Been Awhile

No excuses, just lazy and can't seem to find a block of time to really think posts thru. So here are some random thoughts....

Why do we see better coverage of the Presidential race from outside the United States than we do in the States(Look at some of the investigative reporting about - McCaine and the Keating 5 vs. Obama and the Communist Ayres connection)?

It is almost hip to trash American cars now. GM and Ford are producing some of the best cars ever and they don't get a break. Remember, when the final bastion of manufacturing in this country is gone, it will place the final nail in the coffin of independence. We will be reliant on the rest of the world to produce what we need. To think we gave the world that power over us.

Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress that repealed the Glass-Steagall Act (Part of the new deal - Banking Act of 1933). It only took 7 years for it to affect the Economy.

Anyone who thinks the Democratic Party has all the answers is an idiot while anyone who thinks the Republicans cornered the market on intelligence is stupid.

People need to start thinking for themselves and follow what the Congress and the Executive Branch are doing everyday. Accountability is the problem and I am not talking about the Politicians.

Bad Times Ahead

So AMD is due to release its salvo in the war of CPU design. The Phenom will released in 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 ghz flavors. While these are not slow speeds, they are definitely not what AMD wanted to release. AMD is facing what Intel faced with the move to the 90 nanometer parts. The Phenoms design is sound but the process stinks. What this means is that Intel can slow down and wait. And we the consumer will probably see Intels next architecture(Nehalem) pushed back 6 months because why bring out something that isn't needed.



Referenced Stories:

AMD

The November Phenom(enon) dissected

AMD Phenom Preview: Barcelona Desktop Benchmarks

Intel

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 - Penryn Ticks Ahead

Intel releases 16 server chips at 45 nanos

The Bad Crop

Man, we really don't have much of a choice in Presidential candidates. What is strange is that we are a year away and you can see and hear the desperation of the candidates. All are kissing ass, I'm sorry, energizing their base. All are hitting the current talking points: Iraq, abortion, illegal immigrants. But have we heard anything special? Has anyone talked about competing with China, the EU, Japan or any other country(s) that are working to unseat us? How about our infrastructure? Bridges collapsing, clogged freeways, water systems that are falling apart and not one word from any candidate. Most must of had kids for the political need and have no idea on how to put the next generation needs ahead of their own. I registered Republican when I was 18 and this is the first year I wish there was a 3rd party. Oh well, welcome to the talking points Presidential election. All talk and no substance.

Possible third party platform:

English is the official language of the United States

Not understanding someone automatically leads to distrust.  If
we all speak a common language, we can work together without
distrust.  Our government is based on the Constitution and if
you can't read it, how can you believe in the government?

The US Government's responsibility is to protect the freedoms of its citizens.

Example:  The Government should protect a woman's right
to choose.  But it shouldn't pay for the choice.

The US Government should enable the American people to be the best!

The US Government needs to enable its citizens thru
infrastructure, education and health.

The US Government should invest in the Future.

The US Government should invest in discoveries that will
make the future even brighter.

I have a lot more but the main objective is that the US Government shouldn't be a crutch to its people. It should remove barriers only.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu - 30000 plus Miles

I can say nothing but good things about this car. Great mileage (average around 28 mpg tank after tank), quiet (no squeeks) and no major issues. Really happy with the car and would buy another in a heartbeat.

Stupid White Man Commercials

I am getting too used to commercials that are politically correct. You know the ones. The smart people in the commercial are Americans of African descent, Americans of Mexican descent , Americans of Oriental descent, or female Americans. The one stupid person in the commercial is the lonely white man. Now there is a commercial for a candy where kids are acting adults in a candy factory. Can you guess which one is the stupid one? Yep, the one lonely white kid. What will the attitude of the kids be when they grow up after seeing commercials, sitcoms, etc that always show the white male as stupid? Will the white guy have to fight against perceptions that were built by years and years of watching this crap? Oh well, I have broad shoulders and I will raise my kids to have broad shoulders too.

Soldiers are now running the Show

Gen. David Petraeus is now in control. He holds a PhD in International Affairs from Princeton University and has surrounded himself with what some are calling the most dynamic and experienced team since WW II.

Here is a great synopsis from OP-FOR.

Here is a March 8 press briefing by Gen. David Petraeus which was hardly covered by our press.

I think we should all be weary of the politicizing by Presidential Candidates and our own unbiased press of early withdrawal. We now have real soldiers in command, not Paul Bremmer and not Donald Rumsfeld! Remember, it was the soldiers that won the peace in Europe and Japan and it took a lot longer than 5 years. We are still in both Japan and Europe 62 years later. We dealt with the German Wolf brigades killing our soldiers for 10 years after the fall of Berlin.

Of course, the WW II generation was made of much stronger stuff than the current, spoiled baby boomer's who have permeated our countries leadership.

Mid-Life Crisis?

Am I succumbing to a midlife crisis? I have come to a place which I don't know the answer to. My job is no longer challenging or enjoyable. For the first time, I don't have any drive to learn new technology. I have no idea if it is because I don't want to or if the desire has been sucked from me by bungling, risk-averted middle management that wouldn't know the definition of "Return on Investment" if it fell from the sky, landed on their face and wiggled (I know, long, fragmented sentence - I don't care about that either). I have to call this a super funk. My poor kids and wife! They are having to deal with a spouse and Dad that has lost his way.

Is it time for a change? Do I take the risk with 3 kids, 5 and under and a 30 year mortgage? If I do take a risk, do I stay in technology or do I go for something else that I feel that I would enjoy? I feel so trapped and yet I am the one that is closing the trap door.

I mean, WTF, I don't feel sorry for myself. I am very grateful for all that I have. Am I being greedy and wanting it all? I don't think so... I just think that I could be better. Better at being a Husband, a Dad, a Worker and just being me. I just don't have a plan to make it happen nor do I know what the requirements would be. I have no energy to do something different but have all the energy to keep things status quo.

Oh well, at least I posted to the blog in the first time in forever. That is something new... Maybe this is the beginning of the snowball of change.