So What's New?

I don't keep up with my blog anymore. I have often thought if I should just shelve this blog like my good friend Matt Dattilo did. But I can't get myself to do it. The main issue of course is time. It takes time and effort to put something down on this blog even if it is just typing for a bit. It's the organization of thoughts in your brain that takes the longest. And now with the proliferation programs like twitter and facebook, most of the "impromptu" things that people write is on these micro-blogging sites.

I guess I will continue to try to write things on this blog. Things that I believe take mare than 140 characters to express. There's not that many that read this blog anyway. But it does serve as a reminder to me as to what I was thinking years ago...

Resistance is Futile

So now it's official. Microsoft and Yahoo reached a deal today that turns over all of Yahoo search to Microsoft.

Although it is not the complete takeover of Yahoo!, that will only be a matter of time. "Bing" now becomes the official search engine of Yahoo, and Yahoo is supposed to do all the sales stuff. We will see how long THAT lasts. How long before Yahoo guys realize that Microsoft's ads on Bing are geared to sell Microsoft NOT Yahoo?. And the Yahoo sales guys are now forced to use Microsoft's AdCenter to do their jobs?

The biggest question no one is asking is what if this doesn't work out? Yahoo doesn't have a choice. It's not as if in 5 years they can say Sorry and choose another search provider. They gave ALL of their search algorithms/technology to Microsoft in this deal. Yahoo is now married to Microsoft for life without possibility of divorce. All Microsoft has to do is to ditch the Yahoo sales
force and switch back to their own, and Yahoo ceases to exist. For those who follow "Star Trek - Next generation", they have now become "assimilated" with the Borg collective. As much as I hate to say it, I think in a decade Yahoo will be the next AOL and will die a slow death on the vine. The Microsoft poison is in their blood and there is nothing they can do about it. Carol Bartz was out there today gleefully hobnobbing with Ballmer. Trust me, Ms. Bartz, you will one day look back on this day with regret. Then again Carol unlike Yang is an outsider. She is not a coder that built a company from scratch. Just a CEO that worries about shareholder value, so I'm sure she will sleep well at night. And if that means someday Yahoo ceases to exist, so be it.

Make a deal with the Devil and he will get his due. Embrace, Extend, Extinguish ... It's the Microsoft way.

Memorial Day 2009

They sacrifice every day so we may live to be free.

Please take some time to remember our fallen soldiers this weekend. And if you have Children/Grandchildren, remind them too.

Photo: Courtesy Arlington National Cemetary

In Loving Memory

- Joanna Fuchs

On every soldier’s tombstone
should be a message of honor, respect and love:
"In loving memory
of one who loved his country,
who fought against evil
to preserve what is right and true and good.
In loving memory
of one who is a cut above the rest of us,
who had the surpassing courage,
the uncommon strength,
to do whatever had to be done,
perservering through hardship and pain.
In loving memory
of one who was brave enough
to give his life, his all,
so that those he cared about
would remain safe and free.
In loving memory
of a unique and treasured soldier
who will never be forgotten."

To those that I have never met but I owe my life and freedom to, I can't say anything more than Thank You.
And I promise, I will never forget.

Here's Wishing ALL of You,

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Men.

Veteran's Day 2008

To those that I have never met but I owe my life and freedom to,
I can't say anything more than Thank You.

And I promise, I will never forget.

Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown
February 12, 1998 - November 7, 2008



Today we said goodbye to Charlie Brown. He lost a long battle with lymphoma and renal failure. We knew a few months back that this was a battle he couldn't win. We gave Chemotherapy a shot but his cancer was too advanced for it to help. After consulting with the vet we stopped Chemo. I know he was glad to not be poked and prodded and shot full of drugs every week. He even rebounded and was happy and playful. But it was only a matter of time before his health deteriorated to the point that we had to make the decision to put him to sleep today. As much as we had prepared ourselves for this moment it was still gut wrenching. He hadn't eaten for a week and we couldn't let him starve. He slipped away in a few seconds and I know he was so tired and glad to finally be able to rest.

What can I say about Charlie? He was my best friend and was always with me since I got him as a puppy. I still remember bringing him home when he was just 6 weeks old. He lined up all his fuzzy toys in a row and slept in between them. I remember the night I came home frustrated and weary from work one winter night and Charlie wanted to play. So we went out and sledded in my back yard on a trash can lid and played in the snow for hours. And all my frustrations and petty worries just melted away. I remember how he would go trotting across the street to mooch off food from the neighbors. During some of the lowest moments of my life when I was down and depressed, Charlie was the one that kept me going. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I owe him my life. Charlie loved everyone and never knew a stranger. He always wanted to be with you and would follow you wherever you went. He couldn't stand it if people in the house were in separate rooms and as Kim always said he had to have all his "peoples" together.

Charlie Brown was the most loyal, trusted friend I have known. He showed me a glimpse of what Jesus' love is like - unconditional and everlasting. You always knew that no matter how mad you got at him when he got into trouble he would always be there for you. Charlie Brown to me was a gift from God, and I am truly blessed to have known this kind and gentle soul. I have been looking for Charlie Brown all day long today and I know it will take time to heal this hole in my heart right now. One of the last things I told Charlie is that he doesn't have to worry about taking care of us anymore, and it was time for him to rest.

So Goodbye old friend. We love you and we will truly miss you.

Remember 9/11

And the next morning, all one heard in the eerie silence was the sound of active PASS devices still chirping away amidst the rubble. For a firefighter, that is the most heartbreaking sound you can hear.

Never Forget this day.
It is your solemn duty to remember.

A real conservative party

I started this as a comment on Matt's blog and I really liked the thought.

I wonder what would happen if we started a third/fourth party - called the "Conservative" party.

Why you ask? Because the Republican party is NOT conservative. Don't even try arguing that. Just bashing democrats doesn't make one a conservative. Instead of the catch phrase "Tax and Spend Liberal" you can now substitute "Borrow and Spend Republican". And George Bush II to me has been the worst offender. You are a second term President. Sheesh! Use that Veto pen for something other than killing stem cell research.

The rules of entry to the Conservative Party would be simple. Proven fiscal conservatism. That would be the platform. The rules for staying in the party - no spending increases without spending cuts. Borrow even once and you are OUT. Let your voting record speak for itself.

The primary mandate of the party - balance the budget and eliminate the deficit - FOR REAL - not just on paper - with current income, NOT future projections. NO Exceptions. Your objective- cut spending, cut spending, cut spending.

The secondary mandate - eliminate the federal debt.

After that, if you have extra money left over, reduce taxes and give it back to the citizens.

On social issues - vote your conscience.

It's Simple. It's like the Dave Ramsey / Suze Orman method for Government.

Who's with me?

Elitism

Haven't posted in a while.

But just a random post about an Ad that has been running on TV for a while now. It's the American Express business card Ad that shows the "poor newbie schmuck" that pulls out his Spiderman credit card and the German business associates snicker, leave and I guess by implication nix the deal. I don't know why, but elitism like that bothers, irritates and angers me at a fundamental level.

Ask yourself the simple question. If those same snooty people were in a meeting with oh say Bill Gates or Warren Buffet and one of them pulled out a Mickey Mouse Credit card that their kid or grand kid had gifted them with, these same people would be grovelling as to how cute/unique/insert ooh-ah adjective here a card it was.

I have met many "nouveau rich" and people that are actually wealthy in my life. It is interesting to me that the people that are aspiring to belong to the upper echelon are the ones that are always elitist and the worst acting. The people that are truly wealthy and/or powerful and know that they are, seldom behave that way.

The presence of the elite and people that behave that way has always and will always leave me cold. To the guy that pulled out the Spidey card and all those like him I say you are better off. You don't HAVE to get a Gold Amex Card just to impress the condescending rif raff. Become the next Larry Page or Mark Zuckerberg and you won't have to worry about what cartoon figure is on your credit card.

Independence Day 2008

Proud to be an American!
Celebrate, Teach, Remember.