Google Earth

Google is a pretty kick ass company, for those that don't know they have a really cool 3D atlas/mapping/waypoint program. It may not run on all comps... whatever. Check it out Google Earth

AMEN!

AMEN!

Sirius, Stern and the FCC

Those of you that follow Howard and probably some of you that don't, by now, have heard that he is moving to satellite radio very soon. In fact his last day on terrestrial radio is tomorrow, 12/16/05. This is a huge step for Howard and for radio in general. Besides the 500 million over 5 year contract, one of the main reasons for him leaving regular radio was the constant censorship of his content. Now as Howard begins a new "life" on satellite there are rumblings about decency and "level playing fields". Luckily, Congress doesn't have the right to censor cable tv or satellite radio like they do broadcast tv thanks to the first amendment. But, with all that's going on with the world today, don't we have bigger fish to fry than Howard Stern and potty jokes? It just seems like a really asinine cause to take up. But what scares me is, I'm sure given enough time... and Howard pissing off enough people the powers that be will find SOME way to censor these subscription services, in the name of "decency". I, for one, really have no interest in having some 75 year old congressman telling me what I can and can’t listen to, especially if I’m paying to hear it.

On a side note, buy some Sirius (SIRI) stock now before it goes through the roof. It’s around $7 a share right now, I’m guessing it will climb to around $9 after Christmas. Also if you don’t have it yet buy yourself a Sirius receiver, it’s worth it for the commercial free music alone.


*note some of this post has been redacted for decency.
No, not really.

CNN Video

Anyone else hate the fact then when you try to watch a video on CNN.com you are forced to sit through some stupid 30 or even 60 second commercial before your video actually plays? Well after some toying around with it, I've discovered that if you click the rewind/reset button (the one that looks like this I<- ) It will completely skip the commercial and start your selected video right away. You can thank me later.

You ungrateful bastard

I really wanted to write this without sounding like an ungrateful bastard, but I'm not sure that it's possible, so here it goes;

I absolutely HATE receiving gifts for Christmas that took no thought what-so-ever! These include underwear, any item that begins with "Executive Desk...” random sweaters, etc...These are all gifts that a chimp could buy for me. Anyone that is buying me a Christmas gift knows something about me, that means that they should have, at the very least, a basic grasp on what I might find to be a suitable gift. I have tons of hobbies and a new house, I could think of like 100 inexpensive things that I could get that would make me say “wow some thought went into that”. Do I really look like and Old Spice guy? How about leather mittens (actual gift) or size XXXL boxers? I may have put on a few pounds but XXXL? Basically I’m saying I would rather not get a gift at all, then one that I have to exert energy to throw in the garbage. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

Saddam on "Trial"

Is anyone else following this farce of a "trial"? Anyone else think it's totally absurd to have a panel of Iraqi's determining this man's fate? I mean... if I told the police my dad was smoking weed and he had a stash of it under his bed what do you think would happen to me once pop got out of jail? These people are terrified of him. Yesterday he told a witness, "tell the truth, I won't touch you". First lets think about the fact that he said "won't touch" not "can't touch". Saddam has followers willing to walk up to a crowded cafe, and blow themselves into 1000 pieces, do you really think he can't get witnesses killed? I understand that we need to make it appear as if we are just there to "help" the process along, however at the very least the panel should be made up of justices from various countries.

Walmart the bane of the world?

I've been having a discussion about Walmart with a co-worker for over a week now. In passing I heard her say "all those Walmart employees deserve better". Her contention is that WM is taking over the world, ruining families, perpetuating poverty etc, and all those poor workers deserve better. Now my close friends can stop reading now because they all know exactly how I feel about this. The last I checked WM was a business, a business' main goal is to produce a profit... "do more with less". Should WM be ostracized because their employees have decided that a $7.25 an hour job is the very best that they are able to do? Why is it when a company becomes wildly successful, instantly they are vilified? No one is forcing these people to work in retail, no one is forcing them to settle for less. You don't like making minimum wage? Can't pay your bills? Get off your ass and do better, go to school, write a book, rob a bank... whatever, just DO something. Accepting a check every week that you feel is completely unjust just perpetuates the perceived problem. I'm really tired of hearing so many people complaining about situations that they have the power to change, "the man" is not keeping you down! Control your destiny