Archive for February, 2007
Link: For Math Geeks
Wednesday, February 21st, 2007What’s Special About This Number?
Link: Fear IT
Tuesday, February 20th, 2007IT Departments Fear Growing Expertise of Users What?! IT departments are supposed to be supportive, not directive, operations? Gasp! The only thing more annoying than Windows is the OS’s support staff in an organization.
My Next Car
Saturday, February 17th, 2007I just discovered my next car: VentureOne EV.
To be released in late 2008 in the $20k range, the VentureOne EV is a fully electric vehicle with a 120-mile range and a top speed of over 75 MPH.
Fire Bad Teachers
Friday, February 16th, 2007I believe improving the public education system should be the number one domestic political priority. I almost dropped Emerson and became a teacher my junior year.
Steve Jobs and I have been thinking differently alike recently. I completely agreed with him on DRM last week. Today, Mr. Jobs lambasted teacher unions for the dumbing down of America. Amen.
Moto V195s
Friday, February 16th, 2007I recently purchased a Motorola V195s after my beloved Motorola A630‘s outer display died. The V195 was the cheapest Bluetooth phone available from T-Mobile on a one-year contract.
The V195 features an excellent Bluetooth implementation that works flawlessly with iSync via a free plug-in. T-Mobile, once again, gets a nod for not crippling the Bluetooth implementation.
The V195 can run the Opera Mini web browser and fully load most websites with the $5/month T-MobileWeb service.
I miss the full thumb keyboard of the A630. I’m not sure why this style of phone did not become more popular. The thumb keyboard allowed for fast text-messaging, email, and mobile web surfing. I also miss having a typical pathetically poor quality camera phone. However, I love the compact size, lightweight design, and long battery life of the V195.
Note: I’m jumping ship to Cingular The New AT&T once the iPhone 2 is released. Apple’s repair record on first generation products is less than outstanding and I cannot afford to join the elite early adopter club. Thus, I don’t mind another year contract, just not two years.
For / Against
Friday, February 16th, 2007I am for immediate withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. We cannot win and we cannot spread our form of freedom to a group of people who won’t fight for it themselves.
I am against the escalation of troops in Iraq. The morale of the troops will not be damaged by disagreeing with this plan. Calling troops back for more than three tours in Iraq, not dissent with the President, damages morale. Regardless, the morale of the troops has no effect on the results produced in Iraq. Those who claim morale does influence results should note that the assumed high morale thus far has not produced anything to be proud of in Iraq. I’m not blaming the troops for a lack of progress, but let’s not equate supporting the troops with keeping them deployed.
I am for immediate withdrawal of funding to the war in Iraq. Withdrawing funding is not unpatriotic and it is not withdrawing support of the troops. Not funding the war in Iraq is the proper check and balance that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch. Non-binding resolutions are nice, bold resolution to stop bad policies are better. If “The Decider” claims a non-binding resolution will not change his policy, then Congress must take meaningful action.
2000 Bloggers
Friday, February 9th, 2007
I noticed that I was listed in the 2000 Bloggers index. Rockin’.
Thoughts on Steve
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007In case you missed it, Steve Jobs publicly called for record labels to stop demanding Digital Rights Management restrictions on music. He explained the situation of distributing media in a digital age with candor and rationality. As the CEO of Apple, the company that sells the vast majority of the portable music players and digital downloads in the world, his opinion matters. alot.
Jobs is absolutely correct. Media creators cannot continue to treat their customers like felons through the use of Digital Rights Management restrictions. I opined on this before.
However, this issue is larger than not being able to play songs purchased through the iTunes Store on some sub-standard portable music player or on my non-Apple cell phone. Our ability to freely think as a society is diminishing because of intellectual property laws that favor today’s corporate profits over tomorrow’s technological advancements.
Steve is already in my personal pantheon. His message today only validates his position. The next step is to urge Congress to create like it’s 1790.
