I've been a follower of the Linux community for a long time. We often times are fighting FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) as spread by the marketing of closed source, commercial software.
To fight FUD, we often have to dig beneath the fluff of the shillers and expose the truth beneath to the light of scrutiny. usually we find that there is no truth, once visible.
I'm seeing much the same from our current and new administration.
I have not had time to research it, but I would truly enjoy reading true documentation of Obama's lies. I am not referring to the lies he made about his life, his past or his heritage. Instead I would like to know his promises from his campaign that have been broken and how long into ofice they lasted. It is my understanding that some of his campaign promises did not even last until inauguration.
Of course, if he were to say something like:
"People of America, during the election campaign I made a promise to reduce government wasteful spending. Unfortunately, since taking office, I have learned there is no way to stop this government's cycle of fruitless, corrupt and incorrigible spending practices. In light of that, I have developed this plan to buy your loyalty, none-the-less. My plan is actually quite simple. All you unemployed, all the terminally addicted to welfare and those of you who would rather sponge than work, I am going to buy your love and loyalty by increasing spending so I, too, can leave my mark on America.
I will increase the spending of the welfare system by negotiating lower interest rates on your homes. But you will only qulaify for this if you odn't work.
I will provide you with free health care, unless you actually work.
I will ensure that you don't lose your house becasue you have no income, by providing you with welfare.
I will take care of you and your sick, your ailing and your children.
I can do this, because I see this as how our community, the community of America needs to be organized."
Of course to say somethign like that would be the truth and as a politician Father Obama does not have the spine to stand up and give it straight to the people.
Here is the second part of the challenge: Prove me wrong.
Give me solid, irrefutable, logical proof and arguments that Tovarisch Obama is not increasing the speed with which this republic is rotting, from the inside out. Prove me wrong, and I might, just might consider converting. But bring a lunch, I've got a lifetime of arguments against solcialism.
P.Blacksmith
20.2.09
Subject versus Citizen
A realistic question for you:
If an unarmed person is 'subject' of their government and an armed person is a 'citizen' to their government, which would you rather be? A person 'subject' to the whims of the masses, the government and the corruption? Or a 'citizen' who is a part of their society, helping guide and drive their nation in good times and bad?
Myself? I'm a Citizen. That is with the capital 'C'.
More on Citizenship, later tonight, in another post.
P.Blacksmtih
If an unarmed person is 'subject' of their government and an armed person is a 'citizen' to their government, which would you rather be? A person 'subject' to the whims of the masses, the government and the corruption? Or a 'citizen' who is a part of their society, helping guide and drive their nation in good times and bad?
Myself? I'm a Citizen. That is with the capital 'C'.
More on Citizenship, later tonight, in another post.
P.Blacksmtih
30.1.09
The Fall of America
*** RANDOM ANGRY RANT ALERT! ***
And ANOTHER THING!
America did not fall because of an increase of "Moral Decrepitude" but instead by a constant bombardment and loss of civil liberties and freedoms. For decades I have been 'held accountable' and paid for the 'criminal acts' of people who I never met. People who held slaves, not all of whom were black. But, I still pay my taxes a part of which goes to such generous and equal entities as the National Negro College Fund. A mind IS a terrible thing to waste. So is a strong work ethic. Where is MY National Whitey College Fund? See how long the ACLU and the NAACP would let THAT one exist!
... and while I'm on a roll ...
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) was right in their decision on Heller vs. DC. The 2nd Amendment is for the individual NOT a state to maintain arms. People, don't forget WHEN the 2nd Amendment was written. It was written right after Washington and the boys kicked the British right in the soft spot. If there had been a ban on firearm ownership THEN, would we be Free, NOW? Hell no! So why the hell should I be expected to give up the same tools THEY used set themselves Free? The tool is not evil. The tool does not kill people. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE! If you want to stop thugs from killing thugs on the streets (the same thugs the Brady Bunch call "kids", by the way) then ban being a thug, not the tool they used!
If you take away guns from the gernal populace only the government and the criminals will have guns. I should use a strikeout font on the word 'government' in that sentence. To take away an American's right to self defense is a criminal act. Read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and your Bill of Rights. These documents define and protect the freedoms that we, as Americans enjoy.
"A people should not fear their government, the government should fear the people."
... and STILL rolling ...
Would someone start telling the Main Stream Media (MSM) that THEY helped create this mess? They wanted the kudos and the history limelight of covering such a monumental event of a black man being elected to the highest office of the land, they did not CARE who it was, or if he was QUALIFIED, just that he was charismatic and black. Mr. Obama certainly meets their low requirements. I don't blame the masses that voted for Tovarisch Obama, they were only following along where their sheppard, the MSM, was leading them. Oh, and Fox News! Good try, nice to see how you dropped the ball, the DAY AFTER THE ELECTION! Go ahead and fall in lock step, why don't you!
For the last week I have been fighting a flu bug, or a really bad cold. It does not matter which it was, I was ill. Now, I am sick. I am terrified of where this nation is going. I am terrified of the precipice we are running towards, at full steam. Lady Liberty is toppling, the republic is falling.
I am thankful I have no children. That is my contribution to the future. Fewer people to carry the burden of the errors of this administration's follies.
Mister Obama promised change, and he is delivering it. In great large buckets. All of which are labeled 'Hope'.
And ANOTHER THING!
America did not fall because of an increase of "Moral Decrepitude" but instead by a constant bombardment and loss of civil liberties and freedoms. For decades I have been 'held accountable' and paid for the 'criminal acts' of people who I never met. People who held slaves, not all of whom were black. But, I still pay my taxes a part of which goes to such generous and equal entities as the National Negro College Fund. A mind IS a terrible thing to waste. So is a strong work ethic. Where is MY National Whitey College Fund? See how long the ACLU and the NAACP would let THAT one exist!
... and while I'm on a roll ...
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) was right in their decision on Heller vs. DC. The 2nd Amendment is for the individual NOT a state to maintain arms. People, don't forget WHEN the 2nd Amendment was written. It was written right after Washington and the boys kicked the British right in the soft spot. If there had been a ban on firearm ownership THEN, would we be Free, NOW? Hell no! So why the hell should I be expected to give up the same tools THEY used set themselves Free? The tool is not evil. The tool does not kill people. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE! If you want to stop thugs from killing thugs on the streets (the same thugs the Brady Bunch call "kids", by the way) then ban being a thug, not the tool they used!
If you take away guns from the gernal populace only the government and the criminals will have guns. I should use a strikeout font on the word 'government' in that sentence. To take away an American's right to self defense is a criminal act. Read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and your Bill of Rights. These documents define and protect the freedoms that we, as Americans enjoy.
"A people should not fear their government, the government should fear the people."
... and STILL rolling ...
Would someone start telling the Main Stream Media (MSM) that THEY helped create this mess? They wanted the kudos and the history limelight of covering such a monumental event of a black man being elected to the highest office of the land, they did not CARE who it was, or if he was QUALIFIED, just that he was charismatic and black. Mr. Obama certainly meets their low requirements. I don't blame the masses that voted for Tovarisch Obama, they were only following along where their sheppard, the MSM, was leading them. Oh, and Fox News! Good try, nice to see how you dropped the ball, the DAY AFTER THE ELECTION! Go ahead and fall in lock step, why don't you!
For the last week I have been fighting a flu bug, or a really bad cold. It does not matter which it was, I was ill. Now, I am sick. I am terrified of where this nation is going. I am terrified of the precipice we are running towards, at full steam. Lady Liberty is toppling, the republic is falling.
I am thankful I have no children. That is my contribution to the future. Fewer people to carry the burden of the errors of this administration's follies.
Mister Obama promised change, and he is delivering it. In great large buckets. All of which are labeled 'Hope'.
The Obama Stimulus Plan
The Obama Stimulus Plan a.k.a Democratic Party Stimulus Act
Nearly $1 Trillion to 'save' our economy.
$1 billion for Amtrak, the federal railroad that hasn’t turned a profit in 40 years
$2 billion for child-care subsidies
$50 million for that great engine of job creation, the National Endowment for the Arts
$400 million for global-warming research (damn you Gore!)
$2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects
$650 million on top of the billions already doled out to pay for digital TV conversion coupons
$20 billion for business tax cuts
$600 million on new cars for federal agencies
$54 billion will go to federal programs that the Office of Management and Budget or the Government Accountability Office have already criticized as “ineffective” or unable to pass basic financial audits. These include the Economic Development Administration, the Small Business Administration, the 10 federal job training programs, and many more.
$66 billion Department of Education
$6 billion for colleges/universities – many which have billion dollar endowments.
$44 million for repairs to U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters.
$136+ billion for 32 more government agencies. That means more than a third of this plan’s spending provisions are dedicated to creating new government programs
The House Democrats’ bill will cost each and every household $6,700 in additional debt, paid for by our children and grandchildren
$30 billion of the bill – or three percent – is for road and highway spending
$1 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – a program that already has $16 billion on hand
2.7 percent, or $22.3 billion of the overall package, is dedicated to small business tax relief
$90 billion out of the $825 billion, or about 12 cents of every $1, is for something that can plausibly be considered a growth stimulus.
Plus interst! Roughly another $300 billion between 2009 and 2019 to pay for it all!
Final vote: 244-188. It was 242-190 moments before they gaveled it — with every last Republican voting no
"Great Nations fall becasue of the greed of the leaders, elected by the 'bought majority', and the apathy of the taxed." -- P.B.
"Meet the Main Stream Media, the P.R. firm of the Obama Administration."
Maybe it is time to 'defect' back into the hills of Kentucky, the land of my roots. Come out again in a few years and see how the nation and the world are doing. Decide then if the lunacy is over or not. Definitely somethign to think about.
P.Blacksmith
Nearly $1 Trillion to 'save' our economy.
$1 billion for Amtrak, the federal railroad that hasn’t turned a profit in 40 years
$2 billion for child-care subsidies
$50 million for that great engine of job creation, the National Endowment for the Arts
$400 million for global-warming research (damn you Gore!)
$2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects
$650 million on top of the billions already doled out to pay for digital TV conversion coupons
$20 billion for business tax cuts
$600 million on new cars for federal agencies
$54 billion will go to federal programs that the Office of Management and Budget or the Government Accountability Office have already criticized as “ineffective” or unable to pass basic financial audits. These include the Economic Development Administration, the Small Business Administration, the 10 federal job training programs, and many more.
$66 billion Department of Education
$6 billion for colleges/universities – many which have billion dollar endowments.
$44 million for repairs to U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters.
$136+ billion for 32 more government agencies. That means more than a third of this plan’s spending provisions are dedicated to creating new government programs
The House Democrats’ bill will cost each and every household $6,700 in additional debt, paid for by our children and grandchildren
$30 billion of the bill – or three percent – is for road and highway spending
$1 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – a program that already has $16 billion on hand
2.7 percent, or $22.3 billion of the overall package, is dedicated to small business tax relief
$90 billion out of the $825 billion, or about 12 cents of every $1, is for something that can plausibly be considered a growth stimulus.
Plus interst! Roughly another $300 billion between 2009 and 2019 to pay for it all!
Final vote: 244-188. It was 242-190 moments before they gaveled it — with every last Republican voting no
"Great Nations fall becasue of the greed of the leaders, elected by the 'bought majority', and the apathy of the taxed." -- P.B.
"Meet the Main Stream Media, the P.R. firm of the Obama Administration."
Maybe it is time to 'defect' back into the hills of Kentucky, the land of my roots. Come out again in a few years and see how the nation and the world are doing. Decide then if the lunacy is over or not. Definitely somethign to think about.
P.Blacksmith
15.12.08
WooHoo, it's official, I am now Incorporated
Or at least I will be, come early January.
MyCorporation.com has been sending me spam the last several weeks. They have been waiving their usual $149.00 processing fee for new incorporations. That is actually pretty cool. That means to incorporate, as an LLC, I only have to pay them $29.00 for some S&H and the fees the state requires. Grand total: $129.00.
It is actually, a pretty sweet deal. Now, as a corporation, I can enjoy certain benefits and protections when I do any 'outside' consulting work. Granted, I have not done any this year, but with the economy as it is and my tendancy to screw up in mind, it is best to be prepared.
More to come on the LLC paper work and such.
P.Blacksmith
MyCorporation.com has been sending me spam the last several weeks. They have been waiving their usual $149.00 processing fee for new incorporations. That is actually pretty cool. That means to incorporate, as an LLC, I only have to pay them $29.00 for some S&H and the fees the state requires. Grand total: $129.00.
It is actually, a pretty sweet deal. Now, as a corporation, I can enjoy certain benefits and protections when I do any 'outside' consulting work. Granted, I have not done any this year, but with the economy as it is and my tendancy to screw up in mind, it is best to be prepared.
More to come on the LLC paper work and such.
P.Blacksmith
Rights of a Customer conflicting with being an Employee
The drama is coming to a close.
I spoke with my supervisor, or should I say I was spoken to by my supervisor. There were many comments regarding ethics and integrity. Fortunately, neither my ethics nor integrity were being questioned, but the appearances of the opportunities for impropriety were the topics of discussion for the day. Evidently, those that were actually at work last Monday received a much harsher discussion than I did. I actually was in a discussion. They were, well, the received something MUCH different.
Long shorty shorted to a simple blog entry, don't do this type of thing, again. Do not put people's jobs at risk.
Then it was my turn to speak, and I chickened out. I just wanted to let it all slide a way. There was no trouble, or punishments coming down. As far as the Super' knew, upper management was not aware of the situation. Because of 3rd shift being invisible so much of the time, the only thing others hear of us is when we mess up. They only hear the negative, because that is what they have to address on the day shifts. There is no need for them to make contact with a happy customer. Hence the continual issues of perception.
But this all still leaves me wondering. When did I sign away my rights as a customer, just because I'm an employee? We have employee purchase programs, so the employer encourages us to purchase the products. If I purchase a laptop or one of our newer TV's at $1000.00 or more, do I not have access to support on those, as well, because I can identify the policies or contact the agent assisting with the support?
Or is this only for equipment from the 'Enterprise' divisions? Things like servers and high-end workstations? Maybe some other day I will find the answers to this, but not this week. Not right now. Reviews are in March, which means the managers are gathering their information, now. The evaluation process has already started and is continuing. So, sit back, keep quiet, don't be seen and stay clear of other issues.
In other words, return to the epitome of the perfect IT worker. Put out fires, before they are noticed. Become invisible. Fix it, before it is broken.
P.Blacksmith
I spoke with my supervisor, or should I say I was spoken to by my supervisor. There were many comments regarding ethics and integrity. Fortunately, neither my ethics nor integrity were being questioned, but the appearances of the opportunities for impropriety were the topics of discussion for the day. Evidently, those that were actually at work last Monday received a much harsher discussion than I did. I actually was in a discussion. They were, well, the received something MUCH different.
Long shorty shorted to a simple blog entry, don't do this type of thing, again. Do not put people's jobs at risk.
Then it was my turn to speak, and I chickened out. I just wanted to let it all slide a way. There was no trouble, or punishments coming down. As far as the Super' knew, upper management was not aware of the situation. Because of 3rd shift being invisible so much of the time, the only thing others hear of us is when we mess up. They only hear the negative, because that is what they have to address on the day shifts. There is no need for them to make contact with a happy customer. Hence the continual issues of perception.
But this all still leaves me wondering. When did I sign away my rights as a customer, just because I'm an employee? We have employee purchase programs, so the employer encourages us to purchase the products. If I purchase a laptop or one of our newer TV's at $1000.00 or more, do I not have access to support on those, as well, because I can identify the policies or contact the agent assisting with the support?
Or is this only for equipment from the 'Enterprise' divisions? Things like servers and high-end workstations? Maybe some other day I will find the answers to this, but not this week. Not right now. Reviews are in March, which means the managers are gathering their information, now. The evaluation process has already started and is continuing. So, sit back, keep quiet, don't be seen and stay clear of other issues.
In other words, return to the epitome of the perfect IT worker. Put out fires, before they are noticed. Become invisible. Fix it, before it is broken.
P.Blacksmith
9.12.08
It is impractical to be both an employee and a customer
Well, now I've gone and done it. At the beginning of what is being called the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930's I have put my job in jeopardy.
My employer sells a product. I purchased said product used, and out of warranty. The company also has a policy regarding a product being dangerous, outside of it's warranty. My purchase developed a problem that fit within the policies of the organization. If I was not employed at the company, I would not know of this policy or how it is managed.
Yes, you guessed it, I called into the support line. I got the very team I support. But that was to be expected, because I was calling in when I was awake, the middle of my 'day'. I work 3rd shift, so calling in the early hours of the morning I was put in touch with my own team.
Surprisingly enough, upon reflection, that was not my most grievous mistake.
The greater mistake was in thinking I could be both a customer and an employee. This is not practical, because I know how things work on the inside. I know what the policies are.
The impractical component is that my interests are not in line with the interests of my employer, when I am calling in, as a customer. The customer wants the get the most value out of whatever they have purchased. The company (also the employer) wants to make the most profit it can off of a sale.
It is because of this conflict of interest, I should not have called in for support. If a member of my team had processed the issue per policy, it probably would have been seen as undue or inappropriate pressure, therefore that would put me in the light of being unethical. Any member of a team would naturally feel some level of pressure (as is human nature) to want to do the most they can to help their colleague. This could put the co-worker into a position of apparent complicity, though innocent.
On tomorrow's shift, I will learn my fate for this stupid error in judgement. This is in no way the fault of my employer or of my colleagues, but mine and mine alone. Because of my own greed and wants I have jeopardized one of the best jobs I have ever had. This could have gotten much worse, and jeopardized not only the employ of my team mate and colleague, but also of our managers.
As I see it, there are three options. The lowest being an informal 'write-up', or a basic slap on the wrist and being on 'high alert' for other stupidity. Next would be a serious level write-up, involving HR. This one is considerably more serious. It is much like being out of jail on probation. If you screw up while on probation, you go back to jail. If I am formally written up with HR, then I can not afford to make even the most human of mistakes. Not that HR is that severe, but because one should not tempt fate. And lastly is termination. I certainly hope to not be terminated, but that is an option I must recognize as being possible.
No matter the decision of the managers involved, I will respect it, and quietly accept it as righteous.
Everything in life has the opportunity of being a learning experience. I will certainly be chalking this one up as such an experience.
P. Blacksmith
My employer sells a product. I purchased said product used, and out of warranty. The company also has a policy regarding a product being dangerous, outside of it's warranty. My purchase developed a problem that fit within the policies of the organization. If I was not employed at the company, I would not know of this policy or how it is managed.
Yes, you guessed it, I called into the support line. I got the very team I support. But that was to be expected, because I was calling in when I was awake, the middle of my 'day'. I work 3rd shift, so calling in the early hours of the morning I was put in touch with my own team.
Surprisingly enough, upon reflection, that was not my most grievous mistake.
The greater mistake was in thinking I could be both a customer and an employee. This is not practical, because I know how things work on the inside. I know what the policies are.
The impractical component is that my interests are not in line with the interests of my employer, when I am calling in, as a customer. The customer wants the get the most value out of whatever they have purchased. The company (also the employer) wants to make the most profit it can off of a sale.
It is because of this conflict of interest, I should not have called in for support. If a member of my team had processed the issue per policy, it probably would have been seen as undue or inappropriate pressure, therefore that would put me in the light of being unethical. Any member of a team would naturally feel some level of pressure (as is human nature) to want to do the most they can to help their colleague. This could put the co-worker into a position of apparent complicity, though innocent.
On tomorrow's shift, I will learn my fate for this stupid error in judgement. This is in no way the fault of my employer or of my colleagues, but mine and mine alone. Because of my own greed and wants I have jeopardized one of the best jobs I have ever had. This could have gotten much worse, and jeopardized not only the employ of my team mate and colleague, but also of our managers.
As I see it, there are three options. The lowest being an informal 'write-up', or a basic slap on the wrist and being on 'high alert' for other stupidity. Next would be a serious level write-up, involving HR. This one is considerably more serious. It is much like being out of jail on probation. If you screw up while on probation, you go back to jail. If I am formally written up with HR, then I can not afford to make even the most human of mistakes. Not that HR is that severe, but because one should not tempt fate. And lastly is termination. I certainly hope to not be terminated, but that is an option I must recognize as being possible.
No matter the decision of the managers involved, I will respect it, and quietly accept it as righteous.
Everything in life has the opportunity of being a learning experience. I will certainly be chalking this one up as such an experience.
P. Blacksmith
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