tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:06:57 +0000One day all you will be worth is the price of dirt, and your words will be all you leave behind.http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/noreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)Blogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-6403340504405460412Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:05:00 +00002008-11-11T20:06:57.681-06:00 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.http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/11/veterans-day-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-5451868719928963860Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:29:00 +00002008-11-11T19:57:23.911-06:00Charlie 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 shothttp://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/11/charlie-brown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-4030610600818326917Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:54:00 +00002008-09-11T11:02:58.851-05:00 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.http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/09/remember-911.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-5131549731942386332Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:57:00 +00002008-08-26T12:18:03.775-05:00I 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 "http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/08/real-conservative-party.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-5890540688281575505Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:10:00 +00002008-07-23T15:34:46.562-05:00Haven'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 http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/07/elitism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-7121257401438397327Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:49:00 +00002008-07-04T10:51:56.385-05:00Proud to be an American! Celebrate, Teach, Remember. http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/07/independence-day-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-5293545502416413066Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:33:00 +00002008-06-01T18:51:08.027-05:00We lost Joe Curtis - a fellow firefighter at Lone Oak Fire Department this week. I just got back from a memorial service for him at Station #2. Joe fought many fires and survived to talk about it, but finally lost his battle with cancer. Joe was a good fella. Stubborn and strong as his nickname suggests. I only knew him for a couple of years, but his constant picking on Ronnie and his http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/06/joe-bull-curtis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-465222486013528995Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04:00 +00002008-05-25T21:08:44.933-05:00I know I always put this same poem up every Memorial Day. But that is what "remembering" is about. So as long as I can keep posting I will. 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. In Flanders Fields - John McCrae, May 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/05/memorial-day-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-2389055329184661392Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:41:00 +00002008-05-12T06:57:11.354-05:00Some random observations about this Mumbai trip. Continental's 777 direct flight to Mumbai from Newark is a great time saver. Hard on the knees in coach class but the in-flight entertainment system is nice. The person in the seat next to me managed to somehow reboot her inflight system and lo and behold it runs Linux! I am speculating it's Mandrake but I could be wrong. But most definitely http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/04/in-mumbai.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-1406255672060162367Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:58:00 +00002008-03-07T11:16:24.906-06:00Brett Favre announced this week that he will be retiring. I had been wishing this year that he would win one more Superbowl but it was not to be. In this day of namby pamby pampered NFL players (especially quarterbacks), Favre is the glaring exception. Tough as nails and all HEART. The epitome of a football player. Enjoy your retirement #4. You have earned it. You will be missed.http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/03/favre-calls-it-quits.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-4365761516087604763Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:44:00 +00002008-02-22T13:00:41.260-06:00So I see that our illustrious congressmen / congresswomen are going to haul some bank executives to capitol hill and grill them regarding their high paychecks. I am sure John Q Public will be cheering on the sidelines. After all, how DARE these CEOs collect multi million dollar salaries and bonuses while the mortgage industry is in crisis ! So like the oil company execs who have to literally http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/02/pot-kettle-black.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-4825281743275747632Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:02:00 +00002008-02-15T13:15:25.611-06:00Looks like Wal-Mart has made it's choice in the HD wars and it is going exclusively to Blue Ray. This is pretty much the last nail in the coffin for HD-DVD. And now there are rumors that Toshiba - the only maker of HD-DVD and the primary supporter of the format is going to pull the plug on it. I would like to note that the Microsoft supported format in the HD wars is all but officially DEAD and http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/02/wally-world-goes-blue-ray.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-8197402318310828282Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:56:00 +00002008-02-08T12:29:56.652-06:00No matter what you think about the Iraq war, THIS is just plain wrong. Freedom of speech and protesting the war is one thing, but this is just shameful. Remind me to NEVER visit the City of Berkeley California, other than to go visit the Marines and say thank you. To the people who are protesting the military, your GRIPE is with the leaders who send these brave men and women into war. Don't takehttp://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/02/for-shame.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-1188689921463905931Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:38:00 +00002008-02-07T12:43:05.908-06:00I came upon THIS article today. I couldn't agree more or have said it any better. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/02/superbowl-afterthoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-2421519204421690841Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:44:00 +00002008-02-01T11:52:23.886-06:00After Months of speculation, it finally happened. http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/01/technology/microsoft_yahoo/ To me, it is obvious that Microsoft can't compete with Google on their own, so they need help. It also didn't hurt that Yahoo took a tumble on earnings last quarter. I love the way "Hostile Takeovers" are now called "Unsolicited Bids". Makes it sound - well - less hostile. Sigh.. I http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/02/microsoft-to-yahoo-join-me-or-die.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-410921231748840469Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:17:00 +00002008-01-28T17:21:31.939-06:00It's an election year. And as always, election years are the birthplace of dumb ideas. And a $600 to $1200 handout to the American taxpayer to "juice" the economy is a gargantuan dumb idea. Sheesh! I can't believe the American public are this gullible. Then again, maybe they are not. Most people don't care that this will do nothing but raise the federal deficit by another $150 Billion. Heyhttp://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/01/rebate-bribe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-1641027221149438256Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:23:00 +00002008-01-24T12:31:13.222-06:00I am not a frequent blogger because I usually like to take time to research and think out what I write about. But since very few people read this blog anyway, I am going to try a different approach. I am going to use this blog more as a daily journal than a topic based blog. I thought about this after reading through some of my old posts and it served as a reminder to me as to my thought http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2008/01/different-approach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-2460356046407450829Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:44:00 +00002007-12-24T09:59:36.284-06:00Here's wishing all of you a Very Merry Christmas! Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/12/merry-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-3936020345770919310Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:11:00 +00002007-12-12T16:18:19.322-06:00Time magazine just came out with its Top 10 Gadgets of 2007. #1 - The iPhone - Was there ever any doubt? Where are all the naysayers (Enderle's of the world) now?http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/12/top-10-gadgets-2007.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-5326238697102639783Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:06:00 +00002007-11-11T18:09:52.271-06:00All I can say is THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Rest assured, I shall never forget. http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/11/veterans-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-4354506244937653525Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:11:00 +00002007-11-01T11:35:03.975-05:00Here are some scary points to ponder. US National Debt - $9 Trillion and counting US Trade Deficit - $596 Billion and counting Crude Oil Prices - Approaching $100 per Barrel Gasoline Prices - Over $3 per gallon Sub Prime Housing Market Meltdown - $900 Billion in suspect debt. Total US revolving consumer debt (credit cards) - $915 Billion and climbing. Total US Consumer Debt (excluding mortgage) http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/11/perfect-storm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-1696811001707165366Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:45:00 +00002007-10-09T12:02:50.729-05:00I hate it when I'm right. Last year, when Novell sold out and signed a deal with the devil, I predicted that Microsoft would next go after Red Hat. Here was my exact quote. Microsoft is like any predator. They will separate the herd and then then go after the lone gazelle. Divide and conquer. Till yesterday the Linux vendors were united. The obvious intent is now to separate Red Hat from the http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/10/divide-and-conquer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-355132466394580253Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:52:00 +00002007-09-11T06:53:40.937-05:00It is our duty and our solemn obligation. Never Forget. http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/09/never-forget.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-275093486106007390Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:19:00 +00002007-09-05T23:13:02.517-05:00Apple announced the new iPodtouch today along with the iTunes Wifi Music Store which allows one to directly download a song on to the iPod. Zune users can keep their "Squirting". This is the real implementation of Wifi. What intrigues me now is the logical step of ordering Movies directly on Apple TV from the iTunes store. I don't see why not.http://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/09/itunes-wifi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21666092.post-5558458440007399315Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:48:00 +00002007-08-08T16:09:24.635-05:00The new iMacs are here. They even have the (soon to be leaving) head honcho of Microsoft Security yearning for one. They look pretty sharp to me, but some people don't seem to like the black bezel. The disappointing part of the announcements yesterday for me was that the new iMovie '08 is not supported on G4 Macs. I guess I have finally reached the obsolescence point. It is actually a credit tohttp://www.idespisemicrosoft.com/2007/08/new-imacs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harish Venkatachalam)0