Dr. Srikumar Rao, author of _Are You Ready to Succeed? Unconventional Strategies to Achieving Personal Mastery in Business and Life_, spoke at Google's Mountain View, CA, campus as part of their Leading@Google series.
I had been encouraged to watch this video from a blog post I actually archived well over a month ago. I finally took the time to watch it and have found that he might be onto something. I will see if I can get his book from the library first...
Monday, July 07, 2008
Srikumar Rao speaking at Google
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Ron Paul understands what is at stake with the FISA "compromise"
I found this in the Congressional Record:
Madam Speaker, I regret that due to the unexpected last-minute appearance of this measure on the legislative calendar this week, a prior commitment has prevented me from voting on the FISA amendments. I have strongly opposed every previous FISA overhaul attempt, and I certainly would have voted against this one as well.
The main reason I oppose this latest version is that it still clearly violates the Fourth Amendment by allowing the Federal Government to engage in the bulk collection of American citizens' communications without a search warrant. That U.S. citizens can have their private communication intercepted by the government without a search warrant is anti-American, deeply disturbing, and completely unacceptable.
In addition to gutting the Fourth Amendment, this measure will deprive Americans who have had their rights violated by telecommunication companies involved in the Administration's illegal wiretapping program the right to seek redress in the courts for the wrongs committed against them. Worse, this measure provides for retroactive immunity, whereby individuals or organizations that broke the law as it existed are granted immunity for prior illegal actions once the law has been changed. Ex post facto laws have long been considered anathema in free societies under rule of law. Our Founding Fathers recognized this, including in Article I section 9 of the Constitution that ``No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.'' How is this FISA bill not a variation of ex post facto? That alone should give pause to supporters of this measure.
Madam Speaker, we should understand that decimating the protections that our Constitution provides us against the government is far more dangerous to the future of this country than whatever external threats may exist. We can protect this country without violating the Constitution and I urge my colleagues to reconsider their support for this measure.
Madam Speaker, I regret that due to the unexpected last-minute appearance of this measure on the legislative calendar this week, a prior commitment has prevented me from voting on the FISA amendments. I have strongly opposed every previous FISA overhaul attempt, and I certainly would have voted against this one as well.
The main reason I oppose this latest version is that it still clearly violates the Fourth Amendment by allowing the Federal Government to engage in the bulk collection of American citizens' communications without a search warrant. That U.S. citizens can have their private communication intercepted by the government without a search warrant is anti-American, deeply disturbing, and completely unacceptable.
In addition to gutting the Fourth Amendment, this measure will deprive Americans who have had their rights violated by telecommunication companies involved in the Administration's illegal wiretapping program the right to seek redress in the courts for the wrongs committed against them. Worse, this measure provides for retroactive immunity, whereby individuals or organizations that broke the law as it existed are granted immunity for prior illegal actions once the law has been changed. Ex post facto laws have long been considered anathema in free societies under rule of law. Our Founding Fathers recognized this, including in Article I section 9 of the Constitution that ``No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.'' How is this FISA bill not a variation of ex post facto? That alone should give pause to supporters of this measure.
Madam Speaker, we should understand that decimating the protections that our Constitution provides us against the government is far more dangerous to the future of this country than whatever external threats may exist. We can protect this country without violating the Constitution and I urge my colleagues to reconsider their support for this measure.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Saxby Chambliss favors big business and big government over liberty...
It is true. This man supports the granting of immunity to telecommunications companies that engaged in illegal activity with the Bush Administration. That's right. Individuals who had their legal protections stepped on by these companies would have no legal redress if he has his way.
This is what can be found at his website :
The Senate legislation also provides retroactive immunity for U.S. telecommunication firms who are being sued for their alleged assistance to the government in the President’s Terrorist Surveillance Program after September, 11, 2001. I believe we should provide this relief to the companies to ensure that they continue providing assistance to the government and to protect classified information from exposure in a trial.
So, here is the story he is trying to tell... It is quite likely these companies did something illegal. They committed this illegal act at the urging of our very own government. If we don't give them protection for this illegal act, they might not be so willing to commit illegal acts for our government in the future.
Where does the rule of law come in? Where do the concerns about individual freedom and liberty come in? Never, apparently. At least not when it gets in the way of big government and big business.
Without a change in this position, which will be revealed soon since H.R. 6304 has passed the House with that protection intact, you can bet that not only will I not vote for Saxby Chambliss this November, but I will actively try to promote an alternative choice for the office. Saxby Chambliss, you are a disappointment to everyone who believes in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is important to also note that John Linder, representing the 7th District (my district), voted in favor of H.R. 6304. I had the pleasure of voting Linder into office back in 1992. He has managed to stay there ever since, while I have not always resided within his district throughout that time. However, given his desire to sell out individuals in this nation in favor of the interests of big government and big business, he can count on never being supported by me again. As of right now, I think I would much rather have Doug Heckman in office, although it is not clear that he is any more in favor of individuals than John Linder is. Although it is important to note that the Democratic Party does not sell itself as the party of individual freedom and liberty.
This is what can be found at his website :
The Senate legislation also provides retroactive immunity for U.S. telecommunication firms who are being sued for their alleged assistance to the government in the President’s Terrorist Surveillance Program after September, 11, 2001. I believe we should provide this relief to the companies to ensure that they continue providing assistance to the government and to protect classified information from exposure in a trial.
So, here is the story he is trying to tell... It is quite likely these companies did something illegal. They committed this illegal act at the urging of our very own government. If we don't give them protection for this illegal act, they might not be so willing to commit illegal acts for our government in the future.
Where does the rule of law come in? Where do the concerns about individual freedom and liberty come in? Never, apparently. At least not when it gets in the way of big government and big business.
Without a change in this position, which will be revealed soon since H.R. 6304 has passed the House with that protection intact, you can bet that not only will I not vote for Saxby Chambliss this November, but I will actively try to promote an alternative choice for the office. Saxby Chambliss, you are a disappointment to everyone who believes in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is important to also note that John Linder, representing the 7th District (my district), voted in favor of H.R. 6304. I had the pleasure of voting Linder into office back in 1992. He has managed to stay there ever since, while I have not always resided within his district throughout that time. However, given his desire to sell out individuals in this nation in favor of the interests of big government and big business, he can count on never being supported by me again. As of right now, I think I would much rather have Doug Heckman in office, although it is not clear that he is any more in favor of individuals than John Linder is. Although it is important to note that the Democratic Party does not sell itself as the party of individual freedom and liberty.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Ants!
The excavation of an ant colony. It is rather amazing. You will need about 6 and a half minutes of time to enjoy this.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Is a software application a skill?
I cringe when I read a list of software applications accompanied with the question of whether I have any of those skills. It would be better to ask if I have skills with any of those, since software applications are not skills. Software applications are simply tools to be used.
Would you ever see something like this:
Do you have any of these skills?
Hammer, Wrench, Saw, Lawnmower?
I doubt it. More likely you would be asked if you have experience with, or knowledge of the use of, those tools. It is one of the more annoying things in the "Information Technology" world.
Although I am experienced with the driving of multiple kinds of cars, I would not list each model as a "skill." My "skill" would not be "Toyota Camry", "Toyota Corolla", or "VW Jetta." Just like my skill would not be "Active Directory", "Windows Server 2003", "SAP", or "Sun Solaris."
Would you ever see something like this:
Do you have any of these skills?
Hammer, Wrench, Saw, Lawnmower?
I doubt it. More likely you would be asked if you have experience with, or knowledge of the use of, those tools. It is one of the more annoying things in the "Information Technology" world.
Although I am experienced with the driving of multiple kinds of cars, I would not list each model as a "skill." My "skill" would not be "Toyota Camry", "Toyota Corolla", or "VW Jetta." Just like my skill would not be "Active Directory", "Windows Server 2003", "SAP", or "Sun Solaris."
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Channel 4 'Get set for digital'
Max Headroom returns to the channel he started at, but he looks a lot older...
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
REAL Wall-E in LA! (2008)
Another primarily YouTube entry, but it is Wall-E, which is very special to my son.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
When copyright infringement becomes criminal...
§ 506. Criminal offenses4
(a) Criminal Infringement. —
(1) In general. — Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed —
(A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain;
(B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000; or
(C) by the distribution of a work being prepared for commercial distribution, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial distribution.
(2) Evidence. — For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement of a copyright.
(3) Definition. — In this subsection, the term “work being prepared for commercial distribution” means —
(A) a computer program, a musical work, a motion picture or other audiovisual work, or a sound recording, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution —
(i) the copyright owner has a reasonable expectation of commercial distribution; and
(ii) the copies or phonorecords of the work have not been commercially distributed; or
(B) a motion picture, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution, the motion picture —
(i) has been made available for viewing in a motion picture exhibition facility; and
(ii) has not been made available in copies for sale to the general public in the United States in a format intended to permit viewing outside a motion picture exhibition facility.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Sven does not need to go...
So, he beats United twice, and finishes in the top 10, and he is going to be sacked? Makes me wonder if I should just forget about this club until they get out from under this tyrant of an owner.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
TELL THE TRUTH - Mos Def - Immortal Technique - Eminem
Heard this on Adam Curry's Daily Source Code this week, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I would have downloaded it, but it doesn't appear to be available in the iTunes store.
Friday, April 25, 2008
I am so disappointed with our judicial system today.
It simply blows my mind how these guys can walk after something like this. It is very hard for me to believe that this type of activity should simply be forgiven. Police must be held to a higher standard, because with great authority comes great responsibility. It is very hard, maybe even impossible, to properly respect police officials when they (1) engage in these kinds of acts and (2) get away with it.
Even more disappointing than the verdict is that one of the bastard cops decided to thank God for the acquittal. I can only assume that he thinks God wanted them to shoot this innocent man 50 times and get away with it. Maybe they should ask God why they had to be the ones to shoot a man down for doing nothing. Truth is that no God that is worth a damn would let this kind of thing happen. It is certainly easier to believe that there is no such thing as "God" than buy into this kind of bullshit. Christians really piss me off sometimes.
Even more disappointing than the verdict is that one of the bastard cops decided to thank God for the acquittal. I can only assume that he thinks God wanted them to shoot this innocent man 50 times and get away with it. Maybe they should ask God why they had to be the ones to shoot a man down for doing nothing. Truth is that no God that is worth a damn would let this kind of thing happen. It is certainly easier to believe that there is no such thing as "God" than buy into this kind of bullshit. Christians really piss me off sometimes.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Friday, April 04, 2008
Top Secret Photos...
You won't believe what the government is up to now. Look at this!
http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/album_02832/
http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/album_02832/
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Hmmm... Maybe fingerprints aren't the best way after all?
Check this out.
Turns out that the Chaos Computer Club managed to lift the print of Wolfgang Schäuble, the biometric anti-privacy Federal Minister of the Interior for Germany. Apparently the print can be used to validate as Schäuble himself at any biometric checkpoints.
I thought it was relatively well known that fingerprints were not reliable biometrics anymore. It's somewhere along the lines of using DES for encryption. It's a technology that has been broken by other advancements and no longer provides the security that we once thought it did.
Turns out that the Chaos Computer Club managed to lift the print of Wolfgang Schäuble, the biometric anti-privacy Federal Minister of the Interior for Germany. Apparently the print can be used to validate as Schäuble himself at any biometric checkpoints.
I thought it was relatively well known that fingerprints were not reliable biometrics anymore. It's somewhere along the lines of using DES for encryption. It's a technology that has been broken by other advancements and no longer provides the security that we once thought it did.
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