They have to go out, they do not have to come back. Men and women, some young, and some old, live by those words. They know what they mean, and they know how true that statement is. Some do it for the pay, times being what they are. Some do it for the sense of heroics. Others do it because of tradition. What ever the reason these heroes come from all walks of life.
They do a job most people would run from. They risk their lives every day against forces of nature that you cannot win against. These people train, study, and train even more, to be ready for when that call comes. No one shirks, no hesitation is seen. When the call goes out these heroes run head long into danger, never being really sure of what they'll face.
It can happen at night, or during the day. The weather may be fair and calm, or cold and filled with raging winds, and snow. The heroes may have just gotten up after a good nights sleep. Or, it might be their third call in the last 2 days, and they are exhausted. What ever the circumstances, they will go. They have to, other lives hang in the balance, and the sea does not give up her dead easily.
You cannot fight the sea. No force on earth will ever stop the sea from moving. And when the sea becomes riled, angry, and strikes out at anything in it, that is when the heroes in their small boats are needed the most. There is no time for fear, no time to second guess. The training takes over, and they move about the deck in a dance of life. Each movement has a reason, a job to be done. The crew will not think of themselves, only those that need their help. In a race against time you cannot afford to be selfish.
They watch out for each other, making sure of their shipmates safety. The lines are laid out, the hoses are ready, the pump is primed and one crewman is in his wet suit. He hopes he will not be needed, the waves are huge, and the water is frigid, but he will go if he has to. He has been training for this for a long time. His shipmates would trade places with him, if they could. But his name came up, and it is his duty to throw himself into the sea if it will save a life.
Day in and out, scenes like this are played out all around the beaches and shores of this country. Men and women in little boats with a unique racing stripe risk their lives every day, that others may live. We don't see them unless it is because of a big case. They ply their trade, and live their lives in obscurity, hidden even from the media in most cases. But they are out there, training, waiting, and willing to do what has to be done when life on the high seas is in danger.
On August 4, 1790, Alexander Hamilton executed a congressional order to fight against piracy and smuggling on the high seas of our new country. The Revenue Marine Cutter Fleet was born that day. Over the years there would be many changes, some additions, and at least a couple of wars. In 1915, a number of different organizations were merged together to create one very large entity dedicated to safety and protection along the coast of the United States. From those early days in 1790 the tradition moved into a new era, with a new name.
Happy Birthday, United States Coast Guard.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009
WHO?
Ahhhh, another week, and another media driven, badly researched, foolishly followed panic. Yes folks, once again the world is on the brink and we're all gonna die. Breathless bubble heads have for days been screeching the fear mongering line of the World Health Organization over the latest threat to the very existence of humanity, Swine Flu.
Take just a moment and think, remember. The WHO is the very same organization that has been threatening us for at least the last 9 years, that we're all gonna die from the Bird Flu. For years, every few weeks, we heard how Bird Flu was on the verge of becoming a global pandemic and could potentially wipe out millions of people. Strange, you don't hear an awful lot about Bird Flu these days.
As of this mornings half asleep, coffee hasn't kicked in, I really need a vacation research of Total Swine Flu cases world wide, the top story from the Wall Street Journal breaks it down by country:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124126480414780235.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
World wide: 653 confirmed cases
World Wide: 16 confirmed deaths
World Wide: 6,500,000,000+ people in the human race
I think the WHO need to go back to school and get just a little more education on this thing called numbers. I'm no doctor of medicine, but some how, 653 out of 6.5 billion, doesn't seem to be that large.
Of course, the media carries the greatest responsibility for this latest round of "let's scare the shit out of people." Before the number of cases had reached 200, media outlets were acting and reporting the End of Days, whipping up as much fear and panic as possible. And it worked. The evidence is all around you if you open your eyes and look.
Schools closing, hospital phone lines jammed, attendance at movies and other events down. People, you are so easily manipulated. You watch the news and blindly believe what you are told, no questions asked. You hear trigger words and let your fear run away with you. The flashy graphics and looming music at the top of the hour, fill you with dread because micro-organisms are going to get you.
But you never latch onto the numbers, never look at the over all scope of the story or issue. 653 confirmed cases world wide. WORLD WIDE! You are letting the media control you, frighten you, manipulate you over something that does not even register as a single percentage point on the world population.
Cut the strings folks. The media is about ratings, not truth or facts. You don't need puppet masters telling you when to be afraid.
Take just a moment and think, remember. The WHO is the very same organization that has been threatening us for at least the last 9 years, that we're all gonna die from the Bird Flu. For years, every few weeks, we heard how Bird Flu was on the verge of becoming a global pandemic and could potentially wipe out millions of people. Strange, you don't hear an awful lot about Bird Flu these days.
As of this mornings half asleep, coffee hasn't kicked in, I really need a vacation research of Total Swine Flu cases world wide, the top story from the Wall Street Journal breaks it down by country:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124126480414780235.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
World wide: 653 confirmed cases
World Wide: 16 confirmed deaths
World Wide: 6,500,000,000+ people in the human race
I think the WHO need to go back to school and get just a little more education on this thing called numbers. I'm no doctor of medicine, but some how, 653 out of 6.5 billion, doesn't seem to be that large.
Of course, the media carries the greatest responsibility for this latest round of "let's scare the shit out of people." Before the number of cases had reached 200, media outlets were acting and reporting the End of Days, whipping up as much fear and panic as possible. And it worked. The evidence is all around you if you open your eyes and look.
Schools closing, hospital phone lines jammed, attendance at movies and other events down. People, you are so easily manipulated. You watch the news and blindly believe what you are told, no questions asked. You hear trigger words and let your fear run away with you. The flashy graphics and looming music at the top of the hour, fill you with dread because micro-organisms are going to get you.
But you never latch onto the numbers, never look at the over all scope of the story or issue. 653 confirmed cases world wide. WORLD WIDE! You are letting the media control you, frighten you, manipulate you over something that does not even register as a single percentage point on the world population.
Cut the strings folks. The media is about ratings, not truth or facts. You don't need puppet masters telling you when to be afraid.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
And The Hits Just Keep On Rolling
Well, 3 days, 4 excuses. If there was ever a proper example of how NOT to let the public know that you've screwed up, Amazon is that example. From the Ashlyn D reply, stating that it was Amazon policy to not display "adult" titles, to the amazing vanishing "glitch", to hackers, to human error. Yes folks, Amazon has now run the complete list for their attempted censorship and with yesterdays pronouncement that it was basically, "One of our coworkers fat fingered an entry through our tool," Amazon has again placed the blame squarely on their own shoulders. Unfortunately for them the crushing weight of their ludicrous attempts at spin will not be soon forgotten.
So, a quick recap of the weekends events.
Author notices that titles are not being ranked by Amazon. Contacts Amazon and is told that it is company policy to not display rankings for "adult material". Author Twitters/blogs. Internet rises up and media becomes involved.
Amazon back peddles away from "policy" statement and claims that a "glitch" in the system is causing the "adult material" to be de-listed. Bloggers point out that this is the same excuse Amazon gave for the sudden deletion of a vast number of negative reviews for "Spore" last year. Basically, no one buys it.
Surprise, a "hacker" claims credit for the Amazon problem because he wanted to start "moral outrage". Within a few hours, hacker story is a dead story as the Internet rises up again to point out that the "hacker" in question is a well known troll who lies for the fun of it all. Computer experts also point out that the "hackers" code is childish and probably useless.
Finally, the latest. Someone at Amazon was updating the system and keyed in the wrong information. This caused a cascade kind of effect and over 50,000 titles were affected. Believable? Sure. In my 20+ years of IT support and engineering I've fat fingered my fair share of commands and parameters. However, unlike Amazon, I admit it, up front, when it happens.
So kiddies, what have we learned from all of this?
Well, for starters Amazon should have kept their corporate traps shut right from the start. A statement to the press of, "We have been alerted to an issue with our ranking system and are investigating at this time," probably would have saved them a great deal of embarrassment. Second, don't use the "technical glitch" ploy unless you can back it up with code.
Third, keep your lies straight. The whole "glitch" noise was shot down hard when it was learned that the first reports of this issue date back to February of 2009. That's a long time to know about a glitch and not fix it. Further, the earlier reports of GLBT themes being de-listed does cast a great deal of doubt on the latest excuse of human error. Again, if that error was keyed in 2 months ago, why is it that it was only an issue over the Easter weekend, when the press got hold of it and hauled you onto the carpet about it?
Lastly, if you have an unpopular policy in place, which I firmly believe is the case here, remove it, apologize for it and do something nice for the people affected by it. I don't know, a month of free service or something. Just to show that you have learned the error of your ways.
The fact is, this whole mess with Amazon is a microcosm of business in America. You'd have thought that after the last election, corporate America would have gotten the hint and changed their practices. Well, apparently some folks are slower learners. Because of the very long retention of information on the Internet and the fact that the consumer is no longer taking things at face value, you CEO's and company execs had better wake up. People are tired of getting burned in the name of your bottom line. You'd best get the hint:
If you lie, you will get caught. Long term memory has gone digital and we can learn about your past quickly.
So, a quick recap of the weekends events.
Author notices that titles are not being ranked by Amazon. Contacts Amazon and is told that it is company policy to not display rankings for "adult material". Author Twitters/blogs. Internet rises up and media becomes involved.
Amazon back peddles away from "policy" statement and claims that a "glitch" in the system is causing the "adult material" to be de-listed. Bloggers point out that this is the same excuse Amazon gave for the sudden deletion of a vast number of negative reviews for "Spore" last year. Basically, no one buys it.
Surprise, a "hacker" claims credit for the Amazon problem because he wanted to start "moral outrage". Within a few hours, hacker story is a dead story as the Internet rises up again to point out that the "hacker" in question is a well known troll who lies for the fun of it all. Computer experts also point out that the "hackers" code is childish and probably useless.
Finally, the latest. Someone at Amazon was updating the system and keyed in the wrong information. This caused a cascade kind of effect and over 50,000 titles were affected. Believable? Sure. In my 20+ years of IT support and engineering I've fat fingered my fair share of commands and parameters. However, unlike Amazon, I admit it, up front, when it happens.
So kiddies, what have we learned from all of this?
Well, for starters Amazon should have kept their corporate traps shut right from the start. A statement to the press of, "We have been alerted to an issue with our ranking system and are investigating at this time," probably would have saved them a great deal of embarrassment. Second, don't use the "technical glitch" ploy unless you can back it up with code.
Third, keep your lies straight. The whole "glitch" noise was shot down hard when it was learned that the first reports of this issue date back to February of 2009. That's a long time to know about a glitch and not fix it. Further, the earlier reports of GLBT themes being de-listed does cast a great deal of doubt on the latest excuse of human error. Again, if that error was keyed in 2 months ago, why is it that it was only an issue over the Easter weekend, when the press got hold of it and hauled you onto the carpet about it?
Lastly, if you have an unpopular policy in place, which I firmly believe is the case here, remove it, apologize for it and do something nice for the people affected by it. I don't know, a month of free service or something. Just to show that you have learned the error of your ways.
The fact is, this whole mess with Amazon is a microcosm of business in America. You'd have thought that after the last election, corporate America would have gotten the hint and changed their practices. Well, apparently some folks are slower learners. Because of the very long retention of information on the Internet and the fact that the consumer is no longer taking things at face value, you CEO's and company execs had better wake up. People are tired of getting burned in the name of your bottom line. You'd best get the hint:
If you lie, you will get caught. Long term memory has gone digital and we can learn about your past quickly.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Amazon's new lie
Over the weekend, Amazon.com received an enormous amount of criticism for its decision to cull "adult" titles from its ranking lists. Titles that might have themes of gay, lesbian or poly lifestyles. Amazon released a press statement making it clear that this was a decision undertaken by Amazon and done for various reasons. The Internet saw it in other ways and responded accordingly.
This morning, the news is about how there was a "glitch" at Amazon and that the executives and management of the company had NOT made the conscious decision to block those books.
Having been in the computer industry for better than 20 years and working on systems and programs long before Amazon was even dreamed up, I call bullshit. That's one damn selective "glitch" you've got there boys.
Can anyone explain to Amazon that CYA does not work AFTER you've made statements to the contrary?
This morning, the news is about how there was a "glitch" at Amazon and that the executives and management of the company had NOT made the conscious decision to block those books.
Having been in the computer industry for better than 20 years and working on systems and programs long before Amazon was even dreamed up, I call bullshit. That's one damn selective "glitch" you've got there boys.
Can anyone explain to Amazon that CYA does not work AFTER you've made statements to the contrary?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Blue Nosed Bunglers, Again
Well, that sure didn't take long. With the failure of the Republican party to secure any kind of relevance after the election, pressure is on to control the minds and entertainment of the masses in more insidious forms. Yes folks, the guardians of moral health are at it again. This time, you'd best watch what you read.
Today, Amazon.com announced that it was pulling some genre's of books from its search engine. Even though these books may be best sellers and have good size customer bases, Amazon will no longer display these titles when they are searched for in the rankings list. The books in question are of an “adult” nature. They can be sub classified as various types of romance novels and stories. But, the bigotry and hate circulating this country have crept into a book seller in an attempt to censor certain types of books.
The books in question will be any book that has a gay, lesbian or menage theme to it. These books do not have to have overtly sexual content, just the suggestion of romance and relationships, “out side the norm”, will be purged from Amazons lists when rankings of best selling titles are requested. Despite half hearted claims, this is censorship. It is also the beginnings of a slippery slope of censorship.
Today, Amazon decides that the best selling novel about two guys in a happy relationship, can't be listed. What's next? “Tom Sawyer”, because Tom and Huck go off together. What about “Of Mice and Men”? Many classic stories and books could fall under this heading, does Amazon plan to censor those from its listings as well? Recently NBC reported that romance novels are reporting record sales. Almost all books in this genre have implications of sex and not always between one man and one woman. How many more people do the blue nose idiots plan to put out of work on their march towards a theocracy?
I've said it before on this blog and I'll say it again. If you don't like it DON'T FUCKING READ IT! It is that simple people. Amazon is not going to come to your house, hold a gun to your head and force you to read a romance story about two women living together. They are not going to come to your job, tie you to a chair and read you a tale of two guys trying to discover their relationship together. No one is going to stake you out and make you listen to a reading about the adventures of a man and his five lovely bodyguards. GROW UP ALREADY!
And to Amazon, guess what? You're supposed to be in the business of selling books, amongst other things. Not so good for your bottom line if you limit the number of titles a person can choose from. I don't know which one of you ivory tower morons came up with this plan, or cowered to censorship zealots, but you should be fired and blacklisted from anything dealing with publications and literature.
For more on the story go to: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/593110.html and http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/in-protest-at-amazons-new-adult-policy
Today, Amazon.com announced that it was pulling some genre's of books from its search engine. Even though these books may be best sellers and have good size customer bases, Amazon will no longer display these titles when they are searched for in the rankings list. The books in question are of an “adult” nature. They can be sub classified as various types of romance novels and stories. But, the bigotry and hate circulating this country have crept into a book seller in an attempt to censor certain types of books.
The books in question will be any book that has a gay, lesbian or menage theme to it. These books do not have to have overtly sexual content, just the suggestion of romance and relationships, “out side the norm”, will be purged from Amazons lists when rankings of best selling titles are requested. Despite half hearted claims, this is censorship. It is also the beginnings of a slippery slope of censorship.
Today, Amazon decides that the best selling novel about two guys in a happy relationship, can't be listed. What's next? “Tom Sawyer”, because Tom and Huck go off together. What about “Of Mice and Men”? Many classic stories and books could fall under this heading, does Amazon plan to censor those from its listings as well? Recently NBC reported that romance novels are reporting record sales. Almost all books in this genre have implications of sex and not always between one man and one woman. How many more people do the blue nose idiots plan to put out of work on their march towards a theocracy?
I've said it before on this blog and I'll say it again. If you don't like it DON'T FUCKING READ IT! It is that simple people. Amazon is not going to come to your house, hold a gun to your head and force you to read a romance story about two women living together. They are not going to come to your job, tie you to a chair and read you a tale of two guys trying to discover their relationship together. No one is going to stake you out and make you listen to a reading about the adventures of a man and his five lovely bodyguards. GROW UP ALREADY!
And to Amazon, guess what? You're supposed to be in the business of selling books, amongst other things. Not so good for your bottom line if you limit the number of titles a person can choose from. I don't know which one of you ivory tower morons came up with this plan, or cowered to censorship zealots, but you should be fired and blacklisted from anything dealing with publications and literature.
For more on the story go to: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/593110.html and http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/in-protest-at-amazons-new-adult-policy
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Idiots over seas
I have been laughing my butt off since the beginning of the trial against The Pirate Bay. Nothing funnier could be broadcast without a large team of script writers and major comedic actors. Yet, in Sweden, there is a giant comedy of errors happening almost daily in the entertainment industries case against 4 guys that run some servers.
For those of you not familiar with The Pirate Bay and it's function, here is the nutshell blueprint. People upload torrent files to TPB which stores those files and adds them to a database for people to search. The torrent files can be for anything from your geeky high school year book picture to the DVD rip of “The Lord of the Rings” movies. Once stored on TPB servers, users from all over the world can search for topics or titles, pull the torrent down to their machines and using any number of client software packages, retrieve the files pointed to by the torrent files. The torrent files only POINT to where the actual file you want is located and TPB acts as a torrent tracker, updating torrent information as new locations are added.
In other words, despite all the claims from the entertainment industry, TPB DOES NOT store or share the actual content people download. Other users around the world, have the content and they are the people sharing it. All TPB does is to lend a helping hand in finding that content.
Since the trial started, the prosecution has had to make several “revisions” to not only the number of charges, but the remaining charges themselves. Support for TPB is enormous, not only in Sweden, but around the globe. Many individuals, outside the entertainment industry of course, are cheering on TPB and wishing them well. The entertainment industry needs to win this case, in order to remain relevant and so they can use it as more of their propaganda play against file sharing.
And there in is the rub. TPB stores torrents that point to much more than just copy written material, such as movies and music. They have a vast database section on software, and within that software area, a huge collection of the latest and greatest Open Source software to be found. Despite the claims of morons like the RIAA/MPAA, bit torrent users and sharers are part of a vast network of people that hare helping to spread the Open Source movement and the concept of free software around the globe.
If the entertainment types have their way, TPB shutting down turns off a resource for projects such as Linux and all the software that goes with it. However, despite reassurances from the entertainment industry, if they win in Sweden, they win nothing. TPB is spread out now around the world, with servers in many countries, outside of Sweden. Those servers are being supported by people that are not bound by Swedish law. Guess what Mr. Prosecutor, even if you win, you lose. The Pirate Bay will not be going away any time soon. All you've succeeded in doing is making yourself, and your clients, look foolish and vindictive. Good job.
For those of you not familiar with The Pirate Bay and it's function, here is the nutshell blueprint. People upload torrent files to TPB which stores those files and adds them to a database for people to search. The torrent files can be for anything from your geeky high school year book picture to the DVD rip of “The Lord of the Rings” movies. Once stored on TPB servers, users from all over the world can search for topics or titles, pull the torrent down to their machines and using any number of client software packages, retrieve the files pointed to by the torrent files. The torrent files only POINT to where the actual file you want is located and TPB acts as a torrent tracker, updating torrent information as new locations are added.
In other words, despite all the claims from the entertainment industry, TPB DOES NOT store or share the actual content people download. Other users around the world, have the content and they are the people sharing it. All TPB does is to lend a helping hand in finding that content.
Since the trial started, the prosecution has had to make several “revisions” to not only the number of charges, but the remaining charges themselves. Support for TPB is enormous, not only in Sweden, but around the globe. Many individuals, outside the entertainment industry of course, are cheering on TPB and wishing them well. The entertainment industry needs to win this case, in order to remain relevant and so they can use it as more of their propaganda play against file sharing.
And there in is the rub. TPB stores torrents that point to much more than just copy written material, such as movies and music. They have a vast database section on software, and within that software area, a huge collection of the latest and greatest Open Source software to be found. Despite the claims of morons like the RIAA/MPAA, bit torrent users and sharers are part of a vast network of people that hare helping to spread the Open Source movement and the concept of free software around the globe.
If the entertainment types have their way, TPB shutting down turns off a resource for projects such as Linux and all the software that goes with it. However, despite reassurances from the entertainment industry, if they win in Sweden, they win nothing. TPB is spread out now around the world, with servers in many countries, outside of Sweden. Those servers are being supported by people that are not bound by Swedish law. Guess what Mr. Prosecutor, even if you win, you lose. The Pirate Bay will not be going away any time soon. All you've succeeded in doing is making yourself, and your clients, look foolish and vindictive. Good job.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Reflections on Elections
It has been a tough few weeks here at Rancho Taylor. The death of my father in law, learning what it means to NOT be care givers, finding out that PTSD is common among the people caring for the dying and elderly and trying to get help for that. Throw into this one of the ugliest, dirtiest elections in history and you can understand why some of us are a little rattled.
I hate politics, and I have no great love of politicians either. As far as I am concerned, they are all nothing more than a bunch of lying lip flappers, that will tell you everything you want to hear to get into that office, then turn their backs on you once there. The Constitution starts out with, “We The People...” unfortunately, we keep getting duped as a people. It's not who is best qualified, it's all about who raises the most money, speaks the best, and tells the people what they want to hear at the right time and is supported by the media. Our brain dead capacity to be swayed by the one eyed monster in our living rooms is what elects people to office. We don't think anymore, or research, we are the slaves of the talking heads on the boob tube.
And don't even get me started on special interests, lobbyists, corporate donations and big business. Politics in the US has become a big money maker, if you know how to play the game. It is rightly said that we are the only country on earth with self made royalty, and those self made princes and barons are buying our kings. Or, some of them, are making presidents through technology. Hello ES&S, how are those little vote stealing machines of yours this year? What? You still won't add a paper trail? Don't want independent analysis of your systems? You still won't have your crap properly tested by independent review. Silly people, no wonder more and more Americans are using early PAPER ballots.
When politics in America became a career option, something to be retired from, the Constitution became a joke. The last eight years have shown clearly what happens when people, in desperate need of retirement or a career change, stay in their jobs for far to long. I don't care what party they are with or what their platform is, the Ted Steven's and Ted Kennedy's of the world need to sit down, shut up, and go away. Thank you for your service but get the hell out and make room for some younger blood and fresh ideas. Your 1950's and 60's ideologies do not work in the 21st century, time for you to go.
And Mr. Nader, knock it off. You have no standing, you are a joke and a waste of media time. There are only 2, read that again, TWO, parties in the US that have any real power at all. The only thing you accomplish sir, is to draw attention away from the real issues by trying to blow your own weak little horn. Go back to finding fault with cars and leave politics to the pond scum we deal with now.
But the media, that is the biggest disappointment with the whole election process. The last two years have shown probably better than any other election cycle just how much power and influence the media has. It's not about the issues any longer, they latch onto some obscure little tidbit of information, then blow it so far out of proportion that it becomes a weapon for the other side. Yes, Mr. Obama had a working relationship with a radical who did and advocated horrible things, when Mr. Obama was 8 years old. But Oooooo, that made him someone that associated with terrorists. (I call bullshit)
Yes, Mr. McCain has a temper, and that made him a crotchety old man unfit to lead. (again, I call bullshit)
Cynical, perhaps. I may have a warped view of politics in the US, but I would not have it any other way. Yes, I think the electoral collage has outlived its usefulness, but it is the system we have. Work with it. Yes, I think e-Voting is fraught with pitfalls and can easily be used to steal an election, fight for change and transparency to correct the issue. And yes, I think ALL politicians are out for only themselves and their party. I don't believe any of them actually care one wit for the citizens of the US. But it is the system we have and to not use it, simply gives power to our detractors.
Do I know what will happen now, what is actually going on in Mr. Obama's mind? No, I don't. NO ONE DOES. Except Mr. Obama himself. I will have to wait and see what happens, just as all Americans and the world have to. I might be pleasantly surprised in the years to come. Maybe not. One thing I do know for sure however, the hate, threats and vitriol being thrown at our president elect do not help this country. The elections are over, the regime is changing.
You can either be part of the solution or you can get in the way and be run over by it. The choice is yours, choose wisely.
I hate politics, and I have no great love of politicians either. As far as I am concerned, they are all nothing more than a bunch of lying lip flappers, that will tell you everything you want to hear to get into that office, then turn their backs on you once there. The Constitution starts out with, “We The People...” unfortunately, we keep getting duped as a people. It's not who is best qualified, it's all about who raises the most money, speaks the best, and tells the people what they want to hear at the right time and is supported by the media. Our brain dead capacity to be swayed by the one eyed monster in our living rooms is what elects people to office. We don't think anymore, or research, we are the slaves of the talking heads on the boob tube.
And don't even get me started on special interests, lobbyists, corporate donations and big business. Politics in the US has become a big money maker, if you know how to play the game. It is rightly said that we are the only country on earth with self made royalty, and those self made princes and barons are buying our kings. Or, some of them, are making presidents through technology. Hello ES&S, how are those little vote stealing machines of yours this year? What? You still won't add a paper trail? Don't want independent analysis of your systems? You still won't have your crap properly tested by independent review. Silly people, no wonder more and more Americans are using early PAPER ballots.
When politics in America became a career option, something to be retired from, the Constitution became a joke. The last eight years have shown clearly what happens when people, in desperate need of retirement or a career change, stay in their jobs for far to long. I don't care what party they are with or what their platform is, the Ted Steven's and Ted Kennedy's of the world need to sit down, shut up, and go away. Thank you for your service but get the hell out and make room for some younger blood and fresh ideas. Your 1950's and 60's ideologies do not work in the 21st century, time for you to go.
And Mr. Nader, knock it off. You have no standing, you are a joke and a waste of media time. There are only 2, read that again, TWO, parties in the US that have any real power at all. The only thing you accomplish sir, is to draw attention away from the real issues by trying to blow your own weak little horn. Go back to finding fault with cars and leave politics to the pond scum we deal with now.
But the media, that is the biggest disappointment with the whole election process. The last two years have shown probably better than any other election cycle just how much power and influence the media has. It's not about the issues any longer, they latch onto some obscure little tidbit of information, then blow it so far out of proportion that it becomes a weapon for the other side. Yes, Mr. Obama had a working relationship with a radical who did and advocated horrible things, when Mr. Obama was 8 years old. But Oooooo, that made him someone that associated with terrorists. (I call bullshit)
Yes, Mr. McCain has a temper, and that made him a crotchety old man unfit to lead. (again, I call bullshit)
Cynical, perhaps. I may have a warped view of politics in the US, but I would not have it any other way. Yes, I think the electoral collage has outlived its usefulness, but it is the system we have. Work with it. Yes, I think e-Voting is fraught with pitfalls and can easily be used to steal an election, fight for change and transparency to correct the issue. And yes, I think ALL politicians are out for only themselves and their party. I don't believe any of them actually care one wit for the citizens of the US. But it is the system we have and to not use it, simply gives power to our detractors.
Do I know what will happen now, what is actually going on in Mr. Obama's mind? No, I don't. NO ONE DOES. Except Mr. Obama himself. I will have to wait and see what happens, just as all Americans and the world have to. I might be pleasantly surprised in the years to come. Maybe not. One thing I do know for sure however, the hate, threats and vitriol being thrown at our president elect do not help this country. The elections are over, the regime is changing.
You can either be part of the solution or you can get in the way and be run over by it. The choice is yours, choose wisely.
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