Cyberstrike could be crippling

By Joe McAdory

Saw a news report today where terrorists could feasibly use a cyberstrike to dismantle electricity in America. Looks like Bin Laden’s tech skills have greatly improved since his days with the walkie-talkie.

When we think of attacks, we often think of airplanes and explosions with death and destruction. But starving our nation of electricity for weeks would be crippling. Sure, we depend on gasoline to drive our cars to work and wherever else we need to go, but you take away power and we would be back in the 1800s. Communications would be at a minimum and those who aren’t survivalists would have serious issues.

No TV, no microwave, no oven, no lights, no heat, no air. That’s pretty bad.

Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen.

Baxley for PSC Prez?

By Joe McAdory

Doc’s Political Parlor, one of Alabama’s foremost political blogs with more information and links to stories than I can shake a stick at, is reporting that former Alabama Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley might make a run for Public Service Commission President next year.

Baxley, a Democrat, failed in her bid to unseat Bob Riley as governor in the 2006 election and has been recovering from a stroke.

Considering her politcal history and experience, Baxley would be a good candidate for the job. But she has her work cut out for her if she is to defeat Republican incumbent Jim Sullivan. He’s held the job for 24 years. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

Rain-X and the idiot

By Joe McAdory

Had to buy Rain-X the other day because my wipers only work when my left turn signal is displayed and I’m tired to driving around town looking like more of an idiot than I already am.

So, I pulled into an auto parts store and found the water-repellant in a yellow bottle. Rain-X in this bottle was different. It didn’t look like the traditional Rain-X bottle. Instead, it took on the appearance of a gel anti-perspirant bottles. Standing in the rain in the parking lot, I popped the cap and smeared the Rain-X on the windshield. A little here, a little there. I never thought about the fact that it didn’t look like any Rain-X was actually getting on the windshield.

I pulled away and I still couldn’t see. “I bought defective Rain-X,“ I thought. Fortunately it stopped raining and I could see again without guessing which direction my car was going.

Sunday I forcefully grabbed that Rain-X anti-perspirant-looking bottle, and when I did, a bunch of Rain-X squirted through the top of the bottle. Oh. So that’s how it comes out. Maybe I should have read the directions.

Idiot.

Oklahoma State coach stooped to article’s level

By Joe McAdory

Found this link at another journalist’s blog of Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy berating a newspaper article on a Cowboy quarterback, and berating newspapers in general. I understand his point to a degree, but anytime a newspaper prints WHAT HAPPENS how can that be challenged? He calls this quarterback “still a child.“ Really? Is this child old enough to vote? Is this child old enough to drive a car? He is not a child.

Then Gundy rips into the reporter, Jenni Carlson of the Daily Oklahoman, and tells her that he wishes her child had to endure a similar hardship. When Gundy did that, he stooped to the exact level he was berating. At that point, his argument became invalid.

If a newspaper article prints something that is inaccurate, then a retraction should be forthcoming. Articles should be backed with attribution. Was this story inaccurate? I don’t know. There were some stabs at the quarterback, but he is a public figure. I’m not sure if some stabs were necessary. Carlson used the phrase “word is” regarding the quarterback’s possible transfer. “Word is” doesn’t cut it in my field. That’s only heresay.

But singling out newspapers, coach Gundy, is wrong. There are other means of journalism that deliver dirty laundry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E

Here is Carlson’s column: http://newsok.com/article/3131543/1190474803

Golf designed to destroy my psyche

By Joe McAdory

Random thoughts on a Sunday evening:

* Golf was designed to completely destroy a person’s psyche and bring us to our knees. How in the world am I supposed to relax on a golf course when my allotment of balls sail into the nearby lake? And just when I thought my slice problem was gone, it reappears far more pronounced than ever. Why? And just what are those evil-looking mutant squirrels at Grand National? Those things look creepy. I ain’t feedin one.

* FYI, Auburn’s football team has not lost a game in white uniforms since its trip to Georgia in 2003. Auburn wore white uniforms in 2004 at Mississippi State, at Tennessee, at Ole Miss, at Alabama and in the SEC Championship Game against Tennessee. Won them all. Auburn wore whites in 2005 at Arkansas, at Kentucky and at Georgia. Won those too. AU wore blue at LSU in 2005. Auburn wore whites in 2006 at Ole Miss, at South Carolina, at Alabama and again in the Cotton Bowl against Nebraska. Won those too. AU wore blue in 2006 at Mississippi State. That said, Auburn has won 12 consecutive games in white uniforms. Auburn will more than likely wear white Saturday night at Florida. My guess is the Tigers will need a heck of a lot more than a uniform mojo to pull that one off.

* The last time Auburn began SEC play with an 0-2 mark was 1980 in what turned out to be Doug Barfield’s final season as head coach. Auburn is 0-1 in the SEC going into Gainesville. The Tigers began the SEC 0-2 in 1966 under Shug Jordan and he coached nine more seasons after that.

* I just learned that I like candy corn. Never tried it. Probably shouldn’t have. Now I’m wired.

* Was told Saturday night that I don’t look my age. That’s always nice to hear. I look younger than 39, but I feel older. Thank God for anti-inflammatories.