The Idiocy of Security Questions

Online security questions seem like a good idea to "increase security" when logging on to a website.  In reality, security questions are more just an annoyance.  Here is why:

I alomost always use the same security questions at all websites.  Most people do.  Often they are historical questions, which can be found out through research.  The other problem is - I know the answers to the questions, but all sites use different formats and methods for the answers.  For example - some do not allow spaces, some do.  Some sites are case sensitive - some are not.  Some require a minimum length answer (this one always peeves me if I want to use my father's middle name as a security question - since his middle name is a letter and not a name.

Here is my biggest beef - some sites require security questions if you "forget" the password.  I use quotes on forget because often it is with a site that I have the password record written down and for some dumbe reason it does not work.

Anyways, that is my beef.  I hope today is well with you.

Stay safe and go Texans!!!

Obama's Jobs Plan - Why the Rush Now?

I have a few questions for president Obama about his "jobs" plan.

1. What do payroll tax cuts have to do with jobs?  Is there any correlation between this "feel good" tax cut and job creation?  I am a small business and I fail to see the significance.  I also wonder why are you wanting to cut the only way to pay for Social Security and Medicare when those two programs are in serious trouble and are destined to collapse?  

My only conclusion to this is it is a program just so you can say you gave middle class tax cuts - even though by any logical assessment they are a bad idea.  Maybe it will buy you a few votes from the not so clever crowd.

2.  How is giving a $4000 tax break to a business for hiring a new employee going to increase jobs?  Do you think the new employee will cost only $4000?  Maybe you think it will only cost $10,000.  I don't think so.  This is another "feel good" tax break that will not create any more jobs.  It only gives a break to those businesses that were going to hire anyways.  

My conclusion to this is that you do not have anyone with any business sense giving you economic advice. Then again, maybe your buddy from GE that doesn't pay any taxes said it was a good idea.  Not that he would know since GE has done nothing to increase its hiring the last couple of years and has sent hundreds of jobs over seas.

3. Why is there urgency now?  Remember how we all had to wait until you were back from vacation before you would reveal your jobs plan?  I was expecting something new and clever, but no - it was the same old tired failed policies.

My only conclusion to this is that you are so arrogant that you and only you decide when something is urgent.  After all, your vacation was more urgent than "creating all of these jobs" with your jobs bill.  

4. Why should I bail out another failed state's plan? Again.  Really?  Your big plan is to send more borrowed money to the states that cannot manage their budgets so "teachers and firefighters and police" won't lose their jobs?  Does your bill even require the states to use the money that way?  What about the bailed out jobs from your last bailout?  Are those people even still working?

My conclusion to this is that again you are trying to buy votes with taxpayer money.  This is a very old and tired political tactic.  That, and you are still trying to curry favor with the unions.

5. Lastly - If jobs are so important, why not give an executive order making the NLRB lay off of Boeing so they can have their new billion dollar plant in South Carolina hire the thousands of workers they need to make more airplanes?  Why is some political viewpoint or union loyalty more important than jobs?  

My only conclusion to this is that you really do not care about jobs.  Until you take action concerning this, you can never convince me that Americans having jobs is an important issue to you at all.

You cannot convince me that you are for the working man and middle class by "giving tax cuts" for no reason other than to buy favor.    As a self employed businessman I find your whole "jobs plan" proposals offensive.

For the rest of you - Stay Safe!

The Economy - and What No One is Saying Right Now

There seems to be all this talk about how to get the economy going.  The press wants to make it 2 schools of thought: cut taxes or spend more money (by the government).  Neither one is the way to fix the economy.  While Obama is out touting his jobs bill - he doesn't even get it about what a real job is.  He keeps bringing up public sector jobs and claims no one else has a plan.  He forgets about all the plans that have not been voted on by the Senate or voted down.  HE is stuck on his mantra of wanting the rich to "pay their fair share" I guess he wasn't good at vocabulary in school, because fair never includes making someone pay more than another. But all of that is digression.

Again, no one is bringing up the point about how a nation having access to abundant inexpensive energy is the key to developing economically.  Apparently no one gets it.  No one on the right is touting this as the way to fix the economy - no one on the left is either.  Of course, some will say we need more regulations on energy and we need green energy.  "Green energy" is such a vague and I believe miss-used term that it is just another talking point (doesn't matter which side is bringing it up).  I remember when the long life mini fluorescent light bulbs were touted as being green.  They forgot that they all have mercury and in most cases technically you need an EPA clean up team to dispose of even one single bulb according to most federal and state regulations.  They may save a bit of energy, but they sent jobs to China and are now an environmental hazard of epic proportions, but the "green" folks are ignoring that part right now.

Most "green energy" programs cannot pay their own way.  There has been so little in the development of solar cells and wind generators the last 20 years compared to other sources of energy, it is pathetic.  Why?  Because it doesn't pay to develop them.  So far only the government has been willing to pay for green energy directly or indirectly through tax credits, etc.  The electric car isn't significantly better than ones developed 20-30 years ago.  There are a few batteries only a little better than they were 20 years ago, but the cost in energy to build such cars off sets any savings in energy.

Do develop the economy, you need to develop energy.  Natural gas, coal, and nuclear can all be developed and used inexpensively.  There needs to be a comprehensive energy program that focuses heavily on these energy sources.  Unleash the energy industry and you will see the economy boom, and jobs grow like crazy.  Continue the ridiculous regulations and the economy will remain stifled.

It is not about banks, wall street or corporations - it is about energy and regulations.  You can fix the economy for the cost of zero dollars.

This isn't to say the debt problem doesn't need fixed - but the fastest way to get the economy moving is abundant inexpensive energy.

(Editor's note:  After I published this Rick Perry came out with a plan that addresses these issues.  Good for him - at least someone sees the importance of this.)

Anyone Else Think Bruce Campbell Should Run for President?

Just look

I think so.  He "fits the bill" so to speak.

I Watched the Texan's Training Camp

I won't give a big overview of everything.  Pictures are worth a thousand words.  Enjoy!

Blown Coverage by Linebackers

Cody in Backfield

D-Backs

Dickerson Snags a Catch

Which of These Things Doesn't Belong?

Jacoby Fakes Out a Defender

Kareem's "Covering"

K-Jax Out of Position

K-Jax - again

K-Jax Chasing Receiver

Linebackers

Mario Hops Over Blockers

Mitchell Gets Penetration

No-Fly-Zone

Quin With Tight Coverage

Matt Schaub does the Funky Chicken

Tate Wide Open

Winston Looks Concerned

Winston Smiles for the Cameras

I went to Fanfest

It was a pretty good affiar.  I think the folks at Sports Radio 610 did a bang-up job.  The "Stars" were very fan-friendly.  Free autographs from the likes of Warren Moon, Haywood Jeffries, Mario Williams, Dan Pastorini, Carl Mauck, Alonzo Highsmith, Connor Barwin, Eric Winston, Mario Ellie, and Jose Cruz.  I hope I didn't miss mentioning any of the big names that appeared.  There were also astronauts, cheerleaders and several local radio personalities.

Fanfest Sign

Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson 

Jose Cruz

Mario Ellie with Radio Guys

Texans' Cheerleader Sarah

Cowboys 100th Win Football

Trisha Gordon

A Great day in Texans History

Some Texans Cheerleaders: Stephanie, Kayla, Leandra, and Sarah

Me with Connor Barwin

Just a few photos - I should have taken more, but it was a good time and it was free!

The John Roll Assassination

The biggest non-story that is out there is the assassination of John Roll. Why is this a non-story? The reason I call this a non-story is because John roll is almost never mentioned in the shooting incident in which he was killed. I do understand why the media focuses on Gabrielle Giffords who was injured in the incident but is recovering while she is an active Congresswoman and she is a likable person and quite frankly, is a pretty lady.

It surprises me that no one mentions the assassination of the federal judge. Okay, I will not say no one, but the mainstream media and more ignore this. The only place you can even read anything about it is basically wacko sites that are conspiracy theory sites. I usually do not conform to conspiracy theories. However, this is becoming something that looks more more like a conspiracy.

John Roll is a judge who was appointed by George W. Bush. He very recently ruled against the Obama administration in a money seizure case.  There have been a lot of money seizure cases in the past but very few that were not connected with any criminal activity. This seemed to be the case for this particular money seizure.  Judge Roll had made the preliminary ruling when he was preparing to rule against Obama's power to seize American citizens' money without clear and convincing evidence of a crime being committed. The Obama administration was arguing that the seizures were made under executive orders instead of using existing laws. They cited to support to this case the fact that FDR seized gold from US Citizens in 1933 using Executive Order 6102 which by the way was since ruled unconstitutional.

How the Government Fixes Broken Things

Hey, I have a great idea.  Let's find an industry that needs fixing.  We will pass special law(s) to fix this industry.  What should the main point of the new law be to fix this?  I know, let's make everyone buy the product from the industry that needs fixing!  Then we will... whaaattt?

That is exactly what happened with "Health Care Reform." We all know now that Health Care Reform was really health insurance reform, because the health care system was not what needed "fixed" but the insurance was.  A lot of folks just wanted to expand the broken Medicare system.  That did not fly, but they did mandate everyone to have to buy health insurance.  This is already found unconstitutional, but the federal government gets to continue with this welfare bailout of insurance companies mandate while the case is being appealed to the Supreme Court.  On the flip-side it is opposite of any Federal Cases involving States Laws that are found unconstitutional by lower courts when they were unconstitutionally challenged according to the 11th amendment by the US Justice Department.

In case you do not remember the 11th Ammendment: "The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State."

Just remember this logic - when you need to fix something-the first step the government does is it orders the citizens to buy an broken product.

Whatever you do - stay safe!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

A Blast From the Past

Does anyone else think Davor looks like Ryan Gosling?

The Republican Debate - What I Saw

Thursday's Debaters

All of the pundits and "experts" have weighed in on the Republican debate last night.  I figure I am as qualified as anyone to make an opinion for two reasons - I am a championship debater and I am a registered voter.  Herman Cain, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum participated in the debate Thursday night in Greenville, S.C.

Fox News' focus group got it right.  The clear winner of the debate was Herman Cain.  He won because he had clearly explained ideas and he didn't water it down by trying to grease the skids with BS.

The loser of the debate without a doubt was Tim Pawlenty.  Why you ask?  he lost viewers for two reasons.  First, he was the first to answer and instead of giving a good answer - he started off with BS  something like "I want to thank Fox News and the People of South Carolina ... blah, blah, blah .."  and then what did he say?  I don't know I was so totally turned off by his sleazy-slick-politician approach that I couldn't tell you what he said.

Probably the second best was Rick Santorum.  His comments appeared heartfelt and he had a plan when he spoke.

Some knucklehead pundits who will remain nameless like TJ Walker at Forbes, are trying to write off Cain sating he doesn't stand a snowballs chance in hell - at this stage of the process last election neither did Obama.

Now we all know Ron Paul is a libertarian and a heck of a representative - but his ideas would not fly as a President - most people do not think like he does.    Gary Johnson is also pretty much libertarian and probably will only be remembered as the dope-smoking marathon runner that has climbed Mt Everest.

So there you have my opinion 

Cain has distinct advantages to the average American over Obama.  First - he is not Obama, that has to be worth about 40% of the vote.  Second he is an accomplished businessman and has a real resume - something Obama does not have.  Third he admits he is not the supreme expert on anything and everything and would surround himself with competent advisors - once again the total opposite of Obama. On a side note, since Cain thinks Obama is the worst president of modern times and he has an incompetent administration, does that make him a racist?  I am sure progressives think so.

Whatever you do - stay safe!

Osama Bin Ladden's Compound

In case you wanted to find the compound on Google Earth here it is.  34º 10'09.18" N 73º.14' 33.45"E

From a distance you should see this

Then This

Next up the Jewel of the Nile...er I mean Anwar Al Awlaki

Al Awlaki is on the left if you cannot tell :)

Whatever you do - stay safe!

Wordless Wednesday

Google - Obama's Fave

I know Google originally made it on their own.  However, it is a very large recipient of "corporate welfare" and seems to be the Obama administrations favorite second favorite corporation.

Google has been misrepresenting its so-called “cloud computing” services it has tried to sell to the government.  Google claimed its Government Cloud service had Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) certification, when it did not.

Google has often inappropriately benefited from its close ties to the Obama Administration. Things such as the use of NASA’s Moffett Airfield, near Google’s world headquarters which essentially has been turned into a  taxpayer-subsidized private airport for Google.

Andrew McLaughlin, Google’s top policy executive, joined the Obama administration as deputy chief technology officer. Surprisingly (not!) Obama has pushed for the regulation the Internet for the first time via the so-called Net Neutrality policy.  Google has begun to get a string of government contracts in areas ranging from national security to NASA. 

Yet, Google which touts itself as the ‘Don’t Be Evil’ company, is using shady avoidance techniques to cut its taxes by $3.1 billion in the last three years.  Not only that, it has reduced its overseas tax rate to 2.4 percent, the lowest of the top five U.S. technology companies.  But I am sure they pay "their fair share" as Obama calls it just like GEdoes .

Whatever you do - stay safe!

The Biggest User of Power Not Investigated

The Biggest user of power has not been investigated seriously.  Do you know who it is?  In the US it is the grid itself - the transmission lines.  They use 10% of all energy.  That is pretty ineffeccient all things considereded, especially with our present technology.

Green supporters spent time and effort getting us to buy the not-so-green little flourescent bulbs.  They forgot about the mercury used to make them and we have no good way to dispose of them.  Technically, if you break one of those bulbs you need to call a hazmat team to your house for them to clean it up.  And here you thought that Nuclear Energy was a problem.  Now that we have all been hoodwinked into not buying regular lightbulbs and buying these little environmental hazzards, we are in a pickle.  However, that is a digression from where I was going.

We seem to rather continue funding programs that in reality do not work and have their own issues.  The whole methanol boondoggle is continually draining our coffers while not giving us even half back on our returns.  Gas wit alcohol isn't proven to be any cleaner and it really isn't "saving" anything if you look at how much it is subsidized.  There is no big study or effort to make our electric grid more efficient, other than wht the companies do themselves.  They know they are losing energy and energy=$. If they cannot do it for short term rewards - they are not interested.  That is where our tax-funded research should focus first.  If wind power is so great, it would stand on its own.

This will not happen, as there are no political favors to be gained by making the grid more efficient. That is unless GE gets involved :)

Stay Safe!

No Taxation Without Representation!

No taxation without representation!  That was a theme that helped give birth to our nation.  However, we are becoming a nation that does this to our taxpayers.  How, you ask?  Well, maybe I should rephrase it to taxation without equal representation.

We are coming to a point in time that there will be more non-taxed citizens than taxed citizens in the US.  Some of you misguided ones will think “Oh yeah!”  The problem is – it leads to the taxed being under-represented.  I am not in favor of a poll tax, but I am in favor of a fair tax.  Now there are combinations of taxes out there that are fair, not just the one known as a “fair tax.”  What is not fair, is to tax some and not all and tax some more than others.  Everyone should pay their fair share.

Our illustrious organizer and chief (he is not a leader, so don’t expect me to call him one) has decided that the people who pay taxes need to be taxed more, to support those who don’t.  Now if you are not a taxpayer, (check your 1040 to see if you are or are not- it is simple) you are probably cheering.  The fact is, taxpayers should get a stronger vote than non-payers, maybe a weighted vote for how much you pay would be fair.  You will kick and scream at such a suggestion, after all the poor disenfranchised should be able to vote.  One half of the US is not poor and disenfranchised.  The reality is, the taxpayers are not fairly represented.

I do not want to change the way people vote, well, except maybe make sure voters are eligible – why liberals oppose this I have no idea.  What I would like to see changed is the tax code.  A real change to either the “fair tax” or even just make everyone pay 13%. No deductions, no tax breaks – 13%.  If that isn’t enough to cover everything adjust it year to year.  Everyone pays their fair share.  I guarantee that we would increase tax revenue significantly.  This won’t fly as politicians cannot pay back favors with loop holes.  I think it is funny that those who want the rich to pay their fair share, all have big corporation buddies like GE and the like that pay no taxes. 

Whatever you do – stay safe!

Tired of the Crap from the Whitehouse

Sometimes I just get fed up with all of the politics that goes on.  I get fed up with the elitist politicians that think most Americans cannot think for themselves.   This whole government shutdown thing is beginning to really anger me.  First, we have a President that not only outright lies to us directly about it, he then releases information that if true would be the dumbest thing ever to do.  The president tells us that this budget should have been taken care of "three months ago."  That in itself is a lie.

Well, let's see.  When was the budget supposed to have been passed?  before the fiscal year!  But his party who had everything in charge was afraid to pass any budget before the elections.   Nancy Pelosi and President Obama should take all the blame.  However, since he is like that supervisor that tricked people into getting the job that wants all the control but none of the responsibility, he will never take responsibility for what he does.  He cannot - because he has zero leadership skills.

Now he is leaking that troops will not be paid.  OK, anyone knows that with the volunteer force, there is really only one obligation of the US Government to the soldier, sailor, marine, airman... etc.  That is to pay them.  If they are not paid - they can walk off base - walk off the job and have no obligation to perform their duties.  No obligation.  Don't believe me?  Ask any service member in  a supervisory position.  You cannot be AWOL if you have not been paid.  Pure and simple.  This "leak of information" is deception on the part of the Whitehouse.


Harry Reid is right about one thing.  It is not about budget anymore, it is about ideology.  Problem is, it is the ideology of the Democratic controlled Senate and himself that has prevented action.  The Senate will not even vote on the Bill passed by the house.  The President in a last ditch effort to appear to be a leader called a "last minute meeting " at the Whitehouse.  Gee why didn't he do it "three months ago?"

Deja Vu All Over Again

We are only going to use air strikes.  We won't send in troops.  Those are familiar statements about an Action taken by the US in 1999 in Kosovo.  We still have US troops in Kosovo.  Kosovo is tiny, so we don't have many troops there.

Are we going to have the same fate in Libya?  I hope not.  Read the following:


I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by ... weekend warriors ... to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.

... What I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.

Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Muhamar Qaddafi. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power.... The world, and the Libyan people, would be better off without him.

But I also know that Qaddafi poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors...and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history.

I know that even a successful war against the Qaddafi supporters will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.

I know that ... without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda.

I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message...

...You want a fight President Obama? Let's fight to make sure our so-called allies in the Middle East, the Saudis and the Egyptians, stop oppressing their own people, and suppressing dissent, and tolerating corruption and inequality, and mismanaging their economies so that their youth grow up without education, without prospects, without hope, the ready recruits of terrorist cells.

You want a fight, President Obama? Let's fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil through an energy policy that doesn't simply serve the interests of GE and failed "green programs."

Those are the battles that we need to fight. Those are the battles that we willingly join. The battles against ignorance and intolerance. Corruption and greed. Poverty and despair.

Switch Muhamar Qaddafi with Saddam Hussein.  Switch Libya with Iraq, and switch Obama with Bush.  Swich GE and "failed green programs" with Exxon and Mobil . You have Obama's speech on Iraq in 2002.  Funny how perspective changes when you become president.

My Mom's Wedding Photos