Dann Todd's 'Dain Bramage'^**

Yet Another Political Quiz

I found a political quiz over on Facebook. As it turns out, you don't have to be a Facebook user to take the quiz. My results are below.

My Political Quiz Results
I am a right social libertarian
Right: 4.37, Libertarian: 4.77

Political Spectrum Quiz

It was not a bad quiz. But it was not a great one either. Whoever wrote it had several questions that appeared to imply that one's personal morals automatically inform what we expect government to enforce. While many people may be of that persuasion, I am not. So there were a couple of questions that I didn't know how to answer.

For example, one question asked if it might be morally correct for a teenager to opt to have an abortion. Were I invited into that particular family's discussion, I would mostly likely say "no". But if the objective of the question was to determine what actions I thought should be legal, then I'd probably say yes.

At any rate, my results are above. If you feel so inclined, please take the quiz for yourself.

by Dann 

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Flying Belt?

Popular Science has included in their Invention Awards a design for what is labeled "The Flying Belt". More accurately, this is a unique lifting device that will permit a climber to scale a building, cliff, or other obstacle at a jaw-dropping 10 feet per second. That is a little over one mile per hour. While most of us can walk at one mile per hour, and even kayaking a lazy river can be done at two miles per hour, climbing a vertical face at such a speed is truly breathtaking.

Be sure to check out the video that includes an Army officer talking about how useful such a device could be if deployed with our military. He uses the example of creating and/or removing obstacles using this device as an attractive alternative to using military personnel to manhandle heavy objects [trees, rocks, etc.] into or out of position. The officer correctly observes that our military will discover all sorts of ingenious things that can be accomplished with such a device if can just get it into their hands.

by Dann 

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The Way The Solar Wind Blows

I continue to find the Classical Values site to be invaluable for presenting contrarian ideas. Most recently, Simon posted an interesting summary of an analysis by Nir Shaviv regarding the theoretic link between CO₂ and global temperatures. Nir's analysis demonstrates two essential ideas. The first is that there is a much stronger link between solar activity and global temperatures. The second is that the supposed climate sensitivity to CO₂ as expressed by the IPCC and its attendant environmental "experts" is simply impossible based on the available facts.

Not to be missed is the link to this summary of ice core data that refutes the entire theory that CO₂ emissions possess a significant causal link with global temperatures. Lots of other interesting tidbits if you follow the links.

by Dann 

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Why A Free Market Simply Works Better To Solve Expensive Problems

From the local paper:

A local precision parts manufacturer knows that when your machines aren't running, customers don't get their products on time, and you're not making money.

So when three computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines broke down at the same time several months ago at Clarklake Machine, workers there had had enough.

...

So Matt DeKarske, the company's tooling and process engineer, came up with a tool changer carousel disk with a modular design. Each of the 20 forks that hold the tools are independently assembled with roll pins. Instead of snapping in half, only the portion being weighed down will bend. If this happens, the operator can remove the fork that has been damaged and insert a replacement.

A standard disk runs more than $600, Stephen DeKarske said, but they sell their modular disk for $525 on eBay. They also sell replacement forks.

Leave it to the free market to develop a better solution that costs less.

by Dann 

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A Zine For Guys

I ran across a new site today. It is called "Manzine". At first blush it appears to be a decent site for guys. At least, one of their contributors is an Army veteran of Desert Storm. Methinks that they have my attention for a while.

The worst article I saw was one purporting to explain why Americans "hate" soccer. The author's conclusion? Because soccer played in the US is analogous to minor league baseball when compared with the level of play in Europe. I think he owes an apology to minor league baseball players.

One of the better articles was a discussion as to what constitutes "sport". The author's criterion were simple, straightforward, and quite defensible. To be a sport, the activity must include an objective, measurable outcome, athleticism, and competition between the participants. Give it a read. I think he misses the mark with respect to golf, but that sort of disagreement is what makes the world go around.

Added to my blog roll....because I can. Mwaaahahahahahaha!

by Dann 

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Homecoming

I set up a Google news alert several years ago. I just canceled it. That service is no longer required.

After 18 years, Navy Captain Michael "Scott" Speicher is finally coming home. A grateful nation has not forgotten his service or his sacrifice.

WASHINGTON – The remains of the first American lost in the Gulf War have been found in Iraq, the military said Sunday, a sorrowful resolution of a nearly two-decade old question about the fate of Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher.

The Pentagon said the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology on Saturday positively identified the remains, buried in the desert and located after officials received new information from an Iraqi citizen about a crash.

Speicher's disappearance has bedeviled investigators since his fighter was shot down over the Iraq desert on the first night of the 1991 war.

Welcome home, Captain Speicher. May you have fair winds and following seas where ever eternity takes you.

by Dann 

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