Jul
30
I bought a new Zune! It is red and so pretty. I am leaving tonight to visit family and friends on the east coast and really was looking forward to having some choice tunes since I will be traveling for two days to get to my final destination, Maine. Thus, I am so excited to have a new MP3 player.
So I connect it to my windows box and it is not instantly recognized. Even though it is a Microsoft product, the drivers apparently are installed after you install the software which, ironically, does not come with the product. Ultimately I find it on their slick website, I am forced to create an account (signing away my first born) and then I downloaded it. I install the software. It installs the drivers and we are off to the races.
My computer now sees the Zune but the Zune software does not. I hunt around and it requires me to upgrade the firmware. Cool, so I do… or not.
Apparently Error Code C00D11CD (802A0006) is the catch all for things not working with no resolution. I have had serious issue with IPods because everyone I know has theirs break multiple times and itunes on windows sucks. So I guess this what you get when you pay the devil for music. 
Here is how I fixed it: http://dennismueller.org/blog/2008/08/the-revenge-of-the-zune/
Jul
28
Main Entry: twit
Pronunciation: \’twit\
Function: noun
1. a short messages (140 character limit) or status update sent via the twitter.com‘s website, SMS, IM, and various desktop clients.
twitter
Pronunciation: \’twit-t?r\
Function: noun
one who twits
1. refers to the web 2.0 social network twitter.com and the services they provide.
2. one who twits or twats.
twat
varient(S): twit
Pronunciation: \’twat\ (like cat or fat NOT “\’twät\” or phonically twaht)
Function: verb
1. to compose and send a message via Twitter’s social network
2. to have documented and shared an experience using Twitter’s social network
Definition twitter
Definition twit
Definition twat
Ok. I finally broke down and joined the twat (pronounced phonically like spat or bat NOT “/twät/” or twaht) community.
You can find me at
Politically correct non-denominational God help us all!
Jul
25
California is yet again blazing the trail in epicurean frontier when the Govenator signed into law a ban on restaurant use of trans fats. This ban will take place starting 2010 with all retail baked goods following suit by 2011. Unfortunately, packaged foods or anything with a ingredient label will continue to be exempt.
In many cases I am just not a big fan of government regulation. Too much regulation or regulation without a direct benefit can become an undue burden upon a market and make a segment uncompetitive. But some regulations can allow for a level playing field, to enable innovation and have significant market benefit. In general it can enable companies to “do the right thing” with the knowledge that everyone else needs to also follow the same rules. It is my belief that this regulation does more good than bad. The health risks are real and the people who are at the greatest risk are those who are lower income families and children. Likely it does not go far enough but this is a great step forward.
As I see it, if we are to go to a universal healthcare, the government needs to be more proactive in preventative measures. This is definitely a step in the right direction.
PS- NYC has the ban in place and I have visited several times and frankly, the food still tastes just as unhealthy as I remember from my youth. For Interesting factoids about partially hydrogenated oils and taste tests check out FryTest.com.
Jul
25
McCain opposed requiring insurance coverage of prescription birth control. In 2003, McCain voted NO on legislation to improve the availability of contraceptives for women and would have required insurance coverage of prescription birth control. [Murray Amendment, S.Amdt 258 to S. 3, vote 45, 3/11/03]
McCain opposed allocating $100 million to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies. In 2005, McCain voted NO to allocate $100 million to “expand access to preventive health care services that reduce unintended pregnancy (including teen pregnancy), reduce the number of abortions, and improve access to women’s health care.” Funding could be used for programs such as family planning services, teenage pregnancy prevention programs, and public education about emergency contraception. [Appropriation to expand access to preventive health care services; Senate Amendment 244 to S Con Res 18 ; vote number 2005-75, 3/17/05]
McCain opposed legislation requiring that abstinence-only programs be medically accurate and scientifically based. McCain voted NO on legislation that would help reduce the number of teen pregnancies by providing funding for programs to teach comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education and other programs to prevent unintended teen pregnancies. [Lautenberg/Menendez Teen Pregnancy Prevention Amendment, S.Amdt. 4689 to S. 403, vote 214, 7/25/06]
McCain opposed Title X family planning program. In 1990, McCain voted NO on legislation to extend the Title X federal family planning program, which provides low-income and uninsured women and families with health care services ranging from breast and cervical cancer screening to birth control. [Motion to Invoke Cloture; Family Planning Amendments of 1989, S.110, 9/26/90]
Jul
23
The GOP’s new slogan, “Find More, Use Less” is useless.
Ok. Let’s talk a little about the realities about the oil market.
- The Oil market is global. This fact has historically kept prices lower for the US because ther is greater world supply then what is present locally. Regardless of our current conservation efforts, prices are still rising because global demand from countries like China and India continues to increased.
- Speculators negatively effect the oil market for consumers. Once the US government opened up the futures market to non-consumers, pure paper speculators, the market has become more volatile.
- The oil market is still just a market, thus the rules of supply and demand drive prices and behavior.
Let’s break this down a little further.
Find More.
The US oil companies are making win fall profits on the constricted supplies. Though this might not be driving their behavior, they already have leases to drill in the Gulf of Mexico that have not been explored or exploited for more than a decade. This is because the oil companies, like all business, don’t actually have the unlimited resources to explore and develop.
Even if they start to drill in those areas or got access to the wildlife reserves, what do you think the benefit would be to the consumer?
Nothing (see point 1 above.)
The additional oil supply, which would likely only be an increase of 1-3% at maximum, would just go into the global market and fulfill the global demands. The people who would benefit most are the oil companies and the politicians they support.
Use Less
I am a strong believe in conservation, but this wont solve our problem either. Frankly, the free market has been working to benefit the US. Because of the high prices, gas efficiency standards have improved. In December 2007, CAFE standards received their first overhaul in more than 30 years! Most all of the major car manufactures are reducing their truck fleets and making battery powered cars!
So what can the government do? Well, regulating the speculators would be a great first step. And here is a thought, why not use the Market to effect positive change. Since the high gas prices has made car companies change their fuel efficiencies without government regulations, and it has consumers moving close to their work or taking public transportation, why not use the tool of tax to drive better behavior? What if our government actually raised taxes on gas and diesel? Used the taxes to further curb demand and use the funds to give incentives for truckers and farmers to transition to more fuel efficient or non-fossil fuel based equipment.
Frankly, since we live in a free market. I bet you prices would even drop when it became apparent that the US was serious about reducing the Oil consumption. Funny that, but we don’t have the political will for such actions since the oil companies help elect our representatives, like Senator John McCain. He has taken on the traditional GOP party line because he is funded though the traditional GOP channel, big business. That really disappoints me.
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