American Idol Karaoke Revolution

The ladies singing in front of Simon! Ah, the glorious XBox 360! I know it's a bad pic, but what do you expect from a cellphone... in the dark... at night...?

Well, It's Not Quite Star Trek...

...but I would pay the $200,000 (if I had it) in a heartbeat to go for a ride into space - if only for 4 1/2 minutes. I'm not a huge Richard Branson fan, but he's got the right idea when it comes to seeing tourism as a means to spur development in space travel. I figure, any guy who can actually put me a step closer to the childhood promise of living on the moon someday is alright in my book.

And while I'm all for private investment in spaceflight and believe that it will be the driving force in making things cheaper, I still believe that governments are the only entities capable of providing the amount of funding necessary for large, deep-space exploration missions that will ultimately be beneficial for all of us. Just think where we'd be without NASA... I mean, no Tang? That's not a world in which I'd want to live...

Man Arrested Near Capitol With Shotgun, Bow and Arrow, Samurai Sword!

And of course, I was right there. I took this picture after he was arrested. His car was a white Toyota 4Runner with Utah plates. It was being surrounded when I was there, and it appeared that the police had called for a tow truck, and not a bomb disposal unit. That was odd, considering that the cop I spoke to said the car had explosives inside (according to the barking dogs).

More on the breaking story HERE.

Go Ahead, THROW Your Vote Away! Choose McCain or Huckabee!

If you're a good republican, your first clue that you shouldn't vote for McCain or Huckabee should come from the mainstream media. They love those guys. The New York Times just looooves Huckabee, comparing his populist message to Reagan's. They also know that a Huckabee nomination would mean the end of the GOP. He's a weak candidate with a poor record and a penchant for crusading. And McCain? Why, he's a decorated war hero! What they don't mention is their knowledge of the fact that an old haggard like McCain has absolutely NO chance against a young Obama or Girl Power.

While I don't have any particular love for outspoken political columnist Ann Coulter, she sums the situation up very well with this statement (which, by the way, is pro-Romney, like me):

"I've been casually taking swipes at Mitt Romney for the past year based on the assumption that, in the end, Republicans would choose him as our nominee. My thinking was that Romney would be our nominee because he is manifestly the best candidate.

I had no idea that Republican voters in Iowa and New Hampshire planned to do absolutely zero research on the candidates and vote on the basis of random impulses.

Dear Republicans: Please do one-tenth as much research before casting a vote in a presidential election as you do before buying a new car.

One clue that Romney is our strongest candidate is the fact that Democrats keep viciously attacking him while expressing their deep respect for Mike Huckabee and John McCain."

I would suggest reading the FULL ARTICLE. But the point is that we should not be taking the advice of our sworn political enemies (NYTimes, MSNBC, Wolf Blitzer, etc.) when it comes to choosing a candidate. If the media is ever pleasant towards a Baptist Minister (Huckabee) or a pro-war Republican (McCain), you can be pretty sure there is a hidden agenda, because it never happens otherwise. In this case, the agenda is to give the weakest candidates the most press.

Why did Huckabee suddenly surge in Iowa? He would say it was his message, and that would be baloney. Huck's been on the same message for a year (more Jesus in government, legislation, etc.). So, it wasn't his message. He surged because of the fact that he got hundreds of hours of favorable media coverage for free, by CNN, MSNBC, ABC and CBS while the former front-runner in that state, Romney, had to pay millions for it. The media played the evangelical electorate in Iowa like an angel's harp, and they bought it like a televangelist healin'.

Romney is the the DNC's worst fear. He's intelligent, was popular in a liberal state, is conservative, articulate, a proven strong manager and leader, decent, and yes, good looking. He is the ONLY person who can beat Hillary or Obama in November. What about Giuliani? He's got a fair shot. But have you ever noticed that Giuliani's strongest moments come when he's discussing 9/11? On other subjects, he falls apart. His 9/11 leadership mystique will not carry him into the White House. Only someone who can hammer liberals can claim that prize. And that man, right now, is Mitt Romney.

If the press gives Romney half as much coverage they gave Huckabee (outside of the Mormon issue), you will see his numbers surge faster than the lines in Wal-Mart on the 1st of the month. He's good. Yes, that good.

Flat Stanley Visits the White House

See, we're not all about political diatribes, ranting and nerdspeak here at the Conservative Futurist! In fact, just yesterday my new friend, Flat Stanley, made a visit to the area. Being the playful guy that I am, I rewarded Mr. Stanley with a trip to the White House! You can see here how excited Flat was. I'm sure he'll have lots of stories when he returns home to his best friend Hope in Utah.

As you can see, Flat Stanley was having trouble standing still in the wind. So, my friend helped him stand up while I took the picture. He looks like he's having fun, doesn't he?

The Addiction Continues...

This time I beat Rock Band for the XBox 360.

In New Orleans. Again.

Things are still in bad shape down here. This is 5 miles from downtown.

Why Huckabee Has Ruined the Republican Party

Mike Huckabee is ruining the republican party. And what's worse, he's not even a real republican. Sure, he's a former preacher turned politician, and knows how to court those of faith (who typically tend to be republican). That's important, right - having faith? Normally, I'd tend to agree. But in Huckabee's case, he seems to be relying a little too much on the faith of his followers believing that he's a real conservative. Well, I have news for them - he's not. As The Wall Street Journal recently noted:

"But one wonders whether his newfound supporters would really say that if they took a close look at his policies. With increasing frequency, Mr. Huckabee invokes his faith when advocating greater government involvement in just about every aspect of American life. In doing so, Mr. Huckabee has actually answered the prayers of the religious left."

This is very concerning for the future of the republican party. A great portion of the religious right, a critical base element of the party is being duped just because this guy happens to speak their language.

While I agree with the religious right on many issues (close to 95%), I don't consider myself a part of that faction. Nor do I agree with the way they politicize their faith. As a Mormon, I have been unfairly treated by the other so-called Christians of this group who have ostracized members of my faith time and time again. It's funny that after complaining for so long that they have been marginalized by the left, been labeled kooks and wackos, this same group of religious right Christians is the quickest to do the same thing to Mormons - who are arguably one of the largest bodies of Christians who actually try to live like the the Savior did. But I digress. Needless to say, I have no love for the religious right.

Naturally, I am appalled at the level of blind support being given to Huckabee just because he "walks like a sheep and talks like lamb." One of my good friends who supports Huckabee was surprised to know that he supports a heavily expanded role of government. Again, I quote The Wall Street Journal:

As governor, he championed the ARKids First, which extended free health insurance not only to children of the working poor but to some lower middle-class families. He pleased teachers unions with his consistent opposition to school choice and voucher programs. He satisfied labor by signing into law a minimum-wage hike of 21%. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" -- Mr. Huckabee's oft-cited scriptural justification for growing government -- proved costly for Arkansans, who saw government spending double and their taxes rise about a half-billion dollars during his tenure.

This is blatant propagandizing. He knows exactly what to say to conservative republicans in a language they can understand and have a difficult time refuting (because of its religious context), and then turns around and governs like a liberal democrat. What gives, Mr. Huckabee?

Because of this duplicity, thousands of religious voters are voting for Huckabee just because "he's a good Christian." As a result, they are taking votes away from candidates who actually legislate like good Christians. Take Romney for example. Here is one of the most straight-forward conservative candidates in 20 years who actually has a chance. Yet, because he is Mormon, the religious right applies unfair pressure on him. They encourage people to "oppose the Mormon at all costs" (I got this quote from that same Born-again Christian friend). At what cost? The destruction of the only party that can counter the Godless nanny-state looming on the left?

And for those of the religious right who make abortion their clarion call for candidate support, and who would bash Romney for his past stance on leaving the states responsible for abortion legislation, Huckabee is no abortion saint either:

"In August, he told a group of Washington reporters that the application of his faith to politics must include concerns for the environment, poverty and hunger. "It can't just be about abortions and same-sex marriage," he said. "We can't ignore that there are kids every day in this country that literally don't have enough food and adequate drinking water in America."'

The votes that may have gone to Romney have now gone to Huckabee, causing both to lose in New Hampshire. We'll wind up with a left-centered republican nominee like Giuliani or McCain simply because the religious right was too blind to see that Huckabee wasn't even a true republican. And as a result, the GOP will likely lose in November. So, when Barack Hussein Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton is being sowrn in this November, we have nobody by the religious right to thank.

Thanks guys.

My Christmas Break

This is what I've been doing with myself over the Christmas break!

Ever Had One of THESE Days?

I rode the Metro this morning for 15 minutes - standing, no less - before I noticed that one of the greatest fears I never knew I had was finally realized. Yes, the picture is accurate. And yes, I spent the remaining 15 minutes of my Metro ride trying to hide one of my feet - lest my carefully sculpted fashion sense become disrupted in the eyes of others.

Folks, today I have (literally) stumbled upon a new low. I mean, I've left the house once or twice wearing mismatched socks (seriously, no more than twice in my life), but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would EVER mismatch my SHOES!

Seriously, aside from those who may be mentally challenged, who walks out of the house wearing a different shoe on each foot?! Apparently, I do. And I'm thinking it may be time for me to get a MRI scan of my noggin, because something is definitely not right upstairs.

"How did this happen?" It's what I've been asking myself all morning. Well, I have an idea. My wife decided to have one of her friends organize our house this weekend (she has a business called Dutch Girl Organizing). She did an awesome job, I must say, and I hardly recognize our bedroom... However, somewhere in the process, the carefully managed chaos that is our shoe closet had suddenly become, well, organized! Well, in the beautification process, someone.... (I'm not naming names but she's hot and is my wife) paired up the wrong black shoes. So this morning in my haste, I grabbed 'em both, put 'em on and walked out.

Ultimately, I have no one to blame but myself... I mean, who doesn't pay attention to what goes on their feet? I did have to tie the stupid things... you'd think I would have figured it out then. Or, if not at home, then at least when I walked outside and noticed that one shoe clacked when I walked (hard bottom) and the other was silent (rubber sole). But no, I was too immersed in my mp3s... Ugh.

So if you notice an otherwise professional looking guy on the Metro today after work who just happens to look like he walked out of a homeless shelter from the ankles down... please, go easy on him!

RAZR2 is a Horrible Waste of a Phone

I really wanted to love the Motorola RAZR2 (V9), I really did. I even went out and bought one with the hope that I could overcome some of the bad reviews I had been reading. "It can't be that bad," I told myself. Well, I was wrong. I just got back form the store where I bought it and asked for a full refund. I've never been more disappointed in a phone. But before I really begin ripping into it, let me share with you the good things first.

It's a beautiful phone. There is no denying that. When you hold it in your hand, it feels solid and elegant. It's a sexy device. Unfortunately, that's all it is.

First, the software absolutely sucks. I've had Motorola's off and on for 7 years, and in that time there has been no significant improvement in their software. People have complained about how slow it has been in the past, so Motorola addressed this by putting in a super-fast processor in the phone - 500mhz (roughly equivalent to an old Pentium II). But in the shortsighted tradition in which Motorola excels, they didn't provide the phone with a battery to meet the new chip's power consumption. The result? I was charging my phone twice a day. It would literally die after 4 hours of off-and-on texting (My Samsung SYNC can go for days). I swapped the phone thinking it may have been defective (because I have never seen a battery go so quickly), but the exchanged phone did the same thing. This was my biggest complaint. There is no way I would feel comfortable taking that phone on a trip for more than a few hours without a charger. No way.

The other problems are idiotic oversights by Motorola that add up to make this phone a bear to use. For one, the phone has a beautiful, huge outer LCD screen that is as clear as the internal screen. The reviews said you could check your texts from there and do all kinds of things without even opening your phone! Well, maybe. AT&T's version only lets you play music from the outer screen. So when you get a text, you get a giant message saying "Message Received," but you have to open the phone and retrieve it to read it.

Another thing is that the center button doesn't select things that common sense says should be a no-brainer. For example, when you open to the phone to read a text - the center button doesn't open the message. You have to click one of the soft buttons to "read" it. That's just lame. There are little annoyances like that throughout the software that drive you crazy.

AS for the keypad. It's total garbage. It's not the solid etched metal of the first generation RAZR. It's etched plastic, and you'll be hard pressed (pardon the pun) to consistently send texts without fat-fingering the 7 and 9 keys. I can't believe that for this price, Motorola couldn't put something solid in there like they did in 2004. The keypad on this thing is abysmal.

The bottom line is that this phone is not worth anything close to the $300 AT&T is charging for new contract customers. And anyone who pays the standard $500 price for it is an idiot. There are SO many phones that deliver much, much more for less money and less of a headache. Granted, this phone looks stunning... but anyone who thinks it is anything more than that is kidding themselves.

Don't buy it!

The Tree is Lit!

I can't believe it has been a year. It seems like just yesterday that I was cleaning sap off my hands and arms, putting up our family Christmas Tree! We had the same arguments... Her, "Honey, you're putting up the lights wrong!" And me, "Well, you're hanging the ornaments too far on the end of the branches!" Ah yes, Yule Tide Cheer!

Anyway, here is a picture of the fruits of our labor. We made it though the ordeal, stronger for the wear... and one step closer to taking the plunge and buying a fake tree (although I still swear it will never happen as long as I continue to draw breath!).

Merry Christmas.

Pictures from London & Paris

We made it back from our week-long Thanksgiving trip to Europe. I won't give a full travelogue of the journey since my wife did a good job of doing that on her blog. But I will post a few pictures and give you all a brief overview.

The weather was fantastic - relatively speaking. We had no rain during the day, and it was only overcast in the morning. The temperature was cold, but that just made walking around the city easier. We spent the first 2 days in London exploring the city, then rented a car for the next 2 days to explore the countryside. The 5th day was spent in Paris. We got up early that day and rode the Eurostar (in first class, mind you) high-speed train (200mph) from London to Paris in 2 hours. We came back to London late that night. The last day was spent in London before heading home to the States.

Overall, I'd say it was a perfect trip! Even my first experience driving a right-sided car on the left side of the road went well. Of course, it helped that Hertz upgraded us from a Toyota Prius (hey, gas is $12 a gallon there) to a diesel Volvo S80. We drove in style. I only ran over one curb, and it was only an inch high! But man, driving on the other side of the road is truly an experience. It is not for the faint of heart - especially when you're learning in central London traffic! Thankfully, none of us died.

This was my first trip to the UK since living there as a kid in 1984, so it was a really special (I hate using that word, but it was) experience for me. It was also my first time in Europe since 1998 when I visited Denmark and Sweden with my Dad and sister.

If you have questions about any of the pictures... just post them below. Enjoy!

On Our Way to London

On the 777. Wish it could be first class this time.

Dumb, Stupid, Moronic Drivers!

Considering I used to be the champion of berating idiotic drivers, I'm surprised that this is the first time I've decided to post something about the subject in my 3 years of writing this blog. But this article set me off today. According to the research, an estimated 36 million drivers would fail a driving test.

I can't say I'm surprised... DC and Virginia are in the bottom percentile. I've been saying that for years. The idiocy here is unmatched anywhere in the world. And, I'm not talking about crazy drivers... I'm talking about the moronic ones (and no, they are not one in the same). Let me explain:

To call someone a "crazy" driver is purely subjective. One person who may be too timid to drive above 55mph might consider someone who drives 65mph a crazy driver. By the same token, someone who feels comfortable taking a corner at higher speeds may be considered crazy by a mom in her minivan who is taking the curve more slowly. Such a driver is not necessarily an idiot (although, there are idiots who drive too fast for conditions, and that's a different issue), he is merely comfortable driving at a faster pace. Such drivers actually tend to be more alert on the road, as they are constantly looking out for slower cars, police radar traps and the like.

An "idiotic" or "dumb" driver, on the other hand, is completely oblivious to his surroundings. You'll usually find these people occupying the fast lane when they are not passing other cars (the law states that the left lane is for passing only); failing to turn left at intersections where the light turns red while they are next in line to turn; driving with their brake lights on; blocking intersections; driving too slow for conditions (when everyone around them is going faster); or my favorite - people don't know how to merge into traffic without stopping. You get the picture.

So in the article, it points out how people don't know that you're supposed to stop when the light turns yellow (if it's safe), when to properly signal, etc., and it suggests some kind of national driving standard. Let me just say that I'm all for this idea - as long as it doesn't supersede the rights of the states to make their own driving laws and requirements. But clearly, there is a need for a minimum level of uniformity.

In the meantime, I've always been an advocate for increased driver education and more stringent requirements on drivers' tests. And of course, part of that includes a mandatory basic understanding of the English language!

Tired of Being Sick

Yes, another blog post about being sick. I know... I can't believe it either. It's the 3rd time I've been sick since July - and each cold has been special in its own little way. This particular cold started off pretty mild. I had some sniffles and an itchy nose last Wednesday. By Thursday, I knew I was definitely sick and elected to stay home from work. From my last 3 bouts, I've really come to believe in getting proper rest when sick.

When Friday came, I stayed home from work again. By this time my throat was feeling a little sore. Later that night, my throat was dry, and really itchy. Saturday I felt fine, and thought I was getting better until Sunday arrived. That's when I got hit by the monster truck - a really dry, hoarse cough developed that was really painful in my chest, along with a pretty bad sore throat and all of the accompanying aches and pains of being sick. By Sunday night, my voice was completely gone. Monday I felt sick again, voice still gone... and another day of missed work.

On Tuesday I finally mustered up the strength to go back to work. My voice sounded like a 12 year old boy hitting puberty, but was understandable. Now I sit here, Thursday night, voice almost 100% back and feeling pretty good - except for this darn cough. My throat is pretty raw from all of the coughing, but it's going away. Oddly, other than the first day, this cold never affected my upper respiratory tract. That means that my ears were unaffected, and thus, unplugged, the entire time. Those of you familiar with my blog should know how happy that makes me. Although, I'm still a little paranoid they will plug up (as they sometimes do days after a cold) right in time for my flight to London next week. If that happens, expect more ranting.

I know this stuff probably doesn't interest you. After all, many of you come here for my political ranting and technology reviewing (mixed with the occasional personal posts and pictures). To you, let me say that this particular post is mainly for me. Since for whatever reason I seem to be getting sick more often, it's nice to go back over my posts and know exactly when my last suffering took place. Also, I get a lot of hits on this page from people looking for ways to get over their own plugged up ears. To you, I say visit my old posts here.

By the way, I'm pretty sure I had this. I'm serious.

Thanks for reading my rant! Let's hope I'm perfectly well for my vacation next week!

Dear Hollywood Writers: Get Over Yourselves

Dear Writers Guild of America:

Enough already. Throw in the towel. Know when to quit. Get back to work. And please understand, I don't say this because I hate unions (I do), or because I think you're not getting your fair share (you probably aren't), I'm simply saying "get over yourselves" because this particular strike isn't benefiting anyone - least of all, you.

I know you have every right to seek more money for what you earn. That's a principle as old as this country. But keep in mind, the producers are also in it to earn a buck. What you fight for is also a deduction from their bottom line, so don't expect to claim the side of moral superiority. You all want money. Big deal. Who doesn't? But know that there is a time to fight for largess, and a time to suck it up and be thankful you have a job at all. Now is a time to reflect on the latter.

It's not like television has a steady stream of classics keeping it alive right now. Viewership is at an all time low. Advertisers are abandoning the networks in droves in favor of Internet-based media. The decades-old reign of the boob tube is coming to a close, and if you don't recognize that, you're not worth the paper you're writing on (which, in green Hollywood, is saying a lot).

Yes, I love shows like The Office and Journeyman. But you know, once they go off the air due to a lack of written material, I'm likely to find other things on which to spend my time. My DVR is already loaded with shows I'd like to watch... maybe I'll find something new. After all, I don't need your product. In fact, a reasonable argument can be made that the world would actually benefit from less television watching. In fact, I'm sure that argument has been made. My mom argued to that effect many times during my childhood as I religiously watched Knight Rider and Star Trek. But I digress.

The bottom line is that viewer loyalty to any particular program only goes so far these days. And as I mentioned, there is quality programming out there... but it is dwarfed by the tons of crap that is being written, by you, on a daily basis. So, the level of empathy I feel for your cause is somewhere around the level I might feel towards a striking tobacco salesman whining that his numbers are down. Get over yourself, I'd say. People know crap when they see it.

And as for the Hollywood actors that are paying your bills in support and sending pizza to your picket lines... they can get over themselves, too. Does anyone take their hypocrisy seriously anymore? Oh, and to the bloggers going on a sympathy strike: You're just opportunistic and pandering idiots.

Sincerely,

A concerned viewer (The Conservative Futurist)

The Pakinstani Problem

In response to those news organizations lamenting the loss of stability in Pakistan... I hate to break it to you, but Pakistan has never been stable. In fact, it's ironic that Musharraf's dictatorship has been a beacon of stability when contrasted with Bhutto's old (and extremely corrupt) government.

Stability notwithstanding, Musharraf has made a poor move in declaring this state of emergency. He has essentially thumbed his noses at American and British support, without which he (and thus, Pakistan) doesn't stand a chance financially. However, his move, no matter how poor, has a certain amount of (madman's) logic to it. Masharraf had no other choice if he wanted to remain in power. And it seems, despite his platitudes to the contrary, that it is power he wants. He couldn't accept the Pakistani judiciary's looming opinion that he relinquish his military role if he wants to be President, because he would suddenly be vulnerable to Islamic extremists who have been trying to kill him for years. Without the military, he cannot enforce the high level of protection he has been affording himself.

Also, without the military, Musharraf cannot stop the swelling of support for Bhutto now that she's returned from her self-imposed exile. And while I have no love for Musharraf's dictatorship, I have even less love for criminals like Bhutto, who are blindly given support just because she claims to embrace democracy. Given the media coverage, you'd think that she was the savior of the middle east. In fact, it was largely because of her corruption that Pakistani madman and nuclear scientist, A.Q. Khan, was able to sell Pakistan's nuclear secrets to a half dozen rogue nations from Venezuela to Iran.

However, despite the alarm raised by the press, nothing has really changed in Pakistan. Musharraf is still the dictator and the government is still in control of Pakistani's nuclear arsenal (the latter point is a good thing). He will, eventually, have to face the music for going back on his promise of letting go of some power in the form of a likely drawback of US and British financial support. This may force him to relinquish his military title while remaining President, or it may not. If his goal is to remain in power, then this is his best bet. So, why go through the motions of declaring this state of emergency? Well, he may be sending a message to India that he still retains control. Remember, it is in India's best interest that Pakistan's government remains stable - and that means more Musharraf.

The US is in a tough spot, because we also recognize the level of stability under this dictatorship (and in a sense, rely on it). However, we have a problem of hypocrisy to deal with: namely, that we ousted one man (Saddam Hussein) because he was a tyrant, while we support another (again, it is in our best interest to keep Pakistan stable - not only because of the nukes, but because Musharraf has given the US more support in its war against Islamic fascism than any other Pakistani leader). So, we have to condemn his actions, and Congress may vote to reduce our financial support... but in the end, he'll still be President - albeit, one with further-weakened credibility. And, that's not good for anyone. Especially Musharraf.

Today is Gorgeous

Wakefield Park, Annandale, VA

Fall is Here

And it feels like I'm coming down with a cold, to boot. My lungs are ready to explode on today's ride!