Thursday, May 25, 2006

Now that you have virtual reality what are you going to do?

"I'm Going to Disney World...."

Ok, virtual worlds let people experience cool things that would be hard to do in the real world. Well, now we have Virtual Disney Kingdom.


It's just like being there. I can wait in seemingly endless lines for hours (I use a controller with force feedback to get the full effect).


I hear that the Registry of Motor Vehicle is coming out with a virtual world as well. I can only hope the do a good job of the combat system....

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Can you say "appropriation"? I thought you could..

Good news from the archives...

Fred Rogers Defends PBS in 1969

Friday, May 19, 2006

Round and Round Learnin' Nothin'

I just read Haliburton's press release about how it was awarded a contact from Homeland Security to build containment facilities. I have two concerns:

1. Why are we building what amounts to interment camps?

2. Why was Haliburton awarded a contract after they have been caught stealing from the government multiple times?

Didn't the Japanese interment camps during World War II teach us anything? The McCarthy era also started with laws against aliens and then transformed as an attack against the civil right of citizens. We have seen this before.

We need our legislators to:
  • Choke off their funding
  • Start investigations
  • Block their legislation like that man who stopped the tanks heading towards Tienamen Square
If we cannot stop the administration from this foolishness our nation will enter into a time of troubles from which it may not emerge.

For Republicans: Take back your party from these extremists. When did the party of Lincoln become the party of Delay, Robertson and Bush? Is trashing the US Constitution really what the party stands for?

For Democracts: Tell your leaders to stop playing it safe, if you want to lead start leading from the back. Sitting back and waiting for November to sweep you into power is lunacy. You want to lead then act like it NOW.



-------------------------
Haliburton's Press Release

2006 Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2006

KBR AWARDED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CONTINGENCY SUPPORT PROJECT FOR EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES

ARLINGTON, Virginia – KBR announced today that its Government and Infrastructure division has been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to support the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in the event of an emergency. KBR is the engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton (NYSE:HAL).

With a maximum total value of $385 million over a five-year term, consisting of a one-year based period and four one-year options, the competitively awarded contract will be executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District. KBR held the previous ICE contract from 2000 through 2005.

“We are especially gratified to be awarded this contract because it builds on our extremely strong track record in the arena of emergency operations support,” said Bruce Stanski, executive vice president, KBR Government and Infrastructure. “We look forward to continuing the good work we have been doing to support our customer whenever and wherever we are needed.”

The contract, which is effective immediately, provides for establishing temporary detention and processing capabilities to augment existing ICE Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) Program facilities in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs. The contingency support contract provides for planning and, if required, initiation of specific engineering, construction and logistics support tasks to establish, operate and maintain one or more expansion facilities.

The contract may also provide migrant detention support to other U.S. Government organizations in the event of an immigration emergency, as well as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency, such as a natural disaster. In the event of a natural disaster, the contractor could be tasked with providing housing for ICE personnel performing law enforcement functions in support of relief efforts.

ICE was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

KBR is a global engineering, construction, technology and services company. Whether designing an LNG facility, serving as a defense industry contractor, or providing small capital construction, KBR delivers world-class service and performance. KBR employs more than 60,000 people in 43 countries around the world.

Halliburton, founded in 1919, is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the petroleum and energy industries. The company serves its customers with a broad range of products and services through its Energy Services Group and KBR. Visit the company's World Wide Web site at www.halliburton.com.

Monday, May 15, 2006

The Real cost of global climate change

My mom lives in Florida and I love her very much, but I'm kind of OK having my own place. If global warming raises the sea level by 14 meters, her home will underwater and she'll be moving in with me.

Please, let's stop global warming or I'll be in for much nagging, many broken appliances and therapy. For those of you who have relatives who retired in Arizona, take pitty on the costally screwed of our nation, and don't forget that this phrase may be your future too:
"get a hair cut, stop dressing like a schlub and make sure you wear a jacket!"

FYI,
Fossils fuels are good and bad. Their consumption produces green house gases and particulate matter that is thrown up into the atmosphere. This means that we have global dimming that masks the effects of global warming (in short, if we fix the pollution problem without fixing the carbon dioxide emissions problem we are in a world of trouble).

So, beware or uncle Fred will be moving in with you...


Fat Pipe, Always On, Stay Out of the Way

I use the net for my job, my political activity and my life. Let's not balkanize the internet into a bunch of incompatible corporate fiefdoms.

For our country to prosper socially and economically we need broadband penetration without restrictive policies of monopolies strangling the flow.

Save the Internet: Click here