Posts from — February 2008

The Dallas Morning News reports the Southern Methodist University has agreed to be site of the library and public policy center of the current resident of the White House.

Since I like to be helpful, I looked for some plans for this new development in the Dallas area. If they are in a hurry, this model has all the conveniences and is certified as an American with Disabilities Act compliant design.

If they would like something of a more historic design, there is always this gem of a building which is a display of traditional American craftsmanship and values.

The Associate Press reports that people are starting to object to the con: Microsoft class action suit over Vista approved

SEATTLE – A federal judge said Friday that consumers may go ahead with a class action lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. over the way it advertised computers loaded with Windows XP as capable of running the Vista operating system.

The lawsuit said Microsoft’s labeling of some PCs as “Windows Vista Capable” was misleading because many of those computers were not powerful enough to run all of Vista’s features, including the much-touted “Aero” user interface.

It amazing, these people apparently think that corporations shouldn’t deceive them to make a profit. Where would they get a radical idea like that. They are probably DFHs.

Kevin Drum cuts to the chase on involving the insurance industry in a universal coverage plan, in a post about DNA testing, DNA and the Insurance Industry

It’s worth saying this over and over: insurance companies don’t discriminate because they’re evil. They do it because it’s what insurance companies do. It’s a core part of their business, and if they don’t do it they’ll go belly up.

This is the biggest reason for wanting to get private insurance companies (mostly) out of the healthcare business. If it were just a matter of their being corrupt or evil, that actually wouldn’t be so bad. We could figure out ways to regulate them into good behavior. But it’s harder than that. The kind of behavior that most of us want — comparable coverage for everyone under nondiscriminatory pricing rules — is flatly not something an insurance company can offer. If they do, they aren’t being an insurance company. And if they aren’t being an insurance company, then what good are they doing?

That’s the problem with the Obama and Clinton plans – they want to include the insurance industry. The insurers only want to issue policies to people that will never make a claim, and they spend millions every year determining who these people are. We are almost at the point where anyone the insurance industry is willing to sell a policy to, can be fairly certain they won’t need one for an extended period. This isn’t a bug, it is the design of the system that will produce a profit for insurance companies, which is the reason they are in business.

[Added personal aside: based on their performance after Katrina, I feel that insurance companies are both corrupt and evil.]

This just about puts the cherry on top for Democratic voters in Florida, having Ralph Nader round up the cash from wingnut donors to run for President again, and, no, I didn’t accidentally misspell anything on the graphic.

OTOH, since Democrats have already conceded Florida, we don’t have to listen to that crap again.

For unknown reasons Michael at Cannablog thinks this place is Excellent, and has given it an award.

Regardless of my own feelings of worthiness, or lack thereof, there are a number of people among the denizens of blogtopia™, who should be recognized.

Andante at Collective Sigh has gotten some bad health news and is having to deal with the treatment and concerns over paying for it. She shows excellence in spirit in the way she dealing with it.

Michael at Musing’s musings is displaying his excellence is dealing with the tragedy of the attack at NIU. He is chronicling his feelings about adjusting to this new reality.

Rook at Rook’s Rant keeps on keeping on dealing with what the world throws at him.

Catnapping at Odd Neighbor Illustrations produces beautiful artwork in a location where refrigeration thermometers are all they use this time of year.

Elayne Riggs of Pen-Elayne on the Web is one of the most consistent bloggers around. Her “Silly Sites” are there every day, and every month starts with “White Rabbits”.

Fallenmonk of Fallenmonk is the source for skytracking information on satellites as well as a recipes for traditional and untraditional grits.

Jack K. is the Grumpy Forester and among the reasons he’s grumpy is having to deal with dial-up, because no one thinks that people outside the cities in Oregon want or need broadband.

PoP of Morning Martini is always worth reading, especially for Fred the Cat’s Friday sermon.

Scorpio can be found at Eccentricity, Mockingbird’s Medley, and Pacific Views which certainly qualifies for excellence.

Florida License Plates

Beneficiary

A weekend feature of Why Now.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports in its Lifestyle section: When a dog just won’t do

A new study suggests cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than people who, well, don’t own cats.

And no, dogs don’t do the same trick.

The study, by researchers at the University of Minnesota, found that feline-less people were 30 to 40 percent likelier to die of cardiovascular disease than those with cats.

Yet dog owners had the same rate as non-owners. “No protective effect of dogs as domestic pets was observed,” said the study, which was presented Thursday at the International Stroke Conference in New Orleans.

Don’t let your cats read this or they’ll send you a bill.

The BBC report: Fowl Eurovision entry for Ireland

Eurovision Song Contest feathers may be ruffled by Ireland’s decision to be represented in May’s cross-continental competition by a puppet bird.

Dustin The Turkey was plucked from a rafter of six finalists, winning a televised vote on Saturday night.

The cult figure’s gobbled rendition of Irelande Douze Pointe – a parody of the Eurovision voting system – secured his place at the top of the pecking order.

Dustin now aims to restore Irish pride battered by recent Eurovision failures.

But while Dustin beat off national opposition in broadcaster RTE’s Eurosong on Saturday, he now faces a pressure cooker environment at May’s Eurovision, where he will have to fight off competition from all over Europe.

[Read more →]

CNN reports that a Super-speed Internet satellite blasts off in Japan

(CNN) — Japan launched a rocket Saturday carrying a satellite that will test new technology that promises to deliver “super high-speed Internet” service to homes and businesses around the world.

The rocket carrying the WINDS satellite — a joint project of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries — lifted off its pad at 5:55 p.m. (0855 GMT).

If the technology proves successful, subscribers with small dishes will connect to the Internet at speeds many times faster than what is now available over residential cable or DSL services.

The Associated Press said the satellite would offer speeds of up to 1.2 gigabytes per second.

The service initially would focus on the Asia-Pacific region close to Japan, a JAXA news release said.

Depending on the cost, this may be the answer to broadband in the US. There are a number of people who cannot get a broadband connection in the US. If this works as well as cable and costs in the $50/month range, I would be more than happy to sign on. Small towns could buy in and set up a few wireless routers and provide free broadband to the entire community. Reservations could get Japanese broadband before they get American cell phone coverage.

A lot of people were waiting for Service Pack 1 before moving from XP to Vista, under the assumption that most of the major problems with the new version would be fixed by the service pack. They will be waiting a little longer.

CNet reports that Microsoft pulls Vista SP1 update

Microsoft has stopped automatically distributing a prerequisite piece of software for Vista Service Pack 1, following some customer complaints that it had caused system problems.

Servicing stack update KB937287, released last week, contained updates to Windows Vista installation software, and was billed as being “necessary to successfully install and to remove Windows Vista SP1 (Service Pack 1) on all versions of Windows Vista.”

[Read more →]

The Associated Press reports that a Stealth bomber crashes on Guam

HAGATNA, Guam – A B-2 stealth bomber crashed Saturday at an air base on Guam, but both pilots ejected safely and were in good condition, the Air Force said.

It was the first crash of a B-2 bomber, said Capt. Sheila Johnston, a spokeswoman for Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing from the wreckage at Andersen Air Force Base, said Jeanne Ward, a resident in the northern village of Yigo who was on the base visiting her husband.
…

Each B-2 bomber costs about $1.2 billion to build. All 21 stealth bombers are based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, but the Air Force has been rotating several of them through Guam since 2004, along with B-1 and B-52 bombers.

It is highly unlikely this aircraft will be replaced, they are too expensive. The “advantage” they have over a B-52 is not worth the money. You stand off and use cruise missiles, there’s no need to endanger a crew and a billion dollars.

Proving that the US government is no more effective than the Iraqi government: Government agencies lacking ID protections

WASHINGTON – Nearly two years after an embarrassing flap in which veterans’ personal information was put at risk of identity theft, federal agencies are still not doing all they can to prevent further lapses, investigators have found.

Most of the two dozen federal agencies examined by the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ investigative arm, have not implemented five federal recommendations aimed at protecting personal information. Only two agencies — the Treasury and Transportation departments — met each of those recommendations while two others — the Small Business Administration and the National Science Foundation — met none of them.

The other 18 agencies met the recommendations to varying degrees.

[Read more →]

The BBC reports on the newest example of corporate welfare: US-Mexico ‘virtual fence’ ready

A high-technology system to control the US-Mexico border with cameras and radar instead of a physical fence has gained government approval, US officials say.

The $20m ‘virtual fence’ already covers 28 miles (48km) of the border between Arizona state and Mexico.

The system has already helped catch smugglers, and would be deployed elsewhere, said US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

But he said plans to complete 770 miles (1,130km) of physical fence remain.

[Read more →]

Fastest Blink in the South

Not quick enough, Flashboy.

[Editor: Property joins the conspiracy.]

Friday Ark