The Postmodernist

Forget old ideas on immigration?

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:21:45 +0000

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported on an effort of Sen. Lindsey Graham from SC and AZ state Sen. Russell Pearce are pushing to amend the Constitution over immigration.

Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform was quoted as saying: “We should not allow language from 1868 to enslave our thinking…in the 21st century.” Such being the case, Mr. Stein, let us throw out the entire US Constitution, since it is much older.

Robert Rizzo is a moron

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:20:15 +0000

L.A. Now quotes Robert Rizzo, city manager of Bell, California, as saying: “If that’s a number [$787,637 per annum] people choke on, maybe I’m in the wrong business. I could go into private business and make that money. This council has compensated me for the job I’ve done.”

Where, Rizzo? Where are you going to find a job like that in today’s economy? In California at that? After the greatly publicized disservice you have been doing to your city’s residents?

Rizzo goes on to say he is merely compensated for the job he does. Please. What job would that be? Your own governator doesn’t make that much; and even he refuses to take what little salary he’s offered.

Dear Obama: Hold us accountable, too

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:02:43 +0000

Jingle, jingle. “You’ve got mail!” From Obama to my inbox this evening. And I quote:

Because of Wall Street reform, we will ensure that Americans applying for a credit card, a mortgage, or a student loan will never again be asked to sign their name under pages of confusing fine print. We will crack down on abusive lending practices and make sure that lenders don’t cheat the system — and create a new watchdog to enforce these consumer protections.

Give me a break, Obama. If the fine print confuses you, then don’t sign your name, moron. Hold us accountable, too. A signature is powerful. Stop letting consumers renege. If you want to hold businesses to their word, hold the people that support them to theirs as well.

And what do you mean you will crack down on abusive lending practices? Do you mean to say the new laws you’ve put in place haven’t already done this? With what, then, did our Congressmen waste their time? And who will fund this new watchdog when my country’s budget is already bloated?

Please donate $5 today and help Organizing for America lay the groundwork for the fights ahead.

Oh, you expect me to finance this watchdog venture of yours? I can hold my own, thanks. I’m not even a Democrat and you want me to fund government expansion. I’ve had enough of Washington.

Continue reading "Dear Obama: Hold us accountable, too"

Repeal is Necessary: How "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Fails Us

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0000

What does our defense budget have in common with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”? The paper on which its written, and the fact that one might be vetoed thanks to the other. The legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is actually an amendment of H.R. 5136, a defense appropriations bill.

The fact is, this isn’t the most convoluted way one might introduce progressive legislation to Congress. But nonetheless, who knows when this will get around to passing the Senate. The President can promise repeal by the end of the year all he wants, but US Code is regulated by Congress. They hold the key to repealing DADT.

Someone remind me, how many years have we been talking about this? Our government must be the slowest on Earth. Our military can’t even stay ahead of fortune 100 companies. According to The State of the Workplace published by the Human Rights Campaign, even in 2008 a staggering 94% of fortune 100 companies had implemented sexual discrimination policies protecting GLBT employees.

Final thought: Many stories are surfacing about soldiers standing behind their outed GLBT peers. However, there are some not-so-friendly responses, as Skyler James can tell you. Our military personnel put their lives at risk to protect our country. At the very least, don’t they deserve the same protection any other employer would offer?

Apple: Connect This, You Tart

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:53:31 +0000

I used to be an avid fan of Apple, even though I didn’t own much of their hardware. The ideas behind the Mac user experience were great. Then MacOS was rehatched from open source software including user-space software from my all-time favorite environment: BSD.

Then came the super-hyped iPhone and user experience went out the window. It’s slavishly simple home screen with icons galore. It’s utter lack of support for multitasking (which, surprisingly, can even be found in the more typical not-so-smart phones).

And now iPad. Until today, I hadn’t realized the one thing that destroys the iPad, as I never cared to own one or even try one out. As Gizmodo’s Matt Buchanan points out, the experience of unpacking your new Apple pet is belittled by the requirement to connect the damn thing to a computer. I thought this was an Apple product; shouldn’t it just work?

XMPP Federation and ejabberd

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Sun, 30 May 2010 18:01:52 +0000

Lots of complaints are floating around the ‘net of problems with ejabberd federation and Google Talk. I finally solved my problem: IPv6 configuration.

To enable federation using DNS SRV records (as any XMPP admin should), you have to load DNS settings into Erlang. With ejabberd, this can be accomplished by the creation of /etc/ejabberd/inetrc with the following line:

{file, resolv, "/etc/resolv.conf"}.

Then add -kernel inetrc "/etc/ejabberd/inetrc" to the ejabberd command-line. However, if your resolve.conf only contains an IPv6 name server, like mine, you’ll want to create a separate file with an IPv4 server. I named the file /etc/resolve-v4.conf, and added a single IPv4 name server. Finally, I can add Google Talk users!

Comment on your area's outdated voting laws

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:06:43 +0000

All across the country, you’re certain to find antiquated voting laws that have failed the test of time. My home state of Kentucky is no exception. In addition to failing its independent voters in primary elections, one Kentucky law, KRS 117.227, permits the use of social security cards and even credit cards as valid identification of voters.

How does an election official detect voting fraud when presented with a social security card for identification? The card fails to identify its possessor by anything other than a name. Mere possession could simply mean the card is stolen. I, for one, wouldn’t give a random person my social security number, which is exactly what I would be doing by presenting it to an election official. The same is true for credit cards.

So tell me: What weird voting laws does your state or locality have?

Primary Elections: The Problem with Modern Politics

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:25:23 +0000

An Op-Ed piece published in the New York Times in March lays out an intriguing plan for election reform: Phil Keisling advocates abolishing party primaries. As an independent voter, I, myself, consider this a step in the right direction. Tomorrow, May 18, Kentucky will hold it’s primary elections, and I still can’t vote in any of them.

There are a slew of candidates up for Mayor of Louisville, most of which are Democrats. Although, by reading content published on their websites alone, you’d almost never guess. I knew Jim King is running as a Democrat thanks to his hateful direct mailings attacking Greg Fischer for donating to some Republican politicians. I pegged Fischer for a Republican because of this, until I looked at the list of mayoral candidates on Wikipedia.

Nor did I realize Tyler Allen was a Dem until glancing at the list either. For Democrat candidates, they sure don’t seem too keen on talking about their party affiliation on their campaign websites. This serves to underline my point…

The Party no longer matters to the mainstream. Keisling provides abysmal statistics to prove this very fact. Primary election voter turn-outs are incredibly low. The fact that Texans can celebrate a new state record of 16.5 percent turn-out becomes only more ludicrous when you realize it’s the state’s high. And 5 percent in New York? This is what decides our elections, folks.

Primary elections only serve partisan politics. So why are we still pushing primaries in a country whose citizens are frustrated at the notoriously deficient partisanship politics they produce?

I’d personally rather see Tyler Allen on the ballot than Greg Fischer, but if Fischer wins in the primary, it won’t matter. As an independent voter, next to none care what I think until November. A campaign volunteer stopped by the house the other day to speak to my other half only because he’s a registered Democrat. And all the direct mail sent to the house is addressed to him as well. I’ve received nothing, because in the world of party primaries, independent voters don’t matter.

Adieu to Sprint/Android 2.1 Critics

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:29:17 +0000

It’s hard to miss posts by several (supposed) Sprint and HTC customers angry over unsubstantiated rumors about release dates for Android 2.1 updates. Many posts threaten to switch to other carriers (notably to AT&T, thanks to the iPhone) if Android 2.1 isn’t released soon. I have two words for them.

Good riddance.

Official reports from Sprint and HTC have pegged the release within time frames that have yet to expire. Sprint announced 2010, early Q2 Twitter. While Sprint may have dropped the word “early” from its most recent update on Friday, it hasn’t officially reported a delay, and it is still the early half of Q2 at present.

I fail to understand the outrage expressed in many comments and articles about the Android 2.1 release time frame for Sprint. Most of them point to updated releases from Google following their purchase of an expensive piece of equipment. Early adopters know the risks they take. I certainly don’t buy an expensive device expecting it to be upgraded anytime soon.

The Hero isn’t the only device whose popularity appears to be suffering from negative press thanks to clearly unsubstantiated rumors. The Droid Eris on Verizon still has no update and neither do European devices. Time frames that have been officially announced have not expired.

If anyone is to blame, it almost certainly the ever rumor-centric technology media. Far too many posts in tech media are based on rumors leaked from supposed employees, including screenshots of internal memos. I hope these employees get fired. These companies no doubt have piles of applications from good people who desperately need a job; people who respect the rules and follow them, only to be downsized in a bad economy because of these and other controversies.

These leaks and memos are posted anonymously for a reason. They have never been intended for public consumption precisely because the information they contain is subject to change. Companies have strict media policies in place to protect their reputations. The public confusion that would ensue if any employee were free to divulge their often inconsistent interpretations of inside information would destroy the company’s reputation. And their profits. And their employees’ paychecks.

Meanwhile, users who threaten to switch to another carrier are apparently content to buy a product manufactured by a company that steps so far out on the bleeding edge with its first-generation products that high profile hype is met only with notoriously low standards post-release. One wonders if Apple even bothers to test its products prior to releasing them to the public.

So by all means. If you believe in hype over results, get an iPhone. The only thing wrong with Sprint and HTC is its failure to vigorously defend themselves. But perhaps Sprint and HTC feel they can put their resources to better use by making sure the Android 2.1 release actually works on their devices the first time ‘round.

Re: Crap from the Whitehouse

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Fri, 07 May 2010 23:55:48 +0000

Republican Response to the Worst Financial Meltdown since the Great Depression: “What, There’s a Problem?”

To find a press release with a title such as this on the web site of the House of Representatives is stunning. To think crap like this comes from the House! Then I scroll down the page and find “House Financial Services Committee, Democratic Staff” at the bottom. The staff listing has both Democratic and Republican membership according to the site, but apparently the Democrats think they run the show.

I’m sick of partisan politics. When will politicians start focusing more on what’s right for Americans and less on what’s agreeable to the party?

Paper Ballots Impede The "Other" Voters in Kentucky

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:55:46 +0000

A coworker whose desk is two seats down from mine was questioned today about his interview with CNN’s David Mattingly. I didn’t realize how involved in the community and the State he was. He is Michael P.W. Lewis (on Twitter, Facebook), also Chairman of Independent Kentucky. Started in 2008, Independent Kentucky was organized to give a voice to independent voters.

Kentucky is one of 17 states that has closed primary elections. Unless you are registered and affiliated with a particular party, you are unable to vote in any primary election. Lewis has testified before a Senate committee on how this system disenfranchises independent voters. According to Sarah Firebaugh, “he went on to state that in many local elections, only two Democrats are running for office, and therefore the election is decided in the primary.” She published a research article on Kentucky’s Independent Movement which is also available on Independent Kentucky’s web site.

But what does the opposition have to say? According to Firebaugh’s article, James Lewis, president of the Kentucky County Clerks Association, testified against Lewis’ view and claimed that some county clerks still use paper ballots and would have difficulty managing ballots from independent voters because they would not know how many ballots need to be printed.

That the process of printing ballots would impede progress for independent voters in Kentucky is simply inexcusable.

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The Now Network Now Runner Up while AT&T, T-Mobile Rival for Last Place

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:20:06 +0000

Sprint, the carrier of choice for Yours Truly, has eked out a number two rating, 14 points behind Verizon Wireless. Pretty good, I say, for a company that previously led last place amongst the same carriers two years ago. The Now Network is now Runner Up.

Meanwhile, AT&T has reached a pure achievement, as reported by Ars Technica: According to ChangeWave Research, AT&T and T-Mobile are tied for last place in a recent customer satisfaction survey.

How Fox Screwed the Pooch with Avatar on Blu-Ray

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:27:07 +0000

Recently, the big hit Avatar came out on Blu-ray Disc. Yours truly eagerly awaited its arrival, excited to watch it on a relatively new (December 2009) Sharp 52" LED TV. What a let-down. We ended up watching the DVD version just to save our sanity.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment screwed the pooch on this one. The long awaited release of Avatar on Blu-ray Disk doesn't work on many BD players. If you can get past the time it takes to load the disc (I did, with a firmware update), you're likely to run into problems with the chapter/time line/thumbnail popping up relentlessly. As stunning as the visual effects of Avatar may be, the incessant reminder of the chapter title and time line made the movie unwatchable.

There are a myriad of reports on the web. Google it. See the problem for yourself. Major flop, Fox.

Credit Cards and Merchant Violations

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:14:34 +0000

Credit Card consumers should take a moment to learn some not so well known facts about using credit cards. I’ve previously posted on the dangers of providing separate photo ID as a condition of charging on credit cards. Another little known fact is that merchants cannot set a minimum purchase amount for credit card transactions.

Yet today, I visit a local liquor store and upon presenting my card to buy a Bacardi Silver Mojito, the clerk tells me there’s a $5.00 minimum charge. I tell him no, there’s not, but my other half offers cash and saves me the hassle. I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it at that moment, anyway, as I just wanted to go home. Which is exactly what pissed me off even more—I shouldn’t have to make a big deal about this. Merchants should read their damned agreements and stop violating them.

Visa publishes a page on their web site, Ask Visa, and the third item under Popular Topics is Minimum Purchase. They have this to say about it.

Visa merchants are not permitted to establish minimum transaction amounts, even on sale items. They also are not permitted to charge a surcharge fee when you use your Visa card.

Learn about no surcharge laws in your state and if you run into any problem like this, please notify the financial institution that issued you your Visa card.

MasterCard has the same policy. They even have an online form to allow you to submit complaints to them.

How-To: Using ApacheDS to Publish PGP Keys

nospam@example.com (Aaron J) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:38:18 +0000

In 2006, Walter Haidinger posted a tutorial to the gnupg-users lists on using OpenLDAP as a PGP keyserver. The problem with OpenLDAP's access control is summed up nicely in his post.

Think twice before opening up anonymous writes, as any user who can connect to your LDAP server can not only upload but also delete keys.

Access control in OpenLDAP leaves much to be desired. ApacheDS, on the other hand, as a far more granular control mechanism and this works well for a public PGP keyserver. This article describes how to deploy a public PGP keyserver using ApacheDS, thanks to its access control system.

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