Requires a password. It’s a free signup. What I don’t understand is why so many people think we’re going to war because of the oil. This op-ed piece in the NY Times shows that falacy of that argument.

Why don’t people understand the freedom is good, and its worth fighting for on its own merrits (even if its for somebody else).

Although Americans are divided on the wisdom of an invasion, only 22 percent of us subscribe to the cynical view that it’s just about oil. Even Jimmy Carter, hardly a hawk, rebutted the accusation at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony: “I know my country, I know my people, and I can assure you that’s not the policy of my government.”

…

The charge [the we’re after the oil] has a surface plausibility because Iraq does have the second-largest known reserves in the world. But we certainly don’t need to send 250,000 soldiers to get at it. Saddam Hussein would gladly sell us all the oil we wanted. The only thing preventing unlimited sales are the United States-enforced sanctions, which Baghdad (and the big oil companies) would love to see lifted. Washington has refused to go along because Saddam Hussein flouts United Nations resolutions. This suggests that our primary focus is the threat he poses, not the oil he possesses.

That’s right. Count me in with that group.

And here’s the most important line in the entire article:

After more than 200 years, Europe still hasn’t figured out what makes America tick.

Ain’t that the truth! They see everything we do in terms of our arrogance. They think we do things like this just to flex our muscles and show the world how powerful we are. How wrong they are!!!!

Can this be true?

From [[TheOneRing.net]]:

Asfaloth wrote to say that the IMBD Pro magazine had some snippets about ROTK. “Rumors in early 2003 have it that the first cut is six hours long because of the amount of material from Tolkien’s original story that remains to be covered.” So I guess there’s still a little bit of work to be done in the editing suite.

Sounds about right! Now, go easy on the trimming, and we’ll still get a 4 1/2 hour epic to end the series with!!!!

A German priest has found a way to brew beer in his washing machine. Michael Fey, of Duisburg, built a computer interface into the machine to let it run an automatic brewing program.

He said he was inspired by the tradition of monks who brewed beer in a cauldron over a fire. To imitate the technique, he opted for a toploader washing machine. Before he started brewing, he ran it about 20 times to remove any soap residue.

You just gotta love this! Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

This is the coolest computer I’ve ever known.

##Where to Begin

I’ve been the proud owner of [[Apple]] computers since 1978.
I’ve owned the following:

* Apple II
* Apple II+
* Apple IIe
* Mac Plus
* Mac SE
* Mac Centris 475
* iMac DV Special Edition

But they all pale in comparison to this one.

What does George have to say about how the country is right now.

Well, it’s been a year since the last State of the Union address. It’s been quite a year for me personally, and for the country as a whole. What does President Bush have to say about it?

I’ll be commenting on this as he speaks.

###Preliminaries

Everyone is giving George a standing ovation. According to Coakie, this is for the office, not for George.

Lady’s and gentlemen… the President of the United States.

###Welcome

Things are changing… we have decisions to make as a country. We’re going to be ready for anybody that threatens us. I’m glad that got a universal standing ovation.

We’re going to deal with our problems now, not leave them for the future. Nice thought George.

###Recap

* Education: It’s interesting that he starts off the speech with education.
* Homeland Security
* Tax Relief
* Dealing with corporate fraud

###It’s the economy stupid

It’s good to hear George acknowledge the problems with the economy and vow to make an effort to fix the problem. It’s interesting that he thinks that a miniscule tax break for average people will fix the problem. It really has to be corporate.

And what about revenue?

* Get rid of the marriage penalty
* Child tax credit increase
* Small business tax breaks

###I hate partisan standing ovations… just sit down already!!!!

* Dividend tax elimination… yeah, it’s unfair, but it won’t help now.
* Deal with the deficit by growing the economy and increasing revenue, not by raising taxes… I like that.
* Federal spending shoulddn’t increase faster than the cost of live… YES!
* Partial privatization of social security… YES!!!
* Affordable health care… that got everyone standing. But HOW??? Certainly not with a centralized federal health care system.
* Federal subsidies for low income families to get health care.
* It’s timee to put the people back in charge of their own medical care. YES!
* Medicare needs a lot of help.
* I’m getting really sick of HEARING about a prescription drug programs… let’s get it done!!!
* Get rid of bad lawsuits… YES!!!! This is the whole problem and the main reason that costs are skyrocketing.

###Energy and the Environment

* conservation, clean energy… is it enough?
* Innovation is the key to environmental protection.
* We’re going to lead the way to hydrogen powered automobiles… $2 billion… YEAH. You gotta love that!
* This will lower our oil dependence. Wow, I just wonder if it’s as good as it sounds.

###Faith based initiative

* I don’t like this at all… it’s not the place of the federal government to fund work done by religious institutes.
* Mentors are good… he’s gonna fund mentorship programs.

###Drugs

* Drug addiction is bad… DUH!
* We’re going to start treating drug addiction as a medical problem… well, he got that right.

###Now, we go to abortion

* End partial birth abortion… I think that all reasonable people agree that this is horrifying and should stop. Will everyone stand up and be counted? Not likely.
* No human cloning

###Now we’re to it… the War on terrorism

* We’re going to invest in Afganistan and educate the children
* Support Israel
* Support Palestine… whatever.
* Let’s help aids victims in Africa… YES!!! Do we really have the will to do the right thing here? If we do, it’ll help our standing around the world.
* $15 billion for aids relief… WOW!!!!

###We’re winning the war on terrorism

* OK… but how?
* We’ve caught a bunch of Al Queda leaders
* 3000 suspected terrorists arrested
* many more have met another fate and are no longer a problem. YEAH! Go get ’em george!!!
* We’ve shut them down in many places around the world
* They’re learning the meaning of American Justice.
* Balistic Missile defense? Are we finally getting there?

###Free People will set the course of history

* Nice quote.
* Here comes the link to Iraq…
* We’ve kicked ass for the last hundred years against wanabes, and we’re gonna do it again. YEAH!

###America’s purpose is more than to follow a process, it’s to achieve a result

* The course of this nation does not depend on the decision of others
* The US supports the rights of Iranians to live free and choose their own government
* North Korea sucks
* America will not be blackmailed
* Saddam Hussein has never listened to the UN and disarmed.
*

Notice that it didn’t affect MySQL!

Known as “SQL Slammer,” the malicious program targets a previously identified weakness in Microsoft’s software to shut down powerful server computers.

When are people going to learn that there are far better solutions than [[M$]].

What would you be named if you live in the Shire?

Hi there. It’s been a while since I’ve last posted here. Oh well… onward and upward.

Just to start with, here’s something that’s kinda fun: the Hobbit Name Generator. Put your name in, and see what pops out. Mine is: Berilac Gamgee Whitfurrows. [[:-)]].

Proponents of MPEG-4 are decrying Microsoft’s new licensing fees for rival technology, saying that the pricing poses unfair competition and threatens consumer choice.

By undercutting the price, critics say, Microsoft is threatening the industry’s natural tendency to migrate to open standards that allow many companies to work together seamlessly to service mass media with better choice.

And as we know from an [[Abuse of Power by M$]], [[M$]] is only making money on its Windows and Office products… all other products are loosing money, including this one now.

Remember:

It can afford to shoulder big losses in the areas where it wishes to be the dominant force for a very long time.

When will the government learn?

Just to make sure you remember which one of these is evil:

Companies, including Microsoft, RealNetworks and Apple Computer, have developed advanced codecs… and all the companies are jockeying for dominance in PC and non-PC markets. But while Microsoft is pushing for adoption of its proprietary technology by consumer-electronics manufacturers and content owners, [[Apple]] and RealNetworks have turned to support of MPEG-4.

‘Nuff said.

Some economists thing that the job market is just getting ready to take off.

It may be hard to find a bright spot for battered and beleaguered workers in today’s job market, but if you can look beyond current woes, you may see rays of light in the not-so-distant future.

I sure hope they’re right. Maybe I’ll have a job fairly soon!!!

This is perhaps the most complete and best review of the best movie of the year.

The fact that the relative economy of his budget (and when the average action movie costs nearly $100 million, $270 million for three three-hour movies is bupkiss) compelled him to keep focused. But I think something else is at work, not only Jackson’s sense of duty to the legions of Tolkien admirers but his own love for the material. It may even be that the story of heroes who have put themselves at the service of a cause has inspired him to put himself at the service of the material.

I couldn’t have said it better.

Stay tuned for my review.