69 posts tagged “moblog” (page 2)
There is something fundamentally wrong with the media's obsession with what was said by people close to the candidates as opposed to what the candidates are actually saying. More specifically, I am talking about the recent media outrage over Jeremiah Wright's (Obama's pastor) comments.
What Wright said was a reflection of what is going on in our society. He may have put it in very rough terms that are uncomfortable to most of us but it is a sad reality. Racism and prejudice are pervasive in the American society and Wright - speaking at the Black church - is a reflection in the mirror of who we all really are. Perhaps, a conversation about racial, religious and cultural differences and grievances is long overdue. I think Obama addressed it in his speech following the incident.
That said, though, one must consider the choices we are faced with: a hundred year war managed by a senile old man, elimination of the middle class via job outsourcing and economic mismanagement by the Clintons, and a reasonable energetic candidate who may not be perfect but surrounds himself with intelligent people.
The Republicans spent the last decade ruining this country. They inherited a healthy peace-time economy. They failed to protect our country from 9/11, they started a needless war, and mismanaged the financial system to the brink of a systemic failure. McCain or for that matter another 4 years of Republican incompetence will most definitely mean a replay of the Great Depression, decimation of the middle class, and the general collapse of the American way of life as we know it.
As a member of the working class, as a parent, I am concerned about the future of this nation. I would like to see the Republicans diminished to the point where they act as a corrective force on the Democrats but are never again allowed to rule.
Last night I picked up the replacement Mac Mini. Apple took pretty good care of me, considering the circumstances. This is the third replacement Mac Mini in the span of two months!
Apple gave me a new Mini, a store credit, and migrated all of my stuff over! Also, at my request they stress-tested the new Mini. I used the store credit to buy an AirPort Express brick for printer sharing.
Given the situation I am reasonably happy with how Apple treated me.
I am driving a new car. The lease on my 2004 Saturn VUE was up last weekend and I swapped it for a 2008 Saturn VUE XR. The '08 model is a complete redesign and the difference is striking. Saturn is no longer the ugly duckling of GM. All of their cars are solidly built with upscale interiors and really nifty standard features.
I opted for the 260hp V6. I figured if I drive it gently it should be decent on gas, but deliver enough power when I need it to avoid an accident. I did not get AWD and instead focused the budget on a more upscale interior.
Thanks to the New Jersey department of transportation dangerous accident-prone conditions continue to persist on route 27. Consider this photo where the left turning traffic builds up in the striped area while cops eat donuts at a local Dunkin shop.
I rode the doubledecker train yesterday. It was pretty cool! Very quiet, clean and safe, unlike the old rattleboxes they are running currently. Here are the videos:
I am sitting on the train, minding my own business. At Metropark a whole bunch of people get on. Typically, I either move my bag to let a person sit or someone says "Excuse me" to get my attention. I am a polite and mature person and have no issue with someone sitting next to me on the train. Yelling "Hey, young man!" to me in an accusatory tone doesn't invoke my cooperative self.
* Ways to make expensive employees quit: Link
I got myself a pinball game for my Sony PSP. The rules of pinball are simple: you let the ball bounce between gates, bells, and various other obstacles while collecting as much bonus as you can.
That is not far from the reality of the financial industry except that you are the ball. You bounce around, from cubicle to cubile, from company to company, while collecting bonuses. Once in a while you fall through and need to start over but otherwise it is a fun game to play.
