Swap Blog

Verse of the Day

6/12/2009

Congratulations Tennessee

Filed under: Local, News, Personal, Politics permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 11:50 pm

The TN Legislature passed a great bill this week – a bill allowing companion animals to dine with their owners (additional story here). I know there are still some fine details to work out, but I am glad that my wife and I can now take our dogs with us without worrying about if we are going to need to eat out.

I would like to thank my Senator Tim Burchett for introducing it in the Senate the last two years and sticking with it and getting it passed. I would also like to thank Representative Harry Brooks carrying it in the House. Both are politicians I will personally support in the future with my time and funds. I personally will also buy both of them and their families a meal at the restaurant of their choice with a patio where they can meet my dogs.

Bad and cool cycling news

Filed under: Current / General, News, Personal, Sports permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 11:26 pm

With the Dauphne – Libre going on, the Tour of Switzerland starting soon, the Tour De France starting in few weeks (and all the drama that comes with that), and Bernard Kohl coming clean there is a lot to follow and a lot going on in the cycling world, it can be easy to miss other cycling stories.

The cool news is that Velonews has some shots of some hot bikes from the Giro up today. Zabriskie’s rear wheel ROCKS!!

The bad news is an alleged drunk driver (Tausah Borland) killed two amateur cyclists, and seriously injured a third, training near Tulsa. The team is starting a fund in their honor. This story is also at Velonews.

Wordpress 2.8

Filed under: Misc, News permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 11:13 pm

The new Wordpress runs great. I have put it on five blogs so far. Very nice, easy and effective upgrade. Do it if you run WP.

6/9/2009

Imprisoned Journalist in N Korea

Filed under: Current / General, News, Personal, Politics permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 4:04 pm

Well as everyone that cares about it knows, two American reporters for Current TV(Laura Ling and Euna Lee) were convicted in N Korea for slipping into the country while reporting on the trafficking of women. They both have been sentenced to 12 years hard labor. This story raises a few issues for me.

First of all, this trail and convictions shows just how wonderful America is. Here we don’t sentence people to 12 years hard labor for sneaking in. In fact, in my view, we are not tough enough on those that slip in to our nation, but 12 years is too harsh by any fair minded person for sneaking into to report on the nation and it citizens. It saddens me greatly to hear over and over from both Americans and the world how cruel America is to it’s people, including illegal aliens, when the standard of fairness only seems applicable to America and no other nation seems to have to be as free and open. No one seems to be pushing for France to make more illegals citizens just because they are there.

Moving on, if these two young ladies actually serve 12 years in N Korea, I guarantee they will never talk about the cruelness of America again. In fact a AP story out today says they will likely not have to serve in the cruelest prisons and their presence will likely be used to negotiate.

My key point here is that this is N. Korea we are talking about. This is one nation that has never been fair or considered even handed. Why would any one (including the two young ladies) expect N Korea and it dictatorial government lead by the megalomaniac midget Kim Jung Il or his son be fair. It is wholly unrealistic to ask for sanity and fairness from a nation that has no desire to be sane or fair.

I feel for these two young ladies, but I think calls by America (be it at the presidential, diplomatic, or social agency level) to get North Korea to adjust it’s actions are no more then screams into a storm at this point. This case, these two American citizens, and this whole situation is exactly the type of thing that drives Kim Jung Il. He, and his nation whether he or his son are running it at the moment, loves to this worldwide press and loves the attention it brings him. He wants to be vilifed by the West. He wants to cause problems and receive concessions, money and food, for acts and promises he will never follow through on. Does anyone remember those nuclear power plants that were just for power (if we paid for them), well now they are making weapons with them. That should not have been a surprise to anyone. N Korea and it’s government are not trust worthy, fair or just. To ask that of it and them is just not logical.

So, in my view the best thing to do is ignore this nation and this case for about six months and then back channel via China get the young ladies freed, or get their sentence reduced, for about 1,000 tons of rice – which would benefit the N. Korean people far more then nuclear weapons and power ever will or did. Based on the AP story it will likey play out like that or in a similar fashion.

Astana stablized

Filed under: Current / General, Sports permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 3:32 pm

Well Astana got some of their bills paid and it looks like they are cleared to ride the Tour De France now. The team also returned to wearing their normal jerseys (which openly show Astana on them). Full story at Velonews here.

5/29/2009

Scientology computers banned from Wiki changes

Filed under: News permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 7:31 pm

Wikipedia has moved to block the Church of Scientology from making changes due to all the changes / updates made by Scientologist computers Story at Fox News here

The IT Crowd

Filed under: News permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 7:23 pm

A friend of mine let me borrow his copy of the 3 seasons of the British Sitcom The IT Crowd. Gave it a watch and I like it. I am going to watch it over the next week or so, but if you are in the IT game (or if you run with IT crowd) then I think you will like it. It is British though, so be warned.

Not the way to go national

Filed under: News permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 11:41 am

This is not the way Knoxville needs to get national attention. Huffington Post story here

App Development sans Microsoft

Filed under: Current / General, Econ & Such, News, Technology permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 11:35 am

Google rolled out it’s Wave development package at a developers conference yesterday. This could mean real apps developed real easy for the web, and pull some users off of Windows (and Mac) based machinces and onto lower powered and more mobile devices like netbooks or smartphones. The big deal here is that it would break the control Microsoft has over many Office users and let them have rich app / web experiances without the expense of Redmond based software. Full bnet coverage here

5/22/2009

Apple’s Future

Filed under: Current / General, Misc, Technology permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 9:26 pm

Carmi Levy of TG Daily had a great post earlier this month and follow up earlier this week with some compelling arguments about how Apple will eventually need to work out some lower cost options if it going to continue to see it’s margins hold and attempt to make it’s OS viable. May favorite line follows –

Apple fans can look down their noses at PC bargain hunters all they want, but the truth is there are a lot more bargain hunters than fanboys with money to burn.

5/21/2009

Mustard Sauce Recipe

Filed under: Misc, Personal permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 12:34 am

Due to my love for Wok Hay I have been on a quest to find a good recipe for Hot Mustard Sauce. I found one at Recipe Goldmine and want to share it.

5/20/2009

A Bike Plan

Filed under: Current / General, Local, Personal permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 11:33 pm

Metropulse has a great post up about Kelly Segars who is tasked with developing a progressive / forward thinking bike plan for Knoxville. As a 30+ year cyclist in E TN I wish her the best and thank her in advance for her work. Any progress is appreciated, though I have to admit I have not had a beer bottle thrown at me for going too slow on Karns back roads for almost 10 years now…ah progress.

5/18/2009

“the Real Giro” is beginning

Filed under: News, Personal, Sports permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 2:26 pm

Well it seems that the real Giro is starting based on what Chris Horner and Lance Armstrong are saying, and seems that Astana teammate Levi Lepiheimer is positioned to try to take the pink. Velonews post here Time will tell and I will be reading all about it.

Office 2010

Filed under: Misc, News, Technology permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 10:19 am

Looks like Microsoft is going to be rolling out Office 2010 approximately the same time as Windows 7, no real surprise there honestly. Leaks of the new software are all over the web with screen shots, and tech testing versions of the new Office suite are available, after registration with Microsoft, in both 32 and 64 bit versions. The ribbon interface is still there, again no surprise. The much discussed jump list of Windows 7 is going to be in Office 2010. Overall, I see little to no reason to upgrade to Office 2010. There really are not any new features to discuss in Office 2010, just refinement of the interface and a few add ons that will not substantially improve the experience or productivity for the majority. Sure the jump list may help a bit, but overall I see little reason to spend several hundred dollars to upgrade.

5/10/2009

Happy Mother’s Day

Filed under: Current / General, Family, Personal, Photos / Images / Video permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 12:06 am

mothersday

5/9/2009

Microsoft vs EU

Filed under: Current / General, Misc, News, Technology permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 2:25 pm

Microsoft is now arguing that EU restrictions on their OS’s (which may require the inclusion of other browsers with Windows – Opera, Firefox, Chrome, Iron, etc) could do more to locked down Google’s search dominance then help browser competition. Microsoft argues that since Opera, Firefox, and Chrome / Iron default to Google for search that their inclusion in Windows would help Google reinforce it’s search dominance. Story at Reuters UK.

Calling Major Tom

Filed under: Current / General, Econ & Such, Physics, Science, Technology permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 2:15 pm

I was a bit late getting to my May edition of Fast Company, but once I got to it I found a great article about the future of landing aircraft. It seems that Honeywell is / has developed a system that can land a airplane – including jumbo jets – via GPS. This will be the first real move away from the 1930’s era radio / radar based system that is currently used. The system is 15 years behind and will likely be 15 more years before it is perfected. When / if it works though it could mean BILLIONS of dollars for airlines. Full story at Fastcompany.

The Red, White and Blue Giro

Filed under: Current / General, News, Personal, Sports permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 12:38 pm

Well the Giro d’Italia, the Tour of Italy, started today with a 20.5 kilometer (about 12.75 miles) Team Time Trail (TTT) stage along the beaches / shores of Venice. American team Columbia High Road (formerly T-mobile) took first and put their sprinter Mark Cavendish in the leaders pink jersey. Second place was taken by America’s Garmin-Slipstream team. Astana (formly USPS and Discovery and possibly soon the Livestrong team) with Lance Armstrong finished third. That is an amazing start for only three teams with strong US ties in Europe. Full story at US Today, AP, Cycling News, and target=”_blank”Velonews

Universal Sports will provide FREE Online and TV coverage daily from 8:30 – Noon EST day.

5/6/2009

Hands On with the Amazon Kindle DX – News and Analysis by PC

Filed under: News permalinktrackback — Dale @ 9:07 pm

Hands On with the Amazon Kindle DX

read more | digg story

Armstrong’s Giro Bikes

Filed under: Current / General, Misc, Personal, Sports permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 8:03 am

SuperTouch has pics and a story about Lance Armstrong Giro bikes. Both are one off’s done by artist. The TT bike is cool, and I would like the Yellow and Black one (the daily ride) more if it did not look like a Henai tattoo – more steampunk for me. Post here

4/27/2009

Popular or Unpopular Gadgets

Filed under: Current / General, Physics, Science, Technology permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 5:55 pm

The News Tribune has a really great piece discussing why some gadgets catch on (Ipod) and some do not (Segway), but focuses specifically on the Amazon’s Kindle.

Android NetBook

Filed under: Current / General, News, Technology permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 4:03 pm

CNET has a story up about a potential sub $250 Android based netbook.

4/23/2009

Value

Filed under: Current / General, Faith, Personal permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 2:17 pm

Recently a co-worker and I were talking and he told me about his baseball collection. He has some cards that are valued at over $600 each. He also told me about a few cars his father and brother own which they have restored and are valued at over $30,000 each though they themselves only have a few thousand in them. As he concluded he said something very profound though, regarding both the cards and cars, “They are only worth that if you find someone who is willing to pay you that.”

That is so true. The value of something is determined not by what someone says it is worth, but by what someone is willing to pay for it.

If a car is priced at $50,000 it is not worth that unless someone is willing to pay that. If no one paid $50,000 for a car then cars priced at $50,000 cars are not worth that and a lower price is determined. The reverse can be true as well. If a car is priced at $20,000 from the maker, but there is a huge demand for that model then the dealer can charge more for it and they will get it. Popular new model cars regularly sell for above list price.

Another quick example, athletic shoe companies can only get $200 for shoes when people are willing to pay $200 for shoes. The same can be said of fashionable shoes or clothing. When no one buys those items for $200, the shoes and/or clothes are then re-priced until they reach a point that people are willing to pay.
This same process is true for every item which is bought and sold, whether it is soda pop, baseball cards, computers, clothes, shoes or televisions. The price of something is determined not by what someone or some company says it is worth, but by what people are willing to pay for it.

So, value is determined not by the claimed or stated worth but by what someone will pay. That makes God’s sacrifice of His only Son Jesus for our lives even more amazing.

Though some may say they are extremely valuable, the truth is that society has little value for most people. Sure people that are close to us may say we are valuable to them, but the majority of society says that we are / were not worth much. Society as a whole puts little value on most people and their lives. However, God paid for our lives with the most valuable thing He had – His Son. That establishes us, and our lives, as been extremely valuable and precious to God. God’s act of sending Christ to earth to live and die for us establishes what we are truly worth and that is priceless and behind value.

Remember today that God considers you valuable and worthwhile. He loves you deeply and cares about you in amazing ways. He actively wants to be involved with you and your lives, and not just the big things but in everything. Seek Him out today and let Him show and tell you what you are worth.

4/22/2009

Praise You In This Storm

Filed under: Current / General, Faith, Personal permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 12:03 am

4/21/2009

Free Speech is dangerous and it should be

Filed under: Current / General, Faith, Family, History, News, Personal, Politics permalinktrackback — Team Swap @ 2:02 pm

Free Speech is a dangerous thing. It is dangerous to those that want to dominate and control others, and that is exactly why the founders of our nation were SO set on allowing it. Free speech is a danger to a controlling government. It is a danger to those that want to do harm to others and remain unchallenged. It is a danger to those that want to use the force of law and society to oppress their detractors. Free speech is a danger for all of those reasons and numerous others.

Speech is dangerous and it is powerful. It can condemn, it can inflame, it can agree, it can soothe, it can change things, and it can convince. When I see people who want to use it for their causes, but limit it for the causes of others or for those that oppose them it bothers me, regardless of which side I agree with.

Two current stories sum up my concerns with the free speech debate in the US at the moment.

First you have the Dept Homeland Security issuing a memo about the danger of those who disagree with illegal immigration, want to keep their guns, disagree with gay marriage, and do not like big government. The Thomas More Foundation is suing arguing the civil liberties of such citizens are being infringed on by the memo. Sure some people with those views are extremist, but so are some people that desire to open the borders, outlaw guns, the legalization of gay marriage, and the globalization of all countries under one government.

A suit citing civil liberties violations is the same tact previous taken previously when other groups felt they were being profiled or targeted. We will see if this case is handled or viewed in the same manner as previous ones. I do know that dissent was called patriotic during the Bush administration,, we will see if it is still so now. Regardless of how this suit goes, free speech is good for America, even if I don’t agree with what some are saying.

Continuing to look at this same issue. To paint people with such a broad brush is wrong and to categorize them as extreme for merely holding some common beliefs has a chilling effect on many people. Most people don’t want to be labeled as extreme for simply holding a viewpoint contrary to others. For most, it is simpler then for them to remain silent when they feel their views will be labelled inflammatory solely at the discretion of an authority. Allowing the labeling of people as extreme solely for holding a opposing or dissenting view to those in charge is wrong, regardless of who is in charge. Such broad labels has a chilling effect and reduces speech as fewer and fewer people want to be branded.

To label everyone with a certain view has a extremist is wrong regardless of what the view is. Every Muslim is not a terrorist. Every handgun owner is not a murderer. Every conservative is not a bigot. Every liberal is not a eco-terrorist. Every person for more government programs is not a socialist. Every person for lower taxes is not a person that is going to lead a armed revolt against government. Why we think it is good to oppose the speech of those that disagree with us is beyond me. At some point it is likely that the tables will turn and those attempting to oppress now will be the ones feeling oppressed later.

The other big story showing the nature of free speech in America at this time is the current fervor over Miss Califorinia (Carrie Prejean) telling Perez Hilton that she did not agree with gay marriage, though she began by saying she was glad she lived in a country where you could choose. It is largely assumed she lost the crown of Miss America for this answer. After the show, Mr Hilton called her names, has ranted, and such, has called her stupid, says she should have ducked the question, etc.

Yet he does not seem to understand that the very right of speech and opinion he is using to attack her is the same one she used to share her views. She has the right to not agree with gay marriage. It is not his place to determine her views. I am sure he would not want someone else telling him his views or calling him stupid for sharing his opinions, yet he seems to believe it is his right to control her views / actions.

What would Perez Hilton do if a conservative minister ask him if gay marriage should be legalized? He would say it should be legal. That is his view, his opinion and his right. If the conservative minister then went online and said Mr Hilton was stupid for his opinion, that he should have ducked the question because his view was not the view of the person asking the question and that he was simple minded then he would be outraged, and rightfully so.

Miss Prejean has not backed down and has not recanted her views. Maybe that is what is so different about her. She has not changed her stance to quieten her detractors. I respect that. I respect that when someone I disagree with does that as well, but when you start telling people how they should think and act I have a problem. If one side does not want their actions and views controlled they should not expect to control the actions and views of those that differ with them.

At the end of the day, I am for free speech because I am for freedom and liberty even if some use those things in ways I personally do not like. I know a few things for sure. First, Jesus loves us all. Secondly, that God has a plan in all of this. Third, God corrects those He loves, and fourth, that He lets us speak freely about His love and His way for everyone to hear. That does not mean that everyone will listen or even like what they hear when they listen. That is what makes free speech so vital. It is not about finding people that say what you like, but allowing those that differ in their views from you to speak as well.

As I said above, God loves everyone, but He also corrects. That is tough to hear at times when emotions (like politics, sexuality, etc) are involved. People tend to get caught up in the emotion of issues far more then the facts and the reality of situations.

Personally, I am for lower taxes, smaller government, controlled spending, and lots of individual freedoms (i.e. liberty and responsiblity). That does not mean I think every that differs with me is a pea brained automoton sent from the central government to control my every action and thought, though there may be some out there like that. Because I disagree with someone or some thought does not mean I want that person banished or that thought squashed. Debate, disagreement, and determined action is what shapes the future of any great nation or movement.

Personally I am not for gay marriage, but I don’t hate gays. I disagree with their lifestyle, but that does not mean I hate them. I assume they probably disagree with mine as well, but I assume they don’t hate me for it. To disagree with someone or something is not to hate them. I disagree with my wife, my family, my friends regularly, but I hate none of them.

So, as you go about your day think about what you are seeing and hearing both from those that agree and disagree with you and then think about if those people are actively trying to limit those that disagree with them. If they are they are doing a far greater disservice to themselves and their movement then they may even realize.

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