Tuesday, November 23, 2004
New blog... No I am not giving up here.
I have started a new blog specifically for my political views and religious leaning. I have no idea what will become of this blog, but I intend to keep it going. Maybe just more general ranting rather than the same political rants.
What is the new blog you ask? Jewpublican.blogspot.com
Guess what it is about?
What is the new blog you ask? Jewpublican.blogspot.com
Guess what it is about?
Monday, November 22, 2004
PodcastAlley.com -- the place to find podcasts
PodcastAlley.com -- the place to find podcasts
Okay, as if there wasn't enough proof podcasting is taking off. Now a site that rates podcasts.
Okay, as if there wasn't enough proof podcasting is taking off. Now a site that rates podcasts.
CNN.com - Microsoft warns Asian governments of Linux suits - Nov 19, 2004 - I call bullshit!!!
CNN.com - Microsoft warns Asian governments of Linux suits - Nov 19, 2004
I have to call bullshit on this one. I prefer windows to linux for most activities, but these kind of statements from the M$ people drive me nuts. How many times has Microsoft been sued over the past decade over its business practices or intellectual property? I am sure the number is greater than zero.
In fact they have lost several federal cases about their core operating system. You can look these up for yourself. As my old mentor would say, "I leave that as an exercise for you."
Microsoft is once again impuning themselves. I know Bill loves the job Steve is doing, but he really needs to shorten his leash. Not saying I would not want Steve on my side in a fight. I just would not want him out front when we are trying to negotiate a peace deal.
I have to call bullshit on this one. I prefer windows to linux for most activities, but these kind of statements from the M$ people drive me nuts. How many times has Microsoft been sued over the past decade over its business practices or intellectual property? I am sure the number is greater than zero.
In fact they have lost several federal cases about their core operating system. You can look these up for yourself. As my old mentor would say, "I leave that as an exercise for you."
Microsoft is once again impuning themselves. I know Bill loves the job Steve is doing, but he really needs to shorten his leash. Not saying I would not want Steve on my side in a fight. I just would not want him out front when we are trying to negotiate a peace deal.
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: TiVo: A marketer's (new) best friend
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: TiVo: A marketer's (new) best friend
At first thought this seemed ove the top, but the more I think about it the better I feel about it. I don't want spam, but targeted advertising could be a good thing. Since I derive my income from advertising I can't say all advertising is bad.
At first thought this seemed ove the top, but the more I think about it the better I feel about it. I don't want spam, but targeted advertising could be a good thing. Since I derive my income from advertising I can't say all advertising is bad.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Pop Music with Marching Bands
I am wracking my brain to come up with a list or pop songs with marching bands in them.
So far:
JC Chasez - Blowin me up with her love
Destiny's Child - Lose My Breath
Fleetwood Mac - Tusk.
I know there have to be more. I am not talking about recordings of marching bands, but pop songs that include marching bands or at least the drum corps.
Any ideas?
So far:
JC Chasez - Blowin me up with her love
Destiny's Child - Lose My Breath
Fleetwood Mac - Tusk.
I know there have to be more. I am not talking about recordings of marching bands, but pop songs that include marching bands or at least the drum corps.
Any ideas?
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
The Infinite Matrix
Monday, November 15, 2004
Brad Sucks | a one man band with no fans
Brad Sucks | a one man band with no fans
Well you can count me as a fan. I would give you an iTunes link for this guy, but he also is kind enough to let you download his music from his site. If you like it. Buy a copy. He gives you many ways to buy.
Well you can count me as a fan. I would give you an iTunes link for this guy, but he also is kind enough to let you download his music from his site. If you like it. Buy a copy. He gives you many ways to buy.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Isn't this a great tune? What better than a song about teenage drinking to kick off my participation in the iTunes affiliate program.
As you can guess by now I am trying out being a member of the iTunes affiliate program. Actually I like the beat of this song. It is fairly original, but also pretty bad once you realize what they are singing about. Shocked, I am shocked that teenagers would drink alcohol. Much less write a song about it.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Sorry, it was not 57 million idiots in America. It was 60 million of us.
Broadcasting & Cable: The Business of Television - CBS Breaking in over a terrorists death
Broadcasting & Cable: The Business of Television
I am still forced to wonder why the media is fawning over a terrorist as if he were a world leader. It cost one producer their job. Maybe this will send a message to other producers? Probably not. Where are the "real" journalists?
I am still forced to wonder why the media is fawning over a terrorist as if he were a world leader. It cost one producer their job. Maybe this will send a message to other producers? Probably not. Where are the "real" journalists?
Well, this is all starting to make sense now.
The video from Bin Laden before the election seemed to be pretty useless. No real point to what he had to say. Not that they usually mean a lot, but this one was particulariarly useless. Why did he admit to the attack on the World Trade Center? We knew he did it. He never admitted it before. Why did he give a warning to the American people? Simple. He was trying to clear some religious hurdles. It appears that his unprovoked attack was frowned upon in some hardcore circles. Now that he has warned us to convert to Islam he can do what he wants.
Fucking nutball.
From Matt Drudge:
FORMER HEAD OF CIA'S OSAMA BIN LADEN UNIT SAYS THE QAEDA LEADER HAS SECURED RELIGIOUS APPROVAL TO USE A NUCLEAR BOMB AGAINST AMERICANS
Fri Nov 12 2004 12:02:34 ET
Osama bin Laden now has religious approval to use a nuclear device against Americans, says the former head of the CIA unit charged with tracking down the Saudi terrorist. The former agent, Michael Scheuer, speaks to Steve Kroft in his first television interview without disguise to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Nov. 14 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Scheuer was until recently known as the "anonymous" author of two books critical of the West's response to bin Laden and al Qaeda, the most recent of which is titled Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror. No one in the West knows more about the Qaeda leader than Scheuer, who has tracked him since the mid-1980s. The CIA allowed him to write the books provided he remain anonymous, but now is allowing him to reveal himself for the first time on Sunday's broadcast; he formally leaves the Agency today (12).
Even if bin Laden had a nuclear weapon, he probably wouldn't have used it for a lack of proper religious authority - authority he has now. "[Bin Laden] secured from a Saudi sheik...a rather long treatise on the possibility of using nuclear weapons against the Americans," says Scheuer. "[The treatise] found that he was perfectly within his rights to use them. Muslims argue that the United States is responsible for millions of dead Muslims around the world, so reciprocity would mean you could kill millions of Americans," Scheuer tells Kroft.
Scheuer says bin Laden was criticized by some Muslims for the 9/11 attack because he killed so many people without enough warning and before offering to help convert them to Islam. But now bin Laden has addressed the American people and given fair warning. "They're intention is to end the war as soon as they can and to ratchet up the pain for the Americans until we get out of their region....If they acquire the weapon, they will use it, whether it's chemical, biological or some sort of nuclear weapon," says Scheuer.
As the head of the CIA unit charged with tracking bin Laden from 1996 to 1999, Scheuer says he never had enough people to do the job right. He blames former CIA Director George Tenet. "One of the questions that should have been asked of Mr. Tenet was why were there always enough people for the public relations office, for the academic outreach office, for the diversity and multi-cultural office? All those things are admirable and necessary but none of them are protecting the American people from a foreign threat," says Scheuer.
And the threat posed by bin Laden is also underestimated, says Scheuer. "I think our leaders over the last decade have done the American people a disservice...continuing to characterize Osama bin Laden as a thug, as a gangster," he says. "Until we respect him, sir, we are going to die in numbers that are probably unnecessary, yes. He's a very, very talented man and a very worthy opponent," he tells Kroft.
Until today (12), Scheuer was a senior official in the CIA's counter terrorism unit and a special advisor to the head of the agency's bin Laden unit.
Developing...
Fucking nutball.
From Matt Drudge:
FORMER HEAD OF CIA'S OSAMA BIN LADEN UNIT SAYS THE QAEDA LEADER HAS SECURED RELIGIOUS APPROVAL TO USE A NUCLEAR BOMB AGAINST AMERICANS
Fri Nov 12 2004 12:02:34 ET
Osama bin Laden now has religious approval to use a nuclear device against Americans, says the former head of the CIA unit charged with tracking down the Saudi terrorist. The former agent, Michael Scheuer, speaks to Steve Kroft in his first television interview without disguise to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Nov. 14 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Scheuer was until recently known as the "anonymous" author of two books critical of the West's response to bin Laden and al Qaeda, the most recent of which is titled Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror. No one in the West knows more about the Qaeda leader than Scheuer, who has tracked him since the mid-1980s. The CIA allowed him to write the books provided he remain anonymous, but now is allowing him to reveal himself for the first time on Sunday's broadcast; he formally leaves the Agency today (12).
Even if bin Laden had a nuclear weapon, he probably wouldn't have used it for a lack of proper religious authority - authority he has now. "[Bin Laden] secured from a Saudi sheik...a rather long treatise on the possibility of using nuclear weapons against the Americans," says Scheuer. "[The treatise] found that he was perfectly within his rights to use them. Muslims argue that the United States is responsible for millions of dead Muslims around the world, so reciprocity would mean you could kill millions of Americans," Scheuer tells Kroft.
Scheuer says bin Laden was criticized by some Muslims for the 9/11 attack because he killed so many people without enough warning and before offering to help convert them to Islam. But now bin Laden has addressed the American people and given fair warning. "They're intention is to end the war as soon as they can and to ratchet up the pain for the Americans until we get out of their region....If they acquire the weapon, they will use it, whether it's chemical, biological or some sort of nuclear weapon," says Scheuer.
As the head of the CIA unit charged with tracking bin Laden from 1996 to 1999, Scheuer says he never had enough people to do the job right. He blames former CIA Director George Tenet. "One of the questions that should have been asked of Mr. Tenet was why were there always enough people for the public relations office, for the academic outreach office, for the diversity and multi-cultural office? All those things are admirable and necessary but none of them are protecting the American people from a foreign threat," says Scheuer.
And the threat posed by bin Laden is also underestimated, says Scheuer. "I think our leaders over the last decade have done the American people a disservice...continuing to characterize Osama bin Laden as a thug, as a gangster," he says. "Until we respect him, sir, we are going to die in numbers that are probably unnecessary, yes. He's a very, very talented man and a very worthy opponent," he tells Kroft.
Until today (12), Scheuer was a senior official in the CIA's counter terrorism unit and a special advisor to the head of the agency's bin Laden unit.
Developing...
Got my first spam in GMail today
I am so happy. It is like my GMail account has reached adulthood. This one is a variant of the Nigerian scam. I can see why it eluded the spam filters. What do you think?
=====================================
Attention,
I know You will be surprised to receive this letter from me, but please this letter is a request from a family in dare need of assistance.
I am Mr. David Mazuri from Angola. The first, and only son of Brigadier Bulu Mazuri communicating to you from Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. I got your name and address from a business desk in chamber of commerce and industry in Johannesburg. And I on behalf of my widowed mother Mrs. Janet Mazuri, decided to solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of US$20.5million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United State dollars only) inherited from my late father into your personal or company's account.
Before his death, he was Brigadier in charge of arms and ammunition procurement for the Angolan Army. In his "will" he specifically draw my attention to US$20.5 million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United States dollars only) which he deposited in a box for private security company in Johannesburg South Africa, IN FACT I QUOTE" My beloved son, I wish to draw your attention to US$20.5 million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United State dollars only). I deposited the box containing the fund in a security company in Johannesburg, South Africa as valuables. During the war I was very dedicated and committed to winning the war against the rebel unit. I found out that the senior army officers and government functionaries were busy helping themselves with government fund and properties, sending them to foreign countries. Due to this, when I and the former special adviser to the president were assigned by the president (Jose Eduardo Santos) to purchase arms in South Africa, we saw this as a golden opportunity and diverted the money and shared it, of which I got a total sum of US$20.5 million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United State dollars only). In case of my absence and on earth as a result of death, only you should solicit for the assistance of a reliable and sincere foreign partner to assist you transfer this money out of South Africa for investment purpose. I deposited the box in your name and you can claim it alone with deposit code. Your mother is with all the documents. Take good care of mother and your two sisters. Do not disappoint me! Bye!
From this word of my late father, you will understand that lives and future of my family depend on this fund as such. I will be grateful if you can assist us. We are now living in South Africa, as political asylum seekers, financial laws and regulation of South Africa does not permit us certain financial right. In view of this, I cannot invest this fund in South Africa hence; I am seeking your assistance to transfer this fund out of South Africa for investment purpose. For your effort, we are prepared to offer you 25% of the total fund while 10% will be set aside for any expenses incurred during this transaction.
Please, note that this transaction is 100% risk free and the major thing I demand from you is to assure me the safety of this money when it finally gets to you. Further information and arrangement will commence as soon as trust confidence and good relationship is established. I shall be most grateful if you maintain the confidentiality of this matter.
Please, confirm your interest immediately. You are strictly advised to reply through this address:
Best regards,
dmazuri@yahoo.com
DAVID MAZURI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moving house? Beach bar in Thailand? New Wardrobe? Win 10k with Yahoo! Mail to make your dream a reality.
==============================
Fascinating stuff isn't it. Do people actually fall for this scam? I guess you only need one idiot to make it worth doing.
=====================================
Attention,
I know You will be surprised to receive this letter from me, but please this letter is a request from a family in dare need of assistance.
I am Mr. David Mazuri from Angola. The first, and only son of Brigadier Bulu Mazuri communicating to you from Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. I got your name and address from a business desk in chamber of commerce and industry in Johannesburg. And I on behalf of my widowed mother Mrs. Janet Mazuri, decided to solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of US$20.5million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United State dollars only) inherited from my late father into your personal or company's account.
Before his death, he was Brigadier in charge of arms and ammunition procurement for the Angolan Army. In his "will" he specifically draw my attention to US$20.5 million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United States dollars only) which he deposited in a box for private security company in Johannesburg South Africa, IN FACT I QUOTE" My beloved son, I wish to draw your attention to US$20.5 million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United State dollars only). I deposited the box containing the fund in a security company in Johannesburg, South Africa as valuables. During the war I was very dedicated and committed to winning the war against the rebel unit. I found out that the senior army officers and government functionaries were busy helping themselves with government fund and properties, sending them to foreign countries. Due to this, when I and the former special adviser to the president were assigned by the president (Jose Eduardo Santos) to purchase arms in South Africa, we saw this as a golden opportunity and diverted the money and shared it, of which I got a total sum of US$20.5 million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United State dollars only). In case of my absence and on earth as a result of death, only you should solicit for the assistance of a reliable and sincere foreign partner to assist you transfer this money out of South Africa for investment purpose. I deposited the box in your name and you can claim it alone with deposit code. Your mother is with all the documents. Take good care of mother and your two sisters. Do not disappoint me! Bye!
From this word of my late father, you will understand that lives and future of my family depend on this fund as such. I will be grateful if you can assist us. We are now living in South Africa, as political asylum seekers, financial laws and regulation of South Africa does not permit us certain financial right. In view of this, I cannot invest this fund in South Africa hence; I am seeking your assistance to transfer this fund out of South Africa for investment purpose. For your effort, we are prepared to offer you 25% of the total fund while 10% will be set aside for any expenses incurred during this transaction.
Please, note that this transaction is 100% risk free and the major thing I demand from you is to assure me the safety of this money when it finally gets to you. Further information and arrangement will commence as soon as trust confidence and good relationship is established. I shall be most grateful if you maintain the confidentiality of this matter.
Please, confirm your interest immediately. You are strictly advised to reply through this address:
Best regards,
dmazuri@yahoo.com
DAVID MAZURI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moving house? Beach bar in Thailand? New Wardrobe? Win 10k with Yahoo! Mail to make your dream a reality.
==============================
Fascinating stuff isn't it. Do people actually fall for this scam? I guess you only need one idiot to make it worth doing.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
When and evil Genius goes wrong - Real Estate Prices
I finally got the evil genius chronicles from the day after the election. Poor Dave. Not only did his guy lose an election he took a bath in selling his house. However blaming the President for real estate prices in Atlanta is a little out of line, but I suspect he knows he is being an idiot.
Perhaps I have a weird view of Real Estate. I don't believe that prices always go up. I but things I want and like. If it goes up, great. If not. Then I was happy with the house when I bought it.
Expecting to always make a profit on sellion one's house is as bad as getting mad when your stock portfilio goes down. It is your fault for buying. Not someone one else's fault for not overpaying.
I know Dave will never read this. He is too busy. And probably isn't in a mood to discuss. He is far from being alone in this. I know several neighbors that had too much mortgage and not enough idiots.
Perhaps I have a weird view of Real Estate. I don't believe that prices always go up. I but things I want and like. If it goes up, great. If not. Then I was happy with the house when I bought it.
Expecting to always make a profit on sellion one's house is as bad as getting mad when your stock portfilio goes down. It is your fault for buying. Not someone one else's fault for not overpaying.
I know Dave will never read this. He is too busy. And probably isn't in a mood to discuss. He is far from being alone in this. I know several neighbors that had too much mortgage and not enough idiots.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Election 2004 Results - Fascinating maps.
sfalphageek.blogspot.com - Perhaps the only useful thing this blog has done.
Curious Mix
This is blog of my old friend, the true adventurer, Will. Since he declines to give his full name in the blog, I will decline to do so.
This guy was responsible for my joining the Army and causing more than a little trouble in my life. Thus, the very definition of a male friend.
I hope he follows through and writes the book. I would read it and most like annoy everyone I know with it.
His post about the media is interesting. The points about Time magazine are well foucsed without being mean spirited.
Continue the good fight.
This is blog of my old friend, the true adventurer, Will. Since he declines to give his full name in the blog, I will decline to do so.
This guy was responsible for my joining the Army and causing more than a little trouble in my life. Thus, the very definition of a male friend.
I hope he follows through and writes the book. I would read it and most like annoy everyone I know with it.
His post about the media is interesting. The points about Time magazine are well foucsed without being mean spirited.
Continue the good fight.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Morality did not defeat the Democrats.
A lack of a decent candidate and world events did so. I have already heard the pundits trying to spin the loss of JFK to Bush as Moralism overcoming intellectualism.
Sorry, it isn't that simple. The democrats failed to field a good candidate. Would I have voted Democrat? Maybe. Who would I have been tempted to vote for? A candidate that was strong on defense and the economy and more in line with me on social issues.
So who is that? I have no idea. Maybe Zell Miller, but the democrats have ostracized him from the party for thinking too conservatively. Guess what, that is what democrats from the south used to be like. No longer. They have to get in line and tow the party line. No dissenting.
Don't misread this. I don't like the way it works on the Republican side either. I have been forced to align myself with people who are often opposed to my morals. But luckily those people are few and far between. I assume that happens to people on the left who must hold their noses and deal with , "insert sub group here."
Just so I can say this again, and be clear. What lost the election for JFK, JFK.
Sorry, it isn't that simple. The democrats failed to field a good candidate. Would I have voted Democrat? Maybe. Who would I have been tempted to vote for? A candidate that was strong on defense and the economy and more in line with me on social issues.
So who is that? I have no idea. Maybe Zell Miller, but the democrats have ostracized him from the party for thinking too conservatively. Guess what, that is what democrats from the south used to be like. No longer. They have to get in line and tow the party line. No dissenting.
Don't misread this. I don't like the way it works on the Republican side either. I have been forced to align myself with people who are often opposed to my morals. But luckily those people are few and far between. I assume that happens to people on the left who must hold their noses and deal with , "insert sub group here."
Just so I can say this again, and be clear. What lost the election for JFK, JFK.
The vote didn't get rocked.
I guess that after all the money that was poured into campaigns to get 18 to 24 year olds to vote it was a pretty big failure. Only 1 in 10 turned out. Was it really a failure. Getting 10% of young people to do anything is a pretty big achievement.
I would be interested to see how that group actually voted. Did the draft scare campaign have any effect? Did the Rock against Bush tour do anything?
I don't think so. Much like previous elections these ads were ignored by everyone who was not already involved. In other words, they were "preaching to the choir."
I think that to some extent the anti-bush campaigns actually energized the republican base rather than the other way around.
I would be interested to see how that group actually voted. Did the draft scare campaign have any effect? Did the Rock against Bush tour do anything?
I don't think so. Much like previous elections these ads were ignored by everyone who was not already involved. In other words, they were "preaching to the choir."
I think that to some extent the anti-bush campaigns actually energized the republican base rather than the other way around.
Okay, I took a few days to let this sink in.
From my eMail:
* Becomes the first presidential candidate to win more than 50% of the popular vote since 1988,
* Received the most votes by any presidential candidate in history-over 58 million,
* Becomes the first President re-elected while gaining seats in the House and the Senate since 1936, and the first Republican President to be re-elected with House and Senate majorities since 1924, and
* Garnered 7 million more popular votes than in 2000-more than twice the amount that President Clinton increased his vote between 1992 and 1996.
* Becomes the first presidential candidate to win more than 50% of the popular vote since 1988,
* Received the most votes by any presidential candidate in history-over 58 million,
* Becomes the first President re-elected while gaining seats in the House and the Senate since 1936, and the first Republican President to be re-elected with House and Senate majorities since 1924, and
* Garnered 7 million more popular votes than in 2000-more than twice the amount that President Clinton increased his vote between 1992 and 1996.
