Microsoft Buys Cake

Microsoft should thank the developers of Firefox. Or at least the users of IE should thank Firefox. It was about time that Microsoft came up with IE 7. I am quite happy with it, but I've only used it in Beta. Since I'm on dialup right now, I haven't taken the time to download all 24MB. But you can bet I grabbed the 5MB download for Firefox 2.0!!

California out of the Fall Classic

Ok, I concede. All three of the California teams will not be playing in the World Series. Now I have a hard time to decide which team to cheer for. Will it be the Tigers or whoever wins in the National League? I don't know. I've always defaulted to the National League because I don't like the designated hitter rule. But I don't really like either the Mets or the Cardinals. So I might just go with the Tigers... we'll see who wins the NLCS first.
Which team do YOU want to LOSE? Let me know... so I can cheer for them! (Then they'll lose)

Rant - I'm in the Minority

Tonight I would like to be watching the Dodger game -- it's at Dodger Stadium and it's a playoff game. But I'm in the minority - more people want to watch football. Two channels running college football, but none showing the NLDS.

If I had a faster internet connection I could be watching it on my computer -- but thanks to where I'm at, I can't.

And the internet at Starbucks blocks it.

At least I can hear it on the internet. And listening to Vin Scully on KFWB, while not a replacement for seeing the game, is the next best thing.

Unfortunately the Dodgers are down 3-0 already in the 1st inning.

We'll see if this is the last game for the Dodgers this year. If not, I can wait until March and Vero Beach.

More on Digital Natives

I know that we've joked about digital natives and digital immigrants. (If you wondering which one are you, click here.) Now, however, the digital natives are invading the workplace. And, no, I'm not talking about myself. True, I've grown up in the age of an IBM PC or PC Clone: the IBM PC is older than I am. But I'm clearly not the only one. The recent 21-year-old college graduates (Class of 2006) were:

born in 1985 -- 10 years after the first consumer computers went on sale and the same year that the breakthrough "third generation" video game, Nintendo's "Super Mario Brothers," first went to market.
-Pew Research Center

And that makes ME feel old. Sure, I'm only four years older, but if we think in terms of technology, four years ago there were only the very first iPods (patented in 2002) hitting the market.

I'm not trying to make anyone feel old - just realize that the world has changed significantly.

'This is only technology for people who weren't raised with it.' Whoa. The point that came home to rest for me is that for LaShonda, IM'ing and texting are like breathing. Fish don't know they're in water. LaShonda didn't consider her gadgets technology."
-IBID

Elections - Comparing 1994 & 2006

I wrote this just before the 1998 Congressional Election. Now that we are facing the 2006 Congressional Election, I find it interesting to look back 8 years ago and see the paralels to the modern day. Are we facing another realignment (the last one taking place in 1994)? I stated, and I still stand-by that premise, that a realignment cannot me observed over two elections. The Republican grip on Congress has been slipping, especially with the War in Iraq. Looking back, the election of 1994 was a realignment -- Bush was elected in 2000 and the Republicans have had control of the House and Senate ever since getting it in 1994. But also looking back we see that my conclusion still holds:

"One other major factor is for the Democrats [to] show how they could run America better. Even if the Republicans are not running America well, if the Democrats do not show how they can run it better most people would stay with the current Congress...Whoever wants to win this election should show how they can make America better."

We will see next month.

---

AP Government and Politics
4^th Period
Mr. Behrend
10/26/98
Village Christian

Elections Essay

The 1994 election alone cannot indicate the beginning of a critical electoral realignment. Because of the many factors involved (campaign money, low voter turnout, etc.), a single election or even two elections cannot accurately predict a realignment. For a realignment to take place, the citizens have to switch their allegiance to the Republicans.

The Republicans, after winning in the 1994 and 1996 elections, have had four years to direct the Congressional proceedings. The critical election will be on November 3 this year. This election will give a clearer picture if there is a realignment. If the people believe that Republican control of Congress has been good for the country, then the Republicans should stay and continue to be in power. If the people believe that the Republicans have not accomplished enough, then the Republicans might loose some seats, if not the control of Capitol Hill.

For the Republicans to maintain control of Congress, they need to show what they have done that a Democrat Congress would not have done. They need to show that a Republican controlled Congress is good for America. Otherwise, there is no reason why not to switch back to the Democrats controlling Congress.

One other major factor is for the Democrats not show how they could run America better. Even if the Republicans are not running America well, if the Democrats do not show how they can run it better most people would stay with the current Congress. Whoever wants to win this election should show how they can make America better. If they do not and their opponent does then most likely their opponet will win.

October Greetings

Greetings again, all!
The march of time has not changed though there have been some days recently when I’ve thought I’ve entered a time warp. It feels as though the calendar has flown until this point where I can get another chance to catch my breath. In the interim, I have received several requests for my opinion on topics; some of those topics have now been superseded (I think the phrase is that “the issue has been overcome by events” – but I don’t know). I will attempt to address all, additionally adding some of my own design.

October
First and foremost, though, is to welcome all to the month of October. October: hay rides and apple cider, crisp mornings and Indian summers, golden forests and bonfires. And did I mention: Pumpkin pies, apple cobbler, Supreme Court, and the World Series? OK. I don’t know how the Supreme Court gets to take their summer break from June until October (they started in session today – hence they made the list) but the baseball games are called, after all, the October Classic. The Dodgers get to play again in October (the post-season timeframe) for the first time since 2004 (interesting that it’s the OTHER year in which I was deployed overseas). Hopefully they won’t get out first round, but we’ll see. At this point I could try to brag and say how 60% of California’s teams made the playoffs, but then someone would just point out how New York got 100% of theirs. Anyway, we could very easily end up with just California and New York teams in the end.

Tribunals
I don’t know about the legal aspects – I’m not a lawyer – but what I do know is that we can’t indefinitely hold detainees and still maintain the moral high ground. If we expect to win the war on terror, we have to win the “hearts and minds” of the people who would otherwise support the terrorists. So however we are able to have fair judicial treatment for those we are holding, imprisoning/punishing those who deserve it, freeing those who do not. Congress and the President seem to have reached an agreement. I wait, just as everyone else, to see how this will be received.

The Pope is Jewish
This one I really don’t understand. Iran’s leader has said that the comments that the Pope made that incited lots of {unwarranted ??} violence (reference the Cartoons for more on absurd Muslim violence) were caused by the US-Israeli conspiracy. While I might buy off on the US and the Vatican conspiring… no I don’t even accept that. It makes no sense. The US, let alone Israel, does not control the Papacy.

My Space Rage
Lest anyone think I’m picking a fight with Muslims for over-reacting, let me give another incident of raising ire that raises eyebrows: a 22-year old woman hired an (unbeknownst to her) undercover police officer to kill another woman because she appeared on her boyfriend’s myspace. Pray tell, do I need to remove any photos from my page to save a life?? Come on people!!! It’s nothing real. It’s just a bunch of ones and zeros. It won’t give you life, it won’t give you health, you can’t touch it. There are real things to worry about – not who appears on whose page.

War of Civilizations
I don’t know if there is a peaceful solution to the impending crisis, unlike what Kissinger thinks. Sure, he has much more experience in policy and statecraft, but historically when two civilizations opposed to the values, actions, and beliefs of the other, war is the only inevitability. I’m not saying that we are on the brink of world war, but unless a cultural war can be won, a fighting war will be fought.

Bush Assassinated

Entertainment News: Bush assassinated? New film depicts it

While it may be in poor taste to make this a movie, because it entails acting out an assassination of a sitting president, the idea behind it is very valid. Many people have tried to liken the War on Terrorism to one of the world wars. Both times the wars started, there were "small" wars currently in progress, but something happened to cause the rest of the world to get involved and take sides, save the few "neutral" countries. In World War I it took the assasination of the Arch Duke Ferdinand for everyone to "line up." As such, if we are in a "small" war, what would it take to plunge us into chaos? Are we the precipice of a major catastrophe? What would it take for us to get pushed over the edge?

It's probably better to leave the "what if" games until after the person in question is no longer capable of experiencing the "what if" -- especially since there are those who might want the president dead.

Given that, I stilll would like to see how the movie depicts the situation. If it glamourizes it, I don't support it at all -- but if it's a fair treatment of the situation, it might be educational.

The best history books are written after the passion of the issue is gone, or at least diminished; "modern" history does have its place, though.

Dodging Crabs and Family Time

**No, I'm not trying to get away from my family! It's just a catchy title that encompasses both topics for this blog**

Dodging Crabs
I don't know if it is caused by the time of year, or the extra rain that we've been having recently, but the trips to and from the office have turned into a wildlife safari! To begin with, the commute involves climbing up a hill that overlooks pristine blue and torquoise water on one side and mountains towering over a valley on the other (and sorry, no pictures are allowed!!). Along the windy, two lane road we have to avoid the iguanas which have the right-of-way. Some days this can include having to wait while two iguanas take up the entire road surface. Normally this is just an issue during the morning, while they are trying to get their morning suntan, but we have to be ready for them at all times. Most recently, however, we have played "Frogger" with the crabs.

These orange-red, six-legged, side walking creatures have been the source of entertainment and dissapointment, but ever anecdotal sources. Some of the tiny things have a false-sense of bravado -- they attempt to scare off the ton-and-a-half vehicles bearing down on them. While I admire their courage, it is a little too unbelievable. Others wisely decide to get off the road and let me pass, while some, thinking themselves clever, race the wrong way to avoid the one tire... and get squashed by the other. (Perhaps they were short-sighted?)
Regardless, we try to avoid all of them, but inevitably some lose the game -- without a reset button.

Family Time
Tonight for dinner we had Pizza Hut (I would have prefered Papa John's, but my choices are limited). That isn't the point. What I found, shockingly, approvingly, but disheartedly, was that the box was filled with conversation starters. It encouraged the kids to start conversations with there parents ("Who were your friends when you were my age?" type of thing). I was surprised to find the box filled with ideas for games and conversations. Then I noted, with approval, the small print advertising that Pizza Hut had been part of providing an atmosphere for families to get together since 1958 (they also advertised their "Book-it!" program to encourage children to read -- which I participated in faithfully in elementary school, earning lots of personal pan pizzas). I found it admirable that Pizza Hut was trying to help families grow together and enjoy themselves.

Yet then I realized the reason for the not-so-subtle nudge for the parents to be with their children. Families aren't spending quality time together. They may spend time "together", eating a pizza while watching tv (or, as one of my friends has reminisced, "the only time I can remember we were together was while playing "Mortal Kombat") but not quality time. Our society is decaying (if not already on it's death bed) because our families are dysfunctional.

I'm glad to see a company trying to make a difference and proud to have, although not purposely, supported that company. Hopefully others (the companies, that is) will try to make a difference so we can rescue the next generation of families. Perhaps the "in-your-face" reminders from Pizza Hut can encourage my generation - the one starting families now - to make some changes.

But I still prefer the pizza, because it's better tasting, from Papa John's.
Until next time...

Hello Again

Just because I haven't blogged in a while doesn't mean that I've stopped reading the news and keeping up-to-date. Here are a few articles that caught my attention recently.

War...
Obviously the war in Israel\Lebanon has been in the news. True, a cease-fire has been agreed to, but, in my opinion, that don't mean a thing. The UN has never been good at keeping peace (and I've never understood how a military keeps peace -- politicians do that -- militaries fight wars and train to fight wars); nor have they been good at being "neutral." Just notice how they gave away information on Israeli fighting positions\strengths to the whole world. I guess it would have been fair if they also gave away the same information for the other side (the terrorists)... but they didn't. I don't think that the peace-keeping force will have much of an impact on the peace or non-peace as the case may be. (I also was amused that the peace keeping talks were held in Rome)

From wars and rumors of wars to droughts and famines...
According to the latest reports, one in three people in the world face a water shortage. It was thought that would not happen until 2025, but it has now. (Sorry for the link not being to the full article... it was full when I read it. I will look for it someplace else, but I'm on dialup and it may take me a while...) Not that the report should be alarming - we've all seen the pictures from afar and had the water restrictions locally. Nor should it be frightening - we know this has to occur before the end.

The new Hate Speech?
Witnessing = hate speech?? For now this is just one person's opinion. A bit extreme of a stretch if I may say so, but it would not surprise me to start seeing speech codes banning witnessing. It would most likely start on campuses and other public places -- but this is a way to start limiting what Christians can say. Trying to convert someone is not being tolerant. And since tolerance is society's new top ideal, anyone who is intolerant is hateful. And since hate speech can be banned, so might Christian speech. Will it take time? Yes. But don't be surprised if that starts to come true. These days might be evil, but they will continue to grow more so. Be afraid? No. Be surprised? No.

Until next time...

Revolt against anticipated, rather than actual, tyranny

This is from a test I did in my senior year of high school. This particular item came from a review question that was at the end of the first quarter.

---

Mac

AP US History

Monday, October 4, 1999

Throughout the events preceding and during the Revolutionary War, the cries of "no taxation without representation" stirred up popular sentiment and created a common cause for the divided colonies. Many Patriots aligned themselves with Patrick Henry and his "Give me Liberty or give me Death" speech; it was "Common Sense" to take off the shackles of tyrant King George III. Although the Founding Father’s and fellow Patriots were wanting to throw off the chains of the "absolute tyranny" of England and become free, the Americans were revolting against the tyranny they anticipated, rather than actual tyranny. The Americans had just as much representation as most of England, paid less taxes, had less interference than other British colonies, were the freest people in the world, and yet they still felt they were rebelling against tyranny.

The trouble between the British government and the Americans on the issue of representation was the misunderstanding of what representation meant. Most of the common people in England did not have the right to vote for representatives in the Parliament. They did, however still feel as though they were politically participating and that they were represented. Although not many people could vote for the members, the House of Commons and, to a lesser degree, the House of Lords were believed to represent everyone, even those in America. This became a problem when combined with the American belief about representation. The people in America were traditionally used to direct and equal representation. This contrast caused the Americans to believe that they were not being represented in the British government. They perceived representation to mean they had an equal voice in the legislature, which they did not, and therefore believed that they had no voice. Hence they felt they were being oppressed and under tyrannical authority when, in actuality, they had a greater voice than most of the people in the Mother country. Although there was no tyranny, this situation did have the possibility of opening up the Americas to tyranny from the British government.

The issue of taxation was closely related to the misunderstanding on representation. Because the Americans were used to not having to pay taxes to England (the very few tax laws that existed were usually ignored) when Parliament decided to actively tax their colonies they people revolted. The taxes themselves were not tyrannical. The Sugar Act was seen as worse than the previous Molasses Act (which no one revolted to) because it was in principal a taxing measure, not a way to regulate trade. The dreaded Stamp Act was already in place in England and it was a fair way to distribute the tax burden and could easily be collected. It was also a relatively low tax. The British government felt that because the colonies were British citizens, received British protection, and were British colonies they should share in the burden of paying for the government; the Americans disagreed. To the American the government was trying to take away the hard earned money. America was prosperous, the government wanted its portion (just as it receives its portion from all other industries and colonies), and this was the grounds for a battle. The colonists did not pay many taxes, yet they felt because they could not completely stop one tax, nothing could prevent an unlimited number of taxes from being forced upon them.

These misunderstandings between the Americans and the British caused the initial struggles between them. Not because they were under tyranny but because the Americans saw that they could be put in the chains of tyranny they revolted to the simplest measures of control the British put on them. Then, just as with humans, the Mother country started to react to the Child’s tantrums with more control. More control led to more rebellion, which led to more control. This cycle was broken with the "shots heard ‘round the world;" by then the damage was irrevocable and the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Bibliography

Garraty, Thomas. The American Nation. New York: Harper Collins publishers, 1995.
Ward, Christopher. The War of the Revolution. New York: The Macmillan Company. 1952.
Wood, Gordon S. The Radicalism of the American Revolution. New York: Vintage Books. 1993.
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States. New York: Harper Perennial. 1995