jaygridley

ericosuperbard @ 2:16am: Christmas In Iowa
Outside, the wind howls. The snow flies. Inches of flakes come to rest upon ice encrusted ground and snowpack from the blizzard two weeks before.

Inside, my family recovers from gastritis and stomach flu; our usual festive eatings shot to Hell because of queasy stomachs. Mine included. Christmas Eve Dinner will likely be had tomorrow night, or the night after. Egg nog goes undrunk, and the cats huddle away from us.

But in spite of all that?

Today in this house, there was togetherness. Amidst flickering power, we readied kerosene heaters and candles. We bundled up. We drank tea. We enjoyed each others' company. Snowed in, all church services cancelled...

There was a different kind of worship. We were a family. I got my Christmas Present this year...And it wasn't one I needed to unwrap. It was one we had all along, but didn't recognize until the elements and sickness brought us together.
The weather was horrible. We let it snow.

Love kept this house warm.

Peace on earth.

-Erico

ericosuperbard @ 8:43am: Latchkey Strikes Again
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126102247889095011.html?mod=yhoofront

Well, well, well. Umpty million dollar remotely operated aircraft program.

Hacked for information download by Iraqi insurgents for the cost of three people at an all you can eat buffet.

Yeah, it's problematic, but I'm still smiling. Hee. Any technology, given enough time, can be subverted. Whether it's realistic technology or fanciful ones like the GAIDNs.

Addendum: What I wouldn't give to become an armchair pilot for the USAF flying a Reaper drone. Hell, if the Air Force was paying attention, they'd realize that they've got a ready stock of remote operators from the annals of the young adults who play the Ace Combat games. After all, one of the taglines under the Project Aces logo is "Preparing tomorrow's Aces."

-Erico