8.8 Quake hits Chile. Here is the difference between a prepared country and a poor one. This quake was 700-800 times more powerful than the Haitian quake yet the death toll is far less. The suffering of the victims in both countries though is the same! Pray for Chile and Haiti!
Go Team USA!!! This is the match-up everyone had to know was going to happen. I look forward to today's men hockey game with excitement and just a bit of trepidation. The latter comes from being a Minnesota Vikings fan for so long!
ciao
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday Swampers
Go Team USA! Team USA Finnished the Finns with 7 minutes still left in the 1st period! As is only fitting, Team USA Vs Canada Sunday for the gold.
ciao
ciao
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Metro-appolis/St. Pawlenty Times
It's rant day. I just can't help myself after seeing all the wonderful news coming out of Metro-appolis/St. Pawlenty!
I live in Northern Minnesota and if this guy is elected President it will be time to head for the hills. When I watch this video I see a career politician talking out of both faces. Here is a guy who got elected on the slogan "No New Taxes" and turned around and renamed a tax a fee and then proceeded to fee us to ruination! He's cutting all health care for the poor, running amok with his power hungry allotment privilege, and basically thumbing his nose at the Northern half of the state! People beware if he runs for Prez. Northern Minnesota was just a stepping stone for his higher aspirations and weasel words are part of his war chest!
Mr. Metro, Governor of Metro-Minnesota, Veto, Fee, and Flee of the rest!
On another note:
Here is a fine example of just one aspect of Lobbying run amok! Here's a guy in government that doesn't need a paycheck because he got rich buying it. Now he's part of it again. Are my tax dollars really paying this guy? To do what? Get richer?
Lobbyists:
Defense official example of revolving door between governing, lobbying
Well, that should just about insure a black Suburban parked outside my door.
ciao
I live in Northern Minnesota and if this guy is elected President it will be time to head for the hills. When I watch this video I see a career politician talking out of both faces. Here is a guy who got elected on the slogan "No New Taxes" and turned around and renamed a tax a fee and then proceeded to fee us to ruination! He's cutting all health care for the poor, running amok with his power hungry allotment privilege, and basically thumbing his nose at the Northern half of the state! People beware if he runs for Prez. Northern Minnesota was just a stepping stone for his higher aspirations and weasel words are part of his war chest!
Mr. Metro, Governor of Metro-Minnesota, Veto, Fee, and Flee of the rest!
On another note:
Here is a fine example of just one aspect of Lobbying run amok! Here's a guy in government that doesn't need a paycheck because he got rich buying it. Now he's part of it again. Are my tax dollars really paying this guy? To do what? Get richer?
Lobbyists:
Defense official example of revolving door between governing, lobbying
Well, that should just about insure a black Suburban parked outside my door.
ciao
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Go Team USA!!! And, it's a shame to do this in the same breath; Who's doing the Peoples Business?
No Monday post = Under the weather! No sleep = no post!
Tuesday = much better! :-)
This was supposed to be my headliner for Monday and it loses a little a day later.
Team USA, Hockey, The Olympics!!! If you follow the Olympics at all, this was the game to watch. 60 minutes of high amp, on the edge of your seat, fast and furious hockey. And, the last minute, short handed, empty net goal by Team USA put an exclamation point on a game they were given very little chance to win. Go Team USA!!!
Follow-up for the Canadians: Sorry Martin, You're Outta There!
When I read Headlines like this I have to laugh and shake my head because these elected boobs are screwing the pooch on every bodies front lawn and getting away with it. Listen up people, call or write your congressmen and tell them we need Term Limits, Finance Reform, and an end to Lobbying! Ha-Ha! Those three areas are broken and need fixing. I laugh only because I doubt you will find a congress person who has any balls to address these issues! The firmly entrenched "Status Quo" have all been neutered and these three areas would make them actually work for the people instead of protecting their own special interests and political careers. Yes, Congress is broken but, it can't be fixed by self serving career politicians worried about reelections and getting fat on corporate money. Congress needs to work under the same rules as the president, their leader regardless of which party they stand for. That is a whole different issue that could stand some scrutiny but I'll save that for another day!
Whew! These political rants leave me exhausted and somewhat depressed. I am always frustrated by the "Sheeple" that expect these elected boobs to work this out on their own. It's "Duck and Cover" in Congress baby! There's nothing butt ass sticking up from the floors hoping theirs isn't one that gets kicked in the next election! Who's working?
ciao
Tuesday = much better! :-)
This was supposed to be my headliner for Monday and it loses a little a day later.
Team USA, Hockey, The Olympics!!! If you follow the Olympics at all, this was the game to watch. 60 minutes of high amp, on the edge of your seat, fast and furious hockey. And, the last minute, short handed, empty net goal by Team USA put an exclamation point on a game they were given very little chance to win. Go Team USA!!!
Follow-up for the Canadians: Sorry Martin, You're Outta There!
When I read Headlines like this I have to laugh and shake my head because these elected boobs are screwing the pooch on every bodies front lawn and getting away with it. Listen up people, call or write your congressmen and tell them we need Term Limits, Finance Reform, and an end to Lobbying! Ha-Ha! Those three areas are broken and need fixing. I laugh only because I doubt you will find a congress person who has any balls to address these issues! The firmly entrenched "Status Quo" have all been neutered and these three areas would make them actually work for the people instead of protecting their own special interests and political careers. Yes, Congress is broken but, it can't be fixed by self serving career politicians worried about reelections and getting fat on corporate money. Congress needs to work under the same rules as the president, their leader regardless of which party they stand for. That is a whole different issue that could stand some scrutiny but I'll save that for another day!
Whew! These political rants leave me exhausted and somewhat depressed. I am always frustrated by the "Sheeple" that expect these elected boobs to work this out on their own. It's "Duck and Cover" in Congress baby! There's nothing butt ass sticking up from the floors hoping theirs isn't one that gets kicked in the next election! Who's working?
ciao
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Restivity
A day of rest. Here is something I found interesting though. Amazing what you can do if you have money!
Super Sub
Oh And, Big Pharma Gone Wild!
Senate report links diabetes drug Avandia to heart attacks.
Follow the Money!
Super Sub
Oh And, Big Pharma Gone Wild!
Senate report links diabetes drug Avandia to heart attacks.
Follow the Money!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Symptoms
It's almost funny if it wasn't so disastrous for the people that are caught up in "It". "It", is our economy and the bungling boobs that got us here. But, I am not going to assign blame here,(well, maybe a little) just make a comment about recent US events. The following links are symptoms of the disease, or should I say epidemic, that the country is suffering from right now. People are disgusted, distraught, and hopeless over the Nations plight and the robbery by the banks of the Nations tax paying citizens. When you take everything a person has worked for their whole life, be it a little or a lot, and leave them no hope, these kinds of things are going to happen. They are merely symptoms of much bigger things to come. The bankers control the money and the money controls the government. Aside from the bailout that fleeced the tax payers and rewarded the Bankers for bankrupting the government, the recent Supreme Court decision to let the Bankers (read Money) buy their politicians, AKA "The Government" has left millions jobless, homeless, and hopeless! Follow the money and you find the virus that started the disease or epidemic that is ravaging our Nation. Below are the symptoms:
Man flies plane into IRS building w/extra fuel
Frustrated Owner Bulldozes Home Ahead Of Foreclosure
History repeats itself and although these lyrics were not written for this situation, they surely fit the current state of affairs in this country!
(excerpt from Stop Hey What's That Sound, by Buffalo Springfield)
"there are lawyer strikes deep
into your life it will creep
it starts when your always afraid
step out of line the man come and take you away
you better stop
hey what's that sound
everybody look what's going down"
ciao
Man flies plane into IRS building w/extra fuel
Frustrated Owner Bulldozes Home Ahead Of Foreclosure
History repeats itself and although these lyrics were not written for this situation, they surely fit the current state of affairs in this country!
(excerpt from Stop Hey What's That Sound, by Buffalo Springfield)
"there are lawyer strikes deep
into your life it will creep
it starts when your always afraid
step out of line the man come and take you away
you better stop
hey what's that sound
everybody look what's going down"
ciao
Friday, February 19, 2010
TGIF
Friday, the day an average worker looks forward to because it is the end of the 40 hour grind and the beginning of two glorious days off. Time to be spent with family, friends, or solidarity for the so inclined. Saturday and Sunday are our friends!
For any of you who need some inspiration in your life, here is a poem that really hits home. Thank you Nicole for posting it to your wall! :-)
"The Don't Quit Poem"
If you are following the Olympics, here is another shining moment for the USA.
Go USA! Another gold in an area of previous Russian dominance.
Canned coverage of the Olympics. If they want to do it this way then they should have a semi accurate schedule of viewing times for all the events they will be covering. I have already said I feel there has been way to much hype and not enough action on NBC. Now I feel somewhat vindicated! ;-)
Tape delay coverage of Olympics.
Guys, The Sports Illustrated Swim Suit addition is out and online.
That's all for today.
ciao
For any of you who need some inspiration in your life, here is a poem that really hits home. Thank you Nicole for posting it to your wall! :-)
"The Don't Quit Poem"
If you are following the Olympics, here is another shining moment for the USA.
Go USA! Another gold in an area of previous Russian dominance.
Canned coverage of the Olympics. If they want to do it this way then they should have a semi accurate schedule of viewing times for all the events they will be covering. I have already said I feel there has been way to much hype and not enough action on NBC. Now I feel somewhat vindicated! ;-)
Tape delay coverage of Olympics.
Guys, The Sports Illustrated Swim Suit addition is out and online.
That's all for today.
ciao
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursdays Kasploosh
The following article definitely shows the difference between progressive thinkers and status quo cronies. We need more people to be thinking about the big picture 20-100 years down the road, not just in the moment! Band-aids cause infection and are short term fixes. Thank you again Bill Gates for having the balls to look a little further than 10 years down the pike!
Follow-up to Love/Hate Bill Gates.
For any of you following the Olympics, it was a great day for USA in the women's downhill skiing. Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso took the gold and silver.
And finally; What's the big Buzz at Google? If you're concerned about privacy with Gmail you should take note of this article. This is definitely a case of TMI being made publicly available w/out user consent. Be sure to check your "Buzz" settings before allowing the whole world to follow you and all your contacts.
ciao
Follow-up to Love/Hate Bill Gates.
For any of you following the Olympics, it was a great day for USA in the women's downhill skiing. Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso took the gold and silver.
And finally; What's the big Buzz at Google? If you're concerned about privacy with Gmail you should take note of this article. This is definitely a case of TMI being made publicly available w/out user consent. Be sure to check your "Buzz" settings before allowing the whole world to follow you and all your contacts.
ciao
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Sinker, Floaters, Follow-ups
Just a quick follow up to yesterdays post: Throw the Bums out!
It's not a good time to be squabbling and shirking the peoples business!
Another opine of the general consensus!
Anyone watching the Olympics? I have tried to catch a few events and have experienced way too much "commentating" and not enough action. I am tired of talking heads telling me everything about anything in great detail. Just give me the facts about the sport and let the actions speak for themselves! I don't need all the juicy gossip on an athletes life to understand the event. 'Nuff said.
Had a bad experience with a retailer or store? Tired of feeling like you have been taken advantage of by sales persons? Bite back at "The Consumerist".
Not much else to comment or rant on today.
ciao
It's not a good time to be squabbling and shirking the peoples business!
Another opine of the general consensus!
Anyone watching the Olympics? I have tried to catch a few events and have experienced way too much "commentating" and not enough action. I am tired of talking heads telling me everything about anything in great detail. Just give me the facts about the sport and let the actions speak for themselves! I don't need all the juicy gossip on an athletes life to understand the event. 'Nuff said.
Had a bad experience with a retailer or store? Tired of feeling like you have been taken advantage of by sales persons? Bite back at "The Consumerist".
Not much else to comment or rant on today.
ciao
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Disgusted w/the Left and the Right
Bayh won't seek Senate re-election!
Democrats will whine and Republicans will roar! And, the extreme left and right factions out in the "Lunatic Fringe" will have a feeding frenzy with this. It is unfortunate that the majority of our elected officials are orbiting just outside that fringe. They are so full of themselves and their ideals, rationalizing their righteousness from the voice of the extremists out in the "Lunatic Fringe".
Democrat or Republican, What Bayh said in his speech announcing he wouldn't seek re-election is too true and ALL parties need to wake up and take notice!
"Congress is not operating as it should," Bayh said at a news conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, adding there's too much partisanship and "the people's business is not getting done."
We are in the clutches of a depression, unemployment is rampant, corporate America is getting fat on free handouts, and big Pharma and the insurance industry are killing average Americans who can't afford their premiums. Thanks to the Supreme Court, the very people that got us where we are today, can now spend all their new found wealth to buy a politician and keep them fat and healthy at the expense of dying taxpayers. The average American is represented by a few who are disgusted with the state of the Union and deciding to flee because the situation is too hopeless. The "People" are being shorn and fleeced while our elected officials argue and fight like a bunch of unsupervised first graders. The system is broken and short of throwing all the bums out and starting over, there isn't much that can be done because the bums are firmly entrenched and against anything that would make them accountable to the people. Term limits, campaign finance reform, and ending lobbying are taboo words never to be uttered in the company of the current clams dug into the sands of congress!
I am neither Democrat nor Republican, I am just an average person that is disgusted with the bickering boobs that profess to know what is good for me while they run our country in to the dirt. I just have one thing to say to this unruly class of first graders, "Quit fighting and get back to work"!
ciao
Democrats will whine and Republicans will roar! And, the extreme left and right factions out in the "Lunatic Fringe" will have a feeding frenzy with this. It is unfortunate that the majority of our elected officials are orbiting just outside that fringe. They are so full of themselves and their ideals, rationalizing their righteousness from the voice of the extremists out in the "Lunatic Fringe".
Democrat or Republican, What Bayh said in his speech announcing he wouldn't seek re-election is too true and ALL parties need to wake up and take notice!
"Congress is not operating as it should," Bayh said at a news conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, adding there's too much partisanship and "the people's business is not getting done."
We are in the clutches of a depression, unemployment is rampant, corporate America is getting fat on free handouts, and big Pharma and the insurance industry are killing average Americans who can't afford their premiums. Thanks to the Supreme Court, the very people that got us where we are today, can now spend all their new found wealth to buy a politician and keep them fat and healthy at the expense of dying taxpayers. The average American is represented by a few who are disgusted with the state of the Union and deciding to flee because the situation is too hopeless. The "People" are being shorn and fleeced while our elected officials argue and fight like a bunch of unsupervised first graders. The system is broken and short of throwing all the bums out and starting over, there isn't much that can be done because the bums are firmly entrenched and against anything that would make them accountable to the people. Term limits, campaign finance reform, and ending lobbying are taboo words never to be uttered in the company of the current clams dug into the sands of congress!
I am neither Democrat nor Republican, I am just an average person that is disgusted with the bickering boobs that profess to know what is good for me while they run our country in to the dirt. I just have one thing to say to this unruly class of first graders, "Quit fighting and get back to work"!
ciao
Monday, February 15, 2010
Floater Follow-ups & Singing Sinkers
First up, a follow-up to Snowmaggeden; Part Deux.
Been there, done that! Snow, ice, and speed is a deadly combination! The fortunate learn the hard way and survive, the unfortunate don't.
1. Snowmaggeden
2. Snowmaggeden; Part Deux
3. Follow-up
Adopt a Soldier:
Support or brave men and women fighting abroad who keep us safe!
And finally, if you're a fan of Nascar or the Daytona 500 and missed the big race, it was a fantastic finish.
ciao
Been there, done that! Snow, ice, and speed is a deadly combination! The fortunate learn the hard way and survive, the unfortunate don't.
1. Snowmaggeden
2. Snowmaggeden; Part Deux
3. Follow-up
Adopt a Soldier:
Support or brave men and women fighting abroad who keep us safe!
And finally, if you're a fan of Nascar or the Daytona 500 and missed the big race, it was a fantastic finish.
ciao
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Love/Hate and Bill Gates
Bill Gates, love him or hate him, you have to give the guy credit for what he has accomplished and the investment in the clean energy research fields. Here is a guy who is rich beyond my wildest dreams and is always thinking about ways to do things different. He doesn't believe it can't be done or is impossible, but instead, thinks outside the box about what can be done differently or be improved to achieve his goals. Thinking outside the box means removing the things that make it easier and convenient, rolling up your sleeves, and attacking it from all angles, not just the convenient or easy ones. One of my favorite quotes by Bill is one we all could/should learn from. "We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction." While I am sure this was most likely about profit and sustainability, it most definitely could be applied to everyday life and how we live it. However, my point is, you can love or hate the guy but, you have to respect what he has accomplished and his investment in the future of the world. After all, he could have chose to do nothing with his wisdom and wealth, leaving the world would a poorer place w/o it.
Thank you Bill Gates! Even though your products have caused me great aggravation and substantial hair loss at times, I respect your analytical and philosophical views to improve the world for the next generations. Investing in the future brings rewards unending.
ciao
Thank you Bill Gates! Even though your products have caused me great aggravation and substantial hair loss at times, I respect your analytical and philosophical views to improve the world for the next generations. Investing in the future brings rewards unending.
ciao
Friday, February 12, 2010
Support Our Servicemen and Women Everywhere
I got this in my e-mail and had to share. Support our armed service members for all they do so that we can be free and sleep without fear each and every night and day!
Just Stay ...
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words.. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here.
When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son,
knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
"I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey.
His Son was Killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him.
What was this Gentleman's Name?"
The Nurse with Tears in Her Eyes Answered, Mr. William Grey........
Just Stay ...
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words.. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here.
When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son,
knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
"I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey.
His Son was Killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him.
What was this Gentleman's Name?"
The Nurse with Tears in Her Eyes Answered, Mr. William Grey........
Snowmaggedon Part Deux
So, what happens when Atlanta, Georgia gets 6 inches of the festive white stuff? Well, let me tell you, it isn't pretty! I was working in an Atlanta suburb back in '88 or '89 when they got a measly 6" of Santa's festive frost. When I walked out of the motel we were staying at I thought nothing of 6" of snow, why would I, back in Northern Minnesota it would be a mere dusting barely worth shoveling. Time to head out and get to work. I was driving my old '65 Dodge Polara with bias ply tires at the time and the job site was about 2.5 miles down the snow dusted freeway. As I turned out of the motel lot I got my first clue that this wasn't going to be an ordinary drive to the job site. The first car I observed went whistling by me at 40 mph and skidded right on through the stop light barely missing a cross bound truck. Wow! What the Hell was that? These people are crazy, I thought to myself. I was totally unprepared for what I encountered next! As I merged on to the freeway at 45 mph I felt the ass end of my car wanting to have a little fun with me but I was in no mood for fishtails this fine frosty morning. I got up to 50 mph and then backed it down to 45 because my ride was getting quite squirrely at anything above that. That's when the entertainment began. I had to be in one of the middle lanes because of an exit that was also a driving lane and cars were speeding by me at 70+ mph on the snow covered freeway. Everywhere I looked there were cars and trucks in the median and ditches. The cars that were passing me like a wedge were wrecking out faster than I could count. I couldn't believe my eyes! These people had no clue that stuff was slippery, never mind dangerous at high speeds! I continued on my merry way at 45 mph while trying not to get caught up in the wreck-um rodeo that was going on around me and made it to the job site in one piece. There literally had to be a 100 cars or more in the ditch and median in just the short 2.5 miles it took to get there. When I arrived and told my boss who lived in Atlanta at the time but was originally from Michigan, he laughed at me and told me most of the people here had never seen snow, much less driven in it. I just shook my head and went to work! I guess 6" of snow is "Snowmaggedon to people that have never seen it. By lunch that day there wasn't any trace of the snow and it was a cool 60 degrees in the sun. Go figure!
The end.
ciao
The end.
ciao
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A Poem for Thursday
Today I have no insightful words of wisdom, just a poem I stumbled across this morning in the course of cruising the information highway. You just never know where it is going to take you! :-)
The Victor
Poet: C.W. Longenecker
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
Props to this author for a great poem!
ciao
The Victor
Poet: C.W. Longenecker
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
Props to this author for a great poem!
ciao
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Whoa, Can I see that again?
Instant Replay. I almost didn't read this article because it appeared to be about the Superbowl and I am tired of hearing about it already. As it turned out though, it is a very interesting article about the birth of instant replay and every day life. And, how true it is. Never before has a person had so many devices available to capture "the moment" as they do today. Almost all cell phones come standard with high res cameras and the ability to instantly post them to any number of social networking sites. Hold on, Click, you have got to see what I just saw! And, with a couple clicks of the buttons, what you saw, is available for all your connected friends to see. I often wondered what would seem ancient to me when I got to be "old" like my grandparents. As I read the article and began writing this post it hit me, privacy, that is what is going to be the thing that is obsolete when I am in my golden years reminiscing about the good old days. We now live in a digitally instant era where instant replay is a fact of life. The average person is recorded many times just in the course of a normal trip to the bank and grocery store. The freeways are loaded with cameras and advances in facial recognition technology have made identification from these cameras instantly possible. Banks, hospitals, all major stores, ATM's, airports, bus terminals, convenience stores, etc, etc, etc. They all have cameras and technology that records your activities there for at least 30 days or more until it is recorded over. Allen Fundt coined the phrase and it has never been truer than the present, "Smile, you're on candid camera!" For my part, I prefer the phrase; "Everywhere I go, there I am" because in this day and age there's no denying it, instant replay can prove there I am!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
MIA in the Blogosphere
Another missed day in the information, or misinformation depending on your views, blogosphere. I just am not motivated enough to take my mobile communication device (Laptop) and search out a wifi hot spot. Having coffee at McSquacks at 0600 hours just doesn't appeal to me anymore. 20 years ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought but, 20 years ago I was still playing games like Adventure, and anything by Infocom on my Apple IIe and dreaming about getting on the internet. Memory was still in the Kilobyte range and storage was all about how many floppy drives you could daisy chain together. DOS (Disk Operating System) still ruled supreme but it's days were rapidly coming to a close. Wow, I only meant to look at the road sign, not take a major drive down memory lane. Doing a u-ball and getting back on the main road. What I meant to say was I missed yesterdays post.
Today's rant is about the disposable society we live in. Everything we buy these days is made for convenience and profit. Anybody still have a TV or appliance from 40 or 50 years ago that is still working? Most likely a freezer or refrigerator. Those are from an era when things were made to last and it was more about quality and reliability than profit and sustainability. Now days everything is built for profit. Electronics and appliances are built with a 5-10 year life expectancy so that the companies can count on you to buy 2-4 of these items on average in your lifetime. This is all part of their long range profit and sustainability plan. Businesses even have their own language for these types of plans. If the average Joe were to sit in on a board meeting, they would have to spend a day just learning all the terminology to understand what was being discussed. Could businesses build quality items that would last for 20-30 years or more? Absolutely,, but it wouldn't be profitable for them and it is all about the bottom line. We live in a disposable society where we buy items meant for convenience and throw them away when they have expired or outlived their usefulness. In this age it is almost always easier or cost effective to dispose of an item and buy a new one rather than get it repaired.Where was I going with all this....hmmmm...I blogged myself "write" (pun intended) into a crossroads with many directions to go. You decide!
ciao
Today's rant is about the disposable society we live in. Everything we buy these days is made for convenience and profit. Anybody still have a TV or appliance from 40 or 50 years ago that is still working? Most likely a freezer or refrigerator. Those are from an era when things were made to last and it was more about quality and reliability than profit and sustainability. Now days everything is built for profit. Electronics and appliances are built with a 5-10 year life expectancy so that the companies can count on you to buy 2-4 of these items on average in your lifetime. This is all part of their long range profit and sustainability plan. Businesses even have their own language for these types of plans. If the average Joe were to sit in on a board meeting, they would have to spend a day just learning all the terminology to understand what was being discussed. Could businesses build quality items that would last for 20-30 years or more? Absolutely,, but it wouldn't be profitable for them and it is all about the bottom line. We live in a disposable society where we buy items meant for convenience and throw them away when they have expired or outlived their usefulness. In this age it is almost always easier or cost effective to dispose of an item and buy a new one rather than get it repaired.Where was I going with all this....hmmmm...I blogged myself "write" (pun intended) into a crossroads with many directions to go. You decide!
ciao
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Snowmaggedon
Snowmaggedon, it sounds like a new name for an abominable snowman! Around here, in Northern Minnesota, we call that a snow storm, or a blizzard if it has some particularly nasty winds accompanying it. And, if it's really nasty, like the Halloween storm of '91, Mega-storm! That storm was good for 36-42 inches depending on where you lived in Duluth, MN. I suppose though, if you're the nation's capitol, you deserve a really fancy name for a little over two feet of snow. Snowmaggedon has a catchy ring to it and could be easily put to music. I'm thinking changing the words to avoid copyright infringement and playing it to Def Leopard's "Armaggedon It". Now that would be a cool song for the capitol! :-)
On another note, it's Super Bowl time and even though our Vikings didn't make the show, I still have to watch the game. I wonder if it will be decided by the zebras again or by the players and how they play. I think, and this is just my humble opinion, referee's in the NFL should ref the game more like the NHL. Let the teams play the game instead of throwing their laundry all over the field every other play!
So, who do I want to win? I am rooting for the Colt's after watching the NFC championship game in N'allins. If I sound a tad bitter, I am. I can't help myself, being a Viking fan of many years starting in the wee years of my childhood. This Saints team smacks of the dirty dog Raiders of the Madden era. You had to love to hate them! ;-)
Here is a link for magazine that has it all for guys and gals. IMHO of course.
ciao
On another note, it's Super Bowl time and even though our Vikings didn't make the show, I still have to watch the game. I wonder if it will be decided by the zebras again or by the players and how they play. I think, and this is just my humble opinion, referee's in the NFL should ref the game more like the NHL. Let the teams play the game instead of throwing their laundry all over the field every other play!
So, who do I want to win? I am rooting for the Colt's after watching the NFC championship game in N'allins. If I sound a tad bitter, I am. I can't help myself, being a Viking fan of many years starting in the wee years of my childhood. This Saints team smacks of the dirty dog Raiders of the Madden era. You had to love to hate them! ;-)
Here is a link for magazine that has it all for guys and gals. IMHO of course.
ciao
Saturday, February 6, 2010
TGIF In The Rear View Mirror
I missed Friday's flush due to travel back in time on "Da Range". Or the "Iron Ridge" as one former President so eloquently put it.
Saturday's floaters and swirling circles on the way to the gurgler are going to be short and sweet. I figured I would write without reading anything from the national or international slants. Something funny and mindless for a change. How about old TV commercials. What commercials do you remember from when you were a kid? For me it brings back memories of a much simpler time when advertisers were just learning how to hook the viewers with something that would stick in their head in an almost annoying yet catchy way. One for me which has stuck in my head throughout the years is so stupid yet it sticks and is always in the aging memory banks, "You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsident". Catchy and annoying yet stuck in my head forever it seems. I guess you always remember stuff from the young, impressionable years. On the flip side, I couldn't remember a recent TV commercial while I am writing this but, if I was in the store looking for a product to do a job, you can bet one of those catchy commercials would pop in my head and that is what I would buy, mindlessly! Ah the power of suggestion.
And, with a flick of the flush fixture, that's it for today.
Saturday's floaters and swirling circles on the way to the gurgler are going to be short and sweet. I figured I would write without reading anything from the national or international slants. Something funny and mindless for a change. How about old TV commercials. What commercials do you remember from when you were a kid? For me it brings back memories of a much simpler time when advertisers were just learning how to hook the viewers with something that would stick in their head in an almost annoying yet catchy way. One for me which has stuck in my head throughout the years is so stupid yet it sticks and is always in the aging memory banks, "You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsident". Catchy and annoying yet stuck in my head forever it seems. I guess you always remember stuff from the young, impressionable years. On the flip side, I couldn't remember a recent TV commercial while I am writing this but, if I was in the store looking for a product to do a job, you can bet one of those catchy commercials would pop in my head and that is what I would buy, mindlessly! Ah the power of suggestion.
And, with a flick of the flush fixture, that's it for today.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Blogger's Ballast - Navigating The Political Right and Left Wing
I have always viewed myself as an equal opportunity person, listening to both sides of the fence before making any decision or opining on any debate. A good analogy of it would be a cargo ship navigating the high seas. The climate of the sea represents the importance and sensitivity of the issue, the helm of the ship represents the direction taken to navigate the complexity of the issue, and most importantly, the ballast of the ship, which represents balance of the issue. Too much ballast either way and I start to favor one side or other of the issue. If I am overly zealous about an issue, my ship turns turtle and capsizes. In other words, I have taken the issue beyond the realm of plausibility and am now trying to make one side wholly believe in something that isn't realistic or possible.
So, what's my point here you may ask. My point is; The Passengers, AKA The People, need to wake up and check their tickets before blindly boarding a ship with ballast issues! I see a lot of ships in the heavy seas of congress floundering because of too much ballast to the right or left. And, even worse, I see a lot of keels bobbing on the waves that have capsized and are now collecting survivors from other ships that have capsized and gone down. Yet, rather than get in the rescue ship, these survivors cling to these capsized ships in hope of salvaging or re-floating the ship when the reality is it is already to far gone to save.
In closing, for my part, I always check the name of the political ship I am boarding to be sure it is not named the "Titanic" or even worse, "The Flying Dutchman", doomed to forever repeat a ballast issue gone awry.
ciao
So, what's my point here you may ask. My point is; The Passengers, AKA The People, need to wake up and check their tickets before blindly boarding a ship with ballast issues! I see a lot of ships in the heavy seas of congress floundering because of too much ballast to the right or left. And, even worse, I see a lot of keels bobbing on the waves that have capsized and are now collecting survivors from other ships that have capsized and gone down. Yet, rather than get in the rescue ship, these survivors cling to these capsized ships in hope of salvaging or re-floating the ship when the reality is it is already to far gone to save.
In closing, for my part, I always check the name of the political ship I am boarding to be sure it is not named the "Titanic" or even worse, "The Flying Dutchman", doomed to forever repeat a ballast issue gone awry.
ciao
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Hump Day
Wednesday is a summit of achievement for a lot of working people that find themselves in the drudge and toil of lower middle class America. Small victories of just making it halfway through the routine work week are what get many of us through to the weekend. Anticipation of plans for those two glorious day off go from being days away to almost there. Even the glass half empty person is thinking of things to do, or not to do, during the weekly escape from the "other" life they lead 5 days a week.
Now here's a radical look at a way to bring jobs and prosperity back to America. Instead of giving money to all the irresponsible corporations and banks that got us into this mess, lets flip the work week and have five days off and work two. Give the money to businesses to hire more employees and research radical new ways to make it sustainable. All those new wage earning Americans will then have five full days to spend their newly acquired earnings patronizing these businesses thereby creating wealth and prosperity for the business and creating more tax base for local and national government.
Don't shoot me full of holes! It is merely wishful thinking and pure fantasy on my part. But it never hurts to dream big and for some in this disastrous economy, that is all they have left, their dreams!
No rant today.
Now here's a radical look at a way to bring jobs and prosperity back to America. Instead of giving money to all the irresponsible corporations and banks that got us into this mess, lets flip the work week and have five days off and work two. Give the money to businesses to hire more employees and research radical new ways to make it sustainable. All those new wage earning Americans will then have five full days to spend their newly acquired earnings patronizing these businesses thereby creating wealth and prosperity for the business and creating more tax base for local and national government.
Don't shoot me full of holes! It is merely wishful thinking and pure fantasy on my part. But it never hurts to dream big and for some in this disastrous economy, that is all they have left, their dreams!
No rant today.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Fleecing of the Consumer
So, this is what is entertainment news on CNN today. The amazing sex doll. Guys, take notice because this is specifically targeting you. And, I must admit I would be just a little curious to see this too. I seriously though, couldn't imagine taking one of these to bed or having a conversation with it. Just a little to weird IMHO.
Consumer rant:
I used to watch the NBC evening news and was always amazed when they would air the "Fleecing of America". (CNN also has a good article on this) I would always think to myself, "self", "why do people continue to let this happen?" Then I would make a mental note to myself not to support that company or purchase those items. However, with a little research I found that a lot of the companies featured were owned by bigger corporations with names we all know. And, to eliminate products from those corporations would just be a darn inconvenience. This is coming from the guy that won't buy from anybody that physically attaches their ads to the comic section of the Sunday paper. (Damn I miss Papa Johns take and bake pizzas) Anyway, my point is; all these corporations bank on the premise that the consumer will pay exorbitant prices for highly hyped and over priced name brands in the name of convenience. Try and give up your favorite name brand item for just one month and you will see what I mean. So, what would make these corporations sit up and take notice that the consumer isn't just some mindless lemming and has had enough of being fleeced? If enough people stopped buying one name brand product, let's say Charmin TP for example, for 1 month you would see an almost panicked response at the end of that month from that company all the way to the parent corporation. If enough people did that to a major gasoline brand the effect would be monumental. I believe the next revolution will be when the consumer discovers that they have the power to control the corporate world by communication and controlling what they buy. With the advances and access to the internet now afforded by more and more people, this will become a reality in the not so distant future. Corporate America beware!
Consumer rant:
I used to watch the NBC evening news and was always amazed when they would air the "Fleecing of America". (CNN also has a good article on this) I would always think to myself, "self", "why do people continue to let this happen?" Then I would make a mental note to myself not to support that company or purchase those items. However, with a little research I found that a lot of the companies featured were owned by bigger corporations with names we all know. And, to eliminate products from those corporations would just be a darn inconvenience. This is coming from the guy that won't buy from anybody that physically attaches their ads to the comic section of the Sunday paper. (Damn I miss Papa Johns take and bake pizzas) Anyway, my point is; all these corporations bank on the premise that the consumer will pay exorbitant prices for highly hyped and over priced name brands in the name of convenience. Try and give up your favorite name brand item for just one month and you will see what I mean. So, what would make these corporations sit up and take notice that the consumer isn't just some mindless lemming and has had enough of being fleeced? If enough people stopped buying one name brand product, let's say Charmin TP for example, for 1 month you would see an almost panicked response at the end of that month from that company all the way to the parent corporation. If enough people did that to a major gasoline brand the effect would be monumental. I believe the next revolution will be when the consumer discovers that they have the power to control the corporate world by communication and controlling what they buy. With the advances and access to the internet now afforded by more and more people, this will become a reality in the not so distant future. Corporate America beware!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Monday Meanderings
Did anybody watch the Pro-bowl last night? I tried to catch it from the 2nd quarter and all I can tell you is it was 17-14 AFC. Even though it remained "on", it was so ho-hum it was nothing but background entertainment. Who won? I think it is always risky at best to break tradition and reschedule something like this, especially to move it before the Superbowl! That deserves a "WTF were they thinking" award! If I hadn't been channel surfing I would have forgotten about it altogether! 'nuff said about that.
Time for a tech rant:
E-reader Review
I would love to have an e-reader. Being able to take a virtual library of my favorite authors where ever I go would be awesome. The rub? The price! Who is going to pay from $250-$450 for that convenience? I mean c'mon! I could go out and buy a fairly decent laptop for that price and read them on it. Granted, it's not as portable as a paper back but, if I am going to fork out that kind of hay, I want the most nibblin' for my nag! I'll just buy the book for now and wait for the "gimme you're money please" guys to take the affluent $$$ first and then price it in the reality range for the rest of us.
Time for a tech rant:
E-reader Review
I would love to have an e-reader. Being able to take a virtual library of my favorite authors where ever I go would be awesome. The rub? The price! Who is going to pay from $250-$450 for that convenience? I mean c'mon! I could go out and buy a fairly decent laptop for that price and read them on it. Granted, it's not as portable as a paper back but, if I am going to fork out that kind of hay, I want the most nibblin' for my nag! I'll just buy the book for now and wait for the "gimme you're money please" guys to take the affluent $$$ first and then price it in the reality range for the rest of us.
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