I admit my bias against the big bailout bill stems largely from the fact that George W. Bush consistently delivers the exact opposite of what he promises, with the notable exception of his extensive tax cuts, which have driven the nation deeper into debt. Unless he promised higher food and fuel costs, a weaker dollar, and two unfinished wars. I admit to not being a devoted Bushie, so if he promised recession and ruin, by all means, let me know.
I was also against Bush's plan to privatize social security, again mostly because it was his plan. The ulterior motive of such a plan, I believe, was to flood the private markets with taxpayer money. Sounds familiar.
If I were prone to speculation, and I am, I might think Bush was trying to use this failure in the market as a backdoor method of fulfilling his goal of dumping federal funds into private companies. Just coincidence, right? [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Obama and McCain go head-to-head on foreign policy (with some focus on economic issues) and both emerge strong. I felt my guy was too restrained and showed his opponent more respect than he deserved. By contrast, McCain hammered hard on his own experience, and his opponent's inexperience. However, the subject matter, foreign policy, is McCain's strong area, and Obama held his own. On the other hand, McCain was much more coherent and alert than he has been. McCain shined in his comfort zone. Obama showed he was comfortable there too. Technically, I'd say there was no clear edge, but McCain can't feel good that he didn't own this debate. We'll see if he declares victory... again (http://sumocats.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccain-invents-time-travel.html). [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
One day after John McCain ditched David Letterman (and lied to him about the reason), Dave seems to still be pissed. Odd. It's almost as if he doesn't like people lying to him directly. I predict he won't let this go until McCain is let go. Just hope that happens in a few weeks, not in a few years. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
After watching President Bush read a speech off a teleprompter last night, I felt an urgency to examine the transcript today because I couldn't quite tell if I heard his two main points correctly or if I had been hypnotized by his blank, unwavering stare. unfortunately, his main points were as ridiculous as to thought.
"First, the plan is big enough to solve a serious problem. [...] In the short term, this will free up banks to resume the flow of credit to American families and businesses. And this will help our economy grow.
Second, as markets have lost confidence in mortgage-backed securities, their prices have dropped sharply. Yet the value of many of these assets will likely be higher than their current price, because the vast majority of Americans will ultimately pay off their mortgages. [...] And we expect that much, if not all, of the tax dollars we invest will be paid back."
So first, the easy credit system that led to the sub-prime loans that led to the crisis is still in place. Second, our "investment" of tax dollars could see a return of zero... maybe, if you working folks pay off your mortgages with interest, while the investment banks get paid now.
To sum up, core problem not just unsolved but encouraged to flourish, and we could earn up to zero percent interest by "investing" our tax dollars in private investment companies. Takes real balls to stand up in front of the nation to sell that big pile of crap as the goals of your plan, particularly since we have to borrow that money and pay interest on it. Kind of like getting a loan for money to stuff in your mattress. Great idea, right? [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
David Letterman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Letterman) is perhaps the most grateful and humble man on television. His writers have noted that he lets them have all the credit for writing awards, despite all the material he contributes. He also quickly made a deal with the Writer's Guild to put his people back to work. He gave his support to Conan O'Brien after Conan took his old show. He invited the surgical team that performed his heart surgery to his show to thank them for saving his life. The man demonstrates a deep sense of honor, which he would deny having.
But that honor works both ways, as demonstrated by his unending resentment toward NBC for not honoring his contract to host the Tonight Show. He still hands out canned hams on his show because, back when he was a weatherman, his bosses did not appreciate a joke about hail "the size of canned hams". Thus, I suspect Dave will be carrying a grudge against John McCain for a while. Note to McCain: next time you ditch someone and lie about the reason (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/john-mccain-cancels-lette_n_128998.html), you should not televise your real reason for ditching, and certainly not from the same building. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
President Bush addressed the nation to explain the big $700 billion bail out for Wall Street. Sounds great. Goes against everything he's ever said about how big government can't solve our problems. This also comes from the guy who declared victory in Iraq then argued how we need to succeed in Iraq. He thought we did a "heckuva" job in New Orleans. So naturally, I trust him when he claims pouring billions of dollars into companies that stripmined the mortgage market, under the absolute control of one of his invariably competent people, will save us all. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Wound up burning a chunk of time arguing against, of all people, Warner Crocker (http://www.gottabemobile.com/Strangling+The+Golden+Goose.aspx) about an issue I care nothing about. Part of it was iPhone-related, so it's fair to say I have an interest there, especially since I know and have publicly supported an iPhone app developer (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/09/incredible-iphone-app-under-pressure.html), but T-Mobile's new 3G data plan? I really need to focus on issues I care about and skip those where I just disagree.
Update! Bigger waste than I thought. T-Mobile just lifted the limit (http://gizmodo.com/5054473/t+mobile-removes-1gb-3g-data-cap-for-g1-android-phone) (and explained the need for the limit the same way I did). [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Or more accurately, it's what I blogged about (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/08/pandora-should-stop-whining-and-start.html). What is it? A little banner ad sitting over the album art in Pandora (http://www.pandora.com/), my most-used iPhone app!
Even better, they managed to overcome an obstacle I thought might be holding them back: the obtrusiveness of click-through. They managed to keep the click-through within the app, so the music keeps going while you browse their sponsor's site. Very well done.
First and so far only sponsor appears to be Best Buy Mobile. Excellent targeting, but it could go a step further and send me straight to iPhone accessories. An audience of Pandora-loving iPhone users is probably move interested in more stuff for their iPhones rather than new and likely Pandora-less phones.
When news of the iPhone power adapter broke, I immediately thought of two things: 1. Free adapter (http://sumocats.blogspot.com/2008/09/free-iphone-3g-power-adapter.html) (though I am reconsidering now that I see their ridiculously simple and easily duplicated method of marking new ones) and 2. Why hasn't anyone blogged about their broken adapters?
It seems like every other isolated experience anyone has with their iPhone hits the Internet first and then prompts Apple to react. The adapter recall, however, seems to have been unprompted. Even now, after the recall was announced, I can't find one complaint or photo of a broken adapter. Strikes me as terribly odd, particularly since it only affects people with cameras and Internet access on their phones.
Update! My diligence has paid off. (http://sumocats.blogspot.com/2008/09/photo-of-broken-iphone-power-adapter.html) I found one photo of an iPhone AC adapter that is broken (http://twinkle.tapulous.com/index.php?id=1197978) as described in the recall. No details, but if I were prone to speculation (and I am), I would guess that this guy kicked off the recall, He exchanged his iPhone (presumably with broken adapter) four weeks ago. That's enough time for the adapter to go back to the lab for analysis and determine the flaw is recall-worthy.
Mystery solved, but still seems a bit odd this guy hadn't come forward to say it happened to him. Also a bit sad that none of the big blogs dug up this photo. Too busy trying to make the loudest echo? [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Okay, full disclosure, I haven't tried this app and wouldn't have noticed it, except that it's the product of friend of the blog, Michael Venini. However, based on the nature of the app and a mysterious statement of challenge, I feel it is fair to elevate Under Pressure Football (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=290528718) to "incredible" status.
First, it's actually a math teaching game that uses a football metaphor to engage the player. Despite a previous disagreement with computerized math instruction (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2007/05/microsoft-math-30-to-make-me-obsolete.html), I am a proponent of reinforcing math skills, so that scores a touchdown with me.
Second, Michael claims the "World Championship" level is nearly impossible to beat. But why? Is the math more advanced? Are there simply too many digits involved? I don't know, but that sounds like a challenge I might have to accept.
At the very least this reminds me that my math skills need sharpening. If and when I decide to hone them, Under Pressure Football will be my first stop. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Got a heads up from one Kevin C. Tofel at jkOnTheRun (http://www.jkontherun.com/2008/09/airmouse-turns.html) about an app that enables an iPhone to function as a trackpad, keyboard and accelerometer-controlled mouse for a PC over a local wifi network. Sounded like a great way for me to control my tablet in TV mode, and it is.
Basically, I sometimes connect my tablet to my TV to watch video from the web or iTunes. Problem with that is the cables for power, video, and USB (for audio) make it impossible to control my tablet in slate mode on the couch where I watch TV, and my wireless mouse is tough to control without a flat surface. Hence, a handheld trackpad with motion control holds great appeal.
The app works extremely well. Requires installing a server app on the PC to be controlled with settings for sensitivity, so it can be set differently for different computers. It lacks multi-touch control so you can't hold down a mouse button and move the cursor simultaneously. Keyboard is limited to the iPhone standard, so no ctrl or alt keys. Hopefully those shortcomings will be lifted in future versions, but even with them, Air Mouse (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=289616509&mt=8) is a great control system. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Today, one of John McCain's policy advisers held up a BlackBerry and proclaimed "Behold the miracle delivered unto us by the chosen one, McCain." That's a paraphrase, but he did refer to his BlackBerry as a "miracle", (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/16/mccain-helped-invent-the_n_126785.html)which is frickin' hilarious.
First, BlackBerry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry) is made by a Canadian company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_In_Motion), so kudos to John McCain for helping to outsource our mobile technology.
Second, if the BlackBerry is a miracle, what does that make the iPhone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone)? Multi-touch alone would make it a "premium" miracle or miracle "plus".
Third, how noble of McCain to help create a miracle and not enjoy its wonder. It's like when Jesus turned water into wine and chose not to get wasted. Except that turning water into wine is an actual miracle and choosing not to get drunk is smart while not learning how to send email is intentional ignorance.
But the funniest aspect, I think, is the response from the Obama camp:
One thing I forgot to mention yesterday (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/09/contemplating-next-build-52.html) is the next version of Build 52 (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search/label/Build%2052) will not work with Internet Explorer. It's not that I'm coding it to not work with IE (though technically I am), but rather IE does not support xhtml, which I'm using for the inline svg support. However, the current version is IE-only, and I see no reason to discontinue it.
As for the new version, I read up on how to add a hyperlink to a svg image. Added it to the new sample (http://www.markandtanya.us/scribbles/sample2008-09-15.xhtml). [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Been thinking about refining the interface for Build 52 (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search/label/Build%2052). The old one was built to generate the Link in Ink code, first and foremost. In addition, I designed it without external files; the HTML file is all-inclusive. The result is rather utilitarian.
With the next version, I'm still adhering to the design principle of single-file functionality, but I want to jazz it up a tad. Going to be switching to xhtml, so I can add svg images to the code. No external files needed. Allows me to round off some corners and switch to a radial menu.
I also want to make the link adding system more dynamic. Instead of a static button to add a link, which shows up in a static spot with the URL in a static list, I want the link positions to pop up wherever I double-click on the ink image with the URL box kept with it.
Still working out how I want everything to look, so my sample (http://www.markandtanya.us/scribbles/sample2008-09-14.xhtml) has only a few bits of functionality. Furthermore, I won't be able to just drop all the old Build 52 functionality into the new version due to the differences between html and xhtml, so I'll have to rebuild a lot of it from scratch. Will update the samples as I go. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Received another reminder today that I still have not posted my email address anywhere. Been meaning to add that to my "about" section. Was about to add it in the "joe AT smith DOT com" format to prevent automatic email address collectors from grabbing it when I remembered I have a more effective option at my disposal.
[my email address]
Search engine spiders and spam robots read what I let them read, at least until they're able to read handwriting in image files, which would ultimately be of much greater benefit to me. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
