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Opinari.net

Opinari - Latin term for Opinion. Opinari.net is just what it seems: a cornucopia of rants, raves and poignant soliloquy.

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Today's "thumbs-down" list:

  • SAP R/3.
  • Mortgage companies and their emissaries.
  • Ted Kennedy (lifetime member).
  • Inept security groups within IT organizations.
  • Payroll departments who refuse to right obvious wrongs.


    • Feel free to post your "thumbs down" list in the comments.

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    .: posted by Dave 3:22 PM


    The California Republican Party may be seeking Dennis Miller to contest Barbara Boxer next year for the Senate seat she currently holds. Now can you imagine some of the campaign speeches Miller would deliver? I am hoping beyond all hope that this materializes. Talk about a fun race in California.

    Hat tip to A Little More to the Right.

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    .: posted by Dave 3:19 PM


    Idiots in the News:

    A Pinson man was charged with attempted murder for holding a gun to his son's head and pulling the trigger in the midst of a tantrum after Alabama's double overtime loss to Arkansas Saturday, authorities said.

    The bullet narrowly missed 20-year-old Seth Logan, who said he picked the wrong time to ask his dad for a car, sheriff's spokesman Deputy Randy Christian said Monday.

    My wife suggests that she hide all firearms during the Vols' games after our son is born. I have to remind her, of course, that I am neither a) insane, nor b) from Alabama. She lets out a sigh of relief, and carries on. Life is good. Unless you are from Alabama.

    Hat tip to my wife for the story.

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    .: posted by Dave 2:49 PM


    I've been thinking a lot lately about family issues, particularly regarding how best to raise my son. I think it helps to be preemptive, and plan, as opposed to taking things as they come. Perhaps the most important aspect of parenthood that occupies my time is that of education.

    I've been in school myself in some form for about 95% of my life. Learning should be encouraged in everyone, from child to senior citizen. I hope my attitude about learning is passed on to my son.

    That being said, I don't see this attitude about things scholastic in our society anymore. It is as if the desire to work hard, and study, and push children in the right direction has been replaced by acceptance of mediocrity. Socially indoctrination has replaced intellectual cultivation. Is this what I want for my son? Not on your life.

    So what course will my wife and I take? I have no question that educating my child at home is the best, if not the only, alternative. This belief is fostered through observation of the youth of today, and noting that they have become far too deficient in their abilities to reason, and, more so, their desire to do so. We've become a world of instant gratifiers, and children expect more, sooner, and with minimal effort. Bringing all children in line with the lowest common denominator is conducive to such things, as children become used to succeeding without being pushed, in the name of "self esteem".

    This is not what I want for my child. I want him to learn that success is about learning, but more about working as hard as you can to attain it. I want him to know that his mother and father care more about his well-being than anything else, and the best way to guarantee that well-being is to teach him to be self-sufficient, without being self-important. I want him to become the best he can become, not be held back due to a system that encourages mediocrity. I want him to have a safe, encouraging, and pleasant environment for learning, not one that wreaks of fear, self-loathing, and continues to "search for its identity".

    Look at the statistics. American children are near the bottom in their mastery of science and math in the Western world. Literacy in our own language is challenged almost daily (just look at a few business marquees, and you will see for yourself.)

    Friends and co-workers have questioned my position of the matter. What about socialization? Social skills are gained in many ways. Osmosis is definitely not the most desirable, especially when talking about kids. Children socialize everyday. Libraries, churches, scout meetings, and neighborhood gatherings are good examples. And don't forget the dozens of homeschooling co-ops that exist these days.

    Finally, I asked myself the question: do I want my son learning social skills from like-minded children, or from people he respects, and loves? This answer to this question is a no-brainer. There is no one better to teach a child than the family whom he loves, and with whom he feels most comfortable, and secure. No amount of state-funded social engineering will ever change that.



    UPDATE: From the Wall Street Journal, Brendan Miniter explains the need for teaching effective social studies to our kids. Note the word "effective". Here's why my son will not be learning civics / history / political science in a public school:

    Social-studies theorists seek to create social activists. Students need not know the facts to be effective change-agents; they're taught that facts are a matter of opinion. Indeed, they need only believe that they are correct as they reject the tenets of society. The result? Elementary-school lessons that use Thanksgiving to teach that we owe redress to American Indians.

    Miniter illuminates my angst towards our education system rather brightly.



    UPDATE part deux: AlphaPatriot demonstrates his own frustration toward those who believe that more money is the answer to academic excellence. Further, he elaborates on what the real issues are in public education:

    What is not said here but is of supreme importance is the encouragement that parents give to their children to not only pass in school, but to excel. The other half of the equation is the creation of an environment where teachers can teach, which means disciplining or kicking out disruptive students that frustrate teachers.

    This is exactly why I am such a proponent of home education.

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    .: posted by Dave 12:58 PM


    Monday, September 29, 2003

    It seems that SKBubba isn't the only one experiencing domestic upheaval. I have discovered that relocating, graduate school, and preparing for a newborn supercede blogging activities. So, posting will be light, and varied in the coming days.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:50 AM


    Thursday, September 25, 2003

    Blame the Gun:

    The Sarasota Herald-Tribune decided to ban gun ads after a man bought a handgun from an ad, and killed his wife with it.

    The paper will only accept classified advertising for collectible antique firearms manufactured before 1898, and those ads must be published under the "Antiques" or "Collectibles" heading.

    1898? Sheesh.

    You might as well limit access to law-abiding citizens to the purchase of handguns. Nevermind that this sicko would have tried to murder his wife with, or without, the availability of a gun through a newspaper ad. It would behoove the newspaper to blame the man who fired the shots, not the firearm.

    The Herald-Tribune also reported on a Mirimar woman who murdered her two-year old daughter by drowning her in a bathtub. No word yet on whether or not the newspaper is planning to ban ad sales for bathtubs.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:30 PM


    A Russian newspaper has parodied the Iraqi "deck of cards" issued by the U.S. during the War in Iraq by portraying important American pols, such as President Bush, and Alan Greenspan. Personally, I think these are funny. I'm sure some people are probably offended by them though. Come to think of it, the Hillary cards are funny, too. Comedy cuts both ways, especially in politics.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:20 PM


    It is interesting that Microsoft is closing some chat rooms. I don't know what their motive is, per se. But I wonder where this level of internet moderation will lead. Again, it fundamentally leads to relying on someone else to police your network connection.

    Malcolm Hutty, of the London Internet Exchange, asks an interesting question:

    Where exactly is this leading? If perfect safety is the only standard we can tolerate, will the next target be an 'open, free, unmoderated' website? Or will the next demands be to close down email? Because that has its own dangers too," he said.

    Very true. Given the choice between freedom and security, even in the world of online services, I will always choose freedom.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:11 PM


    If Only Others Would Follow Suit:

    Alabama, as was highly publicized, rejected categorically a proposal to raise their income tax rates. In response, the legislature has (gasp) cut spending. For a government to take the drastic measure of (gasp) downsizing is unprecedented. Among the cuts are (gasp) government jobs and (gasp) incarceration of non-violent inmates. Demagogues in Alabama are decrying the cuts, warning residents that (gasp) health care, (gasp) education, and (gasp) police patrols will suffer next.

    All gasping aside, if you can't afford it, you can't buy it. American families have to live by this mantra daily (unless you are among those who either steal, or use credit to live above your means). It's about time government did, too.

    And one more thing. I wish government bureaucrats would quit trying to scare citizens, just because they cannot spend within their means. It's nauseating, not to mention disingenuous.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:03 PM


    This should make you feel secure:

    "China ordered $3.6 billion worth of conventional arms last year, cementing its position as the developing world's No. 1 weapons importer."

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    .: posted by Dave 6:56 PM


    I always associate blue jeans with America, especially Levis. Now, the embattled denim maker is closing their remaining plants in not only the U.S., but in Canada as well. I understand the effect of globalization, and streamlining costs, but it seems odd that Levis aren't made in America.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:55 PM


    The Nanny-State:

    Just another reason why I refuse to send my kids to a government school:

    The state of Arkansas is tackling the rising problem of childhood obesity by testing all 447,000 of its schoolchildren.

    Obesity is, indeed, a problem. I will not disagree. However, to rely on someone ELSE to diagnose and remedy your child's problem is wrongheaded. Are we going to be expected to cede yet another act of responsibility to government? I don't want money in the education budget wasted by 1) diagnosing overweight kids as being overweight, and 2) asking the government school to scold parents for raising their kids in an environment conducive to being overweight.

    My wife elucidates further on this issue. She asks me, "What are these schools feeding the kids? I'll bet there are plenty of Cokes, and Twinkies in the vending machines. Where is the school's responsibility in helping these kids become fat?" I would have to concur.

    If you want a healthy kid, give them healthy meals, and encourage them to exercise. Don't rely on the government to intervene. And make sure your kids' school isn't adding fuel to the fire by serving them crap for lunch. Better yet, send them a custom-made lunch. Better still, don't send them to the public school at all... but, I digress.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:47 PM


    Being a dog owner, and having a wife formerly employed in the carpet business, this "equation" from Say Uncle cracked me up:

    Bull Dog + Laser Pointer = Lots of Fun

    Bull Dog + Laser Pointer + Berber Carpet = Annoyed Wife

    I, and my not-so-annoyed wife, would have to agree.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:15 PM


    Need another reason to hate the Dixie Chicks? Read about their incessan whining on A Little More to the Right.

    All I can say is "Good riddance."

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    .: posted by Dave 6:06 PM




    I wish I had found the time to watch the California debate last night. After reading about it, I imagine that it was very entertaining. Some choice quotes:

    Arnold to Arianna Huffington: "You need a little more decaf."

    Arnold about Cruz Bustamante's candidacy: "In California, we have a three-strikes [criminal sentencing] system. You pulled the wool over people's eyes twice. This is the third time, and the third time, you're out."

    Arnold responding to Arianna Huffington's complaints about "business tax loopholes": "You're personal income tax has the biggest loophole. I can drive my Hummer through it, they're so big. It's so big. I can't believe you."

    Huffington's retort: "This is not polite, and I know this is the way you treat women."

    Ouch. This should be a fun campaign.

    ------

    Regarding the Governator, I have been adamant about wanting to see some substance from his campaign regarding the issues, specifically how he intends to address California's economy. Finally, I read something from him, in the Wall Street Journal.

    To be honest, I never knew from day one what exactly Arnold thought about any economic policy. He's been very vague. Well, if the Journal op-ed is any indication, Arnold is on the right track. His opening salvo, " have often said that the two people who have most profoundly impacted my thinking on economics are Milton Friedman and Adam Smith" sold me right away. Politicians who subscribe to the theories of Arthur Laffer are hard to come by on the Left Coast, so this will take some getting used to, assuming Mr. Schwarzenegger is elected. Arnold even mentions Laffer is his piece.

    Arnold's platform is to cut taxes for everyone (what a novel concept), to cap state budget growth, to reform the taxation of businesses (a leading cause of job loss in CA has been the burden placed on businesses due to exorbitant premiums for worker's compensation insurance), and, expectedly, to expand choices for parents in educating their children by implementing charter schools.

    Suddenly, I realized that Arnold sounds a lot like another former governor of California. Of this campaign platform, Dutch Reagan would be proud.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:04 PM


    The Rocky Top Brigade's own AlphaPatriot has an interesting post on the flaws of the election systems in the US, and how they could possibly be repaired. Interesting... I would surmise that most voters are ill-prepared to cast an informed vote, much as one poster stated in response to the original post:

    There are far too many people casting votes when they have no idea exactly who or what they're actually voting for. They vote for a candidate because their union says that's who they should vote for. Or because they're in an ethnic group and they have the misguided impression that a certain party is looking out for that ethnic group. Or they're in a certain income range, and poor people are supposed to vote for one party while rich people vote for the other. The list goes on and on.

    Very true. I watch union members vote ad nauseum for people, and things, about which they have little concept, yet, because the union says to vote for them/it, they do.

    I wouldn't go so far as to agree with the poster, who proposes a "civics literacy test" at the polls. While it sounds like a plausible idea on the surface, even the uninformed have a right to vote. Sadly, we see people like Cynthia McKinney, and Pete Stark get elected, and wonder what the %&$# the voters were thinking. Fortunately, we can, and often do (as in the case of Ms. McKinney) rectify the situation. This is the intent of the recall election in California.

    Perhaps voter ignorance is more than anything a commentary on all facets of American society, from pandering pols, to news anchors with obvious agendas, to the self-absorbed public. Still, even with its flaws, we have the greatest, freest, and most opportunity-laden society in history.

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    .: posted by Dave 5:39 PM


    Saturday, September 20, 2003



    So, you might be asking, where have you been, Dave? Well, see the picture above? I was watching the annual Vols-Gators smackdown, and, well... needless to say, I was pleased.

    In case you missed it, Vols 24, Gators 10.

    Go Vols!

    Follow the Gator whining here. Read the Vols' report here. Check today's scores here. And now, back to regularly scheduled blogging...

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    .: posted by Dave 8:49 PM


    Class envy has taken root in America, and is far more prevalent than it was in the past. We have an inept group of politicians to thank for that. Mobilizing poorer elements of America against richer ones can create a groundswell of public outcry, claiming that it is "unfair" that wealthy Americans don't pay enough taxes. We see this everyday. It has become trite, frankly, to blame "the rich" for the problems of "the non-rich". However, as long as it allows leftist politicians to compartmentalize Americans into identifiable groups, it will continue.

    The brainwashed contend that wealthy Americans spend on themselves indiscriminately. This couldn't be further from the truth. Any enterprising individual could find enough information on the philanthropy of Bill Gates, or Paul Allen, to occupy them for hours. Rich people become rich by making wise financial choices, not frivolous ones. Rich people did not become rich by seeking instant gratification, but by deferring it through wealth-building enterprises. Finally, rich people, through these enterprises, create jobs in a capitalist economy (if you doubt this, look up the definition of capital, and determine the source of it).

    Capital investment into a business venture creates jobs and wealth. Investment provides liquidity for purchase of more equipment, real property, and labor. The growth of the enterprise draws new capital, increasing the value of the enterprise, both in real and liquid terms. The labor within the enterprise also makes purchases in other areas of the economy (food, housing, clothing, etc.) Anyone who takes a moment to think for themselves instead of succumbing to the emotional ploy of those who encourage and purvey class envy will see this is how capitalism truly works. The "rich" get richer precisely because of the mechanism of capital investment, and realized return on that investment.

    I resent the implication that, if I have any appreciable amount of wealth, I am considered "lucky" by those who have none. Wealth, in the form of assets, is gained not through fortune, but through hard work and good financial decisions. If these assets were handed down from a previous generation, someone in that generation had to make the wise financial choice. Luck has nothing to do with it.

    I'm pretty much middle class. I have a little wealth, and a steady income. However I could always use more. Does this fact make me envy the "rich"? Perhaps, but not in a destructive, divisive way. I aspire to be successful, to provide, emotionally, and materially, for my family. What I do NOT do is mope around, hating the corporate class for having more wealth than I do. This system of ours in America... It's pretty resilient, and very efficient. It's worked well for over two hundred years. I wouldn't have it any other way.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:48 PM


    Trends in Fashion:

    Two Bronx girls were forced to wear garbage bag skirts after they came to school out of uniform. The principal, Marina Bernard Damiba, called them "Damiba fashions" and intended for the girls to be humiliated. The mother of one of the girls reportedly thought the punishment was "really wrong".

    The surprising outcome? There does not seem to be a lawsuit in the works, which is unheard of in today's society.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:45 PM


    The next best seller?

    This new book seeks to go where no book has gone before. Written by Marc Abrahams, this book is about the infamous Ig Nobel Prizes, prizes awarded to people whose achievements "cannot or should not be reproduced." Abrahams founded the Ig Nobel Prizes in 1991. Dan Quayle is one of the most famous Ig recipients. The new book is entitled "The Ig Nobel Prizes: The Annals of Improbable Research." Abraham's tome delves into such things as:

  • Why do teenagers pick their noses?
  • Why does toast usually fall buttered side down?


    • I must say I am looking forward to this book.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:42 PM


    It is rare that I agree with the government. Here's a case where we come up on the same side of things.

    Uncle Sam is recommending parents to stop requesting antibiotics for minor illnesses. I concur. The whole idea of antibiotics is to kill infections. Infections gain immunity to antibiotics when they are introduced too frequently. You'd be surprised how easily the body can fight off many illnesses. Use the "good stuff" in a dire emergency.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:36 PM


    Ahhh. A new Microsoft virus has surfaced. It pretends to be a security patch emailed from Microsoft.

    Sigh.

    Again, I am going to rant about personal responsibility. If you don't know the sender, don't execute the attachment. If you do know the sender, STILL don't execute the attachment. Download, and then virus scan ALL attachments. Don't download, or send, HTML email. Update your virus libraries. And use COMMON SENSE.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:32 PM


    Well, the Yale union "hostage crisis" ended this week. Thankfully, the poor union workers, who were obviously repressed by the evil university, can return to work in peace and harmony.

    In return for their agreement to cease disruption of classes, here's what they received:

  • Monthly pensions will nearly double.
  • 44 and 32 percent guaranteed pay increases over eight years.
  • Retroactive wage increases back to January '02.
  • Productivity bonuses.


    • Let's analyze these issues. Doubling the pension, and guaranteeing pay increases (not indexing them to inflation) will increase costs. Retroactive pay increases will have a more immediate affect, as that money will have to be paid out in the current fiscal cycle. Productivity bonuses are nice (although the unions opposed them), but there was no mention of metrics in case of diminished productivity. In other words, what if Joe Smith is not pulling his weight? A cut in pay? Nonsense. Joe will call his union steward, and file a grievance. We can't have that.

    What's the end result here? Tuition will go up. Jobs will be cut through attrition, or outright layoffs, and new hiring will come to a standstill. Is this what the unions really wanted out of their temper tantrum? Well, it's what they will get. And, to be frank, it will be deserved.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:28 PM


    My letter to President Bush RE: Steel Tariffs.

    Mr. President, you have done some great things in your term in office. However, you have also done some downright silly ones. I would rank the endorsement of a Medicare prescription drug benefit high on that list. But perhaps the most egregious mistake has been the placement of tariffs on imported steel. This is an example of pandering to a special interest group. Honestly, I expect more from a Republican president who professes to be a disciple of supply-side economics. Lately, I see more Keynesian intervention than "laissez-faire", Mr. President.

    Let's think about this for a minute. Protectionism leads to higher costs domestically. This, in turn, drives up the cost of production where the tariffed product is concerned. Steel, for example, is used in manufacturing (cars, planes, etc.) To remain competitive, companies must charge more for their product to compensate for the higher cost of the material. Fewer products are purchased. Production is cut. So are jobs. The tariff ends up being counterproductive.

    Other camps contend that protectionism results in a net gain in jobs, but this does not hold up under scrutiny. The manufacturing industries of America have been the hardest hit during the recession. Increasing their costs makes no sense. Mr. President, reducing, or eliminating steel tariffs is more prudent, and is more consistent with your reputation as a tax-cutter. I realize I am not one of your advisors, but I hope you see the sense in such a suggestion. It could end up saving your job in 2004.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:18 PM


    Our Litigious Society:

    Part I:

    A woman has decided to sue Campbell's because her child was eating a can of soup and allegedly found a human tooth in the contents.

    Now, I'm not saying that this woman didn't find the tooth in her soup. I am, however, saying that there was no harm done, and a lawsuit in this case is ludicrous.

    Part II:

    Will Smith's housekeeper is suing for 1640 hours of unpaid overtime. An outrage? In some cases, this might be worth a complaint. But, Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, offered her $25,000 in annual bonuses, and she refused. This woman was given room, board, and $1000 per week for domestic cleaning and cooking services, and she has the nerve to complain that they didn't pay her overtime? Please.

    The kicker - she's seeking $175,000 in damages. What $#@&* damages? She had to work more than 40 hours? Madam, would you like a little cheese with that whine? What has happened to the American work ethic? Has it come to this? I guess it has.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:06 PM


    The BBC and Andrew Gilligan story took an interesting path this week when it was learned that Gilligan's PDA contained two sets of documents regarding the WMD "sexed up" dossier probe - one referencing Alastair Campbell (the government official accused of "sexing up" the dossier on Iraq) and one missing the reference.

    Submits the Register:

    As regards yesterday's controversy, it's impossible to come to any conclusion from the single document published so far. It includes the word "campbell" on its own in a line, prior to the following:

    "real info but unr, incl agaisnt ur wishes
    not in orig draft - dull, he asked ifanything else cd go in"

    These two lines are perfectly plausible as a PDA interview transcript, and although they wouldn't be impossible to falsify, it would take some care - more care, we'd submit, than exhibited by somebody who can't precisely remember how the word Campbell got into one document when it wasn't in the other. We'd read it as "real information but unreliable, included against [our?] wishes, not in original draft - [which was viewed as] dull, he asked if anything else could go in."

    Unless you dispute these lines as well, then you inescapably find yourself asking who "he" is. If Dr Kelly said 'he', but neither said nor meant Campbell, who did he mean?

    Hmmm. Who did he mean? And who would falsify PDA notes, if anyone? I keep meticulous notes on my PDA from work, personal activities, etc, and I know I would never have the time, nor the opportunity to falsify notes. It will be interesting to see if, and how, forensic analysis of Mr. Gilligan's PDA notekeeping will affect his credibility in the BBC case.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:59 PM


    Four California gubernatorial candidates threatened to boycott the upcoming debate. Why? Because they say that the format is too scripted. Apparently, Schwarzenegger agreed to participate only if the questions were submitted prior to the debate. Critics want a more spontaneous format.

    Personally, I agree with the other candidates on this one. I think Arnold's camp fears the personal attacks that surfaced in the weeks leading up to now. However, it could be that his staff wants to shield him from answering any substantive questions, too. If the voters are going to recall Davis, they deserve to have their questions answered. For one, I am sure they want to know specifics about the Governator's plans for balancing the state budget. So far, no plan has been forthcoming. If Schwarzenegger wants to maintain credibility, he will scrap this scripted question routine, and come up with some real answers to real problems.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:33 PM


    Are you joking? Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc. are apparently the latest propaganda tool of the left. The Justice League of America, in the September issue of the comic, have decided to rail against "unilateralism", going so far as to depict Lex Luthor as the President of the U.S.

    According to Brent Bozell's Town Hall column:

    Superman then tells President Luthor that millions of people are protesting worldwide. "No one supports what you're doing," says Super Pollster.

    "I hear them," says the evil president, "but I can't listen to them." When Superman says perhaps an attack could be delayed for more proof, the president retorts, "Where do you get off questioning me? ... It's unbecoming to question your president during times of international unrest." He says Batman and Wonder Woman were removed from the room because "they were confusing you with unpatriotic talk."

    An allegory of the UN's dealings with George W. Bush? Unmistakably so, I think. It's a shame that the comics are being used to propagandize readers. Then again, we should expect as much.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:26 PM


    Thursday, September 18, 2003

    Glenn Reynolds will be glad to know that Zagat is now listing Wi-Fi hotspots.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:57 PM


    One reason to admire Hurricane Isabel: She managed to shut down the U.S. Federal Government for a day.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:52 PM


    Here's why I generally take the morning economic headlines with a grain of salt.

    Headline 1: US stocks rise after positive economic data - Reuters

    Headline 2: Stocks Flat on Mixed Jobless Data - FOX News

    These headlines appeared at roughly the same time. Granted, the Fox News headline promptly changed to reflect the more positive economic news today, but the headline was, well... a bit hasty, don't you think? This is why business news should be read at the close of the business day.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:39 PM


    The hostage situation in Dyersburg is over. The gunman was shot and killed. Two hostages were shot; one is in critical but stable condition. This could have been much worse. Thankfully, it wasn't.

    When reading the headlines, I noticed this one from the State Gazette: "Man who took hostages called troubled."

    When is a perpetrator of a hostage crisis NOT troubled? Have I missed a standoff where the gunman was "happy go lucky", jovial, or jocular? Have there been "slightly peeved" or "mildly angry" snipers?

    Why the obvious headline? Because the need is perceived that we should find out why someone would put so many in danger. The fact is he did something VERY wrong, and paid the price for it. Quit finding "root causes" and call it what it was: a despicable crime.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:30 PM


    The Volunteer Tailgate Party is up, courtesy of C.J. Yours truly didn't contribute anything this time, sadly.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:21 PM


    Experts apparently disagree over the accuracy of punch card voting. The ACLU of California asserted that punch cards exhibit far too much inaccuracy, and disenfranchised thousands of voters in the process. The judges of Ninth Circuit agreed. But researchers say this argument is fallacious.

    From Fox News:

    "According to the California ACLU, punch-card machines, still used in six counties, have an error rate of 2.5 percent, meaning as many as 40,000 votes could be invalidated...

    But other state voting methods that the ACLU finds acceptable are also prone to error, researchers point out. Optical scanners, for example, have an error rate of 2.3 percent, and could invalidate as many as 36,000 votes in the counties where they are used...

    Computer touch screens with an error rate of 3 percent could leave 48,000 votes uncounted, and 'Datavote,' a different type of punch-card system used in 20 counties, has an error rate of more than 3 percent — putting as many as 51,200 votes at risk."

    Based on this data, no one can, with intellectual honesty, say that punch cards are any more error-prone than any other method. In can be argued that it is AS efficient as an other.

    Neal Boortz, in fact, cites further evidence from Cal-Tech and MIT that punch cards are, in fact, the most reliable voting method:

    "Here are the error rates .. the percentages of votes cast with errors, using different types of machines:

    Optical scanners have an error rate of 3.3%
    Touch screen systems have an error rate of 3.0%
    Data Vote systems have an error rate of 3.2%
    Punch Cards? They have an error rate of 2.5% ... the best of the bunch."

    This is scientifically researched data from two of the nation's most prominent research institutions. So I ask, given these facts, where is the disenfranchisement?

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    .: posted by Dave 1:15 PM


    Wednesday, September 17, 2003

    Geriatrics and phallic obsession were joined when scientists found the world's oldest genitals in Scotland. The appendages, belonging to 400 million year old insects, were discovered by researchers from Humbolt University in Berlin. Quoth New Scientist magazine:

    "The discovery of the world's oldest genitals proves that little has changed over the last 400 million years -- at least for daddy-long-legs."

    These people either have a sick preoccupation, or entirely too much time on their hands.

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    .: posted by Dave 10:02 PM


    In food news, "experts" are blaming super-sizing for expanding waistlines. Of course, the Western trend of high consumption of carbohydrates, coupled with tendencies of sedentary behavior might have something to do with it.

    Also, McDonalds is launching the "adult Happy Meal." The toy surprise: an exercise book, and a pedometer. Hhmph. No toy, no buy.

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    .: posted by Dave 9:50 PM


    Since every other resource for naked women has been apparently exhausted, Playboy has decided to tap a ubiquitous pool for pictoral talent - WalMart. Yes, folks, coming to a centerfold near you is the "Women of WalMart", complete with smileys and smock, and a thong. Woo-wee!

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    .: posted by Dave 9:35 PM


    I was reading DraftClark2004.com this evening, just to get a graps of the positions Wesley Clark takes on certain issues. Pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, civil libertarian... typically Democrat. But here's the one bit of blatant revisionism that irked me.

    I would not have supported [the tax cuts]. They were not efficient in terms of stimulating the kind of demand we need to move the economy back into a recovery mode, a strong recovery and a recovery that provides jobs. There are more effective ways of using the resources. Secondly, the tax cuts weren’t fair. I mean, the people that need the money and deserve the money are the people who are paying less, not the people who are paying more. In other words, it’s not only that the more you make, the more you give, but proportionately more because when you don’t have very much money, you need to spend it on the necessities of life. When you have more money, you have room for the luxuries and you should—one of the luxuries and one of the privileges we enjoy is living in this great country. So I think that the tax cuts were unfair. And, finally, I mean, you look at the long-run health of the country and the size of the deficit that we’ve incurred and a substantial part of that deficit is result of the tax cuts. You have to ask: ‘Is this wise, long-run policy?’ I think the answer is no."

    Huh? I don't expect Clark to be a supply-sider, but is he serious? I'm not even going to get into his definition of "fair", or his position on tax policy. But, reread this line:

    I thought this country was founded on a principle of progressive taxation.

    I would question this man's intelligence, except that he is very intelligent. Clark is completely aware that this country was NOT founded on a foundation of progressive taxation. The founders of this country were fleeing the oppression of taxation. Taxation based on income began at the turn of the century, and, while originally intended to be rescinded after wartime, has instead become a tool of the "progressives" of this country whose lust for buying votes is quenched only by removing the trough from which they drink. Clark knows this, but his agenda contradicts the truth. This is all we need is another disingenuous candidate for president.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:34 PM


    SBC has denied a request by the RIAA to identify computer users accused of violating copyright laws via file-sharing. SBC is the largest high-speed DSL provider with over 3 million subscribers (myself included). Despite the court ruling against Verizon, SBC has taken privacy advocation to heart by their refusal. This makes me glad that I am an SBC customer.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:59 PM


    Three Israeli settlers were convicted of plotting to bomb a school in Jerusalem. The school was an Arab girls' school, and the convicting court was an Israeli court.

    Does anyone think that a Palestinian court would have convicted a Palestinian group of plotting to bomb an Israeli school? Of course they wouldn't.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:49 PM


    In an effort to combat the onset of virtual irrelevance, Hans Blix spoke today about Iraq's WMD. Thanks for the unsolicited op-ed, Hans. You can go away now.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:45 PM


    Conservatives have threatened to scuttle the Medicare drug benefit bill. The conservatives in question, led by Pennsylvania's Patrick Toomey, were reluctant to endorse the bill to begin with. The sticking points: price controls, desired competition, health care savings accounts, and capping the cost of the entitlement. Lawmakers are wise to seek such a compromise, but how easily they can gain these concessions from the liberal wing of the legislature, who view any competition, and privatization, as anathema to failure, is still in question.

    After the Congressional Budget Office issued their report which stated the costs of the proposed program will easily exceed the initial $400 billion, the conservatives began to have second thoughts about the bill. When the vote was last taken, it passed by only one vote.

    Perhaps the Senate will come to a consensus and allow for compromise, but if history is any indication, there will be riders galore added to the final product, resulting in myriad "pork" projects likely to cost as much as the anticipated savings from the original compromise. But I digress...

    If Congress is serious about entitling seniors to a prescription benefit, they had better consider the implications of removing competition from the equation. When drug companies have no incentive to do research on new products, new products will not come to fruition. Then, drugs will be provided for much reduced rates to seniors, but at what cost?

    If anyone seriously thinks the drug companies are in business to screw the little guy, think again. It is in their best interest to provide affordable pharmaceuticals, but at reasonable margins of profit. The market should determine "reasonable margins", not the government.

    Price controls will have a similar effect. To wit, price controls have never worked in a positive way, yet they have often led to product shortages. This will likely be the case if the present version of the entitlement bill comes to fruition.

    Centrist and leftist Senators should consider the proposal of the conservatives in this case. Everyone wants affordable medication. No one wants shortages, or lack of industry investment. The current bill would be a harbinger of the latter.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:39 PM


    ABC has decided to continue the series, "8 Simple Rules", despite the unexpected death of the star, John Ritter. The writers decided to write the death of the main character played by Ritter into the script.

    I wish the show good luck as it moves on without Ritter. Admittedly, I've never watched it. But, knowing the comedic skill John Ritter possessed, I can't imagine the show will be anything near the same. Ritter will be missed.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:18 PM


    Those crazy vegans:

    A vegetarian mother was thrown out of a vegan restaurant in Wales for trying to feed her 11-month-old son chicken baby food, a report said Wednesday.

    Sarah Graham, 39, who has been a vegetarian for 20 years, dropped into the Rendezvous restaurant in Aberystwyth with baby Joshua and son Taylor.

    She ordered food for herself and Taylor, then asked staff to heat up the jar of Heinz baby food, which contains eight percent chicken.

    "That's when they asked us to go. We were treated like criminals just for opening a jar of chicken baby food," Graham told the London Mirror.

    Owner Maggie Cotton said: "I was polite to this lady and told her we were offended by her bringing in baby food containing meat. It's a vegetarian restaurant, after all.

    "I'm very particular about dairy products being brought in, let alone meat products."

    The British Vegetarian Society supports the owner and says she "remained true to her principles."

    This is why my relationships with vegan women didn't work out.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:13 PM


    Super Bowl Syndrome Starts Sooner than Expected:

    A 70-year-old Florida woman hurled a kitchen knife at her husband when he continued to watch football on TV instead of preparing for Hurricane Isabel.

    Joan W. Harris faces a felony aggravated-battery charge in connection with the Sunday afternoon incident, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reported.

    "Apparently, the argument began while the husband was watching football, and the wife was insisting he make hurricane preparations for Hurricane Isabel," said police spokesman Kacey Donnell. "He refused and said that he'd get to it at half-time."

    The couple could not be reached for comment.

    Sheesh. It's only week two of the football season. Then again, if Tennessee is playing Florida, I'm not leaving the game just to prepare for a stupid hurricane either.

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    .: posted by Dave 7:10 PM


    Tuesday, September 16, 2003

    This one comes courtesy of Instapundit. If you still believe the war in Iraq was not justified, read this. Judge Don Walters was, in his words, "vehemently opposed to the war." Judge Walters was part of a DOJ delegation sent to Iraq to evaluate their justice system. What you will read in the hyperlinked piece is his abridged story, one that tells of his radical change in point of view:

    Despite my initial opposition to the war, I am now convinced, whether we find any weapons of mass destruction or prove Saddam sheltered and financed terrorists, absolutely, we should have overthrown the Baathists, indeed, we should have done it sooner.

    What transpired along Judge Walters' journey should convince you, without reservation, that the United States did the right thing. Judge Walters argues that "we should have done it sooner." I concur.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:58 PM


    So Wesley Clark has decided to run for president. It's hard to tell if this excites the Democratic pols or not. To me, it's just another dysfunctional talking head entering the fray. He's months behind in fund raising, and he adds nothing to the mox except that he brings military experience to the table. This appears to be the left's attempt to discredit Bush by highlighting Clark's "real life" experience in the military.

    What we need from a commander-in-chief is not necessarily expertise on the front, but expertise from a moral and philosophical standpoint. President Bush sees the world for what it is: good and evil. Bush stands up for American ideals, threatens force against those that threaten it, and backs it up when warranted. This is contrary to the Democratic ideal of appeasement and shortsighted diplomacy at all costs. Wesley Clark stands in the second camp. Is that what we want from a commander-in-chief? I think not.

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    .: posted by Dave 10:47 AM


    Now let me get this straight. The phone companies want to regulate VoIP (voice over internet) telephone service, even though it is a different technology than theirs, simply because it offers the same service. Yeah, OK.

    This is a prime example of a government backed industry having zero leverage to get its hands on an emerging market, and demanding that the government force them to play by its rules.

    VoIP is not a telecom service. It is an internet service. The issue here is that government programs that receive their subsidies directly from telecom taxation are in jeopardy without the compulsory payout that regulation offers. This is bad for bureaucrats, good for consumers. VoIP is cheaper than POTS (plain old telephone service), and it is becoming more efficient.

    As long as bureaucrats remain willfully ignorant of reality, they will try to reach their tentacles into any service that can be exploited through some form of user fee or tax. VoIP is no exception. However, since the FCC has already ruled that cable broadband is beyond the scope of traditional telecom, there seems to be a precedent in favor of VoIP providers. Hopefully, the FCC will remain consistent, keeping the confiscatory hand of the telecom industry out of the pockets of VoIP companies.

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    .: posted by Dave 10:10 AM


    Another Waco in the making?

    SayUncle alerted me to this possible fiasco. Does anyone in government have respect for individual property rights? This is not, I repeat NOT, a collectivist society. No matter how much we try to make it so, it ISN'T. Unless someone in the press can show just cause why this man's property should be confiscated from him, I have trouble blaming him for being so angry. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail, or we could see a bloodbath soon in the Michigan heartland.

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    .: posted by Dave 9:43 AM


    I'm not usually one to cry "foul" when a CEO-type receives a huge salary. I think many corporate officers are deserving of such compensation, as long as it is in line with the market, and doesn't affect profitability. However, this nonsense with the New York Stock Exchange and its CEO, Dick Grasso, is completely insane.

    No one can justify, to me, a stipend of $140 million dollars paid to the overseer of a regulatory agency. The number is misleading, as the amount is intended to cover compensation deferred over an eight year period. Also, Mr. Grasso did refuse an additional $48 million in compensation over 4 years. But most view that refusal as nothing more than a PR move.

    The outcry is justified in this case. This is as much a question of ethics as in exorbitant compensation. In the age of Enron, no executive should have his salary approved by four board members which he himself recommended to their posts. Instead of fighting public opinion on this matter, Mr. Grasso, and his colleagues on the NYSE board, should all resign, and allow some injection of integrity into a securities market that has long thirsted for it.

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    .: posted by Dave 9:32 AM


    First, we had the real, yet highly exaggerated and misapplied condition known as ADHD. Now, the same thing is happening with autism. Just because a child is late in speaking does not make the autistic. And now, the so-called professionals responsible for making such diagnoses have devised an "autism spectrum" to allow them to avoid responsibility when the child is found to, in fact, be normal. The claim of "well, Billy was within the spectrum of being autistic, but he turned out not to be" will be soon heard as a way of saying "oops". Autism is a real condition. It would be foolish to think otherwise. But the overstatement of these conditions is becoming far too common. Why? I think Thomas Sowell says it best:

    Time and again over the past decade, parents have told me that they have been urged to allow their late-talking children to be labeled "autistic" so that they would be eligible to get government money that can be used for speech therapy or whatever else the child might need.

    Against that background, consider the widely publicized statistics showing an unbelievable rate of increase in autism in recent years. Is this a real change in the same thing or a redefinition of words? Worse yet, is this the corrupting effect of government money intended for children who are genuinely autistic?

    So, since it is in the professional community's best interest to encourage such diagnoses, we see a surge in them. As a taxpayer tired of funding such nonsense, this is an outrage. If my child were genuinely autistic, this would be even more outrageous. Hopefully, this trend will stop once enough parents of misdiagnosed children begin to expose those who are purveying such nonsense.

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    .: posted by Dave 9:15 AM


    Russia has decreed that there is "no need to halt construction of the nuclear plant in Iran." This wouldn't be because Russia has a vested (READ: economic) interest in encouraging Iranian development of nuclear facilities, now would it?

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    .: posted by Dave 9:01 AM


    Word is that Sun is developing a new operating system to compete with Windows. Originally code-named "Mad Hatter", the system is designed to run on Linux, and aims to replace Windows standbys such as Internet Explorer and Office with its own tools.

    While the cause of developing a more robust, stable system is noble, I'm still not sold on the idea of Java (Sun's development language) as the basis for such applications. Granted, Java runs slow on a Windows environment because of the difficulties that Windows presents for the Java virtual machine, problems that will surely be minimized when running atop Linux.

    But the greater issues will be interoperability with existing software, and compatibility with Microsoft file formats. As far as the enterprise is concerned, any business that has implemented ERP tools such as PeopleSoft or SAP will be reluctant to switch desktops over to anything but Windows. Finally, training costs associated with reindoctrinating an entire IT staff regarding a change in OS will be substantial.

    While I wish Sun well in this endeavor, it has the deck stacked against it.

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    .: posted by Dave 8:58 AM


    Monday, September 15, 2003

    Leftists are too nice for talk radio. So they say. The prevailing opinion is that right wing radio succeeds because it is vitriolic, and venomous.

    Has anyone forgotten about just how venomous the left really is? Just listen to Paul Begala any day on CNN's Crossfire. What about the nonsense railed against Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, and, more recently, Miguel Estrada? Or, how about Goldwater and the "daisy" ad? Less significant, but more prevalent, have been the constant bantering about the alleged "stupidity" of George W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan years before.

    So, who's bashing whom here? Who's angry and spewing forth hatred? I don't recall anyone calling Bill Clinton a "Nazi". I hear that about Dubya at least monthly. You doubt the left's ability to incite? Go listen to Cynthia McKinney a few minutes.

    The reason the left is unsuccessful in spoken media is that they largely use emotion as opposed to reason. Logic is cast aside. Thought is no match for feeling in the left wing world. Talk radio mandates that the host have something to say, and evidence to reinforce it. The left in print can succeed because refutation is not demanded. Anyone (much like I am now) can take a position and rest on their laurels. It takes well reasoned arguments to defend oneself, without the emotional tirades.

    If the left can come up with a slew of hosts that can accomplish this, I would be very happy to congratulate them on harnessing the power of spoken thought via the airwaves. If history is any indication, left wing radio has very little chance of success.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:25 PM


    The Tower of Babel, Revisited:

    Scientists now want to leverage advances in carbon nanotubes to build space elevators that will take passengers directly into space.

    Can you imagine getting stuck mid-flight? What if you had to urinate? Will there be a elevator concierge nearby in case you need to stop unexpectedly? Such a long trip would surely require potables. Will there be vending machines onboard too? I don't think these scientists have quite thought this thing through.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:12 PM


    Bring in the kids, and let them watch this little tutorial about self-ownership. It's well worth the time to teach them what freedom and liberty really are.

    Thanks to Neal Boortz for the tip.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:05 PM


    Slate's Fred Kaplan rants today about the Bush defense budget, and its exorbitance. Ironically, the Bush defense budget is the only spending proposal to which I have not objected. I will echo the thoughts of many out there who think this president has become entirely too big of a spender. However, defense is not one of those areas of carefree spending, despite Mr. Kaplan's sentiment.

    In fact, I could write an equal rant about the margins of Bush's domestic spending and suggest trimming. Gut the Department of Education? In my dreams. Drop farm handouts? Not in this lifetime. Nix the proposal for a prescription scheme mentored by Big Brother himself? Not likely. And don't get me started on the "Homeland" Security department.

    The fact is that the government should serve a primary purpose of protecting its people from threats both domestic and foreign. In case you haven't noticed, Bush has been doing this for months now. The same people that whine about not having enough people in Iraq are now whining that we don't need to spend to upgrade and reinforce. That's just bogus. Seriously, I would rather 100% of my taxes go to bolstering the defense infrastructure than anything else. If any area of the budget deserves more, it's this one.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:03 PM


    Last night, the Mrs. and I watched something on 60 Minutes called "Change of Heart", which documented organ transplants in prison, funded by the taxpayers. Needless to say, I was infuriated.

    The taxpayer who struggles with a faulty organ, and pays health insurance must wait in queue for a transplant. In prison, however, the rules apparently change. They even reported on death row inmates possibly getting transplants. Can someone explain the rationale there?

    The question was asked "Where do we draw the line? If felons are told 'No transplants', do minor offenders get the same treatment?"

    The answer: YES

    A contributing, law-abiding citizen of this country should, like it or not, receive preference over a non-contributing, law-breaking citizen. This is not prejudice, or callous in nature. This is common sense.

    I would find it hard to believe if anyone other than inmates disagreed with me on this one.

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    .: posted by Dave 5:52 PM




    The Smoking Gun reports on the appearance of a $200 bill bearing the likeness of George W. Bush. There are at least two reported instances in North Carolina. When an unidentified man tried to pay for groceries with it at a Roanoke Rapids Food Lion, not surprisingly, the clerk actually took it.

    In other news, Food Lion is instituting a competency exam for future clerks, which will contain such questions as:

  • What denominations of American money are in existence?
  • Do we accept Confederate money?
  • Am I allowed to take a smoke break every hour?
  • Should I let people in the express line with 21 or more items?

    • Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 5:45 PM


    Swedes show their nationalism by voting "no" to the euro. Good for them. If they want to stick to buying and selling in kronas, they should have that right.

    What I find intriguing is the fact that they voted on it in the first place. The Swedish economy is outperforming the Euro zone (1.5% GDP growth vs. .5% for 2003), and interest rates are headed up as the economy has picked up the pace. Advocates of a united currency in Europe were foolish to time their calls for a referendum now. Perhaps when and if the krona was in the tank, a strong euro would be a more alluring prospect.

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    .: posted by Dave 5:39 PM


    Hmmm. The WUSA has folded before they could even finish their fourth season. Honestly, I didn't even know they were still playing. The reason for folding? Not enough green to line the pockets. This is what happens in a market economy. Few Americans were willing to shell out the dough to see women's pro soccer. Sorry, girls. We'll wait on the World Cup, and the Olympics. Those are more exciting anyway.

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    .: posted by Dave 5:31 PM


    And this one had me laughing out loud:

    About NASCAR's race in Loudon this weekend, the San Diego Union Tribune writes "Johnson avoids gas pains to win in N.H." I can only hope he found a bathroom, and some Tums shortly after winning. What did we tell you about eating chili before a race, Jimmie?

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    .: posted by Dave 2:16 PM


    This fits into the category of "serves-you-right" news. This is what I used to say to all of my former girlfriends who partook in alcohol a bit too abundantly. Apparently, women get worse hangovers then men. Why? Differences in body mass. This seems like an obvious conclusion to me, but one worth noting nonetheless.

    <-popping cold Amstel Light->

    Here's to you, ye female drunkands, swarthy and belligerent all. I hardly knew ye. (Thank God.)

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    .: posted by Dave 2:12 PM


    Well, this is news. It turns out that mobile telephones make you senile. I was going to write a long treatise on the subject, but I forgot what I was writing about.

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    .: posted by Dave 2:08 PM


    It seems that the "Bennifer" union is history. Now if they had only not made that terrible movie.

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    .: posted by Dave 2:06 PM


    To hear Israel deny that they have a plan to assassinate PLO leader Yassir Arafat is to be told that the US had no plan to kill Saddam Hussein. Israel FM Silvan Shalom has refuted such claims. No observer of the Middle East could possibly think there have been no contingencies involving an Arafat hit.

    However, the bigger question is this: why would it be such a sin for them to have such plans in the first place? Israel has no bans against assassinations, such as hampered U.S. efforts to depose Hussein before the Iraq War. If Arafat is the purveyor of terrorism against the Jewish state he is well known to be, is assassination really such a bad idea for Israel? Everyone, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, seems to think so.

    “The Israelis know our position quite well,” Powell told “Fox News Sunday” during a visit to Iraq. “The United States does not support either the elimination of him or the exile of Mr. Arafat.”

    Given the U.S.' own policy, this is no surprise. However, what are the options if Arafat continues his present course of appeasement and encouragement of terrorist factions? Can the U.S. then maintain its current position. I'm not sure they can, especially if the money trail continues to deposit itself at Arafat's doorstep. Rest assured, if Arafat was America's nuisance, he would be dead by now, no questions asked.

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    .: posted by Dave 2:03 PM


    Reading is, far and away, my favorite pastime. At any given time, I am reading several books, and newspapers. My preferred way of porting these numerous tomes: e-books. Given that technology is relatively new, I can understand the hesitance of publishers to embrace e-books. However, I am disappointed at the extent to which the medium is ignored:

    "For now, e-books are an afterthought in the publishing world. Less than 500,000 electronic books were sold in the United States in 2002, compared with more than 1.5 billion printed books, estimates research firm Ipsos-Insight in Chicago."

    Why is this the case, when clearinghouse like Palmgear report selling as many as 2000 books per day? It's the same demagogery that exists in the music business. The execs are told that content cannot be encrypted, and can be copied literally hundreds of times. This will hurt sales, they are told. "We must stick to paper books" is the mantra.

    I really believe that this is going to be the next combat zone for the intellectual property activists vs. consumers. I would gladly pay for books that were in electronic form, just as I pay for e-delivered songs. However, if the industry keeps fighting the technology, they will be left behind, as thousands of books are already being scanned into the public domain (just check out the newsgroup alt.binaries.ebooks

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    .: posted by Dave 1:52 PM


    While Billy Jeff Clinton grovels to the Democratic plebescite in California, begging them to reject the recall effort against Gray Davis, the 9th Circuit Appellate Court has decided to postpone the recall based on... outdated punch cards. Par for the course in the "bizarro" world of California politics.

    UPDATE: Several blogs have made the following observation... If punch cards were good enough to elect Davis, why suddenly are they a violation of civil rights? Very good question.

    This wouldn't smack of partisanship, would it? Maybe we should demand that all judges actually be impartial. Nah, that's asking too much.

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    .: posted by Dave 10:38 AM


    Saturday, September 13, 2003

    Bill Hobbs is discussing the tax surplus in Tennessee again. Keep it up, Bill. Someone has to.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:56 PM


    Tips for parents of overweight kids:

    Shouldn't this be common sense? Why are kids more obese these days? You think Xbox, and lack of physical activity might have something to do with that? Maybe that apple or strawberry has been replaced with a Twinkie, or a Ho-Ho? Perhaps water would be good indtead of that sugar-rich beverage called soda?

    Come on, parents. Take some initiative. Kids are kids, and they have likes. But they also have NEEDS. They NEED you to make some decisions, and to live by them. Feed them right, and encourage physical activity (hikes, throwing ball, helping Dad build something). Trust me, they'll love you for it.

    (Full disclosure: I like sedentary activities. Xbox, video games, watching sports, and reading are some of my preferred ones. The disclosure is to say that you don't have to BAN sedentary things. Just REGULATE them.)

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    .: posted by Dave 1:55 PM


    If you like real-time strategy games, and you own an OS5 version Palm handheld, you MUST try this game!

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    .: posted by Dave 1:55 PM


    Isn't it time for the pope to step down while can do so with dignity?

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    .: posted by Dave 1:55 PM


    So are we going to see a repeat of Iraq in Iran?

    Now that the United Nations have called the moolahs on their nuclear program, it's up to Iran to prove such programs don't exist. Or is it? If they take a page from Saddam Hussein, they could procrastinate, obfuscate, and manipulate.

    Of course, it only worked for Saddam for a few years, and then the U.S. called the U.N. on their lack of will to enforce their own rules. History does have a tendency to repeat itself, just not in the same decade.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:55 PM


    Non-sequitur:

    This gem from Yassir Arafat, ""Our duty today, the duty of all of us is ... to protect the peace of the brave and to continue and complete that work." Anyone who thinks Arafat wants to protect the peace in the Middle East is fooling themselves. Arafat, ever the politician, is more in tune with the extremists who want not peace with Israel, but eradication of Israel. Let's at least call a spade a spade and see Arafat for who he really is.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:54 PM


    Clarett apologists:

    I heard this afternoon a commentator on ABC making his case for Maurice Clarett:

    "If we were under the microscope this kid is under at the age of 19, we would make some mistakes, too. I would like to see Clarett come back to Ohio State."

    I don't think anyone is denying that Clarett deserves some consideration, but he also should pay the price for those mistakes. This is a fundamental that we sometimes miss in society, especially where "heroes" like athletes and actors are concerned.

    If young kids are prone to making such mistakes, they should also be held accountable. Removing accountability only breeds more irresponsible behavior. Just look at the behavior of children who lack discipline.

    In the larger scheme of things, Clarett would do himself a service if he accepted his punishment, and moved on. If that punishment is determined to be a severence of ties with Ohio State, so be it.

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    .: posted by Dave 1:54 PM


    Friday, September 12, 2003

    SKBubba talks about this guy all the time. For those of you that don't believe UT has a quarterback named Jim Bob Cooter, here you go.

    Hat tip to SKBubba

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    .: posted by Dave 12:48 PM


    Outsourcing:

    This horse has been beaten to death my many bloggers lately (including the Blogfather himself). But I read an article in CIO magazine about the outsourcing of IT jobs, and the hidden costs. The area of the article that stood out to me was this:

    If you have to outsource jobs offshore, here are six ways to minimise the destructive impact on your workforce

    1. Whittle, Don't Hack Successful offshore outsourcing takes time - at least two to three years, say experts - so use that time to cut your workforce through attrition rather than retrenchments.

    2. Offer Training CIOs owe it to their staffs to give them an opportunity to become the kinds of employees whose jobs won't be outsourced offshore, at least in the short term. Offer training classes in less transferable skills such as requirements analysis, architecture planning, business process design, contract management and business relationship management.

    3. Find Out Who Wants to Leave Employees may not always want to keep their jobs. Perhaps they're close to retirement or are desperate to leave but just haven't done it. Ask for volunteers before you start cutting.

    4. Communicate Employees won't like you if you tell them their jobs are going to be outsourced in a few months. But they'll hate you if you don't tell them. Hate has more long-term implications for you and your company than dislike.

    5. Don't Hold Benefits Hostage Employees who are forced to train their offshore replacements to receive severance packages feel humiliated and angry. Find another way to get foreign workers up to speed if you can.

    6. Lobby for Curriculum Changes Universities need help to change their curriculums to make IT graduates more prepared for global competition. Call university faculty and tell them what you see happening.

    Particularly, number six is relevant to me. Many college educators seem to counsel kids based on yesterday's trends. Is COBOL an "emerging language"? Nonsense. But some school still teach it prominently. Web design? If you are in school learning HTML, you're likely wasting your time. College students should identify specific areas of opportunity in the "real world" that cannot be outsourced, or at least are not likely to be outsourced. If you're a Linux junkie, and you refuse to embrace anything Microsoft, you might want to prepare yourself for a life as a Debian pauper.

    Finally, a related thought. If you don't understand the business, you can be the greatest programmer in the world, but you are of little value to the company. Learn how to adapt, and immerse yourself in things other than just programming (knowing how businesses work, and manage themselves would be a great benefit). Any IT department should introduce business concepts, and should put a premium on people skills if it wants to produce marketable graduates in the 21st century.

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    .: posted by Dave 12:41 PM


    Today's Slashdot poll asks "What is the worst abuse of email?" Some people probaby hate the forwarded chain letters (I am among the haters), but the one that gets me going is Reply To All. Argh! We can get 10 megabytes of text on one intra-office memo just because the bozos here want to make sure to "keep everyone in the loop"... even if the loop is not necessary.

    Do they think I want to know where they are going for lunch?

    Should I care that part number 52L872 was received in Well 13, when I work in the information technology area 3/4 of a mile away, in another business unit?

    Do they anticipate that I might want to attend Jim Thomas' retirement party, even though I don't know him from Adam?

    Argh!

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    .: posted by Dave 12:25 PM


    Ultimate Irony:

    According to the International Herald Tribune, investors set a record in this year's second quarter for investing in United States' government bonds. So much for unilateral funding.

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    .: posted by Dave 12:16 PM


    And in other wackiness, Dave is going to be a father. No, not ME (although I am going to be), but the famous Dave of late-night TV. Yes, Dave Letterman is going to be a dad. The apocalypse is surely upon us.

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    .: posted by Dave 12:06 PM


    How cool is this?

    Well, it's cooler than anything you will ever know. MIT guys have a lot of time (and cooling technology) on their hands as they manage to cool a sodium gas to 1/500,000,000th of a degree above absolute zero. Absolute zero, incidentally, is approximately -273.15º C. (See UT Aerospace Department... I learned something!)

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    .: posted by Dave 12:04 PM


    Caveat emptor.

    This applies to everything you buy in life, not just with eBay, or used car lots, but now... mutual funds. The SEC is investigating several fund companies (some of which I have given investments), after state attorney generals like Eliot Spitzer filed complaints. Spitzer is vigilant in such matters; apparently, the SEC is not. MSNBC reports that the SEC knew for nearly six years about fund pricing schemes, yet did little.

    If you own a 401k, a Roth, an IRA, or any other investment vehicle that relies on managers to serve as custodian, this should anger you. On the one hand, the managers take advantage of loose rules, and international time differences to speculate upon, and time the market. This results in greater fees when managers must recoup losses. On the other hand, the SEC shows yet again it serves the interests of... well, anyone but the investor.

    This is illustrative of another axiom I preach time and time again - you cannot rely on government to fix things. You are probably taught such reliance from birth, but it's a fallacy. If you fear that your investments are being leveraged by unscrupulous managers, you had better read the prospectus, monitor any fees and commissions, and don't be afraid to move your money if something doesn't seem right. The only power the investor has is not the power of the vote, but the power of the dollar.

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    .: posted by Dave 11:53 AM


    Internet licensing? If this ever gets out of the discussion phase, I will blow a gasket. Why the hell should the government decide to license everything we do? Driving and guns are examples of activities that, when performed poorly, can affect the public health and well-being. But, internet use?

    The AP asks: "So why not institute mandatory education before people can go online?" I'll tell you why. Not only is it not necessary, but it only fosters the idea of the government serving as a nanny-state for us all. If you're worried about viruses, and worms, patch your operating system. It's not hard. Really, it's not. Porn sites? Block them, or just don't click unknown links. Spam a problem? Leave unread mail on the server, delete it daily, and, use an anonymous email address to sign up for mailing lists, and for registrations (a la the New York Times).

    Common sense is what it takes to surf the Internet. What is a horrible idea is leaving it up to the government to police it for us.

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    .: posted by Dave 11:40 AM


    Very sad am I today to hear that both Johnny Cash, and John Ritter passed away.

    I can remember as a kid hearing Johnny Cash tunes blaring from my uncle's stereo (almost as often as Johnny Horton). On a summer camp trip once, my friends and I were on a river boat, where Cash came out to the banks from his middle-Tennessee home, simply to wave hello to a bunch of snotty brats. I never forgot that.

    Ritter's death was, needless to say, a complete surprise. A young 54, Ritter seemed destined to be known as Jack Tripper all his life, until his reemergence in the series, "8 Simple Rules." Ahhh, how many episodes of "Three's Company" did I watch as a teenager? I didn't much care for Jack, I must admit. Chrissy was much more... er, palatable. Nonetheless, the show was entertaining. Jack was the focal point of the story, by and large. Ritter made that character funny. And, watching him segue into a struggling father with teenage girls on the most recent ABC sitcom made me thankful that I am having a son, instead of a daughter. It will be interesting to see what happens with "8 Simple Rules".

    Both will be sorely missed.

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    .: posted by Dave 11:32 AM


    Evidence that blogs are being taken more seriously these days:

    Michael Silence writes about how East Tennessee bloggers opined about the two year anniversary of September 11th. Blogs cited: SayUncle, Bill Hobbs, South Knox Bubba, and Adam Groves... oh, yeah, and Yours Truly.

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    .: posted by Dave 11:22 AM


    Thursday, September 11, 2003

    How 9/11 Affected Me - A Two Year Memorial:

    Two years ago today, I was sitting in my office in Southern Connecticut, watching the horror that was the attack on the World Trade Center. We have a makeshift television in there, hooked to a Snappy for scanning images of aircraft parts, and displaying them on the screen.

    An hour before that, I was listening to the local morning show, usually upbeat and comical, when the news department interrupted to tell us that a Cessna had crashed into one of the towers. It turned out to be much more than that.

    When I arrived at the office, I disconnected the Snappy, and turned on ABC, the only network available on the aging television. What I saw was initially shocking, and started a feeling of sickness and anger that still has not receded much.

    Sixty miles to my south, people were leaping from great heights. Death was the theme of the day. My co-workers gave up their daily tasks, and adjourned to the set, riveted to the horror they witnessed. Many in my midst had friends there. I stopped to thank God that all of my friends and family were far from this mess.

    Then we heard about the Pentagon. Immediately, I thought about the fact that my last two homes were in Washington, DC, and the New York - Connecticut area. The irony was not lost on me.

    Then the unspeakable happened. The towers came crashing down - first one, then the other. The bustling, busy office in which I worked suddenly became deafeningly silent. Some were sobbing. Others were in literal shock.

    I can only remember one emotion in my heart at that moment - anger. I was angry that Americans had become so complacent that they allowed this terrorism to fester in its midst. I was angry that Americans had become so ignorant of foreign affairs that they could not understand why something like this would happen. Further, I was angry that Americans were so self-absorbed, that they didn't see something like this coming. And you know what? I am an American. I can count myself in this group at which my anger was directed.

    Life has changed drastically for me in two years. Priorities changed. Seeing how fragile life can be, visiting the trade center site in southern Manhattan, these things really refocused my thinking. Being faced with the mortality of your peers, not to mention yourself, can have that effect. I had forgotten how much my family and friends meant to me. Worst of all, I had forgotten how much God meant to me.

    Perhaps September 11th, 2001, was a wake-up call to all of us that we should focus on more important things. Some of us have. Many have returned to the norm. However, none of us were unscathed. Today, I will be remembering this two year anniversary in the context of how life has changed, and how it can be improved, for everyone, not just myself.

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    .: posted by Dave 9:03 AM


    Wednesday, September 10, 2003

    From SKBubba's daily:

    Meanwhile, the education report cards are out, and 1650 schools in the state are out of compliance with "No Child Left Behind" requirements, including more than half of Knox County's schools. Personally, I think these requirements are somewhat unrealistic and aimed more at busting teacher's unions and justifying vouchers than actually helping kids.

    I'm not so sure that, if it is the intended result, would be a bad thing.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:23 PM


    Boycott Away!

    Alphapatriot posted an informed soliloquy on the virtues of the American boycott. I would have to agree that the pocketbook is a powerful tool, and closing it to certain markets tends to have an effect (ask the French today as their tourism industry struggles, and as their wine sales do the same). I, myself, have boycotted many things in the past; specifically, I will no longer buy CDs (as mentioned yesterday in this very blog).

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    .: posted by Dave 6:03 PM




    Yayy! Opus is coming back to the comics page. It's about time!

    And... there's going to be an Opus movie! Why didn't I know about this? Maybe I've been spending too much time reading serious news. :)

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    .: posted by Dave 5:39 PM


    Tuesday, September 09, 2003

    If the RIAA doesn't stop its vendetta against file-swappers, they will ultimately pay a huge price at the record store. It's already stopped me from buying CDs. Some others I know have done the same. Apparently, the RIAA does not understand its market, nor do they understand the value of a good PR machine. Of course, it doesn't seem to understand how to put out a good product these days either; it's not like I'm missing anything by boycotting CD purchases.

    Note to the RIAA: let me buy ONE good song from fifteen artists for the same price as I would pay for FIFTEEN crappy songs from one artist, and put them on a disk, then I'll buy music (after the musical jihad stops, of course). Until then, sayanora.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:59 PM


    Our Litigious Society:

    In 1999, 27 year old Melissa Gosule, had a car breakdown near Cape Cod. She called AAA, who dispatches a tow truck driver, who cannot tow her back to her home 60 miles away until later that evening. Subsequently, Gosule accepted a ride from a stranger (whose cellphone she used to call her parents earlier that evening), and that same stranger murdered her. With whom does the culpability lie in this scenario? Gosule's parents say the AAA, and the tow truck driver.

    While I feel terrible for the Gosule family, I cannot imagine how they can possibly blame the AAA, when it was Gosule's choice to ride with the stranger, and it was the stranger who murdered the young lady, not AAA, or the tow truck driver.

    Somewhere, we, as a society, have confused cause and effect. Common law takes a back seat to "making someone pay for my misery". Somewhere, sometime, soon, it has to stop. This tragedy was one person's fault: the killer. He, and only he, should pay the price.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:53 PM


    Competing Ideas:

    The NY school for gay and lesbian students opened this week. In response, so did the creationism school in the UK.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:42 PM


    Fantasy Football Rant: If Mike Martz doesn't learn how to use Marshall Faulk in his offensive game plan, I'm going to scream.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:28 PM


    Well, Ueberroth withdraws from the gubernatorial race in California, and this seems to be the big news there today. Or is it? Perhaps it is more newsworthy to note (as John Fund does) that the Golden State (not laden with gold like it once was) is seeking universal health coverage for its residents. The bill (SB-2) would require companies with over 20 employees to pay at least 80% of their health insurance costs (95% for "low income workers"), or pay into a state-administered fund.

    Interestingly, with some political maneuvering, the California Senate has managed to even allow this bill to need only a simple majority, instead of a 2/3 majority normally required for bills that are accompanied with a tax increase (as this one surely would be). Is this some 11th hour attempt by Gray Davis and company to persuade the voters that he is worthy of their support? If so, and if the support does come, shame on Californians for digging their own grave.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:27 PM


    CNN Money talks about investors' reluctance to dump inflated stocks. Some of these companies (Avaya, Lucent, AT&T Wireless) just aren't worth owning right now, yet investors continue to speculate. Didn't we learn anything after the tech bubble burst in 99-00? Well, I did. Take my advice; invest in Dow 30 companies, and weight your portfolio 70% stock, 20% income/cash funds, 10% bonds. You'll be glad you did.

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    .: posted by Dave 6:11 PM


    WHEW!

    I've returned from a much needed hiatus. It was good to see the beauty that is East Tennessee once more before my son is born in... whoa, 8 weeks! That soon? Egad!

    So, let's see, I missed Dubya's speech, Warren Zevon's passing, several Israeli bombings, whining Beebers, Fox claiming Franken is , and, oh... I see that my portfolio is up substantially this year. Yayy!

    Anyway, let's go do some blogging!

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 6:03 PM


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