tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47394134398753059082011-07-08T04:28:18.953-05:00You're not the senior most OOD, nor the most experienced. But the CO feels that when he's fast asleep, you can tell when things are getting out of hand. And you'll pick up the phone. Congratulations, you're the Midwatch Cowboy. "Maneuvering, Conn, shut up and push."midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.comBlogger2001100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-88286049536571183322010-05-01T19:12:00.000-05:002010-05-04T19:17:42.829-05:00

I'm thinking of building a mount for binoculars. Especially if I wind up buying something with more light gathering than the 10x50s that I use now.I'm looking at a parallelogram mount for a tripod. I first found this one. It has a nice bill of materials and drawing. I checked out most of the stuff at Lowe's, except for the teflon sheeting. But I'm probably going to blend it with ideas from

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-68231348056925594792010-04-26T11:17:00.004-05:002010-04-26T11:27:25.576-05:00

I went to a used book store and picked up the three volume reference work: Burnham's Celestial Handbook.I was amazed by the easy reading style along with the detail and depth while being a bit quirky (still looks to be copies of typwritten pages). Googling around, I found that the author was a high school grad who discovered a comet and got hired into a position at the Lowell Observatory to do

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-36077076408516529472010-04-21T16:33:00.002-05:002010-05-04T18:59:37.900-05:00

My new eyepiece arrived from Astromart. It's an Astro Tech Titan type II ED 35mm wide field.Can't wait to try it out.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-5554219855799941202010-04-18T19:18:00.001-05:002010-05-04T19:25:04.202-05:00

Went up to the Tennessee Spring Star Party on Saturday night. It was up at a nice dark sky site in the middle of the state, between Nashville and Knoxville - Fall Creek Falls State Park. Thanks to the Cumberland Astronomical Society for hosting.I noticed that my 15" f/5.5 was one of the slowest of the big dobsonian telescopes out there. I also noted that the Royce mirror was showing some great

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-33606189387518405132010-04-14T19:01:00.000-05:002010-05-04T19:18:15.687-05:00

With joining the Barnard Astronomical Society comes membership in the Astronomical League. One thing they have is a program of 'observing clubs'. Members can complete various observing lists, document them and send the verified records for a pin. Kinda like a astronomy 'merit badge'. These are the ones I'm looking to do in the next year:Northern constellationsUrban observerBinocular Messier

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-13327522244181052212010-04-09T18:59:00.000-05:002010-05-04T19:01:16.042-05:00

Went to the Barnard Astronomical Society meeting last night. Small but nice group of enthusiasts.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-22717556492714699032009-11-12T16:24:00.004-05:002009-11-12T16:32:06.997-05:00

"Navy had won 14 straight games against service academy teams dating back to 2002 before losing to Air Force this season."

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-8639394356501318392009-05-16T21:15:00.003-05:002009-05-16T21:23:58.370-05:00

Or, read the helpful commenters on your blog.Bettina Chavanne, a blogger at Ares recently posted this piece of idiocy in a post about ship construction in FY10 budget:Virginia-class: The world's most expensive sub? The Navy is asking for $4.18 billion for its Virginia Class submarine, although in the same breath it promises to get costs down around $2 billion per boat (as measured in FY '05

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-73480896338721994312009-02-24T20:01:00.002-05:002009-02-24T20:04:14.912-05:00

Playing a bold game in the enemy's own seas, the USS GUARDFISH (SSN 217) scored heavily in its twelve war patrols.That's the way the history of that WWII submarine starts. Read more here.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-76765561330600829652009-01-27T12:39:00.002-05:002009-01-27T12:41:58.755-05:00

The San Diego Chapter of SUBVETS is moving forward with a memorial to the 52 subs lost in WWII. This will be at the Brac'd NTC San Diego - now called Liberty Station.They have a fascinating history of the American Liberty Elm trees being used in the memorial.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-37237654240879295542009-01-21T19:40:00.001-05:002009-01-21T19:40:49.720-05:00

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-88673031032527764932009-01-08T23:08:00.002-05:002009-01-08T23:15:01.381-05:00

This one was not expected. SSN 785 will be named after the recently retired Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia.Former Petty Officer 3rd Class and Capt in USMC, he was on the SASC and Sea-Power subcommittee. Loyal part of the submarine friendly VA-CT-RI delegations.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-17537366405242817342008-12-20T08:31:00.001-05:002008-12-20T08:57:54.996-05:00

The following is the winning entry in an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term: This year's term was Political Correctness.The winner wrote:Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-4590846714162787522008-12-18T20:14:00.001-05:002008-12-18T20:16:52.917-05:00

How to get the junk off of a bank's balance sheet.Credit Suisse Group AG’s investment bank has found a new way to reduce the risk of losses from about $5 billion of its most illiquid loans and bonds: using them to pay employees’ year-end bonuses.From Ritholtz.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-83799891792222208292008-12-18T15:10:00.002-05:002008-12-18T15:13:21.598-05:00

Freakonomics asks us to answer the following standardized test question without knowing what the question is:Which of the following is the correct answer?a) 4π sq. inchesb) 8π sq. inchesc) 16 sq. inchesd) 16π sq. inchese) 32π sq. inchesDid you get it right, too? I still got my game.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-67173217000692295402008-12-17T08:33:00.002-05:002008-12-17T08:35:44.419-05:00

Very interesting when thinking about becoming more fuel efficient we should be using GPM not MPG. For example over 10,000 miles - a jump from 10 MPG to 11 MPG gives the same savings as going from 33 MPG to 50 MPG. In each case, you'rve reduced your consumption by about 100 gallons.Check yours here.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-70447971353179060912008-12-10T18:28:00.001-05:002008-12-10T18:29:58.198-05:00

Take the libertarian stance and legalize gay marriage.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-68189901884487830422008-12-05T07:22:00.001-05:002008-12-05T07:24:49.314-05:00

Anonymous blogger drops the shields. Maybe he is looking for a job with DONCIO? Just kidding.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-51696132717296137552008-12-04T23:29:00.000-05:002008-12-04T23:30:09.427-05:00

.cc_box a:hover .cc_home{background:url('http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-over.png') !important;}.cc_links a{color:#b9b9b9;text-decoration:none;}.cc_show a{color:#707070;text-decoration:none;}.cc_title a{color:#868686;text-decoration:none;}.cc_links a:hover{color:#67bee2;text-decoration:underline;}The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cRoland

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-64986017972214078582008-12-04T22:45:00.001-05:002008-12-04T22:46:51.372-05:00

More here.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-49674853937310657082008-12-03T07:26:00.002-05:002008-12-03T07:29:03.776-05:00

Liberal milblogger, who apparently doesn't know the man, suspects a familiar face for Obama's SECNAV:Anyway....no mention of keeping Winter around. To me, that silence sounds like a political obit.And, if we're in the guessing business, somebody, a few days ago, wrote in and suggested we here at the Springboard float Joe Sestak for SECNAV. But...more on that later...Wonder what Phibian would

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-48361792548605061892008-12-02T18:08:00.002-05:002008-12-02T18:27:31.788-05:00

Pajamas media (Steve Gill) reports:The selection of Hillary Clinton for secretary of state reveals that President-elect Barack Obama does not limit his lack of appreciation for the Constitution to just the First and Second Amendments. While there has been plenty of analysis focused on whether or not this is a good political decision, the choice may actually reveal more about Obama’s respect or

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-77604201605541778762008-11-26T10:53:00.002-05:002008-11-26T10:57:01.539-05:00

The Washington Post describes a British ploy to determine who was making the bombs in Northern Ireland. The plan was simple: Build a laundry and staff it with locals and a few of their own. The laundry would then send out "color coded" special discount tickets, to the effect of "get two loads for the price of one," etc. The color coding was matched to specific streets and thus when someone

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-56705318514772334392008-11-26T10:30:00.001-05:002008-11-26T10:32:10.860-05:00

Blue Angels to hold open tryouts.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-63988680329750339662008-11-26T10:25:00.002-05:002008-11-26T10:27:11.563-05:00

Perusing the Strange Maps blog, I found the Kingdom of Elleore, founded during WWII...12 minutes ahead of Copenhagen.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-89287406541404520612008-11-25T18:02:00.000-05:002008-11-25T18:03:06.217-05:00

NFL in 3D...can't come soon enough.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-60972843587099858472008-11-19T23:52:00.000-05:002008-11-19T23:53:47.871-05:00

Sounds like an interesting book.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-71527475472043314462008-11-17T13:30:00.002-05:002008-11-17T13:35:07.455-05:00

Mickey Kaus wonders about the Time magazine cover:'If Obama and the Democrats succeed in restoring the economy and stabilizing the government's finances without cutting popular programs or producing social disorder, they'll keep being reelected for decades'?However, he better not screw it up like FDR did. Thanks to some research from UCLA economists.The fact that the Depression dragged on for

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-64509154401356945312008-11-07T12:41:00.003-05:002008-11-07T12:43:45.713-05:00

The Club for Growth has a very enlightening survey. Seems that although the Dems won in this round, all is not lost for the GOP, if it adopts some fiscally responsible positions. I'd add a dash of libertarianism to counter the religious conservatives, too.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-40488230621469960012008-11-05T10:42:00.003-05:002008-11-05T10:46:02.937-05:00

Well, the US electorate has chosen. Long live the Republic. Surprisingly, I will pray for President Obama's health. Just because I shudder to think what an imbecile like Biden would do in the White House. I, at least, believe Obama is intelligent.Some others are predicting some bad outcomes (nuclear war in the middle east) and some good one disguised as bad ones (world economic implosion).

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-79057959088615890862008-11-03T15:58:00.003-05:002008-11-03T16:01:56.368-05:00

Down 27-7 to Temple (the Fighting Jello Puddings) in the 4th quarter. Then the comeback courtesy of Ricky Dobbs (Navy backup QB), Clint Sovie (Navy LB) and Al Groden (Temple Coach). Click for video.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-14211667850416343072008-10-27T15:19:00.001-05:002008-10-27T15:21:29.979-05:00

Our dear (presumptive future) leader, via Hotair:If you look at the victories and failures of the civil rights movement and its litigation strategy in the court. I think where it succeeded was to invest formal rights in previously dispossessed people, so that now I would have the right to vote. I would now be able to sit at the lunch counter and order as long as I could pay for it I’d be o.k. But

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-20567106340775898282008-10-27T13:48:00.002-05:002008-10-27T13:53:09.291-05:00

We were at the local Babies-R-Us for some birthday photos for the eldest child. He lets us know that he's thirsty. My wife informs me she forgot to bring water. No problem, just get some from the convenience cooler at the checkout line, that's what it's for.So the cashier scans my one 20 oz. bottle of water, and asks, "Is this for a registry or do you need a gift receipt?"Wow, I just wish I

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-65393400173136670612008-10-27T12:09:00.001-05:002008-10-27T12:10:35.194-05:00

We plant Rickover seeds and pray an O'Kane plant sprouts.Submarine officer inside joke.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-11874011385990741282008-10-27T11:29:00.001-05:002008-10-27T11:30:38.545-05:00

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need–the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.From Robert Bluey.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-34226019901226933042008-10-24T12:07:00.002-05:002008-10-24T12:11:23.864-05:00

Zombietime found a copy of Prarie Fire and have provided some interesting snippets for us to peruse. Warning, these are disturbing.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-13304700830549925122008-10-21T08:32:00.000-05:002008-10-21T08:33:06.750-05:00

Crisis explainer: Uncorking CDOs from Marketplace on Vimeo.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-33064263404816360222008-10-10T06:39:00.001-05:002008-10-10T06:39:48.448-05:00

Bathtub II from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-28094850015510696722008-10-01T13:41:00.000-05:002008-10-01T13:45:36.310-05:00

Navy strikes first - with real stealth.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-42495740094261502842008-09-30T09:17:00.000-05:002008-09-30T09:19:15.945-05:00

Trying to get to root causes. Make sure you watch the youtube link at the bottom.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-19403560789277453292008-09-30T09:15:00.000-05:002008-09-30T09:17:18.312-05:00

And he's brilliant as usual.God Bless, sir.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-54126006835042108632008-09-24T13:14:00.000-05:002008-09-24T13:17:22.428-05:00

But this just reinforces that undisputable fact. They wrote a letter to Ben & Jerry's to encourage the ice cream maker to stop using bovine milk and substitute HUMAN BREAST MILK!

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-26115472300621045472008-09-19T12:49:00.001-05:002008-09-19T12:56:02.220-05:00

GROTON, Conn. – Capt. Leslie R. Elkin relieved Capt. Christopher R. Pietras as Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP) Groton, a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity, during a Sept. 10 ceremony at the Nautilus, a submarine museum in Groton.Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, gave the ceremony’s keynote address. Fowler spoke about the

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-27338783298139685272008-09-19T12:49:00.000-05:002008-09-19T12:51:30.017-05:00

The rise of weapons system advocacy analysis in Washington to support the budget process, I believe, corrupted the analytical process in general. You have an approach which supports the answer rather than attempting to find the answer. The rise of contractor analytical support has created a demand for more analysts than the system can support and still maintain the required professional quality

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-11883399472248947622008-09-18T18:19:00.001-05:002008-09-18T18:19:14.189-05:00

It indeed is not a popularity contest. This site has sound methods and confirm that (today) it is likely to be a very close election.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-44384531287929712572008-09-17T18:42:00.005-05:002008-09-17T20:17:01.522-05:00

Check out blogtalkradio tomorrow to hear the Durham, NC visit of the Navy's Conversation With The Country.Wonder if NMCI will allow streaming of it?

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-4228139484000448322008-09-17T18:42:00.002-05:002008-09-17T18:46:26.620-05:00

Eclipse E500 Very Light Jet (VLJ) certification process is being called a "calendar driven process" where the outcome "was not in doubt." Very bad stuff.When asked if it was a safe aircraft to fly, the FAA IG could only say that "My office has no evidence that it is unsafe."

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-41122644132515850602008-09-16T18:30:00.002-05:002008-09-16T18:35:59.947-05:00

From chartjunk, first the Washington Post version of tax plans.Next, the same story, but arranged for to show the numbers of people affected.And lastly, according to the revenue share of the population.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-45974108732542238712008-09-12T14:54:00.000-05:002008-09-12T14:56:22.603-05:00

This is just sad.h/t Chap

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-70469118276027560672008-09-12T10:41:00.000-05:002008-09-12T10:44:44.184-05:00

Amazon is tracking blue vs. red book buying by state. Mabye it's just rich Republicans who buy books from Amazon?

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-4209762483682624482008-09-04T20:03:00.002-05:002008-09-04T20:06:28.396-05:00

From Viking the Kitten.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-64708539847992346052008-09-04T19:59:00.001-05:002008-09-04T19:59:46.434-05:00

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-33519519423046990872008-08-19T19:19:00.002-05:002008-08-19T19:47:05.897-05:00

I know Joel does movie reviews. Me, not so much. However, I feel compelled to give you the benefit of my $7.50. Perhaps it's because I don't go that often. Netflix + 58" @ 16:9 is so sweet.Obama may not be the post-racial candidate, "Tropic Thunder", however, is probably the post-racial movie. Robert Downey Jr. may be the first actor to be nominated for best actor while in blackface (perhaps

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-45651130896775207702008-08-19T06:21:00.000-05:002008-08-19T06:22:07.640-05:00

j/k, but I wouldn't be too surprised.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-9012196320733794032008-08-16T14:41:00.004-05:002008-08-18T05:48:04.084-05:00

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-70544478571072064792008-08-16T07:28:00.003-05:002008-08-16T07:43:55.326-05:00

This is the Chinese government's program to boost their medal count and score their propaganda coup. However, the surprises that they are foisting on the sporting world are raising eyebrows. Where did these unknowns come from?The latest is the world record Gold (and Silver) in the women's 200m butterfly. Liu Zige, 19, was unknown in the international swimming community. She has obviously not

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-6444665459958283462008-08-15T14:37:00.000-05:002008-08-15T14:39:08.843-05:00

Five minutes to guess as many of the 100 most common words in English.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-91758029324691224682008-08-15T13:21:00.000-05:002008-08-15T13:23:30.182-05:00

Victor Davis Hanson summarizes much of the bad commentary about the Russia-Georgia situation.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-33356861689139015722008-08-15T11:41:00.000-05:002008-08-15T11:43:59.225-05:00

Over at The Long Tail blog by Wired editor Chris Anderson.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-36252488115667133502008-08-14T17:15:00.004-05:002008-08-15T13:44:11.741-05:00

Hey Abbot! Did you hear about the Chinese Gymnast?You mean He?No. The little girl.Yes. He.No the little girlThe little girl's a He.Then that's another problem. Listen. This little girl is only 13You me He's 13?No. She's 13.Who's 13?No, not Hu. He is 13. Hu is 14.I don't know. I thought you knew.Nope, Yu Nu is 16...Related, and related, and related, and related. And not related, but cool

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-85173670433701998032008-08-11T17:38:00.002-05:002008-08-11T17:49:25.147-05:00

Some scientists that really need to skip their next Trekkie convention have produced a paper outlining that warp drive is possible. They claim that by shrinking the 11th dimension ahead of a spaceship and expanding it behind the craft, they can move spacetime past a 'stationary' spacecraft.These calculations are based on some arbitrary advance in technology or some alien technology that would

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-32736215691653119502008-08-08T11:49:00.003-05:002008-08-09T17:09:25.411-05:00

Now, I generally like the Olympics. I'm a sports fan in general, and in college I played a sport usually only seen every four years (if that). However, a lot of the charm is the idea of representing your country in a contest among the best of each nation.This girl doesn't get it. She was not likely to make the USA Olympic Womens Basketball squad, so she inquires via her winter season employer

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-73978820022575488882008-07-31T14:41:00.003-05:002008-07-31T14:44:54.997-05:00

Results of my Belief-o-matic quiz only have a couple surprises - Quaker so high and I thought Buddhist and Islam would be further separated. Hmmm.1. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%)2. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (96%)3. Orthodox Quaker (94%)4. Eastern Orthodox (83%)5. Roman Catholic (83%)6. Liberal Quakers (79%)7. Bahai Faith (76%)8. Seventh Day Adventist (75%)9.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-47476629859104511012008-07-31T07:07:00.001-05:002008-07-31T07:07:44.444-05:00

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-17650272067784884712008-07-27T17:59:00.000-05:002008-07-27T18:00:35.163-05:00

Whale flatulence?

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-13512913431461188952008-07-27T08:36:00.002-05:002008-07-27T08:52:05.705-05:00

Add another one to the long list of ignoramuses that:1) Can't distinguish between nuclear weapons and nuclear power:Accidents involving American and Soviet ships, bombers and rockets have left at least 50 warheads and nine nuclear reactors scattered on the ocean floors.2) Believe that any incident of release of contamination (radioactive material) is an accident that harms the public:In the 1980s

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-15752092885505440872008-07-24T17:35:00.002-05:002008-07-24T18:00:45.951-05:00

Wes Clark apparently thinks that it was the Saudis paying off the Sunni insurgents in Anbar that worked and that the surge was only a Baghdad phenomenon.Wonder if Michael Yon agrees? Or the Marines?

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-42601733103929437262008-07-24T17:30:00.002-05:002008-07-24T17:34:59.758-05:00

So an Air Force missile crew changes removes some launch codes (superceded) from the bunker after their relief. Probably to return them to the CMS custodian for proper destruction. Little problem is that while waiting for the bus, they got sleepy - and there goes your two person control.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-66452749449688465632008-07-23T13:47:00.001-05:002008-07-23T13:48:31.268-05:00

BBC has some video.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-56637432246553385912008-07-23T06:37:00.001-05:002008-07-23T06:37:58.311-05:00

And the lefties just weren't looking.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-89395920479635644732008-07-23T06:35:00.001-05:002008-07-23T06:36:55.023-05:00

At the LA Times of all places.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-54260984789952452212008-07-18T11:14:00.001-05:002008-07-18T11:15:49.856-05:00

Did Google maps help to identify a 'secret' Iranian nuclear facility?

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-40969291542427530532008-07-18T11:13:00.002-05:002008-07-18T11:16:27.674-05:00

Comments about Al Gore's new energy speech:Why is Mr. Gore still afraid of discussing nuclear power? He tries to sound Kennedyesque in setting his decade-long quest and inveighs against “the defenders of the status quo.” But he’s still reluctant to use his stature among greens to get them to reconsider the largest carbon-free source of electricity in America today, nuclear power. Is this a

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-11845029964673773092008-07-14T12:45:00.000-05:002008-07-14T12:47:00.783-05:00

Courtesy of Victor Davis HansonI wonder…1. When universities open their for-profit, cash-garnering campuses in the oil-rich Middle East, do they extend their “oppression studies” curriculum as well. I mean does a Saudi petroleum engineering major, like his American counterpart, take a gender studies requirement, mutatis mutandis, learning how his gender-apartheid society harms women? Do Dubai

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-60649469229383523632008-07-14T11:24:00.000-05:002008-07-14T11:29:21.208-05:00

One of the things I was told early on in my nuclear training was that we went to prototype because Rickover would not allow the use of simulators.Now this:Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program developed the simulator, which provides operators with a realistic, real-time depiction of actual conditions

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-47650097058427238112008-07-14T07:36:00.000-05:002008-07-14T07:38:03.915-05:00

Came across some photos of the Kursk and thought I'd relay them. Very sobering.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-33878921283851465072008-07-11T16:10:00.002-05:002008-07-11T16:14:57.738-05:00

When you expect to sell MILLIONS of iPhones and have people actually want to use them, don't fail to upgrade your severs or rent some extra server space or bandwidth!Also, Apple should probably have rewarded current iPhone owners (early adopters) by giving them the 2.0 software a couple days early to avoid this:Apple this afternoon officially released version 2.0 of iPhone software for both

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-58775049566472584472008-07-09T15:15:00.002-05:002008-07-09T15:21:33.776-05:00

"Moorman goes to the Navel Academy"I thought it was a two-fer, but it turns out the guy's last name is Moorman and he's not from SLC.Ah, but there is hope:Moorman’s dreams of flying machines in the Navy was replaced with his long-term goal to graduate from the Marine Corp., and become an intelligence officer for the CIA.Marine Corp - several times in the article.Best of luck kid. Hope your mom

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-41984950692012646062008-07-01T11:20:00.000-05:002008-07-01T11:22:13.741-05:00

It is remarkable that now two savvy guys like Krugman and Brooks can’t figure out what Obama is. And neither seems to be playing coy to make a rhetorical point — they really don’t know.But maybe that’s no accident. Obama has told us there is no there, there. In his book he wrote: “I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.” So

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-52574025874265639902008-06-27T10:16:00.002-05:002008-06-30T10:38:45.841-05:00

Great graphic at this blog on the percentage of each US state owned by the federal government.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-54772147463509368422008-06-26T13:51:00.000-05:002008-06-26T14:01:32.626-05:00

Chris Anderson is a very smart guy and I agree with him on his concpets of the Long Tail. However, I think he's very wrong on this idea."All models are wrong, but some are useful."So proclaimed statistician George Box 30 years ago, and he was right. But what choice did we have? Only models, from cosmological equations to theories of human behavior, seemed to be able to consistently, if

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-59565239068053299932008-06-19T09:09:00.002-05:002008-06-19T09:18:59.231-05:00

One of my finer nits about evolution was that it was really more of a postulate than a theory. This was because it was hard to produce any experiments that could be used for hypotheisis testing. It was all based on assembling diparate observations and then crafting an explanation, consistent with chemical and biological processes that explained the observed data.Now that may have all changed.A

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-78775283598863682502008-06-19T09:05:00.002-05:002008-06-19T09:09:53.581-05:00

Obama and McCain have both been quite populist and at times idiotic in their statements about the economy and 'big oil'. Karl Rove takes them to task. Messrs. Obama and McCain both reveal a disturbing animus toward free markets andsuccess. It is uncalled for and self-defeating for presidential candidates todemonize American companies. It is understandable that Mr. Obama, the mostliberal member

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-59204848554106275302008-06-03T18:50:00.003-05:002008-06-03T18:56:19.029-05:00

The New York Times approves of McCain's independence,There can be no doubt that McCain would not be a puppet - that having and opinion and judgment of his own, he would act from his own impulses rather than the impulses of others- that possessing great integrity he would not sacrifice his country's interests at the shrine of party...Just kidding, that was written of John Adams in the Philadelphia

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-26196587933358561582008-06-03T18:38:00.002-05:002008-06-03T18:41:35.392-05:00

She's one of the few liberals who doesn't turn the other way when she sees something she doesn't like. Now if she could get PETA involved...I still don't understand how it's considered 'racial hatred'. Islam is not a race, but a creed.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-26243165762850989702008-05-04T08:18:00.002-05:002008-05-04T08:21:05.433-05:00

Found out that we'll be getting our economic stimulus direct deposited on the 9th of May. The government want us to spend it to keep the economy out of recession. I'm feeling more like putting it into my kids savings accounts. They're loaning us the money in reality. Don't feel right spending it without their permission.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-12718837314164960002008-04-29T20:00:00.003-05:002008-04-29T20:04:15.110-05:00

Marina was on the factor. She seems to be smitten with Bill, and he with she. Wonder why.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-28417335476986769402008-04-25T10:10:00.000-05:002008-04-25T10:12:09.916-05:00

From the NZ Herald:On Anzac Day thoughts turn to those who gave their lives during variouswars over the last century. But there is one group which has never been givenrecognition for what they achieved in World War II and that is the United Statessubmariners, 3505 of whom lost their lives, including 374 officers.When oneanalyses what they achieved there is no doubt they did more than any other

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-57892225795807440372008-04-25T09:26:00.002-05:002008-04-25T10:13:29.733-05:00

Global Security Newswire has a strange lede on a story about Navy plans to replace retiring Trident SSBNs. The initial thrust of the article is about whether to mix load (strategic and conventional missile on same ship) or to build two different ships (SSBN and SSGN like we now have). This has been debated before in congress with OSD's proposed Conventional Trident Modification that hasn't really

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-74301013054688510672008-04-21T18:11:00.000-05:002008-04-21T18:12:04.628-05:00

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-77853678127084387772008-04-15T14:04:00.002-05:002008-04-15T14:06:59.468-05:00

From Works and Days:What is really tragic is that successful African-Americans, who have had it far rougher than the Obamas—a Condoleeza Rice, Colin Power, Clarence Thomas, Tiger Woods—excel in American society and really do transcend race. And yet white elite leftish America senses that such talents don’t need liberals’ permission and ratification, and so don’t do anything for their own

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-34652129385261460622008-04-12T20:02:00.000-05:002008-04-12T20:03:03.702-05:00

RFID reader can now ID velocity and location of tags. Heisenberg seen throwing up hands and stalking off in disgustFor more.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-40459707971510716532008-04-11T12:02:00.002-05:002008-04-11T12:04:09.266-05:00

Final paragraph:Over the past 15 months, we have proved that we can win this war. We stand now at the moment of truth. Victory – and a democracy in the Arab world – is within our grasp. But it could yet slip away if our leaders remain transfixed by the war we almost lost, rather than focusing on the war we are winning today.Read the whole thing.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-11368755510476487092008-04-10T09:50:00.002-05:002008-04-10T09:54:03.547-05:00

Rear Admiral Thomas Eccles, NAVSEA 07Forty-five years ago today, on April 10, 1963, while engaged in a deep test dive, USS THRESHER (SSN 593) was lost at sea with 129 Officers and men on board. Based on the findings of a Court of Inquiry and the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy hearings into the loss, it was concluded that a flooding casualty in the engine room, resulting from a

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-28006642511229258312008-04-07T16:02:00.001-05:002008-04-07T16:02:58.835-05:00

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-70807984067467798742008-04-07T11:18:00.003-05:002008-04-07T11:22:18.350-05:00

Wired.com blogs seem to be supporting the recent push by Congress to increase submarine production to two per year.Then why subs at all? Because, despite the best efforts of naval technologists over the past 100 years, submarines are still by far the most powerful seaborne weapons ever developed. Nothing's better for winning a full-scale sea war. Need proof? See here and here. Forget $5-billion

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-78918568459245849642008-04-03T11:50:00.001-05:002008-04-03T11:51:46.809-05:00

Better study up before tomorrow night.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-48471282998478343992008-04-02T07:52:00.002-05:002008-04-02T07:57:58.072-05:00

An amateur military historian has written a book about black programs that has an interesting approach. He did a good bit of social engineering to acquire the unit patches from these test squadrons and skunkworks type programs. Then tried to interpret them and tie them to budget program elements. The NYT has a profile, with a gallery of patches.I think he's off base where he alludes to this

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-40534591521635744272008-03-24T20:41:00.003-05:002008-03-24T20:45:35.749-05:00

Spend some time just playing with the pure data that has been tapped into by the gapminder project. There are some lectures that are somewhat obvious and somewhat simplistic. Behold the power of the internet.

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739413439875305908.post-55669700683678135042008-03-24T13:53:00.002-05:002008-03-24T13:59:09.238-05:00

With March Madness underway at my household, I've been thinking about a new way to prioritize local ads during sporting events. I wonder if local ad buyers would prefer to play their ads during commercial breaks when the home/local team is doing well in the game. My thoughts are that the audience would be more likely to respond positively to an ad played when the they are more happy. Kind of

midwatchcowboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121133850226353096noreply@blogger.com0