Moon Landings
Thursday, January 29, 2004
06:00 p.m.
Did we really go to the moon back in the sixties? This site says that we didn't. However, this site attempts to debunk the conspiracy theories. What do you think? I will give credit to the fact that we were in an intense race with the Soviets, and wouldn't put anything past our government, but this is one subject where you have to make up your own mind.
Return to top
Mike Rowe part 2
Monday, January 26, 2004
05:26 p.m.
As an update to my post a few days ago, Mike Rowe has reached an agreement with technology giant Microsoft over his domain name MikeRoweSoft.com, in which Microsoft will take over the domain name. In return they will help him get Microsoft certification training, they invited him to come out to Redmond for their anual technology festival, and they will give him an X-box. Personally, I think he should have put up more of a fight. I mean seriously, he got shit out of this deal. I must congratulate Microsoft on another job well done, though. Way to take out the little guy again. Way to exert your size and money over even more insignificants, destroying anyone that may pose a challenge, no matter how miniscule, to you. But, at least you're not a monopoly. What would we do if that were the case?
This post was written in Internet Explorer on a machine running Microsoft XP.
Return to top
Bowling for Columbine
Saturday, January 24, 2004
10:03 p.m.
I watched Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore tonight. This was one of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen, and if you haven't seen it already, I will be disappointed in you until you do. I can't say anything about it because I do not want to hype it up too much, or probably moreso that I don't want to underhype it. Why are you still reading this? Go rent it!
Return to top
Pubilc Educators Part 2
Friday, January 23, 2004
05:12 p.m.
I picked up this article from CNN today. I really don't know what to say. I find the ignorance of the educators in this country to be quite repulsive. African- American implies American with African descent does it not? Then why is there an issue at this school? Maybe the kids went about things all wrong, but this looks to me like a case of reverse descrimination based on skin color. If they go through with the punishments, which I think they have, then they are essentially saying that all African- Americans need to be black, which then becomes more racial profiling. He may be white, but his heritage is still rooted in Africa. And don't get me wrong. I am by no means racist. I have had friends of many different ethnic origins and backgrounds, and still do. But I just think that if rules are there protecting against discrimination in one direction, they should work in reverse as well.
Return to top
Political Parties
Thursday, January 22, 2004
05:17 p.m.
As I was going over the platforms of a number of third party political groups, trying to figure out whether I wanted to vote for one of those or go independent, I realized why there are hardly any that truly have a chance to get voted in. Most of these third parties are strongly tied to religion and want to turn their religious values into law. Now, religion is not necessarily a bad thing, but one of the founding laws was separation of church and state. How do they expect to accomplish any of their goals and abide by the constitution at the same time? Then again, how much of the constitution is truly followed today? Regardless, there are not enough people in any one religious denomination to make a successful run for presidency. Some of them have good ideas, but focus on their religion too strongly. Why not drop that down a little bit and put forth more effort into getting some name recognition, and putting out more information about your platform on the issues so that the people can make a more informed decision? With all of that said, I have one request from all of you. Before trying to choose the lesser of two evils like everyone did last election, research the third parties and independents a little more, and try to find a candidate that wants what you want. Don't vote for someone you don't care about or know anothing about. If you're not going to be informed, than at least help out your country, by not voting, so that maybe this time around we can see who the people truly want.
Return to top
Mike Rowe
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
09:03 p.m.
A 17 year old student from British Columbia is being attacked by the Microsoft corporation. Why you ask? Because he took his name, Mike Rowe, added the word "soft" at the end of it, and registered the domain name on the internet creating MikeRoweSoft.com. When they asked him to give up the domain name he asked for compensation, at which they offered him a petty sum of . ! This from a multi- billion dollar corporation! Insulted, he asked for ,000, and is now in talks with Microsoft. Why is this juggernaut of a company worried about ,000? This sum is mere pocket change to them. If they would have just gone with it, this would all be under the rug with no worries. But now, since the story has hit the media, his site has had more than a quarter of a million visitors, and Microsoft may now have only one solution for this seemingly minor problem...
Return to top
Public Educators
Sunday, January 11, 2004
05:27 p.m.
I actually have two different things to bring to your attention this time, both involving our public education system. First I have this article, an opinion column from Dave Lieber, a columnist for the Dallas-Fort Worth Star Telegram. In it he tells of a 13 year old child who was suspended from school for three days for using an old DOS program to send the word, "Hey!" out to the school's 80 computers. I don't know if I am more upset at the ridiculous punishment he got for something so meaningless (considering he didn't even send out a swear word or anything) or more at how little the school's computer teacher actually knows about computers. Citing an e-mail she sent to Dave Lieber: "Hacking into a system should be highest on the list of tampering violations." Sure it should, as long as the kid actually hacked into the system. He merely used a program already built into the computer for something completely harmless.This was not a case of hacking and any real computer teacher would know this. I hope this teacher does not survive the "No Child Left Behind Act." Which brings me to my second point of interest.
Let me start by saying how ridiculous I thought the No Child Act was in the beginning. Now the act makes a little sense for large cities and areas with high population, however most of the country is neither, and there are going to be many schools in great danger because of this act. But now it seems, like many things with the current Administration in the White House, that this act is based on lies and misinformation. The model for this act was the public school system in the Houston, Texas area. The program uses certain codes for classifying how students leave the system. After it's implementation, the program dropped the drop-out rate in Houston to 1.4 percent. One point four percent. That number seems a little low to me considering the large minority and underpriviliged population in that area. But why would higher-ups in the school system fudge the system? Could it be that they were only being given one year contracts and if they didn't perform they faced demotion and the possibility of being fired? You tell me. And this was all going on under the ever watchful eye of one President G.W. So now there will be many schools that will suffer because of this new act, but what can we do about it? If anyone were to oppose it, he or she may be considered a terrorist...
Return to top
Best and Worse 2
Friday, January 9, 2004
05:20 p.m.
I started thinking about a list to put out and realized two things: 1. I really didn't pay much attention to anything in 2003 and 2. I really couldn't think of much to write about, so here is my list:
Best Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Worst Movie Concept: Legally Blonde Two (horrible concept for the first one, doubly bad to do a sequel)
That's all I got. Maybe next year it will be better. Oh come on, I know you're not really that disappointed. I mean, seriously, were your expectations really that high? Pathetic.
Return to top
Best and Worst
Saturday, January 3, 2004
09:47 p.m.
Okay everybody, it's time to move towards the edge of your seats. can you feel the tension building? I know I can. "And what tension is that?" you may ask yourself. "I don't feel any tension." Well you should and you will because the best and worst lists of 2003 are on their way...
Return to top
Break
Friday, January 2, 2004
11:41 p.m.
I'm back in Monterey now after a too-short visit to Bismarck. I saw a lot of people, some of which I wanted to see, others which I had rather not have seen, but so is life. The last few days I spent up in Winnipeg, with a bunch of friends for a bagpiping social. All in all it was a kick ass time. I visited many a pub, drank many a beer, and good times were had by all.
Return to top
Bizzy!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
12:17 p.m.
I'm finally back in what has become known simply as "The Bizzle." I know sounds lame, but whatever. I've had fun so far and the rest of the time here is looking good so I'm happy. I finally archived everything on here so if you're looking for something there, check my links. I'm very disappointed in the fact that there is almost no snow on the ground here yet. I will be even more so if I don't get to see some snow fall, or even better a snow storm. Oh well. I have to go now, so ummm, bye.
Return to top
