Cawfee Tawlk

Proud to be an American

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:33:00 +0000

You know that song by Lee Greenwood, the one they play to spawn patriotism among blue-collar workers and that was played over and over after 9/11?? It's that song that people sing at night to their children who live in small rural towns nestled deep in the bowels of the Red states. Well, that song means something different today. Today, we should ALL be proud to be Americans. It's not just because we have elected the first African-American president in history, and have realized Martin Luther King's dream of equality of all men, black and white, yellow and red. We, as Americans, have risen above as a nation united, and have given hope to our children that their future will be better than ours, that we can stand side-by-side as equals regardless of race.

So, back to the song. One of the most memorable verses is one that goes "I won't forget the men who died that gave that right to me." It now has a completely different significance. The men in today's interpretation who died are not soldiers who have fought for sovereignty in some faraway land, but are citizens of this country who died at the hands of racism and prejudice in the name of civil rights. People like Martin Luther King, former civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and Emmet Till.

But, this isn't just about race. It's also about our position in the world in which we live. We have renewed our place as the land of opportunity and freedom. We've shown the world that we've still got that lovin' feeling for being the place where anyone can become President.

Today, I am proud to be an American. I am proud to be part of a country that has clearly validated that all men really are created equal. Let's just hope that we don't ever forget this.

Wasilla--The REAL America??

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:06:00 +0000

Jason Jones from the Daily Show visits Wasilla, Alaska. Funny stuff!

Voting for what's right, not just what's right for your political party

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:54:00 +0000

Canvassing for Change-VOLUNTEER NOW!

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:35:00 +0000

I've finally taken a stake in the Obama campaign. Up until this point I'd been a verbal supporter of Obama, but had regrettably never taken any real action. After the most recent debates, I found myself spurred into action by the lunacy and madness of McCain's behavior. I finally realized I could not let people think that McCain-Palin is a viable option for the future of this country. I had to do something, anything. So, today, I volunteered.

There are many volunteer opportunities available. From phone banks, to canvassing, to helping the staff with food, you can do something. No effort is too small, and no action goes without reward. I canvassed two neighborhoods, and will be canvassing more next weekend, and will continue until the election. Knowing I'm doing something to put the right person in the White House is a reward in itself, but the ultimate reward will be celebrating Barack Obama's victory on November 4th.

Here is a list of a few things you can do to help out:

Click below to sign up and become a volunteer for the Obama campaign:

http://action.barackobama.com/page/s/newvolunteer

This is THE MOST important election of our lives. Get involved!

A brilliant response to selfish McPain supporter

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:46:00 +0000

ginger's-obama-sign, originally uploaded by ivy_windchaser.

PALIN'S STUPIDITY KNOWS NO LIMITS!

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:04:00 +0000

I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking. Read this from the Anchorage Daily News and you'll see why:

Palin Vindicated?

A compelling endorsement for Obama

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:26:00 +0000

How can we not value the opinions and views of the rest of the world in this election? We, the citizens of the world, need a change, and Obama is the man that will bring about that change. Change for the better, and change that is long overdue!

THIS PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP!

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:32:00 +0000

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!

AMERICANS HAVE BEEN ROBBED BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT!

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:52:00 +0000

This makes me wanna puke. How could we let this happen??

Olbermann's Special Comments

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:50:00 +0000

Keith Olbermann offers his view of Sarah Palin's insistance that Obama is "pallin' around with terrorists". I can't wait to hear her response...

Those amazing French Ravers

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:27:00 +0000

I'd love to hear more of this guy!

EVERY VETERAN SHOULD READ THIS!!

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:10:00 +0000

I got this from a family member today and wanted to get the word out. I'm not a veteran, but if I were, this would seriously irk me!

IN THE NINE VETERANS BILLS BELOW, WHEN BOTH SENATORS WERE IN OFFICE, THE SCORE IS:

McCAIN FOR: 11%
OBAMA FOR: 89%

Sen. McCain has staked his brand on three key points. First, that he's a "maverick" with a history of "bucking" his party's system. Second, that he is the candidate for governmental reform, the guy who fought against pork barrel spending and will continue to do so. And third, that he's the veterans' candidate in this election, a claim predicated entirely on the fact that he himself is a veteran.

For regular Americans and vets like us, that claim was probably strong enough to last completely unchecked- up until the showdown over the Webb-Hagel GI Bill. Sen. Webb (a Vietnam veteran and an appointed member of the Regan Administration), backed by Republican senators and war veterans Chuck Hagel and John Warner, introduced the "Post 9/11 GI Bill," which was called the "GI Bill Overhaul". This bill sought to scale the existing educational benefits for veterans up to their equivalent worth when originally introduced.

The DoD, Bush administration, and several Republicans, including many hawks who claim to be advocates for veterans, began to deride the bill as too expensive and introduced a counter bill with watered down benefits which were actually rewards linked to longer service requirements. The main sponsor of this counter bill was John McCain.

After all the rhetoric about "supporting the troops" that we troops have had to endure, the Post 9/11 GI Bill was an opportunity to actually support troops in a literal, logical, and needed way. But McCain campaigned heavily against the bipartisan GI Bill and then abstained from voting on it. Veterans were stunned. John McCain, who had become something of an icon for independent veterans, was drawing a line in the sand and putting himself on the other side.

At this time,verans began wondering what McCain's position really was on veterans' issues; he was a war veteran himself and had often been given the benefit of the doubt. In the debate last week, McCain made what has become for him a trademark comment about us veterans: "I love them and I'll take care of them and they know that I'll take care of them." In the past those comments had seemed heartfelt, but after the GI Bill showdown, they seemed like transparent political double talk, aimed at sympathetic voters. But what was the actual score? Was the GI Bill the tip of the iceberg or just a red herring?

This is a search of recent veteran-related legislation and how the candidates have voted:

Title	Description	McCain	Obama	Result
S Amdt 4803 to HR 2642: In the nature of substitute. 22 May 08	Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 [Includes Webb-Hagel Post 9/11 GI Bill]	NV	Y	Accepted
Webb Amdt. No. 2909. 19 Sep 07	To specify minimum periods between deployment of units and members of the Armed Forces deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. [A/K/A "dwell time"]	N	Y	Rejected
Thune Amdt. No. 3704. 4 May 06	To provide, with an offset, $20,000,000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Medical Facilities.	N	N	Rejected
Akaka Amdt. No. 3642 as Amended. 26 Apr 06	To provide an additional $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.	N	Y	Rejected
Akaka Amdt. No. 3007. 14 Mar 06	To increase Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.	N	Y	Rejected
Burns Amdt. No. 2999. 14 Mar 06	To provide increased funding for veterans health programs, and to negate the need for enrollment fees and increase in pharmacy co-payments.	Y	Y	Accepted
Motion to Waive CBA Boxer Amdt. No. 2634. 17 Nov 05	To provide an additional $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to be used for readjustment counseling, related mental health services, and treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder.	N	Y	Rejected
Motion to Waive CBA Stabenow Amdt. No. 1937. 5 Oct 05	To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.	N	Y	Rejected
Murray Amdt. No. 1052 As Amended. 29 Jun 05	Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, for the Veterans Health Administration.	NV	Y	Accepted
Nelson Amdt. No. 2745. 10 Mar 04	To create a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes.	N	N/A	Rejected
Motion To Table Dodd Amdt. No. 1817. 2 Oct 03	[Amendment would] provide an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000.	Y	N/A	Tabled
Motion to Table Landrieu Amdt. No. 452. 2 Apr 03	[Amendment would] appropriate $1,047,000,000 for procurement for the National Guard and Reserves.	Y	N/A	Tabled
Original language from senate.gov, Y: Yea, N: Nay, NV: No Vote, N/A: Not in Office, CBA: Budget Act

McCain's website lists several major topics on the Veterans' Issues page. Some noteworthy ones include "Improving Veterans' Health Care", "Caring for Our Disabled Veterans", and "Providing Veterans with the Benefits They Have Earned". His voting record, shown above, says otherwise.

FORWARD TO EVERY VETERAN YOU KNOW!!!!!

Some wisdom from my father

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:46:00 +0000

Below is the contents of an e-mail I received from my father about the state of our economy. See the graphic below for an illustration. This is chilling stuff...

"It is estimated that by the time Bush leaves office the national debt will be over 10 trillion dollars. When he began is was around 5.7 trillion, meaning in the last 8 years it will have almost doubled with 1 trillion being spent in Iraq(wow).

The current national debt is $9.7 trillion, gradually approaching $70k for each baby American you see in a stroller in the park. And it will never, ever be paid. Not as such. Not as currency. The unspoken agreement between the nations of the world is that America is the buyer of last resort -- whatever China. Brazil, India, Europe can produce, the US will buy. In return for this service, the US keeps the dollar stable, largely through military backing of it.

China, Japan,Britain, and others own about 1/3 of this debt.

So WHAT does it all mean

China has zero expectation that we will one day cough up our national debt. But there will be a reckoning, and it will be paid by our immediate kids and grandkids. What our kids and grandkids will pay with is their lives because as the nations divvy up dwindling resources like oil, water, arable farmland, fishing grounds, they will fight over them. Our kids and grandkids are going to live in a highly militarized America, where fighting other nations for their resources is the base price of citizenship."

YIKES...

Comcast's 250GB bandwidth cap - The Real Deal

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:07:00 +0000

I've been really worried about Comcast's 250GB bandwidth cap policy that takes effect on October 1, 2008. I called Comcast customer service and spoke to a rep named Cynthia, who had not yet been informed of it. I guess Comcast's CS reps are the last to find out these things. I found this a little disturbing, but dismissed it, as I am also part of a large company and don't always receive news in a timely manner. Cynthia put me on hold for a bit and verified it with her manager. I then voiced my concerns about my potential usage. Unfortunately, Cynthia was not able to answer my questions, so she pointed me to Rick Germano, Comcast's Senior VP of Customer Operations. So I composed an e-mail to Rick expressing my concerns that I might reach the cap by merely using VOIP. I also expressed concerns about those who use content delivery services such as Netflix, Napster, and so on.

A short time later, I received a call from Frank Eliason, a "Digital Care Director" with Comcast, which was a pleasant surprise. Frank works for Rick, and Rick had sent him my e-mail. Frank's job is to address concerns that are raised online via blogs, social networking sites, and forums.

Frank informed me that the bandwidth cap is nothing new. It's been there all along, but was never clearly explained. He admitted that Comcast was not as forthcoming as it should have been about this in the past, and stated Comcast is making efforts to increase its transparency to consumers. This is a good step in that direction, albeit a bit late.

Frank's main point was that if you haven't yet been called about your bandwidth usage, you won't be called now that the announcement has been made. The purpose of the announcement was to lift the veil of secrecy over Comcast's bandwith limits.

I brought up my concern about my VOIP usage potentially maxing out my bandwidth. Frank didn't think that VOIP would use up much of that bandwidth. He did say, however, that people who download lots of DVD-quality movies online would likely be more apt to reach their download limits. So that brought us to the issue of content delivery networks and legitimately purchased content. Frank also didn't think that would matter so much, but brought up the time limits imposed on such content. The example he gave was that the Apple Store rents you a DVD quality movie that you can view for 30 days, and that if you downloaded 125 of those movies, you would be at risk of exceeding your cap. True, I would never have time to watch 125 DVD-quality movies in a month, but if I legitimately purchased them for viewing later, I would still hit my limit. I sensed that Frank was alluding to the P2P file sharing networks eating up bandwidth, but even they don't really use up that much. That's another veil that needs to be lifted.

To better manage bandwidth usage, Frank stated that Comcast is preparing a bandwidth monitoring application that users can utilize to keep track of their usage. No firm delivery date has been set.

It was also interesting to find out that Comcast is working on DOCSIS 3.0, which will increase capacity significantly. The work is already going on to upgrade certain areas. I happen to live in one of those areas, so I hope I get a chance to try it.

All in all, I feel a bit better about the announcement. Comcast has a lot of work to do in the coming months and years. We'll see what happens.

IT'S OFFICIAL!

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:53:00 +0000

OBAMA IS THE OFFICIAL DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!

I was in awe of Obama tonight. The man needs no notes when he speaks. The intelligence he possesses is what America needs, not some old man who lets his aides form his policy and who speaks off of notes like a 3rd grader.

Click Here to show your support and elect Barack Obama!

Weathering the storm

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:52:00 +0000

So far, Tropical Storm Fay hasn't done much damage here in Jacksonville. In fact, we're having an all-around rainy day. Some schools are closed, but overall it's one of those days you just want to curl up in a blanket, watch TV, and make cookies.

There were some power outages caused by fallen tree limbs, but thankfully the power lines in our neighborhood are buried. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though. I probably should buy a UPS or something soon, because every time I unplug my wireless router, it resets all the settings and I have to re-program it, which is really annoying.

Anyway, for the voyeuristic, here's a link to an album of the damage in Jacksonville:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/index.php?level=album&id=340

Now here's something you don't see everyday

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:36:00 +0000

The Space Shuttle Launch, seen from an airplane

35th Birthday Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:50:00 +0000

We celebrated my birthday a bit early this year since my actual birthday is during the week. Thanks to everyone who came for a great party!

Wonder how this tastes?

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0000

I saw this today while taking my wife to register for classes at Jones College. I don't know about you but I like my Chicked Breasts plain!

Is this a monster?

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:24:00 +0000

If this is actually real, then there be monsters about! This is from the Gawker blog:

My birthday list

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Not to toot my own horn too much, but next Tuesday, August 5th, is my 35th birthday. I'm a serious gadget and HD media junkie, so if anyone is planning on shopping for my birthday, here's my wish list:

iPhone 3G - I'm ready to jump on the bandwagon, even if it is AT&T.
Nintendo Wii - My wife and I played Wii fit at the mall a few weeks back and got hooked. Plus, it's good for your health!
Dell XPS 420 - This one ought to keep me going for the next few years. besides, it's time to upgrade.
Dell Vostro 410 - If not the XPS, then the Vostro.
Planet Earth (Blu-Ray) - I love Blu-Ray. This is the reason you should get HDTV and Blu-Ray.
Iron Man (Blu-Ray) - Iron Man! In Blu-Ray!
Transformers (Blu-Ray) - Giant f***ing robots! In Blu-Ray!
Western Digital MyBook Essential 1TB External Hard Drive - I have one of these already, but I've used it all up. I need more!
Western Digital 320 GB Passport Portable Drive - I have a 160GB Passport drive, but for $100 you can get twice as much storage!
TomTom GO 920 Portable GPS - No more crappy Google Maps wasting paper!

Back online

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:14:00 +0000

Sorry for not posting lately, folks. I've been busy lately and haven't had much time to post anything. Work is keeping me busy. I work from home, so when I'm at work, I usually try not to post so I don't distract myself.

If any of you also work from home, here are a few helpful tips from the StationStops blog:

1. Get up and get dressed at the same time as if you were going to a 9-5 job.

This is extremely useful and helps me get into the routine every morning.

2. Eat your breakfast.

I'm not so good at this, but try to eat breakfast when I can. I'm usually not hungry till lunch.

3. Keep your workspace clean.

I'm not so good with this either. My desk is very small, as is my workspace, so I have some room to improve.

4. Keep the house tidy.

My wife is a clean freak so the house usually stays pretty clean. I pitch in too, but usually by the time I get to it, the house is clean.

5. Try to leave the house every day.

I usually leave the house sometime after work, instead of during the day. I don't like straying too far from the office, as I did when I worked in an office.

6. Work off a to-do list, and update at the end of every day.

This one is a constant challenge. I work on support as well as implementations of software, so my day is pretty dynamic. It's not often that I can plan my activities, being more reactive than proactive. I typically schedule 4 hours for support and 4 hours for implementation work, but depending on how the day goes, sometimes that doesn't always work out.

7. Set worktime boundaries with your family.

This is one that I struggle with. I've enforced this policy, but sometimes my family doesn't follow it. Often my clients and co-workers will be treated to the sounds of my daughter running around in the background.

8. Consider getting a housekeeper and other home services.

I don't get paid enough for this, nor do I need a housekeeper. What I need is a babysitter. However, for those folks that can afford it, this is a great option.

9. Consider renting a cube for occasional use.

I'd also love to do this, but my workstation isn't very portable. Having dual monitors, plus a VOIP line, etc. makes it a little harder to move my office around. But this might work for others.

10. Don’t take time away from your family to make up for your procrastination.

I follow this one pretty well. When I'm at home, I'm at home. When I'm at work, I'm at work. I draw a pretty thick line between the two.

Don't Let History Repeat Itself!

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

It's happening again. The Bush Administration is trying to pull another fast one on us for...you guessed it...

OIL.

This time we're smarter. This time we must use tough diplomacy, not war. Sign this petition to tell your representatives to stop King George's warmongering for oil, from making oil companies richer at our expense, and to use the power of diplomacy instead!

Will we never learn?

Do You Really Need a Digital TV Converter Box?

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:06:00 +0000

DO NOT BUY A CONVERTER BOX WITHOUT READING THIS FIRST!!

Starting in February 18, 2009, broadcasters will begin broadcasting digital signals through the airwaves instead of analog signals. What does this mean? If your TV is already hooked up via cable or satellite, then it means absolutely NOTHING, you don't need a DTV box, nor should you let anyone tell you any different!

BACKGROUND
First, a little background.

As part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Congress drafted legislation that allocated $65 million dollars to be distributed to "low-power" television stations in order to aid them in upgrading to be able to broadcast digital signals (i.e. "full-power"). In June 2008, this legislation was passed, with amendments to change the deadline for cutover from October 12, 2010, to February 18, 2009.

Up until now, TV stations broadcast signals within the 746-806 MHz spectrum which included 10 channels (60-69). The new legislation opens up the range to open that up to 698-806 MHz, including more channels (52-69). That being the case, the theory is that by recovering the spectrum, and adding more frequencies and channel ranges, more services can be offered in place of TV signals.

ANALOG VS. DIGITAL
So what is the whole difference between analog versus digital? Analog signals are continuous and variations are more meaningful. Digital signals are comprise of zeroes and ones, and must be interpreted. Think of the difference between a record player and a CD player. A record player reads the groves and bumps to produce the sound, whereas the CD player reads the zeroes and ones and converts them to audio. Digital signals are theoretically more reliable and can hold more information, whereas analog data is limited can degrade.

HOW TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED
There are lots of scams going on about DTV boxes and people who don't know any better are being taken advantage of. You only need a DTV box if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. You use "bunny ears" to receive a TV signal
2. You use an antenna mounted to the roof of your house to receive a TV signal
3. You use any other kind of analog antenna to receive a TV signal

YOU DO NOT NEED A DTV CONVERTER BOX IF YOU HAVE CABLE OR SATELLITE!!

The government has sponsored a coupon program that offers discounts of $40 toward the purchase of DTV Converter boxes to encourage people to switch over. There is a maximum of 2 coupons per household.

Here are a few good sites to check before deciding whether or not to buy a box:

DTV Facts
TV Converter Box Coupon Program

And, something just occurred to me. What happens to those portable TV's that people use after a disaster? Those can't be hooked up to a DTV converter, so how will that market fare after February 2009?

I still support Obama

noreply@blogger.com (teknojunkie) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:47:00 +0000

If you've been following the news, you know that the amendments to the FISA passed on July 11.

True, this is a touchy subject for everyone. Everyone's pissed off at Obama for changing his position on the issue. In a general election, you can't be too liberal or too conservative. Lean too far to one direction and you lose the support of the general populace, which is what you need to win the election. Obama is doing his best to balance the issues this country faces. But, he can't do it alone. Nobody can. This country is so messed up, no one person is going to fix everything. However, Obama can and will unite the country, at which something Bush is a catastrophic failure. I believe Obama will change this country, and take it in the right direction, so he still gets my vote.

Besides, at least Obama voted.