Oddest Spam

This has to be the oddest 419 type spam I've ever received. The Priory of Sion? Really? So much for being a secret cabal.

-----------------------

Dear Beneficiary,

The Priory Of Sion Society of Edinburgh under the jurisdiction of the all Seeing Eye, Master Nick Cobb has after series of secret deliberations and random ballot as selected you to be a beneficiary of 2007 first quarter foundation laying grants and also an optional opening at the round table of the Priory Of Sion Society.

These grants are issued every first quarter of the year around the world in accordance with the objectives of the Priory Of Sion Society as stated by King Francis Aurthor I in 1815 which is to ensure the continuous freedom of man and to enhance mans living conditions.

We will also advice that these grant funds awarded to you which amount to $350,000.00 be used to better the lot of man through your own initiative and also we will go further to inform you that the open slot to become a Priory Of Sion is optional.

I hope you understood and for more information's on what you are to do to make claims of your grant funds awarded to you, do contact the Grant Claims Office Co-Secretary, Name: Barr. Richard Salter, E-mail: grant_claimoffice@Safe-mail.net, and do send along your personal information’s (Names, Residential Address,Occupation,Tel/Fax Numbers Sex, Age and Country) for the procurement of the necessary document that will enable you make claims of your awarded funds promptly.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Judith Ernest.

Co-ordinator.

Priory Of Sion Society of Palmerston Place Lane, Edinburgh

TSA Guidelines for Moneky Helpers

I first read this posted on Boingboing.net and couldn't resist posting the full thing here from the TSA website. I wish I had a monkey helper.

Monkey Helpers

• When a monkey is being transported in a carrier, the monkey must be removed from the carrier by the handler prior to screening,
• The monkey must be controlled by the handler throughout the screening process.
• The monkey handler should carry the monkey through the WTMD while the monkey remains on a leash.
• When the handler and monkey go through the WTMD and the WTMD alarms, both the handler and the monkey must undergo additional screening.
• Since monkeys may likely draw attention, the handler will be escorted to the physical inspection area where a table is available for the monkey to sit on. Only the handler will touch or interact with the monkey.
• TSOs have been trained to not touch the monkey during the screening process.
• TSOs will conduct a visual inspection on the monkey and will coach the handler on how to hold the monkey during the visual inspection.
• The inspection process may require that the handler take off the monkey’s diaper as part of the visual inspection.

I'm smitten

They had me at, "Hello?"

Mmmm, Dark Matter

Space.com is reporting that, "Astronomers have mapped the positions of vast, invisible isles of dark matter in the sky, within which normal "bright" matter galaxies are embedded like glittering gems. The three-dimensional map spans not only space, but also time, and stretches back to when the universe was only about half its present age."

Odd Fellows

How odd. I had no idea.

["A man or woman of good character, who is loyal to his or her country and believes in a Supreme Being, the creator and pre-server of the Universe, is eligible for membership. Odd Fellowship strictly forbids any interference with one’s religious beliefs or political opinions. "]

More Interesting Stuff

After the last post, I thought I'd throw up some links to some more interesting stuff.

You can watch the first episode of Afro Samurai on the Spike TV web site.

Here's what Space Ghost looks like with his helmet off. It's a scan of the original Alex Toth character designs for the show.

Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica podcasts are up on iTunes. There are 3 that are particularly interesting to me. He took a recorder into the writer's room and you can here them break a show. If you don't have itunes, you can also access them on the SciFi site.

And finally, giant people sculptures by Ron Mueck.

the Lord didn't say nuclear

It's always nice to wake up on a Sunday morning to the news that Pat Robertson has once again opened his fear mongering mouth in an effort to scare cash out of his follower’s pockets.

Pat Robertson, an American Conservative Christian broadcaster says God told him a terrorist attack will result in "mass killing" in the United States in the second half of 2007.

The San Francisco Chronicle has a nice overview of his puerile insanity and reaction from actual Christians.

While on the subject of the Religious Right, if you think McCain is a good bet for the Presidential race in 2008, here's an updated flip-flop repoprt on him.

Windy

This is going to make things interesting today.

Today

Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 60s. Below passes and canyons from Malibu to the Hollywood Hills...north winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts to around 45 mph.

The sound of the wind kept waking me up all night long.

Thanks for tuning in

I guess I could say more than I intend to, but today was the first full day back doing my job. I was up at 5 and one the road by 6:30. For some reason I am still not sure of, I went south bound on the 405 instead of East bound on the 10. I lost almost an hour turning around and heading back in the direction I should have driven in the first place. I surveyed three sites and did a pick-up of photos from before vacation at a site where I’d missed photographing two signs. All-in-all it was an ordinarily boring day doing what I do best, which is subverting my goals why doing what I need to survive. Hope everyone out there had a more productive day than me. Tomorrow is an early morning trip down the 10 to the 5 to the 2 to the 210 and then once there to Sunland and then wrapping up the day in Burbank, where one of the sites is listed as a “main” branch, which is never a good thing. Please tune in here tomorrow where there will most assuredly be more depressing news of my life.

The Holidays

Roundtrip airfare home $ 426.19
Roundtrip taxi from airport $ 75.00
Gas for borrowed truck $ 49.95
Gifts for friends and family $ 349.39
Drinks out with friends $ 44.00 (You Suck!)
Total cost for trip $ 944.53

Seeing friends and family for the Holidays: Priceless

It was great to see everyone while I was there. I didn't really want to return here to LA, but I've made my bed, and you know the rest. I'll do my best to pick back up here where I left off. Since it was originally created for those of you I saw over the holidays, I didn't do much posting during that time. I hope everyone had as great a holiday as I did. I'm not sure how I got out of there without catching the FUNK, but it's best that way.

I'm happy to say the lamp and toaster made it. There is now light and toast in the land of opportunity. The heater seems to have gone out in the apartment while I was away though. Can't have it all I guess.

Back to work tomorrow and will be busting it through February.