The review will be a WIP for a couple days, but I wanted to announce immediately that I have added forums for the Toshiba Thrive AT105 at http://AllDroid.org (specifically at http://goo.gl/4G9aU). Interestingly, other major Android enthusiast sites are ignoring this amazing tablet (the best of them all right now in my opinion).
Details on the 32GB that I'll be reviewing can be found at: http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?poid=2000003331
Friday, July 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wireless Companies and my Frustration
In March, I purchased a rather pricey piece of electronics from Verizon Wireless that was being advertised as “4G”. In some of their materials they qualified that equipment as “4G upgradable” to indicate that it wasn’t actually able to use their LTE network just yet, but it would.
Four months later, an eternity in the technology world, their LTE network has been running nicely for some time and the 4G upgrade for this device is still not available. At this rate, the device will be obsolete before the upgrade is made available and if that occurs, then Verizon Wireless will be guilty of misrepresentation but my opinion is that they already as because even now, they still have commercials and posters that display their “4G Devices” and they include this device that I’m talking about.
Verizon Wireless has also been making changes to their service plans and the most significant of those changes relates to their shift toward “tiered plans”. In the past, if you’ve paid for data on a device, it’s been “unlimited” (which really wasn’t if you read the fine-print, but that didn’t apply to many people or circumstances). They changed the game though. If you aren’t already a customer on one of their “unlimited” plans, then you’re forced to subscribe to one of their tiered plans. I am one of the “grandfathered” customers so I pay $29 for unlimited 4G data. If you go buy a 4G device today, you will pay $30 for 2GB of data ($15/1GB), $50 for 5GB of data ($10/1GB), $80 for 10GB of data ($8/1GB), then $10 per additional 1GB used thereafter. This means that if you’re a “typical” user, you will pay as much as me and I have unlimited data, but it also means that you pay the most compared to all other users. The more data you use, the better your rates get until you use more than 10GB at which point the pricing begins to go back up.
I not only fail to see the logic here, but it looks to me like Verizon is trying to push customers away. Especially true when you look at how other carriers are providing truely unlimited plans as lower price points. Most people don’t need to speed that Verizon’s LTE network provides so they don’t have incentive to pay those rates and if you buy a 4G device, you MUST use a 4G plan. This means that you soon won’t be able to get the nicer phones without also paying the higher rates for data. What is Verizon thinking?
This frustration led to to walk into a Sprint store so I could find out about their “4G” service (by the way, nobody has real 4G, they all just use the term anyway, but Verizon has the closest thing right now). The first sales person I spoke with was rude and uninformed so I just walked away and looked for another one. The only other sales person was with a customer, but near a phone I wanted to look at so I couldn’t help but overhear his sales pitch as I checked out the phone I wanted.
He was trying to help the customer decide between two very similar phones, both high-end with lots of features. The customer asked him about battery life and he told her that, “this one will have slightly better battery life because it has a little bit slower CPU” which is like saying, “you’ll eat less food while traveling in this car because it has a weaker engine” in a world that doesn’t have speed limits. The reality is that the slower the CPU is, the older is likely is and that alone means it’s most likely less efficient, but it also means that the screen will be on longer as the user waits for the phone to complete tasks and the screen on a smart-phone is the biggest battery consumer by far. In other words, he had no clue what he was talking about and as a result, was misleading her to what may be the wrong phone for her entirely.
This steered me away from Sprint because I don’t want to be dealing with a rude, ignorant, dishonest company. Then there’s the fact that their “4G” service is available in a VERY limited number of places, isn’t very robust, and their 3G service is onbearably slow, especially compared to the unlimited 4G I get right now with Verizon.
I’m just fed up with the wireless industry right now. It seems like all the providers are so desperate that they’ll say and do anything (think of all the AT&T vs Verizon commercials we’ve been exposed to, most of which were completely misleading) and they are getting away with it. I thought the FTC existed to protect consumers from this sort of behavior, especially when it happens with near-monopolies like Verizon and AT&T.
I think I’m going to look for and possibly try to initiate a class-action lawsuit against Verizon for talking me and 10’s if not 100’s of thousands of people into buying 4G devices that aren’t actually 4G yet because they need upgrades that aren’t available or because service isn’t available yet and they don’t bother telling the consumers. Same with AT&T. There’s a study that says something like 60% of iPhone 4 users think they have 4G phones because the iPhone 3G and 3Gs were 3G and iPhone 4 has a 4 in the name. I’m sure the carriers and Apple aren’t ignorant to this trend otherwise they wouldn’t have gone from the 3, to the 3G, to the 3Gs to the 4.
Four months later, an eternity in the technology world, their LTE network has been running nicely for some time and the 4G upgrade for this device is still not available. At this rate, the device will be obsolete before the upgrade is made available and if that occurs, then Verizon Wireless will be guilty of misrepresentation but my opinion is that they already as because even now, they still have commercials and posters that display their “4G Devices” and they include this device that I’m talking about.
Verizon Wireless has also been making changes to their service plans and the most significant of those changes relates to their shift toward “tiered plans”. In the past, if you’ve paid for data on a device, it’s been “unlimited” (which really wasn’t if you read the fine-print, but that didn’t apply to many people or circumstances). They changed the game though. If you aren’t already a customer on one of their “unlimited” plans, then you’re forced to subscribe to one of their tiered plans. I am one of the “grandfathered” customers so I pay $29 for unlimited 4G data. If you go buy a 4G device today, you will pay $30 for 2GB of data ($15/1GB), $50 for 5GB of data ($10/1GB), $80 for 10GB of data ($8/1GB), then $10 per additional 1GB used thereafter. This means that if you’re a “typical” user, you will pay as much as me and I have unlimited data, but it also means that you pay the most compared to all other users. The more data you use, the better your rates get until you use more than 10GB at which point the pricing begins to go back up.
I not only fail to see the logic here, but it looks to me like Verizon is trying to push customers away. Especially true when you look at how other carriers are providing truely unlimited plans as lower price points. Most people don’t need to speed that Verizon’s LTE network provides so they don’t have incentive to pay those rates and if you buy a 4G device, you MUST use a 4G plan. This means that you soon won’t be able to get the nicer phones without also paying the higher rates for data. What is Verizon thinking?
This frustration led to to walk into a Sprint store so I could find out about their “4G” service (by the way, nobody has real 4G, they all just use the term anyway, but Verizon has the closest thing right now). The first sales person I spoke with was rude and uninformed so I just walked away and looked for another one. The only other sales person was with a customer, but near a phone I wanted to look at so I couldn’t help but overhear his sales pitch as I checked out the phone I wanted.
He was trying to help the customer decide between two very similar phones, both high-end with lots of features. The customer asked him about battery life and he told her that, “this one will have slightly better battery life because it has a little bit slower CPU” which is like saying, “you’ll eat less food while traveling in this car because it has a weaker engine” in a world that doesn’t have speed limits. The reality is that the slower the CPU is, the older is likely is and that alone means it’s most likely less efficient, but it also means that the screen will be on longer as the user waits for the phone to complete tasks and the screen on a smart-phone is the biggest battery consumer by far. In other words, he had no clue what he was talking about and as a result, was misleading her to what may be the wrong phone for her entirely.
This steered me away from Sprint because I don’t want to be dealing with a rude, ignorant, dishonest company. Then there’s the fact that their “4G” service is available in a VERY limited number of places, isn’t very robust, and their 3G service is onbearably slow, especially compared to the unlimited 4G I get right now with Verizon.
I’m just fed up with the wireless industry right now. It seems like all the providers are so desperate that they’ll say and do anything (think of all the AT&T vs Verizon commercials we’ve been exposed to, most of which were completely misleading) and they are getting away with it. I thought the FTC existed to protect consumers from this sort of behavior, especially when it happens with near-monopolies like Verizon and AT&T.
I think I’m going to look for and possibly try to initiate a class-action lawsuit against Verizon for talking me and 10’s if not 100’s of thousands of people into buying 4G devices that aren’t actually 4G yet because they need upgrades that aren’t available or because service isn’t available yet and they don’t bother telling the consumers. Same with AT&T. There’s a study that says something like 60% of iPhone 4 users think they have 4G phones because the iPhone 3G and 3Gs were 3G and iPhone 4 has a 4 in the name. I’m sure the carriers and Apple aren’t ignorant to this trend otherwise they wouldn’t have gone from the 3, to the 3G, to the 3Gs to the 4.
Is the US on the verge of complete ruin?
So congress is still discussing the debt-cap issue and as our country nears this cap, the consequences are beginning to show. As a disabled veteran of the USMC, I receive disability benefits and I’m currently going to school thanks to benefits from the Montgomery GI-Bill, a plan which I choose to pay into nearly 13 years ago. The government has had my money for all this time and now I’m being told that I may lose those benefits.
I can’t even invest in our own government with security? That wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t see our government giving BILLIONS of dollars to private companies that have failed to thrive and should be gone now. Companies which made horrible decisions, practice bad business, have proven themselves corrupt and put our entire country at risk, and are now taking money DIRECTLY out of my pockets. As if paying those companies through my illegally collected federal tax dollars wasn’t enough to disgust me.
As a veteran I find all of this almost impossible to stomach, but what really takes it too far, is thinking of the active-duty troops facing the fear of loosing their pay. As far back as history goes, all major militia have been paid for their service. The way the US structures its military and the support for them, there are 10’s of thousands of troops putting themselves in mortal harms way over seas right now, who also have family here in the states who rely on the paychecks these personnel receive. If they lose their paychecks, the families here who already suffer fear for those they love and the separation that is inherent in the service of our military, how have to fear for their own very survival. The most basic things like food and shelter are at risk.
If sympathy for them isn’t enough motivation to straighten out this mess, the reality that our military will not perform anywhere near optimal levels when they find out their family is facing such fear (or the reality should it occur) should be enough. That means that as a country, we’ve spent the money to put our troops out there (and imagine if that decisions was bad to begin with), put their lives in harms way, all in the belief that it’s needed to secure the future of our country, and now it would all be thrown to the wayside because of wasteful spending and mixed up priorities.
Imagine if we hit the cap, can’t pay our military, things begin to fall apart, another country understands this and takes advantage of it, then we lose lives and/or assets over-seas as a result, THEN our countries moral will take a dive and that will further damage our economy.
All this because someone chose to bail out a bunch of worthless, corrupt thieves called “business men” who would give themselves multi-million dollar bonuses for doing what? If instead someone had the wisdom to intelligently invest that money in other ways and approve the “Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act”, then none of this would be an issue right now.
Our government has already let the terrorists win their war (TSA is the proof) and now they’re playing the very real possibility of destroying our country because of mismanagement of spending and debt. How sad it all is.
I can’t even invest in our own government with security? That wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t see our government giving BILLIONS of dollars to private companies that have failed to thrive and should be gone now. Companies which made horrible decisions, practice bad business, have proven themselves corrupt and put our entire country at risk, and are now taking money DIRECTLY out of my pockets. As if paying those companies through my illegally collected federal tax dollars wasn’t enough to disgust me.
As a veteran I find all of this almost impossible to stomach, but what really takes it too far, is thinking of the active-duty troops facing the fear of loosing their pay. As far back as history goes, all major militia have been paid for their service. The way the US structures its military and the support for them, there are 10’s of thousands of troops putting themselves in mortal harms way over seas right now, who also have family here in the states who rely on the paychecks these personnel receive. If they lose their paychecks, the families here who already suffer fear for those they love and the separation that is inherent in the service of our military, how have to fear for their own very survival. The most basic things like food and shelter are at risk.
If sympathy for them isn’t enough motivation to straighten out this mess, the reality that our military will not perform anywhere near optimal levels when they find out their family is facing such fear (or the reality should it occur) should be enough. That means that as a country, we’ve spent the money to put our troops out there (and imagine if that decisions was bad to begin with), put their lives in harms way, all in the belief that it’s needed to secure the future of our country, and now it would all be thrown to the wayside because of wasteful spending and mixed up priorities.
Imagine if we hit the cap, can’t pay our military, things begin to fall apart, another country understands this and takes advantage of it, then we lose lives and/or assets over-seas as a result, THEN our countries moral will take a dive and that will further damage our economy.
All this because someone chose to bail out a bunch of worthless, corrupt thieves called “business men” who would give themselves multi-million dollar bonuses for doing what? If instead someone had the wisdom to intelligently invest that money in other ways and approve the “Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act”, then none of this would be an issue right now.
Our government has already let the terrorists win their war (TSA is the proof) and now they’re playing the very real possibility of destroying our country because of mismanagement of spending and debt. How sad it all is.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Something to consider regarding David Wagner (Davidjr621)
A boy (I assume he's a boy) named David Wagner recently created another twitter account to post my personal information, which he received from one of a small handful of people in the Android community who have decided they don't like me in the last couple weeks (or at least finally found the courage to say it out loud).
Twitter being the wonderful service it is nipped that in the butt pretty quickly and I noticed that David's retweet was gone just as quickly (make sense since the original is gone). I was satisfied with this outcome and was ready to write him off as another child in the community throwing a fit, trying to get attention, or something like that but then I started some research to see if I could connect David to the number which prank called me the other night from (609-233-7***) and I realized that David is one of the developers which I had in the past taken the time to setup and promote a collection for so he could upgrade his phone and hopefully help contribute to the community.
Between the conversation below and his recent tweets, we've had no interactions and he has had nothing but hear-say to base any change of opinion on. So easily swayed is his opinion and emotions and the extreme difference amazes me. "You're awesome Rainabba" to being so angry about something he's not even involved in and never checked facts on, that he released my personal information to the Internet without explaining in the least, to anyone why he was upset with me let alone why that was an appropriate retaliation (as if it could be).
I found the conversation below and though it was appropriate to share so that anyone who'd seen his tweets and wasn't sure how to interpret them, OR who considered using them as a basis to form an opinion of me; could gain some perspective on him. The last few lines are the most significant. The rest is just for context.
He is only one of quite a few developers I've setup these donations for by the way and they have in all but perhaps one case, gone DIRECTLY to the developer. I only setup a page to explain the circumstances, provided the tools (site, software, collection plugin which I had to put for myself, and of course the time it takes to create the page and it's contents.)
If you follow me via @AllDroid, you might also find it interesting to note that I've also done this for @_mrbirdman_ and @Drod2169 on at least one, but I believe more than one occasion.
Let me emphasize that I only do this so that you as a reader can better decide how to interpret his malicious tweets and I wish I didn't have to make public what should be private. Lately though it seems that others have no respect for the idea of privacy and this makes me WANT to care less. I hope defending my reputation in this way isn't viewed in a negative light, but I think those who would see it that way are likely not those who I am concerned with reading this.
Twitter being the wonderful service it is nipped that in the butt pretty quickly and I noticed that David's retweet was gone just as quickly (make sense since the original is gone). I was satisfied with this outcome and was ready to write him off as another child in the community throwing a fit, trying to get attention, or something like that but then I started some research to see if I could connect David to the number which prank called me the other night from (609-233-7***) and I realized that David is one of the developers which I had in the past taken the time to setup and promote a collection for so he could upgrade his phone and hopefully help contribute to the community.
Between the conversation below and his recent tweets, we've had no interactions and he has had nothing but hear-say to base any change of opinion on. So easily swayed is his opinion and emotions and the extreme difference amazes me. "You're awesome Rainabba" to being so angry about something he's not even involved in and never checked facts on, that he released my personal information to the Internet without explaining in the least, to anyone why he was upset with me let alone why that was an appropriate retaliation (as if it could be).
I found the conversation below and though it was appropriate to share so that anyone who'd seen his tweets and wasn't sure how to interpret them, OR who considered using them as a basis to form an opinion of me; could gain some perspective on him. The last few lines are the most significant. The rest is just for context.
He is only one of quite a few developers I've setup these donations for by the way and they have in all but perhaps one case, gone DIRECTLY to the developer. I only setup a page to explain the circumstances, provided the tools (site, software, collection plugin which I had to put for myself, and of course the time it takes to create the page and it's contents.)
If you follow me via @AllDroid, you might also find it interesting to note that I've also done this for @_mrbirdman_ and @Drod2169 on at least one, but I believe more than one occasion.
Let me emphasize that I only do this so that you as a reader can better decide how to interpret his malicious tweets and I wish I didn't have to make public what should be private. Lately though it seems that others have no respect for the idea of privacy and this makes me WANT to care less. I hope defending my reputation in this way isn't viewed in a negative light, but I think those who would see it that way are likely not those who I am concerned with reading this.
8:06 AM davidjr621: Hey rainabbaI had someone tell me they donated through the alldroid page8:07 AMDoes it go directly to my paypal? Or what? Plus the page isn't updating For % me: It should. Check your account .8:11 AM I'm double checking the site right now also. davidjr621: I checked it8:12 AM me: And?8:13 AM davidjr621: Nothing8:14 AM me: I'm confirming the settings right now. My power is out though so I have to do it to my tablet. davidjr621: Ahhh8:15 AM me: Davidjr621@******.*** is where the donations would be going to. Is that correct?8:16 AM davidjr621: Yes me: Ask the user what their alldroid username is and if they were logged in and tell me that please.8:20 AM ? davidjr621: She was logged in Corinacakes
5 minutes 8:26 AM me: She donated to the alldroid general page not your page, that's why you haven't seen it. I'll make a payment to you now for the amount she donated which was $25. Ask her if she used the link off of Twitter or she browsed to the donation page .8:27 AM davidjr621: She said she used my twitter one8:31 AM me: I'm not sure which one she used but it was not the one that points to your page. Please ask her to give you the contents of that tweet and pass it along to me so I can determine where the problem was.8:33 AM davidjr621: She hasn't replied She went Away8:34 AM You gonna send that onto me though right? I'm sure she's gonna ask8:35 AM me: David if you're going to continue to question me then perhaps I shouldn't be running this donation for you. If you don't trust me then this doesn't make sense. davidjr621: I didn't say I didn't trust you me: Either she made a mistake and she's not admitting to it, or there's a problem on my website. If there's a problem on my website, I want to resolve it to ensure your future donations go to you as they should.8:36 AM davidjr621: K One sec me: Then please be patient and let me try to find where the problem is. I'm returning her money to her so that she may donate it correctly through the page I've set up for you. davidjr621: She used the Davidjr621Donations one Alright8:37 AM Brb8:39 AM me: I can assure you she did not use your donation page. This is not the first I've set up this way over the last year and a half. I will make a donation myself so we can be sure that it's working correctly.8:42 AM davidjr621: Ok Be back in 30 me: I just donated $5.30 and it reflected on the page immediately your address was correct there is no doubt that the page is working properly. I have not made any changes. She did not use the page. Regardless I've given her a refund so she can now use it and give you the $25 donation.
12 minutes 8:55 AM davidjr621: Alright thank you so much Ill let her know8:56 AM me: K8:57 AM davidjr621: She sent it to me Your awesome rainabba I don't get why the DF people don't like you (Well, miami anyways)
6 minutes 9:04 AM me: I can only guess, but I really have no idea what his problem is.9:06 AM davidjr621: yea, I don't know either
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
A Personal Revelation about human adaptivity (is that a word?)
I find it unlikely that these thoughts are original amongst professionals in the field of psychology or perhaps anthropology, but just a moment ago, it became an original thought in my head. Original in that I didn't read or hear this, but it occurred to me as I was listening to Stephen King's, "The Waste Lands: The Dark Tower III".
I can't even say precisely what thoughts came together but the gist is this: a small group of travelers finds themselves together in an impossibly unusual and strange place. They are all from different times and one from a completely different place (both geographically and by its nature). Their ability to accept their situation, deal with the issues at hand, and not lose their minds due to the unfathomable difference from the worlds which they are accustomed to is amazing; almost unbelievable.
Another thought almost occurred but was interrupted as I began to focus on the story once more. One of the characters was dreaming and in that dream, he found himself back on the streets of his home town, but certain key players in his life, came to him in roles that made no sense. For example, a powerful drug dealer appeared to him as a pan-handler begging for change (not unlike I encountered every 30 seconds while recently in San Francisco).
That character had already made a mental transition from his previous life to the one in his current waking world and now he was essentially back in that previous life via a dream. I expect the transition was the mental equivalent of living the better part of 30 years with gravity, instantly loosing it and learning to deal without just find, then suddenly being cast back to place with gravity; a feat that should be virtually impossible.
It isn't thought. We (humans) have an absurdly amazing ability to adapt. I came to understand this without realizing it, when I became a United States Marine. Given my upbringing, life as a Marine was nearly as foreign to me as would have been life living as a monk. I was never exposed to the demands, prepared to deal with the conflict, forced to be so insensitive, made to see things through, etc... (this would be another post completely if I really wanted to elaborate). After being discharged from the USMC and "coming back to the civilian world" where so many things were taken for granted, I learned a new respect for war veterans. Even if you consider yourself an "outdoors person", there are things you can't understand until serving in the military; in particular, being trained as a Marine/Soldier, or doing hard time in war. Things like a clean bed, warm shower, clean/soft clothes, comfortable/quiet toilet, a roof, fresh food (even if not great food, just cooked is a luxury).
War veterans can come home from a place where every stranger (someone not in a friendly uniform) might be as ready to bring out a weapon and shoot you as they are to make a phone call to a friend. A place where a private, warm, long shower might be had at most once a month. (I could go on and on)
Yet when they come home, they often go to watch for these dangers out of habit and instead see little more around them than petty conflict between "adults" who might as well be kings/queens/princes/princesses by the standards they've come to know and experience. These people might find their day ruined because someone cut them off in line, their coffee order at Star**** was wrong, their food is a little slow coming to their table at a favorite restaurant, etc.., etc...
Still, they manage the transition (some need a bit of help, but they do it none the less). They resume life in this world despite their new perspective which makes this a completely foreign place for all they recognize and know in it. Eventually most even thrive because they now have perspective and knowledge that gives them an advantage. They are grateful for the life they have.
For those who don't because their experiences in combat have put images and memories into their mind so grotesque that they hesitate to speak of them, it's not unusual to become homeless because they can't live up to all the expectations of our culture. Expectations that are far too often misplaced and meaningless in their minds. In a mind that understands what really matters and doesn't.
Be in awe of your minds ability to adapt to new and strange surroundings. Be grateful for those who live another life where comfort rarely exists so that you can live your life, where comfort is abundant. Be sympathetic of those who you might otherwise find disdainful, because they've suffered and changed so much that they try to come home and can't find home when it's all around them; people who have literally given away themselves and their life for you (even when they still walk).
I can't even say precisely what thoughts came together but the gist is this: a small group of travelers finds themselves together in an impossibly unusual and strange place. They are all from different times and one from a completely different place (both geographically and by its nature). Their ability to accept their situation, deal with the issues at hand, and not lose their minds due to the unfathomable difference from the worlds which they are accustomed to is amazing; almost unbelievable.
Another thought almost occurred but was interrupted as I began to focus on the story once more. One of the characters was dreaming and in that dream, he found himself back on the streets of his home town, but certain key players in his life, came to him in roles that made no sense. For example, a powerful drug dealer appeared to him as a pan-handler begging for change (not unlike I encountered every 30 seconds while recently in San Francisco).
That character had already made a mental transition from his previous life to the one in his current waking world and now he was essentially back in that previous life via a dream. I expect the transition was the mental equivalent of living the better part of 30 years with gravity, instantly loosing it and learning to deal without just find, then suddenly being cast back to place with gravity; a feat that should be virtually impossible.
It isn't thought. We (humans) have an absurdly amazing ability to adapt. I came to understand this without realizing it, when I became a United States Marine. Given my upbringing, life as a Marine was nearly as foreign to me as would have been life living as a monk. I was never exposed to the demands, prepared to deal with the conflict, forced to be so insensitive, made to see things through, etc... (this would be another post completely if I really wanted to elaborate). After being discharged from the USMC and "coming back to the civilian world" where so many things were taken for granted, I learned a new respect for war veterans. Even if you consider yourself an "outdoors person", there are things you can't understand until serving in the military; in particular, being trained as a Marine/Soldier, or doing hard time in war. Things like a clean bed, warm shower, clean/soft clothes, comfortable/quiet toilet, a roof, fresh food (even if not great food, just cooked is a luxury).
War veterans can come home from a place where every stranger (someone not in a friendly uniform) might be as ready to bring out a weapon and shoot you as they are to make a phone call to a friend. A place where a private, warm, long shower might be had at most once a month. (I could go on and on)
Yet when they come home, they often go to watch for these dangers out of habit and instead see little more around them than petty conflict between "adults" who might as well be kings/queens/princes/princesses by the standards they've come to know and experience. These people might find their day ruined because someone cut them off in line, their coffee order at Star**** was wrong, their food is a little slow coming to their table at a favorite restaurant, etc.., etc...
Still, they manage the transition (some need a bit of help, but they do it none the less). They resume life in this world despite their new perspective which makes this a completely foreign place for all they recognize and know in it. Eventually most even thrive because they now have perspective and knowledge that gives them an advantage. They are grateful for the life they have.
For those who don't because their experiences in combat have put images and memories into their mind so grotesque that they hesitate to speak of them, it's not unusual to become homeless because they can't live up to all the expectations of our culture. Expectations that are far too often misplaced and meaningless in their minds. In a mind that understands what really matters and doesn't.
Be in awe of your minds ability to adapt to new and strange surroundings. Be grateful for those who live another life where comfort rarely exists so that you can live your life, where comfort is abundant. Be sympathetic of those who you might otherwise find disdainful, because they've suffered and changed so much that they try to come home and can't find home when it's all around them; people who have literally given away themselves and their life for you (even when they still walk).
Friday, April 29, 2011
jQuery Custom UI JS File too Large for IIS 7?
I just burned roughly 2 hours learning that Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit IIS (7.5) can't serve a fully loaded jquery-ui-1.8.12.custom.min.js file (which is around 208k). The only solution I've found so far was to split the file in 2 and serve them separately. This issue is NOT specific to a particular version of jQuery UI.
If you know a better solution, please do share with the rest of us.
Symptom: REALLY slow loading page which results in an error that can be found on the dev console. Using IE9 Dev tools, Network profiler, I was able to see the "pending" status of the file which wasn't getting served properly.
Solution: I used UltraEdit to break the file in 2 and in my app I load both files in the correct order so that the Core components load first (in case it matters).
If you know a better solution, please do share with the rest of us.
Symptom: REALLY slow loading page which results in an error that can be found on the dev console. Using IE9 Dev tools, Network profiler, I was able to see the "pending" status of the file which wasn't getting served properly.
Solution: I used UltraEdit to break the file in 2 and in my app I load both files in the correct order so that the Core components load first (in case it matters).
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Logic you shouldn't use in regards to nuclear safety.
This will be another short one because there's not much to say, but I think this bit does need to be said.
"The nuclear incident in Japan makes me less sure about the safety of nuclear energy." Aparently a recent poll found that an insane FOURTY PERCENT of Americans agreed with this statement.
Let's put this in perspective but first we must make a point clear. The nuclear incident in Japan has EVERYTHING to do with the people who designed, built, and ran the facility (material choice, location, maintenance, etc..).
If we replace the phrase of nuclear energy with "car", the word incident with "crash", and to bring the idea home, Japan with "California" then let's see how much sense this logic makes:
"The car crash in California makes me less sure about the safety of cars." Based on the logic represented in the first statement, the 2nd should be just as valid but we all know that's beyond far from true. We all drive regardless of the fact that car crashes do more harm collectively across the US than the nuclear incident in Japan has done there.
Why the double standard? Also, why not just look at the bigger issue, the people who maintain the plants? Go do your own research on US Nuclear Incidents and you'll find that it's not the technology that should be a cause of concern, but the people who design, build, and maintain it.
By the way, for those of you living in California (Southern CA in particular); did you know that you live VERY close to a nuclear facility? Personally, I used to live within 30 minutes of it and frequently saw it as I traveled on the I-5. You can learn more about it HERE and see it below.
Oh yeah, here's one for you. Notice how much detail you get if you zoom in on these maps (or Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton where the facility is located) then consider how much harassment you receive from the TSA when flying. Doesn't seem quite balanced does it? You'd think someone would make it more difficult for a terrorist to get so much detail and such a good layout of CRITICAL infrastructure if the US Government is going to harass its own citizens so much when they're using a commercial service THEY PAID FOR. *face palm*
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
Here's one more location to consider in the context of my last point (I used to be stationed here and can confirm that this is a LOT of detail and far more than someone would need to get themselves somewhere they shouldn't be).
View Larger Map
"The nuclear incident in Japan makes me less sure about the safety of nuclear energy." Aparently a recent poll found that an insane FOURTY PERCENT of Americans agreed with this statement.
Let's put this in perspective but first we must make a point clear. The nuclear incident in Japan has EVERYTHING to do with the people who designed, built, and ran the facility (material choice, location, maintenance, etc..).
If we replace the phrase of nuclear energy with "car", the word incident with "crash", and to bring the idea home, Japan with "California" then let's see how much sense this logic makes:
"The car crash in California makes me less sure about the safety of cars." Based on the logic represented in the first statement, the 2nd should be just as valid but we all know that's beyond far from true. We all drive regardless of the fact that car crashes do more harm collectively across the US than the nuclear incident in Japan has done there.
Why the double standard? Also, why not just look at the bigger issue, the people who maintain the plants? Go do your own research on US Nuclear Incidents and you'll find that it's not the technology that should be a cause of concern, but the people who design, build, and maintain it.
By the way, for those of you living in California (Southern CA in particular); did you know that you live VERY close to a nuclear facility? Personally, I used to live within 30 minutes of it and frequently saw it as I traveled on the I-5. You can learn more about it HERE and see it below.
Oh yeah, here's one for you. Notice how much detail you get if you zoom in on these maps (or Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton where the facility is located) then consider how much harassment you receive from the TSA when flying. Doesn't seem quite balanced does it? You'd think someone would make it more difficult for a terrorist to get so much detail and such a good layout of CRITICAL infrastructure if the US Government is going to harass its own citizens so much when they're using a commercial service THEY PAID FOR. *face palm*
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
Here's one more location to consider in the context of my last point (I used to be stationed here and can confirm that this is a LOT of detail and far more than someone would need to get themselves somewhere they shouldn't be).
View Larger Map
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
1.3 Million US Veterans to lose VA Eligibility
Can someone please explain this government rational to me? "Let's work on a national health care system, but strip VA benefits from 1.3 million veterans." Talk about ass-backwards.
Yes, that IS my entire blog entry on the topic. I just don't think elaboration is needed because this is so simply stupid.
Yes, that IS my entire blog entry on the topic. I just don't think elaboration is needed because this is so simply stupid.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The facts about Android, hardware, locking, and carriers.
Gasp. Bootlocking is the devils work. Why the hell would u make a device based on open sourced code if ur gonna lock it up? Just clearly state it voids the warranty and let us have our fun.Here's a real example relating to the DroidX. Verizon wanted to give us movies on demand via Blockbuster. Blockbuster told VZW that their content would have to be secure and their app would be guaranteed to remain on the phone (marketing, brand awareness, etc) which in theory means a locked down device. So VZW has to get with Moto to figure out how to prevent users from gaining root.
In reality our devices are locked almost entirely for "our good" but then again "we" represent a very small fraction of users that would rather have something like a bare-bones AOSP ROM that runs fast and does what we want, rather than have Skype or Blockbuster (or Motoblur, Touchwhiz, Sense, etc...) and "we" don't represent a large enough group for the carriers or manufacturers to risk their networks or support for things to change at this point. Hopefully over time our numbers will grow and we
They are not going to continue to subsidize (give us phones at a low cost in exchange for contracts) high-end smartphones AND intentionally leave them unlocked. It's bad business and "open-source" has NOTHING to do with it.
The whole "it's not open if the device is locked" argument is also a load and I'm shocked to see some of the people out there trying to push it. Android is open-source. You can download the source, modify it, build it, and put it on a device. Period, end of story. Not being able to put it on hardware of your choosing is all together another issue and if people are being realistic, not a surprising one. It should be no more expected that Apple would open up their hardware to Android than Moto would open up theirs to "your" version of Android. They all have their reasons (both stability and business/marketing) to lock them down. There are already companies out there building Android devices intended to be open hardware to appeal to folks just like us ( http://synapse-phones.com/ is the first I know of ).
Bottom line? Stop trying to convince yourself that the manufacturers are locking your devices when the ones really responsible are the carriers and they have good reason to do it. Also, realize that Android running on locked hardware doesn't make Android any less open source. You have the ability to find and use hardware of your choosing to run Android as you see fit, with any changes you'd like so long as the hardware was intended for that purpose (and frequently more often since most device get rooted and flashed anyway).
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Dealing with adults that don't act like adults.
So there is this individual that I encounter regularly online despite my best efforts. I try to avoid this person because after becoming involved with an organization that plagiarized material belonging to me (and recently suggesting THEY would take legal action against me), they seem to think the worst of me with nothing to base it on (except blatant lies they've even effectively caught themselves in, or been called out on by people that represent them).
This isn't really about THAT person, but "that" person. We all have one in our lives I think. No matter what we do they can find fault, place blame, create problems, etc.. I actually have another and sadly this other one is in my life because I and my wife tried to do a favor for a friend. It's backfired to the point that a major investment (5+ years of my life) has been at risk on many occasions and I fear it may be getting worse because "these" people do things based on some alternate reality and as a result, I can never tell what's coming next.
A kind gesture is met with disdain, childish, malicious words, and an overall attitude that can only be delivered by an adult that thinks like a child. You know what I mean? Things are said and logic used that couldn't be conveyed by a child, but the lack of logic and thought processes behind it are not representative of a mature, adult mind.
Most adults can use humor to overcome awkward situations and it's often said that imitation is the best form of flattery. Put the two together and at the least, you'd expect two adults to have a good laugh, then walk away. Bring in one of "those" people though, and it just starts another war.
In my case "this" person LOVES to go on about how mature they are, how they'll take the "high road" (made me think they must have meant the road taken when 'high', heh), and then bad-mouth me and the organization I represent. In the meantime, this person is a civil servant responsible for children in our city and is quite literally worshiped by children online for their "contributions", which are always WAY less glamorous than in reality, but that fact is never rectified.
I just can't wrap my brain around how people like this see the world, I can't avoid "these" people in two instances, and so I don't know how to deal with them. It seriously feels like I'm trying to reason with lunatics. In both cases, they operate for profit (though in one case, they might dare argue otherwise despite the public evidence to the contrary). In my case, I operate at a constant loss, and for the good that they are profiting from. You'd think that alone would be enough reason to quite with the silliness. That's sound logic though so it doesn't apply.
Sigh..... I'm rarely at a loss, but this is definitely one of those times. :(
This isn't really about THAT person, but "that" person. We all have one in our lives I think. No matter what we do they can find fault, place blame, create problems, etc.. I actually have another and sadly this other one is in my life because I and my wife tried to do a favor for a friend. It's backfired to the point that a major investment (5+ years of my life) has been at risk on many occasions and I fear it may be getting worse because "these" people do things based on some alternate reality and as a result, I can never tell what's coming next.
A kind gesture is met with disdain, childish, malicious words, and an overall attitude that can only be delivered by an adult that thinks like a child. You know what I mean? Things are said and logic used that couldn't be conveyed by a child, but the lack of logic and thought processes behind it are not representative of a mature, adult mind.
Most adults can use humor to overcome awkward situations and it's often said that imitation is the best form of flattery. Put the two together and at the least, you'd expect two adults to have a good laugh, then walk away. Bring in one of "those" people though, and it just starts another war.
In my case "this" person LOVES to go on about how mature they are, how they'll take the "high road" (made me think they must have meant the road taken when 'high', heh), and then bad-mouth me and the organization I represent. In the meantime, this person is a civil servant responsible for children in our city and is quite literally worshiped by children online for their "contributions", which are always WAY less glamorous than in reality, but that fact is never rectified.
I just can't wrap my brain around how people like this see the world, I can't avoid "these" people in two instances, and so I don't know how to deal with them. It seriously feels like I'm trying to reason with lunatics. In both cases, they operate for profit (though in one case, they might dare argue otherwise despite the public evidence to the contrary). In my case, I operate at a constant loss, and for the good that they are profiting from. You'd think that alone would be enough reason to quite with the silliness. That's sound logic though so it doesn't apply.
Sigh..... I'm rarely at a loss, but this is definitely one of those times. :(
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