May 26, 2011

The Triumph of E-Books

Per the New York Post, Amazon has announced that it is now selling 5% more e-books than print books. We definitely now have a paradigm shift, not a fly-by-night fad. I not only enjoy reading books on my Kindle, I read much more than I have in the past. While printed books will always have a place as collector's items -- just like LP records -- I predict we will all be reading primarily with e-readers in about ten years.

May 12, 2011

FCC Ethics - Meredith Attwell Baker

Per Truthdig,
Meredith Attwell Baker, one of two Republican FCC commissioners, voted in late January to approve the merger of Comcast and NBC. Less than four months later, she announced that she is leaving the FCC to become a lobbyist for the merged company.
It is truly unbelievable to me that this is legal. The fact that our cynicism causes us to just let stuff like this slide as "business as usual in Washington" infuriates me. This is an equal-opportunity shame: neither party or ideology has a monopoly on being ethically challenged. We should all come together to agree that if you have made a decision as a government official that economically profits a business or organization, you should never be able to work for or knowingly own a portion of that entity -- ever.

May 09, 2011

Santorum Thinks Public Schools are Fascist

Per the Washington Monthly, former U.S. Senator and current candidate for the Republican nomination for President Rick Santorum thinks that America's public schools are vehicles for government indoctrination. How does a man with this level of paranoia garner the credibility necessary to become a serious candidate for President? I think having a debate about how education should be ensured for every child in America is a good one to have. Unfortunately, Sen. Santorum's paranoia makes the private, voucher-based position look ridiculous.

May 04, 2011

Tuning Out the Noise

I have decided to tune out more of the noise in my life. So here's how not to be noise:
  • Base your opinions on all available, pertinent facts.
  • Make sure your facts are indeed facts, i.e., measurably true.
  • Make sure your conclusions are internally logically consistent.
  • Make sure that your conclusions are consistent with those you've drawn in the past or, if not, admit it and alter the impacted conclusions.
  • Do not counter arguments that no one has advanced.
  • Be aware of and admit your biases.
  • If you can't counter arguments that challenge yours, admit it and honestly consider conceding the point.
  • Avoid ad hominem attacks.

May 02, 2011

Rush Limbaugh's Sarcasm

Credit: Nicolas Shayko
Rush Limbaugh uses filthy, nasty, sarcasm to denigrate the President's role in the killing of Osama bin Laden. Yes, at first it sounds like shockingly high praise. But as you continue to listen, it's very clear that his tone is sarcastic..

Even at a time like this, when young people are celebrating in the streets, all Rush Limbaugh has to offer us is nastiness. If you listen to him -- please, please stop.

May 01, 2011

Meyers and Trump at White House Correspondents Dinner

Seth Meyers brings the house down at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. I'm surprised that Donald Trump actually showed up. He received the ridicule that he deserved.