Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Boring Apple iPhone Announcements

Apple unveiled a new 3G Apple iPhone, due out in July. It is faster, easier to program apps for, and many new games have come out. GREAT, whoop de do. I myself could care less. I don't plan on an iPhone in my future, $199 or not, and for Apple to clog up the Keynote with all and only iPhone apps, well, who cares? Ok ok, I know alot of you do. You LOVE the iPhone. I just don't care to do all my computing on a small hand held thing. I prefer a large screen and keyboard. What's next, Apple will ante up and sell us a super small HD display movie screen that we can carry on our ear or nose? I just don't want a miniaturized computing environment. Yeah, I own a cell phone, hardly have it turned on really. It is just for emergencies. Matter of fact, I was thinking of canning it. I would have rather seen an iPhone with a keychain on one end. Many other mini cell phone companies already have the features we want. I do not want ebay selling on a phone. eBay is dying out anyway in lieu of free sales sites. Ok iPhone has some cool features, but here is yet another company trying to sell us something we do not need. What a cool gee whiz toy or feature, but really, I do not care. Time to save some money for the new taxes liberals will be placing on us if Obama the Great wins the Presidency.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Green Gasoline Replacement - SwiftFuel

Robert X. Cringely tells us about an astonishing Gasoline replacement. SwiftFuel is made for Aviation from a new idea, a crop of Sorghum. China is moving to it to replace Ethanol. Robert hits on another great brain child even though I actually feel the Gasoline crisis is arbitrary and controlled by greedy politicians and past politicians who are making a mint on the so called Green movement. Anyhow, it would still be great to find an alternative to Gasoline, that can cohabit with it, so we can transition America to not just reduce our foreign oil dependency, but eliminate it. In the meantime, we should be drilling our current resources and using it, while we transition and develop this new source of fuel.

Monday, May 19, 2008

What we need in Politics Today!

Take a look at the following 2 paragraphs. Read them, and then compare this ideology to the 3 baboons running for president!

"We, the members of the New Republican Party, believe that the preservation and enhancement of the values that strengthen and protect individual freedom, family life, communities and neighborhoods and the liberty of our beloved nation should be at the heart of any legislative or political program presented to the American people." We good so far? "Our task now is not to sell a philosophy, but to make the majority of Americans, who already share that philosophy, see that modern conservatism offers them a political home. ... The job is ours and the job must be done. If not by us, who? If not now, when? Our party must be the party of the individual. It must not sell out the individual to cater to the group. No greater challenge faces our society today than ensuring that each one of us can maintain his dignity and his identity in an increasingly complex, centralized society.

"Extreme taxation, excessive controls, oppressive government competition with business … frustrated minorities and forgotten Americans are not the products of free enterprise. They are the residue of centralized bureaucracy, of government by a self-anointed elite. Our party must be based on the kind of leadership that grows and takes its strength from the people. Any organization is in actuality only the lengthened shadow of its members. A political party is a mechanical structure created to further a cause. The cause, not the mechanism, brings and holds the members together. And our cause must be to rediscover, reassert and reapply America's spiritual heritage to our national affairs. Then with God's help we shall indeed be as a city upon a hill with the eyes of all people upon us."

So what do you think? Sound like a leader? That was from Ronald Reagan - American Patriot. Captured from RushLimbaugh.com.

Friday, May 09, 2008

George Hoffer - Idiot! So called Economics Professor?

Now here is exactly the kind of fodder that makes me laugh so hard I fall out of my chair. This so called Economics Professor has made a silly and uneducated statement, and actually believes it.

"The SUV craze was a bubble and now it is bursting," said George Hoffer, an economics professor at Virginia Commonwealth University whose research focuses on the automotive industry. "It's an irrational vehicle. It'll never come back."

What an Idiot! I can out think this professor when I am half asleep. Obviously he has some agenda against large vehicles. A Truck or SUV is an irrational vehicle? Have you ever tried to pull a boat with a Prius, professor? How about take a load of trash to the dump in a VW Beetle or Honda Civic? Maybe take your camper into the mountains behind a Kia or Toyota (insert any car name here).

Trucks and SUVs are not irrational. Only the garbage you spew from your truly uneducated mouth, is irrational. Trucks, Cars, SUVs, all serve a purpose. To go off road, you need a truck. Ever hear of a FARM? Know what that is? They plant stuff in the ground, grow it, and take it to market in TRUCKS. Moron!

People prefer larger vehicles, for safety, room, better view of the road, more towing capacity, and better load hauling capacity. I own a Dodge Ram, used to own a Ford F-150, and would love to have a Ford Expedition. I like the space inside that allows me to buy something, and save the fee I would have to spend to have the item delivered. I am independent. I do for myself with a truck. I don't need anything from anyone. I don't rent U - Hauls, and I don't ask insane people like you to pay for my truck, I do it. I buy what I want, for my purposes, and no matter what brainwashing technique you use today, I will continue to buy and use what I want to, regardless of gas prices. It is idiots like you who lack basic understanding of supply and demand economics. Stop whining.

Thanks to environmental whackos like you, we lack refining capacity (our "green" laws have halted any new development of refineries). We have not drilled in any US territories for more than 30 years, professor. Matter of fact, while developing nations begin to drill off of our coast line, in International Waters, we sit idly by drinking our Starbucks coffee, and lamenting simpler times when we used oil lamps to read by, and a horse drawn buggy to gather daily food stuff.

Idiot! I would love to debate you in person on a national TV or radio show. Your ignorance would be far too easy to capitalize on, professor, you fool. Back in the 70's large vehicles were king. Our dependance on foreign oil made things tight, and that will happen again. large vehicles resurged, people preferred them. They only used small vehicles out of economic necessity. Eventually we will begin digging in US land for Oil, and when that happens, and we finally face facts, even larger trucks and cars will be the product of our folly. History always repeats itself, but you know that, you are a Professor!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Dvorak, Correct Again, Green Tech about Making Money!

John C. Dvorak has hit it right on the head once again. The push for Green Technologies is driven by profits, not some utopian idea to "save" the planet. Thanks god for Capitalism, and the drive it gives Americans to outperform any country on the planet. If not for Capitalism, we would have a third world economy too.

One of the interesting ironies of solar power is that many of the major petroleum companies are the biggest investors in solar. They concluded that they are energy companies, not oil companies, and they are using their profits from oil to invest in solar. BP has one of the finest solar portfolios. In India one of the big oil companies, Reliance, looks to be headed into the semiconductor business for this reason. Hey, these guys have made some serious money over the past few years, so they can afford these investments.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

IRS Tax Rebate Stimulus Plan

So when is your Tax Rebate coming from the Feds? Sometime in May? Yes, and this article from the IRS explains just how and when yours will be processed.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Cleveland - Christmas Story House

Hi Gang, I was away for several days in Cleveland, Ohio. I attended the NA08 Logistics Conference. Great to be back, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was tasked with finding some possible software solutions for warehouse operations. I found some. The real story though is Cleveland. Cleveland is a magnificent city. I read that Ohio is struggling with trying to lure people back to the city. Seems that taxes are out of control, and many businesses have closed up and left. Cleveland used to be a heavy manufacturing town, but much of that has been supplanted to China and Japan in lieu of lower costs and salaries.

They are working very hard to bring the city back. Most people who work there, leave after work, and the city becomes somewhat of a ghost town in the evenings. Some restaurants and activities do occur, but many of the local shopping venues are barren and empty after work. One mall, the Galleria closes at 5pm.

I found it a friendly city, with very pleasant people. They have the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers in the city limits. Low traffic problems, waterfront activities, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, great food at all of the various restaurants, and a great spring breeze from Lake Erie.

My favorite thing was visiting the Christmas Story House. It is on the southern outskirts of Cleveland. If you saw the classic movie, the house used in the film has been rehabbed, and you can tour and enjoy the internals of the house. The movie was originally filmed outside on the grounds of this house, but the inside scenes were filmed in a remote Ontario sound stage. However, the man who purchased the home has gone to great lengths to approximate the same look and feel the movie had. It is uncanny at the effort taken to provide details that were never actually inside the house. Complete with the Leg Lamp in the window!




Friday, April 18, 2008

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Welcome to Maryland!



Boneheads, funny sign but true.

Apple Mail - Crappy - Definite BUG

Check this out, some smart person on the Apple website found my email problem. Seems that when he takes his website address out of the tag line area, his mail sends ok. So I tried it and it worked for me. Obvious bug, and another example of Apple problems. If Microsoft had this issue, the media would pound them, and someone would want to sue.



Re: Suddenly cannot send email through any SMTP server
Posted: Feb 20, 2007 11:07 PM

Hi,

Hope I'm not side-tracking people here but I've discovered a link between e-mails not sending and having my website address in my signature.

After reseting my POP accounts, if I include my website address in my signature (which is hosted by the same SMPTE server that I receive my mail through) then the e-mail won't send. It looks like it has been sent but it doesn't get through.

As soon as I remover the website address from the signature, the e-mails get through. Even if I slightly misspell the address, it will get through. But as soon as I put the web address back in the signature, anywhere in the signature, the mails don't get through..... very strange!

Mac Book Pro 15" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Apple Mail - Crappy

Yes indeed, you read that correctly. I really get sick and tired of zealots claiming that Apple is far superior in all ways. The Apple Mail application has an underlying crappy design and is buggy. How do I know? I am unable to send email. I receive just fine. I have diagnosed it with their connection doctor (a cool utility in itself), and all is well. Then I remove the smtp server setting, close mail, reopen and then re-enter the smtp server setting. Nope, nothing works. Yeah, I have gone over my settings again and again. Here is the kicker, Microsoft Outlook Express works great! Thats right, it just plain works, from my PC laptop. Settings are all the same for servers and account info. The difference is it has been rigorously tested and software assurance levels have been reached by some form of process that makes sure simple things just work. Apple gets so high and mighty that they don't consider their Mail app would have any issues. Well just consider it, if I contact tech support they will send me "how to setup my server settings in 5 easy steps", swoon over how it may be my server or ISP service, or just plainly think I don't know how to click on buttons, drop down boxes or icons. What crappy software! The worst thing is I actually like Mail, I just need it to work!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Obama Steals Reagan Quotes

Want to hear the original person who spoke about change, and "Yes We Can"? This is one of the best speeches I have ever heard, and this is what America is all about!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Roy Spencer on Global Warming

Learn the REAL science behind Earth's climate from Roy W. Spencer, Ph.D.:

We live in an invisible atmospheric sea of water vapor, Earth's primary greenhouse gas. Our atmosphere could hold much more water vapor than it does, which would then lead to a much warmer Earth -- but it doesn't. So, why is the greenhouse effect limited to its current value? We don't know; scientists simply "assume" that it magically stays that way.

Current computerized climate models that predict large amounts of global warming only do so after making very crude and uncertain assumptions about how the Earth's natural greenhouse effect is maintained. In the following article I will explain why I believe that modern science can not say with any level of confidence how much of our current global warmth is caused by mankind without knowing why the Earth's greenhouse effect is limited to its current value.

In the following article I will explain why the answer to this question must be through the operation of precipitation systems, for only they can remove water vapor from the atmosphere. Even though all climate models DO contain the "average effects" of precipitation systems -- this is NOT the same as knowing how precipitation systems interactively regulate the climate system.

WalMart Stores united under ONE web address

WalMart has a new site online which gives you plenty of info on local community, opportunities, and health. What an American success story WalMart has become. The recipe for success: Give people low prices and good quality. America responds. Go to their site to learn more about this terrific company.

iPhoto Can NOT Burn a Windows Compatible Disc?

Thats right, Apple has decided that iPhoto, their photo library and editing application that comes bundled with the Mac, can not burn a Windows compatible disc. Yeah, the Mac can itself. If you use Finder you can create a disc that Windows pals can see. But if you stay in iPhoto, which is what Apple encourages, you are out of luck. Just another short sighted decision from Apple. Windows computers only make up about 90% of the computer market. No wonder. I hear how brilliant these Apple programmers are, but I keep uncovering missing features and bone head design issues. What's up with that?

Monday, March 24, 2008

Red Skelton - What is the Pledge of Allegiance

Red Skelton, famed Comedic Clown had a serious point to make about what the Pledge stands for. Please listen to this whole thing, it is short, and well worth the time.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

10 Proven Gas Saving Tips!

1. Use only the manufacturers recommended octane. High test is a huge waste of money in 95% of all cars and trucks made in the last 10 years.
2. Drive like you have an egg under your gas pedal. Drive smoothly, no quick take off's.
3. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.
4. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
5. Keep your vehicle as light as possible.Get rid of all that junk in your trunk!
6. You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can loweryour gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1-1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
7. Fill up every other day when prices are spiking.
8. Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.
9. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine .
10. Don't drive 20 miles out of your way to gas up because you heard from a friend or website that gas is cheaper over there.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Can Apple Maintain Software Properly Anymore?

Apple released a Security Update for Mac OS X today. Seems that people are already experiencing problems! The command line SSH utility that allows one to login to a mac remotely, is aborting on an error. I now have to ask this question. We know Apple can design nice devices, from computers to ipods and all in between, but are they able to maintain support over a long period on those devices? My initial response is no, Apple is not capable of providing world class, top notch support over a long period for their software products. Apple only knows how to create new stuff, not maintain the old stuff. It is no surprise, software code grows by leaps and bounds when feature glut happens. Mac OS X 10.5 is laden with all kinds of new features, many of which do not immediately enhance anything for the end user. Eye candy is great, pretty little icons, woa, cool. But reliability, something the Mac was known for over the last 10 years, has diminished. Microsoft is usually the butt of jokes when it comes to flunky buggy software, but Apple has been sharing the limelight, much of it due to this new 10.5. I am not impressed. Matter of fact, I want 10.4 Tiger back! But Apple doesn't allow 10.4 to be loaded on newer hardware. It is a monopoly of sorts internal to the catacombs of Apple. A way to force you to upgrade to the new OS. If Microsoft did that they would be taken to court. Hmm, maybe a class action suit would do the trick here.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Indiana Jones Movie May 22nd

My favorite! Wow, Indiana Jones will be back on the BIG screen May 22nd, Memorial Day weekend. Many years ago, I recall dragging my mom to Raiders of the Lost Ark, a seemingly dirty dusty boys movie, which I was sure she would hate. Ended up that the movie was so very good with much action, great characters, mystical ancient curses, and just alot of fun! We both loved it. Indiana Jones has endured many generations and Harrison Ford deserves much of the credit. Harrison's Indian Jones persona touched with sarcasm and riveting musical score is simply a huge hit to all ages. Karen Allen even reprises her role as Indy's flame from the past. I can NOT wait until May when I will go see this movie, probably a few times. There are not many movies fans go to the theater to see over and over; Star Wars, Raiders, and hopefully this one, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Florida Fools In Yet Another Voting Fiasco!

I have had enough of Florida. They couldn't vote properly in the Bush vs. Gore election in 2000, they didn't know how to punch holes in cards making detached CHADS. Then in 2004 Florida residents claimed the election was stolen due to thrown out ballots, apparently surreptitiously taken from polling sites, by unnamed assailants. It matters not that representatives from each party were there, but wether they were alive is another question. NOW we have Florida residents who simply can not find their polling place wasting $2500 to keep open a ghost town of a polling place. Perhaps the 68 registered voters in the Prospect Bend neighborhood can not read. Maybe they are all disabled? Or maybe they simply forgot to change the calendar from February to March, thinking leap year actually takes a whole month versus a day every 4 years. I don't know, maybe they just didn't give a hoot. But whatever the issue Florida residents have, they very well deserve sorrow, our heads bowed, and our hearts heavy with the prospect that some of them reproduce. What an utter shame and disgrace Floridians exhibit to the rest of the United States and the World. What a mess everything else must be in Florida.