tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152068522024-03-23T12:49:39.582-07:00The Adventures of AndyA blog that closely resembles blasting across the alkali flats in a jet-powered, monkey-navigated race-car, during a beer induced adrenaline rush!azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-22292262663060291932022-04-20T18:22:00.002-07:002022-04-21T09:04:18.812-07:00Why Elon Musk Buying Twitter Is The Best Way To Save Twitter<p><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Twitter is a very interesting social experiment.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A platform giving equal weight to any particular opinion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A means by which you can take part of any conversation you can find. A de facto digital public square.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A place that needs free speech to survive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">However if it was initially sold under the above description it has metamorphosed into something different. Twitter wants to be a platform for the “special people” (you will know them by their blue check marks) to promote their thoughts and self promotion to the masses. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is expected when you separate people this way. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I first noticed it while watching @espn and in a half hour of sports news it was all about athletes’ tweets not their in-field performance. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Again this is fine.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>People who gain prominence in one area of culture are sure to gain favor in others.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then the agenda part happened. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When a certain orange man got into politics, his twitter account was one of his best political weapons.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He could circumvent the traditional media and communicate directly with his constitutions unfiltered and unedited.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He used the platform as it was, well not intended but how the powers that be would want to use it… but he wasn’t exactly what the powers that be wanted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t worry they got rid of him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>before they did, something happened.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The vibe changed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The algorithm started pushing timelines that were once fun, became, angry and agenda driven. Enter “The Algorithm”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes, the people out of power were getting louder, and twitter’s algorithm was their microphone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was THEIR microphone; but not everyone’s. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Enter Elon Musk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Elon sees twitter as a microcosm of everything happening all across big tech (google, facebook, apple, twitter… basically any company trading on the NASDAQ).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’re all pushing the same agenda. Elon’s not really an agenda guy, or at least not 100% on board with any one agenda. So he’s been victim of some of this himself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And nobody makes Elon their victim. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Remember that orange guy? well he was deplatformed from all the social medias at the same time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But shouldn’t the leader of the free world have a voice, however unpopular (or at least against the agenda) it is?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now what if Twitter was a bastion of free speech.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Where everyones opinion was equal, or, if what people saw was truly the popular opinion. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What if the algorithm of popular opinion was driven by popular opinion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Because Twitter is not. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In fact, twitter may be the least viable of all social media in its current state.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A platform that caters to a subset of one half of the political isle and only wants to be a sounding board for the elites.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Eventually enough people will stop caring for it to matter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">UNLESS, it becomes that final safe haven for free speech.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Elon has had his come to Jesus moment with free speech, because it’s hared to find these days.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Buying Twitter and having free speech as a fundamental right will break up the oligopoly of big tech.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It will dive conversation to where conversation can be had, and shoot twitter (and it’s value) to the head of the class.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">amiright Elon?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><a href="https://twitter.com/andyzoric/status/1516945386329542657?s=20&t=aGVWPns7K1aFNeNiQflhLQ" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><a href="https://twitter.com/andyzoric/status/1516945386329542657?s=20&t=aGVWPns7K1aFNeNiQflhLQ" target="_blank">thread on twitter </a></span></p>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-8586829791260150892020-04-01T19:40:00.002-07:002020-04-01T19:57:16.117-07:00Avengers: Endgame did not end the way you think it did. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Spanning over twenty movies, the Infinity Saga as it is being called has crated, and coined the term “cinematic universe” Of course I’m referring to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It started back in 2008 with the big screen debut of Iron Man and continues to this day, and on the eve of what would have been the premier of “Black Widow”, I have found myself thinking about the preceding films. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">I’m not afraid to admit that I have watched Endgame (more specially the last 39 minutes thereof) more times than most. Upon these repeated viewings a few things have become clear to me, the biggest of which is that Tony Stark killed absolutely nobody in his final scene. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Oh, and spoiler warnings ahead for the biggest movie in history, and if you haven’t seen it, frankly that surprises me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">But onto the evidence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">It all starts in Iron Man 3 (2012).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">No, not yet, let’s not back up that far yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">It all starts with the time jump in Endgame. Five years after Thanos has snapped out half of the population of the universe, Tony Stark has semi-retired with Pepper Potts in their upstate New York lake house. They are happily married and raising their young daughter Morgan. She is really the crux of this whole thing. When the rest of the Avengers come to him with the idea of a “time heist” Tony wants nothing to do with it. His love for Morgan is so great that despite what the world has become he won’t change anything in the past that might jeopardize the existence of his beloved daughter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">But the genius of Tony stark is not a force that can be contained, and he eventually solves the time travel equation with Morgan as a witness. And that delivers us the beautiful “I love you 3000” moment. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLviIVFjLWA/XoVO_o30oXI/AAAAAAAAA4A/6TPBk9LFN3gxi145BT20L9hRQswGmtIbwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/successful.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLviIVFjLWA/XoVO_o30oXI/AAAAAAAAA4A/6TPBk9LFN3gxi145BT20L9hRQswGmtIbwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/successful.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Tony then brings his solution to the time travel problem to the Avengers but makes Captain America promise that if it works they bring everyone back, and not change anything from the past five years. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h09G2NTPiHo/XoVO-W6s8jI/AAAAAAAAA30/pL7_yTvdRMslEc-kTpSO0QeNyNOkoClagCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/handshake.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h09G2NTPiHo/XoVO-W6s8jI/AAAAAAAAA30/pL7_yTvdRMslEc-kTpSO0QeNyNOkoClagCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/handshake.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">“I gotta tell you my priorities. Bring back what we lost, I hope yes. keep what I found, I have to.. at all costs” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Then they go on the Time Heist to grab the infinity stones out of history and back to the year 2023. They split into five teams to get the five infinity stones </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Thor and Rocket get the Aether </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">War Machine and Nebula Go after the Orb</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Hawkeye and Black Widow retrieve the Soul Stone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Hulk gets the Time Stone from the Ancient One</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Ant Man Iron Man and Captain America go after the Mind and Space Stones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">But with any good story, something goes wrong and Loki makes off with the Space Stone (to set up his Disney+ series), and Nebula accidentally reveals the whole plan to Thanos in 2014 and is replaced with her evil counterpart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Then something you may have overlooked happened, and you might chalk it up to lazy writing, plot convenience or you just went with it because you are completely invested in these moves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">But Tony tells Cap that he has a “vaguely exact idea” where they can get more Pymm Particles (time travel fuel) and the Tesseract. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QomKkdgvOFU/XoVPA-qoY6I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/hACuMWRaVUkEd4Y0cYVyGIpLrZGHQPbpwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/vaguelySpecific.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QomKkdgvOFU/XoVPA-qoY6I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/hACuMWRaVUkEd4Y0cYVyGIpLrZGHQPbpwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/vaguelySpecific.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">How did Tony know to go back to the New Jersey military facility in 1970? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I’m getting to it, hold on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Back in the year 2023, they finally have all five infinity stones.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tony fabricates a gauntlet using the same nanotech in his armor to hold them. The duty falls on Hulk to snap his fingers and bring everyone back.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tony again reminds Hulk to just bring everyone back, nothing changes from the past five years. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">And that’s exactly what Hulk does. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">However evil nebula uses the time machine to bring her father and his army to Earth so that we get an epic battle to end the movie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">And there’s a lot to break down in this battle too, but a few parts are what we need to focus on. First off; Nebula shoots herself. Well the good version of Nebula (from 2023) shoots herself (the version that came back from 2014) but surprisingly nothing happens to good Nebula. While the move goes out of its way to toung-and-cheek explain their rules of time travel, shooting your past self will most likely cause terrible damage to your present self. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">But there’s an explanation for this that hasn’t happened in the movie… yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">In the battle’s climax Tony grabs the Infinity Stones from Thanos because he and the gauntlet use the same nanotech so his Iron Man armor reconfigures itself to hold them. Then in an instant, Tony Stark, Earth’s most brilliant man (so far) has complete mastery of time and space. So what does he do with this power? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">You probably are saying “He snaps his fingers erasing Thanos and his minions from reality thus putting the universe back in order” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">You could say that but you’re wrong. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Because Tony didn’t, kill, dust, erase anyone. He just put them all back where they came from. Including Nebula who goes back to 2014, to relive the events that bring her to the point that she would shoot her past self. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">If you compare Tony’s snap with Thanos’s snap in “Infinity War” people, but not things turn to dust. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">But if you watch closely, Thanos’ crashed spaceship also fades to dust. Why would that need to happen? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Well it’s obvious, Tony didn’t want to change the past five years, or even the past nine years. Through the entire epic battle he was only trying to save Morgan, and he did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">And here’s how. With the five infinity stones in his possession and a brilliant mine to boot, Tony had complete control of the universe. So he did a few things. First he dropped himself a “vaguely specific” reminder of where to find those Pymm Particles and the Tesseract back in 1970. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_iMwNMcx_c/XoVPAOPiKHI/AAAAAAAAA4I/M_feP9wroH4TCSSvg9QGcbXEi4-3-z-QQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/tonySnap2.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_iMwNMcx_c/XoVPAOPiKHI/AAAAAAAAA4I/M_feP9wroH4TCSSvg9QGcbXEi4-3-z-QQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/tonySnap2.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">And you thought it was lazy writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">But he didn’t stop there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Just before the epic Battle he, Thor and Captain America see Thanos off the the distance. Cap asks where he came from and tony replies “When </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">you mess with time, time tends to mess back. You’ll see”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Meaning maybe Captain America doesn’t get a simple “happily ever after” with Peggy Carter after all. We can only hope Chris Evans signs on for some more moves so we can find out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">And in my best Billy Mayes voice, “But there’s more” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Remember Infinity War? Remember Titan, I know we all cried when Spider-man got dusty, but before that Thanos addresses Tony by name. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Tony asks “You know who I am?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">Thanos replies “You are not the only one cursed with knowledge” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">To What knowledge is Thanos referring? At the time we probably all thought it had something to do with Tony flying a nuclear missile through a wormhole during the battle of New York (2012). Well, Tony Stark is not without ego. He is the type to leave you a cryptic note just to keep you thinking about him. And we saw this in Iron Man 3 (told you we’d get here). He leaves a note for a woman that simply reads “You know who I am” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">So with absolute control of the universe Tony sends Thanos, all his minions, alive and dead, back to 2014, where they can spend the next four years chasing Infinity Stones until 2018 only to have it undone five years laters with the simple reminder, “You know who I am”</span><br />
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azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-54269951412806463082018-05-03T06:25:00.001-07:002018-07-26T06:19:46.993-07:00Avengers Infinity War shows the dark side of environmentalism and the left is going nuts!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
The latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
opened last week and has become the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2018/04/29/avengers-infinity-war-destroys-box-office-records-with-630m-global-bow/#1588b7ae39b0" target="_blank">largest box opening ever</a>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But hidden beneath the flashy costumes,
dazzling special effects and Tony Stark, Dr. Strange, Peter Quill, Thor (did I
forget somebody?) one-liners is a cautionary tale of environmental extremism. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0D8Vab5E0ZY/WusNkm2PAII/AAAAAAAAAvY/Gqwsi3vxA0MX6j-AwtazdMmHOwjkw9vRgCLcBGAs/s1600/thanos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="710" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0D8Vab5E0ZY/WusNkm2PAII/AAAAAAAAAvY/Gqwsi3vxA0MX6j-AwtazdMmHOwjkw9vRgCLcBGAs/s320/thanos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our main villain in the movie is Thanos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a big purple alien out to collect all
the Infinity Stones: powerful artifacts that give their owner ultimate
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanos wants to use this power
to eliminate half of all life in the universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because he came from a
planet that was overpopulated and eventually died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the comics he does it to impress a girl,
and as you will see if you keep reading, that is a much more plausible
scenario. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now if you haven’t seen the movie (but judging by the box
office numbers you are in the minority) you might expect this is where the
colorfully costumed heroes come in to save the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I propose that this is not necessary and all you need is a
half-way competent economist. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As it turns out Earth already has a Thanos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_R._Ehrlich" target="_blank">Paul Ehrlich</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1968 he wrote a book called “The Population
Bomb”. The book is centered around a thesis that the world would experience
mass starvation due to overpopulation throughout the 1970’s and 80’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ehrlich even had a vasectomy to not be part
of the problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
King of late night Johnny Carson was infatuated with these
ideas and invited Ehrlich on as a guest of the Tonight Show multiple times. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it was in the pages of Social Science Quarterly where
Economist Julian Simon challenged Ehrlich’s assertions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ehrlich wanted to bet that England would cease
to exist by 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon proposed a
counter-wager. He bet from 1980 to 1990 five non government-controlled raw
materials would rise in price, adjusted for inflation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The agreed-upon materials were copper, tin,
chromium nickel and tungsten. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ehrlich lost the bet in spectacular fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rumor has it that Ehrlich never actually paid
up the $10,000, and has since tried to massage the numbers in his favor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a prime example of what extreme thought, and however
well thought out and articulated by people with letters after their names or
holding the most powerful weapons in the universe, can be utterly wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is right is the faith that the human mind, paired with
the free markets will always find more efficient ways of using, gathering and
even recycling resources. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While very few environmentalists are proposing genocide on a
Thanos level, they do often propose limiting our modern day comforts and
conveniences, sometimes to the point that it does put lives in danger. Yes,
your air conditioner does keep grandpa from dying of heat stroke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Free markets will always provide an answer to whatever
problem exists. And the solution will usually make someone very wealthy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-52813527566542543692014-01-09T08:42:00.002-08:002014-01-14T11:47:40.594-08:0010 Commandments forFront End Web Development<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's some thoughts I had today on my roll as a web developer/designer. Hoping to open this up for discussion. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- andy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Jennifer_Lawrence_at_the_83rd_Academy_Awards_crop.jpg/220px-Jennifer_Lawrence_at_the_83rd_Academy_Awards_crop.jpg" style="float: right;" /> </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li>Work with the functionality, not against it, or around it. The best products are a good marriage of form and function. The worst products focus on one or forget the other. </li>
<li>Think in terms of user tasks, not pages—This is rule #1 for mobile</li>
<li>Do anything, as long as you do it consistently</li>
<li>Be brief, be upfront. Web users rarely read past the first paragraph</li>
<li>Graceful degradation is an acceptable practice. Don’t waste effort on (money) forcing legacy browsers the exact visual experience as newer browsers, as long as the functionality is there (I’m talking to you Internet Explorer 8!)</li>
<li>Your visual elements should use HTML 5 first, and images where it’s not possible.</li>
<li>JavaScript/jQuery is great for interface logic, not business logic.</li>
<li>Use JavaScript and CSS as complementary tools, they are not always mutually exclusive.</li>
<li>You don’t have to be original. Look to see if someone else has done it before you, and follow their example.<br />(or “Good programmers write good code, great programmers steal someone else’s” - old internet adage)</li>
<li>Be inspired. Look at other sites often to see what other people are doing different, and doing well. </li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>BONUS:</b> Whenever possible put a picture of a pretty girl on the home page. (see above photo for example!)</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-25830352651085657422012-09-07T10:15:00.000-07:002012-09-07T10:15:00.564-07:00My Plan For America<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div>
Having seen nomination exception speeches from both President Obama and Governor Romney I decided that since I will be eligible to be president on Election day I should let America know what my platform would be if I were president. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E2uoXAJHo14/UEorZdEatqI/AAAAAAAAAVw/U9_PIsh67kU/s1600/prezAndy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E2uoXAJHo14/UEorZdEatqI/AAAAAAAAAVw/U9_PIsh67kU/s320/prezAndy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Reform the tax code:</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Either a flat or fair tax.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I might even be wiling to consider a VAT tax,
as long as income ceases to be a consideration in taxation.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The progressive tax system has become so
progressive that politically it is impossible to propose tax cuts without being
accused of giving tax cuts to millionaires.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Of course the critics are right, since those are the only people
actually paying taxes anymore.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Resolve the housing crisis overnight by
privatizing Freddie Mac and Fannie May while repealing the Community
Reinvestment Act.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I would also appoint
Chris Dodd and Barney Frank as their respective CEO’s.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Without federal funding those companies would
immediately collapse.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">As soon as bad
mortgages stopped being issued, the housing market rebounds.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Deal with Iran… indirectly.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Since we are already planning to leave Iran
and Afganistan I would park some of our bombers, tanks and other military
equipment over in Isreal… maybe even leave the keys in the ignition of some B-1
Bombers.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Isreal, Do what you have to do…
We’ll look the other way.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Open up drilling EVERYWHERE.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This creates jobs and affordable energy.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Healthcare:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Repeal
Obamacare.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Enable
individuals to buy insurance across state lines</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Allow
portability of insurance over an individual’s lifetime.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1.5in;">A policy is opened at 18 years of age</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1.5in;">As long as that policy is maintained</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1.5in;">Covers 99% of pre-existing conditions (because
most 18 year olds are healthy)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1.5in;">Keep it until you die.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1.5in;">No unreasonable penalties for changing your plan
attribute over time.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This creates competition, individual
responsibility and lowers healthcare costs while increasing service through the
free market.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(Yes, this is a de-facto healthcare savings
account with the added benefit of economies of scale.)</span><br /><ul><ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And give more people access to Healthcare Savings
Accounts</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Medicare</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you are over 40, you can opt to keep
Medicare.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you
are under 40, see the above Healthcare point.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Debt:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Reduce spending to 2006 levels</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Federal Spending</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">freeze for 10 years</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Pay down national debt</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If that doesn’t work, sell California (and
everything in it) to the Chinese.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They’re practically communist there already. Should be a smooth
transition</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
On my second day in office I’ll take Air Force 1 to
Cuba, open up trade, smoke Cigars and drink margaritas on the beach. <br />
<br />
azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-66633884480297499172012-08-01T08:24:00.001-07:002012-08-01T08:24:12.358-07:00I Only Eat Free-Market Chicken<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boycotts never work… just sayin’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So a private citizen who owns a private company makes public
his personal opinions on an issue and a couple of mayors don’t want him doing
business in their cities. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What the hell happened? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/07/25/report-alderman-plans-to-block-chick-fil-a-over-comments-on-gay-marriage/" target="_blank">It all started</a> in Chicago where an alderman wanted to block
the opening of a Chick-fil-a restaurant because of the CEO’s public support of “The
biblical definition of marriage” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the restaurant chain had already obtained zoning and
other licensure for the opening of the store.
So, what real grounds does this statist really have to evoke this power?
Well that’s a whole other issue…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what I really enjoyed was this quote from Mayor Rham
Emmanual, “Chick-Fil-A’s values are not Chicago values” Really, Mr. Mayor. If <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/The-Deadliest-Global-City-163874546.html#ixzz226v8EFhk" target="_blank">dozens of people were murdered</a> at
Chick-Fil-A stores would you then approve? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know some gay people. For the most part they've been
pretty cool around me. But having first-hand experience with divorce I
would say that I really wouldn't want anyone to have to go through that.
Maybe it's a little callus but I honestly believe that the true
motivation behind the gay marriage initiative is gay divorce (<a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/299944/gay-divorcees-charles-c-w-cooke" target="_blank">male same-sexmarriages are 50 percent more likely to end in divorce than heterosexualmarriages, and female same-sex marriages are an astonishing 167 percent morelikely to be dissolved</a>).
Remember: always follow the money. Also, another issue…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what really gets under my skin is liberal politicians
who want to limit free enterprise on unrelated political statements! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why I am going to Chick-Fil-A for lunch today is to prove
that the free market is more powerful than political ideology. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me give you some more instances where this applies:
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apple has a well documented history of
liberal leadership; But I still have an iPhone.<br />
Jos Wheaton is pretty much a socialist, but I still saw
Avengers opening night in the theater.<br />
Dan Rooney II is currently Obama's ambassador to Ireland, but the
Pittsburgh Steelers are still my favorite sports franchise</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have an iPhone because it is a superior product.<br />
I saw Avengers because it was a great movie.<br />
I root for the Steelers because they are awesome! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And what their ownership thinks about any issue
does not affect the product they provide to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I will visit Chick-Fil-A today because I support free
markets more than I care about the gay marriage issue (or any issue for that matter). </div>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-53943972263152894512012-01-06T12:35:00.000-08:002012-03-08T11:46:50.915-08:00To Van Halen or not to Van Halen?!?!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is the question.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.mos.musicradar.com/images/artist-news/van-halen/vanhalencover-460-100-460-70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn.mos.musicradar.com/images/artist-news/van-halen/vanhalencover-460-100-460-70.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was a late Christmas gift I received when I logged onto
facebook and saw an announcement from the official Van Halen website about
tickets for a new tour going on sale in mid January. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lets back this up for a moment. Van Halen is my favorite band of all
time! In fact I pretty much don<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>t
even listen to music if it<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s not Van Halen. I saw them twice
on their last tour, and at least once on every tour since 1995. If you are keeping
track, that<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span> 5 shows, plus the Daive Lee
Roth/Sammy Hagar show dubbed the <span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">“</span>Sans Halen<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">”</span>
tour. I even once painted my computer to
look like Eddie Van Halen<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s guitar. I should find photos of that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I digress<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am left with a dilemma.
When I bought my first Van Halen album back in 1991, I had two options: Cassette or Compact Disc. Having
just received a CD player for Christmas that year I opted for CD. Come to think about it, I think I got that
one through one of those Columbia house deals in a magazine. Do they still have
those? You get your first 7 CD<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s
for a penny, then you buy 3 more at regular price, unless you sign up a friend,
then you get two more at half price. But
if it<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s a Tuesday and you are wearing green pants there<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s
a bonus disc you get for half price if you buy two more at regular price<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What can I say<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">…</span> It was the 90<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s. That<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s the decade when Nirvana
was popular. A lot of bad decisions were
made. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I digress<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">…</span> again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Times, and technology have changed. I honestly cannot remember the last time I
actually loaded a CD into any type of device for listening purpose. Come to
think of it, I don<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>t remember the last CD I purchased
in physical form! Why? Because ever
since iTunes, I can download music faster and cheaper than it would take me to
drive to Wal Mart, purchase it and even if I play it in my car, let alone bring
it home to play it on my Bose system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of playing CD<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s in my car. The Neil Diamond Christmas (do you get the
irony?!?) album has been the only disc in
my car stereo for at least two years now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I digress... Oh
you should be used to it by now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At one point I had a shelf with every Van Halen album
sitting on it in order of release date.
So aside from greatest hits compilations in which I only downloaded the
newest songs, I have the complete
set. But what’s the point of physically
owning music? Will “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #333333;">A
Different Kind Of Truth</span>” be the first Van Halen album that won<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>t
be on my shelf<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">…</span> not that I still have that
shelf, all my CD<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s are in a box in a closet. But I do like to read liner notes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do I do!?!?! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please vote in my poll! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dtRNPMZ00w/T1kMkmJcsoI/AAAAAAAAAGE/N88LvFyA3ag/s1600/results.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dtRNPMZ00w/T1kMkmJcsoI/AAAAAAAAAGE/N88LvFyA3ag/s320/results.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Van Halen<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">’</span>s new album <span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">“</span>A
Different Kind of Truth<span style="font-family: 'MS 明朝', serif;">”</span> will be released on February 7, 2012</div>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-34262803331842639322011-12-31T09:50:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:22:24.388-08:00Twenty-Three Short Stanzas About 2011<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>T’was the day before New Years</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I’m here on my Blog</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Not a creature is stirring, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I just checked the log. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>As I sit on the couch </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>With my kitty cat near</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I can’t help and look back</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>At what happened this year. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Brief highlights I can remember</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Reflecting now in late December</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Baseball saw a great game in 11 innings</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>And Charlie Sheen wore out the word #WINNING!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>New Years was met with family-like friends</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But someone was sad</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>It was a foreshadow in my Iliad </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This year would see things would meet their ends</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The next month joy came back</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But ended in woe</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>My Steelers faced the Pack</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But lost the Superbowl.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>It was not long after</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>That my year hit a low</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>My wife of eighteen months</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Had asked me to go</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I tried to debate</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I tried to reason</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I offered concessions</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>She just wouldn’t listen. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>It was hard to explain</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I had to decide</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Which friend to tell first</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>In whom I could confide</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life changing events</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Will always let you know</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Who your closest friend are</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Their actions will show. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I’ll take this stanza</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>To let you all know</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Words are never enough</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>For my gratitude to show. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But I reorganized my life</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A bachelor again, you know</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But I still have a companion</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A kitty named Moe</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Summer was nice, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I swam at the pool</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Made some new friends</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>It was rather cool</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Our family saw a death this year</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Given his story, it’s hard to shed a tear</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Almost 100, he died happy</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Still we will miss our dear Pappy</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A silly woman entered my life</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Sometimes I think she'd make a great wife</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Her name is Siri, she’s sarcastically prone</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But she only exists inside my iPhone</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I was enjoying the place of my labor</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Like Kramer, I was a goofy cubicle neighbor</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But when the new boss came in</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He wanted me gone, but I knew not when</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>“I’m completely changing your job description”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Wanting me to do something, against my intuition</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I had no input into his decision</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He wanted me to become a statistician</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>On December 9 they asked me to exit</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I was left to wonder what would come next</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So I went to the bar, got inebriated</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I was surprisingly not very jaded</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Unemployed and napping, I was being a slob</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I was somewhat enjoying not having a job</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I had not yet started some planned edification</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Honestly, I really just needed a vacation</i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But a lady called with very good news</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Enough that I didn’t mind ending my snooze</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Luck is now on my side, so it seems,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>She called to say, I got the job of dreams!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This year seems to be a tale of woe</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But I never lost faith, you know</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>God has a plan, of that I have no doubt</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>You don’t always get what you want…</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But sometimes you get what you need</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>It was Mic Jager who sang that, indeed.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I resolve to never wallow in the mire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Honestly, my situation was never that dyer</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Two thousand and Eleven, I must say</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I’m not to sad to see you go away</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Tonight we welcome January, 1</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I am once again hopeful for the year that’s to come</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I think I’m done here; I have nothing left to write</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Oh, yes, I have one last expression to do</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.andyzoric.com/files/andycoloda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.andyzoric.com/files/andycoloda.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Happy New Years to you, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Please be safe tonight!</i></span></div>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-29999021616632837112011-09-29T06:59:00.000-07:002011-09-29T07:11:27.389-07:00Lets Talk iPhone<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been planning on buying iPhone 5 for two years
now. That’s about the average life of a
phone right? I purchased the iPhone 3Gs
when it first came out because for the first time an iPhone could record video!
And I wanted to take it on my honeymo….
I wanted to take it to Hawaii.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The iPhone 4 came, had some issues, and is now the world
awaits iPhone 5. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or is it iPhone 4s?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nobody knows until Apple’s big announcement on Tuesday. But here’s the speculation so far:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gadgetsdna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/iPhone-5_new_mock_timn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.gadgetsdna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/iPhone-5_new_mock_timn1.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;">
Concept iPhone with tapered back. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I think this design would make it harder </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
to play Angry Birds</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ol><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQe5hKt1j8uCwQNTb5DR6rvmYicTOlJlJwcL_CduqBpSgQ43YMayQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">An aluminum unibidy construction. This is cool. The MacBooks are made this way and it makes
them smaller and lighter than other computers that are held together by a
multi-part chassis. It only makes sense that Apple would include this design
into their mobile line.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Smart money is on this feature as an
unintended posting of iPhone 5 cases has confirmed that the new iPhone will
have a redesigned body.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Improved 8 megapixel Camera. This is a no-brainer. All the competing phones have an HD, 8MP
camera, why not iPhone? This is just keeping up
with the Joneses…. If by Joneses you
mean Google.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Faster/more processers and Ram. There is heavy speculation that iPhone 5 will
have a full gigabyte of ram, doubling the previous incarnation. It is assumed to also have the same a5 dual-core
processer from the iPad 2. All the
thechnial specs aside, I trust apple’s hardware. Think about all your friends who have the HTC
Android phones. How many times have they
been replaced? I know people who have had to replace their handsets three times
in a contract. My first iPhone is still
being used by my dad… and boy is it slow. But it still works. Solid! </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Voice Integration. This could sseriously be a gamechanger in the mobile market. Don't belive me? Well this </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2011/09/29/iphone-5-most-revolutionary-user-interface-in-history/" style="font-family: inherit;">article from Forbes</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> should give you some insight. iOS has had a voice integration for a while now, but it was fairly limited. But </span>imagine<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> being able to control most functions of your smartphone without having to touch it? Wow! "Gamechanger" is an understatement!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">iOS5.
Really that’s all I need to say but there’s a ton of new features in
here. iOS (the system software that
runs all Apple mobile devices) was announced at a spring event to be released “in
the fall” but no specific timeframe was given.
Typically new hardware follows about 10 days after the big product
announcement so I would speculate that, based on previous experience, iOS 5
will be available within 24 hours of the big announcement for existing devices.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ipad2iphone5.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/iPhone-5-concept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://www.ipad2iphone5.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/iPhone-5-concept.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Another "thin" concept iPhone 5</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br />Features include:</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span>Twitter integration – You can now tweet from
Safari </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span>iOS Messenger – free texting between
iPhones. Also why you should cash out of
your RIM stock IMMEDIATELY as this will finally kill the blackberry</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span>Less intrusive update messages. Lets face it, there’s nothing more annoying
during a rousing game of Angry Birds than getting a Fox News update about
something not as important as getting 3 stars on a level. Especially when that alert pops up in the
middle of aiming your slingshot. Now the
message will exist in a tab at the top of the screen where you can look at it
later, thus helping you to get that 3 star award without interruption. Believe it or not this is a HUGE deal! </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span>iCloud – Very cool technology that lets you sync
your phone wirelessly. It’s about
Fraking time for this one! Though some
are complaining that this does not let you stream your media to your phone from
your home computer, I’m not sure why this is a big deal. All iOS devices have a hard drive capable of
carrying lots of media anyway. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Facebook is scheduled to launch their new
iPad app at the event too. Let’s hope
that the app is more well received than their recent user interface
upgrade. Honestly, I don’t mind it, but
that’s another blog post. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
So the announcement is next week. The phones will probably go on sale around
the 15<sup>th</sup>. I plan on getting my
pre-order in as soon as they start accepting those and then I’ll have a kickass
phone once again! </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
You know, I had an iPhone back when having an
iPhone made you cool… Now I’m in an exclusive clique called “Everybody”! </div>
azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-35211589924502913122011-09-20T09:34:00.000-07:002011-09-20T10:10:19.242-07:00Would Have Made a Great Series Finale...I hold few things as sacred as a series finale. While MASH claims to have the best ever (way too long but redeemed in the final 2 minutes) few series finales have lived up to the entire run of the series.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQv5UiNOhH23T1EJgi3GaJLSRgju01MXoDcebzsl-R6XRCXdUal" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQv5UiNOhH23T1EJgi3GaJLSRgju01MXoDcebzsl-R6XRCXdUal" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How this show USED to look!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Which brings me to last night's ninth-season-premier of "Two and a half Men". The show starts with a funeral for Charlie. His trademark bowling shirt and khaki shorts (also my trademark) are hanging next to the closed coffin. Most of his on-camera girlfriends are present, all saying horrible things about him. Alan (John Cryer) is giving the eulogy explaining how Charlie died in Paris. Next Rose (Melanie Lynskey) explains how Charlie proposed to him, then she caught him with another woman, to which all the women in the audience sympathized. Then she explains how he "accidentally" slipped onto the rail in front of an oncoming train.<br />
<br />
This is exactly why <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/two-and-a-half-men-premiere-draws-28-million/">28 million people tuned in last night</a>, despite an NFL game on ESPN (my cable isn't working so I didn't have that option).<br />
<br />
So, we've resolved how Charlie Sheen is no longer on the show. Do we care about anyone else in the house? Not really, I was willing to leave it at that. Charlie leaves the house to Alan and Jake, life goes on and if my cable was functioning I could have tuned away and not cared.<br />
<br />
But My cable is not working so I continued watching.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Men_curtainFINAL_20110728185657-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Men_curtainFINAL_20110728185657-150x150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new man!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Alan can't afford the upkeep on the house and goofy internet billionaire Waldon Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher) enters, and after some mildly amusing antics buys the house.<br />
<br />
Okay, now things are resolved.<br />
<br />
Except for some reason we were left "to be continued..." though, if Schmidt is going to buy the house and he seems popular with the ladies (though I didn't need him to be so naked the whole episode) we now see that the house will continue to be a revolving door for good-looking loose women. <br />
<br />
Life goes on and I wish I could tune to ESPN!<br />
<br />
So this would have made a nice series finale. Charlie dies, Alan gets on his feet and Jake says something stupid (though that shtick hasn't been funny since he was a cute chubby kid).<br />
<br />
Much like a bad car wreck causes people to rubberneck on the freeway, the real-life Charlie Sheen caused a media rubberneck as his life turned into a forty-car-pileup last spring. People wanted to see the end result of how things fallout. <br />
<br />
This episode is how the show should have ended, and if my cable gets fixed by next week, it will have ended here for me!<br />
<br />
But how would it have stood up as a series finale? Well, first off, there was the absolute lack of the star character. So the finale seems a bit forced. But at least all the loose ends would be tied up. And that's usually what an audience is looking for. If they had sent Charlie off to get married or join the Peace Corps or beamed up to Mars by aliens, that would have left questions. But he's Dead and I think most members of the audience are cool with that. More-so, I think at least half the audience tuned in for the closure on this show that seems to be persistent on every channel at all times. I expect at least a 50% falloff in the ratings for the next episode. So instead of a single episode series finale, you get a whole season. At least I have my closure.<br />
<br />
RIP Charlie Harper, RIP Two and a half Men!azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-41714474475038118882011-09-14T20:14:00.000-07:002011-09-14T20:14:15.503-07:00Going Down in a Landslide<br />
Somewhat inspired by my previous post from today, here is President Obama singing how he will loose in a "Landslide" next November. To the tune of the Fleetwood Mac Song of the same name!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Tea Party wants to take me down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I won Election and turned around</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the media echoed all my talking points</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But a landslide’s how I’ll go down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All my polls don’t look good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Where are the jobs?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can this man-child in Washington rise above?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can I win reelection on hope and change?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or will there be a new conservative age?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mmmmm Mmmmm….</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well I’ve been promising changing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cause I forced you to buy healthcare</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But Jobs didn’t come back</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No one likes Barack</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I need a new Wall Street scare</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Guitar Solo)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well I’ve been promising changing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cause I forced you to buy healthcare</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But Jobs didn’t come back</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No one likes Barack</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I need a new Wall Street scare</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I need a new Wall Street scare</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So take my message into town</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We’re going to take the Tea Party down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you look at what I’ve done to across this great land</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, in a Landslide is how I’m going down, down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And if you see my poll numbers on MSNBC</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well a landslide is how I’ll go down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh in a landslide is how I’ll go down</div>
<br />
<br />
With Apologies to Stevie Nicks<br />
<br />
<div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhNrrrCCTdA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">When you think about it, the cool thing about Fleetwood Mac is that they had a girl named Stevie and a guy named Lindsey ! </span></div>
</div>
azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-25401450594105393042011-09-14T07:56:00.000-07:002011-09-14T07:56:41.369-07:00I Saw Obama's Reflection in Snow Covered Hills...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 0px !important;">Ever watch video of an avalanche? </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
It starts at the top with just a few small pieces of snow and then all of a sudden half the mountain comes down. </div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px !important;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 0px !important;">Last night, for the first time in 80 years the Republicans took a congressional seat in Lower Manhattan. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
If the GOP is making inroads in the most liberal part of the most liberal city in the second most liberal state then Obama has next-to-no chance in the heartland next November. </div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
The landslide is coming, hope Obama brought his skies! </div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">
More on this later...</div>
azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-2218504573981763002011-09-09T08:37:00.000-07:002011-09-09T08:38:04.538-07:00Holy Crap, a new blog post!Okay, I’m kind of tired of looking at the picture of
the monkey in a Santa hat from my previous blog post showing up every day in the
RSS feed on my home page, I think it’s time to blog about something. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I know none of you watched the Obama hosted pre-game
show last night, and neither did I (you'd know this if you followed me on
Twitter). But I did listen to it via the Mark Levin Podcast today.
So as a service to you, so you won't have to listen to it, here is my
analysis of Obama's speech: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Offering a tax cut to businesses who hire or
give raises to employees: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I’ve never met a tax cut I didn't like, unless sales
are up and the business is expanding there is no reason to hire more people.
Raises work as a means of retaining good employees. This is
proposal based on flawed logic. Obama doesn't realize that a business is
in business to make money. It does not exist to play games with the tax code,
but to maximize profit. Hiring only occurs when it helps the goal of
profit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Rebuilding infrastructure </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn’t that was TARP was for? What about the last stimulus?
Shouldn't we have repaved every road, rebuilt every bridge, and rebuilt
every public building by now? The money designated for these projects
never ends up helping the economy because at every level the unions take a cut
and the work never gets done because it's being performed by aforementioned
unions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Repairing and rebuilding schools</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This could have been lumped in with #2, but I decided
to separate it because it was a specific point in
Obama's speech. The President makes the claim that teachers can't teach,
and children can't learn as well in dilapidated buildings? This
has nothing to do with jobs! Jobs come when the economy starts expanding
again and that rarely if ever happens in a classroom. The classic
complaint that teachers are underpaid is refuted by the fact that
most people are paid according to what they directly produce. Teachers,
while providing a necessary service, are not the producers in the is economy.
In a classroom there is no combining of raw materials to create something
of greater value than it's component parts. Investing
in rebuilding classrooms does not expand the economy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obama spoke on more than this but this is roughly when I
stopped paying attention, and being slightly hungover today this is all I’m willing
to really write about at this time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’ve complained but didn’t offer a solution. You’re probably saying, “If you’re so smart
how would you fix things?” Okay, give me a minute. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I would use the Jerry Seinfield approach. The comedian once said about department store
clerks who ask “may I help you?” that they are either trying to help him or
trying to sell him something. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Government works much the same way. Any time the government tries to “help” the
situation only ever gets worse. Don’t
try to help the economy. Go back to your
designated tasks of building a few roads, delivering mail and keeping the king
of England on his side of the Atlantic.
Those of us who actually live and work in the economy will take care of
that ourselves! </div>
azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-87746342180499035142011-05-26T18:27:00.000-07:002011-05-27T10:06:44.879-07:00My unfortunate announcement<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >Dear family and friends,</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " > </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >It is with sadness I must announce that Krystle and I are no longer together.</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " > </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >We have come to the decision to separate, with a dissolution being finalized this Friday.</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " > </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >I will forever cherish the time that I was fortunate to have spent with her. She would like to express the same sentiment toward me as well.</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " > </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >We only wish the best for each other in all things going forward.</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " > </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >Sincerely,</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " > </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >Andy Zoric</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " > </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " ><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; " >P.S. if this message has upset you, here are some pictures of animals wearing hats to make you feel better.</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DP1lo0uemwU/TQx84LWL5kI/AAAAAAAAABE/PPkd9jP50nc/s1600/Christmas+monkey+2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 599px; height: 697px;" border="0" alt="" /><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvhqgboIcd1qaumxmo1_500.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 674px;" border="0" alt="" /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; "><img src="http://desktop.freewallpaper4.me/preview/6659-kitten-wearing-a-hat.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" border="0" alt="" /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></span></span></p></span>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-87755717584690128212011-04-01T11:41:00.000-07:002011-04-02T08:22:33.786-07:00How do you solve a problem like Qaddafi?<div>Our fearless leader has a problem. He now has to mobilize the military against his good friend Moammar Kaddafi. Don't call it a war, call it a kenetic something-or-other... Kind of makes it sound like an X-Box accessory. </div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless, we are now left with the question How do you solve a problem like Gaddafi?</div><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 265px;" src="http://www.andyzoric.com/blog/explosions.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">With apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span> </div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; ">How do you solve a problem like Gaddafi?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">How do you get a dictator to step down?<br />How do you find a word that means Gadaffi?<br />Brutal, megalomaniacal, genocidal, a terrorist, a bully!</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; "> Many a Libyan would like to expel him<br />They’ll send him out to a foreign land<br />But how do you make him go?<br />The UN or NATO?<br />But not without a US no-fly errand</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; "> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">Oh, how do you solve a problem like Qaddafi?<br />How do they get him off their sand?</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">He’s the top man in Tripoli<br />Spells his name with a G (or a K or a Q)<br />A terrorist with fashion sense<br />He’s a dictator and magistrater<br />He’s a brute, he’s a thug, he’s a real baddie.</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">He’s shot down our jets<br />Been a general mid-east pest.<br />He was a colonel when he took over and hasn’t had a promotion since!<br />He’s a bad boy and hence,<br />Al Qaeda start riots<br />In protest.</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">How do you solve a problem like Gaddafi?<br />How do you get a dictator to step down?<br />How do you find a word that means Gadaffi?<br />Brutal, megalomaniacal, genocidal, a terrorist, a bully!</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">Many a Libyan would like to expel him<br />They’ll send him out to a foreign land<br />But how do you make him go?<br />The UN or NATO?<br />But not without a US no-fly errand</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; "> Oh, how do you solve a problem like Qaddafi?<br />How do they get him off their sand?</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">And if you want to dispute my rhyme scheme and cadence (I really don't even know what that is), here's a link to the song from the movie. </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "></span></p><p><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uTpO07qYC5o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />enjoy! </span><br /></span><br /></p></span>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-12545517557021351542011-02-17T07:14:00.000-08:002011-02-17T13:21:35.755-08:00A Not so Elementary Watson<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Or I’ll take 3 pounds of grey goo for $1000, Alex</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This week International Business Machine (or IBM for short) faired its Watson supercomputer in a Jeopardy! match against former Jeopardy! grand champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In short the computer won. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">Watson is a supercomputer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Represented at his Jeopardy podium by an avatar on a flat-screen and a voice eerily reminiscent of HAL 9000, the real Watson was in a server room next door.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Consisting of several racks of dozens of IBM servers each.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The total area of Watson takes up about as much room as four standard sized book cases.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But to make Watson work he is housed in a special climate-controlled server room that feels something like a meat locker if you were to walk in there. All in all Watson would fill up the area of a very nice sized living room. </p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">According to IBM’s Watson <a href="http://www-943.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/what-is-watson/a-system-designed-for-answers.html">website</a>:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Operating on a single CPU, it could take Watson two hours to answer a single question. A typical</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></span><em style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Jeopardy! </span></em><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">contestant can accomplish this feat in less than three seconds. For Watson to rival the speed of its human competitors in delivering a single, precise answer to a question requires custom algorithms, terabytes of storage and thousands of POWER7 computing cores working in a massively parallel system</span></span></blockquote><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That’s a lot of effort just to be able to compete with three pounds of grey goo that comes as standard equipment on every human.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And your brain is a lot more portable than Watson.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jennings</st1:place></st1:city> said in his final Jeopardy response: “I for one welcome our new computer overlords” (borrowing a line from “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons#Idioms">The Simpsons</a>”).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But are the computers taking over?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Has Watson had an original idea yet? The answer is likely “no”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While Watson can filter an incomprehensible amount of data in to a few probable answers in just a few seconds, but Watson has no creativity.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Like a desktop calculator, your iPhone or Amazon.com's "recommended for you" </span>Watson knows only what he is told, and cannot formulate his own thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That is where humans still hold the advantage.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That being said, had <st1:city st="on">Jennings</st1:city> bet enough to best Watson in final Jeopardy would Watson eventually send a cyborg back in time to kill <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jennings</st1:place></st1:city>’ mother? </p>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-56441649973325197252011-02-09T17:40:00.000-08:002011-02-09T17:57:04.821-08:00Riot like an Egyptian!This morning I heard "Walk like an Egyptian" on the radio on my way to work today. On top of that, last night I watched the HBO documentary on Reagan. I guess stuff from or about the 80's just makes me feel good. So with all apologies to the Bangals I present to you my latest song parody: <div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Riot like an Egyptian</span></b></div><blockquote>In the old Cairo town square<br />People are gathering, you know<br />It's a protest (Oh whey Oh)<br />They say Mubarak's got to go<br /><br />From the Pyramids to the Nile<br />They're fed up with the prez'<br />Democracy? (We don't know?)<br />30 years and nothing's changed.<br /><br />Protesters light the fires and say<br />'Ay Oh Whey Oh, Ay whey oh'<br />Riot like an Egyptian!<br /><br />Protesters got their signs<br />Written in perfect English<br />You scratch your head (Oh whey Oh)<br />Who is really behind all this?<br /><br />All the prices are going up<br />Why all this inflation?<br />It’s a perfect in (Oh whey Oh)<br />For the Muslim Brotherhood<br /><br />Everyone in Mumbark’s regime stays Away<br />Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh<br />Riot like an Egyption<br /><br />Turn on your phone And try to Tweet<br />There’s no internet, try Facebook<br />Mubarak turned it off (oh whey oh)<br />Telecoms brought it back<br /><br />Rioters outnumber all the cops<br />Been replaced by the Army<br />Protesters go on (oh whey oh)<br />Bomb the embassy down the block.<br /><br />All the media with their scripts<br />Can’t seem to get a handle on this<br />It’s not like Iran? (oh whey oh)<br />Sharia is going Egyptian<br /><br />All the Muslim chicks in their covered dress say<br />Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh<br />Riot like an Egyptian<br />Riot like an Egyptian </blockquote><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kHngF_b3NuE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-15415449194722447422011-01-31T06:54:00.000-08:002011-01-31T07:47:55.852-08:00Persepolis does not need a sequel!First off, this is not a movie review, though I do plan on mentioning a few movies in the paragraphs to come. This is a commentary on the Egyptian revolt currently happening half a world away, yet somehow it all seems familiar?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://shelflove.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/persepolis.jpg?w=169&h=250"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 169px; height: 250px;" src="http://shelflove.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/persepolis.jpg?w=169&h=250" border="0" alt="" /></a>It seems familiar because I’ve seen the movie “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808417/"><i>Persepolis </i>(2007)</a>”. It is an animated film, based on the true story of a young girl who is just outspoken enough during the Islamic revolution in Iran that her family sends her to France for her own safety. She eventually returns only to find she does not fit in where her now fundamentalist Muslim countrymen.<br /><br />While I usually reserve the phrase “unnecessary sequel” for movies with words like “<i>Harold and Kumar</i>” in the title, the lack of need for this sequel is more pressing as it pertains to the world stage.<br /><br />In <i>Persepolis </i>the Shah, the western supported leader of Iran, is overthrown by popular opinion of the Iranian people. However what ensues is the rise of what we now know to be a theocracy of fundamentalist Islam. You may not think that as recently as 1979 that Iran was a progressive city with vibrant culture and tourist destination, but guess what. It was!<br /><br />Young Marji, through whose eyes the story is told, is excited to learn that the communists were gaining a foothold to take power from the Shah. However, the communists, never acting out of the interest of the population in general, see their best chance at consolidating power by using the predominant religion of the region.<br /><br />There may be a young Marji in Egypt right now. Much like the Shah’s regime was supported by the west, so is Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. Much like Iran was a tourist destination where westerners found generally the same freedom they find at home, so was Egypt. In fact I just saw Facebook photos of a friend of mine at the great pyramids just before the rioting started.<br /><br />The question is, what type of sequel will history write to this story? Keep in mind not all sequels are bad. For instance <i>Rocky II</i> was a much more moving story than the first <i>Rocky </i>movie. But what my biggest fear is for Egypt is that we will get <i>Teen Wolf Too</i>.<br /><br />Following the success of the Michael J. Fox film <i>Teen Wolf</i> somebody had the bright idea to do another. With either Fox’s skyrocketing success, or his good sense not to be in the second film, we get a half-assed rewrite of the original script with new star Jason Bateman. Essentially <i>Teen Wolf Too </i>is just the same basic plot, with many of the same characters in place and only the location and central character change.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It can only be described as a completely unnecessary sequel.<br /><br />Egypt does not need to be <i>Iran Part Two</i>. Meaning the exact same thing that happened to Iran does not need to happen again only five hundred miles Southwest. The people of Egypt, who will likely not rest until there is regime change, must be prudent in their next steps. Even the people of Iran asked for Regime change in 2009. The government was much more swift to put down that protest and there was no change. However, Mubarak’s administration did shut down the internet as did Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Unless Egypt gets a true democracy, expect more of this oppressive activity, and for it to only get worse.<br /><br />What will expatriate Egyptians say about their homeland ten years from now? Will they be like Marji and, with a heavy heart, eventually return to post revolution home? Or will there be peace and prosperity in Egypt for years to come?azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-19031162776316802002011-01-07T09:57:00.000-08:002011-01-07T10:14:20.401-08:00In the news:<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; "> The Adventures of Andy Presents:</span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; ">IN THE NEWS!</span> </b></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s been a while but I can’t help myself today so here are today’s headlines!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47182.html"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>REPORT: JOHN EDWARDS ENGAGED...</b></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Former presidential candidate <a href="http://topics.politico.com/index.cfm/topic/johnedwards" target="_blank">John Edwards</a> is engaged to longtime mistress <a href="http://topics.politico.com/index.cfm/topic/riellehunter" target="_blank">Rielle Hunter</a>, according to a report.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.nationalenquirer.com/images/ne/210095/71058.jpg" target="_blank">The Jan. 17</a> issue of the National Enquirers says that the ex-North <st1:city><st1:place>Carolina</st1:place></st1:city> senator asked the mother of his lovechild to marry him only three weeks after burying his wife, <a href="http://topics.politico.com/index.cfm/topic/elizabethedwards" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a>, who <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46093.html" target="_blank">died from cancer</a>. The couple is said to be tying the knot some time this summer.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><br /><b> Editorial comment:</b><br />I’m sure he can’t wait to knock up someone else on the side!</blockquote> <o:p></o:p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.tvopi.com/news/katie-couric-muslim-cosby-show/1196/" target="_self"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Katie Couric: Muslim Cosby Show Needed To Fight Anti-Muslim Bigotry</b></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Katie Couric has said that she thought of a way to end some of the hatred and bigotry in <st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region> – aMuslim equivalent to the “Cosby Show”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Editorial Comment:<br /></b>Yes, I agree, The Cosby Show did wonders for the image of Blacks in <st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region> after the Blacks declared Jihad and destroyed skyscrapers in <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:state>.</p></blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://news.discovery.com/space/viking-mars-organics-experiment.html"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Viking Found 'Organics' on Mars...</b></span></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">More than 30 years after NASA's Viking landers found no evidence for organic materials on Mars, scientists say a new experiment on Mars-like soil shows Viking did, in fact, hit pay dirt.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The new study was prompted by the August 2008 discovery of powerful oxygen-busting compounds known as perchlorates at the landing site of another Mars probe called <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">Editorial comment:<br />I’m sorry, I thought this was going to be a story about Brett Favre.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p> </o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/bottoms_up_TVD8XC31Te6v2kQTNAWc0J#ixzz1AM2dCtnY">Court ruling opens the door to more nudity on TV...</a></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Call it full moon rising -- soon, there could be bare butts all over the boob tube.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated the $1.21 million worth of fines that the FCC levied against<a href="http://www.nypost.com/t/ABC"> ABC </a>after alleging that the network violated broadcast indecency standards for daring to show actress Charlotte Ross' naked behind during a 2003 episode of "NYPD Blue."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When overthrowing the fine, the court cited the FCC's own declaration that "nudity itself is not per se indecent." It also reiterated that the FCC's context-based indecency test is "unconstitutionally vague," as previously determined by the court when the FCC demanded fines from Fox when profanities were aired during the 2006<a href="http://www.nypost.com/t/Billboard"> Billboard</a> Music Awards.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Editorial Comment:</b><br />FINALLY!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Additional Comment by Marge Simpson:<br />” Fox turned into a hardcore sex channel so gradually, I didn't even notice.” <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From the episode “Lisa’s Wedding” aired <st1:date year="1995" day="19" month="3">March 19, 1995</st1:date></p></blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.dfd1843a9cc600850b4d12dd7048131d.141&show_article=1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">China plans $1.3 billion 'seven-star hotel'...</span></b></a><br /><a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/Beijing/">Beijing</a> authorities plan to build a "seven-<a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/Star+Hotel/">star hotel</a>" modelled after <st1:city><st1:place>Dubai</st1:place></st1:city>'s <a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/Burj+Khalifa/">Burj Khalifa</a> -- the world's tallest building -- in a $1.3 billion joint project with <a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/Saudi+Arabia/">Saudi Arabia.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The hotel will be erected in western <a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/Beijing/">Beijing's</a> Mentougou district some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the Chinese capital's centre, the state-run <a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/Beijing/">Beijing</a><a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/Morning+Post/">Morning Post</a> said in a Thursday report, quoting a local parliamentary meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><b>Editorial comment: </b><br />Priceline's new commercial will probably sound something like “Seven-star hotels at five-star prices!”</blockquote><p></p><p></p></div><div><br /></div>That's the news... I hope it was as good for you as it was for me! <p></p>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-51473134426422964332011-01-06T06:07:00.000-08:002011-01-06T06:10:56.907-08:00Ted Williams: Private Sector Success<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/01108/voice06nw1_jpg_1108941cl-4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 168px;" src="http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/01108/voice06nw1_jpg_1108941cl-4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">It may only have been the fifth day of 2011 year but feel good story of the year may have just happened in my own back yard. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The man with the golden voice: Ted Williams, a panhandler in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Columbus</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place> who literally overnight went from homeless to having a dream career doing voice over work with the Cleveland Cavilers, the NFL and other media outlets. <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Look at the timeline here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>First a private citizen <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/video/homeless-mans-golden-voice/article1858496/?from=1859338">records a video</a>, an audition video if you will, and posts it to YouTube (owned by Google Inc. NASTAQ: GOOG). <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Columbus Dispatch (privately owned) posted the video to their website generating media buzz.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Cleveland Cavilers (privately owned sports franchise) courts Williams with the website <a href="http://www.wewanttedwilliams.com/">www.wewanttedwilliams.com</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">While most media types will focus on the inspirational factors of his story, such as his overcoming addiction; his spiritual awakening and surviving homlessness; the real story here is that Williams became a success without the help of government!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ted Williams has immense vocal talent. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>From the YouTube Video where he his just goofing off talking about classic sole, I find myself wanting to hear that voice. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He also has what it takes in the free market to succeed. He tried.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With little resources other than a hand-printed sign and a busy intersection he auditioned until someone noticed him. Soon he will be the voice of NFL Films, the Cavaliers and many, many commercials I’m sure. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Humble beginnings are common among <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s great success stories.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Facebook started in a dorm room. Apple Computer began in a garage. On the other hand, Amtrak finds it’s roots in congress. </p>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-33754605875866517072010-11-19T06:31:00.000-08:002010-11-19T06:38:00.159-08:00How Did We Get From “Don’t Tread On Me” To “Don’t Touch My Junk”?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSz6CnMubLAoyOMGt9zHxtsonYxt4fTMzpFy9IB8rM-JBC5-K8r"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 196px;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSz6CnMubLAoyOMGt9zHxtsonYxt4fTMzpFy9IB8rM-JBC5-K8r" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); ">With the latest intrusion into the travel industry by big Sister, we now have X-ray machines that display your naked body to prove you are not a terrorist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you choose not to undergo the scan you can opt for a through groping by a federal employee who may or may not <a href="http://johnnyedge.blogspot.com/2010/11/these-events-took-place-roughly-between.html">touch your junk</a>. So while 0.02% of travelers are terrorists the other 99.98% of us are now being treated as potential terrorists with our only crime having been the purchase of a ticket to ride on an airplane.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">I have a better solution, and the first step is for </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">the federal government needs to get out of the airline security business. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">The second step is to identify the party most motivated to provide security for air travel. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">Who has the most motivation to not have the American fleet of airplanes damaged? Who has the most to loose if travelers are harmed? </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A"><br /><br /><span class="ecxapple-style-span">The answer: the private businesses that make up the airline industry. The owners of these multi-million dollar pieces of equipment have a huge and immediate stake in keeping their investments secure. Also, the airlines are not in business to have their customers injured or killed. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">Therefore what Homeland security should do is give security personnel hired directly by the airlines total jurisdiction to screen passengers by any means necessary. If a bouncer can deny me entry to a bar for whatever subjective reason he can come up with, then the airlines should be empowered to do the same. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They should also get a pass on any "Discrimination" lawsuits as it pertains to security. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">How would this be better? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">First, no excessive pat-downs of grandmothers, toddlers or nuns.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma; color:#2A2A2A">Why? </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">Because any airline that gains a reputation for unnecessarily harassing their customers will loose said customers to competing airline with better screening processes. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">This would also mean less cost of personnel at the airport, less expensive equipment (because the use would be limited to when necessary) and more overall security. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">I believe that the government can also have a role in this system as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Currently anyone purchasing one-way-tickets with cash are immediately flagged as potential drug dealers (I know this because a former co-worker of mine who was a frequent flier told me about being questioned by security on one of his business trips).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But anyone purchasing a ticket usually does so with a credit card, and tickets require you to provide a name for every ticket purchased.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It would not be difficult for FBI and CIA watch lists to be cross referenced with anyone purchasing a ticket.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They would then alert local airline security to prevent any malevolent behavior.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">Okay, yes I am suggesting Profiling. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">But Profiling is done all the time. The highway patrol doesn't set up drunk driving checkpoints on Arbor day, but they do on New Years eve? Why? Because more people are out drinking on New Years! Is this profiling? In a way, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But in a bigger way it is a more reasonable allocation of resources. If you had a checkpoint on every street pulling over every car to check for drunk drivers at nine in the morning that would sound silly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But somehow that mentality has lead to the<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330569/Airport-security-staff-caught-camera-body-searching-crying-3-year-old-girl.html?ito=feeds-newsxml"> harassing three-year-olds</a> as potential terrorists by the federal government.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">Sure there are a lot of non-terror-seeking Muslims that fly, and they would be more likely to be additionally screened under this system than the average white-collar traveler, but so far the few Muslims that have caused problems have ruined it for all of us. But if those few bad Muslims had only ruined it for all Muslims then we might see more of an outcry from the American Muslim community about foreign-born terrorism than we have seen in the past 9 years.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:#2A2A2A">Maybe I’m overreacting, but if a TSA worker is going to feel me up they should at least have the courtesy to buy me a drink first! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-9539242397408370422010-10-28T12:28:00.000-07:002010-10-28T12:31:00.590-07:00Welcome to the Pro-Life Cause, Liberals!<p class="MsoNormal">This week scientists discovered “the Liberal gene.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Scientists say that people "with a specific variant of the DRD4 gene were more likely to be liberal as adults." However, the, subjects were only more likely to have leanings to the left if they were also socially active during adolescence.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So this means you not only have to have the gene, but also be one of the “Cool kids” in high school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Maybe Dennis Miller is right when he says adult life is just high school with money.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is my question:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Is this gene identifiable prenatally? If so, does this open up the option for centrist to conservatives (fiscal, not social obviously) parents to abort their unborn bearded Marxists?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Since there is no word on a conservative gene, does this mean that liberals, hoping to pass on their love of tyranny (as long as they are the tyrants) is dependent on them bringing the next generation to term.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Therefore, be pro-life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The next generation of liberals depends on it!<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/weird/Scientists-May-Have-IDd-Liberal-Gene-105917218.html#ixzz13gOiHMfB">Scientists Find 'Liberal Gene' | NBC San Diego</a> </p>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-1941622180149307192010-10-25T13:11:00.000-07:002010-10-25T13:17:12.384-07:00It’s a hard knock life…<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlD-5x3ZPjjeB3eiuw8OrX8FPVay1zScE6ZSXh_XBKatICbZ8&t=1&usg=__wIgq1hBOdBFrkIR2WenfcILbgYg="></a>Okay I could be timelier on this and have posted it last week but since when is this blog about cutting edge news?<br /><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlD-5x3ZPjjeB3eiuw8OrX8FPVay1zScE6ZSXh_XBKatICbZ8&t=1&usg=__wIgq1hBOdBFrkIR2WenfcILbgYg="><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlD-5x3ZPjjeB3eiuw8OrX8FPVay1zScE6ZSXh_XBKatICbZ8&t=1&usg=__wIgq1hBOdBFrkIR2WenfcILbgYg=" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 269px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Last week after several hard hits in college and pro football, the NFL announced that it would start penalizing players for helmet-to-helmet hits with suspensions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">While you will find virtually nobody making the pro-head injury side of the argument (The closest you will get is Steelers linebacker James Harrison saying he wants to hurt people not injure them), avoiding head injuries is easy. Don’t play football.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The league minimum salary in the NFL is $325,000.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Keep in mind that is the guy just barely making the traveling team and spending most of his time on the practice squad. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The average American only makes less than one sixth of that. (Approximately $50,000).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But your big name guys who to not only actually get be on the field, but sometimes even touch the ball get paid a lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Football is a young man’s game, and typically a millionaire’s game.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The question is, for a million dollars how hard are you willing to be hit in the head?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Keep in mind if you are capable of reading this far down on the page you probably don’t currently have a concussion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But that is essentially one of several factors in the high rate of pay of professional athletes, especially football. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s hazard pay!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s the same reason an oil rig worker makes more than a first year law school graduate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why do these guys on defense hit so hard?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The simple answer, because they’re paid to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why to the guys on offense let them?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Because they’re paid to also! If you want to be safe in your job for a long time, be an accountant. </p>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-32901427012978297912010-09-06T15:47:00.000-07:002010-09-06T15:58:43.378-07:00the wedding toast<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6XjRVymaQE4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6XjRVymaQE4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><div>And the story behind this story:<br /><a href="http://adventuresofandy.blogspot.com/2007/02/getting-stuck-in-snow-is-easier-than.html">Getting Stuck in the Snow is Easier than you Think</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Not only did I publicly humiliate myself in front of complete strangers, I had it recorded and am no broadcasting it across the internet for anyone who did not attend the wedding?!</div>azorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15206852.post-25281554523216093962010-08-11T06:11:00.000-07:002010-08-13T07:17:18.779-07:00The First Lady went to Spain- to the tune of “Never been to Spain” by 3 Dog Night<br /><br />The First lady went Spain<br />And forty friends went with her<br />I hear they all went insane there<br />Financed by the tax payer<br />During a recession<br />Adds to my depression<br />Feels like oppression<br /><br />Now take the guy from England<br />He’s got some wherewithal<br />When he headed for the US<br />Decided to fly commercial<br />Saved some moulah<br />That’s so cool, Michelle<br />Could take a lesson<br />…Take a lesson<br /><br />Well, I never been to Harvard<br />But I’ve taken Economics<br />They told me not to overspend<br />Because it causes deficits<br />On the budget<br />They’re in the red, by<br />A trillion dollars!<br />A trillion dollars!<br /><br /><br />Lyrics by Andy Zoricazorichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13228447988656094138noreply@blogger.com1