I consider myself an amateur historian of both the American Civil War and World War 2 because I view them as the two most pivotal points in our countries history. During the D-Day invasion America lost 135,000 soldiers in 24 hours (29,000 killed, 106 wounded and missing) UK lost 65,000 (11,000 killed, 54,000 killed and missing) Canada lost 18,000 (5,000 killed, 13,000 wounded and missing) France had over 12,000 CIVILIANS killed and missing (wounded unknown) in one day. Germany had the largest removed from action in one day with 320,000 (30,000 killed, 80,000 wounded and 210,000 M.I.A. or P.O.W.) Consider those numbers the next time the nightly news talks about the effects of one homicide bomber in the middle east and remember the price of freedom just 65 years ago on a single day.
*Source of statistics is the Encyclopedia Britannica and deaths include those that died later from wounds inflicted on June 6, 1944.
This has been one of the worst weeks in my life. Not to be topped by this week, but pretty bad for reasons that if you know are self explanitory, and if you don't I'm not going into.
However, driving home from one of my nieces graduation parties (not one of the reasons for the bad week in case you were wondering) I was reminded that 65 years ago there were men storming a beach in occupied France who, after that day had no more bad weeks, days, or moments. This didn't solve any of the problems that have come up in my life recently, but it did make me realize that the way I've handled them has been fairly petty and childish. I still feel the way that I feel, nothing but time and communication will change that, one I can control if the other parties involved will join me in it, the other I have no control over other than to keep drawing breath.
BTW if you think you know all the parties I'm referencing in the second part of this post, you're probably wrong.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
ATTENTION COOL KIDS, Geeks blazed the trails you're on
I'm a geek. I readily admit it, hell I use it to define myself to people when they first meet me. I was never one of the "cool kids" yet I regularly find they are "into" what interested me years earlier. Below are some examples.
Computers: This one is fairly obvious at first glance, but look again. In the early 80's while the cool kids were tie-dying their clothing, and meeting at the roller-rinks us geeks either were convincing our parents to get us a computer, or were teaching ourselves how to use the computers our parents had reluctantly let us use because they had gotten it for themselves for work and they thought maybe someday we might possibly get some value out of the things. While I never taught myself more than basic programming I can troubleshoot a computer, you can point to any component and I can tell you the proper name, what it does, and what the specs of a current generation of that component are. A few years after us geeks were handing in neatly typed papers for school our classmates started getting in on the act and getting computers, mostly for gaming but reluctantly for school work as well.
The Internet: So now everyone, geek and cool kid, had a computer, but us geeks went to the next level, we connected our computers together and were communicating back and forth. The cool kids started making fun of us again, talking about us sitting in our basement lairs talking about Star Trek and getting tanned by monitor radiation. Now the internet is everywhere. Cool hang-outs would be barren if they didn't offer free wifi access, you can't go 30 steps in a store without one of the cool kids with a cellphone out, not to their ear, but to their thumbs checking their facebook status.
Blogs: Ok I was late to this party, I admit. But the geek collective used blogs to spread news that traditional media ignored either because they didn't find interesting or didn't want out (Bill Clinton's affair with Monica was first reported on the Drudge Report, a for stories that were refused by the AP.) Then the cool kids started blogging about everything from what they had for supper to who they slept with that night. Not really the point, again we were there first.
It's not just technology either, look at the last few summers big blockbuster movies, all comic-book movies (Spiderman, X-Men, Hellboy, etc) hell even Star Wars was ours first and has been embraced by the cool kids.
My point is that even though the cool kids ridicule us, tease us, beat us up, they need us. They all follow each other meaning no one finds fresh new things, the geeks are the trail blazers, willing to take the risks find the awsome new technology, figure out how it will benefit the herd and return it to them. I wonder if Lewis and Clark were ever given a wedgie?
Computers: This one is fairly obvious at first glance, but look again. In the early 80's while the cool kids were tie-dying their clothing, and meeting at the roller-rinks us geeks either were convincing our parents to get us a computer, or were teaching ourselves how to use the computers our parents had reluctantly let us use because they had gotten it for themselves for work and they thought maybe someday we might possibly get some value out of the things. While I never taught myself more than basic programming I can troubleshoot a computer, you can point to any component and I can tell you the proper name, what it does, and what the specs of a current generation of that component are. A few years after us geeks were handing in neatly typed papers for school our classmates started getting in on the act and getting computers, mostly for gaming but reluctantly for school work as well.
The Internet: So now everyone, geek and cool kid, had a computer, but us geeks went to the next level, we connected our computers together and were communicating back and forth. The cool kids started making fun of us again, talking about us sitting in our basement lairs talking about Star Trek and getting tanned by monitor radiation. Now the internet is everywhere. Cool hang-outs would be barren if they didn't offer free wifi access, you can't go 30 steps in a store without one of the cool kids with a cellphone out, not to their ear, but to their thumbs checking their facebook status.
Blogs: Ok I was late to this party, I admit. But the geek collective used blogs to spread news that traditional media ignored either because they didn't find interesting or didn't want out (Bill Clinton's affair with Monica was first reported on the Drudge Report, a for stories that were refused by the AP.) Then the cool kids started blogging about everything from what they had for supper to who they slept with that night. Not really the point, again we were there first.
It's not just technology either, look at the last few summers big blockbuster movies, all comic-book movies (Spiderman, X-Men, Hellboy, etc) hell even Star Wars was ours first and has been embraced by the cool kids.
My point is that even though the cool kids ridicule us, tease us, beat us up, they need us. They all follow each other meaning no one finds fresh new things, the geeks are the trail blazers, willing to take the risks find the awsome new technology, figure out how it will benefit the herd and return it to them. I wonder if Lewis and Clark were ever given a wedgie?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
End of an era?
Time for more politics....
America's days as a super-power are numbered. I state this not due to anything that is presently happening, although plenty there leads me to this conclusion as well, but by looking at historical trends.
The duration of Dynasties has shrunk as time has gone by. Egypt was a "superpower" from about 3150 BC until 332 BC. thats almost 3000 years. The Greek Empire went from roughly 2000 BC until 250 BC. (roughly 1750 years.) England was an empire from 1689 to about 1901, about 200 years. These are just 3 examples of an observation I've had, and I can give additional examples if people want them.
I would say the US has been a super-power from about the end of the Spanish-American war (1892) to present... that's a little over 115 years. With China and India starting to flex their muscle and Americans growing tired from being the world's police force how long can we stay a super-power?
America's days as a super-power are numbered. I state this not due to anything that is presently happening, although plenty there leads me to this conclusion as well, but by looking at historical trends.
The duration of Dynasties has shrunk as time has gone by. Egypt was a "superpower" from about 3150 BC until 332 BC. thats almost 3000 years. The Greek Empire went from roughly 2000 BC until 250 BC. (roughly 1750 years.) England was an empire from 1689 to about 1901, about 200 years. These are just 3 examples of an observation I've had, and I can give additional examples if people want them.
I would say the US has been a super-power from about the end of the Spanish-American war (1892) to present... that's a little over 115 years. With China and India starting to flex their muscle and Americans growing tired from being the world's police force how long can we stay a super-power?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Keeping a promise
I was thinking about my posts here, and I meant what I said when I would respect the office of the President no matter who sat in it, however since I started this blog I haven't said what I liked about President Obama either during the campaign or since his election, that changes now.
Obama has embraced technology and the new connections it can bring. This was one of the strongest points in his campaign, he used the internet to connect with the public in ways never seen on the national stage in this country. He used text messaging to announce hsi running mate rather than a press conference, he used the web to allow for micro-contrabutions so that people could donate as little as $5 to his campaign (weather this was to bypass audit trails is neither here nor there.) In these ways an many more President Obama has changed the way campaigns will be used for years to come. It is no longer reasonable for a Presidential candidate to not understand, or use technology. The micro-chip did for Obama what the first televised debate against Nixon did for JFK.
Obama has expressed a desire for volunteerism that I strongly agree with. I would love for programs similar to the GI bill and ROTC where if you donate time either before or after collage to helping the country (teaching inner-city children, being a cook or administrator in a homeless shelter, or other charitable work as your primary, or reserve type of job) for an agreed upon ammount of time, the government would help you with your college tuition.
This also allows those who oppose the military, but feel because of their background it's the only way to pay for college another way to assist the country and pay for college without going against their moral beliefs. I don't believe ALL benefits should be equal to those our soldiers get (government backed morgage, Healthcare, etc.) but enhancing the overall education of this country will only benefit it.
President Obama has also expressed a desire to increase stem-cell research. I have mixed opinions on the abortion debate that I will probably blog about at some further time, but as long as they are the law of the land, why not at least put the cells to use with research so the lost life counts for something rather than sending it to a medical waste landfill? Also fetus' aren't the only way to get stem-cells.
As someone who has had medical issues most of his life, I can see only benefits to furthering medical science down this path. This research is going to happen somewhere anyway, why not in this country where ethical standards can and will be maintained?
Those are the biggest 3 things I can think to praise President Obama for at the moment, but as I see more I will certainly add praise as well as criticisms.
Obama has embraced technology and the new connections it can bring. This was one of the strongest points in his campaign, he used the internet to connect with the public in ways never seen on the national stage in this country. He used text messaging to announce hsi running mate rather than a press conference, he used the web to allow for micro-contrabutions so that people could donate as little as $5 to his campaign (weather this was to bypass audit trails is neither here nor there.) In these ways an many more President Obama has changed the way campaigns will be used for years to come. It is no longer reasonable for a Presidential candidate to not understand, or use technology. The micro-chip did for Obama what the first televised debate against Nixon did for JFK.
Obama has expressed a desire for volunteerism that I strongly agree with. I would love for programs similar to the GI bill and ROTC where if you donate time either before or after collage to helping the country (teaching inner-city children, being a cook or administrator in a homeless shelter, or other charitable work as your primary, or reserve type of job) for an agreed upon ammount of time, the government would help you with your college tuition.
This also allows those who oppose the military, but feel because of their background it's the only way to pay for college another way to assist the country and pay for college without going against their moral beliefs. I don't believe ALL benefits should be equal to those our soldiers get (government backed morgage, Healthcare, etc.) but enhancing the overall education of this country will only benefit it.
President Obama has also expressed a desire to increase stem-cell research. I have mixed opinions on the abortion debate that I will probably blog about at some further time, but as long as they are the law of the land, why not at least put the cells to use with research so the lost life counts for something rather than sending it to a medical waste landfill? Also fetus' aren't the only way to get stem-cells.
As someone who has had medical issues most of his life, I can see only benefits to furthering medical science down this path. This research is going to happen somewhere anyway, why not in this country where ethical standards can and will be maintained?
Those are the biggest 3 things I can think to praise President Obama for at the moment, but as I see more I will certainly add praise as well as criticisms.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
CHANGE in priorities
In President Obama's first 2 full days in office he seems to have shown that his priorities are messed up.
Exhibit A: His first executive order was nothing but political posturing. This order froze the pay of his top administration officials. These officials at that time had been on the job less than 24 hours, what exactly could they have done to deserve the consideration of a raise in that time? This made him look like he was getting tough on the economic problems without actually having to do anything of substance. If he really wanted to do something why not create some tax-free holidays, lower the tax rate on small business', or issue some type of stimulas package?
Exhibit B: His next day in office, again before doing anything of substance for the American people he issued another executive order to stop the trials of foreign terrorist/freedom fighters/soldiers and close Guantanamo Bay. President Obama said during the campaign that it may take him up to a year to deside what to do with Guantanamo Bay but he seems to have managed to make the choice within 48 hours of taking the oath of office. I wonder how much of that decision was made for him by the people who supported him during the campaign calling in favors. Estimates are that with this closure at least 100 detainee's will be released, the remaining detainee's to be put on trials within the US. So people whatever you choose to call them who were captured taking up arms against our soldiers, without uniforms are going to be released with no trial, or given a trial within the country they wished ill.
If you look up the definition of a soldier in Section one of part 3 of protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention you'll see that they must distinguish themselves from the civilian population. These detainee's didn't do that and thus aren't covered and should be treated as the terrorists they are.
Exhibit A: His first executive order was nothing but political posturing. This order froze the pay of his top administration officials. These officials at that time had been on the job less than 24 hours, what exactly could they have done to deserve the consideration of a raise in that time? This made him look like he was getting tough on the economic problems without actually having to do anything of substance. If he really wanted to do something why not create some tax-free holidays, lower the tax rate on small business', or issue some type of stimulas package?
Exhibit B: His next day in office, again before doing anything of substance for the American people he issued another executive order to stop the trials of foreign terrorist/freedom fighters/soldiers and close Guantanamo Bay. President Obama said during the campaign that it may take him up to a year to deside what to do with Guantanamo Bay but he seems to have managed to make the choice within 48 hours of taking the oath of office. I wonder how much of that decision was made for him by the people who supported him during the campaign calling in favors. Estimates are that with this closure at least 100 detainee's will be released, the remaining detainee's to be put on trials within the US. So people whatever you choose to call them who were captured taking up arms against our soldiers, without uniforms are going to be released with no trial, or given a trial within the country they wished ill.
If you look up the definition of a soldier in Section one of part 3 of protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention you'll see that they must distinguish themselves from the civilian population. These detainee's didn't do that and thus aren't covered and should be treated as the terrorists they are.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A nation in need of change
Today the US watched another president sworn in (either the 44th by traditional counting, or the 51st if you count all of them.) But we also watched as the out-going president was boo'ed and sung "na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey good-bye" to him. Regardless of how you feel about former President Bush that is not an acceptable way to treat him.
President Obama talks about uniting the political sides, yet I've not to see him doing anything to heal the wounds that are killing this nation. He's had 2 months already as President-Elect, despite his promises against a "revolving door of lobbyist" in the administration has now invited William Corr a federal lobbyist with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids until Sept 2008 to be deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
President Obama also questioned Hilary Clinton's ability to negotiate while her husband takes money for speaking at foreign nations, yet she is up for Secretary of State. Where is this Change we were promised?
President Obama talks about uniting the political sides, yet I've not to see him doing anything to heal the wounds that are killing this nation. He's had 2 months already as President-Elect, despite his promises against a "revolving door of lobbyist" in the administration has now invited William Corr a federal lobbyist with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids until Sept 2008 to be deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
President Obama also questioned Hilary Clinton's ability to negotiate while her husband takes money for speaking at foreign nations, yet she is up for Secretary of State. Where is this Change we were promised?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Looking professional and being professional are two different things
I like jeans. One of the things I enjoyed about where I work is that we were able to wear jeans. Not any more.
An edict came from the CEO that those of us in the downtown office must "look professional" and that jeans apparently don't fit that description. I'm ok with this in principle, however this edict came with a "NO EXCEPTIONS" clause. Here's the thing, I spend about 1/2 of my work day crawling around either under desks, in a dirty warehouse, or in a server closet. I'd much rather were a durable pair of denim jeans, even if their black., than a pair of "professional" dockers or khaki's that will tear or show dirt more easily.
I went to my supervisor and requested he speak with the powers that be, explain about my work day, and that at a previous employer I wore out a pair of dress pants on average every month. I was told there would be no exceptions.
Obviously I'm not going to quit over this but really, what do they care what I wear as long as I get the job done and act professional doing it?
An edict came from the CEO that those of us in the downtown office must "look professional" and that jeans apparently don't fit that description. I'm ok with this in principle, however this edict came with a "NO EXCEPTIONS" clause. Here's the thing, I spend about 1/2 of my work day crawling around either under desks, in a dirty warehouse, or in a server closet. I'd much rather were a durable pair of denim jeans, even if their black., than a pair of "professional" dockers or khaki's that will tear or show dirt more easily.
I went to my supervisor and requested he speak with the powers that be, explain about my work day, and that at a previous employer I wore out a pair of dress pants on average every month. I was told there would be no exceptions.
Obviously I'm not going to quit over this but really, what do they care what I wear as long as I get the job done and act professional doing it?
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