While listening to 103.5 WTOP for their local news, traffic and weather reports, I'm regularly subjected to commentary segments featuring conservative columnist (Fox News? Washington Times?) Cal Thomas. It's not what I'd call intelligent conservative commentary, either, he's no George Will or even Andrew Sullivan - this stuff is Bush/Cheney talking points all the way. It's very annoying! If they're going to air these opinion pieces, Cal Thomas should be balanced out by someone with a more liberal perspective.

I mostly listen to WAMU, but just before heading out the door, I like to check WTOP for the current temperature, whether the Green Line is delayed, etc. Washingtonians of every political persuasion rely on this venerable radio station, the DC equivalent of NYC's 1010 WINS, for basic news and weather data. It shouldn't be spoiled by partisan commentary.

In other news, we had an interesting encounter on the road yesterday. J was driving behind a very slow Ford Escort, which we noticed was going exactly the speed limit. They had a Christian dove symbol on the rear bumper, so J surmised they were going by the book so as to be good citizens and Christians (not that there's anything in the Bible about speeding, but...). However, then they tossed a cigarette butt out the window, which gave us pause, then they started throwing trash out onto the road! We observed the dirtbags ejected a gum wrapper and other crap from their windows over several miles. Finally, they slowed and pulled over to park; without missing a beat, I opened my window and J slowed down and closed in on the Escort. As we cruised by, I yelled out "Thanks for littering" but didn't have time to add "fucking assholes" as I had desired. Dolts.

On that amusing note, I'm off to my weekend activities, which will be described in friend-only mode. Catch you later!

After doing some research on the topic, I place the blame squarely on the inventory strategy known as Just In Time. This dubious business practice originated in Japan, and unfortunately spread to the rest of the world. As a result, sufficient stocks of goods are not permitted to accumulate on the shelves of retailers, as container ships worldwide deliver their cargo in dribs and drabs as they are ideally suited to do. In an ideal world, just enough widgets make it to the store "just in time" to satisfy consumer demand. In reality, all it takes is one storm, an engine breakdown, a work stoppage, a particularly enticing sale or bit of advertising, and the result is empty store shelves, and a raincheck at best. Another disadvantage for consumers: without any surplus stock accumulating, sales are less necessary, and the sheer difficulty of finding the widget in question causes a bit of shopping fever. All my friends have the newest iPod/Playstation/6-blade razor, they're sold out everywhere, I want one, and will pay triple the list price if I could only find one. It's very frustrating.

Even worse things can be blamed on Just In Time inventory control. If you'll recall, Donald Rumsfeld, the dickhead worst Defense Secretary ever, is (was?) an advocate of Just In Time, and implemented the practice in the U.S. military for the war in Iraq. He thought it would be cheaper and more efficient to deliver troops, weapons and supplies to the battlefield just as they were needed. Big mistake - you know how that worked out! Not enough troops to maintan order and protect those museums and libraries, and worse, not enough body armor and upgraded, IED-resistant HumVees, resulting in more American casualties. Just In Time is bad, bad news, and should rightfully be relegated to the dustbin of history.

Last night, I listened to The Big Broadcast while getting ready for bed, and I lay awake for some time thinking about the intimacy of the radio medium, and its fleeting nature. I'm sure most of the material broadcast on the radio from the 1920s to the 1950s is lost; if anything the survival rate has got to be even lower than that for silent films (approx. 80% lost). Most of the old performers and personalities are dead now, and people listen to the radio in a completely different way today. Hmmm, maybe XM or Sirius satellite radio has a vintage radio channel? That could be an interesting window into the past.

More projects are scheduled for tonight, but I can't remember what they are without the list in front of me. As you can imagine, we're working from a huge checklist I wrote up on a 2' x 3' piece of white posterboard. The weather looks good for Wednesday, and I just confirmed the plans with the movers. If only the Bush Administration had put this much planning and thought into the invasion of Iraq... or pretty much any other project they've done, or failed to do. Would you trust "Brownie" to plan your household move? No way. How about Michael Chertoff? Nope. The geniuses that planned the invasion of Iraq? The Halliburton moving truck would be too small, it'd break down, they'd leave your stuff unguarded and exposed to looters, and they'd run over innocent pedestrians in the process.

Today I was off from work to coordinate some projects at the new house. The construction foreman pressurized the sprinkler system, which set off a loud alarm, and fixed the heater. He's a real blue collar, red state kindof guy, but really knows his stuff. To avoid an awkward moment, I stood in front of the bumper sticker on J's car that has a "W" with a line through it, so he didn't see it. Normally, I'm proud to be a blue state, anti-Bush guy, but I don't want to alienate someone who can be extremely helpful over the next few weeks. I have a healthy respect for anyone who works a trade with their hands, objectionable politics or not. They're putting roofs over people's heads, while I'm basically just shuffling around paper and entering text into databases.