tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14327758999812350212024-03-13T17:11:05.927-07:00Life in AlaskaJoe discusses the trials and tribulations of his life.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-59021429440615546212013-12-08T22:38:00.000-08:002013-12-08T22:38:04.751-08:00Afraid<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What holds us back? It's fear. It's
the idea that we may fail. We're content. We'd rather <i>be</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
entertained than entertain. We aren't </span><span style="font-style: normal;">natural
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">adventurers – if there
isn't a map, we're afraid to attempt the journey. So what do we do?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We can
cry. We can point out the mistakes of others, and their flaws. We
can look inward and search, though sometimes fruitlessly. We search
for things we love, enjoy. We can classify needs as wants and wants
as needs; those that have come before us have defined such, but it's
different for every individual. I need to feel free. There is no
such thing as destiny, there are the paths I choose and the decisions
I make. I don't care about what Las</span><span style="font-style: normal;">z</span><span style="font-style: normal;">lo
thinks he has figured out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We
look to our mentors and idols and role models for courage, but </span><span style="font-style: normal;">being</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
their clone can never make us happy; most of us don't have o</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ne,
we have many or we have none</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We
want to ask for help but don't know the words; we can say the word
'help' but that's the exten</span><span style="font-style: normal;">t</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
of our knowledge of what we </span><span style="font-style: normal;">require</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
Whether it be a level of nurturing or love or duty, does anyone know
what the next growing step is? We can only hope that there is a next
step, a next corner, a next obstacle, and that when we reach its
summit, that we feel accomplished, if but only for a moment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Sometimes
we're alone. Those whom watch us grow and mature and blossom, those
who counsel us and nurture us, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">they</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
know us and know 'where we're coming from' but unless they're you,
they can never fully understand us. The only person who can
completely glimpse into the decisions we make and the reasons behind
them are ourselves; unfortunately, most of us will never be capable
of this feat. And </span><span style="font-style: normal;">quite a</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
feat it would be. Perhaps upon reaching our death bed we can look
back and see and understand ourselves purely, though that could only
benefit the dying.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">What
are we left to do? Risk. Risk change, risk losing wants and needs,
risk failing goals. Risk losing the love others have for us. Risk
sanity. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Risk control. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Risk
others not following through on their commitments. Risk others'
opinions of you, positive or negative.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We
crave. We need challenge. Occasionally we are willing to go all in.
Sometimes once in a lifetime, sometimes never. Wants and needs
become forever blurred; perhaps challenge is a want, for it is not
air, food or water. It is, however, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">an
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">appetite by definition.
Without hunger can we consume the air and the food and the water our
bodies and life-forces require to survive?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Some
reach their bar, their level, their capacity. Others will not </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
never can. Behind every goal is another. Be a hero. Help those in
need. Have a family, provide for them, guarantee their success, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">or</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
at least guarantee that they will never struggle. But is struggle
not appetite of another flavor, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">that
next level</span><span style="font-style: normal;">? Without that
taste in their mouths, do our children stand a chance to succeed? If
my children cannot </span><span style="font-style: normal;">surpass</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
me then I know I have failed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">And
what about others, those who help build and shape a system that
confuses equality with will? </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
refer to a</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> system favoring
degrees over a hunger that cannot be taught or certified or
diplomaed. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Ancestory and
income level are not things that can teach us how to be insatiable,
nor is school or college. Perhaps you're born with it or learn it
through struggle at early life stages. I have it. Success is not a
want, it is a </span><i>need</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. I
don't know what happens if it doesn't </span><span style="font-style: normal;">occur,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
if it isn't reached. Give up? To what end?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">I'm
ravenous. Sometimes I think there's something wrong with me, though
most times I know there's something wrong with </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the
expectations of society</span><span style="font-style: normal;">. I
refuse to conform to the ideas and the teachings of mediocrity.
These lessons are not for me.</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">I like to fail. I </span><span style="font-style: normal;">was
able to</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> ride a two-wheeler
before my third birthday and somedays, with all my heart, I wish I
was still that fearless, relentless three year old with bloody knees
and holes in his jeans. I must have that drive left in here
somewhere, in some forgotten, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">uncharted</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
chamber of my heart. Where did the disconnect happen that I now
consider mediocrity, a </span><span style="font-style: normal;">consideration
that makes me nauseous and sick to my stomach to oblige?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Some
days I think the world should shape itself around people like me,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">until m</span><span style="font-style: normal;">y
compassion gets the best of this thought. Most people need to be
protected by someone bigger, stronger and smarter than themselves. I
constantly battle to fit into a mold designed for people that
couldn't be farther from who I am or what I need. But I'm searching.
I want to know which crevice to conform to. Frankly, right now I
feel like the world was not build for me and I was not built for it;
the 'if you can't beat 'em, join em' attitude is approaching the
horizon and it is not one I have yet fully indulged. What if this
new horizon yields nothing to my needs?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">My
frustration asks why the world is like this, how it has grown into a
system that gives into the weak and lazy. To be clear, by weak and
lazy I refer to those not willing to live up to their ability.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">So
what's next? Where do we go from here, as man? As humanity? </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Around</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
the next corner </span><span style="font-style: normal;">will we find
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">the future or a turn to the
past? To be prepared for everything means to be successful at
nothing. Specialization is the word of the information age, but what
are those of us </span><span style="font-style: normal;">whome are
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">bored of specialization left
with? We're left with internal storms ripping and roaring between
conformity and success, in a town that feels like it's called
Failure. Some of us are mayors of this town, but I want to move.
Failure isn't trying and not succeeding, failure is </span><i>not
trying</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Self-motivation
is perhaps the most difficult eating utensil </span><span style="font-style: normal;">to
find </span><span style="font-style: normal;">on our metaphorical
tables. Where does it come from? Sure, hunger tells us we have
need. But self motivation must be some far off, foreign,
long-forgotten recipe that must be too good to be real. A 'holy
grail', so to speak. It's well above and beyond what a set of jumper
cables can do. Answers, </span><i>where are you?</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Is
there some voice, some carelessness, some ringing in our ears that
tells us when there's an opportunity in front of us we shouldn't pass
up?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">What's
wrong with us that instead of searching harder we would rather pierce
those almost invisible chinks in the armor of those who show us love
and compassion and future? While we lie in wait, while we anticipate
being the figurative phoenix rising from the ashes of what our
childhood selves knew we </span><span style="font-style: normal;">could</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
be, we choose battles that don't matter. We </span><span style="font-style: normal;">start</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
arguments so we can feel like we've at least won something. But
those who love us, and stick by our sides, they don't deserve this
from us. They deserve more focus, more caring, more love. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">They
deserve not to be victims and casualties of our merciless search for
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">success</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
and perfection, they deserve our recognition, and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">our
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">thanks, and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">our
undying </span><span style="font-style: normal;">love.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We
all, to some degree, remain stuck in</span><span style="font-style: normal;">side</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
ourselves. We all reside in coffins within our own brains, buried
alive and suffocating to death. Our dreams will die this way unless
we claw our way out, dig tunnels to the surface and emerge survivors
dedicated to meeting and conquering every challenge.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
worst saying I have ever heard is, “Think outside the box”. I
refuse to think that there is a box. I refuse to think that
originality is dead. There are new ways of doing things, of saying
things, of telling people things, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">of
selling things and of creating things</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
They're out there. Maybe it's because we've seen so many flavors of
these </span><span style="font-style: normal;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal;">things</span><span style="font-style: normal;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
over the years and decades and centuries that it's just easier to
pick one that's worked and has been working than to think of a new
way. A better way. A cleaner way, a way that is less harmful. A
way that protects those whom cannot protect themselves. The
computerization of the world has further pushed us into conformity.
We have lost creativity, originality, and character. We think inside
the box more so now that ever, especially now that the box is a
physical, identifiable, tangible thing. If the computer can't do it
then we can't do it. I'll tell you what, people – we accomplished
unimaginable things before the implementation of the computer; from
an engineering standpoint, we went to the moon. We created an
aircraft that is the fastest </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
highest</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> flying naturally
aspirated </span><span style="font-style: normal;">human-piloted
machine</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> ever build by man; we
did it over 60 years ago. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">And
we did it all without computers. People and their brains thought
this stuff up, not computers and websites and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">social
media and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the cloud.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">W</span><span style="font-style: normal;">e
all give things up, we quit, we 'sell out'. For better or worse, we
have to admit those things cannot be undone. It doesn't matter how
much we miss those things and activities and freedoms, they're gone
and it's over and it's time to </span><span style="font-style: normal;">grow
and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">move on. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">It's
time for what's next, it's time to let go. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">You've
shed your tears and you've said your goodbyes but you fell like
you're stuck and that next step feels impossibly far away.
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Meanwhile, through the fog
that is need and want, you try to identify what you want. I just
want to feel like I made a difference. In a life, in two, in three.
A difference significant enough to improve lives. I search around
for something to mimic and I can't find it; the difference I'm
searching to be a part of may not yet exist.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For
right now, for tonight, until tomorrow, I sit in tears. What's
the answer? I'm patient but I want to know, I <i>need</i>
to know. What's next, what do I do, where do I go from here? I'm on
the top rung of the ladder frantically searching for the next step,
looking for that next ledge to reach up for. I refuse to give into
the notion that I'm a climber who's reached his peak. The mountain
I'm on is higher than this, it's got to be. I just need to find that
next handhold, that next foothold, to get me to that next foot
further up. <i>Where
is it?</i> I'm going crazy
searching, waiting, attempting patience, and searching again, then
waiting, and questioning whether I'm on the peak, and the searching
more. I need to know. I need answers. What's next, where do I go,
what can I do, who should I talk to, what can I say? Utterly, truly,
tonight as I sit,
I am without a paddle.
</div>
AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-33338990805872802072010-12-09T18:11:00.001-08:002010-12-09T18:11:57.906-08:00Tax Cuts<span jsid="text">I Just posted this on Facebook:<br /><br />$248.6 billion of individual income taxes were collected in 2007. Our population is roughly 300 million people - this includes the elderly, working people, children and infants. That means the 'cost' per person in income taxes is just un<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">der $900 a year, per person. That would mean that a couple with 3 kids would cost $4500 a year. Fact is, most Americans don't paid their 'fair share' of taxes because the rich do for you.<br /><br />If you're not paying your 'fair share' every year, you you have no right to complain when those who are paying your share get a tax cut.</span></span>AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-76263007625933781502010-03-15T00:50:00.000-07:002010-03-15T00:51:52.142-07:00A Recent Self-Relevation"Comfort is the Father of Procrastination.<span style="font-style: italic;">"</span>AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-78820241159492058232009-12-25T02:24:00.001-08:002009-12-25T02:32:03.155-08:00A Few Recent ThoughtsFirst thing's first. I think Netflix should offer another premium option to be able to stream anything that's not already streamed. Maybe limit to two a day or something - it's the only way they'll ever be able to compete with cable and satellite providers (with the exception being those folks who watch live sports). I love to watch streaming Netflix on my PS3 - everything I've seen is of acceptable quality. Unfortunately, some things I've seen look better on a PC than on the PS3. This, I'm sure, will improve with time. As another premium add-on package, Netflix could offer streaming shows a day or two after they air. Likely? Probably not for years - most networks already host their own ad-driven streaming shows on their respective websites (and these use technologies not compatible with my PS3, and also, there are commercials). I can't get cable where I live and satellite isn't a good choice, either. I'm just trying to maximize the potential of my 10mbit connection!AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-65694367833358745892009-11-10T00:51:00.000-08:002009-11-10T01:30:08.600-08:00I just feel like writingSo I haven't really written anything longer than 160 characters for a long time. I don't know why that is - I'd like to think that I just haven't had time, or, busy doing other things. I haven't been in the mood? Maybe the reason is that have been letting my mind drift. Probably the biggest reason is that I haven't read any books or even any complete stories in the paper. I used to like writing about vampires, but now it's way to mainstream and impossible to be original. Don't get me wrong - I love me some True Blood, but the teenie-bopper hype for Twilight is quite nauseating, there is some pretty bad acting in it, and it's written for teenage girls - it's not bad, but it's not for me.<br /><br />I've developed a type of 'rain dance' to encourage the weather to bring us some snow so I can get out and run some dogs. Been running on the gravel roads around here, so I'm stuck with two options: running lots of short, 14-15 mile runs, or running fewer, longer 20-26 mile runs. As soon as we get some snow the trail will be easier on their feet, and as soon as we got a lot of snow we can just run out of the house and not have to truck anymore.<br /><br />Mainstream media has been driving me nuts. I can't even watch it anymore, because the stuff the news that they create is usually ridiculous. There's no point. I haven't had TV for a while, and these days I don't hardly read news online or listen to the radio like I used to. It seems that the media is becoming more liberal and further from reality, likely because the general public voted the most radical President in the history of the United States. In the 60's we called people like the President what they were - communists. What happened? Since when did we stop loving our country and start hold out our empty hands expecting everything for free? If you choose to live a crazy life and smoke, and drink, and take other huge risks in life, then why the hell <span style="font-weight: bold;">shouldn't</span> you have to pay more for healthcare? It's not "the government's fault for letting" you. You're less healthy than the rest of us and boatloads of you think you should be taken care of for free. Get a clue. Take care of yourself.<br /><br />This is why I probably don't write much anymore - all I do is rant about the same stuff over and over. It's boring for anyone to read and in the end, it really doesn't make me feel any better. I should probably start to focus on the smaller scale, and try to effect the things that I can touch.<br /><br />I love the irony that 30 Rock has to offer. It's actually pretty funny. Alec Baldwin's character is gotta be on of my favorite on tv.<br /><br />That's all for now.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-84716483014544822512009-10-16T00:37:00.000-07:002009-10-16T00:52:41.033-07:00My Brain Is HungryLately I've been going through a bit of a nervous breakdown. The things I usually enjoy I'm not, and I haven't been able to relax at all. I've been easily frustrated and highly irritable, which are both unusual since I usually have so much patience. I've been thinking a lot about it and I'm starting to think that my brain is hungry. There are things my brain needs that my daily schedule will not allow.<br /><br />I just figured out that lately I've been on this never-ending quest to become completely self-sufficient. I tend to dive head-first into new things. Example: this summer the transmission in my car died. Instead of paying the shop $2800 to replace it, I found a wrecked car and replaced my automatic trans with a manual - in my driveway. And before that I'd only done oil changes and brakes. But now if I ever have trouble with the car, I know that I can replace an axle, transmission, or an entire engine while on the side of the road.<br /><br />Normally things that I'm good at I can't concentrate on. I've misspelled every 8th word so far, and usually I'd notice it on my own a little better. Yeah, maybe my brain is going through an OS update. There are tons of things that I want to do.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-78190544564868074082009-04-20T01:41:00.000-07:002009-04-20T01:44:49.076-07:00Introducing SpaceDudsI'd just like to take a quick moment to tell everyone about my new website, SpaceDuds. You can see it at <a href="http://spaceduds.blogspot.com">http://spaceduds.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />I look forward to seeing your comments on the new site! I'm also looking for folks to help contribute content. If there's something you'd like to see, let me know!AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-43679895673944406372009-04-18T02:29:00.001-07:002009-04-18T02:29:10.577-07:00Iditarod Restart 2009 - Willow, Alaska<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/k3Bw-nEVTzU' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/k3Bw-nEVTzU'/></object></p><p>This is a video I made. Hope you like it!</p></div>AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-82617801534366118112009-03-28T20:01:00.000-07:002009-03-28T20:03:23.194-07:00Man Does Not Warm The Earth<p>Below is my response to an article from green.foxnews.com that was originally written by t he London Times. <a href="http://green.foxnews.com/2009/03/23/scientists-drill-deep-into-greenland-ice-for-global-warming-clues/comment-page-1/#comment-1477">Click Here</a> to see the article.<br /></p><p>_______________________________________________________________________________<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I recently read that Scientists who don’t put up outrageous claims rarely receive much grant money, because apparently real science isn’t exciting enough.</p> <p>Dr. Craig Loehle is a real scientist who completely recreated the climate record for the past 2,000 years, just after he discovered (or remembered from third grade) that there are many other things that effect the annual growth of trees (like rain, floods, direct sunlight, and living next to a bigger tree). It was warmer around 900 A.D. than it is today. That’s a proven fact.</p> <p>On another note, why are warmer global temperatures even a problem? Crops grow better. People tan better. There’s less snow, and sometimes more rain (again, great for those crops AND good for preventing droughts).</p> <p>One could argue that warmer global temperatures will reduce the amount of CO and CO2 in the atmosphere because all of the trees grow better and more trees will grow, thereby increasing Earth’s ability to remove CO2 from the air.</p> <p>This is one of Mark Levinn’s favorite questions to ask whining greenie weenies: What’s the number one greenhouse gas?</p> <p>Water Vapor.</p> <p>Thanks for listening.</p> <p>Dr. Loehle: <a href="http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2008/02/11/a-2000-year-global-temperature-record/" rel="nofollow">http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2008/02/11/a-2000-year-global-temperature-record/</a></p> <p>Water Vapor: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas_emissions" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas_emissions</a></p>AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-70666413873352489582009-01-29T00:19:00.000-08:002009-01-29T00:55:27.688-08:00Obama Plays DirtyI just read an article about President Obama's recent visit to the White House press core offices. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/22/obama-suprises-white-house-press-corps-visit-briefing-room/">The article, found here on the Fox News website</a>, was written by the AP. It's pretty obvious that Obama intends to continue what he started on the campaign trail - make the Press love him.<br /><br />The article talks about how he headed down to the press offices to say hello to everyone and be casual, and that he wasn't there to field any serious questions. But he apparently made a few disapproving comments in reference to who had the bigger desks and why, saying "This is worse than the Middle East here -- who's sitting where and all that stuff." For a politician who has publicly spoken out about his personal disapproval for certain media outlets and their members, and urges forth legistation that attempts to publicly silence those individuals, it makes one wonder who he wants a smaller desk for in the press core office of the White House.<br /><br />What bothers me most, though, is how President Obama continues to manipulate the media into liking him more. Granted, every President attempts to improve their public image through the eyes of the media, but Obama is already going further out of his way to do so than any before him. He's really some kind of expert. In the press core, sneaky comments like "I've got to say, it's smaller than I thought," hints that he pities the press and that he intends to make their situation better. Way to be their buddy, Mr. President. How moral is that?<br /><br />Does it surprise anyone that a man whose recent peers, to include people like Gov. Blagoyovich, likes to play dirty politics everywhere he can? What kind of Drama Queen did all those idiots vote for? I'll start saying to the libs now what I'll be ear-to-ear about in 4 years (keep in mind I train dogs): <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What</span></span> did you do! (And then I rub their nose in the huge heap they've landed us all in.)<br /><br />On another note, I went gun shopping today and I'm going gun buying tomorrow.<br /><br />If you're still reading and you find yourself nodding, you're a great American.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-34094357919827405532009-01-04T13:37:00.000-08:002009-01-04T13:48:36.570-08:00Cheney, We're Going To Miss YouVice President Dick Cheney is on his way out of office along with President George W. Bush. We're going to miss them both. I haven't paid much attention to Dick Cheney, though there are a few things that are drawing my attention to him. Namely, he seems to be a man who is blatantly honest and calls it like it is. From telling Senator Lehey to go fuck himself, to voicing his disagreements with President Bush as well as their own Republican party, he's not afraid to speak his mind. This is a man that we can hope remains in politics, as men like him are few and far between.<br /><br />President Bush and Vice President Cheney, thank you for serving our country in these most desparate of times. We're going to miss you.<br /><br />~Joe HolodAboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-37596068159366853732008-12-27T03:28:00.000-08:002008-12-27T03:29:44.093-08:00Happy Holodays<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Merry Christmas to Everyone,<br /><br />And a Happy New Year!<br /></div>AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-14407479113965221992008-11-09T21:27:00.000-08:002008-11-09T22:09:18.970-08:00Politics?So it seems that the more and more I think about what's happened in the last week, the more upset I become. I'm a pretty mellow person, so for the time being I need to consider whether or not it's worth getting all fired about things that I don't necessarily understand. Looking back, the rants that I've authored are little more than that - rants. The type of rants that continue on about a specific topic without offering examples or solutions. I don't like ranting with no solution - I call people who do that Whiners.<br /><br />It may be best that I begin to play a role in my community as an observer, and decide as I go along about the individual issues that matter to me and which way to side with them as I become more and more involved. It just amazes me with how much time is spent dealing with semantics.<br /><br />I think that the decisions made right here at home locally have a much greater and immediate effect on my life than the issues we're having on a more national level. I'm also coming to realize that if I want to make any sort of a difference, I need to start right here on a local level.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-51784226929922837522008-10-25T00:56:00.000-07:002008-10-25T12:32:08.096-07:00Eddie Burke PostSo I listen to Eddie Burke because he's funny, but mostly he's really smart. I saw a post on his blog today about giving $425,000 per adult to the people. Actually, the math was off and it was supposed to be $425. Anyway, <a href="http://www.bulletinboards.com/v2.cfm?comcode=700&cat=1&loginpswd=yes&stm=yes&bypass=yes&ExpandTopic=yes&msgid=1512191&fm=1&nw=x">here's a link to the original post</a>. It has to be approved by a moderator, and I'm sure it will be, but anyway, below is my response:<br />______________________________________________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />Alright, so the math may be off on his post. I just can't honestly believe that companies that make bad decisions get helped by the government like this. If you make $85 billion in horrible decisions then you shouldn't be in business anymore. De-regulation really shows us which companies in our Country have the self-control to make it and which ones don't.<br /><br />We're talking about an industry with many major players who rely on the government to give them rules to protect themselves, and just as soon as those rules are slackened and begin to let free market reign - as it should - the same players blame the government for their own bad decisions. De-regulation is the way to demonstrate which are the smart businesses and which are the dumb ones. If you can't ride an investor's bike once the training wheels are off, then go do something else.<br /><br />I am completely opposed to this bailout. We can see (especially after today, Friday the 24th) how the idea of this bailout effects faith in the market - people just don't trust a market that can't sustain itself. Folks will trust the market a lot more knowing that the Free Market system will protect us from situations like this on it's own - companies like AIG that make poor financial practices will have to close their doors and will NOT be around to lose investers' money again. It's PRETTY SIMPLE.<br /><br />Granted, $425 per person, or even $1,000 per person won't get the economy out of this slump (like we saw in June). But at least something like this would put this money back where it belongs - in the hands of The People.<br /><br />Thinking about this just gets me all fired up, and I think this should be on a ballot on November 4th under the title "How to spend $700 Billion." Choice A, proceed with proposed bailout. Choice 2, give $3,500 to every NON-ALIEN, tax-paying adult in our country (that's $700 billion divided by 200 million adults, if my math is right). Choice 3??? Choice 4??? There are a lot of different things we can do with that money, but in the end, it belongs back in our hands. This amount of money could pay $7,000 to working couples on the brink of foreclosure from losing their homes. It could help a single parent pay 3-6 months of amortgage or rent. If they really want to revive the economy and the housing market, that would be the closest to a sure thing I've hear about.<br /><br />Obama's right, we need change. But he's completely wrong about how - we need to give money back to the people and not the other way around. If he actually gets voted in, I'll be investing in Gold and in chains for my chainsaw because I know I won't be able to pay for heating oil. And if he wins, God help us all.<br /><br />~Joe HolodAboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-80974811983452613142008-10-07T00:45:00.001-07:002008-10-07T00:57:55.122-07:00What's writing all about?I suppose I can't speak for everyone, but for me, I'm still trying to figure out what writing is all about. In fact, I'm sure that the reasons I write have change and will change over the years, so all I can write about is Me, right now. And in now way do I consider myself a writer, I'm just a guy who likes to write sometimes.<br /><br />The first thing about writing that does it for me is that one perfect sentence, or perfect paragraph, that perfectly describes the message or scene that I'm trying to convey. It's that grouping of words that describes exactly what I'm feeling or thinking.<br /><br />There a lot of other things I like about writing. I don't feel that many people realize this, but there really are no rules in writing. Perhaps a writer has his or her own rules that they choose to follow, but when it comes down to it there really is no right or wrong way to write. You can write about whatever topic you choose. And if you want to follow conventional sentence rules, you never start a sentence with 'and.' But if you want to choose your own style, then you can start a sentence with 'But' and there's nobody who can tell you that it's right or wrong. Writers can even create their own words, like Shakespeare did, and that can be alright as well. So many writers use so many styles and, generally, it's up to the readers, the target audience, to decide if they like it or not, or if they care to read it, and if they read it then I suppose you're doing alright, even if you don't care to use short sentences.<br /><br />Writing is freedom.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-44544479991781840442008-10-02T00:24:00.001-07:002008-10-02T00:53:20.764-07:00I am IronmanSo I just saw Ironman tonight and I thought it was pretty sweet. Here's a guy who doesn't like the direction of the world, mainly the United States (as well as some of it's corporate buddies who get government slack) and takes matters into his own hands. I think we can all take something important from this film. I'm referring to the valuable lesson that says that if you don't like the direction you see the world going in, then you need to change it. Don't stand around and wait for someone else to try to so that you can just jump on the bandwagon, what I'm trying to say is BE THAT GUY (or GIRL). Be a leader. Step up and say what you feel. Don't lie about your beliefs to fit in, be yourself. Don't conform to conform. Don't take others' words as truth about things, be smart and find things out for yourself. <br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"Those consistently relying on others for information open themselves to the biased truths and half facts of the members of society whom insist upon forcing their will unto others through fear, lies, and manipulation, thus becoming pawns of the very game they criticize but are too weak to correct."<br /><br />~Joe Holod on <span style="font-style: italic;">Blogger.com</span>, October 1st, 2008</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>Alright, so that probably will make whichever book I write first. So I made it a quote. I love it's simplicity, and I think it really sums things up for most of those who live in the world today. Title that 'I Am Ironman.' I guess that's all for today. I would highly recommend Ironman, rent it today.<br /><blockquote></blockquote>AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-70871897157404771542008-09-30T04:11:00.000-07:002008-09-30T05:09:14.984-07:00Late Night Ramblings: 2007 BudgetI was thinking about some things earlier today and I came up with an interesting question: at what point (in income) do you stop giving the government and start being just dependent? I mean, we all pay taxes that go towards roads, schools, and things like that. But which taxpayers at the lower end of the brackets are getting more than they actually pay for? I just couldn't come up with any sort of an idea. And so, would these people be considered freeloaders? Certainly some of us contribute more to the government than others, I just wanted to know how much of it I actually paid for, I suppose. Or perhaps discover whether or not the tangible government property is more mine than someone else's, or less mine than some others. Or would the 'one vote per person' system mean that we all own the same amount?<br /><br />Here's another thought, while I'm on taxes and things like this. The next time I file income taxes, I want a detailed receipt detailing what my money is spent on, per the hundredth of a penny. We'll put the biggest items at the top of the list, such as military, transportation.<br /><br />Ok, I just found a few different pie charts about government spending, since everyone has their own take and everyone's accountant apparently has a different opinion. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget,_2007">This one is on Wikipedia for the year 2007</a>. So here we go: Last year the federal government spent just over $2.8 trillion. That's <span style="font-weight: bold;">$2,800,000,000,000</span>. And let's say, for basic example, that my income taxes, soc, medicare, and medicaid last year I paid $4,000. I contributed to just over a billionth of the national budget, so that's not bad. Now let's see how much of that went to things that don't help me whatsoever.<br /><br />About 43.59% went to health care. This does not help me. Social security, medicare, medicaid and State's programs for children's insurance. That's a lot of money (only $1.2 trillion, but whose counting?), especially considering that I paid about $1700 out of my pocket for nothing. I could have spent that $1700 to pay off the credit cards that have been bought by the collections companies who are owned by the banks that were almost about to close, until this week when the federal sabotage-out kicked in and now they're done altogether. Now they're just closing. So who do I owe that money to now? Good Job, Federal Government. The federal government shouldn't meddle with things they don't understand.<br /><br />About 9.1% went to unemployment, welfare, and 'other mandatory spending.' What the hell does that mean, exactly? Anyway, I did participate in our state's unemployment program last year, though here in Alaska we have unemployment insurance, so I believe that I was not contributed to by this 9.1%. So over half the money I paid last year in taxes was not spent on me.<br /><br />The DoD had about 16% of the budget spent on itself last year. That's for our soldiers and lot of important stuff. And a lot of unimportant stuff. This number is far too small - we need to be able to supply our soldiers with bullet proof vests and our borders need to be protected. We could be reallocating a lot of money wasted by the DoD playing real-life Space Invaders and NASA forgetting simple English-Metric conversions when bombing Mars, and putting these dollars towards useful projects. Or better yet, not taking the money from us to begin with.<br /><br />I won't get into the rest of the budget, I think I've made a pretty large point. When I file my taxes, I should be able to decide how much I pay and what my money gets spent on. There should be a line for every thing on there. I'd throw some money towards finding some cheap alternative fuels. But when NASA makes a $125 million mistake and then asks for more money, guess what guys: my dollars are elsewhere because you proved to me you're incompetent. If a particular road that I drive on every day is in really horrible shape, then I should be able to say that 'I want this $500 to go towards repaving the Parks Hwy between mile 52 and mile 70' for example.<br /><br />These are the things we need to be telling our legislators, but they don't listen. They're too caught up on getting a vote than to actually spend our money for us in ways that help us out. We need to rely on individuals for the budget, not a bunch of suits.<br /><br />Also, the word 'couldn't' is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> in the blogger spellchecker for some reason, fyi. Neither is Wikipedia, or everyone's.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-91272182440521994942008-09-26T23:49:00.000-07:002008-09-27T00:57:11.494-07:00Conservative RantWhat if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Barack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Obama</span> becomes the next President of the United States? Will we give all of our hard earned money to poor people and people in other countries, so that us working class citizens can go day to day wondering now we're going to buy fuel for a cars to get to work tomorrow or to heat our homes next week? The answer is Yes.<br /><br />You see, I've been paying extra attention lately to the way people behave and act, and the stories they tell. From these experiences, often with complete strangers, I predict their political bias as being either liberal or conservative. And without asking or baiting a conversation, I usually find out before the meeting is over, because right now everyone wants to tell you what they thing about Sarah <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Palin</span> (this <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> Alaska, after all). I challenge you all to try this on your own, but hear this: I've been right 100% of the time so far. That tells me something. That tells me that people are not as 'on the fence' as they claim to be. But it also tells me that others can accurately guess that I'm conservative. That can be a scary thought. Earlier this week I was in an area of town that is known to be a very liberal area, and I wasn't able to strike up a conversation with anyone for the life of me. I was just being myself, and it was as if people just spoke to me through their actions, "Oh, you're one of those." And did I waver? Nay. But I did stop to think that I'm not this way toward others, at least as far as I can tell.<br /><br />So here's the breakdown: people who are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">whiney</span>, lazy thinkers, people who cry for help in the simplest situations, expect things for free, and people who say everyone should care about less fortunate people as much as they do, are liberals. These are the people who say "Oh, this and that should be illegal." These are the folks that complain about a problem and offer no solution. I'm talking about the folks who try to fix the small little issues of huge problems, then behave as if they had solved the entire issue. The people I'm taking about are the ones who like to have more laws and rules because they're not smart enough to take care of themselves. Don't forget how Liberals are limiting our personal freedoms, including those freedoms guaranteed to us by the Bill of Rights as well as the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Constitution</span>. They want government intervention in everything. They want to further enable the government to watch over us and eavesdrop on us, raping us of any sense, or protection, of privacy.<br /><br />The conservatives, on the other hand, are usually more independent. We want to keep the money we earn and spend it on what we decide to. We want less government control because we know how bad they screw everything up. We know that the world operates as a better place when the decisions of individuals are not controlled and ruled by groups of politicians, elected by 'electoral' votes, who take complete advantage of situations and eventually lose any and all sense of reality. We're the people who own guns for protection because we know we can't rely on the government to protect us from much, and we realize that one day we may need to protect ourselves from the government itself (remember 1776?). And we don't want to give away money to other parts of the world when most of us are struggling to make ends meet, and we lose huge portions of our paychecks to things that don't help us. It's not the government's job to help us, it's our responsibility to help ourselves. We're the ones who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">believe</span> in National Sovereignty and in only letting qualified individuals into our Country. We don't like the idea of letting people from other places of the world coming here for free and living off of our tax dollars as they contribute nothing (taking illegal employment in picking fruit and vegetables does NOT contribute to our country in a positive way).<br /><br />There are so many things in this world that we need to just say "NO" to, and Conservatives are the ones standing up and doing it. Liberals are the ones feeling sorry for people who can't help themselves. Now, usually when someone can't help him or her self, it's because they're too lazy and too accustomed to getting things handed to them by people like these very Liberals I'm speaking about. If they're starving because they're too stupid to move to where there's water, then Darwinism comes into play the way nature intended. Liberals are the ones who pity the homeless drunks on the sides of the streets and give them money, and that's just fine by me. But don't try to pass legislation to 'help these people' by giving them <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> money. If they could be helped, they would've helped themselves a long time ago. Wake up already! If people are warned to leave an area because of an impending doom approaching, then LEAVE THE AREA! Don't sit around and wait, and just about lose your life, and then cry for help or complain when it doesn't come 'soon'. "Danger is coming. You must leave if you value your life" - I think that is help enough. Again, if people can't help themselves, then it's time for the rest of us to move on.<br /><br />Disclaimer: this is pretty rough but I'm posting it anyway. Keep in mind, what I am conveying are general thoughts of mine. If you consider yourself a conservative but disagree with 99% of what I said, then (a) I'm sorry, no offense and (b) you may want to reevaluate what you call yourself.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-32831841256140879892008-09-23T02:01:00.001-07:002008-09-23T02:06:27.089-07:00Elton JohnSo I made a comment earlier to a friend that I thought Elton John was way under-rated. I was corrected once she enlightened me that in his time, in fact, Elton was a HUGE hit. I think he's genius (as a musician, let's be clear on that point.) Tiny Dancer? Love it. I don't what what there is about it, but i think it's that 'reminiscent' feeling. You know, that feeling you get when you watch The Sandlot, or anything else that makes you remember back to 'The Good Ol' Days.' Musically, I was born about thirty years too late. I guess I just have an old soul.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-83067356146666074102008-09-22T00:20:00.001-07:002009-12-25T02:23:50.608-08:00Who is Mac for?Alright, so there's a lot of people switching over to Mac. But why? Is it because nobody wants Vista? I think that for a lot of people, this is true. And for these people (especially those who never fully adjust to osX), as soon as the next version of Windows is released they'll be switching back over.<br /><br />Also, has anybody seen the 'I'm f***ing Matt Damon' movie? Or the Ben Affleck answer to it? I just found on youtube the Obama version. Now, I won't be voting for this clown, let's be clear on that. But I do love youtube videos, lol. You can watch it here <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skIlZflDs9Y&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skIlZflDs9Y&feature=related</a>.<br /><br />Alright<br />AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-28698697384167242542008-09-17T02:08:00.001-07:002008-09-17T02:08:27.339-07:00Ok Ok, Last One...<span class="entry-content">Three of Sarah Palin’s five kids came out sideways - she never flinched.</span>AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-85880900441334736852008-09-17T01:52:00.000-07:002008-09-17T02:00:47.784-07:00Sarah PalinSo they decided to make our Governor the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee for this year's election. I'm pretty happy about it, but that means we may lose Sarah Palin for 4 years (or 8? or 16?) but she'll be back.<br /><br />I found a really kool little site tonight hosting fun facts about Sarah Palin, it's called <a href="http://www.palinfacts.com">PalinFacts.com</a> and it's a fun read, even if you don't know anything.<br /><br />Here's a few of my fav's from the site:<br /><ul><li><span id="msgtxt903663490" class="msgtxt en">When Sarah Palin booked a flight to Europe, the French immediately surrendered.</span></li><li><span id="msgtxt904805833" class="msgtxt en"></span><span id="msgtxt904742304" class="msgtxt en">Sarah Palin’s image already appears on the newer nickels.</span></li><li><span id="msgtxt904805833" class="msgtxt en">Queen Elizabeth II curtsied when she was introduced to Sarah Palin</span></li><li><span id="msgtxt904136784" class="msgtxt en"> </span><span id="msgtxt904109816" class="msgtxt en">Jesus has a bracelet that says, “WWSPD?”</span></li><li><span id="msgtxt904109816" class="msgtxt en"> </span><span id="msgtxt904088817" class="msgtxt en">Death once had a near-Sarah Palin experience.</span></li><li><span id="msgtxt904050383" class="msgtxt en">In the original version, He-Man had the power of Sarah Palin, but the writers felt this would make him way too powerful.</span></li><li>-Sarah Palin doesn’t need a gun to hunt, because she can throw a bullet through an adult bull elk.</li><li><span id="msgtxt904414835" class="msgtxt en">Sarah Palin wants you to LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!</span></li></ul>And the list goes on and on forever! Go Sarah!AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-12986758959062363222008-09-17T01:16:00.000-07:002008-09-17T01:21:37.304-07:00Firefox 3.0.1 on Linux AMD64So I installed the new Firefox 3.0.1 yesterday on my 64bit box, Driva 08 64. Runs good, however, the nspluginwrapper plugins for it don't seem to want to work for anything - so I have no Flash. And I've been overconfident in some things lately so when I installed the new Firefox i overwrote the existing installations. So I'll try and deal with it for a while, and see how patient I really am.AboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-90304864912512054752008-09-17T01:10:00.000-07:002008-09-17T01:15:10.738-07:00Decision to Blog MoreSo I've made the important decision to blog more, and to read some blogs.<p>So I played with KDE4 today and so far I like what I see. I really enjoy being able to use OpenGL without using compiz or beryl. I'm using the metapackage with Mandriva '08, so I'm sure that there's more stable versions out by now. But I definitly like what I see.<br>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TAboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1432775899981235021.post-1227557723609979652008-09-15T02:24:00.000-07:002008-09-15T02:36:32.374-07:00Vista vs. Linux RebuttalI've just finished reading a Vista vs. Linux post from ITVoir.com. <a href="http://www.itvoir.com/portal/boxx/knowledgebase.asp?iid=1112&Cat=23">Click Here to read it.</a><br /><br />The author of this article had a few facts to get straight. The web site requires administrative approval for any comments, so mine may not make it to the site. But here is my response, in it's entirety:<br />____________________________________________________________________________________<br />I respect your post, but your research couldn't have taken you any further from the truth.<br /><br />Firstly, Linux has more software than Windows. Hands down. And it's mostly free software. Just because you can't name any software that runs on Linux doesn't mean there's less. And now, with virtualization i.e. VMWare and VirtualBox, not to mention Cedega and Wine, you can run most Windows software on top of Linux one way or another. You can even run Windows on top of Linux, and in fact, it runs faster this way than it runs natively.<br /><br />Secondly, you stated that because Linux has the widest software support of any operating system that it is more 'vulnerable.' When Windows breaks, Microsoft waits until someone complains about it first. Then, they put a 'team' together to put together a patch. Next, the patch is distributed via Windows Updates. Linux, in contrast, is built on top of a more secure foundation, so there are fewer security flaws to begin with, and much less serious when they occur. And due to it's larger group of support programmers, it is usually fixed faster - MUCH faster - than Microsoft products. Let me put this idea into context for you - MasterLock makes conbination locks for lockers and toolboxes and etc. But without the combination for said lock, you can't open it - even if you know how every little part inside moves and interacts with the other moving parts.<br /><br />Thirdly, Linux has support for WiFi. In fact, Linux has had support for the newer WPA security standards like TTLS before most Windows users had it - they had to wait for XP SP2.<br /><br />In addition, the hardware you speak about with support for Vista is usually on the Expensive side of things, and Vista needs 2gigs of RAM to do anything worthwhile in a descent amount of time, whereas Linux runs everything from Graphing Calculators to Cell Phones to the Hardon Collider. It's a much more versatile computing solution.<br /><br />Windows Automatic Updates are some of the biggest money makers for people in the Computer Service Industry. Microsoft consistently puts patches through that are under tested and unreliable, and they often render user's machines unusable. Microsoft can't even seem to make up their minds about what they think people should have, might want to have, and must have. Remember Internet Explorer 7? First it was an optional update, then it was Recommended (i.e. automatically installed), and then for a while it wasn't even obtainable from the Windows Update site. And lets not forget that Microsoft is known to place Spyware on your computer, and if you've run Windows Update in the last 18 months, then YOU HAVE IT.<br /><br />Again, on this next one, your facts are clouded. You CAN INDEED set Linux up for automatic back up. That is a Fact. You have much more control over it as well.<br /><br />Overall, it would seem that from reading your article, you've probably never used an Operating System besides Windows Vista. Windows Vista is so horrible, in fact, that the Mac market is booming with sales increases of over 50% a year. Fortune 500 companies have all but halted any and all upgrade plans for the time being - they've decided that it would be more practical to keep their machines with Windows 2000 than to change over to Windows Vista - mainly, because of Networking and Usability issues. And, the major PC dealers had to stop selling machines with Vista Home Basic because they said it was 'Almost Unusable.' Microsoft has since decided to bump-up their next Operating System release by almost 2 years in a desperate effort to reclaim the market.<br /><br />Microsoft has done wonderful things for the PC industry, and without them, fewer people throughout the world would have PCs or know how to use them. As a PC Service Technician with plentiful experience in Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, and Vista, and as a die-hard Linux user and Mac admirer, I can honestly say that Windows Vista is the absolute Worst Operating System ever compiled.<br /><br />Thanks for the post,<br />~JoeAboveAverageJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564653901732337996noreply@blogger.com0