Nearly daily, I hear someone talking about how they heard that by such-and-such time that gas will be $5 a gallon, or $10 a gallon, or whatever. I am so sick of hearing it. I personally like to take the wait and see approach, and try to look on the bright side. The bright side is, here recently, the price of oil has been dropping. Market dynamics have changed since it becomes increasingly clear that perhaps the economy is not as robust as we thought, Credit problems continue to become worse, and the housing sector is caught in a bad downward spiral. On top of this, of my last reading, the dollar continues its climb in value, which also causes oil prices to drop. I also think that with all of the inflationary concerns, that the Federal Reserve will at some point, hopefully in the near future, will raise interest rates, which will make the dollar's climb in value accelerate, among other side effects, that will continue to bring down the prices of commodities that are traded in US Dollars. Plus, you have to look at the past and see that the Oil market is prone to boom and bust just as any other market. Check out the article link below.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Obama the antichrist? What?
For my 50th post to this blog (yay!), I have to address the topic of people that think Obama is the antichrist. Click the link below for the story. For some reason, the way the pdf generated, the story actually begins on the 2nd page of the file, so scroll down some to get started reading it.
Click here for the article.
I must say, this article does a fine plug for the line of books mentioned in it. I will admit that these are on my personal wishlist for purchase & reading. It certainly sounds like an interesting combination, given my love for a good political story and/or debate. Plus, the avid reader inside always yearns for a good book to read. Anyway, I would like to know first off why on Earth anyone would take the story line of a fiction(as in not true) novel and try to apply its similarities to real life. Fiction is exactly as defined, a made up story. I think its a cover for a lot of problems and insecurities that people have about the thought of voting for Obama. His daddy was a muslim. Because of the terrorist problem, muslims must automatically be evil. One, Mr. Obama has rejected his muslim roots and practices Christianity. Two, Islam is a peaceful religion that (GASP!) has its roots in Judeaism and Christianity. They even believe in Jesus, just in a different way than Christians do (this is my understanding anyway, that Jesus is an important prophet to the muslims just as they also believe in Moses (a prophet from Judeaism that Christians also believe in). I'm also pretty sure that Allah is just an arab name for God, the same god that Jewish and Christian people believe in. I would also point out that there are some pretty radical Christians out there as well. Violence, hatred, and extremeism is scary in any religion, and might we also remember that we fought a thing called the Crusades many centuries ago against the muslim peoples (hows that for extremeism?). Religion aside, there are just a lot of old scared white folks that don't like the idea of a black president. There are also a lot of black people concerned that due to being half white and some of his stances, that he is just not black enough. Perhaps we should be celebrating this vibrant and charismatic person who is black AND white (and not like Michael Jackson, either) who could be the next leader of our great nation. And, I have to say that I still pin on some hope that he picks Hillary to bring the party unity that the Democrats desperately need, and have a woman in the executive branch for the first time at the same time that someone with black lineage ascends into said branch. Anything is possible in America, and we should enbrace it.
My last thing on this is that there are some (extreme) Christians that gasp at the thought of anything that might have the slightest odor of anything imperfect that have probably lept on this for only this reason. For those folks, I'd like to point out that I was taught (in a Christian church) that all men are sinners, and imperfect, and fall short of the glory of God. Nothing that you or any preacher can do will change this, and accept it. I am not saying that you should go out and sin to your heart's content, but bear in mind that Christians are not perfect, they are forgiven their transgressions.
Click here for the article.
I must say, this article does a fine plug for the line of books mentioned in it. I will admit that these are on my personal wishlist for purchase & reading. It certainly sounds like an interesting combination, given my love for a good political story and/or debate. Plus, the avid reader inside always yearns for a good book to read. Anyway, I would like to know first off why on Earth anyone would take the story line of a fiction(as in not true) novel and try to apply its similarities to real life. Fiction is exactly as defined, a made up story. I think its a cover for a lot of problems and insecurities that people have about the thought of voting for Obama. His daddy was a muslim. Because of the terrorist problem, muslims must automatically be evil. One, Mr. Obama has rejected his muslim roots and practices Christianity. Two, Islam is a peaceful religion that (GASP!) has its roots in Judeaism and Christianity. They even believe in Jesus, just in a different way than Christians do (this is my understanding anyway, that Jesus is an important prophet to the muslims just as they also believe in Moses (a prophet from Judeaism that Christians also believe in). I'm also pretty sure that Allah is just an arab name for God, the same god that Jewish and Christian people believe in. I would also point out that there are some pretty radical Christians out there as well. Violence, hatred, and extremeism is scary in any religion, and might we also remember that we fought a thing called the Crusades many centuries ago against the muslim peoples (hows that for extremeism?). Religion aside, there are just a lot of old scared white folks that don't like the idea of a black president. There are also a lot of black people concerned that due to being half white and some of his stances, that he is just not black enough. Perhaps we should be celebrating this vibrant and charismatic person who is black AND white (and not like Michael Jackson, either) who could be the next leader of our great nation. And, I have to say that I still pin on some hope that he picks Hillary to bring the party unity that the Democrats desperately need, and have a woman in the executive branch for the first time at the same time that someone with black lineage ascends into said branch. Anything is possible in America, and we should enbrace it.
My last thing on this is that there are some (extreme) Christians that gasp at the thought of anything that might have the slightest odor of anything imperfect that have probably lept on this for only this reason. For those folks, I'd like to point out that I was taught (in a Christian church) that all men are sinners, and imperfect, and fall short of the glory of God. Nothing that you or any preacher can do will change this, and accept it. I am not saying that you should go out and sin to your heart's content, but bear in mind that Christians are not perfect, they are forgiven their transgressions.
Web Trolls
I saw an article on The New York Times that I just had to write about. I know it seems like a lot of posts for me in a short time, but as I try to read the news daily (I feel like being up on current events is a good way to keep the mind sharp and entertained), but I do not always have time to write my thoughts on current events at that particular moment, so sometimes posts may seem heavy at times and sporadically so. At any rate, enough explaining my seemingly irrational behavior, and on to the topic at hand.
The Story referenced is available for you to view, at the link below. If I have not said it before (I'm terribly scatterbrained) you may usually find the link to the original, and even if not the file should give you a clue and credit to those who wrote it, and many thanks to those people.
Read the article here.
I hate to say it, but I have a theory that (at least used to) apply to all those who had an inclination towards appreciation of technology, and/or the internet. Once that person discovers that the internet can be a wonderful place where you can be whoever you want to be, or whatever you want to be, that the feeling can run away with you. It leads to an addiction to the thrill of being that person or thing, and can easily take over your life in ways that would horrify people that have not experienced it. I would even go so far as to say that all people that have regular interaction with the internet, and participate in some sort of online chatter with anyone that they do not know in person, will go through this phase. I sense that most people like this are in their teenage years, or those who never quite matured on to the level of ordinary people. Sadly, the new dynamic of the internet in the past few years, especially with the advent of Social Networking, such as MySpace or Facebook, seems to draw these socially deficient people in like bugs to porch lights late at night. I would like to say that with the obvious aside, most normal folks with some base morals or those with sufficient education achieve enough maturity to move past this phase, learn from the experience, and become better people.
That all being said, I would like to confront all of those poor souls who have not yet advanced past their crude and cruel humor, and ask some simple questions: For all of the ill-gotten jollies that you have elicited from people over your time, is it worth it? Do you feel good about yourself from feeding off of other peoples legitimite problems and passions? Would you feel the same way if you or someone that you hold dear fell victim to your bad joke? And if that hasn't illicited a response from you, my final seroes of questions should make it clear: What is wrong with your life? Do you not have a family that cares and loves you? Do you have an insufficient amount of friends? Do you have an insecurity problem? Is there some way that I may be of assistance to you with any of these problems? I'll come out and admit it: I'm a computer geek from the get-go. I'm overweight and white as a ghost. I live in a place where I am surround by people that are different from me in a host of different ways. I have a family (wife and kids) that love me, I have true friends that enjoy my company, and do all that they can when I am in need. I extract much satisfaction from providing for my family, and learning from my college experience. My deficiencies do not define me, nor do they curtail me. I would gather that any you have could be overcome with minimal effort. send a comment today and get the help you need.
To all those who still think its the coolest thing to make people miserable, and do not want to seek help, I will keep you in my prayers.
The Story referenced is available for you to view, at the link below. If I have not said it before (I'm terribly scatterbrained) you may usually find the link to the original, and even if not the file should give you a clue and credit to those who wrote it, and many thanks to those people.
Read the article here.
I hate to say it, but I have a theory that (at least used to) apply to all those who had an inclination towards appreciation of technology, and/or the internet. Once that person discovers that the internet can be a wonderful place where you can be whoever you want to be, or whatever you want to be, that the feeling can run away with you. It leads to an addiction to the thrill of being that person or thing, and can easily take over your life in ways that would horrify people that have not experienced it. I would even go so far as to say that all people that have regular interaction with the internet, and participate in some sort of online chatter with anyone that they do not know in person, will go through this phase. I sense that most people like this are in their teenage years, or those who never quite matured on to the level of ordinary people. Sadly, the new dynamic of the internet in the past few years, especially with the advent of Social Networking, such as MySpace or Facebook, seems to draw these socially deficient people in like bugs to porch lights late at night. I would like to say that with the obvious aside, most normal folks with some base morals or those with sufficient education achieve enough maturity to move past this phase, learn from the experience, and become better people.
That all being said, I would like to confront all of those poor souls who have not yet advanced past their crude and cruel humor, and ask some simple questions: For all of the ill-gotten jollies that you have elicited from people over your time, is it worth it? Do you feel good about yourself from feeding off of other peoples legitimite problems and passions? Would you feel the same way if you or someone that you hold dear fell victim to your bad joke? And if that hasn't illicited a response from you, my final seroes of questions should make it clear: What is wrong with your life? Do you not have a family that cares and loves you? Do you have an insufficient amount of friends? Do you have an insecurity problem? Is there some way that I may be of assistance to you with any of these problems? I'll come out and admit it: I'm a computer geek from the get-go. I'm overweight and white as a ghost. I live in a place where I am surround by people that are different from me in a host of different ways. I have a family (wife and kids) that love me, I have true friends that enjoy my company, and do all that they can when I am in need. I extract much satisfaction from providing for my family, and learning from my college experience. My deficiencies do not define me, nor do they curtail me. I would gather that any you have could be overcome with minimal effort. send a comment today and get the help you need.
To all those who still think its the coolest thing to make people miserable, and do not want to seek help, I will keep you in my prayers.
Police Animal Cruelty
Before reading my rant, you may wish to read the article that I am referencing that I obtained from CNN. It is saved to pdf (as my new pratice is and shall remain) so that you can read it in the fashion that I did (in case something happens that the story changes or perhaps should be removed from the site).
Read the article here.
It is a shame that this had to happen to these people. It is also a shame that this story probably would not have hit the news media unless it had happened to this particular person, being the mayor. The fact is, the police did not serve the warrant as they were supposed to, did not question the people or take them in for questioning, they barged into their house and killed their beloved pets. I dearly hope that the mayor's wish for an investigation from above and outside the police department is granted in some shape or fashion. Like the woman was quoted at the end of the article that lived next door, "If we can't trust the police, who can we trust?" I have to wonder this myself. In general, the only time that you can't trust the police is when you have done something yourself, which I would say is probably (actually, more like absolutely) your own fault and of your own doing. What a senseless tragedy.
Read the article here.
It is a shame that this had to happen to these people. It is also a shame that this story probably would not have hit the news media unless it had happened to this particular person, being the mayor. The fact is, the police did not serve the warrant as they were supposed to, did not question the people or take them in for questioning, they barged into their house and killed their beloved pets. I dearly hope that the mayor's wish for an investigation from above and outside the police department is granted in some shape or fashion. Like the woman was quoted at the end of the article that lived next door, "If we can't trust the police, who can we trust?" I have to wonder this myself. In general, the only time that you can't trust the police is when you have done something yourself, which I would say is probably (actually, more like absolutely) your own fault and of your own doing. What a senseless tragedy.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Free Speech and the Internet
Well, I wrote recently on here about Climate Change, and urged you to join the "we" campaign. Well, I have another challenge for you, and that is to fight internet censorship. I also have an article for you to read on it. I have a pdf of the printable version available here:
http://www.geek-man.net/cbsnews.08.03.08.pdf
The internet is unique and useful because the flow of information is free. Pinpointing users of certain applications is discriminatory, and the fact that the service *could* be used for illegal means does not mean that those people should have their connection speed throttled, or their traffic delayed. If people pay to use their service, that service should be provided regardless. There are many free software initiatives that rely on bittorrent to ease the financial overhead of providing large downloads by allowing users to help out. If you would like to learn more about the eff, visit them here:
http://www.eff.org/
http://www.geek-man.net/cbsnews.08.03.08.pdf
The internet is unique and useful because the flow of information is free. Pinpointing users of certain applications is discriminatory, and the fact that the service *could* be used for illegal means does not mean that those people should have their connection speed throttled, or their traffic delayed. If people pay to use their service, that service should be provided regardless. There are many free software initiatives that rely on bittorrent to ease the financial overhead of providing large downloads by allowing users to help out. If you would like to learn more about the eff, visit them here:
http://www.eff.org/
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