Watch Your Mouth.

From today's Irish Independent: A Vogue cover model has won a court case against Google, seeking the identity of a blogger who called her a "skank". She sought the identity of the anonymous poster so she can sue for defamation. Apparently, the courts, at least in New York, don't view blogs as a legitimate method of free speech.

I am so screwed.

Look who's going to kick my ass, should anyone ever discover "Another Day": General Motors; Shell Oil; Jamie Lynn Spears; Southern California Edison; the Michael Jackson estate; The Redlands Facts, and about a hundred others.

I hereby apologise to everyone I have so egregiously offended. Shame, shame on me for having an opinion. Really.

The "New" GM Lies, Just Like The Old GM

What's the old joke -- statistics don't lie, only liars with statistics?

Earlier this week, every media outlet I can think of ran with General Motors' announcement that the new Chevy Volt will get 230 MPG. Some went on to clarify that GM meant the hybrid will get that kind of mileage in the city. Only a very small number of people bothered to look at the actual numbers to see how the new GM is already bullshitting us.

First, yes, the Volt can get 230 MPG. On one very big condition. You drive no more, no less than 51 miles to calculate your MPG! We're talking big time misleading here, folks. I suppose they could also claim that if you drove the car less than 40 miles on the electric motor every day, forever, and used but one gallon of gas during the life of the car, it would have received 200,000 miles per gallon, but the public might actually question a number like that.

My Honda gets at least 150 MPG going downhill but I don't claim that as my actual average. I suppose if I peel off the Honda nameplate and glue on a Chevy "bowtie" I can do so with impunity.

This Week In History...

40 years ago this week...

The Woodstock music festival in Bethel, New York became both a focal point for the nation, and an everlasting symbol of a generation. Damn, I wish I'd been there. I once met a woman who'd been there. She hadn't even intended on going, and ended up there for four days. Some people have all the luck.

Also 40 years ago this week...

The Beatles didn't make it to Woodstock, because they were busy crossing a street in London. That street was Abby Road, and the resulting photograph/album cover became one of the Woodstock generation's iconic images. (Paul, it is noted, is still alive, despite being shown barefoot.) If you don't understand that comment, ask your parents.

Plus, 40 years ago this week...

Charlie Manson sent his followers on a murderous rampage, something we'd like to forget, but can't.

35 years ago this week...

Richard Nixon quit the Presidency. Despite what he said at the time, he was a crook. And, as someone who was on Nixon's enemies list notes, nobody has trusted a President since.

Random Notes.

Goodbye Radio Shack. Sorta.

Radio Shack is changing its name to just "The Shack", an image makeover attempt to get away from its perception that they're just a place to shop for arcane electronic items like diodes and capacitors. Good luck with that.

Do They Really Have To Do That?

Dealers who take in cars under the "Cash For Clunkers" program must destroy the engines by filling them with a nasty solution and running them until they seize. Somehow, that's akin to a vet shooting the dog you've brought in to be "put to sleep" because he's too old to walk. What ever happened to recycling? (other than crushing the car and sending it to a Chinese smelter?)

Hey Marine: Stop Tweeting and Start Shooting.

No more social networking for the Marine Corps, at least for the coming months. Seems they're worried it's dangerous -- The Enemy might get hold of Pvt. Pyle's 140 character Twitter messages and find out our battlefield strategy, or some such. (I suggest Bin Laden just tune into CNN for that info.) The Army, on the other hand, is actively promoting the use of social network sites, and even has Generals tweeting on the front lines. My take: the Army has grown soft. You want a terrorist killed, hire a Marine. If Pvt. Pyle needed a Facebook page, the Marines would have issued him one. Hooya.

Stimulating Thoughts.

What with half the country running around celebrating the success of Obama's Cash For Clunkers program (a government program that works! What a concept!) perhaps it's time to try Blogger Dave's stimulus idea. Drum roll, please...

Cash For Computer Clunkers.

Having just replaced our cranky old PC with a new Mac, I'm thrilled. Lightning-fast page loads! Intuitive software! The old HP was chugging along like one of those clunkers the administration urged us all to trade in.

So, says I, let's have a program to benefit America's tech industry. Trash the old PC and get an instant rebate from Uncle Sam... say, $300. Who'd benefit? Microsoft, Intel, Del, Apple, big box electronic retailers... you name it.

Great idea, huh? It's too late for me, but call your congressman (or woman) and pitch the idea.