bitbol

Today's round-up grew a bit:

• A new poll shows that a majority (54%) of americans favor impeachment of Dick Cheney. There is even a site that has video evidence for Cheney's impeachment (link: site auto-plays video).
• Why the cable industry sucks: companies are blame CableCARD for an upcoming rate hike. They say that it would simply cost too much. I don't know how much the CableCARD even matters, but I don't like how cable companies have such a lock-in (read: get service from them or not at all).
• Toledo cops sell out their cruisers for $15,000. I think this is a wise idea for side-stepping the costs, but I don't trust cops enough to feel that this is right. I can see a CEO being pulled over and declaring that he should not get a ticket because he helped finance that officer's car.
• There was a case similar to Libby's where Bush did just the opposite as he did the other day. Foul play? Surely.
• Fox News reports that Universal healthcare is breeding grounds for terrorists. I think that Fox's viewership is the 20% mentioned in my post yesterday (point two).
• Rupert Murdoch has bought Dow Jones. Part of the deal is a legally-enforceable agreement that the WSJ will remain independent in it's reporting.

Goodbye New York. Tomorrow morning I leave the city. When I have time, I'm going to write a post about all of the things that I saw/learned/etc in New York.

Labels: Advertising, America, Bush, Cheney, Collections, News, Politics

Politics. The more you know, the more you despise the general public:

• The White House lip-mover (Tony Snow) said today that Bush's commutation of Libby's sentence was "what he does normally." Yes, ignoring the supreme court and protecting political allies, however corrupt, is what Bush normally does.
• Oh, but the grand-daddy of them all: 1 in 5 americans believe that the sun revolves around the earth. This makes me think, there should be some basic questions on the ballot similar to this. If someone doesn't even know that the earth does the revolving, their vote should not be counted. We need not just voters, but educated voters. How many people go to the polls and vote by the name of the candidate, not what they actually know about them?

Sadly, I only have one more day in New York, then I am heading off to see the rest of my relatives. I'm going to miss New York and all the fun I had this year.

Labels: America, Bush, Collections, Legal, News, People, Politics

Happy fourth! Not much today in the news:

• Subaru, no doubt, is an environmentally friendly company. Just about every car they sell gets at least 20mpg. Based on that, it should not surprise that they haven't sent anything to the dump in three years.
• Ron Paul has always had a grip on social media, particularly digg, but today it was uncovered that he has people who are gaming the system. One person has noticed that masses of people digg only Ron Paul stories. Anything with his name they digg.
• Africans are asking the wealthy donors to stop sending aid. For one, the biggest flaw has always been giving the money to the government. It's fairly obvious that the presidents there are quite corrupt and much of that money never reaches the people. Besides, there are better things we can do like build wells and buildings. Throwing money doesn't solve anything.

Today was a lot of fun. Fourth of July party all day long.

Labels: America, Cars, Collections, Digg, Money, News, Paul

News galore:

• AT&T is trying to set the record straight by refunding customers who were forced to buy accessories with their iPhone. The bad press was getting to them.
• Windows is losing developers quickly. In the last year, the number of developers has fallen 12%, which is something you notice.
• Firefighters are attacking Giuliani for his failures during 9/11. Among items on the list is false air quality assurances and the poor handling of those who risked their lives to save others. There is also the fact that h placed (or left) the emergency command in a building that had been previously attacked. I root for the firefighters.
• James Madison once said: "[I]f the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds [to] believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty." We have a word for you Bush, it's "impeachment."
• Oh, and McCain is failing off the the tail. His campaign only raised $2M. That's bleak compared to Obama's $32M.

I made a second trip to the Apple Store today to make up for all of the things that I forgot to pay attention to. It was mostly the little things like the camera, where things like the power button was, and so on. It turns out that the speakers that I was looking at don't work- I think I just realized the problem: The Harman Kardon Soundsticks have a special volume adjustment that I totally forgot about.

Labels: America, Collections, Computer, Giuliani, McCain, News, Politics, President '08

A day's round-up:

• Bush could very well be facing contempt charges for ignoring a subpoena.
• Of course, the "traditional" media is completely ignoring the impeachment movement. There are 10 co-sponsors, and it has not made a single headline. This is why the internet is so great. You are not spoon fed by corporations.
• The majority (72%) says that if the founding fathers were to see today's current government, they would be disappointed. It's nice to see one thing that the country agrees on.

When you follow politics, especially in the "traditional" form, you are disgusted in many ways. The AP had a story a few days ago about Giuliani's stop at a bagel shop. Who Fucking Cares?

Labels: America, Bush, Collections, Giuliani, Legal, News, Politics

Today's news round-up:

• Google took a big bite in the rear when the Health Advertising blog published a negative review to Moore's Sicko. Google took in all of the negative headlines over this story. Since then, the author of that post has stated that it was only her opinion. But that does not explain why Google allowed that to be published, and it is still untouched since the coverage. I think that Google made a huge mistake in even getting involved. As such a large company, they have no business in making such statements.
• Obama outdoes all other democratic candidates in fund-raising. He must be making a good impression on people.
• AT&T is ruining Apple's reputation. Some AT&T stores were forcing customers to buy accessories with the phone. This has to be Apple's biggest mistake. They may have a flawless device, but ever time the AT&T blunders, Apple takes a hit.

I am finishing up my Apple Store post mentioned yesterday, so expect it tomorrow.

Labels: Apple, Collections, Google, News, Obama, Politics, President '08

Here's today's round-up:

• O'Reilly claims that "lesbian gangs" are taking over the country. And by taking over, he means that there are three instances. Way to try to classify gays as violent and then trying to say that they are "recruiting." How can anyone anyone listen to this guy and not feel lied to?
• The video of Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech is cleverly cropped so that the banner is no longer in the video.
• AT&T is ruining the iPhone. The mass of people trying to activate has crippled AT&T's service. I seriously think that it was a huge mistake of Apple to limit the iPhone to AT&T. The iPhone now is only as good as AT&T, and that doesn't say much.

I did make it to the Apple Store, but I will write about it later.

Labels: America, Apple, Bush, Collections, Gay, News, Politics

I walked down to the Fifth Avenue Apple Store today, and found the madness that is the iPhone. I just wanted to look, but there was probably a thirty minute wait to get in the store. I went at about seven, so I figured that iPhone rush would have passed, but it was still going strong. But apart from that, here is the day's news round-up:

• The House nearly defunded the office of the VP. Apparently, faced with losing all his money, Cheney realized that he is in the executive branch.
• An interesting study concludes that wearing a helmet tends to draw cars closer to a bicycler. Safety groups are screaming that this does not eliminate the need for a helmet.
• More previous government employees are calling for impeachment of Cheney.

Even though I didn't get inside the Apple Store, I must say that the Fifth Avenue store is impressive to say the least.

Labels: America, Apple, Biking, Cheney, Collections, News, Politics

The weather here is unbearably hot. Thankfully, I get air conditioning for the time that I am here. Here's the round-up:

• There is a short interview/internal Microsoft email about life at Google. It really gives a nice perspective about how people at Google live. It is interesting to see Google compared to a college.
• A police officer was put on leave after a videographer caught him fighting with a group of young teens for skateboarding. Much of the officer's actions were unprovoked, and it appears that there is no justification for his actions.
• Headline: FEMA knew!! Um... surprise?
• Slightly dated news, but Fox News viewers are less informed than Daily Show viewers. I think this is funny as a "news organization" loses to a comedy show. America at its best.
• There is a cute little story of the 15 year journey of fleet of rubber ducks. The ducks were washed off a cargo ship, an have been floating around the world in the ocean currents.
• Reports are saying that year-old Apple employees get a free iPhone. Another great reason to want to work for Apple. Anyone who recently quit may (or may not) be upset.

It can cool off in New York City any time now.

Labels: America, Apple, Collections, Google, Microsoft, News, Politics

It's just smoldering in NYC, but it's nice where there is air conditioning.

• The RIAA buffoons are at it again, but in some of the most disgusting ways. This time, the cronies called a 10 year old's school to intimidate her. The target was the mother, but it is simply gross to see a collective of jackasses that are so disrespectful of everyone. And the other thing I don't get is why congress or judges won't do anything to stop them; oh wait- bribes.
• Trying to fight copyright infringement, an Aussie ISP regularly deletes media files: any file ending in .mp3, .avi, .mov, and .wmv. This is a prime example of how stupid people ruin things for everyone else. And by people, I mean recording industry goons.
• Cheney decides that he really is part of the executive branch.
• Ann Coulter claims that the Edwards are using her attacks as a way to raise money. I think her logic is a bit backward: when she attacks, Edwards' name is all over the news, thus people notice him and then donate. I may offend many with this, but anyone who listens to a word that woman says I deem a babbling moron.
• Google is complaining about Microsoft, people are saying Google is just jealous, but everyone has a point. I don't like that Google is being so aggressive to get their claim to fame, but I also think that Microsoft is still a monopoly. I mean, not like Vista's market share is large or anything, but Microsoft cannot lock you into their product in the way that they do. Microsoft deserves to be called a monopoly for life because of the way they treat consumers.
• Warren Buffett, the world's third wealthiest man, asks for a tax raise for the rich, citing that all rich pay a smaller proportion into the system.
• Giuliani praises Regent University for their "wonderful" influence.
• The bald eagle is about to be delisted from the endangered species list. While there is no longer a threat of extinction, there is no reason to stop protecting it. Perhaps we need another list for animals that must be protected. Why do people think that it is alright to trample animals and their environment? Cows, sure, we eat them. Eagles on the other hand are simply birds that have no reason to be shot.

I'm beginning to love New York.

Labels: America, Cheney, Collections, Copyright, Giuliani, Google, Internet, Legal, Microsoft, News, Politics

Another day, another list; a shorty:

• Dick Cheney was in the bunker before the attacks, and had "orders."
• Internet radio was silent for the day to protest the outrageous fees from the royalty board.
• A must watch episode of the Daily Show on Cheney's fourth branch.
• The BBC reports that the "law-abiding majority" is a myth, but I don't think that there is any way to say that. The governments just have so many stupid laws that everyone is a criminal for living. Under the table pay: who wants to see a third of their money go towards a bridge to nowhere?

If things pan out tomorrow, I may hit the Apple Store, tonight didn't work.

Labels: America, Collections, Internet, Music, News, Politics

Today is short and sweet:

• Technology can make or break anything. Elections are a critical event in our country, so an accurate count means everything. In order to insure that, however, the source code must be open. In Florida, the court has ruled that the "secrets" of machines takes precedence over a fair election.
• Justice works for once: pants case thrown out.
• George Bush has turned this country in to the worst it could be. Everything about it is backwards. In an ideal world, the people know everything going on in the government, but in Bush's world, the government knows about the people and the people know nothing.
• We look like fools: librarians are "terrorists".

I might be down at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store tomorrow. I hear people are lining up outside already.

Labels: America, Bush, Collections, News, Politics

I'm in NYC now, and it is crazy to chase after a two-and-a-half year old to say the least. Here's my commentary for the last two days:

• First off is the most disgusting story. The FBI wants to restrict the freedom of students. It may not sound too bad, but you must read the story to see the list of "terrorist behavior." We are going back to 9/11 paranoia.
• How the police work; sadly, it seems so accurate.
• Bush ignores a third of the laws that he signs. Why is this man so set on destroying our country?
• Halliburton accounting hits bottom; I want to see them fall.
• It is no secret that the Bushies want a war with Iran, but I am worried because this was may very well be nuclear. Bush could easily destroy the world with a blunder with Iran.
• TV programming sucks, and the cry-babies are the ones who ruin it. One group, Parents Television Council, accounts for 99.8% of all complaints. What's more is that of one program sampled, only one person said that they watched the show.
• Somehow, the Office of the President has fallen out of the White House.

Internet connections are hard to find.

Labels: America, Collections, News, Politics

I really don't have time to do full posts at the moment. For the next couple weeks, I will do "collections" where I will do short commentary on some of the stories that I was reading that day. Here is today's:

• VP Cheney is still trying to keep his office sealed. Cheney is the puppet master behind the war, and he is still to be held accountable. His handling of affairs is despicable.
• Congress has an approval rating lower than Bush (!). An analysis of congress has revealed some of the biggest pricks in congress. Dick Cheney shares a position on this list with a KKK member.
• PCWorld has done a survey to find that best and worst ISPs. On the list, Charter, my ISP, places dead last. I wholeheartedly agree with that rating. The only reason they get our money is because there is no other high-speed option.
• Congress has voted to raise the fuel economy standard to 35 MPG. Automakers are given until 2020 to meet the standard. My estimate is that they will go until 2018 before anything is really done about it.
• Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani didn't do much for the Iraq Study Group. Giuliani would rather make money doing motivational speeches. I find it disgusting that this man raked in $200,000 doing these speeches. He was supposed to be serving the people, and here he was serving his pocketbook.
• Bush's approval rating is now down to 26 percent.
• Bush vetoed the most recent stem-cell research bill, without even reading it. The newest bill allowed embryos that would otherwise be destroyed to be used for research. Bush's speech made it apparent that he did not read the full text. I don't even understand what this man could possibly be thinking. How much could you advance science if he would step aside from his precious religion and look at reality.

Tomorrow, I am going to be in NYC. I have no idea how much access I will have to the internet.

Labels: America, Bush, Cheney, Collections, Giuliani, Iraq, News, Politics