California Hurts Brick And Mortar TV Sellers

One great thing about living in California is that we're big enough to do our own thing. One not so great thing about living in California is that we're big enough to do our own thing. The California Energy Commission has passed (unanimously) new energy efficiency requirements on all televisions up to 58 inches that are sold in the state of California. This does not apply to companies such as Amazon shipping into California or prohibit consumers buying out of state. The effect they hope to have? Efficiency in what accounts for 2% of electricity use across the state. Combined with the highest sales tax rate, look to see more California retailers struggling and closing their doors as they have to sell more expensive televisions or have less selection to sell. The real kicker will be if 59 inch televisions become cheaper than their energy efficient counterparts.

Note to Self: Use Snowblower, NOT Flamethrower

More proof that no bad idea is too dumb to be tried by someone in the real world. The downside to a free society is the freedom to do things that everyone agrees is stupid... even yourself in retrospect.

Fire officials in New Bedford, Mass., said a man using a blowtorch to melt ice on his back porch ended up setting his house on fire, causing up to $30,000 in damage...

Kruger said the man was using a torch hooked up to a 20-pound propane cylinder. He got too close to the building's wood frame and ignited the vinyl siding. The fire quickly spread into the building's second- and third-floor apartments.

The scariest part for me is knowing just how many geeks will read this story and think "I have GOT to try that!"

This is why those Spring allergies are worth it

Global Warming To Turn Us Into Cannibals...

or so says Ted Turner. About halfway through the article, Turner states, "I've gotten a lot better, though. It's been a long time since anybody caught me saying something stupid." Most of the rest of the article has Turner saying stupid things. According to him, if we don't stop global warming by all voluntarily only having a maximum of 1 to 2 children, by the middle of this century all of our crops will die and we'll resort to eating each other... if we're alive at all. Should we be concerned about the environment? Certainly. Should we allow a fear of what could happen to the environment rule the way we live? Certainly not.

GI Joe to not be American

Growing up with Marines for parents, GI Joe was a hero of my childhood - I used to imagine my dad being part of the team. When plans were announced to make it into a feature film I was excited. Now it has come to light that GI Joe is not going to be an American special forces unit but an international task force that may or may not contain American military characters.

This is absolute crap! GI Joe has always been Americans helping to save the world. The idea that GI Joe is now going to be distinctly not american is to totally eliminate the distinctiveness of the character. I mean the essence of Joe is american. If they actually go through with this, then I will probably boycott the film for this stupidity - and that would truly be a shame.

NAACP says Vick shouldn't be banned from football

So, the head of the NAACP in Atlanta says that Michael Vick shouldn't be banned from football on account of his dog fighting activities or because he's going to jail for a federal offense. Instead...

"We should join hands as a team and recognize the fact that Mr. Vick is human, humans make mistakes, but we maintain that he is a redeemable human,'' said R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP. "And as a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation."

If this wasn't a family friendly blog I think I might swear. "As a society we should aid in his rehabilitation,". What the heck is that!? I thought sending him to jail was aiding in his rehabilitation. Banning him from football - for any amount of time - is also aiding in his rehabilitation. Actions have consequences and getting kicked out of football is one of the consequences Vick is going to have to face. Maybe next time he will value the blessing of being able to play in the NFL a little more highly.