Blind In The Dark

Get Android working with WPS router when WPS seems to fail

2011-11-12T11:10:00.001-08:00

This is a quick hack for Android phones trying to connect to routers using WPS.

The built in Android software for this functionality seems quite unstable so in case you are having issues with connecting to a router like myself here is what I did to fix the issue. (this likely works with software that is not MS but I have not verified)

1. Connect using a laptop or other compatible device to the router.
2. View the connection properties and the security settings. The encryption type on my Windows 7 system indicates WPA-Personal Encryption type: TKIP.
3. Click "Show characters"
4. Connect to network WITHOUT WPS Available setting and enter password from step 3.

Good luck!

When tax cuts are a violation of the Constitution

2011-01-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

First of all, I don't agree with the notion that government officials should get to establish their current or future compensation. So please take that as a grain of salt as I use the constitution as an argument against the Obama tax cuts. Yes, "Obama tax cuts". If Afghanistan is Obama's war then by the same logic Bush's tax cuts are now Obama's, I'll point you to a signature if you disagree.

I have a couple other quick suggestions to make so that I can claim to be constructive and not just a naysayer.

>>The salaries for the Executive and Legislative branches should be a reflection of the economic status of the country based on actual metrics such as GDP and/or median income.

>>The long term benefits of each member should also be a reflection of the growth or decline of the country during their tenure.

>>Lobbyists should be exempt from any current or pending benefits from the government. (It seems to makes sense that elected officials should lose benefits should they chose to exploit the connections established during public tenure. Such a policy would likely not be very effective for stopping revolving door issues between government and industry but at least it will slightly lower expenditures and establish a positive incentive structure. This should also help to protect against financial feedback loops between government officials and lobbyists.)

Now, with that said I think there is little doubt that the salaries of most elected officials are merely bread crumbs for the total incomes of such individuals (see http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/index.php). For example President Obama, Bush(s), Clinton, etc. are all millionaires as a direct result of their political endeavors, not the 400k they make per year as president. Be it a result of book deals, speaking events or less legal means such as: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/01/AR2008070103008.html or http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/washington/18dodd.html or http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/25/rangel.ethics/index.html?iref=allsearch or http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/us/politics/12boehner.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1294747825-bHxQvr6L60Dv4iPu9ON1kg

Note: I don't begrudge anyone for the amount of money they make so long as it is moral and legal.

Now to the meat of the post:

AMENDMENT XXVII
Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.

Total compensation is not just a measurement of income but also an offset from taxes. Therefore, tax cuts that (disproportionally) benefit Senators and Representatives violate the 27th Amendment in that they are laws that very the compensation of Senators and Representatives and these changes take effect within their own terms.

So is it any wonder that the Obama tax cuts passed (again)? Why would the legislature or Obama be against receiving a huge increase in income? These tax cuts were unconstitutional with Bush as president and still are with Obama.

Note: Now only the Republican side matters in this picture.

References:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/08/the_bush_tax_plan_vs_the_obama.html

House & Senate Salaries (Interesting note: In 1990 the Senator's pay began to outpace Representative's pay, this lasted until 1992)
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-1011.pdf
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm

President's Salary
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/presidentialpay.htm
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-53.pdf
Random Note: While researching different resources on presidential salaries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States) I noticed the following image:

Wikipedia for "Bush Tax Cuts"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_tax_cuts

A final note:

A picture really is worth a thousand words.

A general idea on how to establish your banking accounts in a relationship

2010-08-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

5 of the Worst Movies I've ever seen

2010-07-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

What the #$*! Do We Know!?
8MM
Crash
Signs
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

US GPD: A nearly perfect parabola

2010-05-24T23:03:00.001-07:00

Is this graph just scaled against the US economy or does the US have nearly perfect economic growth?

I'm no economist so can someone explain why the US GPD behaves in a nearly perfect parabola? The line is too perfect, it reminds me of Madoff's performance vs. Possible Replications on page 4:

http://www.riskdata.com/files/news/Madoff_Bias_Ratio.pdf


It is interesting that the rest of the worlds economies show similar positive and negative trends over time indicating an
interdependence between the world economies. Nearly every  country suffers from shared global economic cycles with exception of the US? Even countries like Mexico and Canada follow world trends but not the US. Many countries also go negative many times relative to their own prices for longer periods than the US ever does even in years commonly accepted as US recessions.

Update: The good news is that the new numbers are in and they aim to prove me wrong. The bad news is that for the first time in recent history the US's GDP has significantly declined between 2007 and 2008.

Create a dynamic class in python and then use introspection to evalute each member of that class

2010-05-22T17:10:00.000-07:00

>>> class Test():
...     pass
...
>>> a = Test()
>>> a.blah = 5
>>> dir(a)
['__doc__', '__module__', 'blah']
>>> for x in dir(a):
...     if "__" not in x:
...             print eval("a." +str(x))
...
5

Remove overdraft capability from your accounts to prevent fees

2010-01-22T11:41:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been in a case where you got charged early for a bill or got double charged on accident leaving your checking account critically low on funds? Maybe, times are hard or payday is tomorrow and the balance on your checking account is just above water.

I'm sure many of us have been in this situation and often times to add insult to injury we get charged overdraft fees sometimes in excess of our purchases; this of couse does save us from the inconvenience of not getting that pack of gum or not needing to borrow a few dollars from a co-worker for lunch all for a hefty fee ($25 usually).

Well, that benefit is called "overdraft capability" and you can opt out! You can call your bank and tell them that you don't want overdraft capability if this sounds like a fee/benefit you don't want to be eligible for. There are some caveats such as a gas station that doesn't charge the whole cost of your purchase up front, you will still get your gas and the bank will still charge you an overdraft fee. But I'm fine with that as long as I'm not stuck somewhere without gas, just don't charge me another fee when I walk into the store and buy a coffee while I'm filling up.

It is also worth noting that opting out of overdraft capability does not prevent you from setting up overdraft protection on your account, which I still recommend because you are still in danger of getting charged NSF fees from businesses you have written checks to or have pending payments to.

Objectivism: The philosophy helped ruin an economy.

2010-01-02T12:32:00.000-08:00

Survival Of The Sufficient

I first read Atlas Shrugged in 2000 and I bought into it on more of an emotional level than I should have; I felt angry and wronged, but of course, I was the fatalistic target audience of the book: a big headed kid with a passionate dislike for authority.

Looking back on it I can see that Ms Rand was also somewhat fatalistic in her actions. She was hurt and lashed out at a system that she had felt wronged her just as I felt after finishing this book. So in reaction to being oppressed by Communism she created an equally extreme and opposite philosophy from Communism. This is much like any person might do as a result of oppression under any fundamentalist ideals be it cultural, superstitious, philosophical or authoritarian.

When first reading the book there was a constant nagging thought this is completely removed from reality and this is perhaps the books biggest failing. The actions described in this book and the philosophy just don't cross that fundamental pragmatic barrier that so many have (correctly) faulted Communism for failing to achieve.

To further support my point, others have also identified the absolutism of the "end of the world" strategy as a major failing. So much so the abridged copy I saw modified the ending to have less of an apocalyptic feeling to it. Instead was more of a feeling of hope and a potential for a fast recovery for the world instead of the feeling that everyone bunkering up in Colorado waiting for complete and total collapse of society.

Another problem with the ideals spelled out in Atlas Shrugged is that they have helped validate the actions of crony capitalism in todays society and this has indirectly brought moral and financial ruin to our world economy. With a lack of proper regulation and the sense of a moral high ground the financial industry today seems almost justified in immoral behavior. I understand that Ms. Rand does not approve of cronies but what other option does she leave while working under a corrupt system? Are we supposed to feel validated when we see Hank Rearden begrudgingly engage in cronyism and succeed? Of course we are!

Lets imagine your the CEO of a national bank, for a moment. Do you engage in crony capitalism and continue to enjoy a comfortable life or do you stick to your morals, refuse to participate and become a sort of wanderer? ...I think if you look at all of the CEOs around, the answer is clear.

I would also like to mention this argument should be strikingly similar to how 'The Selfish Gene' was misconstrued to provide a moral right for the actions committed by the leaders of Enron except my argument is for the banking / speculation industry and Atlas Shrugged. The Selfish Gene helped validate the actions of Enron in the sense that "Everyone else be damned selfishness is a biological drive! I can't help it, I'm made that way!". But in this case the validation is more of an eye for an eye. "I have been wronged and toyed with by the government and these unjust rules, so I will use that same system that has wronged me to fight back!"

To be more explicit on Objectivism's impact on society I will use Allen Greenspan. Did Objectivism influence AG's economic policy? Of that, there is little doubt, he was part of Rand's inner circle. Has AG, himself even admitted that his idea on how economics works was fundamentally flawed? Yes. Was AG influenced by Objectivism when he recommended Ben Bernake? Yes.

So remember, as long as the music is playing, you've got to get up and dance...

The problem with www.ihatethemida.com as submitted to the hate mail section

2009-12-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

I'm putting this up because I think it is a good example of two problems facing us today:

1. The Media

2. Exploitation of people through logical fallacies

Please everyone, learn your logical fallicies so you can identify when you are being lied to!

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/

Why is this web site called "I Hate The Media"?

Like many people I don't like the media because it has become monopolized by National Enquirer and Jerry Springer type news; while at the same time ignoring very important social, economic, and political issues.

For a second lets ignore the fact that a web site in of itself is a source of media. I would expect a web site called "ihatethemedia.com" to have articles on how media likes to fear monger, cover reality shows, get duped by the balloon boy stunt, give constant updates about Tiger Woods affairs, octo-mom or Sarah Palin... need I go on?

Instead I find this to be a political attack web site against Democrats/Liberals. Which I have no problem with if you call yourself "I Hate Liberals" or "I Hate Democrats" but this name creates a conflict of interests as it establishes a basic appeal to popularity.

The appeal to authority is that: Many people are tired of the media as an entity as I have described above and this web site exploits that mentality as part of a political agenda.

For this reason I submit my complaint to the hate mail.

Thanks

Top 10 reasons to kill the health care bill

2009-12-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

Adding a cap of 10% profits to insurance companies will encourage increases in health care prices because higher prices will provide a means to increase to total profits.
A 10% overhead is still higher than what Medicare has.
The health care bill does not protect against accounting tricks that hide profits and make them look less profitable than they really are.
The bill still includes yearly maximum coverage limits
Health care companies can charge higher costs for pre-existing conditions and the elderly.
A public mandate goes into effect before costs are verified to be under control.
We are allowing further restrictions to personal liberties through the mandate and increased abortion controls.
Insurance companies can now play states against each other for which one has the weakest regulations.
The insurance industry still retains its ability to hold monopoly status.
Reconciliation could be used for a Medicare buy in for everyone and rescission and pre-existing conditions could also get in because without such things Medicare would become a dumping ground for more costly individuals and thus impact the budget.

Issues with the bill that I am not well enough informed on that would cause me to also put down the bill:

I don't know what is going to happen to the poor when the bill's subsidies run out.
I don't know how this bill handles the inefficiencies caused by pay-per-service.
I don't know how this bill helps with long term demand care such as helping with health care education costs that could help staff for increasing demand in the future due to aging baby boomers.
I don't know where the cost containment comes in. Given: Studies show an excise tax will not handle price increases, a Medicare commission is delayed and only provides theoretical savings at some point in the future, yearly and the 10% cap with yearly seems to actually provide incentive to increase overall prices.

Update 1/11/11: I should have also noted that an ineffective health care bill would help fuel a bad political environment and kill the short term chances of effective legislation.

The super-egos

2009-11-20T08:12:00.000-08:00

I would like to briefly describe my fundamental outlook on politics:

If you swim in dirty water you're bound to get dirty. Also, in some regards politics is a real world soap opera. Can we just put aside the egos already?

Thanks!

The failure of the Democrats?

2009-11-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

The news is all a buzz about how the Democrats have failed and their whole world is going to be turned upside down because of their political failures only to be replaced again by the Republican party. To some extent this is true and has already happened in 09 elections.

But lets be fair to the Democrats for a second; they don't really control crap.

The party is full of displaced Republicans who have been pushed out of the tent by the fundamentalists (more on them below).
Democrats have to deal with a pervasive religious influence in our "secular" government. A government that you have to swear with your hand on the bible, "One nation under god", "In God We Trust", you know...secular. For the record, if I ever have to do that crap I want a Jefferson Bible.
America loves an underdog, and I think I know why. Two reasons: One, underdog voters. These are people who don't trust Democrats or Republicans so much that they vote for the 'underdog' in order to deadlock the system, thus preventing a majority on either side. This would be great if our country wasn't facing two wars, a failing economy, a health care crisis, nuclear states, equal/human rights violations...must I go on? Two, the religious love being underdogs themselves, they get to pretend that they are little oppressed martyrs, (it's not just for Islam!) then they play the social taboo card. This idea is supported by the current fervor among the "doctor killers" (pro-life indeed), birthers and tea parties (yes plural).
There are so many "blue dog" democrats that there is a perception that the Republicans are underdogs. This creates a sense of descent among the ranks. Even though the Democrats are just greedy bastards who think people who are willing to trade teams on the fly are people you want in your camp. Try dating someone who leaves their significant other for you, you'll see what happens to them when they meet someone new.

So in reality they still don't have the votes to get anything done, and now it is all their fault.

This all seems to make sense when you consider they passed health care in the house by 2 votes WITH an abortion clause.

Is that really a Democratically controlled system? What about further funding of abstinence only education? Proven not only to be ineffectual, but counter productive and factually false. Abstinence only education has had much coverage over teaching kids that tear drops can spread AIDS...THIS is what we spend our money on?

I am sad for Obama, in such a scenario there is only so much the president can do. I know so many people wanted Obama to have a running but given all this stacked against him I wonder if anything can get done. Rome here we come?

One last point, I don't mind paying taxes. But, I absolutely hate my money being wasted on ineffectual crap. I want the right to say where my money can be spent, at least some of it to start and more over time. We should break down the major sections of the government by percentages in W-2's and let people decide where the money goes. I would switch the defense budget with the educational budget in a heart beat or less.

Tragedy

2009-11-07T04:22:00.000-08:00

Is there an attempt to clear the record and perhaps address the issue at hand so that this may never happen again?

This does not appear to be a unique problem and can easily foster repeat cases for further Muslim military officers.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20091107/ZNYT02/911073011?Title=Muslims-at-Fort-Voice-Outrage-and-Ask-Questions

It was Major Hasan, though, who increasingly felt let down by the military, and deeply conflicted by his religion, said those who knew him through the mosque. Duane Reasoner Jr., an 18-year-old substitute teacher whose parents worked at Fort Hood, said Major Hassan was told he would be sent to Afghanistan on Nov. 28, and he did not like it.
“He said he should quit the Army,” Mr. Reasoner said. “In the Koran, you’re not supposed to have alliances with Jews or Christian or others, and if you are killed in the military fighting against Muslims, you will go to hell.”

I'm happy to see that the local Muslim leaders have denounced these actions. What I am unclear on is if they have or will denounce Major Hassan's concerns as unfounded. What scripture lead to this internal conflict, 2:120? Did he mis-interpret anything or was he correct in his understanding and concern from a Muslim point of view?

I am far from an expert on the Quran but this certainly does not appear to be an uncommon conclusion to many of the most devoted Muslims.

Global Warming and 350.org

2009-10-14T00:53:00.000-07:00

Weather is an extremely complex topic. How do: ocean currents, upper and lower atmospheric factors, particle densities, solar radiation, earth's magnetic field and many other factors all play together to give us weather? Were not completely sure.

When I look into my crystal ball it says your main gripe is all the end of the world, doom and gloom stuff. I get it, but the problem is that people are complacent and need a kick in the ass.

Lets assume CO2's greenhouse effect on the atmosphere has been proven to be so small that it makes no impact on the climate. Great! But what does large atmospheric concentrations of CO2 do to the ocean, plants, animals or us?

Speaking of plants, not knowing what your doing before you do it gives you shit like Kudzu.

But I digress...If you want to build a house but don't know how to, do you use all your materials trying to figure it out? I don't think so. Point being we don't know exactly what is going on, so we should stop driving the nails in to the wood.

350.org is about identifying an optimal CO2 concentration that promotes symbiosis. The science behind it is some of the most recent research available but I'm sure 350ppm is sure to change, thats the beauty of science. Postulate a theory, test the theory, repeat.

Finally, the nice thing about the theory of global warming regardless of the science is that its: driving responsible energy policies like cutting oil imports, cleaning up the air we breath, driving new technologies to generate energy, encouraging conservation of energy, it has peaked new interest in climatology and science, and even given nations a reason to come together, talk and work together on a common goal.

Just remember its easier to poke holes than it is to defend you own product.

Global Warming

2009-10-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is just a repeat of a forum post I made regarding the topic of climate change.

Global warming is a misnomer as we understand things today.

Global weirding is more appropriate, the temperature band is increasing on positive and negative fronts. The climate will shift stronger back and forth with heat waves and huge droughts on one end and cold waves with violent flooding on the other. We have seen many examples of this in the last year, look at Georgia right now. Look at Texas, look at the crazy flooding and rain in the north east or the drought in Seattle.

It is true the weather is subject to many factors we are just now starting to grasp such as high atmospheric influences and solar radiation. We are making huge advances and although the science is not or will ever likely be perfect it will get very close.

Is CO2 a greenhouse gas? YES! Make no mistake about that…even if we are not the sole cause of climate change we are certainly not helping.

Bush vs. Clinton Record: Do Tax Cuts Work?

2009-09-28T16:14:00.001-07:00

Answer: Nope

Just a note for anyone having difficulties with religion.

2009-08-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Let me first say: I don't think I ever believed in any religion.

I learned about Christianity and all other religions after Greek mythology. No one could tell me why old Greek gods were myth but THIS one was real. I think the idea came to me because I had read the trial and death of Socrates.

My parents tried for many years up until sometime in High school before they gave up. The amount of work my mother put into trying to convert me made start to think I was doing something wrong. I was even baptized at 8 years old without honestly being told what was happening. They gave me some flyers to read and pictures to color after everything was done. I certainly did not understand what being baptized meant. I don't think it matters one way or the other and if it makes my mom feel better, fine.

So back in high school I listed to Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral this music confirmed my suspicions: not being religious is the hard path. Little did I know we'd have another Bush era in just a couple years...

Around 2002 I told my Mormon wife the truth after much dodging. Not a pretty picture, especially since up to that point I had avoided the topic like the plague of course I was humiliated.

Along comes 2003 Penn and Teller's Bullshit who introduced me to a world of being proud about not having been indoctrinated. Before this, the hiding and humiliation was difficult for me to bear. In the end it did give me perspective for others who are gay and living in America.

There are lots of people in the world that can sympathize, don't be afraid! It is an easier journey now more now than ever before.

PS

I must admit, I did think being gay was a psychological disorder often manifested by some kind of childhood post-traumatic stress disorder. Its not, thanks for clarifying that for me scientists and researchers! *embarrassed*

PPS

If your gay and religious, I'm very, very sorry.

py2exe functions

2009-08-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

For those who don't want to figure out how to use py2exe use the following functions:


def main_is_frozen():
    '''main_is_frozen() returns True when running the exe, and False when running from a script. '''
    import sys, imp
    return (hasattr(sys, "frozen") or # new py2exe
             hasattr(sys, "importers") # old py2exe
             or imp.is_frozen("__main__")) # tools/freeze

def create_exe():
    '''If not an exe then create a single file exe from current script file'''
    if main_is_frozen() == False:
        from distutils.core import setup
        import py2exe, sys

        sys.argv = [sys.argv[0], 'py2exe']

        setup(
              console=[sys.argv[0]],
              zipfile = None,
              options = {
                        'py2exe':{
                                   'bundle_files': 1,
                                   'optimize' : 2,
                                   'compressed' : True
                                 }
                        }
             )

Killing your enemies, with kindness

2009-08-01T00:40:00.000-07:00

So there are some questions that I would like to know in the context of this interview that John Stewart did not cover:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

John Bolton

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Joke of the Day

How does the money and lives spent attacking countries make the world safer than if we used that same money and manpower to help establish infrastructure and business in that country? What happened to freedom and industry being our weapons of choice? We have said that these ideals are our weapons of choice but then by attacking countries and killing their population do we not cause them to rally together against us?

We want to be the liberators, the good guys but we can't do that with a gun in hand. Wouldn't we have greater success using political weapons like a shovel, pen and a handshake?

The current military budget is over $515 billion dollars, where would we be if we took $200 billion from this budget split it between Afghanistan and Iraq and invested into these countries?

If we could convince these countries to accept help establishing food, water, transportation and information services would they not fundamentally become allies because we both have the same goals of improving the quality of life for their citizens? How would that look in a history book instead of bombs and guns?

I don't pretend that this is the answer to all of our troubles, and that our military is not an important resource. Cases such as Rwanda, Darfur require immediate, strategic military action. I believe this because organizations involving themselves in the act of genocide are doing so with full knowledge of the international stance on genocide.

Where were you when these crimes were happening? Where are your plans to resolve these international issues? Instead you spend your time concocting ways to bomb Iran, a country that is full of mostly well educated young citizens who simply want to just become part of the global economy. It is the Ayatollah that is of concern, how is bombing an act that will kill Iranians a solution to our main concern?

Regarding the removal of Saddam, how is forceful removal of leadership better than establishing a better reputation with the constituents of a country than their own leadership? Like what is happening in Iran. By using a forceful removal you have acknowledged that we have had to stay in Iraq and help hold up their failed state. If the people organize together and take the steps to re-create their own government the hard way on are they not better off for it? Moving into a position where their leaders are a greater issue than other world leaders is an important change that has allowed these events in Iran to unfold.

Are we not supporting the movement in Iran more by keeping our mouths shut? If we were to speak up it would politically weaken the position of those we wish to support. Taking action against Iran at this stage in the game would only give the leadership the evidence they need to show that it is still Iran versus the world and not an internal schism between the people and the religious leadership.

Update: I'm backing off infrastructure to some extent because it has shown only to be mildly effective. The best pursuit still seems to be education, discouraging extremism, information and a secular government. So very hard in a region that would be lucky to achieve 10% literacy. No matter how you slice it this will take generations. But we can still talk about being tough. How about, December 16, 2001 where Rumsfield let Bin-Laden walk right out of Tora Bora?

Engineering the universe

2009-07-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

At some point, it may be possible to populate universes with engineered life forms who can survive in hostile conditions, develop into self aware life forms, with the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions. The problem we may have to face at some point with this proposal is the possibility that such life forms may become parasites or hostiles for native flora that may have begun developing and destroy the other form of life creating that is not based off of our fundamental idea of a biological cell.

However, if universes with no signs of life exist we can use this method along with evolution to spread life and possibly mankind through the universe.

This is basically what the story of superman is, no?

Norah O'Donnel on NBC News

2009-07-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

So I'm watching NBC Nightly News that aired 7/27/09 and Norah O'Donnell is being interviewed about the usual Sarah Palin updates and she says "Sarah Pailin has raised over a million dollars for whore, *her* political action committee. Advisers say she has raised over 300k dollars since she announced she was going to step down three weeks ago."

Way to carry that one Norah, I couldn't have finished with a strait face.

Do cell phone services price gouge text message prices? You judge.

2009-06-12T01:32:00.000-07:00

Lets make some educated guesses and side conservatively on the numbers.

Voice sound quality 96kbps (I'd think this is at least 128kbps but I don't know what compression or other tricks they might use so I'm siding on caution)

Going to use a T-Mobile individual plan with 1500 minutes and 300 text messages. I chose T-Mobile because they are considered one of the less expensive services.

(I'm going to assume the protocol overhead between data and voice is similar so I don't have to look it up)

T-mobile highest non-unlimited voice - 59.99 ($60) (1500 minutes)
T-mobile highest non-unlimited message - 4.99 ($5) (300 messages)

Messages:
300 Message * 140 Bytes/Message = 48,000Byes
48,000Byes / 500 (pennies) (rounded) = 96B/cents

Voice:
9600bps / 8 bits = 1,200Bps
12,000*60 = 72,000Bpm
72,000Bpm*1500minutes = 108,000,000Byes
108,000,000Byes/ 6000 pennies = 18,000B/cents

Ratio:
18,000B/cents / 96B/cents = 187.5X more expensive per Byte

I just came across this after writing this post.

Feedback to Apple regarding my Macbook Pro 15'

2009-05-12T23:40:00.000-07:00

I would just like to say that my 12-inch G4 Powerbook is running great. Because of this laptop I have recommended Apple to friends, family and co-workers who have all subsequently purchased Apple products.

However, I am very disillusioned with the horrible quality and workmanship that went into building the Macbook Pro machine and will no longer make such recommendations.

The laptop worked well initially but ran very hot and I was concerned so I checked the forums and asked Apple store employees they all assured me "its natural for this laptop to run hot". Well severe graphics started appearing so I did some independent research and came across lots of articles detailing horrible applications of thermal paste. By this point the laptop coverage period had expired so I decided open the laptop up and check to see if I had the same issue. I did, it was as bad as the worst pictures you could find on the internet, there was so much thermal grease that there were large pools that spilled over onto all sides around the chip much like the ones @http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/01/macbook-pros-overheating-due-to-thermal-grease/. I cleaned things up and purchased my own grease, the laptop dropped 10 degrees Celsius! It was already too late, the damage had been done. I don't have money for a new computer so I have been stuck with things getting worse and worse. I've purchased new RAM from two different retailers and still the crashing got worse. I re-installed OSX from scratch and patched full and still the crashing got worse. The computer will not even power up with more than 1 RAM stick now and if the laptop gets into a hard lock cycle somehow moving the single RAM stick between slots fixes things for a bit. I've also taken pictures of the screen going black, bleaching to all white slowly, crazy large colorful stripes up and down on the screen and weird color static much like you would see on a TV without a signal except with color.

It is also worth noting that I have to run the laptop with SMC fan control on 6k RPM at all times and use a laptop heat pad to keep the air flowing under the laptop or else it will just crash.

I plan on posting this feedback and the pictures on the internet in the hope that I can save anyone else from going through the same troubles I have.

Daniel (Pictures to come)

iPhone Haters

2007-09-28T00:58:00.000-07:00

I don't have an iPhone but with it being so damn trendy to bash the iPhone, I'd like to say what is good about it that no one bothers to mention.

The US has been the shit bag capital of the world for suck ass phones. Sure you could import an unlocked phone for $500 or you could get a phone that basically did the job for free. No one really cared or made it mainstream like now. The iPhone has shoved a rocket up the asses of every phone company in the world to advance their technology in phones even ones available in the US at subsidized prices.

What about all those cool features that iPhone doesn't have? Well you can be sure that every phone released from here on out trying to compete with Apple will have every feature the iPhone doesn't to make up for each feature it does have that the competitors lack. Every feature the iPhone does have will also be copied or mimicked in a hurry (as it should be).

A reply to "How to Convert an Atheist Part 1"

2007-09-10T23:59:00.000-07:00

First the video
Link

This list of tests is poor in my opinion because some of these "proofs" do not directly imply an omniscient force, already fail specific catch conditions, and/or contain so many catches that they become convoluted. I will not cover all the conditions as the list quickly becomes about what is not acceptable as a proof rather than what is. Lets begin...

Physical miracles, talking bushes, water out of wine, etc.

These kinds of tricks can easily be reproduced by men like Pen & Teller. , I hear they are blessed with these magic powers you claim to seek that will convert you on the spot. If you really want to believe, I am sure that they would be less than happy to oblige .

Already fails before anyone even gets a chance to try

An accurate prediction without billions of other misses. Well you have just ruled everything out at that point... We are on the brink of apocalypse number what now?

Requirements on prophecies...

Must be detailed AND specific AND un-ambiguous [synonyms?], NOT (vague OR unclear OR garbled) [synonyms?]

And the alien thing at the end? Just wow... off the wall, what an understatement.

If anything about humanity is going to leave the earth and reach aliens it is our broadcasts that have things like fox news, passion of the Christ and the 700 club.

Now I'm not all complainy...

For me I would love to hear a good explanation on:

Who made god if god made everything?
Can god make a mountain so big that even god cannot move it?
What about superior technology in uneducated eyes will seem like magic? Uneducated relative to the technology.

I predict a solar eclipse on this day at this exact time, but oh wait I forgot you know nothing of astrology, sucker.

Not that I have hard and fast rules like this...

So what if someone gets 1/20 of their predictions correct? or 1/2? 2/3? 3/4? Where do you draw the line? 1/1 ratio? That may mean they can see the future or are even from the future but it still does not make them omniscient.

Let me save you some time.

There is no Christian god, or god who plays an active role in our daily lives.

Is there some crazy chance that some other civilization such as ours evolved billions of years before us and thus would appear to be gods in our eyes at this point? Perhaps, but that doesn't mean they don't care/interfere with what we are doing.

Here's where I go ultra nerdy.