This may be a bit long as a quote, but it is well worth watching as a demonstration of the failure of American education. I guess it is an example of democracy in action in the absence of an educated populace.
Monthly Archives: July 2009
Palin: Never apologize for America
This is a good one. In her departure speech this weekend, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin told the audience that one should never apologize for America. Hmmm. It is indeed good to see her go. But there are some things that the country could apologize for, including slavery, the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, the treatment of native Americans, the support of corrupt regimes all around the world, and medical experiments conducted on prisoners.
“I wish that some in the media would keep things like that in perspective, what is really important in our country. And what is important is our freedoms, America’s security, our liberty.” She then said, “Let us continue to love our country, be proud of our country, never apologize for our country.”
Yes, let’s be proud of America, but lets also have the strength to admit errors, apologize and move forward. Her approach is simplistic and actually anti-American.
If you have a strong stomach, you can watch the speech below.
Everybody knows
For Saturday night, a classic from Leonard Cohen.
Monkey see, monkey do
Microsoft is up to its monkey games again. Once more it is set to mimic Apple. This time the Redmond copying machines are churning out copies of the Apple retail stores, in advance of Microsoft store openings later this fall. These guys are incapable of creative, independent thought.
Essentially, Microsoft is taking the best elements from the Apple Store, Sony Style and other “flagship” stores. The main focuses are going to be Windows 7, Xbox, PCTV (Windows Media Center) Surface and Windows Mobile, revolving around this concept customer they call “Emily,” who’s basically a younger version of your mom, since they make all the buying decisions.
In fact, they are likely to include a “Genius Bar” clone called, wait for it…..the Guru Bar. Not only are they copying the stores, Microsoft is also copying the locations. That is, they are planning to open the Microsoft retails store adjacent to Apple retail stores wherever possible. This might be huge mistake as it will make comparisons between the bustling Apple stores and empty Microsoft stores painfully obvious.
As John Dvorak notes, perhaps Microsoft would be better served if they returned their focus to producing easy-to-use, reliable software.
Everyone knew the day would come when the fortunes of Microsoft Corp. would reverse. The company might now be in actual decline.
If it’s true, it brought it on itself by ignoring its core competencies, because it exhibits signs of what can only be described as Corporate Attention Deficit Disorder — CADD.
Try to remember all the crazy directions Microsoft has gone in over the past few years. Note the dizzy remarks by Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who recently insisted that online advertising would soon account for the majority of Microsoft’s income. This is a software company making these comments.
Everyone knew the day would come when the fortunes of Microsoft Corp. would reverse. The company might now be in actual decline.
If it’s true, it brought it on itself by ignoring its core competencies, because it exhibits signs of what can only be described as Corporate Attention Deficit Disorder — CADD.
Try to remember all the crazy directions Microsoft has gone in over the past few years. Note the dizzy remarks by Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who recently insisted that online advertising would soon account for the majority of Microsoft’s income. This is a software company making these comments.
Disclosure: I am long in Apple.
Bush considered using military for law enforcement (updated x2)
The Bush administration seriously considered using the military to arrest terrorism suspects in the United States. Highly questionable from a Constitutional perspective, and also illegal under law. The legal “basis” for this approach was, of course, developed by John Yoo and the proposal was spearheaded by Dick Cheney. It wasn’t actually done but it was yet another attempt to end run the Constitution in the name of greater executive power.
Still, at least one high-level meeting was convened to debate the issue, at which several top Bush aides argued firmly against the proposal to use the military, advanced by Mr. Cheney, his legal adviser David S. Addington and some senior Defense Department officials.
Among those in opposition were Condoleezza Rice, then the national security adviser; John B. Bellinger III, the top lawyer at the National Security Council; Robert S. Mueller III, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Michael Chertoff, then the head of the Justice Department’s criminal division.
Update: Jonathan Turley offers his thoughts. Money quote:
What is truly frightening is how close we came. A single person stood in the way of tearing down one of our most important legal and political traditions. The bar on domestic law enforcement activities distinguishes this country from other countries where the military holds tremendous power like Iran. The recent military takeover in Honduras is an example of the dangers. We have long believed that people raised under our freedoms (and particularly trained in our laws) would be opposed to such attacks on our traditions and values. Yet, a vice president and top legal advisers facilitated an effort that was not just unlawful but unnecessary. It shows that, even in the most successful democracy in history, we can still stand just one vote away from a path of abuse or even tyranny. The alarm over this story is magnified by the utter failure of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to exercise checks and balances during this period. We came down to George Bush — no civil libertarian — to block this effort — though this may have been more of a political and legal calculation.
Update 2: Perhaps less thoughtful (yet more pungent) comments at Wonkette:
Anyway, made much more sense to just deploy the military to scoop ‘em up—tanks, guns, fuckin’ you know, whatever else, but definitely, definitely tanks—and just do whatever with them, and not even bother with the F.B.I. and their questions, because what’s going to retroactively prevent 9/11: a tank or a question?
Music for health care reform
OK, so health care reform is delayed until fall. Don’t stop believing. (from TV show Glee)
Obama personally addresses Gates situation
All in all, a gracious back-down on his position, and also it shows a great contrast to the previous occupant of the White House. Bush would never back down or re-calibrate any position after having made it public. Which is the most adult behavior?
Tech quote of the day
In light of Microsoft’s performance in the last quarter, excerpts from a BusinessWeek interview with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, October 12, 2004. (h/t MacDailyNews)
Steve Jobs: Apple had a monopoly on the graphical user interface for almost 10 years. That’s a long time. And how are monopolies lost? Think about it. Some very good product people invent some very good products, and the company achieves a monopoly. But after that, the product people aren’t the ones that drive the company forward anymore. It’s the marketing guys or the ones who expand the business into Latin America or whatever. Because what’s the point of focusing on making the product even better when the only company you can take business from is yourself? So a different group of people start to move up. And who usually ends up running the show? The sales guy… Then one day, the monopoly expires for whatever reason. But by then the best product people have left, or they’re no longer listened to. And so the company goes through this tumultuous time, and it either survives or it doesn’t.
BusinessWeek: Is this common in the industry?
Steve Jobs: Look at Microsoft — who’s running Microsoft?
BusinessWeek: Steve Ballmer.
Steve Jobs: Right, the sales guy. Case closed.
Jon Stewart on the birthers
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Compare and contrast: Microsoft v. Apple
On Tuesday, Apple announced earnings and showed that the second quarter of the calendar year was the most profitable non-Christmas quarter ever the the company. The stock climbed. Today, after the markets closed, Microsoft released their earnings. Not so much. Microsoft could be in serious, serious trouble.
The global slump in PC sales left a bigger dent than expected in Microsoft’s earnings in the latest quarter, pushing its sales down by 17 per cent from a year before and its after-tax profits down by 29 per cent.
The software giant’s shares slipped nearly 7 per cent in after-market trading on the news, which came as a setback after signs from other big tech companies that the worst of the downturn might lie in the past.
And here is some directly related news: Apple now has 90% of the market for computers costing more than $1,000.
Disclosure: I am long in Apple stock.
A catcerto, of course
I love this. A composition built around the piano stylings of Nora the cat.
Picture of the day: Eclipse from space
Check out this picture taken from space showing the shadow from the recent eclipse. Amazing.
Great wedding video
This a fun (and touching) video of the opening of a wedding. Particularly surprising since it involves caucasians and dancing.
Ten years to an artificial brain?
So says Henry Markram, who is leading the Blue Brain Project. He spoke this week at the latest TED Conference.
Markram, for the first time, shares how he is addressing one theory of how the brain works. The theory is that the brain “builds” a version of the universe and projects this version, like a bubble, all around us. But Markram says we can directly address this philosophical question with science. Anesthetics don’t work by blocking receptors. They introduce a noise into the brain to confuse the neurons to prevent you from making “decisions.” You must make decisions to perceive anything. 99% of what you see in a room is not what comes in through the eyes — it’s what you infer about that room.
If this actually can be achieved, it will be possible to research brain behavior on an artificial construct and the breakthroughs could be huge.
Second largest aquarium tank in the world
Check out this amazing video. Give it time to load to avoid jerks. (h/t kottke.org)