Xanderland

I need an estimate so I can get approval to gather requirements…

xsherry — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:17:14 GMT

This cartoon so perfectly illustrates my life for the past two months.

Why do people still live in California?

xsherry — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:35:41 GMT

I have to admit that when I read things like this, I really just don’t understand it.

California to withhold a bigger chunk of paychecks.

And an opinion from Don Boudreaux.

Cool new blog theme…

xsherry — Thu, 07 May 2009 23:23:58 GMT

Same lousy content. Ehh…Whadda ya want? It’s free, isn’t it?

Keeping threats in context.

xsherry — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:41:44 GMT

It’s amazing to me how much money we’ll spend, how much time and effort we’ll waste, how many liberties we’re willing to give up in the name of “the war on terror” which in reality is one of the more minor dangers we face in the world today.

The truth: "We need to keep terrorism in some kind of context," he said. "For example, every year in the UK, more people die in road accidents than have been killed by terrorists in all of recorded history."

That’s a quote from Nigel Inkster, former Assistant Chief and Director of Operations and Intelligence of MI6, as reported in The Register via Schneier on Security.

I hate Ticketmaster.

xsherry — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:56:43 GMT

It’s bad enough that they send me spam constantly. Lately though, I’ve been getting emails targeted at “Blackberry Owners.” I was confused, because I don’t, and never have owned a Blackberry. Then I noticed that the address that they were being sent to was an alias I’ve only ever used for Ticketmaster. Those stupid, class-less low-down, useless fools sold my email address. I hate them. >:-(

Layoffs at work today.

xsherry — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:17:45 GMT

No fun. No fun at all. My job is safe, but I lost my boss, my boss’ boss, the guy who hired me into the company, the senior dev on my team, the quality assurance manager on my team, and a whole lot of friends. My thoughts and prayers are with them all. I know that they’ve all got good things ahead.

The benefits of nationalized health care: Part IV

xsherry — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:46:51 GMT

Cuba’s Health Care System: The Reality….access to such rudimentary medicines as antibiotics and Aspirin can be limited, and there are reports that citizens excluded from the foreign-only hospitals often must bring their own bed sheets and blankets while in care.

http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA557_Cuban_Health_Care.html

The benefits of nationalized health care: Part III

xsherry — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:42:52 GMT

…half of people in England are currently without access to an NHS dentist.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3750853.stm

The benefits of nationalized health care: Part II

xsherry — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:37:13 GMT

Canadian Health Care In Crisis.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/20/health/main681801.shtml?cmp=EM8705

The benefits of nationalized health care: Part I

xsherry — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:34:11 GMT

Traffic accident victim dies after being refused admission by 14 hospitals.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/traffic-accident-victim-dies-after-being-refused-admission-by-14-hospitals

The “stimulus” package includes a gateway to nationalized health care.

xsherry — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:31:20 GMT

The “economy stimulus package” (more appropriately defined as a socialist spending package) contains language that will get us started down the path to an inefficient, expensive, and wholly unnecessary nationalized health care system.

“The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479)…One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective.”

This is *not* an economic stimulus package. It’s a socialist’s dream come true, cloaked by an intentional panicked smokescreen of fear, uncertainty and doubt intended to spook us into allowing it to be passed into law without the critical analysis it needs. Critical analysis that must be avoided lest it bring the bill’s true egregious nature to light.

Via Cafe Hayek: http://www.cafehayek.com/hayek/2009/02/creepy.html

Best. Headline. Ever.

xsherry — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:28:15 GMT

Former French President Chirac hospitalised after mauling by his clinically depressed poodle.

Nod to Randy for the link.

This is frightening.

xsherry — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:01:52 GMT

Marginal Revolution has a picture of a paper copy of the UAW’s contract with Ford. It not that far off the size of the federal tax code. It’s a visual clue to why the US auto is in so much trouble. This is just more evidence that unions have more than served their purpose and it’s time for them to go quietly into the night, and the history books.

An interesting test of observation skills.

xsherry — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:57:44 GMT

And if you’re anything like me, don’t worry. There’s not going to be a loud scary screaming face at the end trying to startle you. It’s a real observation test.

Colleges confront shootings with training

xsherry — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:58:49 GMT

Hundreds of colleges across the nation have purchased a training program that teaches professors and students not to take campus threats lying down but to fight back with any "improvised weapon," from a backpack to a laptop computer.

From this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26410431/

To that, I ask: "Why not just let them carry real, effective self-defense weapons, instead of making them improvise weapons in the middle of an attack?"

That aside, I have to say that I'm hearted by the fact that it seems like the general population is, to some extent at least, starting to take tentative steps towards taking self-defense seriously. Understanding that capitulation and waiting for the calvary to show up isn't the only or the best option would be a pretty significant change to the "give them what they want and hope for the best" philosophy that we as a society have lived by for so long at such cost. It may be a baby step, but I'd say that it's definitely a step in the right direction.