I'm not talking about the Piggy toy boxes here. I'm talking about the trend in Washington to earmark special projects in the budget bills. I'm home again baby sitting the Piggy while the wife is at the dentist again and listening to the McCain talk on Fox News.
Now I've been a big advocate of stopping earmarks for a long time now and while McCain has just said that he will Veto any bills with earmarks and loudly expose those people who are trying to force them through. All I can say to this is I'll believe it when I see it. Not saying he won't but I'm also a realist and unless WE the people start holding out Congressional and Senators accountable and start voting OUT the ones who do not live up to our expectations and campaign promises then earmarks are going to be alive and well for the foreseeable future. And by voting out our officials I mean voting them out regardless of party affiliation.
Though the one nice item in his talk today was it was the first time I have heard him or any other candidate say the words "Drill here. Drill NOW" and lets invest the increased earnings in technology and projects would create true energy independance.
So to the Maverick I say nice talk, I like what your saying. I hope you can follow through.
In this same vain to give equal time to Obama's talk:
I'm listening to this talk and for some reason all I keep hearing is I"m going to enact legislation to protect people who made bad decisions and use tax payer money to bail them out.
Although some of the regulatory ideas have some merit. Like force full disclosure by any agency/business who borrow from the government. I also completely agree that we need regulators to enforce the rule rather then over look them. But the key question here is WHY are we not holding the regulators feet to the fire when they don't aren't enforcing the rules. On that same note I would say lets start holding states, counties, and cities accountable to Federal immigration laws and withdraw Federal funding for the so called sanctuary cities. Don't get me wrong I'm all for people coming to this great country and taking apart int he American dream BUT DO IT LEGALLY!
This being said Obama has now said he is against corruption and against special interest group funding. But what about his ties to ACORN? I also have to cry foul when he says that he wants to reward people and small businesses with tax credits. But the very people who he is talking about generally fall into his above $250,000 yearly income and need to be taxed more category. Also economics 101: Businesses DO NOT PAY TAXES. Any tax burden a business has is passed directly on to the customer/consumer.
More if I get the time later.
Ish
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Obama ad faults McCain for being injured Vet
Okay so my title may not be completely honest but its just as honest as many of the headlines in the MSM lately.
With that let me explain my logic. The recent Obama ad faults McCain for not being able to use a computer. Well Michelle Malkin user powerpro and others have uncovered an interesting fact: "McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes." and guess when this was written?
March 4 2000 by Mary Leonard of the Boston Globe. Talk about not doing your homework!
So when one takes this little fact into account you can easily understand my title. In case you can't follow my logic here goes step by step.
1. The lasting affects of the injuries McCain's suffered while a POW prevent him from using a keyboard.
2. Obama and crew fault McCain for not using a computer.
3. So Obama and crew's ad faulting McCain for not using a computer is really faulting him for being an injured Vet.
Unless they honestly suggest that he partake in an action that physically hurts him. What other message can we take from this? I mean would you bother learning to use a computer when it physically hurts you to do so? Or would you have others do it on your behalf?
Ish
Resources:
Goldberg, Johna (Sept 12 2008) Wonder no more. the Corner. Retrieved: 12 Sept 2008 site: http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTliMTNiZjg5ZDEwZWNiZDYwZWFjN2JlNjNjNjkxZmM=
Leonard, Mary (March 4 2000)McCain character loyal to a fault. Boston Globe. Retrieved: 12 Sept 2008 site: http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/McCain_character_loyal_to_a_fault+.shtml
With that let me explain my logic. The recent Obama ad faults McCain for not being able to use a computer. Well Michelle Malkin user powerpro and others have uncovered an interesting fact: "McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes." and guess when this was written?
March 4 2000 by Mary Leonard of the Boston Globe. Talk about not doing your homework!
So when one takes this little fact into account you can easily understand my title. In case you can't follow my logic here goes step by step.
1. The lasting affects of the injuries McCain's suffered while a POW prevent him from using a keyboard.
2. Obama and crew fault McCain for not using a computer.
3. So Obama and crew's ad faulting McCain for not using a computer is really faulting him for being an injured Vet.
Unless they honestly suggest that he partake in an action that physically hurts him. What other message can we take from this? I mean would you bother learning to use a computer when it physically hurts you to do so? Or would you have others do it on your behalf?
Ish
Resources:
Goldberg, Johna (Sept 12 2008) Wonder no more. the Corner. Retrieved: 12 Sept 2008 site: http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTliMTNiZjg5ZDEwZWNiZDYwZWFjN2JlNjNjNjkxZmM=
Leonard, Mary (March 4 2000)McCain character loyal to a fault. Boston Globe. Retrieved: 12 Sept 2008 site: http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/McCain_character_loyal_to_a_fault+.shtml
Three thoughts on the latest Obama ad.
As I sit here in San Antonio, watching piggy while the wife is at the dentist, and watching the news coverage of IKE and the constant replays of the new Obama ad, I can't but help wonder about three things about this ad:
1. What does pictures of McCain from the 80’s have to do with how he dresses and acts today in the 2000's?
Especially the picture of him and President Reagan. In my mind these pictures help reinforce the fact that McCain has more experience than Obama.
2. So what if McCain doesn’t like using a computer?
I’m an IT professional and while I will admit I love computers, networks, and technology, at the end of the day I would much rather meet with people in person or talk to them over the phone than exchange e-mails. In my opinion one can lose the closeness and real compassion/understanding that can only come from real in person human interaction.
AND last but not least (and in my opinion most importantly)
3. Why is Obama and crew picking on the Rubik’s Cube?
Is it that they don’t have enough brain power to figure one out, so many other things they would rather hate on it and disparage anyone who does like it rather then seek understanding and acceptance? I’m a geek and love logic and other brainy puzzles so in my eyes nothings wrong with playing with a Rubik’s Cube in fact it is quite good for at exercising not only the brain but flexibility in the hands and wrists. So, to me by Obama and crew say McCain plays with Rubik’s Cubes, means that McCain is an intelligent person who understands that it is important to stay mentally sharp and have fun doing it. Also the Rubik’s Cube also offers a physical and often over looked benefit: it helps exercise and maintain flexibility in the fingers and writs. Maintaining joint flexibility is very important, but is probably difficult for McCain with his POW injuries. So using a Rubik’s Cube would provide a good two-in-one activity for McCain.
Ish
(Note most of this post was taken from my posting/comment [#151] over at Michelle Malkin's blog)
1. What does pictures of McCain from the 80’s have to do with how he dresses and acts today in the 2000's?
Especially the picture of him and President Reagan. In my mind these pictures help reinforce the fact that McCain has more experience than Obama.
2. So what if McCain doesn’t like using a computer?
I’m an IT professional and while I will admit I love computers, networks, and technology, at the end of the day I would much rather meet with people in person or talk to them over the phone than exchange e-mails. In my opinion one can lose the closeness and real compassion/understanding that can only come from real in person human interaction.
AND last but not least (and in my opinion most importantly)
3. Why is Obama and crew picking on the Rubik’s Cube?
Is it that they don’t have enough brain power to figure one out, so many other things they would rather hate on it and disparage anyone who does like it rather then seek understanding and acceptance? I’m a geek and love logic and other brainy puzzles so in my eyes nothings wrong with playing with a Rubik’s Cube in fact it is quite good for at exercising not only the brain but flexibility in the hands and wrists. So, to me by Obama and crew say McCain plays with Rubik’s Cubes, means that McCain is an intelligent person who understands that it is important to stay mentally sharp and have fun doing it. Also the Rubik’s Cube also offers a physical and often over looked benefit: it helps exercise and maintain flexibility in the fingers and writs. Maintaining joint flexibility is very important, but is probably difficult for McCain with his POW injuries. So using a Rubik’s Cube would provide a good two-in-one activity for McCain.
Ish
(Note most of this post was taken from my posting/comment [#151] over at Michelle Malkin's blog)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
A little levity for this solemn day, word of the day, and question
Yes I know it's Sept 11, but I also know that some levity is needed to balance out the memorials. Unlike the Gilbert Gottfried Hugh Hefner roast, which took place shortly after that fateful day in 2001, I will not be doing the Aristocrats. (If you haven't seen it you should! Gilbert Gottfried the Aristocrats joke WARNING ADULT Language @ link :)
What I will do on the other hand is present a word of the day: tartuffery [tahr-toof-uh-ree].
Why did I pick this work you may ask? Well besides the fact that it is fun to say it it is really an appropriate word for some of the treatment of the Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin has been getting lately from the MSM (main stream media).
Can someone please explain to me how one can: support the position that a woman has equal rights in the work place, celebrate women who balance having a family and a career, and in the next breath question and criticize a woman for attempting who is doing the SAME thing as VP but happens to have an opposing view point?
Maybe I have just too much common sense and that think that all people regardless of gender should be treated equal. So in my mind if you celebrate/applaud one woman for balancing work and a family then you should be celebrate/applauding all women who can do this and especially one who's career may lead her to the second highest office in the US.
If its good for the gander it should be good for the goose. Or in this case if it is good for one goose it should be good for another!
In case you are wondering:
Tartuffery = A show or expression of feelings or beliefs one does not actually hold or possess: hypocrisy, pharisaism, phoniness, sanctimoniousness, sanctimony, two-facedness. See honest/dishonest.
Resource:
Tartuffery. (n.d.). Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/tartufferyhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tartuffery
What I will do on the other hand is present a word of the day: tartuffery [tahr-toof-uh-ree].
Why did I pick this work you may ask? Well besides the fact that it is fun to say it it is really an appropriate word for some of the treatment of the Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin has been getting lately from the MSM (main stream media).
Can someone please explain to me how one can: support the position that a woman has equal rights in the work place, celebrate women who balance having a family and a career, and in the next breath question and criticize a woman for attempting who is doing the SAME thing as VP but happens to have an opposing view point?
Maybe I have just too much common sense and that think that all people regardless of gender should be treated equal. So in my mind if you celebrate/applaud one woman for balancing work and a family then you should be celebrate/applauding all women who can do this and especially one who's career may lead her to the second highest office in the US.
If its good for the gander it should be good for the goose. Or in this case if it is good for one goose it should be good for another!
In case you are wondering:
Tartuffery = A show or expression of feelings or beliefs one does not actually hold or possess: hypocrisy, pharisaism, phoniness, sanctimoniousness, sanctimony, two-facedness. See honest/dishonest.
Resource:
Tartuffery. (n.d.). Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/tartufferyhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tartuffery
Monday, September 8, 2008
The conventions are finally over.
One thing I have noticed in the military blogging arena in specific and blogging sphere in general is that to be successful you need to either champion a cause of some sort or get political. Because it is a major election season, I would like to iterate two key points about this blog:
1. All opinions I express are just that, MINE, and in no way are that of the Air Force or any other US Gov organization/agency. I also take no responsibility for comments people post to this blog. While I will not out right censor postings because of differing opinions, I do however reserve the right to edit, censor, and/or delete comments that are liable and/or offensive in nature/content.
2. I will do my best not to champion/push any particular party but rather present issues that are important to me and that I wish to spread the word about.
Also the fall term is starting and looks to be a rough one, so while I may not post every day or every few days, I will endeavor to post at least once a week.
Until then check out some interesting happenings over at the EFF site.
Ish
1. All opinions I express are just that, MINE, and in no way are that of the Air Force or any other US Gov organization/agency. I also take no responsibility for comments people post to this blog. While I will not out right censor postings because of differing opinions, I do however reserve the right to edit, censor, and/or delete comments that are liable and/or offensive in nature/content.
2. I will do my best not to champion/push any particular party but rather present issues that are important to me and that I wish to spread the word about.
Also the fall term is starting and looks to be a rough one, so while I may not post every day or every few days, I will endeavor to post at least once a week.
Until then check out some interesting happenings over at the EFF site.
Ish
Friday, August 22, 2008
Price of Books not included...
As any regular reader to this blog knows, I'm working on my Master's degree. I've been used to high tuition rates and have even come to expect them as I am in a graduate program. After I filed my tuition assistance paperwork and G.I.B. top-up to pay for the tuition bill, I hopped over to the on-line book store to get my books. As I logged in I froze momentarily. It was as if hundreds of voices all screamed out at once, and then where gone forever. No it wasn't mystical cry felt through the Force as some evil galactic empire showing off some new planet destroying weapon but rather my wallet and bank account screaming in abject terror at the price of books.
I'm taking two classes this semester and each class is requiring two books, that's four books total. Not usual at the graduate level, but I'm expecting the average cost of each book to be around $40 may be $50. No such luck. the total cost for this semester's books over $350.00 and that's finding them on sale via Amazon.com rather then from the school book store. (BTW not to plug the site but if you are a college student and have to buy books, you really need to check them out!)
Having to pay tuition is one thing I understand this but getting further raked over the coals via needing a special book?
But wait the coal raking continues. I've convinced a co-worker to go back to school and get his Master's as well (same major/program). He start's this semester and is taking one of the classes this fall that I took in the spring. We did some figuring and it looks like he would be one semester behind me the whole way through the program. Since we're both low payed NCOs made what we though would be a smart economical gentleman's agreement that if I didn't want any book from the current semester, I would be careful and not mark up the books much and sell them to him at half the book store price. (It's just a little more than what the book store would give me but less then he could buy the for.) Great sound like a very great plan for both of us right? And you would be correct except for one minor problem, they decided to change books between semesters, so no such luck.
As I sit here seething, since there is not much I can do about this issue since well I like my school for the most part and really want to get my Master's, all I can do is help publicize the Open Text Book Project.
Well till next time,
Ish
P.S. in case you haven't heard the MBTA's motion's have been denied and the MIT students have been cleared. If I get the time I'll expand on this topic later, in case you don't want to wait check out Groklaw . Here's a link to the PJ's article containing the decision: Judge Lifts Restraining Order: MIT Students Win - Updated. The short of it according to the EFF is:
"The judge today correctly found that it was unlikely that the CFAA would apply to security researchers giving an academic talk," said EFF Staff Attorney Marcia Hofmann. "A presentation at a security conference is not some sort of computer intrusion. It's protected speech and vital to the free flow of information about computer security vulnerabilities. Silencing researchers does not improve security -- the vulnerability was there before the students discovered it and would remain in place regardless of whether the students publicly discussed it or not." Judge Lifts Unconstitutional Gag Order Against MIT Students
I'm taking two classes this semester and each class is requiring two books, that's four books total. Not usual at the graduate level, but I'm expecting the average cost of each book to be around $40 may be $50. No such luck. the total cost for this semester's books over $350.00 and that's finding them on sale via Amazon.com rather then from the school book store. (BTW not to plug the site but if you are a college student and have to buy books, you really need to check them out!)
Having to pay tuition is one thing I understand this but getting further raked over the coals via needing a special book?
But wait the coal raking continues. I've convinced a co-worker to go back to school and get his Master's as well (same major/program). He start's this semester and is taking one of the classes this fall that I took in the spring. We did some figuring and it looks like he would be one semester behind me the whole way through the program. Since we're both low payed NCOs made what we though would be a smart economical gentleman's agreement that if I didn't want any book from the current semester, I would be careful and not mark up the books much and sell them to him at half the book store price. (It's just a little more than what the book store would give me but less then he could buy the for.) Great sound like a very great plan for both of us right? And you would be correct except for one minor problem, they decided to change books between semesters, so no such luck.
As I sit here seething, since there is not much I can do about this issue since well I like my school for the most part and really want to get my Master's, all I can do is help publicize the Open Text Book Project.
Well till next time,
Ish
P.S. in case you haven't heard the MBTA's motion's have been denied and the MIT students have been cleared. If I get the time I'll expand on this topic later, in case you don't want to wait check out Groklaw . Here's a link to the PJ's article containing the decision: Judge Lifts Restraining Order: MIT Students Win - Updated. The short of it according to the EFF is:
"The judge today correctly found that it was unlikely that the CFAA would apply to security researchers giving an academic talk," said EFF Staff Attorney Marcia Hofmann. "A presentation at a security conference is not some sort of computer intrusion. It's protected speech and vital to the free flow of information about computer security vulnerabilities. Silencing researchers does not improve security -- the vulnerability was there before the students discovered it and would remain in place regardless of whether the students publicly discussed it or not." Judge Lifts Unconstitutional Gag Order Against MIT Students
Saturday, August 16, 2008
MBTA vs MIT Students
A lot has already been written about this subject so I'll try not to repeat it.
My only real bone on contention with the decision by the Judge to grant the TRO. A little background is in order, the TRO motion was filed on Aug 8th and granted on Aug 9th. The students in this case were set to present on Aug 10th. All seems okay right? Here's my bone of contention: Defcon pre-registration began on Aug 7th about noon.
Why is this important? For those that have never attended Defcon, when you pay your fee, you get this year's badge, a schedule, and a CD containing: most of the presentations slides, some music samples, some art work, some of the tools/source code being released, and some other tidbits.
This year, the Defcon folks ordered about 8,000 badges and they ran out of them! That means Defcon had over 8,000 people in attendance this year, WOW, but I digress. (NOTE this figure is probably very conservative since I saw plenty of folks walking around with paper badges, and this figure doesn't include Goons, staff, press, and vendors.) While there was a slight hick-up with the badges (yes besides them not having enough for every one, and some bugs in the code), there was no shortage of CDs.
This year's Black Hat Briefings attendance is estimated to have been around 4 to 5 thousand people all of whom received free tickets to Defcon. Even assuming only people from Black Hat took advantage of pre-registration and only half of which did so. This would mean that on Thursday Aug 7th about 2.5 thousand people (me included), pre-registered at Defcon and received CDs. Lets say that half to three fourths of the rest of the Defcon attendees registered on the 8th.(about 2.75 to 4.125 thousand people) Adding these two figures together you have probably a very conservative estimate of the number of people who received a Defcon CD by midnight Aug 8th. This would mean that: before the motion was even filed about 2.5 thousand people had Defcon offical CDs and about 5.25 to 6.625 thousand people had them before the Judge ruled in the case. (Note this doesn't take into account all the copies being made and sent out to friends, colleagues, etc.)
Why is all this important information and just where am I going this with this line of thinking you ask? I'll tell you: As mentioned previously the Decfcon CDs contain most of presentation slides, and a quick look at the CD by even the average noob/computer user, 5th grader, etc, that the slides from the MIT students WERE one of the presentations included. So, before the TRO motion was brought the court about 2.5 thousand people already had most of the information the MBTA sought to suppress and about 5.25 to 6.625 people had it, before the Judge was able to rule.
To summarize: before any TRO motion was filed, about 2.5 thousand of the very people the MBTA didn't want to have the information contained in the MIT students slides, had it and about 5.25 to 6.625 thousand people had it before the Judge OK'ed the suppression.
Talk about trying to close the barn door after the horses have been already escaped.
(We won't even get into the rapid speed these slides would have been copied, sent out, and posted to as many people/web sites as possible, by pretty much every Defcon attendee, once word got out that someone was trying to suppress the information).
Till next time.
Ish
My only real bone on contention with the decision by the Judge to grant the TRO. A little background is in order, the TRO motion was filed on Aug 8th and granted on Aug 9th. The students in this case were set to present on Aug 10th. All seems okay right? Here's my bone of contention: Defcon pre-registration began on Aug 7th about noon.
Why is this important? For those that have never attended Defcon, when you pay your fee, you get this year's badge, a schedule, and a CD containing: most of the presentations slides, some music samples, some art work, some of the tools/source code being released, and some other tidbits.
This year, the Defcon folks ordered about 8,000 badges and they ran out of them! That means Defcon had over 8,000 people in attendance this year, WOW, but I digress. (NOTE this figure is probably very conservative since I saw plenty of folks walking around with paper badges, and this figure doesn't include Goons, staff, press, and vendors.) While there was a slight hick-up with the badges (yes besides them not having enough for every one, and some bugs in the code), there was no shortage of CDs.
This year's Black Hat Briefings attendance is estimated to have been around 4 to 5 thousand people all of whom received free tickets to Defcon. Even assuming only people from Black Hat took advantage of pre-registration and only half of which did so. This would mean that on Thursday Aug 7th about 2.5 thousand people (me included), pre-registered at Defcon and received CDs. Lets say that half to three fourths of the rest of the Defcon attendees registered on the 8th.(about 2.75 to 4.125 thousand people) Adding these two figures together you have probably a very conservative estimate of the number of people who received a Defcon CD by midnight Aug 8th. This would mean that: before the motion was even filed about 2.5 thousand people had Defcon offical CDs and about 5.25 to 6.625 thousand people had them before the Judge ruled in the case. (Note this doesn't take into account all the copies being made and sent out to friends, colleagues, etc.)
Why is all this important information and just where am I going this with this line of thinking you ask? I'll tell you: As mentioned previously the Decfcon CDs contain most of presentation slides, and a quick look at the CD by even the average noob/computer user, 5th grader, etc, that the slides from the MIT students WERE one of the presentations included. So, before the TRO motion was brought the court about 2.5 thousand people already had most of the information the MBTA sought to suppress and about 5.25 to 6.625 people had it, before the Judge was able to rule.
To summarize: before any TRO motion was filed, about 2.5 thousand of the very people the MBTA didn't want to have the information contained in the MIT students slides, had it and about 5.25 to 6.625 thousand people had it before the Judge OK'ed the suppression.
Talk about trying to close the barn door after the horses have been already escaped.
(We won't even get into the rapid speed these slides would have been copied, sent out, and posted to as many people/web sites as possible, by pretty much every Defcon attendee, once word got out that someone was trying to suppress the information).
Till next time.
Ish
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
