RANT: ZAGGS disappoints me

Friday, April 20, 2012

On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 2:15 PM, The ZAGG Team – Darren S. wrote:

Hello Keith,

Thank you for contacting ZAGG, where we are Zealous About Great Gadgets! My name is Darren S. and I appreciate the opportunity to assist you.

I apologize for any confusion you may have experienced regarding your order. I see that order IC5629043 was placed on April 2nd, 2012. Orders placed through ZAGG.com orders typically take 1-2 business days to process and ship. This may vary depending on product demand, however. In order to assist you with determining the current availability of a given product, the expected shipping date for an item has been included on the product page itself.

Having said that, I see that the expected ship date for this order was is April 23rd, 2012. The ZAGGfolio on this order is currently experiencing inventory issues which has caused a delay in the shipping of this order. Our processing facility is working as quickly as possible to fulfill each affected order, and we expect inventory for this item to become available around April 25th, 2012. Nevertheless, we regret any inconvenience to you and acknowledge the difficulty this has caused.

Once an order leaves our facility we will send a shipping confirmation email. You can also check the status of your orders on demand via ZAGG.com. Log in to your User Account Manager to check the status of your most recent orders and view a snapshot of your order history. You can also update your account information. Take advantage of this service by visiting our website at http://www.zagg.com/support/account    .

We apologize for any inconvenience and we appreciate your interest in ZAGG. However, please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or comments. If you prefer assistance via a live customer service representative, our phone number is (801) 263-0699 or toll free at (800) 700-ZAGG(9244). Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5:30 PM, Mountain Time.

Thank you for choosing ZAGG! We appreciate your business.

All the best,

Darren S.
Customer Service Representative    ZAGG Inc.    3855 S 500 W STE C
SLC, UT 84115
800.700.ZAGG(9244) (toll free)    801.263.0699 (o)    Nasdaq Symbol: ZAGG    ZAGG.com

# – # – # – # – #

Who’s Keith?

I’m not sure, but I don’t think that the date promised was 4/25. It was out of stock, then came back. I wouldn’t have ordered that far out. No sense cancelling now, but I’m not pleased.

# – # – # – # – #  2012-Apr-20 @ 18:50

 


POLITICAL: Big Gooferment is even bigger than we think?

Friday, April 20, 2012

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-govt-may-be-bigger-than-you-think/

Business Report: Gov’t May Be Bigger Than You Think
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:45pm by Becket Adams

*** begin quote ***

But the tax break isn’t counted as spending. In fact, while the check for $2,100 is classified as “federal spending,” the tax break doesn’t even show up on the federal budget. So when you hear a policymaker talk about lowering the deficit or expanding/reducing the size of government, most of them don’t factor in tax breaks.

The CNN report goes on to argue that because tax breaks get the same results as government checks (e.g. giving homeowners deductions on mortgage interest, giving tax credits to “green” energy companies, etc), they’re practically interchangeable, right?

Not quite: the government check is directly funded by taxpayers while the tax break comes at a cost to no one.

But this is not to say that tax breaks should be disregarded from the deficit discussion. As taxes generate income, and fixing the deficit is all about balancing revenue with expenditures, then tax breaks should be included.

*** end quote ***

That makes me ill.

Bigger?

Seriously. Are you kidding me!

23.7%

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #

Business Report: Gov’t May Be Bigger Than You Think
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:45pm by Becket Adams Becket Adams

TECHNOLOGY: Windows 7 rollout at work

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I’ll get a first hand look at Windoze 7 in an enterprise environment 10 May. I can’t wait. Blog fodder galore. (I hope.)

# – # – # – # – #


POLITICAL: Why do we even have a Department of Labor?

Thursday, April 19, 2012

DOL forcing media to use government computers | Campaign 2012 | Washington Examiner

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/dol-forcing-media-use-government-computers/479421

April 13, 2012 4:39pm
DOL forcing media to use government computers
by Mark Tapscott Executive EditorShare

*** begin quote ***

Unrest is simmering in some quarters of the Washington news universe regarding changes in the way the Department of Labor (DOL) manages its pre-release media “lockups” on sensitive data like weekly jobless benefits and unemployment.

For years, journalists participating in the lockups have shown up at DOL at the appointed time, then entered a limited-access area to receive the new data and prepare news stories for release as soon as official embargoes end.

The system insures that major news organizations get the data as soon as possible and allows journalists covering the release get a jump on providing analyses and opinion about the data.

*** and ***

Fillichio reminded participants that there are only 20-30 seats available for the lockups and that priority will be given by DOL in selecting participants to those that “are primarily journalistic enterprises.”

He also offered a one-sentence assurance that “the department will not consider editorial or political viewpoints in making credentialing decisions.”

*** and ***

In other words, journalists will no longer be allowed to bring their laptops or other equipment to the lockups, they will have to use government-supplied equipment, described by Fillichio as including “a virtualized desktop running a Windows operation system, a web browser, word-processing software, an Adobe Reader application and secure file transfer capability. Equipment provided will not have wireless networking capability. Provisions will be in place for news organizations to transmit their stories over the Internet.”
The changes evidently are in response at least in part to worries that some of the non-traditional news organizations allowed in recent years to participate in the lockups may not be using their access simply for journalistic purposes.

Since the stock market can rise or fall by hundreds of points as a result of such a data release, making sure nobody gets an advance peek at the data is critical to insuring the integrity of the process.

*** end quote ***

Does anyone see the problems in this story?

(1) DOL won’t pick based on “political viewpoints”? TO even say that IMMEDIATELY raises a red flag an tells me that is EXACTLY what they are going to do.

(2) What’s a “primarily a journalistic enterprise”? So, as a blogger, I’m shut out. Sorry, excuse me. Put the DIKW (i.e., data, information, knowledge, wisdom) and release it to the Universe at the same time. The Press should get it at the same time as everyone else. Otherwise they are the “house organ”.

(3) Why am I the taxpayer paying for computers to benefit some segment of the business community? Are the costs of each seat in the “lockup” being paid by the organization renting them?

This whole concept STINKS!

# – # – # – # – #


TECHNOLOGY: WiFi cell phones?

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

http://republicwireless.com/blog/wi-fi-waves-coming-soon

Wi-Fi Waves Coming Soon
Submitted by Jessica on Fri, 04/13/2012 – 8:08am

*** begin quote ***

Why are we taking this approach? Hundreds of thousands of you have voted with your keyboards to start using the power of the Internet with Hybrid Calling. Organizing the next round of beta in waves will allow us to serve more of you sooner. You’ll have plenty of advance notice of when you’ll be invited to join. It also allows us to reward those who’ve been waiting the longest, by letting them in as quickly as possible.

*** and ***

I also mentioned new phones. I’m pretty sure you want to know about those, too. We’re not ready to announce them yet, but I can tell you we’re all stoked about what’s coming your way. We’re also working on the updates Brian mentioned—the handover between Wi-Fi and cellular and a way to save money on your cell bill before you even switch to republic. Keep an eye out for more details on these coming up.

*** end quote ***

Interesting.

Maybe a winner.

We’ll see.

I’m on the beta maybe list.

# – # – # – # – #


RANT: Dick Clark RIP. Always seemed like a “good guy”!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

‘American Bandstand’ host Dick Clark is dead, according to spokesman Paul Shefrin.

http://online.wsj.com/home-page?mod=djemalertNEWS


FUN: ‘The Proof of Innocence’

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-proof-of-innocence-read-the-math-problem-that-got-one-man-out-of-a-traffic-ticket/

Science ‘The Proof of Innocence’: Read the Math Problem That Got One Man Out of a Traffic Ticket
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 11:04am by Liz Klimas

*** begin quote ***

University of California-San Diego physicist Dmitri Krioukov was pulled over and issued a ticket for running a stop sign. While many wouldn’t go through the hassle of actually fighting this ticket in court, Krioukov is an exception — and he came prepared. io9 reports that he presented a mathematical paper to prove his innocence, aptly named “The Proof of Innocence,” and convinced the judge of his case.

*** end quote ***

Yea!

Defeat the man.

Now can all the people who paid a ticket for the same thing get their money back?

Yeah, right!

Like that’s ever going to happen.

Sigh!

# – # – # – # – #


RANT: Charity gets you slack in my thinking

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

FROM FACEBOOK:

*** begin quote ***

Hillary Rosen, please stop talking. Attacking a candidates spouse because she stayed home with her family is wrong. Mrs. Romney seems like a good person regardless of her husbands lack of inability to articulate his true position on any policy issue.

*** end quote ***

SO OF COURSE I HAVE TO CHIME IN:

*** begin quote ***

‎”Liberal” “Feminists” are nether tolerant, not champions of all women. All we have to do is look to Africa and Asia and see what happens when you don’t value half the population for what they do every day.

I’m not a Romney fan, but anyone, who gives that much to charity, gets a lot of slack. (Personally, Joe Biden’s $381 for a self-proclaimed Catholic just sends me into orbit.) By their works, you shall know them.

*** end quote ***

AND I GET BACK:

*** begin quote ***

I agree. They both seem like nice people, good parents and seem to be happy. I may disagree with them politically but as people I respect them and I certainly admire his business acumen. As for Biden, The idea that the Church gets any of his money saddens me. there has to be a better charity to give to then one who practices misogyny and whose titular head lives in the dark ages. Of course that is just IMHO.

*** end quote ***

SO I CONCLUDE WITH:

*** begin quote ***

Hmmm, “Dark Ages”, isn’t that “harsh”. For all the good works that Holy Mother Church does. As far as “misogyny”, I’m just a fat old white guy injineer and don’t do good with them big wurds. When I criticize, I try to remember: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. In Biden’s case, even Jesus got lost his kool and physical with the money changers. When you put yourself forward as an exemplar, you’re fair game for critique. I, otoh <on the other hand> — that was my de-jargon-izer kicking in automagically — don’t pretend to exemplify anything. Except I’m proud of my humility. There’s so much I have to be humble about.

*** end quote ***

# – # – #

Makes a good blog post. Or would you call it filler?

# – # – # – # – #


RANT: The “war on women” is BS; what I politely call “barbara streisand”

Monday, April 16, 2012

FROM A YOUNG RELATIVE’S FACEBOOK:

*** begin quote ***

LeftAction: 500,000 Strong Against the Republican War on Womenleftaction.com‎”House Republicans have launched an all-out war on women since taking the Speaker’s gavel over a year ago. Republicans must immediately end their War on Women and give women a seat at the table especially when discussing women’s health.” Friday, April 13 at 8:43pm ·

*** end quote ***

NOW WE ARE IN FOR IT:

FJohn Reinke>

*** begin quote ***

There is NO “war” IMHO. Look at Africa and Asia for “war on women”. Most men would love to be a “kept man”, but most gals are too smart for that to work!    Friday, April 13 at 10:15pm

*** end quote ***

HER>

*** begin quote ***

You’re right, there’s a global war on women. Some battlefields are bloodier than others, but it’s still war IMHO.    Friday, April 13 at 10:23pm

*** end quote ***

FJohn Reinke>

*** begin quote ***

How about the current “war on men” with the “feminization of education” that puts boys down. The natural physical activities boys prefer and must have are deemed to be disruptive or “bad”. Good girls sit still and raise their hands; bad boys get bored and distracted by all the sitting around and the Yak in Box model. Girls get scholarships; boys get discipline and expelled. Argh!    Saturday, April 14 at 9:05pm

*** end quote ***

HER>

*** begin quote ***

Boo hoo. Boys grow up to be men who get better pay and rely on women to make their sorry asses look good.    Saturday, April 14 at 9:19pm

*** end quote ***

FJohn Reinke>

*** begin quote ***

Not so sure about the “better pay” argument. Statisticians have pointed out that, adjusting for the decision to have children, the score isn’t as clear as the liberals would like you to believe.

And, there is an economic competition argument against that to be made. It goes like this. In a head to head competition of “evil corporation #1” and “good corporation #2”, where all things are equal EXCEPT evil keeps its women down whereas good maximizes them, the good corp does better than bad by virtue of it’s better “exploitation” of it’s female human resource. During bad eventually out of business.

You can sub in any single condition, labor, youth, environment, that you want and good always beats evil. In this mental experiment.

Life is not so clear because life ain’t a lab.

Where gals do “fail” is in math-ey stuff, because of the education system. A case can be made that BOTH girls and boys are hindered by the Gooferment education system. It left to the reader to show why “one size fits all” yack in the box education fails everyone? Hint: why do we have different sizes of everything?

Lol. See what happens when fat old white injineers can’t sleep. Long boring lectures!    12:29am

*** end quote ***

# – # – #

We’ll see if I got the last word in. I, very much, doubt it.

# – # – # – # – #


TECHNOLOGY: SPAMing a blog

Monday, April 16, 2012

You have to be kidding me!

For the first time in a long time, I’m offended.

If was in the market for a laptop, the last place I buy would be from these guys.

I’m going to reach out to my Comcast friends and see if we can id this troll.

Any other thoughts?

 

NewImage

 

 

 

 

 

# – # – # – # – #

 

Hi,
I apologize for this, I am new to SEO and I was attempting to help our company get back-links so we could rank higher on the search engines.  The owner did not know I was doing this to help the search-ability of the company.  Again I apologize for the inconvenience, I will not beattempting this method again.
Thanks,Tom

# – # – # – # – #  2012-Apr-16 @ 10:47


MEME: Occam’s, or Ockham’s, razor

Sunday, April 15, 2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor

Occam’s razor

*** begin quote ***

Occam’s razor (also written as Ockham’s razor, Latin lex parsimoniae) is the law of parsimony, economy or succinctness. It is a principle urging one to select among competing hypotheses that which makes the fewest assumptions and thereby offers the simplest explanation of the effect.

*** end quote ***

Or, as I like to say it, “KISS — Keep it simple, stupid!”.

I took some trash yday for being too erudite (That’s, for the intellectually challenged or those eddykated in a Gooferment Skrule, using de big wurds.) and making a joke at the expense of poor old Ockham and his razor or a German knife.

Tuff!

Grow up.

Stretch your paradigms and memes.

(Pair of dimes is how you perceive stuff. Your eyes can deceive you. Look in Johari’s box.)

(Meme, like genes for ideas. How you think about thinking. SOP’s for life. An idea that can spread from human mind to human mind. Like a fad, rumor, or (mis)understanding. Think MegaBall Jackpot craze, “pet rock”, religious beliefs, and concepts like “money”. Memes can be handy shorthand, like the United States Government, Alma Mater, political party, or the “Tea Party”. They can be false like “Social Security is insurance”, “Laws protect me”, or even that there is such a thing as “government”. They can be unprovable “God Exists”. Or obvious, “Law of Gravity”.)

I refuse to accept that using the correct word, even if it’s big, uncommon, or strange, is being pedantic, obtuse, or show offy.

So, get a dictionary, use Wikipedia, or get lost!

:-)

The fat old white guy injineer is in his alter ego “Grumpy”.

# – # – # – # – #


FUN: Poking fun at the President

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Here’s some spam from Evy’s High School chum that imho is worth forwarding with suitable editorial comment.

*** begin quote ***

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Karen
Date: Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Subject: Where to Put # 44

Where to put  president  #44

Where, oh where —  to put Obama’s picture.

2012 04 12 image001

George Washington, our nation’s first president  and leader of the American  Revolution!

2012 04 12 image002

Abe Lincoln,  honorable leader who pulled our nation through its darkest  time!

2012 04 12 image003

Alexander Hamilton,  founding father, first Secretary of the Treasury and  leader of the constitutional  convention! >>>>>>>>

2012 04 12 image004

Andrew Jack  son, “Old Hickory ” fought the British in New Orleans!

2012 04 12 image005

Ulysses  Grant, Union army general, led the North through the Civil  War!

2012 04 12 image006

Ben  Franklin, genius inventor, political theorist and leading  author of the Constitution.

Finally, we have  someone to put on the food  stamp!!!

2012 04 12 image007

Obama’s policies  have put more people on welfare than any president before him, so this placement is most  appropriate.

Unlike the Nobel  Peace Prize, for which he did nothing, this is an “honor”  he richly  deserves.

*** end quote ***

I agree with Washington, by far, with some pimples, imhothe BEST president. At least in his first term; later on, not so much.

I’m OK with Grant; a good ordinary joe.

Ditto Jackson; anybody who shoots the guy who insults his wife is OK in my book.

Franklin should have been a prez since anyone who likes turkeys is OK with me.

Lincoln is my worst!

Hamilton, if he had been Prez, would be in my third tier(i.e., worse-est, worse-er, and just plain worse). No doubt the folks at the FED like this since AH wanted a Federal Reserve cabal back in his time. It took Wilson to sell us out to the Big Banks. And sneakily put us in WW1 and on the road to empire.

It’s funny to put BHO44 on the food stamp, but that honor should belong to FDR. He put the nation on the dole, perminently put us on the road to Socialism and hell, all while corruptly sneakaly and with malice aforethought putting us in WW2.

imho

# – # – # – # – #


FUN: Went “shopping” today and my expertise was essential

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Mario Junior, my FACETIME buddy, — he FACETIMEs me after work and chats about his day while his parent are shocked to find us chatting — went shopping for his Communion suit. Thrilling.

But!

Mom was planning a blue suit, white shirt, and BROWN shoes.

Both the male salesman and I convinced Mom that black shoes with laces was required.

She conceded.

Amazing!

A fat old white guy injineer giving fashion advice!

The world is going to end!

The Mayans were wrong; the world will end tomorrow. The Universe’s problem has been solved. The Karmic wheel has been stopped. Occam’s razor went dull.

Injineers have finally evolved to the final stage of Nirvanah.

Dispensing fashion advice!

# – # – # – # – #


RANT: Energy Policy MIA

Friday, April 13, 2012

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/t-boone-pickens-were-the-only-country-in-the-world-without-an-energy-policy/

Business T. Boone Pickens: ‘We’re The Only Country in The World Without an Energy Policy’
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:40pm by Becket Adams

*** begin quote ***

While appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens dished on everything from energy policy, to natural gas, to “green” jobs. But it was when “Morning Joe” guest Mike Barnicle asked Pickens what he would do differently to boost the economy via the energy industry, the oilman had some depressing news.

“If I was president, I’d get an energy policy for America. We’re the only country in the world without an energy policy and you use 25 percent of the oil. We’re insane,” Pickens said. “And we have resources in America that we could have an energy policy.”

But what about energy independence?

*** end quote ***

Every President campaigns on it! It gives them somethign to talk about. They don’t have ANY plan to od anything. But it’s great to talk about it!

Argh!

So why bother.

It’s a strategic area. If we drilled in ANWAR, a bunch of Arabs who have a lot less wealth to make trouble for us.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #  2012-Apr-12 @ 22:28


SERVICE: File under “dumb useless error messages”

Friday, April 13, 2012

File under “dumb useless error messages”

2012-04-08 Dumb


RANT: PAYTRUST has a cumbersome new account authorization process

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Wanted to add a new checking account to PAYTRUST.

(PAYTRUST is a “recommended” pay-for service. Not cheap and very “risky”, but very valuable. But not without its warts, odors, and frustrations. Not the least of which is “support” tends to be “pig headed”. But if you’re persistent, you can break thru.)

So first you have to enter all the data. THEN, they tell you that you have to send a copy of your DL and a void check.

(1) WART: NJ’s DL is tough to copy. It’s pink lettering on a rose color background. I can barely read it. Had to play with the Office Jet’s settings to get something. I think it’s readable, wi’ll see what PAYTRUST thinks.

(2) ODOR: PAYTRUST should describe ALL the steps in getting a new account working.

(3) FRUSTRATING: Other than normal operations, “every thing else” seems like a pain in the <synonym for donkey>?

# – # – # – # – #


INITIALISMS: AMTHOBAIYF

Thursday, April 12, 2012

“And may the odds be always in your favor”

… from the Hunger Games.

Hopefully that’s not a prophetic movie.

Any time I thought about, the odds were NEVER in MY favor. Always the house!

# – # – # – # – #


SERVICE: LEGACY improves

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/dignitymemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=paul-wolkenberg&pid=150386134&eid=lc_dm_gbexpire

*** begin quote ***

This Guest Book has been kept open until 4/16/2012 by Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. After that date, it will remain available for viewing-only, unless sponsored.

*** end quote ***

LEGACY, the obituary site, has new level of “service”.

Before, Guest books disappeared unless sponsored. Now there appears to be a third alternative — probably a deal struck with the funeral homes for free advertising — the guest book remains readable, but not updateable. Big win for LEGACY. Puts a LOT of pressure on folks to eternalize.

Hmmm?

All in all I think it is progress.

Which all “services” would improve their offerings! Are you listening PAYTRUST, YAHOO, MICROSOFT, 1AND1, Verizon, and AT&T? Just a quick top o’ the head list incomplete and in no particular order. Argh!

# – # – # – # – #


INITIALISMS: MTFBWY

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

“May The Force Be With You”

Such an elementally simple concept. Hmm, isn’t the essence of humanity? All we have is OUR life force.

# – # – # – # – #


POLITICAL: FACEBOOK picture makes me wonder.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

533159 10150723164483360 290539813359 9267909 583197893 n

 

I r an fat old white guy injineer. Did anyone else find the equation “fascinating” and “written wrong”? Subliminal message? Or a statement about “teachers”? P.S. IMHO teachers ARE “underpaid” because they are “on the dole”, currently “wards” of the Gooferment, inextricably tied to it, and are also slaves to their “union” who’s “in bed” with the Democratic Party “machine”. Not that anyone asked.

# – # – # – # – #


INTERESTING: “How to Change Your Life”; always a good topic!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

http://www.smartmoney.com/invest/strategies/how-to-change-your-life-
1333405303250/?cid=djem_sm_dailyviews_t#article_tab_article

ROI    APRIL 4, 2012, 12:18 A.M. ET
How to Change Your Life
Arends: New research suggests the key to breaking a bad habit lies in identifying both its cue — and its reward.
By BRETT ARENDS

*** begin quote ***

The bottom line: We’re running on autopilot most of the time, and we don’t really know it. We are controlled to a remarkable degree by our habits, not just by our conscious choices.

“A habit is a choice that we deliberately make at some point, and then stop thinking about, but continue doing, often every day,” he writes.

Even people in crisis can use this knowledge to turn their lives around.

We can’t unlearn bad habits. The way to defeat them is to learn new, better ones.

*** and ***

1. Find the bad habit.

2. Find the reward.

First, experiment: Try out different alternative habits to see if you feel the same reward.

Second, after each experiment, try isolating by writing down the first three things that come to mind “emotions, random thoughts, reflections on how you’re feeling, or just the first three words that pop into your head.”

Third, after doing that, he waited for fifteen minutes. He set an alarm. When it went off, he asked himself: Do you still feel the urge … ?

3. Find the cue.

Where am I? What time is it? What’s my emotional state? Who else is around? And what action immediately preceded the urge?

*** end quote ***

I did some further poking.

# – # – # – # – #

http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Habit-Business-ebook/dp/B0055PGUYU/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img

PART ONE: THE HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS
1. The Habit Loop – How Habits Work
2. The Craving Brain – How to Create New Habits
3. The Golden Rule of Habit Change – Why Transformation Occurs
PART TWO – THE HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONS
4. Keystone Habits, or The Ballad of Paul O’Neill – Which Habits Matter Most
5. Starbucks and the Habit of Success – When Willpower Becomes Automatic
6. The Power of a Crisis – How Leaders Create Habits Through Accident and Design
7. How Target Knows What You Want Before You Do – When Companies Predict (and manipulate) Habits
PART THREE – THE HABITS OF SOCIETIES
8. Saddleback Church and the Montgomery Bus Boycott – How Movements Happen
9. The Neurology of Free Will – Are We Responsible for Our Habits?

# – # – # – # – #

I “amazon wish listed” it.

Noticed that the Kindle version is 12.89$. The exact same price as the hard cover. WTX?

I know from my lame self-publishing that 99% of the ebook price is profit. Why do I feel like I’m being gouged?

Strike One!

# – # – # – # – #

The Pièce De Résistance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pièce_de_résistance) was the following comment fragment:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Habit-Business-ebook/dp/B0055PGUYU/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img

5.0 out of 5 stars
Curing Your Habits, March 19, 2012
By Ethan Jones
This review is from: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business (Hardcover)

*** begin quote ***

My chief complaint is he doesn’t really show you how to break bad habits. For this you should consider Emotional Intelligence 2.0. That book was great for my self-control.

*** end quote ***

Strike Two!

# – # – # – # – #

Jury’s still out.

# – # – # – # – #


INTERESTING: Sixty Minutes’ Mike Wallace; was it propaganda?

Monday, April 9, 2012

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57411010/60-minutes-icon-mike-wallace-dies-at-93

April 8, 2012 11:12 AM
“60 Minutes” icon Mike Wallace dies at 93

# – # – #

My Mom went to church every Sunday morning and watch Sixty Minutes every Sunday evening. I remember us debating about some of the content. I didn’t like some of the stories and, even at that young age, thought they were slanted. Little did I know how, why, or … anything.

When Walter Cronkite admitted that he had an agenda, the house of propaganda became obvious. My Mom never knew it. We were such fools in those days.

Argh!

So all the Sixty Minutes correspondents are suspect.

# – # – # – # – #


POLITICAL: The battle between the administration and the judiciary

Monday, April 9, 2012

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504564_162-57408827-504564/appeals-court-fires-back-at-obamas-comments-on-health-care-case/

Crossroads
April 3, 2012 3:42 PM
Appeals court fires back at Obama’s comments on health care case
By    Jan Crawford
Topics    Supreme Court 
Updated 6:55 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

(CBS News) In the escalating battle between the administration and the judiciary, a federal appeals court apparently is calling the president’s bluff — ordering the Justice Department to answer by Thursday whether the Obama Administration believes that the courts have the right to strike down a federal law, according to a lawyer who was in the courtroom.

The order, by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, appears to be in direct response to the president’s comments yesterday about the Supreme Court’s review of the health care law. Mr. Obama all but threw down the gauntlet with the justices, saying he was “confident” the Court would not “take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress.”

Overturning a law of course would not be unprecedented — since the Supreme Court since 1803 has asserted the power to strike down laws it interprets as unconstitutional. The three-judge appellate court appears to be asking the administration to admit that basic premise — despite the president’s remarks that implied the contrary. The panel ordered the Justice Department to submit a three-page, single-spaced letter by noon Thursday addressing whether the Executive Branch believes courts have such power, the lawyer said.

*** end quote ***

I think this is an epic struggle for the American Experiment.

I’m not sure that this is goign to end well.

# – # – # – # – #


INTERESTING: Sneaky Computer Security Tips

Sunday, April 8, 2012

(0) OBVIOUSLY use unique passwords in every instance. (Use LASTPASS, ROBOFORM, or KEYPASS to remember the UNIMPORTANT ones. Do you care if someone can “share” your PORN stash. (Like I’d EVER have porn. You can catch a case of the computer equivalent of a social disease — malware, virus, or data leak. I think the real kind MIGHT be easier to cure.)

(1) Never STORE financial passwords anywhere, but in your head. (And, in a sealed envelope, located in your bank safe deposit box, for your executor.) Never ever! (If you have more than 5 ± 2, you have too many accounts.) Sorry guys, I don’t even trust my most TRUSTED  vendors. (Fact of life. Don’t trust. You won’t be disappointed.)

(2) If you do STORE a profile somewhere, ALWAYS use your real birthday ± 1. (It’ll be our little joke. Play along with all the FACEBOOK birthday wishes. Your real life fans will enjoy the joke. You DO have real life friends; don’t you? So sad if you don’t. You can link to me. I have very few — hi oldest, older, and just plain old!)

(3) If you do STORE — obviously not USE — a credit card number, ALWAYS do a typo with the “secret number” and add ± 1 to the last digit. (Then when someone has a security breech, they have your garbage.)

(4) If you do STORE an address for your self, put a typo somewhere so you know who to blame. (Personally I like middle name. “Hi, I’m F. 37 REINKE.”)

(5) If you can and it’s not needed for credit, add ± 1 to your SSN. (“Oh, sorry, I made an oopsie.”)

(6) ALWAYS mess with the secondary authentication questions. But do it in a consistent manner! (“Where were you born?” “Bayonne158” That’s Our Girl’s and her favorite number.) Caveat: Three sites — CAREMARK CVS, PAYTRUST, BOA — make you remember it from time to time. (If I forget, there is always “call one 800 outsourced service desk”. Reset them to colors. Then go in and immediately change them.) I always record my answers in LASTPASS ± 1. A great tool.

YMMV MTFBWY AMTHOBAIYF

# – # – # – # – #  2012-Apr-07 @ 05:07

 


RECOMMENDED: DRIVESLIM for MACOSX

Sunday, April 8, 2012

http://www.prosofteng.com/support/support_thanks.php

PRODUCT: DRIVESLIM for MACOSX

Just thought of something that they could do to improve my experience. So I contacted their support.

*** begin quote ***

I’m a Mac noob.

Is there a set of automator script to run drive slim periodically?

So, for example, cache clear, monthly on the first monday and big files on the second monday. TO prompt those of us with old memories.

From time to time, the various tech site have stuff like this. For example, recently, there was one to delete the IPHOTO automatic copies.

Thanks for good product. No complaints. Just could use some help.

*** end quote ***

Let’s see if I get a response or is it a “pump and dump”?

# – # – # – # – #

AUTORESPONDER:

Ferdinand,

Your ticket number regarding this issue is 07-97528.
Please refer to this ticket number in any future correspondence.

Product: DriveSlim
Mac OS: Mac OS 10.6.8

Question: I\’m a Mac noob. \r\n\r\nIs there a set of automator script to run drive slim periodically?\r\n\r\nSo, for example, cache clear, monthly on the first monday and big files on the second monday. TO prompt those of us with old memories. \r\n\r\nFrom time to time, the various tech site have stuff like this. For example, recently, there was one to delete the IPHOTO automatic copies. \r\n\r\nThanks for good product. No complaints. Just could use some help.\r\n

Your question has been forwarded to a Customer Support Specialist who will be contacting you about this issue.  Be sure and check out our Online FAQs, found in our Support Website, for answers to common support questions.

Thank-you!

WE WILL SEE?

# – # – # – # – #  2012-Apr-05 @ 02:38

Fedinand,

Your ticket number regarding this issue is 07-97528.
Please refer to this ticket number in any future correspondence.

—————————————————————————–
Hi Ferdinand,

There is no script to automate DriveSlim.

Contact us if you have any further questions.

Regards,
—————————————————————————–

Jeremy
Prosoft Engineering Customer Support

# – # – # – # – #  2012-Apr-05 @ 13:00

“Go away, you Customer, you. Stop bothering us.” YMMV.

# – # – # – # – #  2012-Apr-05 @ 13:00


INSPIRATIONAL: In a negative sort of way, we should be outraged

Saturday, April 7, 2012

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/watch-sharks-clowe-break-odd-man-rush-bench-060134773.html

Watch Sharks’ Clowe break up an odd-man rush from the bench (VIDEO)
By Harrison Mooney | Puck Daddy – 18 hours ago

*** begin quote ***

The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings may have clinched a playoff spot well before Thursday’s game ended, but they certainly didn’t play like it. It was a hard-fought battle right to the final horn and then some, with the Sharks narrowly edging their divisional rivals 6-5 in a shootout.

But don’t let the high score fool you into thinking there weren’t any big defensive plays. Why, Ryane Clowe’s pokecheck on Jarrett

Stoll with 3 minutes to go in the 3rd period stands out, and not just because it broke up a very threatening-looking 3-on-2 rush and potentially saved a game-winning goal. It was also the fact that Clowe was on the bench at the time.

*** end quote ***

First, it was baseball doping. Second, the headhunting in the NFL. Thiird, this.

Where are our Nation’s standards?

The Duke of Wellington is often quoted as saying that “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton”.

If that’s so, America won’t be winning anythinv any time soon.

We should be outraged!

# – # – # – # – #