Asbury College to become Asbury University this spring – Latest News – Kentucky.com

Asbury College to become Asbury University this spring – Latest News – Kentucky.com.

Asbury College moves toward University Status – Asbury.edu

AP Poll: Americans fret over health overhaul costs – Yahoo! News

From Article By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers

Americans are worried about hidden costs in the fine print of health care overhaul legislation, an Associated Press poll says. That’s creating new challenges for President Barack Obama as he tries to close the deal with a handful of Democratic doubters in the Senate.

Although Americans share a conviction that major health care changes are needed, Democratic bills that extend coverage to the uninsured and try to hold down medical costs get no better than a lukewarm reception.

AP Poll: Americans fret over health overhaul costs – Yahoo! News.

 

Link to PDF of the Poll results

Say no to the Comcast and NBC merger!

RT @neurostech: RT @freepress: RT @comdown: Say no to the Comcast and NBC merger! http://bit.ly/1WciqP #NoMerger

Swine flu has sickened 22 million Americans

So has anyone actually had the seasonal flu this year? With these numbers reported by USA Today it would seem nearly everyone would be sick if we had an average seasonal flu season.

RT @NAICU: Swine flu has killed 540 kids, sickened 22 million Americans (USA Today) http://bit.ly/3Ixnb9

No Apologies : Current Health Care Reform Bill UnConstitutional

..:: The Conservative Edge ::...

The Obama Apocalypse (unknown source)

And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land
called America, having lost their morals, their initiative, and their
will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme Leader that
person known as ‘The One.’

He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but He
hypnotized the people telling them, “I am sent to save you. My lack
of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego, and my
association with evil doers are of no consequence. I shall save you
with hope and Change. Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the
land that he who proceeded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation,
and that all he has built must be destroyed.” And the people rejoiced,
for even though they knew not what ‘The One’ would do, he had promised
that it was good; and they believed. And ‘The One’ said, ” We live in
the greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!”
And the people said, “Hallelujah! Change is good!”

Then He said, “We are going to tax the rich fat-cats.” And the
people said “Sock it to them!” “And redistribute their wealth.” And
the people said, “Show us the money!” And then he said,
“redistribution of wealth is good for everybody.”

And Joe the plumber asked, “Are you kidding me? You’re going to
steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??” And ‘The One’
ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe’s personal records were hacked and publicized.
One lone reporter asked, “Isn’t that Marxist policy?” And she was
banished from the kingdom!

Then a citizen asked, “With no foreign relations experience and
having zero military experience or knowledge, how will he deal with
radical terrorists?” And ‘The One’ said, “Simple. I shall sit with
them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they
will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!” And the people
said, “Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons
into free cars for the people!”

Then ‘The One’ said, “I shall give 95% of you lower taxes.” And one,
lone voice said, “But 44% of us don’t pay ANY taxes. So ‘The One’
said, “Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!”
And the people said, “Hallelujah! Show us the money!”
Then ‘The One’ said, “I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell
your homes!” And the people yawned and the slumping housing market
collapsed. And He said, “I shall mandate employer-funded health care
for every worker and raise the minimum wage. And I shall give every
person unlimited healthcare and medicine and transportation to the
clinics.” And the people said, “Give me some of that!”
Then he said, “I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas.”
And the people said, “Where’s my rebate check?”

Then ‘The One’ said, “I shall bankrupt the coal industry and
electricity rates will skyrocket!” And the people said, “Coal is
dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don’t care for that part
about higher electric rates.” So ‘The One’ said, “Not to worry. If
your rebate isn’t enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out
Just sign up with the ACORN and your troubles are over!”

Then He said, “Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let’s
grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches,
free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing…” And
the people said, “Hallelujah!” and they made him king!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and
ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers. Others
simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank like unto
a rock dropped from a cliff.
The banking industry was destroyed. Manufacturing slowed to a
crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.

Then ‘The One’ said, “I am ‘the One’- The Messiah – and I’m here
to save you! We shall just print more money so everyone will have
enough!” But our foreign trading partners said unto Him. “Wait a
minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have
to pay more…” And ‘The One’ said, “Wait a minute. That isn’t
fair!!” And the world said, “Neither are these other idiotic
programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and
a second-rate power. Now you shall play by our rules!”

And the people cried out, “Alas, alas!! What have we done?” But yea
verily, it was too late. The people set upon ‘The One’ and spat upon
him and stoned him, and his name was dung. And the once mighty nation
was no more; and the once proud people were without sustenance or
shelter or hope. And the Change ‘The One’ had given them was as like
unto a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that
consumed all that they had built.

image012

image013

And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish,
“give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!” But it was too
late, and their homeland was no more.

image014

image015

You may think this a fairy tale, but it’s not.
It’s happening RIGHT NOW

Test post from iPod Touch

This is a test post from the WordPress v2 app on iPod Touch

NASA shows off James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble successor – Engadget

A look at the new space telescope to replace the Hubble in the near future.  It looks very sci-fi movie-ish, but hey, if it works!

 

NASA shows off James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble successor – Engadget

Is FREE WiFi really FREE?

In the last several months that has been an increasing number of arrests across the U.S. of people using FREE WiFi services. Many of them have been people using it from their cars instead of entering the place of business where the service is being offered from, but something still seems strange to arrest someone for using an advertised FREE service.

I sort of understand how the law is written why they can arrest them, under the piggyback clause which basically constitutes an illegal entry onto another network that you do not have permission to use. But again, the service is advertised as FREE with no stipulations to purchase or use a particular product or service offered by the entity that is providing the FREE WiFi service.

My opinion: If you are going to offer FREE Wifi service and advertise it, and you do NOT want people using it that are not a patron of your establishment, then create some sort of security clearance. Create a login page that requires some credentials to be entered. If they need to purchase or check out something from you then put the credentials on the receipt. They could be unique for each and every receipt and it would make it much more difficult to “hack” or piggyback your system. And if you caught anyone using it without the proper credentials then their certainly would be grounds for legal action. Otherwise, tough!

The same goes for home WiFi access. If you are going to put a WiFi point in your home, and you are not going to take even basic measures to secure it, then you essentially are saying to the world. You are more than welcome to come and use my internet service free of charge.

That’s my soapbox speech for today. What are your thoughts?

adn.com | alaska : Using free wireless at library described as theft

Michigan man arrested for using cafe’s free WiFi from his car

Fed up station owner shuts off gas pumps

Kudos to this man/ station for taking a pro-active stand concerning the ridiculous state of gasoline prices.  Granted it may not make much of a difference, but it is certainly good to know that there are still people in this country who are willing to do something like this to prove a point.

To all the gas and oil companies::

As a result of your greed and increasing your record profit margins my wife and I have decided to stay home this Memorial Day weekend to save money.  And for the foreseeable future all our driving journeys will be at the discretion of the prices you are setting at the pumps.  I do not blame the local stations or their owners for this but you and you alone.  I will purchase gas for our car when I absolutely need to at the cheapest price I can find, but I highly doubt we will be making any joyriding trips cross-country this year.

I also hope that you are enjoying your fancy cars, that probably get horrible gas mileage, while the rest of try to figure out how much gas we can actually afford to put in our cars each week.  And by the way, I don’t believe that all the BS in the media concerning shortages and supply/ demand is actually accurate.  That is what we are supposed to believe, but we also know that you are willing to close down oil production when the surpluses hit a certain point so that the supply and demand will then allow you to raise your prices AGAIN! It is ridiculous!

There should NEVER be any so-called shortages, your facilities should NEVER shut down unless there are actual physical reasons to do so.  If the utility companies decided at random to just quit working and shut down their facilities, everyone, including yourselves would be severely ticked off.  And if you say otherwise then I challenge ALL the utility companies that service your homes to, at random, begin shutting off your services multiple times during the year.

***********

Now I am by no means one who is a ‘conservationist at all costs’, but I try to not be wasteful, though I am fully aware that I fail at that from time to time.  However right now with the stranglehold the oil companies have on our entire economy and industries (beyond gas and oil production, to all the everyday products we buy) we need to push harder than ever to annihilate our dependence on oil.  If for no other reason that to put the oil overlords in their place.

There have been emails and other online articles concerning a boycott of a major oil company’s gas to attempt to lower gas prices.  I have also seen counter articles stating that these boycott attempts have been pushed for years with little to no success.  But quite honestly gas prices have never been as high and as difficult to muster than in the past 12-18 months.

I believe there is enough resentment of the oil companies over these high prices that if the research is done to show which gasoline companies purchase their product from Exxon Mobil, and it is published, then this theory might actually hold water.  To pull it off and make it work it would take a vast majority of drivers across this country to agree to hold to it.  It may even require paying a few cents more per gallon down the street at first, but given a period of time it will begin to hurt the bottom line for the said major oil company.

I am all for it and I will begin to do the research myself.  If anyone else can provide information on this we may just be able to make a difference in this massive price gouging of the American people.

Fed up station owner shuts off gas pumps – CNN.com

Thoughts on Music – Courtesy Steve Jobs

Below is the Press Release of Steve Jobs’ comments on the current state of digital music.  A very interesting read and bold statement made by the Apple, Inc CEO.  So far it has some reputable supporters, but until the music studios decide to let all that DRM junk go, it could be a long road to haul.

Personally, I understand why the music industries want it on. So that they can control distribution and get more revenues.  BUT, all they are doing is frustrating the consumers by forcing portable media player manufactuers to put such tight restrictions on their Music that the files are platform specific.

It seems like the industry is beginning to bite the hand(s) that feed them… which historically is dangerous, daring at best.

Steve Jobs
February 6, 2007

With the stunning global success of Apple’s iPod music player and iTunes online music store, some have called for Apple to “open” the digital rights management (DRM) system that Apple uses to protect its music against theft, so that music purchased from iTunes can be played on digital devices purchased from other companies, and protected music purchased from other online music stores can play on iPods. Let’s examine the current situation and how we got here, then look at three possible alternatives for the future.

To begin, it is useful to remember that all iPods play music that is free of any DRM and encoded in “open” licensable formats such as MP3 and AAC. iPod users can and do acquire their music from many sources, including CDs they own. Music on CDs can be easily imported into the freely-downloadable iTunes jukebox software which runs on both Macs and Windows PCs, and is automatically encoded into the open AAC or MP3 formats without any DRM. This music can be played on iPods or any other music players that play these open formats.

The rub comes from the music Apple sells on its online iTunes Store. Since Apple does not own or control any music itself, it must license the rights to distribute music from others, primarily the “big four” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. These four companies control the distribution of over 70% of the world’s music. When Apple approached these companies to license their music to distribute legally over the Internet, they were extremely cautious and required Apple to protect their music from being illegally copied. The solution was to create a DRM system, which envelopes each song purchased from the iTunes store in special and secret software so that it cannot be played on unauthorized devices.

Apple was able to negotiate landmark usage rights at the time, which include allowing users to play their DRM protected music on up to 5 computers and on an unlimited number of iPods. Obtaining such rights from the music companies was unprecedented at the time, and even today is unmatched by most other digital music services. However, a key provision of our agreements with the music companies is that if our DRM system is compromised and their music becomes playable on unauthorized devices, we have only a small number of weeks to fix the problem or they can withdraw their entire music catalog from our iTunes store.

To prevent illegal copies, DRM systems must allow only authorized devices to play the protected music. If a copy of a DRM protected song is posted on the Internet, it should not be able to play on a downloader’s computer or portable music device. To achieve this, a DRM system employs secrets. There is no theory of protecting content other than keeping secrets. In other words, even if one uses the most sophisticated cryptographic locks to protect the actual music, one must still “hide” the keys which unlock the music on the user’s computer or portable music player. No one has ever implemented a DRM system that does not depend on such secrets for its operation.

The problem, of course, is that there are many smart people in the world, some with a lot of time on their hands, who love to discover such secrets and publish a way for everyone to get free (and stolen) music. They are often successful in doing just that, so any company trying to protect content using a DRM must frequently update it with new and harder to discover secrets. It is a cat-and-mouse game. Apple’s DRM system is called FairPlay. While we have had a few breaches in FairPlay, we have been able to successfully repair them through updating the iTunes store software, the iTunes jukebox software and software in the iPods themselves. So far we have met our commitments to the music companies to protect their music, and we have given users the most liberal usage rights available in the industry for legally downloaded music.

With this background, let’s now explore three different alternatives for the future.

The first alternative is to continue on the current course, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own “top to bottom” proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music. It is a very competitive market, with major global companies making large investments to develop new music players and online music stores. Apple, Microsoft and Sony all compete with proprietary systems. Music purchased from Microsoft’s Zune store will only play on Zune players; music purchased from Sony’s Connect store will only play on Sony’s players; and music purchased from Apple’s iTunes store will only play on iPods. This is the current state of affairs in the industry, and customers are being well served with a continuing stream of innovative products and a wide variety of choices.

Some have argued that once a consumer purchases a body of music from one of the proprietary music stores, they are forever locked into only using music players from that one company. Or, if they buy a specific player, they are locked into buying music only from that company’s music store. Is this true? Let’s look at the data for iPods and the iTunes store – they are the industry’s most popular products and we have accurate data for them. Through the end of 2006, customers purchased a total of 90 million iPods and 2 billion songs from the iTunes store. On average, that’s 22 songs purchased from the iTunes store for each iPod ever sold.

Today’s most popular iPod holds 1000 songs, and research tells us that the average iPod is nearly full. This means that only 22 out of 1000 songs, or under 3% of the music on the average iPod, is purchased from the iTunes store and protected with a DRM. The remaining 97% of the music is unprotected and playable on any player that can play the open formats. Its hard to believe that just 3% of the music on the average iPod is enough to lock users into buying only iPods in the future. And since 97% of the music on the average iPod was not purchased from the iTunes store, iPod users are clearly not locked into the iTunes store to acquire their music.

The second alternative is for Apple to license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores. On the surface, this seems like a good idea since it might offer customers increased choice now and in the future. And Apple might benefit by charging a small licensing fee for its FairPlay DRM. However, when we look a bit deeper, problems begin to emerge. The most serious problem is that licensing a DRM involves disclosing some of its secrets to many people in many companies, and history tells us that inevitably these secrets will leak. The Internet has made such leaks far more damaging, since a single leak can be spread worldwide in less than a minute. Such leaks can rapidly result in software programs available as free downloads on the Internet which will disable the DRM protection so that formerly protected songs can be played on unauthorized players.

An equally serious problem is how to quickly repair the damage caused by such a leak. A successful repair will likely involve enhancing the music store software, the music jukebox software, and the software in the players with new secrets, then transferring this updated software into the tens (or hundreds) of millions of Macs, Windows PCs and players already in use. This must all be done quickly and in a very coordinated way. Such an undertaking is very difficult when just one company controls all of the pieces. It is near impossible if multiple companies control separate pieces of the puzzle, and all of them must quickly act in concert to repair the damage from a leak.

Apple has concluded that if it licenses FairPlay to others, it can no longer guarantee to protect the music it licenses from the big four music companies. Perhaps this same conclusion contributed to Microsoft’s recent decision to switch their emphasis from an “open” model of licensing their DRM to others to a “closed” model of offering a proprietary music store, proprietary jukebox software and proprietary players.

The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.

Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player.

In 2006, under 2 billion DRM-protected songs were sold worldwide by online stores, while over 20 billion songs were sold completely DRM-free and unprotected on CDs by the music companies themselves. The music companies sell the vast majority of their music DRM-free, and show no signs of changing this behavior, since the overwhelming majority of their revenues depend on selling CDs which must play in CD players that support no DRM system.

So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system? There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies.

Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.

Apple – Thoughts on Music

States Challenge Natl Drivers License

 Apparently there is some new legislation being tossed around that would nationalize the driver’s license databases from every state.

WASHINGTON (AP) – A revolt against a national driver’s license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states.

The Maine Legislature on Jan. 26 overwhelmingly passed a resolution objecting to the Real ID Act of 2005. The federal law sets a national standard for driver’s licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases.

****

“It’s the whole privacy thing,” said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures. “A lot of legislators are concerned about privacy issues

What I don’t understand is why this has anything to do about privacy.  If the Feds want your data or information about you, not having a National database isn’t going to stop it and sure as anything won’t slow them down much. And quite honestly what information is on your Driver’s License is mostly public record anyway.  So quit your whining.

And the whole Big Brother thing, give me a break.  If you’re not doing anything illegal, they’re not watching you anyway.  They are only watching people that are of interest for illegal activity or ties.  So why do you care, honestly?

I can’t imagine that they have nothing else better to do than spend the time and money watching you in your backyard from a satellite, or worse listening in to phone calls to your mother.

My Way News – States Challenge Natl Drivers License

Interview with Steve Jobs about iPhone

A 10 minute clip of an interview with Steve Jobs on CNBC, shortly after the announcement on January 9th by Steve Jobs revealing the new Apple iPhone.  An interesting interview, that also hits on and covers the current stock option fiasco concerning Apple, Inc. and the supposed coverup/ manipulation of prices to make Apple stock (AAPL) appear higher in value.

Worth the 10 minutes to watch.

YouTube – Steve Jobs on CNBC

Mac Purchase Safety Dates

Macworld Keynote Purchase Safety Dates – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Baby is sent through X-ray machine at LAX

Baby is sent through X-ray machine at LAX – Los Angeles Times

Boy hurt by cannon blast feels twice wounded

Boy hurt by cannon blast feels twice wounded

Santa Claus does not exist school tells stunned kids

Santa Claus does not exist school tells stunned kids | News | This is London

Border Fence Firm Snared for Hiring Illegal Workers

NPR : Border Fence Firm Snared for Hiring Illegal Workers

Giant tent to be built over city in Astana

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Giant tent to be built in Astana

Progressive groups call for Wal-Mart to pull Left Behind video game

Progressive groups call for Wal-Mart to pull Left Behind video game

The 9/11 Truth Movement’s Dangers, Nation: Dishonest Government Leads To Cynical Theorists – CBS News

The 9/11 Truth Movement’s Dangers, Nation: Dishonest Government Leads To Cynical Theorists – CBS News

Christian vs. Christ-follower

Think Christian » Blog Archive » Christian vs. Christ-follower

Girl, 13, charged as sex offender and victim

DenverPost.com – Girl, 13, charged as sex offender and victim

Could Playing Movies On Your Mac Be Illegal?

Mac360 – Could Playing Movies On Your Mac Be Illegal?

Open-source group wants Blackboard educational patent reversed

Open-source group wants educational patent reversed | Tech News on ZDNet
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