A little Note to myself

Posted on August 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

After the ‘Deal’ cut with the GOP this past weekend that left the Middle Class high and Dry, I’m making a few predictions on August 3rd, 2011.

  1. In November, the ‘Super Congress’ gets deadlocked. (This one is easy)
  2. Ultimately, The Democratic Party ‘Compromise’ and the Majority of Cuts are in needed Domestic Programs. This will happen after ‘debating’ for 3 weeks or until Christmas Break.
  3. Despite All assurance to the contrary by the President and the Democratic Party, No increase in Taxes for the wealthy. (as the GOP has the House, this too is easy).
  4. The GW Bush Tax breaks for the wealthy will be extended. Yet Again.
  5. The Democratic Party continues to stay off message and lose the Senate in 2012.
  6. President Obama get’s a second term as all the GOP candidates pander to the Radical Right Way to much (Happened in 1992, Ask G. Bush I).
  7. Things get really bad and the Income Gap increases even more.
Sadly,The GOP does a much better job at staying on message than the Democratic Party does. On top of that, The GOP are more than willing to take something Hostage (i.e.  our Economy) and do whatever they think it takes to achieve their goal, regardless of the cost to the American Public. 

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Posted in Personal, politics, Rants

Random Silly Tip

Posted on March 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

In this day and age, anything you post in Facebook (or anywhere for that matter) can and will be used against you. The Random Silly Tip today is: Think carefully about what you post/comment on.

For some reason, people seem to think that they are “safe” to post just about anything online without consideration of the consequences. This occasionally leads to really bad results.

Lets see what a quick Google search gets:
“Facebook post gets student-athlete expelled”
“Facebook Post Gets Mich. Juror in Hot Water – CBS News”
“Facebook post gets NFL Eagles’ worker fired”
Or my favorite “Fired Over Facebook: 13 Posts That Got People CANNED”

This isn’t even touching the issue of posting Personal Info online. Do you really need to post your Birthday, Real Phone Number and Address on Face Book? (HINT: Would you write that info on the wall of a Subway?) Facebook makes a lot of money off your personal info and browsing habits. Even with Privacy options set up on FB, why post such personal info?

See ‘Facebook To Share Users Home Addresses, Phone Numbers With External Sites‘ on Huffington Post. Should we stop using Facebook? I don’t think so, but people really should be careful what they post.

Slight Update demonstrating my point: UCLA Student, Films Racist Rant.
I don’t know her and will hope she’s not as foolish as she comes across, but this is a perfect example why you should think carefully about what you post/comment on…

Music I’m listening to Now:
Nothing at the moment

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Posted in Current Issues, Different, Tips

Tagged , , , ,

Is he still funny???

Posted on March 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

I think not.

‘VIDEO: Charlie Sheen’s Violent Message Appears To Include Talk Of Cutting Children’s Throats‘

I have no idea if he’s ‘joking’ but in any case, its just not funny. To put it mildly, IMO, he really needs help.  His behavior has been so publicly erratic, that the lawyers for his Ex Wives don’t have to do anything other than record his rants.

I saw an episode of “Two and a Half Men” on CBS last night, Episode “Twanging Your Magic Clanger” (Really, that’s the title). Always great to see Liz Vassey but Why were they paying him so much?

Regarding his firing: After all his antics (Arrested for domestic violence, “parties“, hospitalizations, etc.), I think CBS and Warner Brothers gave him plenty of chances. His lawyers will scream but as  CBS and WB have deeper pockets and more lawyers, I’m guessing they will win or settle.

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

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Posted in Current Issues, Different, News, Rants

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NOT ‘Winning!’…

Posted on March 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sadly,  The Charlie Sheen train wreck continues.

I don’t know if his erratic behavior is due to mental illness, drug use or both, but I do think he should not be idolized for it.   He says he’s “WINNING!” but his two kids were taken away from him. If that’s winning, the word is poorly defined. IMO, his 1 million+ “followers” on twitter are watching to see how bad it gets.

To compound his “WINNING!“,  each and every time he gives an ‘interview’ or goes on “Sheen’s Korner” (The Kardashians are allegedly considering legal action… j/k or am I?), he’s giving two of his Ex Wives more and more reasons why he should not have access to his kids. His publicist quit since he wasn’t listening anyway, his lawyers asked him to stop, and he just keeps going anyway. Me, I was able to watch “Sheen’s Korner” for only a minute or so. In many ways, it was sad and he’s just surrounding himself with enablers…

Among other things, after his explaining advantages of prostitutes, bragging about drug use, his love of porn stars, etc, you have to ask: “Would you leave your kids with him?” No one would.

I really hope he gets the help he needs, especially if he wants to see his kids again.

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

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Posted in Different, News, Rants

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Wow, 2 posts in 1 day!

Posted on February 27, 2011 | Leave a comment

Or how not to treat customers.

Ok, My wife and I get Studio photos taken of the us and our baby and then print out selected photos from the CD.  As they are professional, I take the CD jacket which has the license that says the images can be used for Non Commercial uses. This is in case Costco has any issues.

We’ve had no problem before but this time the the Manager comes out, cuts me off when I showed him the CD jacket and lectures me about “copyrights”. When I pointed out that the CD jacket has the license, he “reads” it and says otherwise (it actually has the license printed on it) and turns away.  I asked his co-worker (in front of him) what the remedy is. Shocking: He took less then 15 seconds to get the form where I certify I have the right to reproduce my photos…

I don’t have a problem with Costco covering their Collective Ass, I do have a problem with rude “managers” who can’t read.  Next Time I print anything there, If he gets rude like that, I’m filing a complaint.

Costco: You really might want to get managers that can read what is in front of them and NOT cut people off.

Music I’m listening to right Now:
Nothing. My wife and I are watching the Oscar pre show on E! channel.

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Posted in Different, Photography, Rants

Tagged , , , , ,

Random Silly Tip

Posted on February 27, 2011 | 2 Comments

Multiple free Email accounts are a good thing. Every now and again, I want to log into a forum site that has info I need, but I don’t want to be spammed. Nowadays, with Gmail, Yahoo, etc, it’s easy to have multiple free email accounts and quite useful.

Anytime you want to sign on to a new Forum, just use your disposable email account.  That way, you won’t care if you get SPAM on that account, it’s not the one you give your friends.

On that topic, for a primary email address I recommend GMail. I’ve changed ISP’s several times and rather than give out a new email address to all my friends, I just continue to use my Gmail address. Also: Email has very good Anti Spam defense.

Just be sure you keep DIFFERENT passwords. That’s the number one mistake people make, ONE password for all accounts.

Music I’m listening to right Now:
“Slice” by “Five for Fighting” from the “Slice” Album. Hear it here on YouTube.

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Posted in Tips

Catch Up

Posted on February 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Been a while, so I figured I post something, being 2011 that is…

Baby: Our daughter is getting really big, she’s healthy, chatty and social. To put it mildly, my wife and I are incredibly happy.

Hobby: Still assembling Gundam models, currently working on a RG MS-06S Char’s Zaku. Slow going, but getting there. The Detail on the 1/144 scale RG is amazing.

FIOS: Frankly, the speed is getting ridiculous.  Above you have the speed test from December 2009 and below from February 2011…

Android: Been playing around with Android OS (It’s Linux) lately.  Lot of good things about it and I like that you can get in there via ADB and look around. The ADB terminal sucks, but with a little work, you can start an SSH server, limit it to loopback and connect via ADB port forwarding.

Music I’m listening to right Now:
“Chances” by “Five for Fighting” from the “Slice” Album.

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Posted in Cool Stuff, Hobby, Personal

New Toy…

Posted on July 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Ok, some people would say the HTC Incredible is not a Toy, but I feel I’m being honest by calling it that. In my case: I can do without it, but just felt like getting one. This post is NOT a review, there are plenty of reviews out there; this is just my personal impression of the phone.

For me, the attraction was using it as a Phone as well as the free apps that you can get for it. Being an Android phone, you can get some impressive Google apps such as Google Maps (and Navigation!), Google Voice, and my personal favorite Google Skymap.

Skymap is very cool as I’ve been interested in Astronomy since my father 1st got a telescope when I was in grade school.

More after the break. Continue reading →

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Posted in Cool Stuff, Different, Personal

OK, time for an update.

Posted on May 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

Well,  We had a baby girl in February.

She’s adorable, healthy and keeps us on our toes full time! My advice to any couple thinking of having a baby: Do it.

  • My wife and I are getting a lot less sleep (getting better)
  • We have absolutely no free time
  • My work is affected a bit
  • My hobbies are now non existent (Photography?!?)
  • We don’t see any of our friends socially anymore.
  • You won’t believe how much we spend in Diapers and formula!

Sounds just awful, right? It’s not.

Seriously, being a parent is worth all this effort/cost and more.  We’re really lucky to have our daughter and we know it. I could go on and on with all the things I learn from our daughter daily but I can summarize it simply: My wife and daughter are what I look forward to everyday.

Music I’m listening to right Now:
“Bulletproof” by La Roux from the “La Roux” Album on the radio.

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Posted in Cool Stuff, Kids, Personal

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(sigh) The “atheism” sub reddit is, IMO, getting out of hand. I have absolutely no problem with anyone’s personal beliefs (or lack there of), but I’m getting tired of going to Reddit and seeing constant headlines from “atheism” berating people who believe in God or how so and so “owned” someone else.  I get it: “Religion caused 9/11″, Herpes, Dark Ages, “Religious People are Low IQ Morons”, “You can’t believe in Science and Religion”, etc.  I can’t stand intolerance, religious or otherwise,  and, IMO, most of those posts are intolerant. I’m pretty close to ditching Reddit as a result.

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Posted on December 13, 2009