The Government is pulling a fast one?

Now I know not everyone shares my "openness", but why not? A recent press release by the bush administration, shows the benefits of transparency. I first learned about this through Dan Carlin's podcast about the subject. Basically, the administration signed an executive order outlining how it would operate during an emergency. So, Dan and a few small papers flipped out about this. Saying that it completely overrides constitutional authority, congress, and the sanctity of this country. So, my political undies all in a bunch, I had to check it out for myself.

The order started out okay only to end in ruin, by a few simple words. Basically, the order outlines how the executive branch will act (our army, airways, civil services, etc.) in the case of an emergency. It also states that it will "advise" our state and local governments on how to act as well. Great leadership, right...so here is the catch.

A few words (most likely intentional) state that in an emergency the president proclaims a new title upon himself, National Continuity Coordinator, and he can not only advise but tell the entire federal government how to act. What could cause el presidente to want to annoint himself a dictator in case of an emergency? Even worse, the definition of an emergency is ambiguous and the coordinator gets to decide what an emergency is. Ok, yeah, like I said, totally ruins in.

All revolt and disbelief aside. This makes me think that transparency for our government and its leaders is a good thing. It would be nice to lark down all those dark holes and see what is hiding, besides tons of money in a freezer. Who doesn't store bribes in their freezer?

But, lets not pin this all on the Executive Branch. All branches, Congress and the Supreme Court should lay bare what they do. Imagine what they can get away with then? We could weed out corruption and greed from the comfort of our own homes.

I would love to do that.

Alas, dreams and a tiny blog are all I have. Still at least I am publishing my disgust for this order, the lack of openness in our government, and making a statement for transparency in the government.

Transparency: how far down the rabbit hole will you go?

Transparency is a scary thing for some people. Not for me, over a decade ago I decided that everything in my life should be transparent. Rather, I should be able to tell my parents about everything I do. Well, now that has matured into telling the police and feds about everything I do (whycome? i is a grown up :)

What about the rest of the country? Do you all share my same free-spirited confidence and naive trust. My guess is not. But, wait a minute, what about this younger generation that posts intricate details of their lives on myspace, blogs, and other sites. What are they going to think...

Are we breeding a new generation that is going to expect transparency. Ooh, does that mean I am a leader of the new generation since I am way ahead of the pack, ha!

Ok, then what about having GPS, RFID, and cameras everywhere so that people know where we are at all times and even know when we are running a red light...Would this new generation be open to that. I'm pretty sure they would. In fact, I think they are going to expect it and when they find out that it isn't that way, they are going to make it happen. And, guess what, they aren't going to make it happen by running for an election, asking their local congressman, or whatever people do. They are just going to do it, let the old gaurd be dammed. Seriously, though, how many of the old guard even know what google earth mash-ups are?

Me, I know that I am loving this new wave of transparency. Business are doing it, friends are doing it, and so are the feds (albiet slowly). In the meantime, I am going to tell the whole world, about what I am doing and what I think. So, check out my twitter account, find me on facebook, check out my favorites on delicious and digg, and finally try and find me in google.

Rhyme on a dime with some slime...

Was just reading Kevin Rose's new blog and he gave out this cool site (rhymezone). It finds a rhyme for any word you type in. It is kinda fun to get some rhyming going...

On the eve, Steve's air sleeve can weave through a mccleave with a cleave wrapped in a satin weave out in tel aviv

Maybe i dont have skills...anyway, here are the words that rhyme with my name:

Words and phrases that rhyme with steve: (83 results)
1 syllable:
biev, cleave, cleve, eave, eve, gleave, greave, greve, grieve, heave, kleve, leave, leve, meave, naeve, neave, neve, peeve, reave, reeve, scheve, shreeve, shreve, sleeve, stieve, vive, we've, weave, yves

2 syllables:
achieve, aggrieve, air sleeve, aleve, aviv, believe, bereave, conceive, deceive, frost heave, geneve, laneve, mccleave, naive, on leave, perceive, plain weave, qui vive, rajiv, receive, relieve, reprieve, retrieve, sanjiv, shore leave, sick leave, take leave, twill weave, vancleve, wind sleeve

3 syllables:
basket weave, christmas eve, disbelieve, dolman sleeve, interleave, interweave, maharive, misconceive, misperceive, new year's eve, open weave, preconceive, record sleeve, satin weave, st john's eve, tel-aviv, tel aviv

4 syllables:
midsummer eve, on the qui vive, taffeta weave, terminal leave

5 syllables:
absence without leave, compassionate leave, sabbatical leave

Robots...they scare me

So, I was thinking the other day about robots. I love robots. In fact, I have a robot friend. When you need your pencil sharpened s/he does it for you and then he has energy to walk (he does the robot...ha). That robot is cool. But then there are destructor robots. Ive seen them in movies and imagined them in my brain.

One day they will be here. I know the army already has remote controlled planes and such. Its only a matter of time before the destructors come. Those guys really scare me.

But until then robots are like monkeys, fun and friendly on the outside...but unpredictable and dangerous. So, instead of a monkey (ive never wanted one anyway) i want a robot.


"Dream..you fu%#ing dreamers" - Dane Cook

MLB.TV saved my life

Rather...just saved my seaason and summer...

Anyway, spring is here and ahhhhh....yes! Baseball is back and I'm ready to go. Actually, it didn't start that way. A few weeks ago I was lamenting t hat fact that "the man" prevents me from watching any west coast ball game (i live on the east coast). That was until a different "man" -- my dad -- offered up a solution.


He suffers from the opposite problem. He is a huge yankee's fan but he pimps hoes in california. So, he offered up mlb.tv for both of us. Frickety-fast forward we are out 90 bucks and enjoying some slow-moving, crotch scratchers wack balls!

Oh man/woman do i love it. I have watched all sorts of games (currently the cards are getting murdered by the pirates). The Los Angeles Angels are rockin on my TV (see future post: hooking up your computer to your tv). Scioscia is getting primmed and primed for another run at the series. Me-thinks we gotta chance this year. If not, we will make sure to beat the yank's all year long!

Oh yeah, get this, with mlb.tv we have the option to upgrade to something unbelievable. We can upgrade to tv quality picture with 6 games at once and the option to get an alert when your favorite batter is up. It's a must for any fan who dreams about Peter Gammons and sunflower seeds.

Do you pay for cable? you are silly...

So, I was driving home from work the other day when I heard this random story on NPR. Apparently, Viacom (MTV, Paramount Pics, & BET) has signed a deal with joost tv. Meaning that all of Viacom's content will soon be available as web tv and it will be free. Currently, joost tv is in beta testing, but when it is done free tv is back!! I am so excited i want to jump through the ceiling.

In case you haven't had your ear to the grindstone let me catch you up. So for the past few decades pay tv (cable) has domintated the market. Now, before that tv was free and it was broadcoast out to homes. Joost tv is ready to bring that back, free tv! Their ingenious product will allow us to get free tv, movies, user-developed content, and more all.

There are some key changes this time around. First, the tv will be available on the internet. Meaning get used to watching tv on your computer or start looking to have your computer hooked up to your tv (not that hard, most have the capability built in). Second, their will still be commercials, but not the kind you are used to. Imagine commercials that aren't spammed on you every fifteen minutes, but instead a few highly focused commercials that you want to see. Wait, what is that, commercials I want to see. That's right they exist. The pc-vs-mac ones, superbowl commercials, the jay-z dell computer ones, etc. There are plenty of commercials that you like viewing and as long as joost can get that right, the sky is the limit (imagine marketing to people who love seeing you advertise to them). Third, and finally, the tv can contain you tube stuff and anything else.

If this did not make you giddy like it did me, then hopefully you will just be content to save yourself paying 60-120 dollars/month on crappy cabe tv. I can't wait and I will be waiting for the release. In the meantime, here is some free tv already available: Neave tv

Gunslinger