Rook's Rant http://www.rooksrant.com/ If I had wanted cream and sugar, then why order the damn coffee? en Copyright 2008 Sun, 11 May 2008 14:26:51 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Free Classic eBooks here.

]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/free-classic-ebooks.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/free-classic-ebooks.html Misc Misc Sun, 11 May 2008 14:26:51 -0600 How Fast I Am 59 words

Speedtest

]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/how-fast-i-am.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/how-fast-i-am.html Writing Personal Sun, 11 May 2008 14:21:42 -0600 The Level Our Country Has Regressed This incident has been popping up for the last couple of days. I first read about it in the Star-Tribune, but just couldn't bring myself to actually make a post about it. I mean, it just can't be that our country is that fucking stupid. Accuse someone of being a Wizard? What next? Drowning of Witches? Unbelievable.

Yet, here it gets traction. But what really makes the whole thing ridiculous is the feeble attempt by the school district to cover its ass:

Tampa Bay's 10 talked to the assistant superintendent with the Pasco County School District who said it wasn't just the wizardry and that Picular had other performance issues, including "not following lesson plans" and allowing students to play on unapproved computers."
So, it wasn't just wizardry? The thing is, it shouldn't have even been mentioned at all. If he was having a problem with actually doing his job, than you say; "Hey, dumb substitute teacher, you ain't doing your damn job. Follow the lesson plans or we will not call you back for other assignments."

See? Now, that was simple.

Obviously, though, it was not even that he was not doing his job. There was no mention of prior warnings, or efforts to redirect this man's performance. He was accused of being a wizard and than suddenly, there is a performance issues.

Now, I could try to down play the whole stupidity of this situation by noting it is Florida, but it still is a part of the United States. Besides, I've got some great blogger friends from Florida, so it can't be as bad down there as this incident implies.

Personal disclosure: I did spend 6 months in Florida when I was in the service, mostly in a drug induced fog. I was stationed in Orlando, taking classes for nuclear power. Amazingly, I passed. I really couldn't tell you about Florida thought, because if I was not studying, I was smoking lots of pot.

To be honest, I smoked so much of it I use to hallucinate. In fact, some days I wonder if I ever really came out of the hallucinations. I mean, George W. Bush as president? Yeah, I am still hallucinating.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/the-level-our-country-has-regr.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/the-level-our-country-has-regr.html Religious Intolerance WTF???? Florida Religious Intolerance Stupidity WTF Sun, 11 May 2008 13:28:03 -0600 Tour De Rook-2008
It was pretty windy today, especially down in the Mississippi river valley. According to Weather.com there was an 18 mph wind with gusts up to 26. With the exception of the brief two or three mile stretch of General Sieben Dr. from the high school to County 57, I had either cross winds or they were in my face. All that considered, I did very well today.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-5.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-5.html Bicycling Bicycling Personal Tour De Rook Sun, 11 May 2008 12:21:16 -0600 Happy Blogiversary To Me (talkleft*), but I should note that 5 years ago today I published my first ever post on blogspot. Since than, I've switched to Movable Type, registered my own domain, and lost my archives on several occasions. That is why you won't find my original post on the blog. I do have it saved in a text file on my computer. But it is corrupted, and I can't get the damn thing to import back onto my blog.

* Of course, I found it by searching skippy.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/happy-blogiversary-to-me.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/happy-blogiversary-to-me.html About Blogging Personal Blogging Blogiversary Personal Sat, 10 May 2008 10:37:51 -0600 Hypocrite Of The Week
The Washington Post

Whatever happens in Mississippi, Boehner has enough trouble to preoccupy him here in Washington, where House Democrats have been passing their agenda with little thought for Republican preferences. "The majority has taken, once again, their go-it-alone policy," Boehner lamented yesterday. "It's time for Democrats and Republicans to work together."
Time for Democrats and Republicans to work together? Where the hell was this sentiment when the Republicans were the majorities in both the house and senate? Seriously, how the hell can this man even eat food with that mouth, considering the bullshit it produces.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/hypocrite-of-the-week.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/hypocrite-of-the-week.html Congress Democratic Party Republican Party Congress Political Parties Politics Fri, 09 May 2008 10:03:34 -0600 Friday Stolen Code Blogging Bark Bark Woof Woof

Friday Blogaround
What's the news across the nation? Here's the LC look this week.

- A Blog Around The Clock: face symmetry.
- archy: more problems from the Religious Right for John McCain.
- Bark Bark Woof Woof: should Hillary quit the race?
- Bloggg: what would you do?
- Collective Sigh: andante discovers the cure for chemo.
- Dohiyi Mir: The Tour de Ntodd is underway.
- Echidne Of The Snakes: Dr. Phyllis Schlafly.
- Florida Progressive Coalition Blog: Four scenic views of Florida.
- Iddybud Journal: a unity ticket.
- Left Is Right: bits and pieces.
- Lefty Side of the Dial: review this podcast.
- Musing's musings: stupid Republican tricks.
- Pen-Elayne on the Web: the International Norbert Conspiracy!
- Rook's Rant: Stay in, Hillary.
- rubber hose: those whacky neo-cons.
- Scrutiny Hooligans: North Carolina primary results you might have missed.
- SoonerThought: The Police raise money for public TV.
- Speedkill: Creationists and fake discussions.
- Steve Bates, The Yellow Doggerel Democrat: Temper, temper.
- Stupid Enough Unexplanation: Bryant will be right back...
- The Invisible Library: help Keith with proofing.
- WTF Is It Now?? more Republican family values.
- ...You Are A Tree on the road.
Don't forget: Mother's Day is this Sunday. Call her if you can, or remember her in your own way.
Mother?!?!?! I don't need no stink'n mother.....
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/friday-stolen-code-blogging-20.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/friday-stolen-code-blogging-20.html Blog-A-Round Bark Bark Woof Woof Friday Blog-A-Round Liberal Coalition Mustang Bobby Fri, 09 May 2008 09:14:02 -0600 Tour De Rook-2008
On a related note, yesterday was the first time that I can remember having french fries since I started biking. I could feel it at the beginning. It took a lot of effort to keep going the first 20 minutes. I would have posted better numbers otherwise. Not that what I did achieve was bad. It was just I could feel the fat in my blood keeping me sluggish for a bit.

Update: Allow me to elaborate; I went up Featherstone Hill.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-4.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-4.html Bicycling Bicycling Tour De Rook Thu, 08 May 2008 08:43:40 -0600 Please Stay In The Race decisive win in North Caroline, and Hillary's poor win in Illinois Indiana, it's getting to the point where it's obvious who is going to be the Democratic Nominee. But, here is the kicker, despite the strong indication in Obama's favor, I would rather Hillary stay in the race anyway.

It's like this; the actual run for the Presidency goes until November 2, 2008. There will be no call for McCain to step down if the polling shows him losing. The Democratic nominee and McCain will be going at it until the end.

So, with that said, I believe Hillary needs to keep at it to either show Obama's not a finisher, or for Obama to show us he is a finisher.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/please-stay-in-the-race.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/please-stay-in-the-race.html 2008 Barack Obama Election 2008 Hillary Clinton Wed, 07 May 2008 09:55:46 -0600 Tour De Rook-2008
It was cold and overcast, with a brisk breeze that perpetually seemed to blow into my face, regardless of which direction I was riding. I skipped Featherstone Hill, it was just to daunting. I also stayed away from the Mississippi River trails. The wind is always stronger there.

I wasn't looking for any hard workout today. I just wanted to develop a bit of a sweat and keep my metabolism up. Mission accomplished.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-3.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-3.html Bicycling Bicycling Personal Tour De Rook Wed, 07 May 2008 09:37:17 -0600 Tour De Rook-2008 Before I go up and make myself some breakfast, here are today's numbers for leg 5: 9.61 miles at an average speed of 13.2 mph. I hit a max speed of 27.5 mph and took a total of 43 minutes and 19 seconds of actual riding time. I took one stop for stretching. This is pretty good. I improved on yesterday's average speed, and today I went up Featherstone Hill. In fact, yesterday I skipped Featherstone Hill completely. So yeah, I kicked butt. ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-2.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-2.html Bicycling Bicycling Tour De Rook Tue, 06 May 2008 08:23:40 -0600 2008 Hugo Nomination List Hugo nominations.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bear and Patrick Nielsen Hayden, both of who I am familiar with by way of Blogstonia.


]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/2008-hugo-nomination-list.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/2008-hugo-nomination-list.html Blogstonia Writing Blogstonia Hugo Awards Writing Mon, 05 May 2008 10:08:20 -0600 Tour De Rook-2008
Yesterday's leg was 14.29 miles at an average speed of 12.1 mph. I hit a top speed of 33.5 mph (Featherstone Hill) at took a total of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 23 seconds of actually biking. I stopped twice to stretch.

This morning's leg was 5.52 miles at an average speed of 12.9 mph. I hit a top speed of 28.5 (not Featherstone Hill) and took a total of 25 minutes and 35 seconds of actual biking. I stopped once to stretch.

I didn't bother to record the 2nd leg of my 2008 tour because, well because I forgot. It was in the morning sometime last week. It was raining and 58 or 59 degrees Fahrenheit. To be honest, it was one of the most enjoyable bike rides I have ever had. I am regretting my failure to record the numbers. However, I am pretty sure they were in line with the above numbers.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-1.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/tour-de-rook2008-1.html Bicycling Personal Tour De Rook Mon, 05 May 2008 09:46:17 -0600 Steve Sarvi Endorsed! MN Publius

Our congratulations go out to Steve Sarvi who was endorsed by acclimation after the first ballot......
Way to go Steve!

Now, if you'll all excuse me, I am going to go for a bike ride.
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/steve-sarvi-endorsed.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/steve-sarvi-endorsed.html 2008 Steve Sarvi Election 2008 Minnesota Politics Steve Sarvi Sun, 04 May 2008 11:04:59 -0600 U.S. Sheds Fewer Jobs Than Expected New York Times

he economy lost 20,000 jobs in April, the fourth consecutive month of decline, the government reported on Friday. But the drop was not as sharp as expected, a sign that the economy’s decline may be moderating.
So sorry, but this whole article seems an exercise in putting lipstick on a pig. What would the economist from Philly say? Oh yeah. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
]]> ]]> http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/us-sheds-fewer-jobs-than-expec.html http://www.rooksrant.com/2008/05/us-sheds-fewer-jobs-than-expec.html Economy Economy Fri, 02 May 2008 08:58:14 -0600