Remember when MTV played music?

Do you remember when the "M" in MTV meant 'music'? If you're like me, you stopped watching MTV a loooooooooong time ago. Back when they would only show music videos in ½ hour blocks once every few hours. I didn't mind shows like Remote Control. But after that MTV went down hill fast. Filling air time with junk like Real World and Road Rules.

Well the good times are back. Sort of. MTV is still confused about their initials. Now the music is back in MTV, it's just that the TV is not TV anymore. I'll take what I can get at this point.

I first read about this on digg.com (link) and when I read it I was excited. I know that you can probably find most of these videos on Youtube or scattered elsewhere on the internet. But with MTV behind it and with their massive video archive maybe we will actually get some real quality videos. It has to be better than some geek using his cell phone to record video of his TV playing a 20 year old VHS tape recording of Money For Nothing. I've played around with it some and was unable to find some of my favorites, but I have hope. Another thing that would like to see come from this is an ability to make a channel or playlist. You could base it on Genre, Era, Group, or whatever. I would, like, TOTALLY watch that. Fer Sher!

From this article on ars technica:

MTV smacks YouTube, posts almost every music video ever

Do you sometimes find yourself wishing that there was a place you could go to just watch music videos? Back in the 80s, MTV served that purpose. These days, MTV and its sibling MTV2 are hardly channels anyone would watch in order to get a music video fix. MTV is looking to redeem itself in the music video department, however, by launching a new site Tuesday called MTV Music that opens up the company's massive video archive and puts it on the web for free.

MTV Music expands upon the music video offerings already posted to MTV.com by offering an entire back catalogue of videos that go all the way to when music videos were born. The library includes more than 16,000 videos, sprinkled with "exclusive" MTV concert footage and MTV "Unplugged" performances that used to be all the rage. And that's just the beginning. According to a blog post on MTV's Splash Page, more videos are being added by the day, so even if your favorite Paula Abdul selections haven't been posted yet, they probably will make it up eventually.

There is more info at the ars technica link above. Please go check it out.

If I may speak for the entire 80's generation....

IT"S ABOUT *&^*@(%@#$ TIME!

Tags: MTV, music videos, EvilMidniteBombr, eighties

Never Forget

Today is the 7th anniversary of an event that changed my life. It also changed the way I view the world and politics.

On this day, we were attacked by a group of people that are nothing short of evil. May they burn in Hell.

Please take time out of your busy day to remember what happened. Remember where you were. How you felt. Who you cried for. Please remember all of those brave souls who rushed into those burning buildings to save lives of total strangers and never made it home to their loved ones.

How to keep others from reading your old hard drives

These days identity theft is big business. There are a multitude of ways that a bad guy can get your personal data for his gain. Among these methods is your old computer hardware. Particularly the hard drive in your old computer. Most people would say that wiping the HDD will be enough. Programs like Darik's Boot and Nuke are incredibly good at removing all the data on your old drives. But if you aren't careful, you can erase data on a different drive that you wanted to keep. Not that I've done that! Ok. Maybe once... Anyway, I thought I would offer up my way of dealing with this problem.

Step One:

Remove the old drive from the computer. You might want to make sure that you are removing a drive that you want to keep. There is no Undo option here. This are a couple of old hard drives that I had laying around the house. This method will work on any size hard disk. It makes no difference. (Click on image for larger version)

Step Two:

Select your tools. In this particular situation. I have chosen a Taurus model PT24/7 Pro in .40 S&W. The particular ammunition was Blazer Brass 180 grain Full Metal Jacket. Your tools may be different from mine, but I think you can see where this is going. ;)

Step Three:

Find a safe place to work. It must be well ventilated. Plenty of light. Most of all, BE SAFE! Do NOT handle a firearm of any type unless you know what you are doing.

Step Four:

Proceed with your work. I recommend repeated applications. As many as you like. I only stopped after a few hits because I could no longer get the HDD's to stay in one place long enough for me to get a shot off. WARNING! This may result in uncontrollable grinning and/or giggling.

Step Five:

Sleep soundly with the knowledge that your data has been protected!

Sorry for the largeocity of the pictures. That's the smallest I could post without shrinking the originals even more.

Concealed Carry Stops Shooting Spree

Please check out this story from the Reno Gazette-Journal
Winnemucca, NV

On Sunday May 25, 2008 at approximately 2:30 a.m. the Winnemucca Police Department was dispatched to the Players Bar and Grill located at 1062 South Grass Valley Road on the report of numerous shots fired and multiple gunshot victims.

The officers on scene discovered three adult males who had died from obvious gunshot wounds. Two additional gunshot victims were also located.

Those two gunshot victims had non-life threatening injuries and were later release from the hospital.

The initial investigation indicated that there had been two separate shooters during the incident. One of the alleged shooters, Ernesto Fuentes Villagomez, age 30 of Winnemucca, was among the three men who were dead on arrival. The other was a 48 year old Reno man who was initially taken into custody at the scene as a person of interest.

The subsequent investigation lead detectives to believe that Villagomez entered the bar and at some point began firing multiple rounds. At least two of these rounds struck and killed the other two decedents, Jose Torres age, 20 and his brother Margarito Torres, age 19 both of Winnemucca. At some point during this shooting spree Villagomez allegedly stopped and according to witnesses reloaded his high capacity handgun and began shooting again.

It was at this point that the second shooter, the Reno resident, produced a concealed handgun and proceeded to fire upon Villagomez who succumbed to his wounds. The Reno resident was in possession of a valid Concealed Carry Permit issued through the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

The shooting was determined to be a justifiable homicide and the unnamed Reno man was released with no charges filed against him.

Good for him. I hope the man gets a medal.

Congress vs. Big Oil

It really bugs me everytime I hear someone complain about gas prices and the first thing out of their mouth is "These oil companies are making record profits by gouging the little people!" Really? Is that where the blame actually lies? I don't think so. People think that companies like Exxon set the per barrel price of oil. This is not the case. Oil is traded as a commodity. The price of oil is set by people that panic and pee their pants everytime some nutball over in the Middle East rattles a sabre. It's not set by actual demand on the product. I am not even close to understanding the stock market and all of the nonsense that goes on at Wall Street. But this manner of setting oil prices doesn't make sense to me. Why should a bunch of Wall Street Weenies have that much control over something that affects every man, woman and child in America? Additionally, if Congress and the Environmentalist Whackos would get the hell out of the way, let Big Oil explore for new sources and let them drill for it in environmentally friendly ways. You might just see a decrease in gas prices. No doubt that it will take years for any new oil to impact current prices. But if we had been drilling for oil that when it was discovered 10 or so years ago, we might not be in the pinch that we are in now. Glenn Beck illustrated this in a very good way yesterday on his national radio show. In this portion of his show he parodied a Congressman grilling someone from Big Oil. I have edited it a little, however, no pertinent content was removed. You can find the full transcript here.

Mr. Big oil, we're here to talk about the high price of gasoline. How could it have possibly gotten this high?

Let me tell you what we've done here in congress.
We told you that drilling in ANWR is off limits.
We told you that drilling off the coast of Florida and California is off limits.
We told you, Mr. Big oil, that there wouldn't be any new leases for drilling in the Gulf while China and Venezuela and even Cuba pursued these leases and have just signed 100-year leases on the oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
We here in congress have promised, as all three presidential candidates have also promised, to introduce and pass in the next term a cap and trade legislation bill that will increase the price of gasoline according to the EPA by an additional $1.50. Some people say it could be as high as $5 additional per gallon.
We have said that we're shutting down oil fields in Colorado.
We won't let you develop shale oil fields in several Western states.
We passed legislation that would let us sue OPEC with the full understanding that they'll never retaliate.
We have allowed environmental attorneys to sue you big oil fiends for future possible destruction of Alaskan Eskimo village which legal experts believe is the same strategy used to bring down big tobacco.
We're especially proud of our recent action to protect the polar bear and their habitat which just happens to be where the future oil deposits happen to be located.
We told you that you're making too much money and that we're looking at seizing any money that we consider windfall profits.
We have allowed you to drill in some very small areas in Alaska while simultaneously creating very generous environmental laws which have tied up the very production we authorize through years of litigation after you spent the money on buying and setting up equipment.
We told you through our policies that we would not allow you to build a new refinery in over 30 years.
In fact, this great country, under our tutelage, has even reduced the number of operational refineries by half since 1982.
We have even told your potential competitors in the nuclear and hydroelectric industries that we would send the environmental lawyers after them if they even dared think about building a new plant or a new dam.
We've refused to fund or allow the deployment of coal-to-oil technology which has been around since the 1930s.
We've told you that you have to make different blends of gasoline, let states like California dictate what unique gasoline blends you have to make for them.
We will not reduce our federal gasoline tax.
We won't even consider reducing it for the summer months.
So Mr. Big oil, tell me why exactly are gas prices so high?

Holy DNA Batman!

Former president campaigns in Hardin County

Bill Clinton's schedule calls for a campaign stop on his wife's behalf Thursday night at John Hardin High School.

Bill Clinton will campaign here Thursday for his wife in a final get-out-the-vote push just days before Kentucky Democrats have their say in the marathon struggle for their party’s nomination for president between New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

The former president will appear at 7:30 p.m. at John Hardin High School for a "Solutions for America" campaign event, the Kentucky for Hillary committee in Louisville announced late Tuesday.

Well, well, well. It seems that our fair city of Elizabethtown, KY will be graced with a former President of the United States. Yes, Mr. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to make a campaign stop at a local high school for his husb... oops... wife here in the city I work. Unfortunately, I will be out of town all day. There is an off chance that I may be back in time for the scheduled 7:30pm appearance. If I can I will swing by there to see what kind of crowd he will draw and maybe get inside to see him. Despite of the man's politics and actions, he is a former President. It's not an opportunity that comes along very often. How many times does a normal (some say I am Abby Normal) citizen get a chance to see a President? Not often around here anyway.

A Woman And Her Gun

WAVE 3 News
Woman grabs gun, foils burglary at her home
Mother's Day turned out to be one that won't soon be forgotten for Donna Dedas.

Dedas and her son returned home to find a strange truck parked outside and two men inside their home - 40 year-old Larry Tedrow and 43-year-old James Brewer. That's when Dedas took action.

"I went in the backdoor and came up the steps and as I was going up the steps the two men had my pillowcase and things in their hand and they went right out the front door," she said."I got my gun and came out and got on the deck. I yelled at them to get down on the ground, then they jumped in the truck."

There are so many things that could have gone wrong in this situation. Especially if she hadn't been armed. If that had been the case, she may have not entered the house. The report never says in what town or area that she lives. Since they only mentioned it as Bullit County (no pun. that really is the name of the county) I am going to assume that it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. If that is true, the time it would take for law enforcement to get there would be an eternity. Especially when there are two men in your house stealing your valuables (and food).

Dedas says one of the suspects then began dumping jewelry out of his pockets onto the road. Bullitt County Police tell WAVE 3 this was not the first home the pair hit Sunday afternoon. At least four others were burglarized that day with computers, a digital camera, .357 magnum handgun and more than $800 stolen. And it appears that was not all two were taking.

"These nuts, stealing meat, that's a little different," Detective Scotty McGaha told WAVE 3 News, as he pulled three packs of meat from a police department freezer.

Donna Dedas also had a package of meat taken from her freezer.

Yeah. They were stealing meat, too. Go figure.

You never know when you will be the victim of a random crime. It really could happen to anyone. To me, the most important thing in this situation is that this one woman was made equal to two grown men because she is an armed citizen. Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton both want to take away your right to own a gun. We cannot afford to let them get into the White House. It is imperative that these two are defeated. More importantly, we HAVE to elect men and women into the Legislative branch that believe in the Constitution. That believe that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right. That believe it is our God given right to be able to defend ourselves and fellow man by any means necessary. This woman is walking proof of how important it is to be able to defend yourself and your home. If BHO or HRC (to a slightly lesser extent Juan McCain) make it into the White House you can bet your bippy that the 2nd Amendment will be one of their first targets.

EDIT: Forgot to link to the original story. Sorry!!! -EMB

Earthquake

This morning at around 5:37 am EST an earthquake occurred near West Salem, Illinois. According to the USGS it was a 5.4 magnitude. That is 124 miles (straight line) from where I live. No injuries have been reported anywhere as far as I know.

This is only the second earthquake I have ever experienced. The first was just a few years ago and it was just a little shiver. This one was definitely the strongest that I've experienced. It woke me and the wife. The house was shaking a bit. I heard creaking and a little popping. Basically the same sounds we hear if there are high winds outside. I got up and looked outside to see if it was wind or a storm. Of course, there was no storm. It didn't take too long before I realized what it was. I'll have to admit, it was a bit unsettling. But still kinda cool!

I'll post more if anything develops. Especially if we experience any aftershocks.

EDIT/UPDATE:
Just about 10-15 minutes before 8 am EST, the USGS downgraded the quake from 5.4 to 5.2

UPDATE: 11:15am EST
I felt an aftershock here in KY. According to the USGS Website it was a magnitude of 4.5. It only lasted a second or two here. Causing the walls to shake slightly and a slight rumble. Just thought I would pass that along.

Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot Canceled

Read more at their forums or at http://machinegunshoot.com

This spring's Machine Gun Shoot scheduled for April 11-13 at Knob Creek Range in Kentucky has been canceled due to flooding. There has just been too much rain in the last month. (Kentucky is already at the same amount of rain as we had in June of last year.) This means that a great part of the lower areas at KCR is underwater. This includes the lower parking area, lower gun range and the Jungle Walk. Even if waters did recede in time, the ground would still be too saturated for walking, much less parking.

This is the only entrance/exit to the range. Normally that water is about 10 feet below the bridge. More pics at machinegunshoot.com

For those of you that do not know what I am talking about. Here is a video of the night shoot.

OK House of Reps passes Campus Concealed Carry

3/13/08 - Okla. House Passes Campus Gun Bill (Associated Press)

House Bill 2513 introduced by Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie...

The state House agreed Thursday to allow people with specialized firearms training, such as military personnel, to carry concealed weapons on the state's college campuses, despite opponents who said it made no sense following shootings at schools across the country.

The measure was approved 65-36, and now heads to the state Senate for a vote.

More can be read at the AP link above.

It is a fairly limited concealed carry bill, but at least it is a start. From what the AP story says, only those with "with firearms training certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education who hold a state concealed weapons license to carry guns on college and university campuses." It also allows active, reserve, honorably discharged military and Guard members to carry concealed as well. This helps to insure that trained and qualified persons have such permits. I don't have much of a problem with this as long as the certified training for civilians isn't to restrictive and inordinately difficult to obtain. I don't mind if the training is difficult, but the process of getting enrolled should be as easy as filling our an enrollment form and paying any necessary fees.

That being said, this next part concerns me.

Murphey's bill would require people authorized to carry a concealed handgun to provide written notice to the university or college president prior to bringing a gun on campus.

This gives the Libs that control college campi a chance to discriminate against law abiding gun owners. Is there any assurance that they will not publish these names? Or give each professor a list of students on campus that are carrying concealed weapons?

My hope is that other states will adopt similar legislation. "When seconds matter, the police are only minutes away." It's more than just a catchy phrase.

SEC Coach Of The Year

ukathletics.com GoVolsXtra.com
Billie Gillispie and Bruce Pearl were named SEC Co-Coach of the Year. Both coaches had a great year. A lot of Kentucky fans were writing off Gillispie during the first part of this season. However, once the team came together things really turned around. UK ended regular season conference play with a record of 12-4. They now have a first round bye in the SEC Tourney and will most likely make a 17 consecutive appearance to the NCAA National Championship Tournament.

The Vols were ranked #1 for their first time ever. They also won their first regular season SEC Championship in just over 40 years. They also stand (in my opinion) the best chance at winning the SEC Tournament Championship.

Why you should carry every day

Here's a good commentary on why every law abiding citizen should carry their weapon with them at all times. Not only thinking short term. As if what might happen if I am only going to get some milk? But what may happen in the long term if more citizens are armed and trained to use the 2nd Amendment to protect their freedom.

Some excerpts from that article. (linked below)

WorldNetDaily commentary
Why you should carry every day
By Gerard Valentino

Several spree killings in non-permissive places like colleges or in states that don't have concealed-carry laws have blasted the gun-control debate back onto the national stage. Pro-gun advocates accurately pointed out that in Illinois, where two of the spree killings took place, citizens are denied their constitutional right to self-defense through the right to bear arms. Being disarmed in the face of a deranged killer must be a terrifying experience.

Even worse, however, is finding yourself at the mercy of an armed thug after you made the decision not to carry because you were just running to the store.

Since the creation of the failed social experiment gun control has become, the establishment media have taught everyone simply to give up their possessions to criminals. The liberalism pervasive in schools has also created generations of people who were taught not to fight back if attacked by another student. Students who are victimized are prohibited from fighting back as a means of protection, which has left us with a generation incapable of dealing with the tyranny of common thugs that prey on people.

Being submissive to criminals has left us with an element in society that uses the false hope of pacifism as an invitation to attack people with impunity.

I really like this next quote.

Since the creation of the failed social experiment gun control has become, the establishment media have taught everyone simply to give up their possessions to criminals. The liberalism pervasive in schools has also created generations of people who were taught not to fight back if attacked by another student. Students who are victimized are prohibited from fighting back as a means of protection, which has left us with a generation incapable of dealing with the tyranny of common thugs that prey on people.

Being submissive to criminals has left us with an element in society that uses the false hope of pacifism as an invitation to attack people with impunity.

Poll on Concealed Carry

I am passing along a link to a Philadelphia Inquirer poll on whether or not Concealed Carry should be allowed on college campuses. Please take the time to vote. I know that internet polls aren't at all scientific and aren't worth the paper they are printed on. But hopefully someone in the mainstream media will notice one day and actually report on it.

Story & Poll
Look under reader feedback ~LN

The difference between victim and victor

This story actually happened back in November but it has just come to my attention. I wanted to post it and add a few comments.

911 audio (may not be suitable for all listeners): http://www.nbc5.com/download/2008/0110/15020797.mp3

Original story:

Hammond woman fatally shoots alleged stalker

November 14, 2007 (HAMMOND, Ind.) -- A northwest Indiana woman shot her alleged stalker to death.

Police say 41-year-old Ryan Lee Bergner broke into the woman's home in Hammond Monday night. The 51-year-old woman called 9-1-1 and hid in a closet with a gun she had been given for protection. She says she shot him when he opened the closet door and started choking her.

His family says Bergner was a good man. Neighbors say the woman's action is understandable.

"There is no way there should be any charges on her. It is justifiable homicide. She was on the phone with police. They told her exactly what to do. What more are you asking for when some guy's coming at you? I mean, that's defense," said Alison Joseph, woman's neighbor.

Story update can be found here:

She said she was watching television when she heard a window break and called 911. She was hiding in a closet when she says 41-year-old Ryan Bergner came into the room. That's when she shot him with a gun she acquired that day. (emphasis added by EMB)

"What are you doing? Stop it. Stop it, stop it," the victims says in the emergency call.

"He's in the room with her," the 911 operator says.

"Stop it, stop it," the victim continues, then a scream is heard.

Earlier this week, the prosecutor decided not to charge the woman. (emphasis added - EMB)

This is a prime example of how a person turned the tables on her attacker and refused to be a victim. By defending herself she very well may have saved her own life.

As good as the police are, they simply cannot be everywhere. As the 911 audio shows, it can take several minutes for the police to get to you when you need them most. This woman did everything she could to avoid this man. Everything that all of the anti-gun people tell you to do. Call 911. Lock the doors. Retreat to another room. Hide.

None of which did any good. He still came after her. Locked doors did not stop him. Locked windows did not stop him. A call to 911 did not stop him. An armed citizen did.

Norris & Huckabee

This is hands down the funniest and best political ad I have ever seen. It would be nice if more politicians would stop taking themselves so damned seriously and try to make people want to vote for them. Not against their opponent(s). This ad has been out for at least a few days. But I thought I would share it here just in case you guys missed it.

Chuck Norris Approved

Single White Male Seeks Hot Babe

Thaiphoon and I figured that since our buddy Nazh was in a bit of a funk, we would do what we can to hook him up with some female companionship. If you feel that you will be interested in this fine piece of man meat, feel free to leave a comment and we'll try to get back to you. [PLEASE DO NOT leave personal phone numbers and other personal information where everyone and their grandmother can see it. EMB]

Hello. My name is Lord Nazh. I am a single white male in the 35 to 45 year old range. I live in the great state of Alabama. I currently make a living as a Right Wing Extremist, but enjoy several extra curricular activities.

I enjoy spending time with my family and playing with my daughter. In my free time I enjoy thumping the occasional Bible and thanking G-d for giving us the University of Tennessee and the United States of America. I like blogging and bowling but never at the same time. Always blog responsibly. Friends don't let friends blog and bowl. I love guns, video games and live D&D role playing. Although my favorite activities have to be Star Trek Conventions and dressing up as a 49th Level Elf Archer (female of course ;))

My dislikes are Liberal whackos, Environmentalist hippies, Islamic extremists, peacenik pansies and dressing as a 48th Level Elf Archer (I hate posers!)

I am looking for a meaningful, long term one night stand with a beautiful blond woman (wigs are acceptable). You must have at least 25% of your original teeth and mostly STD free. You must like to dress up like Wonder woman. Then tie me up with a golden lariat and force me to tell the truth!! I've been a very naughty Elf.

My picture is posted below. Please include a recent picture of yourself for future reference. [Keep it clean please. EMB]

I'll be waiting... XoXoXo