Month: December 2006

As a practical matter, it’s almost impossible to prove or disprove anything to another person’s satisfaction. Sure, there are special cases where, for example, a mathematician or a scientist can prove something to another mathematician or scientist. But you and I generally can’t prove anything to anyone. If you want…

In yesterday’s post I said I wasn’t worried about voting machines being manipulated. Several of you asked to see my list of things I AM worried about. Your wish is my post. First, I’m not worried about any problem that we can see coming. If you look at the history…

At about this time every year I have two lists that I carry everywhere. One is my Christmas shopping list. The other is the list of people I need to kill because they finished all of their shopping in October. Regular readers of this blog will not be surprised to…

Beneath the cabinets in my kitchen is a row of fluorescent lights that illuminate the countertops. One of those lights has decided to go all Baghdad on me. It crackles and pops and blinks for the entire time it is on. You might be thinking this is no big problem….

I get a lot of Dilbert suggestions by e-mail. Many of them are allegedly based on real events. Sometimes I think the alleged real events are not so real. Here’s one that is so bizarre that it has to be genuine: — Begin e-mail — “About 4,000 nerds go to…

In my blog on 10/20/06 I explained my unsupported quack theory that depression is really a lack of energy. I wondered if giving depressed people speed would make them happy. While most of you agreed that exercise, nutrition and general health are important contributors to mood, no one was willing…

In today’s Dilbert comic (12-8-06), Dilbert uses the expletive “frack.” As fans of the excellent TV drama Battlestar Galactica know, the crew of Galactica yell “frack” several times per episode as a substitute for the other f-word. Galactica is a military ship under continuous threat of annihilation by Cylons. If…

People have often told me that I seem smarter than I really am. I accept the compliment. As you know, appearances are more important than substance. And so, because I love you, I will teach you some tricks for appearing smarter than you are. Believe me, it comes in handy….

I sometimes have big problems. I always find time to work on solving my big problems because they are so big that I can’t ignore them even if I try. I also have lots of tiny problems, such as getting an itch in the middle of my back. I always…

Do you ever have an idea that you know won’t work and yet you don’t know what’s wrong with it? For example, I have a plan for becoming the world’s best pole vaulter via a process of overeating and walking around. That’s two-thirds of the entire plan right there. The…

Sometimes I wonder why music is legal. Music can alter your mood and your body chemistry just like any illegal drug. The fact that it goes into your body through your ear shouldn’t make a difference. We take drugs via practically every other hole in our body – mouth, butt,…