Brian A. Thomas .com
Random Musings of Brian A. Thomas. Love for Ari and Sidd.
Obama’s First Broken Promise
Jan 27th
The rumor mill is spun up, and it says that Obama’s choice for Drug Czar will be Republican Congressman James Ramstad. Ramstad, a former alcoholic, has voted against medical marijuana laws and needle exchange programs. He opposes eliminating the raciest sentence discrepancy between crack and powder cocaine, then again most drug laws were originally racially motivated, with some help from industries that would profit from making them illegal.
On the campaign trail, Obama promised that he would stop Federal raids of legal medical marijuana grow-ops, shops and the like in states that have made it legal. Unfortunately this may be his first broken promise. With a hard line drug czar at one spot, an Attorney General that believes in tougher drug laws, specifically marijuana laws, a White House Chief of Staff that thinks we should silence doctors on the truth of medical marijuana, and a vice-president that believes in mandatory minimums, it looks like Obama will not deliver change on the medical marijuana front, despite all the scientific evidence to support it, and the fact it would save the tax payers billions of dollars a year.
Of course it wasn’t for such a promise that I voted for him. If that was my primary concern, I would have stuck to the Libertarian Party choice. Still it is disappointing to hear that he is may break this promise. Hopefully this rumor, though going on for a couple months now, will not be true and he’ll make a real change on this policy and stop wasting billions of tax dollars and resources so that they can better be spent on fighting real crime. More >
Your Tax Dollars Wasted
Jan 12th
In 2007, the US Government, despite the fact that Ethanol is the wost alternative energy source, spent $3 Billion on Ethanol. Solar, wind and Geothermal, which could prove to be our Nation’s salvation to so many problems one doesn’t know where to begin to list them all, received just $750 million while biodiesel, got $180 billion. This demonstrates the power of the oil and farming lobbies, both whom benefit from Ethanol. Sure solar, wind and geothermal could create millions if not billions of jobs, remove the need for foreign oil and move us to carbon neutral status (perhaps even carbon positive…or negative depending on which way you want to term a move to the better), and could be used to power homes on a mass scale, not just primarily for transportation; and sure biodiesel, unlike ethanol, could be made without sacrificing food and/or feed crop, and without food/feed crop space and uses far less oil to produce than ethanol, but why let these facts gets in the way of a politician pocketing some money. Why should the government do what it can to help the environment or the people of the US get high paying jobs when they can take the money for themselves and run?
Unfortunately, Obama’s initial stimulus plan doesn’t include an infrastructure upgrade which would create far more jobs and have a long lasting positive step on the economy, but hopefully after they get past this rushed version they’ll work on improving the nation’s infrastructure to support a move to solar, wind and geothermal… there is no reason we couldn’t get nearly every ounce of our energy needs from the three.
hat tip: Who wins federal dollars race? Ethanol does, by a long shot. An older story I meant to comment on a long time ago…
I suggest seeing King Corn
Code 41 with a New DVD Burner
Jan 9th
This is a technical article to help somebody if they have the same problem I did. If somebody hits this via a Google search, I hope this helps. For everyone else, you probably can skip this one.
So our old DVD burner (a NEC ND-3520A) on our computer died. It had long ago stopped burning or playing CDs, and finally stopped being recognized at all. So we replaced it using a gift card my company gave us.
After some research I decided on a Samsung SH-S223F that we picked it up from New Egg for $25. It amazes me that drives of far less quality sell at Wal-Mart even for far more, even after shipping and handling was added to the order. The S223F is a very fast drive and is SATA over the older IDE which was something I really wanted.
Anyhow the computer recognized the drive quickly and everything was going well, Windows detected the new hardware but it never showed up in My Computer. When I looked it up in Device Manager it has a yellow astrix next to it and said it was a code 41.
What I eventually found was a Russian page that helped me fix the problem, but since then I found a Microsoft Support page that gives the same details in English without needing to use Google’s translation service. That page covers errors 31,31, 19, 39 and 41. In short the registry LowerFilters and UpperFilters in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Class/{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} need deleted, a process I’ll leave to the aforementioned MS support page to explain. I can’t tell exactly what UpperFilters and LowerFilters are in the registry though it looks like it relates to how burning software interacts with the burner. Most software installs it’s own filters at the software level, but MS for some reason puts it in the registry which can cause occasional conflicts. Let’s hope they fix this in Windows 7… I doubt it, like I doubt they fixed Windows long term problem with the clock (International PC standards have long required the PC clock to be set to UT, with the OS adjusting it to the local time, and all OSs except Windows follow this standard, while Windows sets the PC clock to local time, this causes a problem in dual boot situations).
This Can Only End Badly
Dec 27th
The horror of reading the headline “Amateurs are trying genetic engineering at home” brings things back to various story ideas I have thought of but never put into book form.
A lonely guy, who never forgot the guys who picked on him in High School invents a disease that quickly kills men, and only men, leaving him essentially the last man on Earth.
Two variations on the zombie apocalypse, both either a movie/tv mini/maxi series or a modification for Left 4 Dead… In both variations the story involves escorting a lady the party finds to safety as she has the cure, but can’t replicate it until she gets to the main survivor camp which is rumored to have the equipment necessary. We know little about her past, she worked for an infectious disease center, her husband worked for a sprinkler system company, they had a child which she doesn’t speak anything more of, but nothing really else. The disease is a 28 Days Later type rage virus that is spread via infected blood getting into you (at least an open membrane) or in certain liquid forms. Anyhow, the party finally makes it past the hordes of zombies and to a large survivor camp who confirms that there is the medical equipment necessary to replicate the cure. She is taken away. As she leaves she makes a comment (more on that in a bit) and presses a button which causes the sprinkler system to activate all over the camp, with the water having the gel that spreads the virus, causing it to spread to the camp. Our last shot is the party who we have been following outside watching the helicopter leave and then turning to the oncoming zombie hoard. Prior to this we finally learn the real origin of the virus was her, and possibly some of her allies. In one case it is just her and her hatred of all humanity, as the helicopter leaves we hear her say “humanity doesn’t deserve to live.” Then there is the original story line where we drop hints along the while that the disease was originally created by some Christians who thought they could make Jesus return quicker by causing the apocalypse. This was inspired by the people who think that the election of Obama and other events prior to that may cause Jesus to come back sooner. (Which makes God really weak if His time line can be disrupted by mankind, especially a simple election or any of the other things that caused people to say that such and such may make Him return soon, but then again most Christians don’t think God is strong enough to convict people of sin himself and therefor make laws to do His job for Him, but that was another post all together.)
Anyhow, the whole idea of people playing Genetic Engineer at home can only end badly. Sure a good percentage of people will want to do good, but a certain percentage will want to do harm. Even in the cases of those wanting to do good may cause harm. The killer bees got here out of the intent of doing good, but they escaped the lab. Even something that may seem good for a while may mutate and evolve into something bad. This isn’t to say that we should stand in the way of scientific progress, but there needs to be caution as we move forward on certain fronts.
Validation
Dec 13th
Winner of the best shot film all over the place and for good reason, this may be one of the best short films I have seen ever. It will only take 16 minutes, so watch it and feel special.
Initial Left 4 Dead Impressions
Dec 7th
I got to play an offline, single player version of Left 4 Dead
Still, I have to think that the Game of the Year will be between Left 4 Dead and Fallout 3
Auto Bailout Round 2, GM to Cut Saturn, WTF
Dec 6th
Well, at least the executives didn’t take a $200,000 private jet flight in this time when they were asking for money, and are cutting their salary to $1 million in total compensation… nice, most American’s are struggling paycheck to paycheck and they take only $1 million… I have an idea, set the salary cap in total compensation for anybody, CEO the board, any executives and down the line to $130,000. That’s still a shit ton of money, more than anyone needs in a year and saves a ton.
Now I have to ask why the hell would GM look to cut Saturn? Okay, Saturn is little more than rebadged Opel’s these days, but I would cut a few others first. They are already looking to sell Saab, which is fine, they don’t really need it, and it is perhaps best left to a European company to own. They need to shut down Pontiac, which I hear might be the case anyhow. Another division they need to shut down is Buick. I would also shut down GMC, since it duplicates too much of what is in the other brands, which brings me to: Then you really need to stop having so much cross pollination. By that I mean, don’t sell the same car under all brands with a name change and a slight styling change. Why sell the same small scale SUV under Chevy, Saturn and the others just rebadged with a sheet metal change? It’s one thing to rebadge an Opel in the US as a Saturn (though I would stop with the sheet metal/plastic changes), it’s another to do it across a large line. The cost savings from doing brand redesigns of the sheet metal and other changes alone would help save GM.
The auto industry hasn’t yet shown that they learned their lessons. The simple fact they are in such bad shape when their foreign competitors are not is just proof they are mismanaged. GM is on the right track with the Volt, but that is about it, and it may be too little too late. I recall an interview where the CEO of GM was saying no amount of planning could have prepared for this crisis, and yet Toyota and Honda seem to have been ready. For years some economists were warning this crisis was going to happen. So I have a hard time believing him. Clearly they mismanaged because they knew they were too big to let them fall, just like the bank CEOs. I say screw them. Let them fall.
Abort! Abort Plan!
Dec 5th
No, were not aborting our plan to move to Denver.
Left 4 Dead
is a game for Windows and the XBox 360. It has shot to number one on the most wanted list, even going above Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum Collection
Anyhow, here is a funny video of some people playing, where a guy comes up with a plan and charges out and well, it is best left to the video:
I love the “Abort! Abort Plan!”
Perhaps the Third Time Will be a Charm, Moving to Denver
Nov 28th
I’ve lived in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area twice so far. Once when I was a little kid, prior to first grade, and the second time when I was in 9th and 10th grade. We are now planning to move back there. While it fails the more sunshine and warmer requests of an area to move to, it does have a much better economy (well, who doesn’t have a better economy than North East Ohio?), more stuff to do locally or semi-locally, prettier, and certainly changes the game up. We’ll probably settle down in the Longmont area, thought this really depends on where I get a job at. Keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we move forward.
Vancouver, Phoenix, Davis and Wellington will stay on the list for a future move, however, we are 99% sure it will be Denver, and within a year.
It’s a Boy! Part Deux
Nov 27th
As the close family knows already, we can let the rest of our friends and family know. Sara is pregnant, and it’s a boy. We’ll let you know names that we are thinking of later.
The Bailout Bait and Switch and the Auto Industry Bailout
Nov 20th
I don’t have the time to go into it fully, so I’ll keep this short.
Sarcasm mode on. How surprising, the big $700 Billion bailout that the banks were getting while paying their executives $70 Billion in bonuses is no longer buy troubled mortgage assets, but rather will just be given to banks in exchange for partial ownership. Gee, who could have predicted that the largest private bank in the US would switch from supposedly helping the people of the US to just helping themselves and the banks. Sarcasm mode off. I am not convinced for one moment that the Fed ever intended to help the American public, and from the beginning their plan was simply to inject cash into the banks. The owners of the Fed is kept a secret, it could very well be that the same banks and financial institutions that will get this money are the Fed’s owners. Congress should demand the Fed sticks to the original plan or take the money back.
Meanwhile, the Big Three auto makers are asking for $25 Billion of that $700 Billion to get them through until the new labor deals go in effect in 2010 which will reduce their costs a great deal. Of course Bankruptcy would force that deal to go in effect now and force other changes that the industry needs to make. We bailed Chrysler out in 1979 and here it is not even 30 years later and they are asking for another bailout. Why should we think that any of the big 3 learned a lesson? GM’s CEO said nobody could have predicted these problems, yet several economists have been warning about the credit crash for years, warning about all the problems we are facing today. Somehow, even though GM doesn’t think it could have been managed better, Toyota and Honda seem to have been managed well enough to avoid the problems the big 3 are facing. I am sure I’ll have more to say on the auto bailout later.
Updating Wishlist for Christmas
Nov 10th
Edit: December 02, 2008. The lists have been updated today with more items. Be sure to check the lists regularly as we’ll add items off and on. Also, a small reminder that we earn a very small percentage off all our Amazon sells, so if you can, buy directly from the links. Again, these lists will be updated from now until nearly Christmas.
Arrange the list by ranking to see what is at the top of the list and what is at the bottom. The default arrangement is newest items on the top, which may be the least wanted.
Brian’s Christmas List
Here is Ari’s Christmas List
Sara’s Christmas List
A Cappella Tribute to John Williams
Nov 9th
Time to geek out, perhaps one of the greatest things ever.
hat tip: Twenty Sided.
EDIT: The guy is doing a lip sync of the song originally done by Moosebutter, with their permission.
What’s Up With the English Dub of Neon Genesis Evangelon
Nov 9th
I was watching clips of the English dub of Neon Genesis Evangelion
A small aside, if I got that DVD, there are two others I would have to get as well. That has the full series, but is missing two rather important movies, Neon Genesis Evangelion – Death & Rebirth
Of course over the big collection I would prefer the 7 individual Platinum Collection (very important that it is the Platinum Collection for my personal tastes) disks since the special features are taken out of the collection (first link above), but those are harder to find (sort of like End and Death & Rebirth).
Despite the Obama Win, I Still Call for an End to Winner Take All
Nov 8th
I continue to wonder why only Main and Nebraska renounce the winner take all approach to a presidential election and do it the way it should be done, have the winner of each congressional district win that district alone, then the two extra votes go to the winner of the state. This splits the difference between a pure popular vote, while maintaining the integrity and purpose of the electoral college in giving the smaller states power.
There is no way to pass an Amendment that gets rid of the Electoral College, the small states would never support it, but one might be able to pass a tiered Amendment since it still leaves the small states in play. The question is if the Federal Government could mandate that all the States go to a tiered system without a Constitutional Amendment. The Constitution says the States can choose their own method of selecting electors, the question becomes if detailing how those electors are used would violate the Constitution or not. I have recently thought that perhaps it can’t and that an Amendment would indeed be needed to force a tiered system. In Ray v. Blair, 343 U.S. 214 (1952)., the Supreme Court ruled that electors are functionaries of the state and subject to the state’s rules and governess. So unfortunately the difficult process of an Amendment would probably be needed, but I still think it would pass, especially if it included clauses to prevent faithless electors, and some states would probably want clauses to prevent Gerrymandering (the redrawing of district maps to favor a particular outcome) which would be a far more tricky part to write.
Adding Davis, California to the Potential Moving List
Nov 8th
Sara is not convinced yet, not convinced of California at all really, but I am adding Davis to the potential places to move list. I am not sure yet where it is on the list, but for review:
- Davis
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Greater Phoenix area… though I far prefer Prescott, which is a bit out of the Phoenix area, but much, much cooler, but still with plenty of sun
- Baltimore/Washington/Alexandria area
- Many other areas that I am forgetting because I am tired
Davis achieves a few goals: Warmer than here without it being Phoenix hot, and a good deal of sunshine. The UC Davis has a huge agriculture program, and Sara would like to go back to school especially an agriculture type program. Davis is Leftist-Liberal, which isn’t either of our deals, but beats the heck out of the Neo-Conservative of lots of other areas, especially here. Speaking of which, it isn’t Canton. It is close to Sacramento and San Francisco is only an hour and a half away. The Cost of Living is a more difficult thing to calculate. Most cost of living calculators seem to suggest it would be cheaper in Phoenix, but the salaries in the Sacramento area are noticeably higher resulting in a smaller loss of disposable income in comparison. Lots and lots of bikes in Davis.
In the end who knows where we’ll end up.
Dole Slanders her Opponent With Outright Lie of Godlessness
Oct 29th
Has it really come to this? Sen. Elizabeth Dole is falsely accusing her opponent Kay Hagan in ads and on the campaign trail of being “godless” because the race is too tight. At one point in her ad she shows a picture of Hagan while somebody else does a voice over saying “There is no God.” Leaving views under the impression she said it. Of course, even if she was godless, who cares? We aren’t electing a pastor, but a Senator in that case. As we know, this country wasn’t founded under Christian principles anyhow. The fact is however, Hagan is a Christian and former Sunday School teacher. The ad is simply a pathetic attempt by Dole to scare voters away with an outright lie simply because she might loose the election. How good of a so-called Christian slandering another Christian of being godless just to win an election. CNN’s Campbell Brown gives the details:
Idiot Republicans
Oct 26th
[Edited 28 October to add about rich cheating on their taxes more, and to remove a few commas and apostrophe s's, which for some reason I did on nearly every occasion where it should have been just an s.]
We’re back online and I am finally able to post political stuff.
I saw Ruben Navarrette Jr’s Commentary: Liberals let loose on Palin and Joe the Plumber and it just amazes me how much an idiot the Republicans are being… and I am finding it harder and harder to believe that I used to be a devout Republican myself.
At one point Naverrette says, ” I also thought the Democratic Party was supposed to go to bat for the little guy, the everyday Joe the Plumber.
Tell that to Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio resident who got his 15 minutes — and 40 lashes — because he dared question Obama about his tax plan.”
First off, Joe the Plumber would have been a non-story if it wasn’t for McCain bringing him up at the debate. The media wouldn’t be hounding him and finding all kinds of things about him if McCain didn’t make an issue of Joe himself. So his so called 40 lashes, the media camping out on his door step isn’t Obama’s fault as McCain and Naverrette would have you believe, but McCain’s fault… and he didn’t dare ask Obama, he asked, and Obama answered at length. Next, if we went by Joe’s original claim, he wasn’t any “everyday Joe the Plumber.” Very few people, even plumbers, make $250,000 a year. People who think that those making $250,000 are everyday people are living in a world that doesn’t represent the true state of affairs in the US. No wonder why they think the fundamentals of the economy are strong. More >
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