If you can't get a dog...

...get a Macbook. It's cute and keeps your lap cozy warm.

Character

Whatever you do repeatedly will shape your character.

-BK
Sent from my iPhone

Padibe Blog - SummerCamp08

Please check this out:

http://summercamp08.wordpress.com/

Broken Car(maker) Blues

GM's outlook is dim. Not believed to have enough cash resources to last. Seems unlikely that the auto makers will get a bailout before the end of the year. Dems had scheduled a vote but cancelled in the face of stiff GOP opposition. GOP blames labour costs for troubles, says that GM should declare bankruptcy and thus free itself of “burdensome” labour pension agreements. GM chief executive says that labour is not the problem. Is this a cynical move on the GOP's part to break the unions? You decide.

Consider this: In the last two-and-a-half months, there have been only six gainers in the S&P 500. Conversely, 494 of 500 are down. Of those, at least half have lost more than 40%. This is a fire sale! I really wish I had a bundle of cash to put into the market right now. (Shame on me.)

Obama team (or sources inside the team) has over the last couple weeks made several cabinet and high-level positions: Chief of Staff, Secretary of State (still unconfirmed). Attorney General, and today Homeland Security.

Bush team, in the meantime, has been busy converting politically appointed positions to permanent civil service positions. Claim that this is not an attempt to thwart the Obama presidency. More GOP cynicism at a critical time? (To be fair, there only one president in the last fifty years, Jimmy Carter, has not done this.)

Joe the Plumber – the welfare recipient turned nanny-state critic whose real name is Steve - has a book coming out on 1 December. Turned down, he says, several “lucrative” offers from big-name publishers in order to “spread the wealth”. How? By co-writing with a little-known author of a little-known novel and go through a little-known publisher. The publisher in question has put out one book in its history - the aforementioned novel. Lucrative offers, huh?

Whoa. As of 2:51PM Central Standard Time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 400 points to 7,577.

Cyberbullying – A 49-year-old woman poses as a teenage boy on MySpace and befriends a 13-year-old girl with a history of depression. The women proceeds to taunt and humiliate the girl. The girl ultimately kills herself. (She did this in concert with her daughter and an employee.) She is on trial. The charges: one count of conspiracy, and three of accessing computers without authorisation.

Back in Milwaukee we have the case of Christopher Thomas. A baby has a father in jail, and his mother abuses him. Child Welfare places him in foster care. His last foster mother – and aunt – tortures and kills him. Well, his funeral was yesterday. His biological parents were there. What happened there? The mother's and father's families break out in violence and you have a dishevelled funeral home, attendees fleeing the funeral home, witness reports of someone brandishing a gun, and someone having to stand over the child's casket to ensure it is not tipped over during the melee.

It's just a world of good news today.

BBC E-mail: Father snapped daughter's spine

Brian Kuhn saw this story on the BBC News website and thought you
should see it.

** Father snapped daughter's spine **
The father of a baby girl from Doncaster is found guilty of her murder by snapping her spine, a court hears.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/7682771.stm >

** BBC Daily E-mail **
Choose the news and sport headlines you want - when you want them, all
in one daily e-mail
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/email >

** Disclaimer **
The BBC is not responsible for the content of this e-mail, and anything written in this e-mail does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the e-mail address nor name of the sender have been verified.

If you do not wish to receive such e-mails in the future or want to know more about the BBC's Email a Friend service, please read our frequently asked questions. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/4162471.stm

Money and Family Values - Part One

If the GOP wants to preach about Family Values, they would do well to consider this:

A family earning $25,000 per year is twice as likely to divorce as a family earning $50,000 per year.

I'll delve more into this later, but in the mean time, please read this article from the Economic Policy Institute (and keep in mind that costs have gone up since it was written four years ago)

Basic family budgets: Working families' incomes often fail to meet living expenses around the U.S.

Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

I hate to say it, but I am.  There's no excuse for that in my case.  So this caught my eye:

http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/06/paycheck.html

Monkey Man Says

"Submit!"

Amen!

I agree entirely

Oops

Gave my presentation at the conference.

Forgot two basic rules:

1. Ignore the ladies up front making ugly faces and focus on the
people who actually care.

2. s-l-o-w d-o-w-n

3. Practice practice practice. When you're done, practice some more.

4. Get some good sleep the night before.

Even so, there were some people with questions and positive
feedback . That makes thing easier.

That is all.

----
Sent from my iPhone

MobileMe Won't Sync on Tiger (OSX 10.4) - Solution

When I bought my iPhone, I decided to get a MobileMe account from Apple so that I could have a synchronized view of my Calendar, Contacts and Mail.

Had a devil of a time getting Synchronization to work on my Tiger MacBook, though.

Apple says you have to have OSX 10.4.11 - which I do. When I would go into the .mac settings, I entered my credentials, and got a response that they were valid. But when I would go to the Sync tab, a couple of wierd things happened:

1. When I clicked the "Synchronize" checkbox, the check mark would appear briefly, and then just disappear.

2. Eventually, I would get an error message saying "There was a problem with the sync operation .mac login failed".

Frustrating.

I found the solution here: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=520400

Testing the mobile waters

There's really nothing important. To say in this entry. Just trying to
see if I can send a post via email on my mobile.

Sent from my iPhone

I'm Guessing These Parents...

...had to clean their shorts

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,564890,00.html

How do your rights rank?

YouTube has been ordered to hand over the viewing habits of *every* user. Video watched, user id, IP address from which you watched it, and more.

Interestingly, Viacom had demanded the source code for YouTube, but the court said that handing over Trade Secrest was unwarrented.

Nice to see where We the People's priorities are.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7488009.stm

It's crap like this that makes me think that big media companies need to ... switch off.

self-inflicted torture

log into myspace. "you have new friends". click the notice. wait 3 minutes. "cannot find page".

gargh! how can you people stand myspace? and why do i even go there?

I did NOT just ask that, did I?

"Hey, that's Kurt Vonnegut. Wonder why he's got a cameo in this?"

That was me, yesterday, while watching watching "Mother Night" (1996, starring Nick Nolte).

Thank god I was alone.

(Yet Another Brit-Rock) iTunes Free Download

For those who like the Wombat's "Let's Dance to Joy Division" - it's the free download of the week at iTunes USA

We Ain't Hicks

I can't tell you how many times I've been taken aback when I'd see Milwaukee -- or more accurately, it's people -- depicted in the movies as a bunch of backwater hicks. ("Love Actually" being one example.) It does not mesh with what I see every day. Granted, we're no Paris or Berlin, but surely we're not that bad, are we? How did we get that image? What did the outsiders see? I think I figured it out. And I have a new rule: *NEVER* take visitors to the Cactus Club in Bay View. I think I'd find less facial hair at a ZZ Top show in the Appalachians.

Crazy Eights

If you use a Mac, you use Apple's Pages, and you have to export your document to PDF, then here's a little tidbit for you:

Futura 8-point font will come out U-G-L-Y on the PDF, with decidedly jagged text. Increase your size to 9 points and your letters will be smooth as silk.

You Can Pay, But It'll Cost You

I've wondered about Hillary's campaign advisor. Why have Clinton stick it out until the bitter end? She's only looking more and more rediculous as the days go by. Why the problem with ending the campaign a little early? Now I get it...

Holy Squeezebox, Batman!

Wow...



This is hard enough to play on an organ...

(If you can't see the video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBmajjf5WKE)

Padibe Essay

http://www.berkeleyprize.org/essay/2007/essays.cfm?winners=815

Hoo Ha

Turns out that Supergrass is offering free download of Diamond Hoo Ha Man
performed live.

http://www.parlophone.co.uk/supergrass/download/

Yippee

Hoo Ha Wha?

Ok. I like it. I shouldn't, but I do: "Diaomond Hoo Ha Man" by Supergrass.

The single on vinyl is due out next week (14 jan). The CD is out 24
march. No good... I want it now!

Pete is Free

Judge suspends final six months of Doherty's supervision.

http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2198192,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

Little things add up...

For anyone, who like me, wants to start making wise decisions with their money, a few links...

It's about the little things we do and how they hold us down. It matters. One of the things that I know about most millionairs is that -- contrary to popular opinion -- is that they are not spoiled recipients of daddy's money. They earned it themselves. And while most make a pretty good income, what separates them from the non-millionairs is that they watch what they spend. They clip coupons. They buy their clothes from Target or JC Penny. They buy used cars. They buy small houses. And they don't go to Starbucks for coffee.

SO... enjoy.

Little Splurges

10 Little Expenses that Add Up Fast

Save Big with the Flashback Budget

Suburbia

Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the
streets after them.
- Bill Vaughan

Flock

Just testing to see if this successfully published.

Blogged with Flock

Smelly Onions

Dude, what are you doing, peeling onions?

What is it with these guys? Why do our IT help desk guys insist on bringing the most obnoxious-smelling foods to their cubes?

This is just painful.

Hey you, Smelly!

Hey buddy, I don't wanna smell your funk!  Don't wanna smell your junk!  Definitely don't want to smell your lunch!  Take your BBQ, onions, or tuna into the cafeteria!

Verify Yourself -- Save Human Knowledge!

How creative!

BBC: Anti-Spam Weap Helps Preserve Books

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7023627.stm

You *have* to check this out...

http://www.krazydad.com/colrpickr/index.php

Abuse - Needle Ordeal

There are levels of cruelty that are difficult to understand. This is
one of them.

BBC - Chinese Woman's Needle Ordeal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6983435.stm

Instant Films Festival

I was trying to remember which video camera Steve Jobs touted when he was
announcing the new aluminum iMac and iWork '08. (It was the Panasonic
HDC-SD1.)

While searching for the info I stumbled across a couple goodies from the
Instant Film festival.

The Instant Films festival is a weekend affair in which, essentially,
people have 36 hours to make a short -- from writing to showing. Stories
are written, then drawn from a hat, and cast members randomly assigned.

These are brilliant!

You can watch the films at their website.

http://www.instantfilms.tv/watch.html

D N A for the U K . . .

A top UK judge is calling for a DNA repository of every person in the UK.

The government response? So far, it has been that there are no plans to create such a database, that there are serious privacy concerns.

But the Home Office minister also said, "I think we are broadly sympathetic to the thrust of what he [the judge] has said.

"I have said that myself in the past, that there is a real logic and cohesion to the point that says, 'Well, put everybody on'."

The UK has already amassed the largest DNA collection in the world, mainly of criminals. Its residents are -- I believe -- filmed more than any other people, thanks to the proliferation of private and public CCTV.

Also, I found this amusing: Authorities' powers to collect biometric data are spelled out in the "Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984".

_{sources:
The Guardian - Judge Wants Everone in UK on Database}

You know you want to watch this!

What does it say about me that I want to see this movie?

http://www.helveticafilm.com/

Meditation for Difficult Times

I wanted to pass along something that has helped to calm the inner storm
when in the midst of turmoil. Meditating on this has been invaluable.

I don't remember who originally penned it...

Enjoy!

"Do not fear what may happen to you tomorrow.

The same loving father who cares for you today
will care for you tomorrow and every day.

Either he will shield you from suffering,
or give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace then, and put aside
all anxious thoughts and imaginings"

iPhone Must-Have

If you want, you can pay Apple a gazillion dollars for their bluetooth headset for their iPhone.

Or, you can get this

Drowning in my .... mail

I *fear* my inbox.

That feeling of dread that consumes me when I start Mail is something I'd just as soon avoid. So I check it once per week at most.

Too many messages coming in... the rules that I spent hours (!!!) setting up to organize and highlight messages are marginally useful now... I just know going in that I'm going to be there for a while trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Add to that fact that I'm a hopeless pack rat -- I think I've saved 50,000+ messages -- and you have a need for manageability.

So much for this great thing that once made it easier for me to communicate with the world around me, and vice versa....

Well, I want the joy of emailing back!  So, I'll be watching Merlin Mann's Zero-Inbox talk at Google.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=973149761529535925&hl=en

http://www.43folders.com/2007/07/25/merlins-inbox-zero-talk/ http://www.43folders.com

Lulu.com

If you catch a writing bug and you don't want to go the route of big publishing houses to get your work out there, there are resources available to help you sucessfully self publish.

One of them is lulu.com

They can bind and print your books, and provide an online marketplace.

Amen...

Check it out: http://wakeuptiger.blogspot.com/2007/03/people-that-mind-dont-matter.html

Movie - Pan's Labyrinth

I have only three words to say about this movie

GO    SEE    IT

Blogged with Flock

Milwaukee on CNN's Front Page

I was as work this morning and looked out the window to see this huge plume of black smoke. Obviously a fire, probably a mile away at most. I was wondering what was going on. Found this on CNN: One killed, 25 injured, in Milwaukee blast, fire - CNN.com

More Milwaukee on CNN's Front Page

I saw this on the front page of the Milwuakee Journal last night and thought "Good God.  Is this news?"  Apparently it's national news. Oi.

Salesman donates million-mile car to museum - CNN.com

Milwaukee December Greetings

December 1st. And how does it welcome Milwaukee?

Well, so far this morning, by dumping 6 inches (15 cm) of snow on us, with more on the way. Very strange storm today. I woke up to thunder. Upset me too, I was having a nice dream, enjoying a play at some theatre in San Francisco with my lover and friends.

I discovered something on the way to work: I really don't enjoy thinking I'm going to die.

I especially don't when some barely-endowed-dumb-f**k-with-a-truck is barrelling through a red light. When will these people learn that the four-wheel drive that gets them going in the snow does absolutely nothing for them when it comes time to stop. So, SUV owners: GET A CLUE! Slow the f**k down. Maybe you don't care if you kill one of us out there. But let me share one of my life's little pleasures: tooliing down the road and seeing you f**kers stranded on the side of the road in or in a ditch because your over-confidence spun you out of control.

Schools are closed today. Given that and the empty streets, I figured I'd get rock star parking at work. No such luck. The lots were full. Hardly anyone is missing.

I suppose that says something about the Midwest work ethic. It did have me pause and consider the oppressive nature of our brand of capitalism here in the good old U.S. of A. States. But that's another post.

Followed a certain stream of thought from there, and after a hundred twists and turns, you could come to the conclusion that most companies -- large or small -- are like horribly dysfunctional families. But that's another post too.

As unpleasant as the experience of trying to get around in this weather can be, once you're where you need to be, it is nice to stop, breathe, and just watch.  See the way the flakes flitter about in the wind, the white-capped rooftops, branches of trees drop slightly under the weight of the snow, the pristine desert with its wind-blown dunes in what yesterday was a park... it really is beautiful.

I see my lover's work number on the Caller ID. She made it safe.  Time to go.

Anyway, it's December 1st.  It's cold. 

Wally World and Wage Caps

Wal-Mart to add more part-timers, wage caps: NYT | US News | Reuters.com

I'll have to say more about this later.

You Are What You Sponge

If you want to be a happy, energetic, sharp and positive person.... Hang around happy, energetic shart positive people.

You'll be smarter too.

It may sound silly. But there's science to back it up.

I was reminded of this when I saw an article I'd read a couple months ago. So check it out. (Hang in there through the first three or four paragaphs.)

Angry/Negative People Can Be Bad For Your Brain

Little moments like this....

I love Earl. I love listening to him. He's been on my iPod since I cleaned up last August). My favourite talk by far one he gave at the 2003 Sunlight of the Spirit Conference in Iceland. During the dark hours, well... everybody sing now: "my headphones... they saved my life".

So anyways, I'm at work the other day listening to him, and something sticks out as he's talking. To paraphrase:

one of the greatest complemenets that i think i can give anyone, is that they're kind. it's a crazy world, and there's just not enough kindness out there.

Cool enought. I go on with the rest of the day. Later at home, my daughter is busy writing in *my* journal (ahem!). I was trying to decide whether to make her write in her own... no... let it go. She calls me over. Asks me to read it.

dear dad, happy fathers day. i love you. you are kind.

kids rock

It's 1:15 a.m.

So this is all I'm going to say for now.

Darkening Milwaukee's Skies -- 2 July 2006

Milwaukee, USA... 2 July 2006... Bauhaus and Nine Inch Nails.... Tickets on sale April 8th... Must sell blood...