Ontario Empoblog

There Are Different Rules for Government Employees in Eastern Europe At the beginning of February, an International Forum for Security and Safety Technologies was held in Moscow. Here is a description of the event: X Jubilee International Forum "Security and Safety Technologies" will meet you on February 1-3, 2005 , in the new Crocus Expo international expo centre. We are brand new: a new venue, that meets the highest standards of expo industry, twice more exhibitors, broad international recognition, rich international program, new exhibitor services. And we are same old friends: we still respect You and will do our best to fine-tune the Forum to the requirements of dynamic markets and people that make them. International Forum "Security and Safety Technologies": the whole of the Russian security and safety industry International Forum "Security and Safety Technologies" is the biggest exhibition and congress event in the field of security and safety in Ru...

Can anyone confirm this? From Erin , in an account of her Valentine's Day dinner: After we'd ordered our meal, Rand asked me if I noticed how the wait staff is trained to stroke the man's ego...I hadn't. "When you ordered," he told me, "he just kind of nodded and said okay. But when I ordered, it was 'Oh, yes, excellent choice sir." I did notice this when we ordered our dessert. Rand ordered fruit sorbet, followed up by "Yes, a perfect way to finish off." Heh. Interesting things that I don't notice...probably because I don't do much fine dining. ;) I've never noticed this. Now I'll have to keep my eyes open to see if it's true. All I know is that one of the women in the Lakeview Cafe called me "hon." But then again, she probably calls her dog "hon."

Obbzervations on Chelation Rather than going to Princess Sunshine, I wanted to see what the National Institutes of Health had to say about aluminum poisoning. Here's an abstract on the topic: Desferrioxamine in the treatment of aluminum overload. Ackrill P, Day JP. Aluminum removal is essential in treating patients with aluminum accumulation. Currently the most effective method is chelation of aluminum with desferrioxamine (DFO). DFO administration has been shown to improve dialysis encephalopathy and dialysis bone disease. The optimum dose of DFO and the mode of administration have yet to be determined. Commonly between 40 and 80 mg/kg is given parenterally once weekly. The very high serum aluminum concentrations which develop do not appear to be toxic. The administration of small doses of DFO with each dialysis may also be advocated. Monitoring of serum aluminum levels and of iron status is advisable during DFO treatment. DFO may also play a role in evaluating tissue aluminum ac...

Obbzervations on Truth in Advertising While I was researching the pseudo-toxin "vonsinium," I ended up surfing to a post that complained about a particular radio network's acceptance of questionable advertising. The name of the particular radio network isn't important, so I'll refer to it as [Bob] in the excerpt from the post, below. You've probably heard the advertisements. Get rich quick by speculating on gold or buying foreclosed real estate. Lose weight. Get ridiculously inexpensive life insurance. Improve your resume by receving your college degree online. Radio stations nationwide often turn to these lesser advertisers to bring in much-needed capital. It's especially true for stations with low ratings, or in weaker advertising markets. Such stations can't charge as much, and this particular class of advertisers can't afford to spend as much. It's also true for fledgling networks.... Generally speaking, there's nothing wrong with acce...

Obbzervations on Liberal Insensitivity First, the introduction : No, this shouldn't be an election year issue, but yes the Republicans are going to do just that and try to divide and conquer us all on the issue of marriage for Gay Americans. Of course, most of those on the Bush side use 'homosexual' as a pejorative, they're vehemently opposed to calling us as we wish to be called, rather preferring a more clinical term that to many in this Country removes our humanity. So why isn't there a big ruckus? Why have we allowed ourselves to be a pejorative?... Maybe I shouldn't be too sensitive here, for many it seems that switching between 'gay marriage' and 'homosexual marriage' is just a way to break up what may be a perceived monotony of usage. But let's be clear, many arguing against this issue, especially Christian Conservatives, refuse to use any word other than 'homosexual'. Picture this, in an televised debate on the issue Jerry Fal...

Obbzervations from Driving Home So I'se got my car radio scanning the stations, and I hear the Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe" on KSPA and stop the scan. I hadn't heard the station in a while, and thought that this was a little bit of a new song for the station (which, last I remembered, played songs from the Sinatra /Dean Martin genre of music). After the song was over, I heard a guy doing a bad Wolfman Jack imitation, then the station played "Jump" by Van Halen. (Note to self: eventually comment on the ultimate dissatisfaction in listening to an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo.) As the station continued to play songs - Devo's "Whip It," for example - the radio station made an announcement that this was the Wolfman Jack show. "Huh?" I thought. "How can they legally rip off a dead man by claiming that he's doing a radio show today? The nerve of this imposter. I'm surprised Wolfman Jack's family hasn't sued....

Obbzervations at Lunch I ate lunch at the Lakeview Cafe today. Now this isn't a cafe with can can dancers and expresso and the like; this is a cafe kind of like Marge (you gotta see the commercial; I can't find an online reference to it). Picture traditional. Where spaghetti and meatballs is an exotic foreign meal. So why is this old-timey restaurant selling Red Bull ? That's like booking the Carter Family in Ibiza ....

At Least Rupert Murdoch Didn't Hire Him I'm finally getting around to looking into this Jeff Gannon thing. In a haphazard way, of course. Let's start here : CBS 'Rathergate' Producer Under Pressure from Network By Jeff Gannon Talon News (Sept. 17) - Talon News sources inside CBS have indicated that the producer of the '60 Minutes' story that used what appear to be forged documents to charge that President George W. Bush received preferential treatment during his service with the Texas Air National Guard 30 years ago is under pressure from the network. Mary Mapes, a Dallas-based producer, obtained the documents from a source that she and the network refuse to reveal, even though the documents themselves have been widely discredited.... Isn't it ironic...don't you think? It's like rain ... Jeff Gannon was a featured reader at the four-day annual Bible-reading marathon in front of the Capitol in May 2004. As Mr. Jeff Gannon of Talon News Service rea...

Going to the Chapel in a Technological Sort of Way I got married back in 1989, and my biggest use of technology was to use MacDraw to create a map. (Or was that for one of the showers? I can't remember now.) Fast-forward to December 4, 2003 for the second post in the blog "Going to the Chapel": Fun and games on the wedding front. I have possibly located a wedding photographer and videographer. Now it is up to Marc’s amazing negotiating skills. We have visited several reception locations so far...here is a brief rundown on what we have seen so far. 1. Martin’s West: Marc and I pseudo-met here, so we decided to take a look. A really nice woman named Michelle showed us around. They are relatively reasonably priced. Their chargers look like the plates from the Titanic! The big problem was that they were so cookie-cutter. I could just see three other weddings going on at the same time at the hall, and people asking, "Are you Wedding #1, #2 or #3? That’s not the kind of w...

I Have Seen the Future, And It Already Happened In a blog post dated January 4, 2006 (yes, 2006), the blog "Signs of the End" links to a document at a European Union website. The number of this document is 666 . It is dated 5 June 2000. Excerpts: Take the measures necessary for WEU to ensure that the collective defence commitment provided for in Article V of the modified Brussels Treaty is effectively maintained, taking account of the recent decisions concerning the European Security and Defence Policy; Pursue its process of informal reflection on Security and Defence Europe and include the parliamentary dimension within it on the basis of the proposals contained in Assembly Recommendation 664; Propose to the European Union that, on the basis of the work undertaken by the Portuguese presidency and joint proposals put forward by Britain and France, it establish a Consultative Council for the CESDP bringing together European Union member states, EU applicant countries and non...

They say it's your birthday, it's my birthday too yeah... (No, not my birthday; others'.) The Fox Morning Extravaganza revealed this morning that, in addition to St. Valentine , several other people celebrate birthdays on February 14: Pat O'Brien , frequent guest. The father of co-host Andrew Siciliano . The son of host Van Earl Wright . As for Krystal Fernandez , her relationship to the day is unknown; she was out today.

For the Record (Geddit?) Here's what my LAUNCHcast station has played this evening: The following artists and songs were just played on your LAUNCHcast station. QED Love Bites (Valentin Club Mix) Electrocute I Need A Freak Ferry Corsten Drifting - Lange Featuring Skye Elton John Curtains Olive Push BT Animals Kraftwerk Computer Love Paul Van Dyk Futhermost - Soliciitous Depeche Mode I Feel You Timelords Doctorin' The Tardis - 12" Bright Eyes Devil In The Details Michael Jackson Billie Jean Paul Oakenfold Starry Eyed Surprise Layo & Bushwacka Love Story Miss Kittin 3eme Sexe DJ Skribble Salsoul Nugget (If U Wanna) - M&S Presents The Girl Next Door DJ Shadow What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 1) Ladytron The Way That I Found You Ian Van Dahl I Can't Let You Go Madness Time For Tea Alien Ant Farm Smooth Criminal The Bee Gees Rest Your Love On Me Johnny Cash I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry DJ Krush From Futura ...

When the Machines Rock/When the Machines Love Now on LaunchCAST - Kraftwerk's "Computer Love." Definitely a classic that transcends the "computer" concept of the album, or thoughts of computers, love, or anything in between. Frankly, this is Kraftwerk's version of "Free Bird," except instead of a massive guitar solo at the beginning, there's a massive keyboard solo at the end. Here's what the BBC had to say about the song, the album, and the group: Kraftwerk have been there or thereabouts since 1970. Hutter and Schneider were originally part of a group named Organisation....Deciding they wanted to make more 'unusual' types of music with different instruments they left Organisation and formed Kraftwerk....The first three albums were never released officially on CD....There's a good reason for this. They are not really Kraftwerk albums as we know them. They are highly experimental and awkwardly produced.... So, although Kraftwe...

On the Radio, Multibabelfishing Well, on my LaunchCAST station ... My Station Love Story Layo & Bushwacka Night Works (2002) Buy this album Reason played: Recommended by fans of M-Factor Lyrics: Search for lyrics to this song Genres: Electronic/Dance, Breaks, House, Techno It's an electronica version of the riff from Devo's "Mongoloid" song. Pure pleasure. Here's part of a review of the song: Pare che "Love Story" girasse già da parecchio tempo nei canali underground su white label "untitled": non stenteremmo a crederci, in quanto il groove nulla concede alle mode del momento e per di più risulta dall'impasto di inusuali campioni tratti da epoche differenti. La bassline dei Devo in "Mongoloid", pedissequamente ricalcata dal piano in loop ed immersa in un clima etereo e sospeso, si accoppia ai primi versi (filtrati e riverberati a dovere) di Nina Simone in "Rags And Old Iron" per dar vita ad una composizione che p...

The Sunday Experiment I was reading a blog a few days ago when I ran across the question: Does anyone know, how do you know if you're an alcoholic? This got me in a researching mode, and I found this link to a survey that purports to let you know if you're an alcoholic. Are You An Alcoholic? Ask yourself the following questions and answer them as honestly as you can. 1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking? 2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy? 3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people? 4. Is drinking affecting your reputation? 5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking? 6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking? 7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking? 8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family's welfare? 9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking? 10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time of day? 11. Do you want ...

How can such a bastion of morality be attacked? I've done further research on this, and apparently some people don't realize the efforts that the Fox network is taking to bring decency to the airwaves. Take this article , please (yet another communist writing). The writer's anti-Fox, anti-American diatribes are highlighted : ...Pete Coors, the beer magnate, who hails from a staunchly conservative and Republican family, lost in Colorado, a strongly Republican state. There were many causes for his loss, but one of the least noted was that morality voters who now dominate the Republican party view Coors, whose beer commercials are some of the most sexually explicit and exploitative on TV, as a phony and a hypocrite. You see, Pete, you can’t campaign on the need for morality and values, when your most famous contribution to the American pop culture is the Coors Beer twins.... I am glad that values-minded Americans chose not to give Pete Coors a pass. It is high time that we hel...

How do we tolerate these communist "progressives"? Some columnist from the peyote-eating "Desert Dispatch" takes exception to my suggesiton that Fox further its purity doctrine by banning cheerleaders from NFL stadia . Actually, the columnist didn't specifically object to my idea, but the "progressive" (read "communist") editorial at this web page indicates where the columnist's sentiments lie. The article was actually written about the Nicolette Sheridan incident, but you know and I know that the Fox network is a much more morally upright outfit than those guys at ABC. ( Seriously .) Emphasis mine. Like Reader's Digest, it's essential to isolate these commie ideas as soon as possible. The Desert Dispatch is a daily newspaper serving the communities of Barstow, Dagget, Fort Irwin, Hinkley, Lenwood, Newberry Springs and Yermo. Friday, November 26, 2004 COMMENTARY: NFL response to Sheridan ad is hypocritical Ladies and gentlemen...

What Fox Needs To Do As many people know by now, the Fox Broadcasting Company , that bastion of purity, was undeniably damaged by the airing of the godaddy.com commercial during the Super Bowl . As was noted in comments on Bob Parson's blog, some parents were uncomfortable with the fact that their young children saw the ad. While Fox certainly took the family-friendly attitude by NOT airing the commercial during the second half, it's clear that Fox has to take another step to make NFL games truly family-friendly: Demand that the NFL ban cheerleaders from the football venues. If Fox and the NFL wish to eliminate problems with the FCC and with Congress, they must take immediate action to ensure that the images of cheerleaders are not televised during NFL games. Hop to it, Rupert...

Bob Parsons on Christianity In a post on his blog , Bob Parsons (head of godaddy.com) addressed a question related to the recent Candice Michelle Beckman / Nikki Cappelli Super Bowl commercial , and Parson's previous activity in selling Bible software : As many people know, the first company I started and sold to Intuit was called Parsons Technology. We had a number of product divisions at Parsons Technology. Our product divisions follow: 1. Financial (this included accounting, money management, and tax preparation products). 2. Legal (document preparation for home and small business). 3. Personal productivity (greeting card makers, address books, etc.) 4. Utilities (virus detection and removal, etc.) 5. Church Software (Bible lookup software, Map software, Sermon preparation, Congregational accounting). It's true. I used to sell Bible software. I’ve received criticism because I used to sell Bible software. Since the Super Bowl ad was aired and banned, I’ve heard from many p...