Quote of the Day (2007-09-30)

"We're friends. If I'm going to be uncomfortable, you gotta be uncomfortable too!"

Source: Seinfeld

Quote of the Day (2007-09-29)

I have a vewwy gweat fwend in Wome called Biggus Dickus.

Source: Life of Brian

Quote of the Day (2007-09-28)

Steve: I lied. Um... All that stuff I said about being a crack head? It just helps me sell magazines. I'm actually an unemployed... software engineer.
Peter Gibbons: You're a software engineer?
Steve: Yup.
[sighs]
Samir: Things, uh... it must be very rough for you.
Steve: Actually man, I make more money selling magazine subscriptions, than I ever did at Intertrode!

Source: Office Space

Quote of the Day (2007-09-27)

This is supposed to be a happy occasion! Let's not bicker and argue about who killed who.

Source: Holy Grail

Quote of the Day (2007-09-26)

"Why did it all turn out like this for me? I had so much promise. I was personable. I was bright. Oh, maybe not academically speaking, but I was perceptive. I always know when someone's uncomfortable at a party. It all became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I've ever made in my entire life has been wrong. My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to eat... It's often wrong."

Source: Seinfeld

Quote of the Day (2007-09-25)

The Impressive Clergyman: Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...
[cut to Westley, Inigo, and Fezzik]
The Impressive Clergyman: And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva...
[cut to the trio again]
The Impressive Clergyman: So tweasure your wuv.
Prince Humperdinck: Skip to the end.
The Impressive Clergyman: Have you the wing?
[cut to the trio once more]
Prince Humperdinck: Man and wife. Say man and wife.
The Impressive Clergyman: Man an' wife.

Source: The Princess Bride

Quote of the Day (2007-09-24)

Cmdr. Susan Ivanova: God, I hate this part. I'm always afraid I've broken something.
Michael Garabaldi: It'll be fine. I've done this before.
[the computer restarts]
Michael Garabaldi: Ah, Told ya. Computer
[pause]
Michael Garabaldi: Computer?
Sparky the Computer: Hey, what do you want?
Michael Garabaldi: Run diagnostics.
Sparky the Computer: What, you got a broken arm or something? I got a station to run here!
Cmdr. Susan Ivanova: Computer.
Sparky the Computer: I know, do a diagnostic. So, maybe Level 42 doesn't get its quota of oxygen today because I'm distracted, but if it makes you happy!
Michael Garabaldi: Stop!
Cmdr. Susan Ivanova: Garabaldi?
Michael Garabaldi: I just remembered, they tried to install Artificial Intelligence subroutines when the station went operational. They shut it down right away because it didn't work right. Must have come back on-line when the system re-booted.
Cmdr. Susan Ivanova: Great! How do we shut it down?
Sparky the Computer: I heard that! Are you two easily offended, or what?

Source: Babylon 5

Quote of the Day (2007-09-23)

I'll have what she's having.

Source: When Harry Met Sally

Yes, Prime Minister

Some British humor for the weekend:













And the complete episode A Diplomatic Incident: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Quote of the Day (2007-09-22)

Jim Hacker: "Bernard, how did Sir Humphrey know I was with Dr. Cartwright?"
Bernard Woolley: "God moves in a mysterious way."
Jim Hacker: "Let me make one thing perfectly clear: Humphrey is not God, okay."
Bernard Woolley: "Will you tell him or shall I?"
Jim Hacker: "Tell me how he knew where I was."
Bernard Woolley: "Well, confidentially Minister, everything you tell me is in complete confidence, so equally, and I am sure you appreciate this, and by appreciate I don't actually mean appreciate, I mean understand, that everything Sir Humphrey tells me is also in complete confidence, as indeed everything I tell you is in complete confidence, and for that matter everything I tell Sir Humphrey is in complete confidence."
Jim Hacker: "So?"
Bernard Woolley: "So in complete confidence, I am confident that you understand that for me to keep Sir Humphrey's confidence and your confidence, means that conversations between him and me must be completely confidential, as confidential in fact as conversations between you and me are completely confidential."

Source: Yes, Minister

Quote of the Day (2007-09-21)

"Boy, a month in Europe with Elaine. That guy's coming home in a body bag."

Source: Seinfeld

The "Jena 6"

I really don't get the deal with the so-called Jena 6. From what a I can see, some white kids did something that was offensive, particularly to blacks, but not in violation of any law and so consequently were not charged with anything. Then some black kids severely beat a white kid, apparently as part of the escalating tension caused by the first act. This is a criminal act, and so the black kids were arrested and charged. Now, people like Al Sharpton and groups like the Nation of Islam are upset and demanding that the black kids not be charged with anything, because the white kids who didn't commit a crime weren't.

Huh? Apparently, if you don't arrest white kids for not committing crimes, you can't arrest black kids who do. And, I guess this makes sense to some people, that this represents disparity in the justice system.

Instapundit has more background on the case. Calling the beating victim "innocent" as the prosecutor did (this "is about finding justice for an innocent victim") seems a bit of an exaggeration, as he was beaten in response to his taunting of his eventual attackers. That doesn't justify the attack, but it's not like the kid was just innocently walking down the street when he was attacked.

I have to love Sharpton. Speaking of the one member of the Jena 6 who has been tried and convicted so far, Mychal Bell, Al said, "He doesn't want anything done that would disparage his name — no violence, not even a negative word." So, having severely beaten a kid, he doesn't want violence or anything that would besmirch his good name. Hey, he only beat someone, so don't do anything that would bring some shame on him.

Brett Favre Touchdown Database

With Brett Favre closing in on Dan Marino's record for career touchdown passes, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has put up a searchable database of all 417 regular season and 34 post-season TD passes. Not too surprisingly, though he's also closing in on the all time interception record (which will he get first?), the Sentinel isn't documenting those.

The Sentinel also has an article where Favre describes his most memorable touchdown and his most memorable interception. As to the interception, even now, almost 14 years later, Favre insists the guy was open! "If you ask Mike [Holmgren], he'd say that was one of the worst; if you ask me that was that close to being an unbelievable play."

Quote of the Day (2007-09-20)

Matthias: Look, I don't think it should be a sin, just for saying "Jehovah".
[Everyone gasps]
Jewish Official: You're only making it worse for yourself!
Matthias: Making it worse? How can it be worse? Jehovah! Jehovah! Jehovah!
Jewish Official: I'm warning you! If you say "Jehovah" one more time (gets hit with rock) RIGHT! Who did that? Come on, who did it?
Stoners: She did! She did! (suddenly speaking as men) He! He did! He!
Jewish Official: Was it you?
Stoner: Yes.
Jewish Official: Right...
Stoner: Well you did say "Jehovah. "
[Crowd throws rocks at the stoner]
Jewish Official: STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! STOP IT! All right, no one is to stone _anyone_ until I blow this whistle. Even... and I want to make this absolutely clear... even if they do say, "Jehovah. "
[Crowd stones the Jewish Official to death]

Source: Life of Brian

Quote of the Day (2007-09-19)

Westley: No one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Westley.

Source: The Princess Bride

Quote of the Day (2007-09-18)

Jim Hacker: "Yes, well this is serious."
Chief Whip: "Very serious."
Sir Humphrey: "Very serious."
Jim Hacker: "What could happen if either of them became PM?"
Sir Humphrey: "Something very serious indeed."
Chief Whip: "Very serious."
Jim Hacker: "I see...."
Chief Whip: "Serious repercussions."
Sir Humphrey: "Serious repercussions."
Chief Whip: "Of the utmost seriousness."
Jim Hacker: "Yes, that is serious."
Sir Humphrey: "In fact, I would go so far as to say, that it could hardly be more serious."
Jim Hacker: "Well, I think we all agree then: this is serious."

Source: Yes, Minister

Quote of the Day (2007-09-17)

Welcome gentle Sir knight, welcome to the Castle Anthrax.

Source: Holy Grail

Quote of the Day (2007-09-16)

Vizzini: I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains.
Westley: You're that smart?
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Westley: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.

Source: The Princess Bride

Quote of the Day (2007-09-15)

When danger reared its ugly head he bravely turned his tail and fled. Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin.

Source: Holy Grail

Quote of the Day (2007-09-14)

PILATE
Now ... anyone else feel like a little giggle when I mention my fwend ...
(He goes right up to one of the GUARDS.)
Biggus ... Dickus. He has a wife you know.
(The GUARDS tense up.)
Called Incontinentia.
(The GUARDS relax.)
Incontinentia Buttocks!

Source: Life of Brian

Quote of the Day (2007-09-13)

Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year's gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, each flicker of the candles on the cake we know it's not to be. That for the rest of our sad, wretched, pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably, irrevocably. Happy birthday? No such thing.

Source: Seinfeld

Slashing Routes in Milwaukee Bus System

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is considering a plan that would slash bus service in the suburbs.

As a regular rider on the Route 48 Flyer and the Route 15 leg they want to cut, I have to say this is pretty silly. Those buses are regularly pretty full, especially the flyer which is standing room only in the afternoon. How exactly is cutting routes with full passenger loads, not to mention more expensive fares, is going to help the system is unclear.

Bin Laden Video Faked?

Neal Krawetz has analyzed the Sept. 11 bin Laden video and concludes that the sections showing bin Laden speaking are recycled from 2004 and therefore the video provides no evidence that he is still alive. He bases his findings on

• Splices. Krawetz identifies 6 splices in the video. But what do those show? Couldn't the video have simply been edited by al Qaeda before distribution?
• Clothing and environment. The clothes bin Laden is wearing are identical to those in the 2004 video. Furthermore, the desk and background appear identical.

  Yet here is Bin Laden in the same clothing, same studio, same studio setup, and same desk THREE YEARS LATER. In fact, his stack of papers that he reads are moved between the exact same stacks. If you overlay the 2007 video with the 2004 video, his face has not changed in three years -- only his beard is darker and the contrast on the picture has been adjusted.
  
  What are the chances of nothing changing (except his beard) in three years? Virtually zero. The clips appear to have been recorded three years ago.

• JPEG artifacts. Artifacts in the video show that the bin Laden image and the border were saved at different times. In fact, Krawetz lists out the order in which he thinks the layers of the video were assembled. But again, what does that show? Certainly the video would have been edited as any border would have been added later. That would cause the two sections to have been saved at different times, and the different layers to be put together.
• Interlaced video. "Both saturation and PCA shows fine horizontal stripes on Bin Laden and the background. These came from interlaced video sources." Yet again, what does that show? Does having the bin Laden images interlaced mean they were shot in 2004?
  

So, of the four points of argument, only one--the physical similarity of bin Laden between the 2004 and 2007 videos--seems valid. But even here, Krawetz leaves a question. He says the only physical difference between bin Laden in the two videos is the color of his beard. Then, if the two videos were actually shot at the same time as he claims, that the color has changed indicates that the color must have been manipulated. Unfortunately, Krawetz admits, "It cannot be detected with any of my tools as being digitally modified." And again, "As far as my tools can detect, there has been no image manipulation of the Bin Laden portion of the image beyond contrast adjustment. His beard really does appear to be that color."

Therefore, the one demonstrable difference between the videos cannot be verifiably attributed to manipulation. One can only conclude that his beard color in the 2004 video was manipulated to make it gray, which seems dubious. (Krawetz posits that the beard "could be a costume mask, or a trimmed and dyed beard." But, that does nothing to explain why the color would be different between the two videos.)

Quote of the Day (2007-09-12)

George: "A guy leaves a puddle of sweat, that's a signal?"
Elaine: "Yeah, it's a social thing."
George: "What if he left you a used Kleenex? What's that, a valentine?"

Source: Seinfeld

Quote of the Day (2007-09-11)

Basil Fawlty: [about Sybil's laugh] Sounds like somebody machine-gunning a seal.

Source: Fawlty Towers

Quote of the Day (2007-09-10)

Gareth: I've got a new theory about marriage. Two people are in love, they live together, and then suddenly one day, they run out of conversation.
Charles: Uh-huh.
Gareth: Totally. I mean they can't think of a single thing to say to each other. That's it: panic! Then suddenly it-it occurs to the chap that there is a way out of the deadlock.
Charles: Which is?
Gareth: He'll ask her to marry him.
Charles: Brilliant! Brilliant!
Gareth: Suddenly they've got something to talk about for the rest of their lives.
Charles: Basically you're saying marriage is just a way of getting out of an embarrassing pause in conversation.
Gareth: The definitive icebreaker.

Source: Four Weddings And A Funeral

Quote of the Day (2007-09-09)

Buttercup: We'll never survive.
Westley: Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has.

Source: The Princess Bride

Quote of the Day (2007-09-08)

Sybil Fawlty: Are you still here Basil?
Basil Fawlty: No, I went a few minutes ago dear, but I expect I'll be back shortly.

Source: Fawlty Towers

Quote of the Day (2007-09-07)

Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Count Rugen: Stop saying that!

Source: The Princess Bride

Quote of the Day (2007-09-06)

Sir Humphrey: "Prime Minister, as Cabinet Secretary I am, of course, most eager to reduce public spending, but as Head of the Civil Service, I am responsible for the very real dangers which will arise administratively if a pay rise does not come through very soon. It's so difficult for me, you see, as I am wearing two hats."
Jim Hacker: "Yes, isn't that rather awkward for you?"
Sir Humphrey: "Not if one is in two minds."
Bernard Woolley: "Or has two faces."
Jim Hacker: "Perhaps I should relieve you of one of them?"
Sir Humphrey: "Oh no, no, no. I am perfectly happy with both of them."
Jim Hacker: "Faces?"
Sir Humphrey: "Hats!"

Source: Yes, Prime Minister

Quote of the Day (2007-09-05)

Mr. Praline: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk.

Source: Monty Python's Flying Circus

Quote of the Day (2007-09-04)

Peter Gibbons: So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.
Dr. Swanson: What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Dr. Swanson: Wow, that's messed up.

Source: Office Space

Quote of the Day (2007-09-03)

Rick: I remember every detail. The Germans wore gray, you wore blue.

Source: Casablanca

Quote of the Day (2007-09-02)

Lisa Simpson: Dad, look!
[holds TV up]
Homer Simpson: Television! Teacher, mother...
Homer Simpson: [lustily] ... secret lover. Urge to kill... fading... fading... fading - rising! Fading... fading... gone.
[Family sighs]
Homer Simpson: Come, family. sit in the snow with daddy and let us all bask in TV's warm glowing warming glow.
[Hours later, everyone is frozen]
man introducing Tony Awards: [on TV] Live, from Broadway, it's the Tony Awards, with your hosts Tyne Daly and Hal Linden!
Bart Simpson: [With difficulty] Homer... change channel.
Homer Simpson: Can't! frozen!
[music on TV: "One chorus line of people...”]
Homer Simpson: [Family screams]
Homer Simpson: Urge to kill... rising...

Source: The Simpsons

Quote of the Day (2007-09-01)

Kramer: "I just took a bath, Jerry. A bath!"
Jerry: "No good?"
Kramer: "It's disgusting. I'm sitting there in a tepid pool of my own filth. All kinds of microscopic parasites and organisms having sex all around me."

Source: Seinfeld