March 2006 Archives

I have a friend who has become a real geek, not that I would influence or encourage such a thing. The iPod, "which I'll never need," is now connected through some new-fangled contraption to the car. The software that came with the new-fangled contraption digitizes the names of the songs, artists, genres, playlists, and albums. Now, the driver can have the car (actually the Mac computer through the iPod) read aloud the letters of the alphabet. When the first letter of the artist, song, genre, playlist, or album is heard, the driver simply presses a button to then cycle through the car reading each. At the touch of a button, the iPod begins to play.

I can't believe I have gotten hooked on American Idol. I never watch TV, and I really don't know how I got started on American Idol a few weeks back. Two weeks ago, the music featured by each contestant was that of Stevie Wonder. Last week featured the music of the 1950's, popularized by Barry Manilow's recent release.

This week's focus was music of the 21st century. Every contestant had to sing something written in this century. I never swear on my blog. However, if ever there were a time to, this would be it. Based on the music selected by the contestants, nothing of any merit whatsoever has been written in the pop music scene in this entire century (well, OK, the last 6 years). I'm starting to feel like Simon.

At least Mandisa had the good sense to pick a gospel song. Gospel is gospel no matter in which century it was written. I guess country is country as well. Everything else was nothing short of pure [expletive deleted].

I guess one of the big attractions of watching American Idol is to see if Paula Abdul looks stoned out of her mind or not. She gets paid how much? And she does what exactly? And I actually watch this why??!

I can't believe I have gotten hooked on American Idol. I never watch TV, and I really don't know how I got started on American Idol a few weeks back. Two weeks ago, the music featured by each contestant was that of Stevie Wonder. Last week featured the music of the 1950's, popularized by Barry Manilow's recent release.

This week's focus was music of the 21st century. Every contestant had to sing something written in this century. I never swear on my blog. However, if ever there were a time to, this would be it. Based on the music selected by the contestants, nothing of any merit whatsoever has been written in the pop music scene in this entire century (well, OK, the last 6 years). I'm starting to feel like Simon.

At least Mandisa had the good sense to pick a gospel song. Gospel is gospel no matter in which century it was written. I guess country is country as well. Everything else was nothing short of pure [expletive deleted].

I guess one of the big attractions of watching American Idol is to see if Paula Abdul looks stoned out of her mind or not. She gets paid how much? And she does what exactly? And I actually watch this why??!

I have been delighted to see how many posts and publications are featuring stories about Apple's upcoming 30th anniversary. Rarely does a computer company, or any company for that matter, become part of the cultural fabric of the nation. Apple, undeniably, has. Just 5 years ago, kids sneered at the mention of the computer company. Today, with the advent of the iPod, Apple is all about cool--everywhere in the world!

Here are some snapshots of the past 30 years published around the blogosphere:

I was delighted to learn today that I have been accepted to participate in the Japan Fulbright in October!

I was driving to breakfast this morning and noticed on Watts' GPS (my car) that I was heading due East.  I find how much the sun moves across the sky during the different seasons and the angles of the shadows fascinating.  I think I've always been aware of sunlight.  My house has floor to ceiling windows all across the front which, because it faces due South, maximize light in the house.  I love it!

This morning the sun was directly in front of me--due East.  Spring officially began this past Monday, when the sun was directly over the equator--the vernal equinox.

The whole concept of season brought about by the earth's rotation fascinates me.  For a little movie that demonstrates this, click here.  Here is a high resolution picture describing the Vernal Equinox which is found at Wikipedia.  The full Wikipedia article about the Vernal Equinox is also very informative.

Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money to spend – you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you used up the army.  And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people.

Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit cards maxed out.  No one's speaking to you. Mission accomplished.

Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team.  It's time.  Time to move on and try the next fantasy job.  How about cowboy or space man?  Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in.  Please don't.  I know, I know. There's a lot left to do.  There's a war with Venezuela.  Eliminating the sales tax on yachts.  Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae.  Giving embryos the vote.

But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why?  Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man.  Herbert Hoover was a s----y president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes.

On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airlines, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans. Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country.  I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.
 
So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: “Take a hint.”

Source:  Bill Maher last Friday night

A brief history of the Apple...which brings us to...

Well, of course you've all heard by now that Apple did it again: according to the company's press release, it posted a $430 million profit last quarter on revenue of $3.68 billion, beating analysts' estimates and boosting year-end earnings and revenues to $1.335 billion and $13.93 billion respectively.  That's a 384 percent profit increase over 2004, and also makes fiscal 2005 the company's best year ever-- financially speaking, anyway.  Overall it can't compare to 2002, when Steve Jobs once won five games of Klondike in a row and also found a whole box of raisins-- sealed-- just sitting in the parking lot of the Circle K, but from a monetary standpoint, 2005 definitely finishes ahead.

Source: ThinkGeek :: Blue LED Faucet Light

Every time I visit Yuri's photo blog, I feel like I have taken an exotic trip with him.  I have blogged about his photography before.  I just love it.  Click here to visit his blog.  Click here to see a slideshow of 503 of his pictures.  I also think his favicon is a hoot!

Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25: I. Molto allegro con fuoco from the album "Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2" by Benjamin Frith, Robert Stankovsky & Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra

And then, of course, I can not neglect:  Variations on a Theme by Haydn, 'St Antoni Chorale' Op. 56a from the album "Brahms: Piano Concertos - Haydn Variations - Tragic Overture" by Carlo Maria Giulini & Philharmonia Orchestra

But I almost died when I listened to:  Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in D minor Op. 15: I. Maestoso from the album Brahms: Piano Concertos - Haydn Variations - Tragic Overture" by Carlo Maria Giulini, Claudio Arrau & Philharmonia Orchestra

With all of the political evil and horror swirling all over the world, I need to spend more time listening to our world's truly great music, as doing so seems to bring the world back into balance for me.  For all of the ugliness and selfishness of the human condition. the capacity for greatness, beauty, creation, and kindness exists!  Let it flourish!

I found this wireless product (bluetooth) for the iPod and am curious--are they any good?  What is the fidelity like?  Somone buy a pair and tell me what you think!  :o)  I love the controls on the exterior of the earphone itself.  Click on the picture to see a larger picture.  Click here to visit the product page.

Missouri legislators in Jefferson City considered a bill that would name Christianity the state's official "majority" religion. House Concurrent Resolution 13 is pending in the state legislature. Many Missouri residents had not heard about the bill until Thursday. Karen Aroesty of the Anti-defamation league, along with other watch-groups, began a letter writing and email campaign to stop the resolution.

The resolution would recognize "a Christian god," and it would not protect minority religions, but "protect the majority's right to express        their religious beliefs. The resolution also recognizes that, "a greater power exists," and only Christianity receives what the resolution calls, "justified recognition." State representative David Sater of Cassville in southwestern Missouri, sponsored the resolution, but he has refused to talk about it on camera or over the phone. KMOV also contacted Gov. Matt Blunt's office to see where he stands on the resolution, but he has yet to respond.

Source:  KMOV.com | St. Louis, MO  | Top Stories

Do people really live in this much fear?  Do they really feel so threatened?  Are they this paranoid?  Or, are they crazy?  Mentally ill?  Power hungry and demanding absolute control?

I was disgusted to hear our poor Republican senators talking about how they are forced to raise the national debt ceiling to $9,000,000,000,000.00.  Increasing the national debt was the responsible decision they were required to make.  The Democrats were no better off.  They want to sit back and let the Republicans take the heat for raising the debt and will all vote against it, knowing they will lose because they are the minority.

Truly I blame the PODUS, W, for the past 6 years of reckless, out of control, irresponsible spending and lunatic tax cuts.  I also blame both the Republicans and the Democrats.  Our elected officials' outrageous behavior is a disgrace.  Our system of government is broken because we can hold no one responsible for their irresponsible fiscal behavior.

I say fire every damned one of them!

I first heard this reported by NPR.  These facts should cause us to stop and think, then act.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Former top judge says US risks edging near to dictatorship:

Sandra Day O'Connor, a Republican-appointed judge who retired last month after 24 years on the supreme court, has said the US is in danger of edging towards dictatorship if the party's rightwingers continue to attack the judiciary. In a strongly worded speech at Georgetown University, reported by National Public Radio and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Ms O'Connor took aim at Republican leaders whose repeated denunciations of the courts for alleged liberal bias could, she said, be contributing to a climate of violence against judges.

And at "Crooks and Liars" we find:

Olbermann: O'Connor also said, "Attacks on the judiciary by some Republican leaders pose a direct threat to our constitutional freedoms.  I am against judicial reforms driven by nakedly partisan reasoning.  We must be ever-vigilant against those who would strong-arm the judiciary into adopting their preferred policies."

Those last remarks appear to refer specifically to the former House minority leader, Tom DeLay.  O'Connor did not mention his name, but quoted his attacks on judges at meetings last year of Justice Sunday, the conservative Christian group to which DeLay vented after the Terri Schiavo rulings.

The retired justice pulled no punches.  She noted that interference with an independent judiciary, not unlike that attempted by Mr. DeLay and other Republicans, had allowed dictatorship to flourish in countries formerly subjected to communist rule...

A video clip of this very concerning news report can be found at this link.

So the PODUS, W, now has taken to the airways with all of his little people, to justify the unjustifiable, call black white, to perpetuate the lies his administration began selling with WMDs (lest we forgot: all of those apocalyptic weapons of mass destruction that reportedly littered every nook and cranny of Iraq), to spin reality once again. He disgusts me! If WMD were going to be in every port in America, why did he want to sell port security to a foreign nation in the very hot spot of the world he is policing?!

So, in this time of smoke and mirrors, I want to redirect everyone's attention to the facts:

• No weapons of mass destruction were anywhere in Iraq
• The man responsible for attacking the USA is still at large and never had anything to do with Iraq
• We have killed, as in murdered, about 35,000 Iraqi civilians (How many abortions were done last year?)
• The war has cost our economy almost $250,000,000,000
• The World Trade Centers were destroyed on W's watch, and he was never held accountable for that fact
• We still know nothing about the anthrax scare that gripped the nation during the same time period New York City was attacked
• We are not "at war" against terrorist; we have attacked and occupied a sovereign foreign nation despite the condemnation of virtually the whole world
• The PODUS, W, has broken the law by illegally wiretapping American's--a criminal act for which another president was impeached
• Saddam Hussein's trial is the laughing stock of the world, absurd in every respect
• Iraq will probably break out into civil war rather than have democracy foist upon all of its waring factions
• About 2,515 people "on our side" have been killed in this aggression
• About 16,653 people from the United States have been wounded in this aggression
• Our unwarranted military aggression has lasted for 3 years now
• No plan to end this aggression seems viable

I believe that most Americans are angry with the bumbling incompetence that is this present administration. As is ever so typical of the right wing extremists, they can not say, "We screwed up!" They are never wrong. They will not compromise. They will not learn from their mistakes. Their militant dogmatism is nothing short of dangerous. We can no longer afford their radical "leadership."

All of this while thousands of mobile homes (literally millions of dollars worth) sit unused in Louisiana because they are in a flood plane. If we can't even take care of our own people, why in the name of common sense do we think we can afford to police the entire world.

I had dinner tonight at Everybody's Pizza across from Emory University, near my house. I love the old building. I think it was a gas station many years ago. The pizza house wasn't established until 1971. But this post isn't really about one of my favorite pizza places in Atlanta.

While leaving the restaurant, I saw two bumper stickers, each on a different (expensive) car. I liked them both (the cars, too!).

Less Judgement;
More Curiosity

Liberal--
And Proud of It!

When you see me this week, be nice to me!  I just finished doing my taxes!  It isn't pretty!!

I never watch TV.  But, being in Washington, DC, for the CoSN Conference, I tuned in to CNN and heard Lou Dobbs for the first time tonight.  The man is brilliant!  No wonder the ultra-right wing extremists dislike him!  He thinks!  Tonight they read letters from viewers.  In reference to the United Arab Emirates-based Dubai Ports World deal and George W. wanting to trade nuclear technology and materials to India for mangos, one stated, more or less, "The country can't afford 3 more years of this president.  We already have nothing left to sell off."  (picture from CNN.com)

Just be glad you aren't hear to listen to my ranting!  First, I must state that I have not been to the exhibit, which opens this weekend at the Atlanta Civic Center.  But the exhibition of Bodies, the Exhibition, has created nothing short of a media sensation here in Atlanta.

From what I am told, the exhibition is of actual human bodies that are specially preserved for open display and are respectfully presented to show every organ, body system, muscle, and bone.  I know of no other place to fully understand the comprehensiveness or the complexity of the integration of body systems short of medical school.  Healthy as well as diseased organs are displayed to enhance greater understanding of lifestyle choices coupled with their physiological inevitabilities.  Over 20 full cadavers and over 250 organs and body systems are on display.

Certainly this exhibit would not be appropriate for everyone.  However, the Christian Coalition here in the metro area has launched a scathing condemnation of the exhibit.  I guess if it's sinful to see skin, god knows it must be evil beyond belief to see beneath the skin.

I can no longer hold my tongue on the latest buffoonery of the PODUS, W.  And I think I have something to add to the national conversation about hiring a foreign-owned company to manage any of our ports.  I have learned through NPR this week that China-owned companies already manage a number of major ports in the US today.

If, as the PODUS, W, so brilliantly reminds us every time he wants the nation to cower to his feet in fear, securing our ports is a major national security interest for our country, then why would we hire it out to any foreign-owned company... ever?  This makes about as much sense to me as privatizing the nation's defense industry by contracting it out to Osama Ben Lauden.

Dear god in heaven, does the man not have a single brain cell?

I traded in Big Bird on Monday.  I really enjoyed my Murano but was tired of spending so much money on gas, and I figured it will only get worse.  Though I must confess that Big Bird got excellent milage for an SUV.  I knew I would miss the space, the ability to see up and over vehicles to know why the traffic had ground to a stop, not having headlights in my eyes, feeling safe, and having a good bit of get-up-and-go from the V6 engine.

But I needed to spend a couple thousand dollars on Big Bird (tires, brakes, and some body work), who had over 70,000 miles and decided this was the time to trade it before sinking any more money into it.  I test drove 2 hybrids, deciding to go for fuel efficiency:  the Civic, and the Prius.

Civic
I liked the car.  In my lifetime I have owned about a dozen Hondas or Acuras.  However, the hybrid Civic had no pick up at all.  Flooring the gas pedal seemed to barely entice the car to move at all!  And the Civic was uncomfortably low to the road, making getting in and out of the car a bit awkward.

Prius
The Prius was more to my liking:  higher off the road so getting in and out was not problematic at all, a lot of pickup for a car getting 51mpg on the road and 60 in town, and lots of cool gadgets.  :o)  I got the navigation system (or lady in the car, as I call it), voice command activation, bluetooth enabled, rear camera for backing, and smart keys.  I love the smart keys.  I never need to use the keys, just have them on me.  The car unlocks, starts, and locks when I leave it without my ever touching the key!  Cool!

I bought the Prius--in Silver Pine Mica as pictured above.  His name is Watts--clever isn't it?!