Quake 4's online play through Xboxlive works great and is a pretty fun time except for one minor little quirk that is aggravating to some of us. Jumping. People spend so much time jumping around like a bunch of hopping bunnies that the game is no longer any fun for those that want a first person shooter with some realism to it. The jumping is very fast, frantic, and short unlike Halo 2 where jumps are relatively slow and long. This is where Perfect Dark Zero really excels for folks that like first person shooters, there is no jumping, but you do tuck and roll in a realistic fashion and at a realistic speed in any of 4 directions.
I you want to spend your time jumping like a bunny and hunting bunny wabbits then Quake 4 online play is for you. If on the other hand you want more realism in the movement of a first person shooter then switch to Perfect Dark Zero.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Friday, February 10, 2006
Westinghouse 37" LCD HDTV Monitor LVM-37W1
I finally picked up a wide screen monitor for my entertainment center. The unit is made in China by a company that uses the Westinghouse name on the box. I found this unit to be the best all around unit for my needs. And one of the very few that will do 1080P.
The picture quality is EXCEPTIONAL, I could not be happier with the picture. This unit will accept 420P, 420I, 720P, 720I, 1080I and the important difference for me is that it will accept 1080P which helps me be prepared for the future. This was one of the few that had a resolution of 1920 X 1080, almost every other unit was X 768. Other units cost more for the lower resolution.
One warning about stores that sell this and other units. All the stores make the picture look perfect on the units they want to sell, which is usually the more expensive ones. Don't trust the picture you see at the store. Look for the features you want and the price you are willing to pay. I picked up this unit for $1499. At home this units picture looks as good or better then units selling for over $3000 at the store.
Display modes allow you to show standard TV in a square box with black bars on the side or a zoom feature puts the picture up to full screen mode. 420I looks good in the zoom unless there is a very dark background then the pixelation from the zoom appears. Switching to the standard TV view resolves this completely. The Xbox 360 games are so awesome looking as to be unbelievable. I hooked up the laptop for the first time and I am not sure how I will ever live with a normal monitor or laptop screen at home again. Having the real estate to use with the laptop and using the Bluetooth keyboard/mouse from the lazy boy chair is something I could definitely get used to :)
The number of inputs was important to me because I really hate to use a switch box to move between different video sources. I have the following components hooked up
Xbox 360 Component Video 1
Xbox Component Video 2
DishNetwork DVR AV (I am considering moving this to the S video port instead)
Laptop VGA port
This still leaves two DVI inputs for the future
Now my quest is to put a unit like this in every room of the house!
The picture quality is EXCEPTIONAL, I could not be happier with the picture. This unit will accept 420P, 420I, 720P, 720I, 1080I and the important difference for me is that it will accept 1080P which helps me be prepared for the future. This was one of the few that had a resolution of 1920 X 1080, almost every other unit was X 768. Other units cost more for the lower resolution.
One warning about stores that sell this and other units. All the stores make the picture look perfect on the units they want to sell, which is usually the more expensive ones. Don't trust the picture you see at the store. Look for the features you want and the price you are willing to pay. I picked up this unit for $1499. At home this units picture looks as good or better then units selling for over $3000 at the store.
Display modes allow you to show standard TV in a square box with black bars on the side or a zoom feature puts the picture up to full screen mode. 420I looks good in the zoom unless there is a very dark background then the pixelation from the zoom appears. Switching to the standard TV view resolves this completely. The Xbox 360 games are so awesome looking as to be unbelievable. I hooked up the laptop for the first time and I am not sure how I will ever live with a normal monitor or laptop screen at home again. Having the real estate to use with the laptop and using the Bluetooth keyboard/mouse from the lazy boy chair is something I could definitely get used to :)
The number of inputs was important to me because I really hate to use a switch box to move between different video sources. I have the following components hooked up
Xbox 360 Component Video 1
Xbox Component Video 2
DishNetwork DVR AV (I am considering moving this to the S video port instead)
Laptop VGA port
This still leaves two DVI inputs for the future
Now my quest is to put a unit like this in every room of the house!
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Xbox 360 Condemned Game
In this game you are a federal agent that is accused of shooting two police officers. A stranger that was a friend of your dad helps you escape capture so that you can hunt down the real killer. There are minimal traditional weapons in this game such as hand gun and shot gun. The primary weapons are bashing weapons such as steam pipes, rebar, fire axe, sledge hammer, etc. You also have investigative tools such as black light and digital camera that you use to collect evidence. That evidence is sent through your cell phone to the lab who gives you results and help along the way. The graphics are smooth but very unimpressive and really this game is hardly as good as a standard Xbox 1 game.
This game is a little too dark for me. I am up to level 4 and I have spent the entire time having to use a flashlight and grope through the dark. This gets tedious and makes the game feel like graphics were an afterthought. I prefer games that are more balanced when it comes to using a flashlight. Yes it is cool and should be needed during some of the game but the flashlight should also not be needed during some of the game as well.
This game is definitely a rental before you buy.
This game is a little too dark for me. I am up to level 4 and I have spent the entire time having to use a flashlight and grope through the dark. This gets tedious and makes the game feel like graphics were an afterthought. I prefer games that are more balanced when it comes to using a flashlight. Yes it is cool and should be needed during some of the game but the flashlight should also not be needed during some of the game as well.
This game is definitely a rental before you buy.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
XBOX 360 - Quake 4 is AWESOME!
This game is by far the best overall game so far that I have played on the Xbox 360. The game play is smooth, graphics are excellent, and the online play rivals Halo 2.
There are a wide variety of reviews of this game with weapon details, in game pictures, etc. so I will keep my review short. The game play is just awesome for a first person shooter and if you enjoy the thrill of fighting evil you need this game for your 360.
Try this link for a good discussion and information on Quake 4
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/quake4/preview_6124476.html
There are a wide variety of reviews of this game with weapon details, in game pictures, etc. so I will keep my review short. The game play is just awesome for a first person shooter and if you enjoy the thrill of fighting evil you need this game for your 360.
Try this link for a good discussion and information on Quake 4
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/quake4/preview_6124476.html
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Xbox 360 - Call of Duty 2
My Setup: Xbox 360, 27" Flat Screen 4:3 TV
I picked up Call of Duty 2 with my 360 back in November and I am still enjoying playing the campaign mode. The graphics are very realistic and the 360 has the power to show think like a soldiers breath in the cold Russian air. Frame rate is high enough to make the entire game run very smoothly with no slow down or jerking during extreme amounts of action.
Video cut scenes explain the current situation and take you from battles in Russia to the African Desert and onto the D-Day invasion. Mission objectives are added as each mission moves along. Most of the objective updates are spoken by commanders during battles. The dialogue is realistic with mission discussions happening all around you, and like I said, some are directions to you by commanders during a battle that give you new objectives.
The action shifts gears from slow to extremely fast action during the game. You can be slowly sniping the Germans during one objective and then in the next you have to really think and move to avoid being killed during an ambush.
I played online only a couple of times, the Live ability of this game is horrid. The problem here is that the Halo 2 lobby system has really spoiled those of us that like to form parties, chat in the lobby about what we are going to play, etc. COD2 does not offer this sort of live environment. I will be trying it some more and experimenting with the live portion in the future so expect an update on this part at some point.
My current gamer score is 760 with four levels yet to complete on the hardest difficulty setting.
I highly recommend this game as a great first person shooter campaign game and military history buffs will appreciate the realism and fairly accurate recreations the game uses.
I picked up Call of Duty 2 with my 360 back in November and I am still enjoying playing the campaign mode. The graphics are very realistic and the 360 has the power to show think like a soldiers breath in the cold Russian air. Frame rate is high enough to make the entire game run very smoothly with no slow down or jerking during extreme amounts of action.
Video cut scenes explain the current situation and take you from battles in Russia to the African Desert and onto the D-Day invasion. Mission objectives are added as each mission moves along. Most of the objective updates are spoken by commanders during battles. The dialogue is realistic with mission discussions happening all around you, and like I said, some are directions to you by commanders during a battle that give you new objectives.
The action shifts gears from slow to extremely fast action during the game. You can be slowly sniping the Germans during one objective and then in the next you have to really think and move to avoid being killed during an ambush.
I played online only a couple of times, the Live ability of this game is horrid. The problem here is that the Halo 2 lobby system has really spoiled those of us that like to form parties, chat in the lobby about what we are going to play, etc. COD2 does not offer this sort of live environment. I will be trying it some more and experimenting with the live portion in the future so expect an update on this part at some point.
My current gamer score is 760 with four levels yet to complete on the hardest difficulty setting.
I highly recommend this game as a great first person shooter campaign game and military history buffs will appreciate the realism and fairly accurate recreations the game uses.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
XBOX 360 ROCKS
Over the next few weeks I will be posting my opinions about the Xbox 360 and the games I own. This week I examine the system itself, next week I will start game reviews.
I was one of the lucky ones that pre-ordered the Xbox 360 and received my unit on the launch day back in November. I got the $399 full system, an extra controller, and two games. The games I got at the time were Perfect Dark Zero and Call of Duty 2. Since I have gotten Project Gotham Racing 3 and Quake 4. Following are my opinions after a couple months use on a normal 4:3 flat screen 27" TV.
Xbox 360
THE SYSTEM
The graphics are fantastically crisp, clear, and smooth in all of the games. The graphic detail is very impressive and includes little extras that I have not seen in other game systems. In Call of Duty 2 you can see someone's breath in the cold Russian air, lip movement is more natural and matches better what is being said, facial features overall are much more natural. The Dashboard is a set of tabs or folders and is very easy to navigate. The system has the ability to download game updates, videos, skins and Microsoft Arcade games to play, one game is included free, Hexic HD, a variation on Tetris. Most of the downloads are for sale such as the arcade games. Rather than charge the payment to your credit card you have to purchase "gold points" that are used to pay for any downloads. This means Microsoft gets money up front for what you will buy in the future. There are FREE movie trailers, many in both 720p and 420p, that can be downloaded. Downloads on my 1.5Mbs DSL are much faster on the 360 then they are on the Xbox 1.
The system definitely runs HOT and I had to move the system from a slot in my entertainment center with 3 inches clearance all around to a slot with 6 inches of clearance all around. I plan on installing some sort of supplemental fan system to move heat out of the slot it resides in. This heat problem is likely why Microsoft moved the hefty power supply into an external enclosure instead of leaving it in the system.
THE WIRELESS CONTROLLER
The wireless controller is 2.4ghz and works flawlessly while my 2.4ghz wireless network is busy. Ergonomically the controller is well designed, feeling very comfortable in my hands and not causing finger fatigue. The white and black buttons of the Xbox 1 controller are now secondary trigger buttons above each of the triggers. This took some getting used to since I would suddenly push one while furiously working the trigger.
The Live headset that came with the system plugs into the back of the controller, it includes a mute slide switch and volume control. The head set SUCKS in almost all aspects. Sound quality is horrible, the sound breaks up and the headset is not very comfortable on my skull. Some of this could be the audio circuitry in the controller itself. I am looking forward to this being a situation that is drastically improved by the after market industry. Plantronics WHERE ARE YOU?!
BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY
The only backward compatible game I have played on the unit is Halo 2. The download to enable this went fine, and since the first download there has been another update to the backward compatibility for Halo 2. H2 on the 360 does not seem as responsive to me and I seem perform better playing H2 on the Xbox 1. Others I have asked had split opinion on this, some notice a difference and some do not. Backward compatibility ONLY works if you have the full system with hard disk drive or buy the disk drive option for the core system.
CONCLUSION
The 360 definitely rocks and from my perspective has already paid for itself in enjoyment. Usually I am one of those that waits until the price drops and I am always a year or two behind on consoles. This time I am EXTREMELY glad that I did not wait because I am really enjoying this system.
LINKS
Check out these links for additional information
http://www.xbox.com
http://www.majornelson.com
I was one of the lucky ones that pre-ordered the Xbox 360 and received my unit on the launch day back in November. I got the $399 full system, an extra controller, and two games. The games I got at the time were Perfect Dark Zero and Call of Duty 2. Since I have gotten Project Gotham Racing 3 and Quake 4. Following are my opinions after a couple months use on a normal 4:3 flat screen 27" TV.
Xbox 360
THE SYSTEM
The graphics are fantastically crisp, clear, and smooth in all of the games. The graphic detail is very impressive and includes little extras that I have not seen in other game systems. In Call of Duty 2 you can see someone's breath in the cold Russian air, lip movement is more natural and matches better what is being said, facial features overall are much more natural. The Dashboard is a set of tabs or folders and is very easy to navigate. The system has the ability to download game updates, videos, skins and Microsoft Arcade games to play, one game is included free, Hexic HD, a variation on Tetris. Most of the downloads are for sale such as the arcade games. Rather than charge the payment to your credit card you have to purchase "gold points" that are used to pay for any downloads. This means Microsoft gets money up front for what you will buy in the future. There are FREE movie trailers, many in both 720p and 420p, that can be downloaded. Downloads on my 1.5Mbs DSL are much faster on the 360 then they are on the Xbox 1.
The system definitely runs HOT and I had to move the system from a slot in my entertainment center with 3 inches clearance all around to a slot with 6 inches of clearance all around. I plan on installing some sort of supplemental fan system to move heat out of the slot it resides in. This heat problem is likely why Microsoft moved the hefty power supply into an external enclosure instead of leaving it in the system.
THE WIRELESS CONTROLLER
The wireless controller is 2.4ghz and works flawlessly while my 2.4ghz wireless network is busy. Ergonomically the controller is well designed, feeling very comfortable in my hands and not causing finger fatigue. The white and black buttons of the Xbox 1 controller are now secondary trigger buttons above each of the triggers. This took some getting used to since I would suddenly push one while furiously working the trigger.
The Live headset that came with the system plugs into the back of the controller, it includes a mute slide switch and volume control. The head set SUCKS in almost all aspects. Sound quality is horrible, the sound breaks up and the headset is not very comfortable on my skull. Some of this could be the audio circuitry in the controller itself. I am looking forward to this being a situation that is drastically improved by the after market industry. Plantronics WHERE ARE YOU?!
BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY
The only backward compatible game I have played on the unit is Halo 2. The download to enable this went fine, and since the first download there has been another update to the backward compatibility for Halo 2. H2 on the 360 does not seem as responsive to me and I seem perform better playing H2 on the Xbox 1. Others I have asked had split opinion on this, some notice a difference and some do not. Backward compatibility ONLY works if you have the full system with hard disk drive or buy the disk drive option for the core system.
CONCLUSION
The 360 definitely rocks and from my perspective has already paid for itself in enjoyment. Usually I am one of those that waits until the price drops and I am always a year or two behind on consoles. This time I am EXTREMELY glad that I did not wait because I am really enjoying this system.
LINKS
Check out these links for additional information
http://www.xbox.com
http://www.majornelson.com
Thursday, January 12, 2006
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
The holidays went by too fast again this year, I love this holiday time of year and get real joy from concentrating on what is good and fun about the holidays instead of grouching over the "hassle" of the holidays. I hope all of you were able to concentrate on the positive this year and not get dragged down into a grinch mood. And I cannot wait until next Christmas :)
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
BlueTooth headsets, New status fashion for Yuppies?
I know that cordless cell phone headsets/earbuds are needed to drive safely and free us from the cords flapping in the wind, but are they for wearing all the time. I have noticed lately people, mostly men, walking around with bluetooth cell phone earbuds in their ear all the time. Most of the time these folks have not been on the phone and to me they just look silly. Actually they look like they have taken the first step toward becoming a real Borg (see Star Trek).
When I end up getting my next cell phone I will probably join the ranks of the bluetooth users but I will not wear the thing like a new piece of ear jewelry. Perhaps a good rumor about bluetooth headsets causing earlobe cancer would get people to take them off and put them in thier pocket. At least then we have a new joke, "is that a bluetooth in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"
When I end up getting my next cell phone I will probably join the ranks of the bluetooth users but I will not wear the thing like a new piece of ear jewelry. Perhaps a good rumor about bluetooth headsets causing earlobe cancer would get people to take them off and put them in thier pocket. At least then we have a new joke, "is that a bluetooth in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Regardless of who you are I want you to have a Merry Christmas
The current cartoon at illwillpress explains exactly how I feel about people that want to remove the Christmas word from our vocabulary at this time of year. If our country is tolerant of all why would anyone be upset by the Merry Christmas greeting or the use of the term Christmas Tree at a holiday display somewhere. I am certainly not upset when my Jewish friends wish me a Happy Hanukkah or when other folks offer their cherished greetings to me. I want everyone to have a Merry Christmas regardless of religion, non-religion, or any other factor of their life. I will continue to wish people a Merry Christmas just the same as I wish folks a Happy Halloween, a joyous New Year, or a Grand Groundhog Day. Yes I am Christian but I am not using the term to convert anyone, I use it because in my Christian heart I truly hope everyone I know has a Merry Christmas at this time of year no matter what holiday they do or do not celebrate.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Husbands rights with abortion
The continuing witch hunt by democrats against Samuel Alito Jr. , Supreme Court nominee, has raised a concern based on Alito's dissenting opinion in 1991 that would require a woman to tell her husband before having an abortion.
"In a release Monday, Planned Parenthood interim president Karen Pearl said Alito's opinion shows "callous disregard of battered women who would be affected by the statute." She said if he is confirmed, Alito "would undermine basic reproductive rights" [source].
So why does the husband have no reproductive rights? The fetus has no right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness but why does the husband have no reproductive rights? Is it because modern women are having so many affairs that they are trying to hide the pregnancy from their husband? Is it because only the mother can determine if the child is worth keeping? Or is it because they are feminists and they are in our face, on everything, including the elimination of fathers rights.
How can we on the one hand force fathers that do not want children to pay child support while on the other hand not give them some say on wanting to support a child that is currently unborn. This is not about eliminating abortion 'rights', it is about ensuring the rights of fathers as much as mothers. And please don't say "it is her body" because this is not about the woman's body, it is about the child's body.
"In a release Monday, Planned Parenthood interim president Karen Pearl said Alito's opinion shows "callous disregard of battered women who would be affected by the statute." She said if he is confirmed, Alito "would undermine basic reproductive rights" [source].
So why does the husband have no reproductive rights? The fetus has no right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness but why does the husband have no reproductive rights? Is it because modern women are having so many affairs that they are trying to hide the pregnancy from their husband? Is it because only the mother can determine if the child is worth keeping? Or is it because they are feminists and they are in our face, on everything, including the elimination of fathers rights.
How can we on the one hand force fathers that do not want children to pay child support while on the other hand not give them some say on wanting to support a child that is currently unborn. This is not about eliminating abortion 'rights', it is about ensuring the rights of fathers as much as mothers. And please don't say "it is her body" because this is not about the woman's body, it is about the child's body.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
low tech frustratingly fun game @ www.urbandead.com
A few weeks ago I ran across a fun game online called Urban Dead. The game is a simple low tech game that has zombies fighting human survivors in the city of Malton. Humans start out as one of several character types with different default skills and by earning experience points the humans can buy other skills. My first character was a medic and I earned experience points by finding people and healing them. Now I have earned the diagnose skill so I see what everybody's hit points are and I can find folks to heal much faster.
This game is very addictive but because the number of actions is limited to only 50 each day there is no way for the game to consume more then 10 minutes of time each day, but those 10 minutes have become a real fun break part of my day.
Give it a try, if anyone reads this blog :)
This game is very addictive but because the number of actions is limited to only 50 each day there is no way for the game to consume more then 10 minutes of time each day, but those 10 minutes have become a real fun break part of my day.
Give it a try, if anyone reads this blog :)
Monday, October 24, 2005
Are there American companies anymore?
After a recent speech by a Fortune 50 CEO I started to wonder if there are American companies anymore or if Global corporations are pretty much all that exist anymore. Now I know there are many small and medium businesses that do a high % or 100% of their business in America. What I wonder about is the Fortune 500, how many of them are actually benefiting their country of origin or even care about their home country. I see Walmart giving $23+ million to Katrina relief while other companies that once were American give the typical $1 million, despite having billions in cash reserves (I am not counting matching funds just direct corporate donation).
Global competition demands that we meet the price/demand curve on products and so many corporations have become global not because of desire but rather for survival. Companies like GM, despite being global, are still in financial trouble but most companies insist they go global to reduce costs and remain competitive.
We as consumers in our quest for ever cheaper prices have changed our buying habits to the point that we are global consumers.
What came first the global consumer or the global corporation? And if you are a global consumer can you really complain that average family wages where you live are dropping?
Global competition demands that we meet the price/demand curve on products and so many corporations have become global not because of desire but rather for survival. Companies like GM, despite being global, are still in financial trouble but most companies insist they go global to reduce costs and remain competitive.
We as consumers in our quest for ever cheaper prices have changed our buying habits to the point that we are global consumers.
What came first the global consumer or the global corporation? And if you are a global consumer can you really complain that average family wages where you live are dropping?
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
The daily 10 minute battle against evil is good for the soul
I recently started playing http://www.urbandead.com and it has become a quick fun part of my day. In this game every user is either a survivor trying to kill zombies or a zombie trying to kill survivors. I actually play several characters and because everyone is restricted to only 50 moves a day (you would be surprised how fast it goes) the game does not take much time. This game is extremely low tech but still a fun break during my day. I can't stop to fire up xbox during the work day but a quick 15 minute break to earn experience points and take care of evil is easy enough to do. Try it, it may be low tech but its still fun and you goal oriented people will love the ability to turn experience points into new skills.
Friday, October 07, 2005
People are a burden to corporate America.....
Dear Employees,
You are too expensive for us. Yes, we know that during tight employment times we drove up wages almost uncontrollably to fight for your skills, and we used to care about your welfare which drove up benefit costs, but now all that has changed. You see there are college educated people in other countries that will work for 1/10th of what we are paying you and there are tons of these folks available. They don't buy much as consumers but we know American consumers will buy lots of our stuff, if the price is cheaper.
The continued reduction in average family income in America is not our problem because we are lowering our prices to help your reduced wages still buy more. And please understand, as soon as we can find even cheaper resources elsewhere then the current employees in {Insert Country Here} we will abandon them as well. If all goes well we expect to automate 99% of your jobs in the next century and then we will not be bothered with actually having to employ any humans.
Signed,
Greedy Corporations
NOTE TO MARKETING COMPUTER: Please design marketing campaign to sell our products to robots, humans will be out of money soon.
You are too expensive for us. Yes, we know that during tight employment times we drove up wages almost uncontrollably to fight for your skills, and we used to care about your welfare which drove up benefit costs, but now all that has changed. You see there are college educated people in other countries that will work for 1/10th of what we are paying you and there are tons of these folks available. They don't buy much as consumers but we know American consumers will buy lots of our stuff, if the price is cheaper.
The continued reduction in average family income in America is not our problem because we are lowering our prices to help your reduced wages still buy more. And please understand, as soon as we can find even cheaper resources elsewhere then the current employees in {Insert Country Here} we will abandon them as well. If all goes well we expect to automate 99% of your jobs in the next century and then we will not be bothered with actually having to employ any humans.
Signed,
Greedy Corporations
NOTE TO MARKETING COMPUTER: Please design marketing campaign to sell our products to robots, humans will be out of money soon.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Isreal is out but it does not seem to be enough
For years many have believed that Israel stayed in hot water with Palastinians because of their occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. The occupation caused fragmentation among mixed communities and other issues. Well, Israel is out of the Gaza completely but it seems they have not escaped the hot water. A rocket barrage was launched from Gaza at Israeli towns across the border.
Militants in the Gaza have no reason left to attack Isreal. Start to build your country and stop bothering others. If Hamas and others continue their terrorist attacks from unoccupied territories then I would expect Israel to retake those areas and this time remove every Palastinian in them. When this happens the free world no longer has any excuse to find fault with Israel. Israel has done its part by leaving these areas.
Militants in the Gaza have no reason left to attack Isreal. Start to build your country and stop bothering others. If Hamas and others continue their terrorist attacks from unoccupied territories then I would expect Israel to retake those areas and this time remove every Palastinian in them. When this happens the free world no longer has any excuse to find fault with Israel. Israel has done its part by leaving these areas.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Flooding is not our problem say insurance companies
Much of the damage in the gulf coast is caused by flooding rather then by wind, flying debris or other things covered by standard home owners policies. Because of this many insurance companies will not be paying claims, after all flooding is specifically excluded from home owners policies.
So which came first and was the root cause? The hurricane or the flooding?
I think the root cause is obvious and this is not like the flooding caused from torrential rains that do no damage other than flooding. The mid-western flooding of 1993 was a good example of flooding being the real problem and I would accept that flood insurance was needed. In the case of the aftermath of devastation left by a hurricane I think insurance companies claiming it is a flood problem is criminal, even in the case of New Orleans.
So which came first and was the root cause? The hurricane or the flooding?
I think the root cause is obvious and this is not like the flooding caused from torrential rains that do no damage other than flooding. The mid-western flooding of 1993 was a good example of flooding being the real problem and I would accept that flood insurance was needed. In the case of the aftermath of devastation left by a hurricane I think insurance companies claiming it is a flood problem is criminal, even in the case of New Orleans.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
I will not miss Mark after he retires
A great friend of mine, Mark, is one of the many individuals that have accepted early retirement from my company. Many will ask if he is such a great friend why will he not be missed? Simple, I will not let Mark exit my life other than work. Mark and I are several states apart but I will make every effort to continue our friendship and not get disconnected from him. I have not always been the best at continuing links between myself and friends through the years. Mark is someone that I truly want to remain in touch with until the bitter end when my corpse enters the ground.
Thanks Mark for being a great friend, a great co-worker, and for always being there when I needed someone to vent with over the corporate good times and the corporate bullshit we live through every year.
You will not be missed because I will not let you exit my life so easily :)
Thanks Mark for being a great friend, a great co-worker, and for always being there when I needed someone to vent with over the corporate good times and the corporate bullshit we live through every year.
You will not be missed because I will not let you exit my life so easily :)
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Does the Military have an EXIT STRATEGY from Hurricane Katrina?
When thrust into a crisis at home Americans are quick to respond without question to the needs of their neighbors. Americans are also quick to complain that help did not arrive fast enough and not enough is done. Despite Herculean efforts by the country and our military to help the liberal media hunts down the disgruntled and quickly puts them on the air.
I don’t mind disgruntled people so much since people in crisis are desperate to get help quickly and there is always something we could do better to help. But then the liberal media actually asks the military how long they will be helping the Gulf Coast area. The military provided the correct response; we will be here until the job is done. Now for some reason the liberal media does not ask what the military exit strategy is for the Gulf Coast. How can we as Americans be so self-centered to assume that helping others must have an exit strategy while helping ourselves should go on until the job is completed?
Before you tell me not to compare war to a hurricane you had better listen to what is reported on all media, liberal and conservative, about the hurricane. It is a devastated war zone like area. Why devastation exists is obvious in both the Middle East and the Gulf Coast, now and in the past. How quickly we forget the devastation caused by an unchecked Hitler and a hurricane called Camille, both of which required us to be there until the job was done.
We are helping Iraq and Afghanistan to become a free people that can guide their own future instead of living under tyranny as we did in the 1700’s. There is no psychic ability to predict when these jobs will be done and the media in asking for one is telling America that getting out is the goal. Getting out is clearly not the goal for the Gulf Coast or for the Middle East. For the Gulf Coast the goal is to help everyone get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. For Iraq and Afghanistan the goal is to help people who have never been allowed to stand on their own two feet to do exactly that, and help them to rebuild counties.
Stop asking for an exit strategy in both cases and start asking what we can do to help the job to get done completely and effectively. NOT what others can do better, but what we can start to do to help.
I don’t mind disgruntled people so much since people in crisis are desperate to get help quickly and there is always something we could do better to help. But then the liberal media actually asks the military how long they will be helping the Gulf Coast area. The military provided the correct response; we will be here until the job is done. Now for some reason the liberal media does not ask what the military exit strategy is for the Gulf Coast. How can we as Americans be so self-centered to assume that helping others must have an exit strategy while helping ourselves should go on until the job is completed?
Before you tell me not to compare war to a hurricane you had better listen to what is reported on all media, liberal and conservative, about the hurricane. It is a devastated war zone like area. Why devastation exists is obvious in both the Middle East and the Gulf Coast, now and in the past. How quickly we forget the devastation caused by an unchecked Hitler and a hurricane called Camille, both of which required us to be there until the job was done.
We are helping Iraq and Afghanistan to become a free people that can guide their own future instead of living under tyranny as we did in the 1700’s. There is no psychic ability to predict when these jobs will be done and the media in asking for one is telling America that getting out is the goal. Getting out is clearly not the goal for the Gulf Coast or for the Middle East. For the Gulf Coast the goal is to help everyone get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. For Iraq and Afghanistan the goal is to help people who have never been allowed to stand on their own two feet to do exactly that, and help them to rebuild counties.
Stop asking for an exit strategy in both cases and start asking what we can do to help the job to get done completely and effectively. NOT what others can do better, but what we can start to do to help.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Does God Help Them That Help Themselves?
This is a famous "Biblical" quote that is of course not in the bible but is really a quote from Benjamin Franklin. Many people to this day, including myself, believe that there is truth in these words while many will argue that this is in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
From http://www.acts17-11.com/cows_helps.html
More important, this "verse" is unbiblical in its meaning. It is exactly the opposite of the message of scripture.
Jer 17:5 (NIV) This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD."
Prov 28:26 (NIV) He who trusts in himself is a fool...
These statements are typical of those that believe this statement is false. Notice though that the statement does not tell us to trust ourselves or depend on flesh for our strength. In fact the statement to me assumes that God is on our side and if we start moving God has a more opportunity to help us and we trust that he will. It is not our flesh that we depend on for spiritual strength but rather it is what we depend on to take actions that the Lord would appreciate and support.
Considering the times that Ben lived in I think that America came into existence and serves the will of God because people gathered together and helped themselves. I think God has been helping us ever since but how much help can he be if all we do is stand still. To a great degree our isolationist, do nothing and stand still, attitude led to two world wars. Lets not do that again.
I am not a Bible scholar, I am a simple man who believes in God and believes that God works through our actions and not in place of our actions.
From http://www.acts17-11.com/cows_helps.html
More important, this "verse" is unbiblical in its meaning. It is exactly the opposite of the message of scripture.
Jer 17:5 (NIV) This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD."
Prov 28:26 (NIV) He who trusts in himself is a fool...
These statements are typical of those that believe this statement is false. Notice though that the statement does not tell us to trust ourselves or depend on flesh for our strength. In fact the statement to me assumes that God is on our side and if we start moving God has a more opportunity to help us and we trust that he will. It is not our flesh that we depend on for spiritual strength but rather it is what we depend on to take actions that the Lord would appreciate and support.
Considering the times that Ben lived in I think that America came into existence and serves the will of God because people gathered together and helped themselves. I think God has been helping us ever since but how much help can he be if all we do is stand still. To a great degree our isolationist, do nothing and stand still, attitude led to two world wars. Lets not do that again.
I am not a Bible scholar, I am a simple man who believes in God and believes that God works through our actions and not in place of our actions.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Cobb County Appeals Laptop Ruling
In a previous post I commented on the Cobb County School Board plan to provide laptops to every high school student and middle school student. The $100+ million laptop program was to be paid for by a Special Purpose Location Option Sales Tax that I had voted for. My concerns were:
1. This was not part of the SPLOST explanation voters were given
2. The choice of Apple did not provide mainstream technology and applications to students
3. The predicted costs kept escalating
A judge eventually agreed with my #1 and told the county to cancel the program because voters were not completely informed on this as part of the SPLOST vote. The school system hired a private investigation firm to review the entire situation and process. While this report did not exactly agree with my #2 the findings were extremely significant and vindicated my #2.
"An investigation into the program said that the school system "deceived the public" in choosing [...] Apple as the company to supply it with laptop computers."
Well, it seems the Cobb County school system has money to burn because they have decided to appeal the judges ruling. This is despite significant public outcry against the program, the resignation of the school superintendent, and a damning review by the investigation firm the school system hired to review the laptop program. The school board canceled the program and yet the school board is still choosing to spend financial resources on an appeal.
The board should give it up and let go. There are many other educational needs that should be concentrated on and the money going to lawyers on this should be spent helping students.
Given the chance I will definitely vote against all incumbents on the school board and I will vote against the next SPLOST. We the citizens of Cobb County need to send a very strong message to our chosen representatives that deceiving us is unacceptable. Politicians thrive on power and money is power. By voting down the next SPLOST we send a very strong and painful message to politicians. In return they will try to scare us with end of the world scenarios if the SPLOST is not approved, hogwash I say to that.
1. This was not part of the SPLOST explanation voters were given
2. The choice of Apple did not provide mainstream technology and applications to students
3. The predicted costs kept escalating
A judge eventually agreed with my #1 and told the county to cancel the program because voters were not completely informed on this as part of the SPLOST vote. The school system hired a private investigation firm to review the entire situation and process. While this report did not exactly agree with my #2 the findings were extremely significant and vindicated my #2.
"An investigation into the program said that the school system "deceived the public" in choosing [...] Apple as the company to supply it with laptop computers."
Well, it seems the Cobb County school system has money to burn because they have decided to appeal the judges ruling. This is despite significant public outcry against the program, the resignation of the school superintendent, and a damning review by the investigation firm the school system hired to review the laptop program. The school board canceled the program and yet the school board is still choosing to spend financial resources on an appeal.
The board should give it up and let go. There are many other educational needs that should be concentrated on and the money going to lawyers on this should be spent helping students.
Given the chance I will definitely vote against all incumbents on the school board and I will vote against the next SPLOST. We the citizens of Cobb County need to send a very strong message to our chosen representatives that deceiving us is unacceptable. Politicians thrive on power and money is power. By voting down the next SPLOST we send a very strong and painful message to politicians. In return they will try to scare us with end of the world scenarios if the SPLOST is not approved, hogwash I say to that.
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