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November 6, 2018
I Voted in the Midterms of 2018
I Voted
Tags: politics
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November 5, 2018
Tough Times Don't Last ...
    catastrophic failure dialog
Today saw the resolution of an extremely difficult problem at work. It required a team effort and though the struggle was insufferable at times we saw the issues through and have recovered from them.

It's an easy matter to curse the darkness rather than light a candle and when those trying times arrive — as they always do — we should determine and address the problems as we on our team did rather than affix blame ... which was all mine I might add.

Tough Times Don't Last ... Tough People Do.

Today was a good day. A satisfying day. A day which reveals the nature of that who we are, the techs on duty with a job to do — despite the wussy irrelevant vendor support we received.

Tags: technology
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November 5, 2018
Vote Republican
Vote Republican
Tags: politics
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November 4, 2018
Politicians DON'T know me
I was amused at cnet's article regarding Midterm elections: How politicians know exactly how you’re going to vote

data pipe    
It is attributed to the "political data industry" whereby data brokers acquire voter registration information which they subsequently sell to any number of buyers.

    Yes We Scan
While I admit that they may glean certain things from this information; I decline to provide a lot of stuff they may want to get a hold of otherwise.

My obfuscated presence on the internet with vpns and firewalls, and hyperencrypted bus elements simply don't provide the level of information harvesting they can get from someone like some idiot facebook user who tells everything they know without even realizing it.

Yes, I shun social media primarily for those data harvesting tidbits rife with disguised apps which access your contact lists and profile elements proving you're the buffoon that you are.

But I don't stop there. I have also initiated a false information distribution of my own to prevent that information which does seep through the cracks making sure it is largely either incorrect or meaningless.

As evidenced by the inaccuracy of my personal information offered by the vendors of such information to the web using public I would say that I'm pretty darn effective at keeping them from who I am and what I'm really all about.

Suffice it to say that you sheeples need a lot more privacy than you're getting.

You trust those who are untrustworthy and therein lay your problem.

Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, et al are in your business and you can't even stop them because you don't choose to recognize the ramifications.

Luckily this blog is about the only place a person may get to know me. Those for whom it is written read it. I firewalled google for their misbehavior and I am no longer looking for any audience whatsoever.

Too many place too much online. I'm not for sale and I can keep you out of my business effectively.

Tags: technology, politics
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November 3, 2018
National Cliche Day 2018
How Cliche    
In writing one of those things you are supposed to steer clear of are cliches — those trite overused phrases which allegedly illustrate a fundamental lack of original thinking ...

cli·ché
/klēˈSHā/

a phrase or opinion considered to be overused or betraying some lack of original thinking

old saying, trite phrase, banality, platitude, hackneyed phrase, stock phrase, maxim, truism
Today is National Cliche Day; that day set aside for these tidbits lacking originality. One thing you can say for me is I don't fear their use and actually enjoy the pun and other manifestations of cliche in writing; but I am definitely one of those eccentric originals who would never be mistaken as "being cliche" as I am far enough "outside the box" to be in orbit to paraphrase my friend Corey.

However, this being said I sometimes go for days without uttering a single cliche and this may well happen today.

Tags: things, people
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November 2, 2018
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2018
Murdered Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
That worthlessness called the United Nations is observing The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

This happens each November second, the day supposedly directs the world's attention on the plight of the journalist ... whose murder may go totally unchallenged and without adequate investigation or prosecution.

As ususal, the UN is impotent to do anything about these matters because they don't involve Agenda 21 or their other underhanded directives toward a global one rule government with the leadership in Belgium and THEM as the enforcers (of course).

If they can't trod on the freedom of the world and dismantle national governments they simply can't be bothered. They think we're just going to walk into the night like the victims did for the earlier Nazi's of the third reich.

Consistent corruption, illegal activities, and bad judgement calls internationally are the hallmark of this failure in world domination. The New World Order they propose is simply that culmination of elitist mind farts such as those of the Bushs, Clintons, and Obamas of the world.

A lot of good the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists did for Jamal Khashoggi the journalist who met a henious death which included drugging and dismemberment while still alive in the consulate of a sovereign nation.

For sure, the Saudi government is unlikely to fall victim to Agenda 21 and the rest of the nonsense propagated by the United Nations lest they all wind up similarly.

Get the United States OUT of the UN
\
Tags: endings, people, world, politics
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November 1, 2018
World Vegan Day 2018

Today is World Vegan Day and celebrates 'vegans' that subset of vegarians who omit all animal products from their diet with some going further as to refraining from using any animal products whatsoever even clothing items made of leather or wool.
 

Rare Delmonico Steak    

Okay. I'm all for the vegan lifestyle.

I am convinced that it is healthy second to none because it eliminates most of the useless fat and other food residues which are part and parcel to consuming that lovely cut of meat of which I am so fond.

The day was founded in 1994 by adherent one Louise Wallis who was then chair of a thing known as "The Vegan Society" and the entire observance is a series of presentations and of course potlucks and feasting ... vegan of course.

As for me, I remain a carnivore and while I do not thrust this on anyone for any reason I will likely continue my penchant for all types of meat products until my arteries finally clog over and I kick the bucket from all those lifestyle diseases I will acquire as the result of this practice.

Happy World Vegan Day to you. I envy you vegans for your ability to enjoy vegetables to the extent that you can.
 

Tags: food, people
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October 31, 2018
Halloween 2018
Happy Halloween !

Tags: holidays
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October 30, 2018
I watched Bicentennial Man again
    Bicentennial Man
Since the death of Robin Williams I have been having difficulty watching his work on the television. Just yesterday I viewed my bluray of Bicentennial Man after a long while of avoiding it intentionally.

Somehow, the melancholy of his passing infuses me with a sadness still after all this time.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams
July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014
    
Robin Williams was an American actor and comedian. Born in Chicago. An improvisational virtuoso, he first caught my eye listening to Throbbing Python of Love ... a stand up comedy recording available at the local Tower Records in El Toro, California where I resided.

He had a long career on television and film. He was accessible to his fans who typically got a great shot of him smiling in their selfie and what not ...

He died at has own hand after cancellation of his television series and a recent diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.

Oh the humanity ... and now all we have are those parts he portrayed and the clips from appearances and such.

August 11, 2014 was the date of a personal tragedy for me when he decided he could not go on.

Those thoughts of who he was and all he did pass through my mind from time to time.

Sometimes it's difficult to fathom that nobody could make a difference for him and therein lay what hurts for me.

If I could have intervened I would have but alas, I was not even in his sphere of existence other than through the media he frequented during his lifetime.

The "what if's" and "if onlys" plague me to this day.

Tags: people, endings
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October 29, 2018
International Internet Day 2018
    The Internet
Each 29th of October we celebrate International Internet Day in commemoration of the first electronic communication between two computers in 1969.

The user was a student programmer named Charley Kline.

The supervisor was Professor Leonard Kleinrock.

The point of origin was a SDS Sigma 7 machine located at UCLA.

The destination was a SDS 940 at the Stanford Research Institute.

From those humble DARPAnet beginnings the internet has evolved into the fairly high tech smattering of computers across the planet.

I have three fully connected servers on the 5 node 300 megabit per second network at my place and work with a bunch more servers and workstations I use as a function of my day job.

Ah, my life would have turned out much differently were it not for this plan B and the ability to do something I never intended to pursue as a career. Not to mention my late step dads recognition of "the right stuff" for a cushy coding gig when he saw it while everyone else was saying "nay" !

Tags: technology
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October 28, 2018
International Animation Day 2018
Astroboy    
Throughout my extended childhood I have loved animated features on television and film.

Some of my favorite characters are animated and this stems from my early encounters with Astroboy and other heros of my childhood.

Yes, I always envisioned myself an artist of sorts and would even deface various books making "flipbook" style creations ...

Like on my green bound Webster's New World Dictionary purchased for me by my parents when I entered elementary school in Virginia.

Today is International Animation Day which has been held since 2002 under the auspices of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) to celebrate animation as an art form. It is said that the observance is held in 50 countries with in excess of 1000 events on every continent.

I keep wondering what the event at Antarctica entails.

Tags: technology, things
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October 27, 2018
Navy Day in the United States 2018

This holiday celebrates the US Navy.

The first was held under the auspices of the Navy League in 1922.

The date finally chosen for the observance is October 27 and corresponds to the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt, who was a great proponent of the navy, sea power, and naval affairs in general.

The purchase of a number of merchant ships were reported favorably upon by a committee of the Continental Congress on October 27, 1775.

So the date is signficant to naval operations on multiple fronts of both governmental and citizen organizations.

There was a celebration of Navy Day in 1945 which is remembered for the celebratory aspect to this day.

Another date corresponding to the formation of the Continental Navy was proposed early on but the day has been generally celebrated on October 27 to this day.
 

US Navy

 

Tags: technology, things, weapons, world
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October 26, 2018
National Pumpkin Day 2018
  A Pumpkin
Today is National Pumpkin Day ... they're one of those autumn gourds which mark the harvest.

These melons are a rich source of vitamins and fiber and make excellent pies, cakes, and puddings.

Pumpkins are grown everywhere in the United States, including Alaska.

The seeds are rich in an essential oil which has copious amounts of essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins E and K as well as more esoteric nutrients such as phytosterols and sterine.

I have been known to purchase a pumpkin every few years because I encounter one that I simply cannot resist for it's size and form ...

the artistry of nature grips me in the autumn, my favorite time of the year.

Happy National Pumpkin Day to you.

Tags: things
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October 25, 2018
Some of us don't want to look at video all over the place
die flash die finally    
There is a propensity for web sites to presume that their public wishes to view video presentations exclusively during the perusing of their content. This content was formerly the flash format with a smattering of HTML5 interspersed but now it's the other way around ... and I have installed appropriate blocking software for both occasions.

That reason for my wish to be left without a lot of video has much to do with the consternation that video adverts present and I've reached that point well beyond rebellion to downright warfare on the front of video ads, video snips, video announcements, and having it all shoved down my throat as though it's some site's right to do so.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy video and under different circumstances I wouldn't have ever gone on the warpath against flash player and it's HTML5 ilk. It's simply that inclination for video sites to intersperse a video ad before each and every blessed clip they wish to present -- and WORSE, sites which populate the bulk of their pages with flash or other video adverts in the presence of purely marginal content otherwise -- which raised my hackles sufficiently to effectively thwart those attempts prior to my ever hitting their URL.

Me, I'm one of those determined to have my internet experience on my own terms. No nasty video is going to force itself upon me. No HTML5 or flash permutation. Not even a big bad animated GIF should push come to shove ... and to think that all of this 'tude happens in light of my 300 megabyte download capacity as well.

I have adobe to blame primarily ... and their nasty unintelligble regiments of persons from india claiming to be John, and Ralph, and Tina ... as they thank me for the information and tell me that they have to 'tink' about it. I've been repelled by their minions and now have disdain for their entire product line ... particularly flash video and the never ending components, nag screens, and advertisements using it. All because of the annoying animated ads which prevail despite the announced demise of flash itself in the near future.

I rue the day adobe purchased macromedia and turned flash (and coldfusion) into those messy monstrosities they presently are. I'd much rather read more text and see more sets of still images; but that's just me. You view all the bloody videos you like whenever you're so inclined. We can't all like the same things and it often seems that I'm the only one who likes what I seek in that internet experience anyway and that's ... okay.

Tags: technology
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