th, 2010 at 10:41 am

    “Mac – I’m curious as to why your user name is “machine”? where does that come from?”

    A long time ago, college football.

    They tried to make an offensive and defensive lineman outta the big guy, stereotypically casting me as the big — and therefore dumb — black guy.

    I brought ENGINEERING to the defensive line.

    Lots of 8 and then 16mm movie footage, stills, analysis, at one point even a spreadsheet, long before the advent of personal computing.

    Of course, such was met with lots of derision. At first.

    But to make a long story short, the defensive coach started to take an interest in my doings and pretty soon there began to be a payoff in result.

    At one session in the dark classroom, I made the comment that the routines that I had designated as “secondary” — or more literally, “plan B” executions of the offensive line, what to do if the original plan broke down for any reason — had to be learned so well that we could pull them off “like a well-oiled machine”.

    We were a private technical univ. that was not exactly noted for having the “brute force” winning football team, to say the least.

    But after a few hard-earned successes with the stuff, the guffaws and tesings about the “well oiled machine” — plus the last name, which already had me designated as a “Mac” (if you were Polish in the NE, you likely were called, “Skee” if yer name ended in SKI) — the guys on the bus after our one and only full victory started callin’ me The Machine.

    It is all because I decided it better to “use my head” for more than just a damn battering ram. Survival, actually, I played Center or Guard. Those other Western PA schools had some *huge* coal-minin’ and steel-makin’ boys on the line, dontcha know.

    Engineering.

    “By Design”

11. OldnyFirefighter Says:
    March 14th, 2010 at 12:35 am

    Great going Nicolas! All it takes is perseverance & some luck.
    I was just the opposite Machine. I am a little guy & got picked on quite a bit until I went back at a few bigger guys, even though I was worse off than they were. They did respect the fact that I didn’t back down. I became everybody’s friend when they found out I built my first transistor radio before they were commercially available. I have been in electronics of some type for almost 60 years. Still build gamers high end Computers & repair them in my spare time. I teach Seniors routine maintenance on computers so they can save some money on upgrades. I am now too old to be an Interior Firefighter, so now I am a Fire Police Officer protecting our equipment & keeping our Firefighters safe. Have to stay active at my age, otherwise the mind & body degenerate rapidly. Stay active don’t let Dementia get ya.