DuckSpeaker Quacks

Steroids Part II

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:15:44 GMT

Short while back I wrote something about steroids and the magazine PUMPED.

So check this out: http://www.spike.com/video/biger-stronger/2981230?ns=1

You should read this: The Rise of the Rest

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:04:23 GMT

Here is a link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/135380/page/1

I really enjoyed this article.
It’s quite long…I’ve included a few excerpts below:

But while we argue over why they hate us, "they" have moved on, and are now far more interested in other, more dynamic parts of the globe. The world has shifted from anti-Americanism to post-Americanism.

For the last 20 years, America's superpower status in every realm has been largely unchallenged—something that's never happened before in history… During this Pax Americana, the global economy has accelerated dramatically. And that expansion is the driver behind the third great power shift of the modern age—the rise of the rest.

A team of scholars at the University of Maryland has been tracking deaths caused by organized violence. … we are probably living "in the most peaceful time of our species' existence."…. your chances of being killed in a terrorist attack are tiny—for an American, smaller than drowning in your bathtub. But it doesn't feel like that.

[Russia, China] But how large is their potential for trouble? Russia's military spending is $35 billion, or 1/20th of the Pentagon's. China has about 20 nuclear missiles that can reach the United States. We have 830 missiles, most with multiple warheads, that can reach China. Who should be worried about whom?

I've been struck by how little Iraq's troubles have destabilized the region. Everywhere you go, people angrily denounce American foreign policy. But most Middle Eastern countries are booming. Iraq's neighbors—Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia—are enjoying unprecedented prosperity. The Gulf states are busy modernizing their economies and societies, asking the Louvre, New York University, and Cornell Medical School to set up remote branches in the desert. There's little evidence of chaos, instability, and rampant Islamic fundamentalism.

[China, India, Brazil] Even if people in these countries remain relatively poor, as nations their total wealth will be massive. Or to put it another way, any number, no matter how small, when multiplied by 2.5 billion becomes a very big number. (2.5 billion is the population of China plus India.)

As economic fortunes rise, so inevitably does nationalism.

The G8 does not include China, India or Brazil—the three fastest-growing large economies in the world—and yet claims to represent the movers and shakers of the world economy

[US] universities are the finest in the world, making up 8 of the top ten and 37 of the top fifty, according to a prominent ranking produced by Shanghai Jiao Tong University….Foreign students and immigrants account for almost 50 percent of all science researchers in the [US] country. In 2006 they received 40 percent of all PhDs. By 2010, 75 percent of all science PhDs in this country will be awarded to foreign students.

There will be lots of problems, crisis, and tensions, but they will occur against a backdrop of systemic stability. This benefits them but also us. It's the ultimate win-win.

Only three countries in the world don't use the metric system—Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States. For America to continue to lead the world, we will have to first join it.

For 60 years, the United States has pushed countries to open their markets, free up their politics, and embrace trade and technology. … Yet just as they are beginning to do so, we are losing faith in such ideas. We have become suspicious of trade, openness, immigration, and investment because now it's not Americans going abroad but foreigners coming to America. Just as the world is opening up, we are closing down.

Caroline --- See she's the reason for the word 'Bitch'

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:37:15 GMT

Crazy bitch
Stupid ass bitch
Old punk ass bitch
Old dumb ass bitch
A bitch's bitch

(heck I can't spell either--she's still a bitch)

The Daily Commute/Commode

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:02:15 GMT

If I had a gun...more people would be dead.

(That's more space, more gas, and more food for everybody else!)

Is it really possible?

Mon, 05 May 2008 20:23:40 GMT

I’m told you can just “choose” to be happy.
That when you’re in a crappy mood, full of negative thought, you should just “think positive”.

Is this for real?
Are you able to do this?---Care to give me any tips?

Is it possible it’s all just in our genetic/environmental makeup that some people are able to switch it on/off, while others are forced to relive and dwell on things compulsively (negatively)?

Minority Report

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:21:32 GMT

So last night…

Last night someone mentioned that the number of African Americans has doubled (I think I heard) recently here in Utah, and it reminded me of something I had heard that morning.

A couple of guys were talking about how Latinos will become the dominant race in America at some future date I didn’t hear. I perceived (though I could certainly be wrong) some animosity in their voices, some anger, and maybe some fear.

I just don’t understand this. What are these guys afraid of? Are they afraid they will be treated in the same manner they treat minorities? Well…maybe they should be afraid.

Head splitting...open...must...avoid...all...light

Thu, 01 May 2008 19:04:36 GMT

If I’m going to wake up with a headache like this, it should AT LEAST come on the heels of a night of drinking.

It’s not fair…I should be getting something out of this.

Add to that…I just got our last car back from the auto body place last night, and it needs to go back. The rear hatch just isn’t right and probably needs to be completely replaced. oh joy!

Steroids

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:33:10 GMT

So I ordered some Whey Protein shake mix. I need to loose some weight, so I’m going to cut my sugar, flour, and much of my carbohydrate intake. I’m also going to try to move to 5 meals a day, and hope to supplement two of the meals with these shakes. Eventually, I hope to get rid of the shakes and eat carrots and stuff.----It’s probably all just a dream, but I’d really like to make a change here.

ANYWAY….my order came with a Magazine called PUMPED. No kidding-- there is A LOT of steroid information in this magazine. It has everything you need to know: What to buy, how to use it, and even what it’ll cost you. Heck, it even as a short story penned by a dealer about – you guessed it -- dealing steroids.

I’ve NO desire to become anything like the muscular hulks displayed in the magazine—trust me. And to be fair, I really don’t have a problem with steroid use. I don’t think you should lie about it, but I believe that when used properly and carefully it’s likely very safe.

But the fact that this magazine is even sold shocks me a little. Several of the products highlighted are illegal in the US, yet this magazine can be purchased for $4.95 everywhere.

This prompted a big discussion about Freedom of Speech, and I guess I support the right of the magazine to publish the information…but I feel dirty.

What if only 3 Children were abused/raped

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:40:54 GMT

Child Protective Services released their findings of the 462 Children removed from the polygamist compound late last week.

They list 3 Children (and only 3)

One turned 18 two weeks ago
One refuses to take a pregnancy test
The last was raped (as per Texas Law)

The 20 girls we’ve heard about previously (court documents) likely include these three. The other 17 girls are older than 18 now. (Indeed it would appear they may be in their late 20s or even early 30s by now). The problem with this is that these (17)women may have become pregnant before moving to Texas, and/or before the Texas law changed from 16 to 18.

Now…If only 3 of the 462 (now reported) children were raped/abused.---and I hate to say this---it would be well below the national average. (Heck, even 20 of 462 is WELL below the national average). To give perspective, we should be seeing about 92 rape/abused children coming from the compound.

I’m not suggesting that 3 (or even 20) shouldn’t warrant attention. But I do question the removal of 462 children from their parents based on this number.

Unless more is uncovered…A certain judge needs to loose her job, as well as a sprinkling of other city/state officials.

Fiscal Conservative?---Must be a Democrat

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:06:16 GMT

Conservatives are not Fiscal Conservatives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_by_U.S._presidential_terms

Pretty interesting link, if the numbers are correct (wikipedia).

What does conservative mean anyway?

Not Fiscal
Not Religious—unless your are Christian (recently expanded to Blacks and women)
Not in matters of defense (first strike policy)
Not in terms of energy policy

I guess the name doesn’t have to represent the values….

Character?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:51:55 GMT

[Referring to a possible McCain Whitehouse win in ‘99]

Utah’s Senator Borin’ Orrin Hatch said that McCain would "destroy the Republican Party"

Today….he’s writing a love songs for McCain
Excerpt:
    “Together forever
    America is the country we all
    Love
    Let’s link our hands for all to see
    Our country’s majesty
    Forever together”

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-55234301.html

"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?"
"Because Janet Reno is her father."
    --McCain at a GOP fund-raiser in Washington.

Not news...not anything

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:43:30 GMT

An excerpt form the book “MY BEAUTIFUL MOMMY” appeared from the Associated Press.

You’ve likely heard about this already. It’s a children’s book written by a plastic surgeon to help “calm the fears of…tummy tucks, breast enhancement procedures and nose jobs.”

The girl asks: “Why are you going to look different?”
Mom responds: “Not just different, my dear—prettier!”

Title/intro says it all….

‘BIG BROTHER’ IS WATCHING SALT LAKE. The reality show was in town Thursday, looking for people who can lie and manipulate others.” (SL Tribune)

The story is about a casting call for the show BIG BROTHER here in SLC.

Get you some!

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:26:09 GMT

C+C Records will be releasing a 5 disc Prince Tribute album (02/06/08)
http://www.ccrecords.com/

Samples here:
www.myspace.com/shockadelicanorway

Additionally…Prince will be on Jay Leno on April 25^th to promote Coachella.

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:12:01 GMT

Check it out…McCain really IS A REPUBLICAN!

McCain is proposing to:
Elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax (designed to eliminate tax loopholes for the wealthy)
Slash corporate income tax…(because corporations shouldn’t have to pay for public services???)
Suspend the gasoline tax (I’m sure that money will trickle in from somewhere else)
Double the personal tax exception for dependents (Because the cost to the system is lessoned by the number of people there are to take advantage of it??? (No, that’s not it.) Because there is a shortage of people in the US, and we face a worker shortage??? (NO, that’s not it.) ---Why then?)
Wow...that McCain sure has a lot of plans!
But I haven't heard anything specific about how he intends to cut costs or raise revenue to offset the loss of income.

What an ass McCain is…

Honesty in Pharmaceuticals

Honestly, if it’s not one thing….title says it all
“Drug firms pay scientists to take credit for articles prepared by company writers”
(By Lindsey Tanner: The Associated Press)

Something they learned from the Bu$h administration I reckon….

Whittle Away

Congress has given Federal Law Enforcement the right to take and store DNA information from anyone they arrest. Regardless of conviction (read: innocence)

The also have the right to collect DNA information from any detained foreigner.
I’m probably Ok with this…because I Love Big Brother (no…really!)

Geeks Unite!

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:32:22 GMT

Fiber comes to Salt Lake Residents.

Utopia didn’t make it to the capital city, but Qwest plans on bring fiber to 200,000 residents by year end. (Fiber to node style---less desirable, but with speeds between 20 and 40 megabytes per second)

They promise competitive pricing….(sorry, I can’t continue without snickering)

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8871794

God warms the planet with a Wii....(er something)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:02:16 GMT

I’ve said before and will say again, religion has nothing to fear of science.*

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article673663.ece

* Unless the religion is too rigid -- If it doesn’t have room for new information.

New York Times on TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 07 for the Wii

While I was playing Tour 07 it felt as if I was really playing golf. But after playing for an hour, I stopped and realized Tour 07’s drawback: I felt as if I’d just finished playing golf.

Is it just me? There just doesn’t seem to be an argument against Global Warming.

NASA’s top Climate Scientist believes it too…and he’s willing to point fingers.

"The problem is that 90 percent of energy is fossil fuels. And that is such a huge business, it has permeated our government," he maintained. "What's become clear to me in the past several years is that both the executive branch and the legislative branch are strongly influenced by special fossil fuel interests," he said, referring to the providers of coal, oil and natural gas and the energy industry that burns them.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/04/nasas-top-clima.html

a "Shado" over the calm...

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:10:22 GMT

So thanks to that thoughtful jerk (meant in love) shadorunr, I’ve had a “spirited” conversation with my wife over the intent and meaning of a quote from President Abraham Lincoln:

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

Now…I don’t know the intent of the quote, nor do I have the context in which it was given.

But I can understand what it is saying:

The bible is not my book nor Christianity my declared faith. I could never agree to the long complicated statements of Christian doctrine.

Don’t get me wrong….there is enough evidence to support the idea that Lincoln was a religious man.
I’m just suggesting that he might not be Ms. Davis’s vision of a “God Fearing” Illinois man.

I've heard that Tonight (4-8-08), MSNBC news anchor Keith Olbermann named Davis his nightly "Worst Person in the World".

253M

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:38:46 GMT

Favorite story of the day: 253M

253M (aka. “Limpy”) was shot and killed on the very first day the wolves (253M is a wolf) lost their protected status under the US Endangered Species Act.

“Limpy” was maybe the most famous of the wolves to move out of Yellowstone and the first to be spotted in Utah. No one knows who killed 253M, the wolf was shot in Wyoming where you [edit: Do NOT ] need reason to shoot, or have to identify yourself.

Second favorite story of the day: Flame snuffed out

The Olympic flame isn’t making it’s way across France as planned. Protesters were able to snuff out the flame at least 3 times, before officials decided to just put it on a bus.

I love the French!

As seen on GIZMODO :

Yes, this (pictured with original comment) homemade electric motorcycle gets the gas price equivalent of 300 miles per gallon. Yes, its speeds hit 40mph within its modest 15 mile range. And yes, the engine runs silently with zero vibration. But don't blame the auto companies. They work really hard. And besides, with their limited resources, how can they be expected to compete with one guy who has limited mechanical training buying all of his parts on Craigslist?

Warmonger

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:44:51 GMT

Did you catch Obama’s response to progressive radio host Ed Schultz’s characterization of John McCain as a ‘warmonger”?

His campaign spokeswoman said in a statement: “John McCain is not a warmonger and should not be described as such. He’s a supporter of a war that Senator Obama believes should have never been authorized and never been waged.”

It was issued a day after the comment had been made---it’s only unfortunate that Obama didn’t respond immediately (it was said before he took stage at a rally in North Dakota.)

However…I like the tone of the comment, and the fact that any response was issued at all.

With McCain clearly on the other side of the fence on this issue, and with the (somewhat ugly) nature of politics in this country, I can’t imagine that anyone other than the Republicans would have cared about the "warmonger" comment. And Obama certainly doesn't need to pander to that crowd.

But his campain did issue the statement.
It sounds very much like the straight talk we've come to know from Obama.
And I like it.

Obama ‘08

Startling revelation: Ignorance isn't bliss after all

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:23:09 GMT

Florida rethinks its Abstinence-Only policy after discovering the stupid things kids will believe when they aren’t actually taught anything.
Examples:
* A spoon full of Bleach makes the HIV go away
* Mountain Dew prevents pregnancy

http://www.local6.com/news/15773787/detail.html

----------------------------------------------

THE STRAIGHT DOPE----on the electric car.
Prius VS. Hummer

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/080404.html

Because I'm being lied to by a public utility...

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:44:04 GMT

Here is a great source for historic weather data: http://www.almanac.com/weatherhistory/

Louse: A small insect that lives by sucking the blood of other animals

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:17:14 GMT

In Utah this year you have (or had) the option of filing your state taxes normally, or with the new (so called—but not really) Flat Tax.

The option is this year only…next year we all file “flat”

“’It was pretty startling,’ said Geddes, 61, who lives in Cottonwood Heights with her husband on a fixed income from Social Security and her husband's pension.” Her taxes went up $1,300.

“…the Utah Tax Commission recognizes most taxpayers could pay significantly more using the flat tax. However, they never issued any warning letting Utahans know that.”

"It's not fair to say they will be [negatively affected]. They could say, 'I would rather pay more taxes,' and choose the flat tax this year," she [Lisa Roskelly, spokeswoman for Gov. Jon Hunstman Jr.] said.

Yeah…I guess they could (can you smell my sarcasm?)

“…4 percent of people will benefit from the flat tax… adding those benefiting most would be in higher-income levels.”

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8779277

Louse: Utah’s Governor Huntsman

First rule of Fight Club: You do not talk about fight club

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:48:38 GMT

Nine third graders apparently conspired to kill their teacher.

Confiscated was
A broken steak knife
Duct Tape
Handcuffs
A crystal paperweight
…And more.

One child was supposed to cover the windows, and another chosen to clean up afterward.

“…they were considered pretty good kids," said a spokesman for the Ware County School System.

Good maybe…
Smart? No!

They should have kept their mouths shut.

Funny

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:40:35 GMT

~~Hilarious!~~

Removed...not as funny as I thought.
Apparently some are having trouble closing the resulting prank.

Though the intention is to cause some mild trouble…apparently it goes too far.

(I didn’t have the same problems others are experiencing, despite having many tabs open at the time. Nor was a able to reproduce an error after hearing about it.)

Sorry!

McCain a VooDoo priest?

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:20:09 GMT

One of the cornerstones of Republican Fiscal policy is the concept that reducing taxes improves tax revenue while increasing the wealth of the individual.

Supply Side Economics (aka Reaganomics aka VooDoo Economics)

The idea is that the tax cuts super charges the economy…everyone makes more money and the tax revenue improves with volume.

The problem: It doesn’t work.

During Reagan the “…per capita revenue from personal income taxes, adjusted for inflation, rose just 0.7% annually.

During Clinton that per capita revenue rose 6.5% annually. This is despite the fact that taxes for the higher income brackets increased significantly. (Even the first President Bush reversed his stance and increased taxes)

When our current leader put into place his tax cuts, the per capita revenue dropped 1.0%, and revenue never even “regained [its] initial level from when he took office.”

Taxes don’t discourage people from wanting to be rich. They simply help pay for the functions we use and help reduce our debt. A debt that is increasing with each tax cut.

Conservatives---DO NOT look after the best interests of the larger American public.

So our problem now…Reminding McCain why he voted against the cuts in the first place. See, he’s since reversed his stance on the cuts---you know, once he decided he wanted to win the Republican nomination.

(SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS SEES A POLITACAL COMEBACK by Louis Uchitelle: The New York Times)