Ok, so on the Internet, there are various truisms and axioms and such.
Godwin's Law is the most famous Internet law that came out of in the 90s.
I'm currently working on my own.
Recently, I made a post about the current economic crisis, some of my observations, and so personal opinions. I turned off commenting. A friend commented on it calling it a "stinky" thing to do.
However, I came to the following conclusion, based on a conversation I had with jeffbadge.
Anybody who I would want to discuss my post with has my email, probably my phone number, and likely sees me from time to time. If they want to have a discussion with me about the subject matter, they have avenues with which to pursue it.
In addition, most people have their own journals in which they can offer differences of opinions, counter examples, or rebuttals.
The reason I don't want to engage in a debate on my journal about these things is based on a new axiom I'm toying with.
I'm trying to put together the wording on an Internet axiom.
Never get into a public argument on the Internet with somebody who has more free time than you.
In truth, it could be shortened to Never get into a public argument on the Internet, but I think the former longer axiom has more appeal.
The reason behind the axiom is that people will argue persistently, and as you taper off, due to more pressing uses of your time, the argument will devolve into your silence being a tacit agreement to some point made. In most cases, from what I've seen, Internet arguments are not won by weight of fact or strength of logic, but by sheer amount of text and free time a side is willing to devote to the "cause". It's not dissimilar to legal cases where a large firm buries the smaller firm with paperwork and motions.
These days, most people have more spare time than I do. So, to follow the axiom, I'm going to keep the comments off, if the post is about some opinion or cause that I fear will engender some contention.
Perhaps this axiom will be of use to others.
Man...I could really go for a sandwich...where are the watercress?
12:38 am
I was thinking about the dire worldly straits that have beset the globe recently. It's particularly telling to me, as it's a global crisis, that no single person, party, or entity can be pointed to as "the cause". It's a confluence of events, with plenty of people having their oars in the waters. To blame it on the previous administration or current administration seems a bit oriented more out of making political hay out of the crisis than trying to find a solution.
I come from a soft generation. I know that sounds harsh or judgmental, and it is, to a point. From my observations, my generation never had a real trial of character or conscience to beset it. There has been no draft, no fuel crisis (I vaguely recall the crisis of the 70s, but certainly I was not at an age to pull identity from it}, we had brief and scary rattling of swords with the USSR on occasion, but nothing akin to the Cuban Missile crisis. We didn't have to live with the severing of segregation laws, forced zoning, or suffrage. There is some arguments about right to terminate pregnancy and gay marriage, but the struggle has been mostly limited to the courts. Perhaps I am naive, but I don't think the effect of being denied the right to be married is quite as vicious as being denied the right to get an education or the right to vote.
As I grew up, I watched many of my peers (as well as myself), cast around for an identity, a cause to stand for, a moment to take my rights and freedoms and forge them into a cause for the good and the just. The desire to band together and take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end them. There was and is the desire to stand for something...to stand up for a cause all but lost, or stand up for a cause all but won...and be part of something, some change, some global good. However, trying band together, be part of something bigger, is tough when times are rich and plentiful. It's tough to convince people to risk the system to heal an injustice in times of wealth. However, in times of crisis, people can come together, because when you start losing your material possessions, the immaterial possessions, the ones you can't lose, become more important. You need to ensure your inner self {soul, spirit, conscience or whatever} is worth holding on to.
I have a few things on the burner, in hopes of helping my community...but the thing I think about the most is the people who will try to profit out of this. Whether it is fiscal profit through subversion of the system, or political profit by cutting at the people working in government. These people need to be shunned, pushed aside, ignored. I changed banks recently because I could not continue to bank with an agency who had acted so reprehensibly in the past decade. I have written to a certain Senator of mine, condemning her for her vicious undermining of the other party at the expense of constructive rebuilding. I will be asking for some more specifics from the agencies asking me for money to help the community...to give me some level of surety that they aren't just soaking the public. All these things, I will be doing from a quiet pulpit.
The reason I'm not naming names, is because that would be me making my own political hay. This is a judgment I have to make for myself, and, I believe, it is the responsibility for each citizen to do the same. To discretely examine the effect of an entity and act accordingly, this is my plan, and what I believe to be the responsibility of each citizen.
It's not something done in a weekend, unfortunately. This will require a prolonged effort, and I'll probably slip up countless times. However, I guess that what it means to me, to act as an adult.
The New Economy For a while now, I've had a Capital One mastercard. It has served me well. It has had an APR of 11.04 percent, and I generally keep it paid off. One time, in the four years I've had the card, I paid the bill three days late. All in all, a solid customer credit card relationship has been had by all.
However, today I got a letter saying they are CHANGING my terms.
Starting April 17th, I get a "promotional" APR of 17.9 percent...until January 1st, 2010.
Upon January first, I will have a variable APR based on 26.15% + the Prime rate. They estimate my interest rate to be about 29.4%.
The reason for this...."extraordinary changes in the economic environment".
As you may imagine, I am not alone in getting stiffed by Capital One.
The reality is, come June, credit cards will no longer be able to raise your APR without cause. Capital One is clearly trying to act preemptively, to make as much money as possible. I'm betting, if you cancel your card, you'll get a new card offered to you in July at the old rate. This is just a guess.
Ok, by and large, I'm a believer in the freedom to contract, and I normally would quietly cancel my card, and give them the finger from the privacy of my own home.
However, Capital One just recently took a huge 3.56 billion dollars in bailout money. They used this to buy some banks despite being in a healthy financial state. This means, in my eyes, they are beholden to the stockholders to an extent. To take a bailout payment and then turn around and undercut the citizenry is just appalling. The point of the bailout was to encourage lending, to unfreeze the credit markets, but this is a step in the exact opposite direction. Crippling interest rates do not encourage credit markets.
Needless to say, I'm going to be canceling my Capital One card...I don't have a balance on it, so it will be easy.
I'm not a big fan of government interference in business....until tax monies get involved. I think the government is going to have to drop a big hammer on these banks, who are taking the money for the purpose of opening up the credit markets, and then holding to the conservative strategy.
Happy to be wrong If you asked me a year ago, was America at a point in it's populace maturity to elect a minority president, I would have said no. I would have had arguments, and pointed to divisive issues, and I would have been wrong.
I have never been as proud of my country and its people as tonight. I owe America an apology, my view of its bias and reactionary ways was clearly incorrect, and I was wrong for espousing them.
It's somewhat humbling, but it is the most eager and accepting humiliation I have ever accepted. My country is more than what I thought it to be...and that makes my heart glad.
First of all, let's address the logic of their statement. This is the tax to support the Pike Place Market revisions and improvements.
"Proposition 1 is a one-time, 6 year investment in our market"
Then, on the same flyer it says "This is a timely investment in an institution that has repaid earlier support many times in creation of small-business opportunities".
Wait, earlier support? What happened to the one-time? Do we really believe there will never be a request for further revisions? Or do they hope by the time further revisions are requested, we'll have forgotten about this request.
Which brings me to the very popular "extension of levies" technique that is used so often in Seattle politics. When this levy is up, they will ask for a renewal for new purpose, and will say "No new taxes, just an extension of the levy"...this they have done several time, as we all know. You instantiate a levy by promising it to be a fixed amount of time, and then extend it by claiming it is "no new taxes". You can bet that when this levy is up, something new will come up to renew it.
Next point, there is no reason to create a new tax to support this. We can do it out of current funds. The stadiums have taught us that things can be built, fixed, and maintained without voter approval, sometimes in direct defiance of voters. There is no reason they can't perform these repairs out of the current tax base. This is basically a new tax using an emotional icon as the bait. Schools and historic institutions are prime candidates for opening wallets, and that's what they are doing.
For instance, let's say the public restoration budget for Seattle is 100 dollars a person, and Pike Place Market is on the block for restoration.
They can reduce the public restoration budget by 42 dollars a person, to 58 dollars, put that 42 dollars in some other area (let's call it the slush fund), and then put on the ballot an initiative for 42 dollars a person for restoration of Pike Place.
The total restoration budget is returned to 100 dollars, and the slush fund is increased by 42 dollars, and they will claim the extra tax is going to the restoration fund. Well, that would be true, except that money is fungible, and politicians know this. When ever you want to raise taxes, aim the taxes to some purpose that people are sympathetic to, and then drain the taxes out of that reservoir.
So, to reiterate, No on Prop 1. It's an emotional purse grab, using lies and dirty techniques.
That said, also vote yes on initiative 1000....because, duh!
I'm almost certain it's comcast, but they claim it isn't. They state everything is peachy...and the problem is in the three routers I tried...or the wireless cards on all my devices.
Long overdue cell phone feature For the past year, the lack of the following function on modern cell phones has really bothered me.
The ability to turn cell phones silent for a given duration. Instead of having a switch that makes the cell phone quiet or noisy, there should be an option where I can tell my cell phone;
"Be silent for the next 3 hours" or "Be silent everyday from 10pm to 8am"
I can't believe the programming would be that difficult, and with the majority of phone functionality based in the phoneOS these days, I doubt it's even much of a technical hurdle. My iPhone, for instance, has an interface within the programming where I can, using the software interface, change the ringer volume, vibrate features, etc. Surely the programming to allow "Silent for this duration" would not be difficult. No more forgetting to turn your ringer on after movies. No more being awaken by errant calls or text messages while asleep...or, if you turn off your ringer at night, no more worries about turning it back on in the morning.
So simple, so useful...how does this not exist?
Addendum I sent this post, pretty much verbatim, to the Apple as an enhancement request for the iPhone.
My board game group (boxcar gaming) is looking for a new place to have our board games on Wednesday nights. We have previously been gaming at the Wayward Coffeehouse on Tuesdays, but the change in game night in combination with Wayward's Wednesday activities means we have to find a new place.
The requirements of the new place are as follows.
1. Must have a large table or the ability to create large playing surfaces. 2. Must not play music so loud that you have to shout to be heard 3. Must supply a reasonable variety of edibles 4. Must be open till at least 10pm
Jake's Washington Initiative Voter's Guide I realized with the election coming up, I haven't really discussed the initiatives that are in this election. Here are the issues I feel most strongly about.
Ppl. Ini. 960
Ballot Title Initiative Measure No. 960 concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government.
This measure would require two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval for tax increases, legislative approval of fee increases, certain published information on tax-increasing bills, and advisory votes on taxes enacted without voter approval.
This one sticks in my craw, because it's an Eyman...whom I hate. However, putting aside my animosity for the man, I don't find anything particularly offensive about this bill. It requires a 2/3rds vote by the legislature or voter approval for tax increases.
With the recent abuses of governments on all levels, I'm very much in favor of defanging a simple majority. We've seen at great length the damage caused when there is no power by a dissenting group. Wars, budget plans, health care reforms that devastate low income families have been caused by slim majorities. Since our current tax base is mainly percentage based, it automatically grows with the economy. I'm in favor of 2/3rds majority or voter approval for tax increases. Really, what is the worst case scenario? A new tax requires additional support? It certainly beats the alternative.
Yes on 960
Ref 67
Ballot Title The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5726 (ESSB 5726) concerning insurance fair conduct related to claims for coverage or benefits and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.
This bill would make it unlawful for insurers to unreasonably deny certain coverage claims, and permit treble damages plus attorney fees for that and other violations. Some health insurance carriers would be exempt.
This is a no brainer. I believe insurance companies should be on the hook for heavy damages for withholding claims or denying reasonable claims. Certainly, without any sort of sufficient inducement to the contrary, it would be in their interest to deny most claims if the worst that can happen is they have to pay the original due amount, plus small penalties. Insurance companies know full well most people can't afford lawyers, and take advantage of that excessively. In addition, most insurance companies are FLUSH. They aren't teetering on the edge. Making them accountable for unethical behavior is only just.
Yes on Ref 67
Hs. Jt Reso. 8212
Ballot Title The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on school district tax levies.
This amendment would provide for approval of school district excess property tax levies by simple majority vote of participating voters, and would eliminate supermajority approval requirements based on voter turnout in previous elections.
Should this constitutional amendment be:
Approved Rejected
For the love of god, this needs to be rejected. This constitutional amendment needs to be rejected, stomped flat, and tossed out the door.
This is another attempt to reduce the checks and balances of a decent all people democracy. The change from a super-majority to a majority is from 60% to 50%. You may wonder, why do they want to reduce the effort required to create excess levies 10%? The reason pretty much speaks for itself. Currently, more than 40% of the people generally are not in support of these excess levies. This amendment is expressly created to take power from that section of the people. Super-majority and 2/3rds vote requirements are there for a reason. The reason being, too often the majority tromps on the minority opinion. Approving this measure is actively tromping on minority opinion.
Let's keep in mind that super-majorities are attainable! You can still have your excess levies, but it requires you to have a convincing argument and be able to get a 60% yea vote. Please, do not quiet the little guy.
PSA If you are driving north on Aurora today....Go the SPEED LIMIT.
On my way back from lunch (going the speed limit) I passed;
3 people pulled over 1 cruiser and 2 motorcycle cops hanging out on a side street north of the bridge, waiting 2 cops with radar guns standing on the pedestrian overpass at 41st st.
Baseball Excitement Single Game Playoff for the NL wildcard today. San Diego vs. Colorado.
I'm rooting for Colorado, because, come on, they won 13 out of 14 to drag themselves out of the cellar and become contenders. It's like bad baseball movie type drama.
Jaap Penraat Today is the Birthday of Jaap Penraat (burgunder, thanks for the reminder).
Jaap Penraat is in my pantheon of truly heroic people.
He forged papers for Nazi prisoners being sent as slave labor to the Atlantic Wall area of France during World War II. Through forging papers, he managed to smuggle over 400 people out of the Nazi occupations. In the middle of his operations, he was captured and tortured by Nazi interior guards. For two months he was forced to share a tiny cell with 4 other people, with only a bucket for their waste. They were forced to stand 20 hours a day, and were frequently beaten. He did not break, and when he was released, he went back to making papers. He was forced into hiding for several years near the end of the war. He got married, had 3 daughters, and became an architect. He was awarded the Israeli Medal of the Righteous Among Nations.
However, when asked why he took such risks, he said,
"You do these things because in your mind, there is no other way of doing it".
If you would like to visit his grave, and leave flowers, it's located in Catskill Cemetary in Catskill, New York.
What am I doing here on the floor? Today during my boxing session I got knocked out. Not knocked down (though that happened as well), but knocked out. I was in the middle of an uppercut, trying to get under his high guard, when he hauled off a roundhouse punch that connected right above my right eye (on the headgear), and I then I was on the floor and he was standing over me. According to him, I was only out the briefest of seconds, but wow, quite the jarring discontinuity.
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