Another media fight that could impact Green Bay:
Time Warner might be losing Viacom cable channels (Comedy Central, CMT: Pure Country, Logo, Palladia, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Tr3s, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Nick 2, Nicktoons, Spike, The N, TV Land, VH1, VH1 Classic, and VH1 Soul) because of a disagreement over fees.
Time Warner will respond to Viacom’s advertisement, Mr. Dudley said, by highlighting the availability of television content on the Internet. “We will be telling our customers exactly where they can go to see these programs online,” Mr. Dudley said. “We’ll also be telling them how they can hook up their PCs to a television set.”
On a totally unrelated note, I'm not sure what to make of, this:
"Divine Temple, 425 Cherry St., is hosting an adult spelling bee at 2 p.m. Saturday.The fee to watch the spelling bee is $5 for per adult and $1 per school-age child. Call (920) 436-9740 for information."
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
HUGE SUPER SECRET WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT!
The attitude conveyed in the first bullet of this release drives me nuts.
You want to know how to improve your credit? Spend only what you can afford and pay your bills on time. It's that simple: if you don't have the money, don't spend it. If you use credit cards, then pay them off in full every single month. Each penny of interest you give to a lender is money you could have kept and spent or invested. 20% on a thousand dollar balance over a year is enough for a new HDTV. You want that HDTV, right? Then spend what you have to spend and then STOP SPENDING. Put together a budget with cash in envelopes and stop using credit cards altogether if you have to. Once you have a proven track record of keeping your word by paying your bills on time, your credit score will recover. I promise.
Consider something for a moment... If you have to work to improve your credit rating, do you have the bill paying track record and fiscal judgment to buy a house? If you have to play games to get a bank to give you money at a reasonable rate, shouldn't that send up some warning flags? Why not see if you can't get your financial house in order before piling on the additional stresses and expenses of owning a house?
Don't get me wrong. I believe home ownership strengthens neighborhoods and is usually a great investment. But when someone with minimal financial discipline and resources buys a home, that home will likely be foreclosed or resold in short order. That's not good for neighborhoods or families. Nor is a family giving away a huge chunk of their spending on sub-prime loan interest when they could be investing that money in their family. If all someone can get is a variable rate or sub prime loan, then they shouldn't buy the house.
I don't know this dude out of Michigan. But I do know and trust some folks at NeighborWorks. If you are at risk of losing your home or interested in getting your first give them a call. Either way, the sooner the better. They can't help you until you call. If your fiscal house is in order, there are some OUTSTANDING deals out there right now. If not, they will help you get there.
You want to know how to improve your credit? Spend only what you can afford and pay your bills on time. It's that simple: if you don't have the money, don't spend it. If you use credit cards, then pay them off in full every single month. Each penny of interest you give to a lender is money you could have kept and spent or invested. 20% on a thousand dollar balance over a year is enough for a new HDTV. You want that HDTV, right? Then spend what you have to spend and then STOP SPENDING. Put together a budget with cash in envelopes and stop using credit cards altogether if you have to. Once you have a proven track record of keeping your word by paying your bills on time, your credit score will recover. I promise.
Consider something for a moment... If you have to work to improve your credit rating, do you have the bill paying track record and fiscal judgment to buy a house? If you have to play games to get a bank to give you money at a reasonable rate, shouldn't that send up some warning flags? Why not see if you can't get your financial house in order before piling on the additional stresses and expenses of owning a house?
Don't get me wrong. I believe home ownership strengthens neighborhoods and is usually a great investment. But when someone with minimal financial discipline and resources buys a home, that home will likely be foreclosed or resold in short order. That's not good for neighborhoods or families. Nor is a family giving away a huge chunk of their spending on sub-prime loan interest when they could be investing that money in their family. If all someone can get is a variable rate or sub prime loan, then they shouldn't buy the house.
I don't know this dude out of Michigan. But I do know and trust some folks at NeighborWorks. If you are at risk of losing your home or interested in getting your first give them a call. Either way, the sooner the better. They can't help you until you call. If your fiscal house is in order, there are some OUTSTANDING deals out there right now. If not, they will help you get there.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Medical Ethical Gray Areas
Biohackers are customizing DNA in their kitchens.
The CIA has found an interesting use for Viagra.
Much risk taken in both situations-- what if the old guy has a heart condition and dies or that new gene sequence wipes out the planet? OTOH, both situations have (massive?) potential upside too.
The CIA has found an interesting use for Viagra.
Much risk taken in both situations-- what if the old guy has a heart condition and dies or that new gene sequence wipes out the planet? OTOH, both situations have (massive?) potential upside too.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Midnight Rule Changes
Outgoing presidential administrations apparently make all kinds of rule changes at the last minute. Once in place, they can be difficult for the successor to undo. From what I've read, this has been the case since at least the Carter administration.
So I don't get something. Why does a rule change trump state law?
There is other coverage out there.
It's one thing when congress passes a law, it's a whole different thing for some outgoing political appointee to invalidate state laws by sending out a memo... Perhaps these things should be somehow restricted in the window between the election and the inauguration when there is zero political pressure restraining the lame duck.
So I don't get something. Why does a rule change trump state law?
There is other coverage out there.
It's one thing when congress passes a law, it's a whole different thing for some outgoing political appointee to invalidate state laws by sending out a memo... Perhaps these things should be somehow restricted in the window between the election and the inauguration when there is zero political pressure restraining the lame duck.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Snipers
This article has it about right, I think. Snipers save lives, especially innocent lives.
Green Bay and NE Wisconsin has an indirect tie to these folks in that American Snipers seems to be based here. If you would like to help, they take donations and are holding a charity drawing with various prizes.
It seems criminal to me that these guys don't seem to be getting what they need and a civilian organization is required to try and fill that gap. Many, many letters mention the lack of proper equipment.
Preventing the accidental deaths of innocents while dealing with the bad guys can only help hasten the end of these wars. Almighty willing, our troops will return home soon.
Green Bay and NE Wisconsin has an indirect tie to these folks in that American Snipers seems to be based here. If you would like to help, they take donations and are holding a charity drawing with various prizes.
It seems criminal to me that these guys don't seem to be getting what they need and a civilian organization is required to try and fill that gap. Many, many letters mention the lack of proper equipment.
Preventing the accidental deaths of innocents while dealing with the bad guys can only help hasten the end of these wars. Almighty willing, our troops will return home soon.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Give someone else...
...a speeding ticket!
I don't know what to think about private firms issuing them. That's seems like it should be a function of government.
I don't know what to think about private firms issuing them. That's seems like it should be a function of government.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
IT unions and programmng language comedy
I'm not sure what I think of a petition to start a union. Telecommuting IT workers aside, what's wrong with an election? The cynic in me wonders if this another form of the organizer working to open the ballots. How about an open vote on how which mechanism to decide organize where they choose between open ballot, closed ballot, and signed cards/petitions for a subsequent organization vote. Make the closed ballot not require this step. Is this a doable compromise?
Here's a pretty darn funny (to a geek) take on the "religious wars" on programming languages.
Here's a pretty darn funny (to a geek) take on the "religious wars" on programming languages.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Check...
...and balance.
Score one for constitutional free speech. Law enforcement again has to get a court order before telling you that you can't talk about something. It's like we're becoming a democracy again or something.
Score one for constitutional free speech. Law enforcement again has to get a court order before telling you that you can't talk about something. It's like we're becoming a democracy again or something.
More Foreclosures Coming
"Stockton median prices, says O'Toole, have dropped even further relative to income. 'At this point, I don't think you'll see more price declines in Stockton.'"
Hopefully Stockton doesn't have any of the next generation of home mortgages that are going to start blowing up over the next few years. According to this report, we're only half way through this housing mess.
Let me say again that we must be ruthless about keeping people in their homes. Why not a 1% per year cap on the increase on notes for primary homes? Why isn't this plan already in progress? Even though the financial professionals should have known better we bailed them out. Now, they continue to throw people out.
Unacceptable.
Hopefully Stockton doesn't have any of the next generation of home mortgages that are going to start blowing up over the next few years. According to this report, we're only half way through this housing mess.
Let me say again that we must be ruthless about keeping people in their homes. Why not a 1% per year cap on the increase on notes for primary homes? Why isn't this plan already in progress? Even though the financial professionals should have known better we bailed them out. Now, they continue to throw people out.
Unacceptable.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Election Integrity
Humboldt County CA has found a way to double-check their proprietary voting system results.
The first step is to scan all the ballots in a secure, controlled environment. The second step is to feed those images in to an open source program to perform a count. Guess what they found? The Diebold software somehow failed to count 216 ballots. Here is the calm, factual blow by blow from a volunteer developer on the project.
The most interesting part to me is that the scanned ballots are digitally signed and available for all to review. Now that's transparent. Unlimited recounts by whomever wishes to put forth the effort. You don't think the media outlets might want to get their hands on the ballots during a controversial recount? This is the future of elections. Congratulations to all who were a part of making this happen!
The first step is to scan all the ballots in a secure, controlled environment. The second step is to feed those images in to an open source program to perform a count. Guess what they found? The Diebold software somehow failed to count 216 ballots. Here is the calm, factual blow by blow from a volunteer developer on the project.
The most interesting part to me is that the scanned ballots are digitally signed and available for all to review. Now that's transparent. Unlimited recounts by whomever wishes to put forth the effort. You don't think the media outlets might want to get their hands on the ballots during a controversial recount? This is the future of elections. Congratulations to all who were a part of making this happen!
The Response
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Privacy and Politics
Privacy it tough enough for a private citizen. Get in to politics and you'll learn they aren't really compatible. If information is stored somewhere, someone can abuse their knowledge or authority to get at it.
SOE Game Economies
It's interesting how many things that used to be against the EQ terms of service have since been implemented as features. Maps in ShowEQ, EQWindows, and now items for real world cash. How long until they "legalize" the account sales already going on? I suppose the final step is for the game companies to sell experience, skills and other things normally earned by playing the game. But then, what would be the point of playing the game if a rich dude can just train up a character by pulling out plastic?
Outside money influences game economies in a huge way, no doubt about it. I expect Sony's bottom line will go up by offering in game items for sale. The pharmers' bottom lines will, no doubt, go down. It almost feels anti-competitive to me for Sony to move in to this market when they own the game universe.
Real world money often corrupts and compromises the initially planned game universe processes. So it's good to see that Sony is trying to figure out another model. Maybe they can figure out a way to ride or even harness the wave of real world money instead of fighting it.
Last I heard Blizzard is killing anything Sony Online Entertainment offers with World of Warcraft. Could these new in game economics be a result of that?
Outside money influences game economies in a huge way, no doubt about it. I expect Sony's bottom line will go up by offering in game items for sale. The pharmers' bottom lines will, no doubt, go down. It almost feels anti-competitive to me for Sony to move in to this market when they own the game universe.
Real world money often corrupts and compromises the initially planned game universe processes. So it's good to see that Sony is trying to figure out another model. Maybe they can figure out a way to ride or even harness the wave of real world money instead of fighting it.
Last I heard Blizzard is killing anything Sony Online Entertainment offers with World of Warcraft. Could these new in game economics be a result of that?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
gender-benders and herpes
Males of all species are feminizing due to pollutants? I've heard this multiple places now and would like to see the data, especially around which pollutants are suspect.
On a totally unrelated note, Alzheimer's disease and cold sores may both be caused by the herpes virus.
On a totally unrelated note, Alzheimer's disease and cold sores may both be caused by the herpes virus.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Virtual Heroes
First this excellent software shop makes, America's Army to help train and recruit for the, umm, US Army.
Then they make Virtual Peace which is a somewhat less violent game having more to do with State Dept functions.
And now they're working on the best game ever. I can't wait until it comes out!
Then they make Virtual Peace which is a somewhat less violent game having more to do with State Dept functions.
And now they're working on the best game ever. I can't wait until it comes out!
Monday, December 1, 2008
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