Disqus - Latest Comments for Mike

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:32:00 -0000

If you use Firefox, Performancing (www.performancing.com) makes a pretty decent blog editor. It does the Technorati tags for sure. I don't use images that often, but the image interface seems easy to me. Click on the image button, enter the URL. It evens gives an option to do FTP uploads in the interface. It's free and works right in Firefox and supports people that maintain multiple blogs and works with several types of blogs, including blogger.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:28:00 -0000

I bet Google would shut up pretty quickly if they started hearing switch to saying they were going to Yahoo it. I'm kind of getting sick of the sites that seem to pop to the top of Google's results when I yahoo for information at google.com. Maybe I need to spend a little time Yahoo'ing somewhere else to check out the competition again.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:43:00 -0000

If you think it is hard to read Gillmor's saga first hand, try reading about it from a second hand source :)

Here's to hoping that the end is in sight.

I think you need another big series like the Web 2.0 wars. Since I know you are a big fan of supporting the little guys, maybe you could pick a bunch of your favorite little guy blogs and little them battle it out in a similar fashion. That would probably get you some big time web kudo brownie points.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/08/why-you-need-terabyte-hard-drive.shtml

Mike — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:28:00 -0000

I read that and was confused. Just this weekend I saw an ad in best buy for a 1TB drive. I figured I was dreaming it, so I went to find the link.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7714128&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat33200050002&id=1138086674211

I think that would be really nice, but if I ever get around to unpartition my hard drive, that will free up enough space to keep me going for a while.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/08/why-you-need-terabyte-hard-drive.shtml

Mike — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:29:00 -0000

Well, Blogger ate the link, so if you go to best buy and search for this:
G01W010

You should find it.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:15:00 -0000

Your bloglines hasn't been updating for me either. That seems like a weird problem, but it might be something specific to bloglines with some of the trouble they are having. You should try doing a post the old way and see if bloglines picks up that one.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:12:00 -0000

What if I write a bunch of blog content on paper, pass it around and have people write notes on it? Would Microsoft count that as a blog? These discussions always amuse me. I like to call the junk I write on the internet "my website." Seems easier to me. Plus, just saying the word Blog out loud makes me feel ridiculous.

It seems Scoble's site is having the same update problems that you are by the way. Neither one of you are showing no posts in my bloglines account. If I list stuff over the last X number of Units, I see everything. Odd.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:43:00 -0000

Aren't ABC, CBS, Fox, etc all pretty much sponsored by ads? And isn't that pretty much the same for Clear Channel and the rest of FM/AM radio? I see your concern with weebstart ups buying ads to get people to come to their site to click on ads. That is a bad trend in general. But, it seems like Pontiac, Ford and all the other "real companies" are starting to buy into online advertising. That seems like it would greatly diversify and strengthen the income pool for the Google's and Yahoo's of the world.

As for the Web 2.0 companies whose only hope for money is Adsense, YPN and the eventual buyout from another bigger company, does their success or failure have anything more significant hanging in the balance than how long the phrase Web 2.0 exists? I guess we'll find out in the next couple years when we see how many real companies are using online ads and what percentage of their ad budget is put online.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:35:00 -0000

I really like these daily links you provide. I disagree with Marc about Google and was able to tell him in his comments.

Keep them coming.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:06:00 -0000

From the CBS article about survivor:
"Last season, the show divided contestants into groups of older men, younger men, older women and younger women."

Why exactly is this okay, funny, edgy and entertaining, but dividing by race is not okay?

I heard on some radio show that Rush Limbaugh was all fired up about this. I found the website where he talks about the show:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_082306/content/rush_on_a_roll.guest.html

Funny stuff listening to him make the stereotype generalizations while trying to decide which tribe has the advantage and why the Native Americans are not included.

Next season, I'm hoping they devide the tribes by amount of education. Oh wait, Trump already did that.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:34:00 -0000

The limited success we have had with getting them to listen to more grown up stuff is to make it as high energy as possible and let them jump on the couch while listening to it.

Kids do not listen for the impressive musicianship. They listen for the happy vibe. Our kids love "Who Let the Dogs Out"...our bouncing couch (the one in the basement) is not quite as big of a fan.

It would be interesting to read a study that researched when kids switch from prefering the happy, perky music to the moody, angst music. I'm guessing their is probably some kind of hormone switch when kids start thinking Kurt Cobain is cool.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/08/9-thoughts-about-9-thoughts.shtml

Mike — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 01:05:00 -0000

Kent,

Two quick comments and then I'm going to bed.

1) Your google ads sucked. I accidentally noticed them the day I emailed you about them. You can't bury them in the basement next to the jaguar and expect people to find them. I bet if you got even slightly more aggressive with the placement, you would have seen a lot more clicks, maybe not enough to get you rich, but enough to take your kids to a movie now and then. Maybe more depending on how much traffic you get.

I only get between 50-150 pageviews a day across 4 blogs and I am getting really close to making enough to pay my hosting bill. And that's with the blogs being new and getting very little search engine traffic.

2) The Blogosphere is not necessarily about open 2 way conversations. If you went to a bar with a bunch of friends and were having a good time, would you be annoyed if some guy who happened to like what you were talking about decided he wanted to talk to you. Cliques are normal things. Big deal. The people you complain about not being friendly with their links are the movie stars of the little blog world. Tom Cruise probably doesn't respond to every email he gets. I don't imagine that Scoble, Seth, etc are going to have the time and inclination to do it either.

I really like that law of diminishing share concept. I bet that when this whole blogging/online persona thing really hits the mainstream it is going to hit the long/short tail in ways that we can't even begin to imagine yet. As well as our definitions of who the trend setters are. I bet a lot of nobodies from nowhere are going to be a lot more influential as the rest of the world gets more interactive in the internet/blogging/podcast/vcast world. Should be fun to watch.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:12:00 -0000

I would invite the distuptive and abusive people without a doubt. Prestigious events are always so boring without somebody being willing to be an ass. Somebody needs to spike the punch.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 08:52:00 -0000

"I am perfectly fine with the fact that rich people belong to exclusive country clubs, at least until they wave that fact in my face over and over. At that point the value of the club is not that they are in it, but that I am not."

Kent, is anybody waving the fact they are on the invite list in your face? Or are they just ignoring you?

I could see being upset if they continuously wrote things about how they offered you an invite and when you said yes, they said...Oh wait we meant Kent Newsome in Muncie, IN...hahaha. That would be bad.

But, if they are just ignoring you, that's a different thing.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 06:33:00 -0000

Funny timing. I started using StumbleUpon again yesterday for just the same reason. I figure if I spend a little time blindly surfing the internet about topics I like, I might find a few new things I like to read.

I'm not 100% sold. I seem to land on a lot of product sales pages, but I did find a few new blogs of interest yesterday.

Also, movies on a phone might be a "dumb" idea, but I bet a ton of people will use it. The video iPod phenomenon seems to be catching on. And, kids who are growing up watching videos everytime they get in the car are not going to be content to not be able to watch videos when they are sitting at a park or waiting for the bus.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/09/down-to-999999.shtml

Mike — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 17:56:00 -0000

I always amazed when I hear the performance argument. Firefox hardly ever crashes on me. Like maybe once every couple months. Firefox very rarely has a memory "leak" on me unless I forget and open way too many tabs. If I opened up that many IE windows it would take up too much memory, too.

I always wonder what kind of things people are doing with Firefox to make it cause problems. I'm guessing that they are installing an extension that is causing the problems and if they got rid of the bad extension it would fix the problem.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:07:00 -0000

I just had an idea on how to fix this whole underage problem. Kent, you were on to it when you were talking about underage people buying beer in the 70s. We should sell membership cards at places that sell cigarettes and liquor. They are used to carding. Then to buy the membership card to myspace, xanga, etc, etc you have to show your ID. The membership card will have a lottery scratch type area with a secret code that needs to be entered when you sign up to the site. Charge a couple of bucks for the card, most of which would go straight to the retailer as a way for paying them for being your security police.

If it is good enough security for smokes and drinks, it should be good enough for talking online.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/09/morning-reading-91306.shtml

Mike — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 10:47:00 -0000

No. I have no concern about anything Apple really either. I use iTunes to buy the very small amount of music that I buy these days and that is the end of my Apple experience.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 10:18:00 -0000

I have trouble taking much that myspace is trying to do seriously when I see the type of ads that show up on their site. They just don't instill old fashioned values.

I think the best thing myspace could do to tighten up security is to open a bunch of stores in the hallways of malls. Then people could sign up for myspace face to face and if you are a minor, your parent has to come with.

It works for cigarettes and beer, why not myspace?

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:38:00 -0000

The good news is that it should open up the market for somebody to become the new Facebook.

Anybody wanna do a little web design?

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/09/morning-reading-92806.shtml

Mike — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:35:00 -0000

I'm wondering what will happen to the value of Myspace when the number of accounts exceeds the number of people on the planet.

We'll probably assume that aliens are into our social media and the advertising dollars will really pour in to reach this new expanding market.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:08:00 -0000

You've mentioned the spam thing a couple times recently. First with payperpost blogs and then with myspace.

In both of these instances, the reader has to opt in. Either by typing in the URL or by accepting the company as their friend.

Isn't SPAM about the companies making unwanted contact? Now I guess if the companies run around myspace asking everybody to be their friend, that could be considered a form of SPAM. But, if they just hang out there and let people come to them, is that really bad?

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:42:00 -0000

Sure, that would be a breach of trust if somebody did payperpost without disclosing it.

But, when you find out, you unsubscribe and the problem goes away. Try unsubscribing to one of those spam emails someday and see what happens.

When I hung out with Scoble and crew when he was in Chicago the other day, they all seemed pretty big on companies setting up shop in places like MySpace and Second Life. But, the way they were talking about it made it sound more like Pepsi setting up an official Pepsi myspace account and an official store in Second Life. And then try to make them cool enough to wear people want to hang around there on purpose. Nothing sneaky.

Let's hope most companies go that route.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/11/morning-reading-11607.shtml

Mike — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:22:00 -0000

Our daughter was a red ghost. With a red firehat, red sunglasses, red necklace with Little Clifford (who happens to be red) dangling from it, and red high top Chuck Taylors.

She's almost 4 and thought it up herself.

Last year she wanted to be a cowboy.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:18:00 -0000

What this?!? A company with a real kind of business model where customers give them money for services?!?

Has Web3.0 started already?

Speaking of cool sites, have you heard of Threadless (http://www.threadless.com)?

They let customers submit t-shirt designs. Then all the other customers vote on their favorites and that is how the company picks which t-shirts to produce. I saw them profiled on a local news things. Two twenty-something looking guys based out of Chicago. They are making millions a year in sales and it sounds like quite a bit in actual profit.

You should do one of these kind of reviews for them.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:43:00 -0000

Good to see you back.

Regarding
#2) Seriously. I use Linux frequently. And I'm a consultant which means that I see it at a lot of different companies. But, I mostly do Unix type things, so finding Linux is a pretty natural switch for some situations.

#9) If I'm not mistaken, Vista only launched for businesses and won't release for home use until early next year. And, for the record, I won't be moving anytime soon. I'll probably find a way to convince my wife to move to Mac or Linux instead. No real reason other than I'm ready for a change of pace.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/04/google-gets-clear-access-to-airwaves.shtml

Mike — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:12:00 -0000

Google is entering some very conflict of interesting areas it seems to me. I was just reading about Matt Cutt saying that they are trying to figure out how to track down all of the sites selling text link ads for page rank purposes. Funny that the king of all web advertising companies would care about this. It also seems funny to think of the conflict between providing "pure, best interest for the searches" search results and then allowing paid ads to be mixed into it in any way.

Now they head out into other areas. I would probably feel more comfortable if they separated their search and ad companies into different companies.

When are baby is born in October, I'm thinking of naming him/her Google or GBaby or something that Google might want to buy the rights to.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:05:00 -0000

If I ever figure out why Twitter is so cool and sign up, you'll be the first person I let know.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:52:00 -0000

I decided to take the plunge. I'm beagooddad and you are my friend.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:55:00 -0000

Kent,
Can you change that font size in using your browser? For example, on Firefox, View -> Text Size -> Increase or does that not work with the Ajaxy stuff?

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:47:00 -0000

About the only stuff I plan to watch on TV anymore are the Thursday shows. The rest I wait for DVD. I loved being able to go through 4 episodes of Prison Break without commercials in one night. And with any real drama, commercials just destroy the pace and tension anyway.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:17:00 -0000

I switched from ESPN to Yahoo Sports because ESPN is just out of control with all the junk they put on the main page. Recently, though, Yahoo seems to be heading that direction, too.

I also use Reddit instead of any of the others because it loads so much quicker. It will be interesting to see how cluttered they end up now that they are starting to do advertising there.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:20:00 -0000

I've got one tip for increasing traffic. It's free and directed specifically toward you and your blog. Don't disappear for 3 months. :)

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/05/different-kind-of-relativity-lesson.shtml

Mike — Fri, 11 May 2007 08:37:00 -0000

I haven't used it since I reinstalled everything on the computer, but they have a firefox plugin that lets you very easily fill out those forms by (if I remember correctly) right clicking and selecting BugMeNot...or something really friendly like that.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:52:00 -0000

I've done a few contests and they without fail bombed. I just don't have the traffic or the right viewers or something. I would say that there are probably a million things to do before getting around to a contest. My 2 cents.

Getting to WordPress would be great. I promise to announce your move on one of my blogs when you do.

I've even read some stuff recently about how much easier it is getting. I think http://www.quickonlinetips.com/ has talked about moving from blogger to wordpress a few times.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:55:00 -0000

I forgot to mention that I agree with the 75 posts being good for growth. Everytime I've had a good growth spurt, that's about what I was posting. 2-3 times a day. Short to medium (400-800 word) type of things.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:06:00 -0000

We got rid of our Yellow Pages a few months back and just look up everything online. That should start making the small businesses realize that they need to make sure they are findable in Google, etc.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/05/youtube-killerarrgg-i-say.shtml

Mike — Sun, 20 May 2007 10:18:00 -0000

I think there are already several that are paying out some of the ad revenue, barbidoll31, but I don't see that being the key. If it starts to threaten YouTube, they will do the same.

To kill YouTube, you have to make something else seem cooler somehow.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Wed, 23 May 2007 21:56:00 -0000

Re #3:I spent the last 8 years stariting entry level and climbing the ladder in my little IT field. Over the last year, I have finally realized that I can not climb higher without the career taking more of my life than I am willing to give at this stage of my life.

So now I spend the next however long plugging away at projects and trying to keep clients happy while getting as much time as possible to be home with my family. Most of the time it turns out to be a really nice balance...but it took me several months and a couple bad projects and a lot of feeling disgruntled without knowing why before I realized that my current work status is as much as I want for now. Work has been much more fun again the last couple months.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:10:00 -0000

It's all about the community. It makes it easy for people to find each other/message each other/post pictures, etc. Plus it is free and there is no maintenance needed. You just type up a profile and can start connecting with people instantly. All of the features work the same way for everybody.

The cool factor goes a long way, too. If all your friends are hanging out at the mall, you are not going to want to hang out at the shack you built in your back yard.

That's my guess anyway. I don't use them.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 25 May 2007 21:16:00 -0000

This is such a cool concept. It will be very interesting to see the final list. You'll also have to keep track of how many blogs get multiple votes and stuff like that. I'll try to get you my list sometime this weekend.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 29 May 2007 13:10:00 -0000

Kent,
Here are my 4.

http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org/ - Our son has autism and reading this woman's blog is just shockingly insightful about the inner workings of somebody with autism. The stuff she expresses would never end up reaching my ears unless she were lucky enough to get a book deal. Go Blogs!

http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/ - A published author who talks about what he thinks authors need to do to help their own careers. He challenges authors by telling them they need to do a lot of work that a lot of wannabe authors are not interested in doing. Plus he lives within 30 minutes of my house and his books are set in Chicago so I recognize a lot of the locations he talks about.

http://bonniestaring.blogspot.com/ - A friend I made online that I don't even know where I found her. She makes me laugh.

http://strugglingwriter.wordpress.com/ - Another person I have been following for a while that I don't know where we met.

I subscribe to and skim a ton of blogs, but these are the people that I really enjoy for showing me insider information (in the case of the first two) or that I would make sure I kept in touch with if they shut their blogs down (in the case of the last two)

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/06/glimmer-of-hope-for-jericho.shtml

Mike — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:58:00 -0000

I wonder how many viewers a show like that would get if it was just released on YouTube or something similar and how much it costs to make an episode and how much advertisers would pay to be part of a commercial during the show.

Now that I'm starting to get into YouTube, I would probably follow the first "big" mainstream show to try to make the jump to the internet but it would probably be a huge money loser at this point, I guess.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:48:00 -0000

Man I hate these things. I would never spend the time to click through to any of those, so the whole purpose of them is links for SEO. I'm all for SEO, but I really hate things that are all SEO. I must be getting grumpy from lack of sleep these days.

Anyway, were you able to cut and paste that and have it magically include the links or did you have to hand edit them. That might be why none of the upstream people linked back to you.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:16:00 -0000

For any one keeping track. I have no HD TV. I have no DVR. I watch most of my TV in the computer room...normally DVDs played on the computer itself. As for why people might want Joost instead of YouTube. The picture quality at Joost seems to be better from the "What Is Joost" video they have. Pretty much everything on YouTube looks like crap.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:04:00 -0000

I think you are very wrong about the feed subscription (as in paid for up front) ever taking off. At least not in the next several years. There may be a very small amount of publishers that could get away with that...but I can't really think of any that I would pay up front for.

I also wouldn't bother to create full out of partials. If it is good enough to keep me around with partials, then congrats to the author. If not, then I don't want the full anyway. At some point I am willing to give the publisher the right to manage their content...but that doesn't mean that I will continue to read it.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/06/very-annoying-firefox-video-problem.shtml

Mike — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:54:00 -0000

I just watched a video over at CNN.com on Firefox. But maybe I have windows media player installed and just don't know it.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/06/meanwhile-in-ring-three.shtml

Mike — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:46:00 -0000

It's like watching a slap fight between a couple of guys you didn't really know in high school. When you try to explain the excitement to people afterward it just sounds lame.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/06/evening-reading-62607.shtml

Mike — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:55:00 -0000

I don't think that is a Google thing. I use Google Reader and just went through a bunch of random posts and was able to right click on the post titles and get the real post title instead of the feedburner redirected one. Do you still use Bloglines? I logged into my old Bloglines account and noticed exactly what you are describing. Maybe we've finally found a reason for you to switch to Google Reader. :)

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/02/are-women-human.html

Mike — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:04:00 -0000

Umm... I'm assuming the winning title is a sexual reference, but then I'm kind of slow on these things.

They were all funny, but I voted for "Cheese Problems Solved" because I have this thing about short and sweet. Or in this case Extra Sharp, but that's another thing. But I go on...

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/03/remote-area-medical.html

Mike — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:01:00 -0000

Brian, Sicko is a must see. After talking with several people from other countries I do not think we are getting the straight poop on "the greatest health care system in the world."

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/03/worry.html

Mike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:01:00 -0000

Haddon Robinson. Now there's a name from the past. In about 1978 I heard him preach a sermon I remember vividly to this day. He was (is?) a master of public speaking.

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2007/07/helen-keller.html

Mike — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:53:00 -0000

She had an incredible thought life!

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/03/are-you-one-of-55.html

Mike — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:11:00 -0000

Why can't we just key the first and last letters of each word to save time and virtual ink?

Re: Home Reserve Guestbook

Mike — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:15:58 -0000

Thank you so much, I just bought a sofa and it took my wife and I just 1 hour to put it together. It looked much better than the sofas at Becks furniture, at a much more reasonable cost.

We even intentionally poored red kool-aid on the white sofa, and there was no stain!! NONE!

Best product ever, expect return business!

Re: Home Reserve Guestbook

Mike — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:15:52 -0000

got my sectional about a month ago. i was pretty skeptical on the durability and quality that it would be but it is just as durable as a couch from a brand name store. it was very easy to put together and homereserve was very customer freindly. they changed the color no questions asked. The sectional is very comfortable and is just what i was looking for at a price that i could afford. thanx home reserve!!

Re: Home Reserve Guestbook

Mike — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:15:49 -0000

Sandy you were right I did get it put together even though I do have 10 thumbs, I was really amazed at the quality and thickness of the fabric. When I finally got it finished and went to move it in to position the sturdiness of it was unbelievable. A friend stopped by and couldnt believe what it cost, asked for your website is going to check it out. And the storage areas I love I have been burglarized in the past and they have never bother to look in that area. I saw somewhere on your site you all are thinking about TV ads do you think you could keep up with all the orders you would get, I don\'t remember how I found your site but if I had saw on TV I would have ordered alot sooner. Your help was so appreciated. thanks for gloves and sanding block came in handy one suggestion put a tube of Deep Heat in there Iknow am out of shape but I am sore in places I had forgot about. Have a Merry Christmas. and thanks again for your help alot of company\'s
need to take a lesson from you about customer service you are unbelievable

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/09/blessing-entitlement.html

Mike — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:23:00 -0000

Amen. There is a sense of entitlement out there. Sadly we often have it as Christians. These tough economic times seem to be striping that away.

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/12/casual-friday.html

Mike — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:28:00 -0000

Scientific experiments have proven that a cinched-up tie heats the body slightly, requiring $43.00 extra in air conditioning per year, per person.

I still have to wear a tie, but I wear it loose around an unbuttoned collar for "green" purposes.

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/12/smartphones.html

Mike — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:30:00 -0000

K. Bob,

Surrounded by people staring intently at small shiny objects at which they feel compelled to jab their fingers incessantly does not make me want one. I use my phone to make phone calls. Weird, huh?

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2004/01/yeaaaaahhh.html

Mike — Tue, 20 Jan 2004 21:14:00 -0000

What's the big deal? Any candidate that expects to win against Bush needs to have that kind of energy and more.

If another emotionless Al Gore clone runs again, he'll lose, I promise you.

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2004/01/good-on-ground-reporting-from-nh.html

Mike — Tue, 27 Jan 2004 08:18:00 -0000

I don't get why Kerry is winning in NH. According Rick Klaus in the prior post, Dean's people have the state divided into 260 zones with almost as many district managers, they've spent 1.15 million in the state, they have thousands of volunteers.

My only guess is that Dean needs to target older voters. The college kids go to rallies but don't go to the polls. If you're a college kid in NH and you're reading this and you haven't gone to the poll, get off your butt and go.

Remember, Kerry=Gore. They're the same person. If you don't want a repeat of 2000, vote for someone who can actually get the _turnout_ necessary to beat Bush. If Dean has done anything, he's drummed up turnout.

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2004/01/linux-update.html

Mike — Wed, 28 Jan 2004 07:50:00 -0000

post more howard dean stuff

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2006/07/fill-my-ipod.html

Mike — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 18:42:00 -0000

why are you so damn clever? :)

awesome idea. we're leaving on a trip as well this weekend so I may just have to "borrow" your feed...

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2006/12/wii-friend-code.html

Mike — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:49:00 -0000

mine is 3492 6318 8451 3318. reach out and touch me.

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2007/02/sunday-musings.html

Mike — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 05:03:00 -0000

yeah, I wouldn't mind to try some myself!

I've always have been wanting to get back into the brewing hobby myself. I had an "incident" the last time that I had brewed beer (my college days) that involved exploding bottles in the middle of the night. Remind me to tell you the story some time. :)

Now you've got me wanting to do some brewing...

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2007/05/greasemonkey-extension-tinyurl-for.html

Mike — Tue, 15 May 2007 17:34:00 -0000

I need to hack something up like this for http://turo.us

We have a bookmarklet, but haven't got anything this fancy. Need to expand a bit on the (limited) API. :)

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2008/03/lacie-ethernet-disk-mini-500-gb-review.html

Mike — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:01:00 -0000

NAS drives can be set up with different file systems. By default, the drive is likely formatted as FAT32, limiting max file size to 4GB regardless of the size of the volume. the LaCie admin/setup page for the drive permits reformatting the drive to use the underlying Linux volume format to EXT3, which permits virtually unlimited files sizes. Give that a try.

As for heat - this looks like a single drive enclosure, quite similar to several that I have. They run quietly, and are just warm to the touch. I've had drives from other manufacturers that are simply too hot. The LaCie aluminum casing seems to act like a heat sink; better than plastic that cannot conduct heat at all.

As for TiVo...go on over to tivocommunity.com for lots of good info on what drives are compatible and hw to do it. Ideal drives for fast stroage expansion are eSATA - Series 3 can use most any eSATA drive; TiVo HD can only use the special WD drive.

Overall, I like my LaCie ED mini Home - nice for a home network. For faster applications, I have direct connected USB and FireWire drives. The USB link for the mini home is really not that fast, due to its internal OS really being optimized for use as a NAS.

Mike

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2009/01/create-qr-code-for-your-blog.html

Mike — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:18:00 -0000

I scanned this code using the iPhone app and it worked as advertised. Pretty slick. When you add this image to your sidebar, I'll add it to mine.

Re: The Shah Rukh Khan affair at Newark

Mike — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:37:38 -0000

This isn't irony; It's convenience. If you can't see the publicity stunt in this story, it might be because you're blinded by your personal agendas. He's been here plenty of other times without incident. Further, based on the customs officials report of 66 minutes and all the other factors involved, it reads as nothing more than a spoiled child throwing a fit. And his regress statement the day after he cooled off only strengthens that point of view.

Re: http://www.peterrobertcasey.com/2009/07/guest-blog-post-david-lasday-program.html

Mike — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:07:23 -0000

David, I think you are correct!

Re: http://let-the-love-glow.blogspot.com/2008/11/farsdags-middag.html

Mike — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:59:00 -0000

nice family pictures

Re: http://www.kentuckypreppersnetwork.com/2009/11/dealing-with-waste-in-emergency.html

Mike — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:42:43 -0000

I am with Anon on the composting idea. There is a great book on this subject called "Humanure Handbook" by Joseph Jenkins. I have not tried this myself but know people that use this method. If done correctly there is no smell. Mike (aka Nottingham on the forum)

Re: http://blog.olendarenko.org.ua/2009/10/blog-post.html

Mike — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:27:48 -0000

Да ну, вы что... Совсем не очевидно выглядит... << - куда привычней

Re: Drunk women at Detroit Lions game entertain the fans

Mike — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:25:40 -0000

Your grammar and spelling are worse than your ridiculously ill-begotten attempts at humor.

Do you even proofread what you write? Even in a half-assed manner?

Re: Ashley Greene cleans up well

Mike — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:40:24 -0000

She is So-o-o cute!

Re: KENNY PERRY BLOWS THE MASTERS; DAUGHTER STILL HOT

Mike — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:36:00 -0000

Let me be the first to say thank you for this.

Re: VIDEO-JOAQUIN PHOENIX ON LETTERMAN

Mike — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:35:00 -0000

my money says he's high...probably mushrooms...maybe acid...could be really stoned...but I'm betting on shrooms...

either way...i liked the interview...interesting character, he is.

Re: More Doutzen Kroes!

Mike — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:05:00 -0000

Holy hell. She's one hot piece of fuck.

Re: Cheerleader Caption Contest: Win an Oklahoma Sooners DVD

Mike — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:34:00 -0000

and here we go...

Re: Cheerleader Caption Contest: Win an Oklahoma Sooners DVD

Mike — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:59:00 -0000

Yao Ming's number one fan!

Re: THE 12 HOTTEST "SLOPPY SECOND" WAGS

Mike — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:26:00 -0000

Nice!
Didn't realize Milano had been.....you know around that many players. Oh well, she cleans up nicely.

Re: THE 11 HOTTEST SPORTS MOVIE TOMBOYS

Mike — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:26:00 -0000

Good God what an awful list.

Re: MONTA ELLIS’ MOPED

Mike — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:47:00 -0000

Did you find this on Ebay? Because otherwise I'm stealing a moped from a Chinese food delivery man this weekend, and selling it as Monta Ellis' Moped on Ebay.

Re: THE ODDS WILT SLEPT WITH YOUR MOM

Mike — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:37:00 -0000

good post

Re: The 10 best booties in beach volleyball

Mike — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:55:00 -0000

This blog is great

Re: http://sarahpoh.blogspot.com/2009/04/or.html

Mike — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:45:00 -0000

hi sarah,

where is this makan place? i also wanna bring my family there. hehe..

Re: http://mommy2twogirls.blogspot.com/2009/10/general-mills-cereal-and-movie-ticket.html

Mike — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:10:29 -0000

The first movie I too my son to see was Monsters Vs Aliens. Thanks!
mike.karr at gmail.com

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 11:25:00 -0000

In my experience, most bloggers work extremely hard for their audience. Promotion is key. Have you considered participating in any blog carnivals? These are great vehicles for getting your blog out in front of new readers. Whether they come back is up to you!

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 16:16:00 -0000

I'm just floating an idea here. If people that do software development for a living aren't willing to tackle this; how about making this a project for a university where students that are studying for a degree in education (with a focus on said age groups) get teamed up with the software students, and see what they come up with? They get good grades, the university can market something that gives back to the community and the school itself, and future students get to do the upgrades, enhancements, etc? Thoughts?

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 02 May 2006 21:41:00 -0000

Wow, Kate had that pegged. If you don't link, then it is all about ego. And...if you say it better than I can, I'm linking to you. How insulting to read a cut and paste (or a plagarized version) of your blog entry on someone elses blog! Assuming you'd ever find it. I say link away!

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 23 May 2006 20:44:00 -0000

My wife's family had to sell most of their farm land because of a bad accountant about 15 years ago. They kept enough to keep the farmhouse, build a couple more houses for immediate family, and raise animals. Now my father-in-law buys and sells cows, goats, sheep and pigs.

I live in the suburbs, so it is amazing for me to go visit and feed the animals. It still feels like a small farm but nobody has to mess with crops.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 09:06:00 -0000

You can install Wordpress on your desktop and poke around at it until you get it working the way you want before trying it on the internet.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 21:25:00 -0000

Thanks for mentioning it.

I'm still amazed by reading it. I can't imagine actually being in her position. I don't think I would be talking so eloquently.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/07/dells-dilemma.shtml

Mike — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 21:28:00 -0000

My computer is a Dell. Easy to order, easy to use. I don't ever do anything fancy to a computer so I don't really need it to do anything besides keep running which hasn't been a problem so far. I think it's interesting watching Dell trying to get into the gaming market after spending so much time trying to provide cheaper and cheaper computers. I wonder how Alienware feels about that.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:45:00 -0000

Sexual Outlaws right next to Spirituals in Rhythm that's almost good enough to be in The World's Greatest Comedy Collection. Funny stuff. I hope that's in Beta.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/07/attack-of-splogs.shtml

Mike — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:39:00 -0000

I never really paid any attention to over there before. That's depressing. Do you let Google, etc no when somebody does something like that?

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 01:32:00 -0000

I could send you a gmail invite if you are interested :)

Spammers will always find a new way to get their mail to us. For a little while I was getting hot stock tips to my email account that were contained in a .gif or .jpg attachment. Google seemed to figure out how to block most of them a couple weeks later.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:36:00 -0000

I don't care whether or not schools block certain sites from the students access, but I don't think that is a decision the government should be making. What if some teacher wanted to use some site like myspace to organize a class participation project. To just blindly block something like myspace because bad things happen to a handful of kids just seems knee-jerky to me.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 12:49:00 -0000

I think the biggest issue isn't whether kids can go to certain sites (or even any sites) while at school or public libraries. Going to Myspace is probably a bad idea for students during school. Wearing Megadeath t-shirts was a big deal when I was in junior high. It was a distraction, etc, etc. But federal government did not pass a law banning wearing them. It is also a bad idea to talk in class when you shouldn't be talking, but the government isn't going to pass a law saying you can only talk when called upon.

The federal government should not be making laws against anything just because it is a bad idea.

The politicians are trying to say that this will help protect children from bad people. Fine. Show me the percentages of kids that have bad things happen to them because of Myspace, etc. as compared to going to a park, the movies, or church. If the percentages are higher, than let's talk. I haven't seem any stats on the number of kids that use Myspace and the number of kids that have had any problems because of their use of Myspace.

Everybody just keeps saying it's a bad idea because it seems like it should be a bad idea.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2006/07/real-beneficiaries-of-web-20-craze.shtml

Mike — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:14:00 -0000

I'm always amazed at the amount of time people put into their myspace blogs with no apparent hope of anything other than being popular.

You really can't lose if you are only doing something for fun.

Myspace, Flickr, etc have all the pressure. If they don't make money, they will eventually close down.

The programmers will move on to the next website that gets some VC funding.

The people just having fun will just move to the next website to fill the void.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 10:44:00 -0000

This isn't really a blogging only problem. The same thing happens with emails. I sent out something a couple of days ago and copied the wrong person on it. Oops.

If I was going to change my stance on something, I would put an Update section in the post. Typos I fix without doing that.

I set up my Bloglines account to ignore updates, so I would have never seen Dave's updates. Maybe that is something you should mention , too. Just like when you send out the infamous email to everybody in the company about how much you hate the boss, depending on how people have their aggregators configured, once you hit the submit button, it's too late.

But, big deal. Don't say things you don't believe. Feel free to change your mind and make mistakes. After all, this is all just talking.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 06:20:00 -0000

The good news is that now that AOL is working on being in the middle of the ad system instead of actually selling something, they should get plenty of VC offers. Oh wait. They already are a real company with shareholders and everything, aren't they?

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2009/01/bella.html

Mike — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:58:00 -0000

We watched it twice, great story!

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2009/01/elected-entertainers.html

Mike — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:51:00 -0000

I wish more politicians would admit they're jokers.

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2009/02/route-66-kicks.html

Mike — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:19:00 -0000

Having just come off my own 4K plus road trip, some of it spent ogling old stuff along route 66, maybe my daughter and I should have taken your approach. Instead, our rule of thumb was stick to the interstate and only stay in chains hotels. Guess we're a little uptight.

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2009/02/term-limits-legislation-not-needed.html

Mike — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:40:00 -0000

Bilbo's characterization of the relationship as codependent seems fairly accurate to me. Since I do not wish to be the enabler in this situation, I do not vote at all.

Don't want to encourage the rascals, you know?

Your idea would necessitate a vote for the lesser of two evils, which means you'd have to be OK with voting for evil.

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/03/ledgers-legacy-daughter-not-in-his-will.html

Mike — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:03:00 -0000

Good reminder- I do need to update, especially since I feel half dead this AM.

Re: Whats the best way to get over my fear of flying?

Mike — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:08:59 -0000

I pretend I'm on a high speed train
References :

Re: http://www.erikbraatensspeltips.com/2008/10/3-ml-p-17-sekunder.html

Mike — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:15:00 -0000

Du kan ju inte vara så resultatorienterad. Du baserar spelet på information du har tillgänglig före matchstart. Dessutom såg ju allt bra ut tills sista minuten, så jag hävdar att denna dubbel sitter mer än 50% av gångerna vilket gör det till ett vinnande spel.

mvh

Re: http://www.erikbraatensspeltips.com/2008/10/godmorgon-readers.html

Mike — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:31:00 -0000

Tjena Erik, följer ofta dina rekar och tycker du gör ett bra jobb. Men hur tänker du när du säger:

"Men Tingsryd ska vinna gårdagens match 50% av alla fall."

Om du bara har Tingsryd att vinna 50% så vill vi ju ha 2.0 i odds bara för att gå jämt upp. Som det var nu med 1.75 i odds vill vi ju att Tingsryd ska vinna minst 57% av matcherna ((1.75/)*100), eller?

Re: http://www.erikbraatensspeltips.com/2008/10/godmorgon-readers.html

Mike — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:04:00 -0000

NP, det är lätt hänt när man skriver. Tack för alla rekar, jag kommer fortsätta rygga :)

Re: Ekorrhj.. Katthjul!

Mike — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:00:57 -0000

Ohej!!

Re: Påskpuss!

Mike — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:43:42 -0000

LOL...idioter

Re: Airzooka!

Mike — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:21:02 -0000

LOL...idioter

Re: Burnout!

Mike — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:58:40 -0000

LOL...idioter

Re: Bengt Magnusson!

Mike — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:22:03 -0000

LOL...idioter

Re: Moment of truth!

Mike — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:53:41 -0000

LOL...idioter.

Re: Katt vs. spegel!

Mike — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:11:23 -0000

LOL, iditoter!

Re: Katter!

Mike — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:16:04 -0000

HAHAHAHA

Re: 3d flipbook!

Mike — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:34:20 -0000

I like old ladies! I like licking!

Re: 3d flipbook!

Mike — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:36:00 -0000

LOL...Idioter.

Re: Moment 22!

Mike — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:15:04 -0000

Men då måste man ju köpa två aftonbladet ju, sniket.

Re: Juck och skinka!

Mike — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:08:31 -0000

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Juck och skinka!

Mike — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:37:23 -0000

WHAHAHAHA... nä fy faen, vem hittar på sånt här egentligen??

Re: Surströmming!

Mike — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 17:50:44 -0000

Det är inte rutten, den är fermeterad!

Re: Crocop!

Mike — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:11:29 -0000

dåligt..

Re: Torn-mannen!

Mike — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:31:29 -0000

David Armand är helt makalöst rolig!

Re: Hopfällbar stol.. eller soffa?

Mike — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:37:51 -0000

...Eller roliga bilder...
...eller roliga ljudklipp

Re: Hopfällbar stol.. eller soffa?

Mike — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:36:51 -0000

Mmmm .. mer videos tack

Re: Andy Mckee

Mike — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:40:53 -0000

Duktig

Re: Wheelchair warrior!

Mike — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:03:25 -0000

se hela klippet på youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1ifun9-ufw

Re: Rita en bil i paint!

Mike — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:23:22 -0000

mäddie: han ångrade massor av gånger, verktyget för rundade linjer är ingen höjdare =)

Han kör nog tablet i början ja, men det gör det inte toklätt som vissa verkar tro, inte i paint =)

Gissar på att han går över till mus när de svarta linjerna börjar komma.

Re: Roliga bilder!

Mike — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:23:38 -0000

Den översta är ju för fan så jävla helvetes satans bäst, HAHAHAHAHAHAA. Tänk er de ungdomarna, på en lunchrast så sticker lille Alfredo och hans polare ner till cd-affären, nämen, de har stängt. De blir så ledsna att de ringer tidningen, som skriver om det! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Re: Lasse – Hyperaktiv 2!

Mike — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:29:22 -0000

Killen är ett jävla GENI!!

Re: Svt 24!

Mike — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 10:40:53 -0000

HAHAHAHA

Re: Spela med händerna!

Mike — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:27:47 -0000

Han låter inte med munnen... Kan inte alla göra ljud sådär??

Re: Hipp Hipp!

Mike — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 17:05:55 -0000

Klockren !

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2008/12/free-zune-holiday-music-pasko-na.html

Mike — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:19:00 -0000

haha beautiful! anything free is great lol

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/01/microsoft-loses-100m-from-zune.html

Mike — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:40:00 -0000

Although the Zune 30gb freeze could be seen as a potential threat, I don't think it is the primary reason sales were down. Plain and simple, people are tools. they see Ipod everywhere and can't help but be engulfed. They don't realize there is a better product out there. Microsoft needs to realize this devices potential, and they need to make it easier to port to external devices. Make it so that you network practically seems naked without a Zune. As a retailer, I am aware of what people flock towards in Ipods. You have the cheap consumer who buys a shuffle for a simple method of portable music. The second extreme is the group that fawns all over the ipod touch because its trendy. Microsoft needs to learn how to address these consumers, and I think the production of ZPH's concept Zune Surface would be a good step in the right direction.

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/01/zune-surface-touch-screen-device.html

Mike — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:42:00 -0000

Frankly, I think that a device like this could help to revolutionalize the Zune market. Especially with the anticipated release of Microsoft Surface on the Multi-touch capable OS known as Windows 7,if this were to be marketed properly, it could take a major bite out of the Apple IPOD. The camera would be an excellent feature, especially if it were paired with a Zune edition Windows Live Photo GAllery/PAint for on-device editing. A full web browser would be a plus, especially with a high res screen. The only other tie up would be more open=source apps. Thats one positive to the touch is all the addons you can download. If MIcrosoft opened a full app store on Zune MArketplace, along with easier development for games/apps, it would help exponentially. As would an accelerator for motion sensing movement. Microsoft would also have to be contentious about the price as well, keeping it competitive with the Ipod touch, if not only slightly more expensive, due to more features/presumed space. but thats just me.

Re: Review: Serenity

Mike — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 16:56:17 -0000

Thanks! I'm glad you took my verbal jabs at your favorite as intended; tongue in cheek. Frankly I was hoping to ignite one of your famous rants, but apparently the clean air and peaceful living of your new digs has waned your appetite for such! ;-) Come to think of it Kirk is pretty tough, especially for a guy that wears a whistle-clean spandex shirt. A yellow, long-sleeve, whistle-clean spandex shirt… :-)
Seriously though, keep up the great reviews! -Mike

Re: Review: Sin City

Mike — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:53:36 -0000

Your review was right on, though persionally I'd dock another star from the rating. Faithful to the comic or not the interweaving of the stories was disapointing. I would rather the stories had been completly indepenedent, with only their zip code in common, then be teased by thier irrelevent intersections. Also, towards the last 1/4 of the film all of the gore started to get to me. No, I did not forget my pair in my wife's purse... I was just full and wanted to step back from the trough for a bit. Ever get that way?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:09:00 -0000

Ah, webmaster, thank you for answering my question. Or responding anyway.

"he hasn't specifically answered anything anyone has asked of him. He just responds with deflecting questions colored by an accusatory tone." I pose the question again. Who is the hypocrit?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:17:00 -0000

"he hasn't specifically answered anything anyone has asked of him. He just responds with deflecting questions colored by an accusatory tone." I pose the question for a third time. Who is the hypocrit?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:30:00 -0000

Once again, please pay attention. I did answer your question. You are absolutely right, children are not evil but all are born with inherant evil which is developed over time as they grow and gain knowledge.

And yes, you provided biblical scripture, that is on this thread, that supports "wrong", "bad", and "unjust" crimes against humanity commited by humanity not committed by God Since, according to you God does not exist. So here's another question for you not to answer, If there is no God how is it that you are so quick to blame Him for all the crimes against humanity?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 04:39:00 -0000

Sorry for the delayed response, I am on duty tonight and had to go out on a fire call. But I can see in my short absence that none of you has managed to behave like an adult and I have grown weary of arguing with hypocrites. So, I will bid you all farewell, I know you won't miss me, you have done quite well making up my end of the discussion since that which I actually wrote was obviously too threatening to your weakened and hollow convictions. So good luck trying to convince anyone that you are superior, you're obviously good at fooling yourselves, you may actually have luck fooling others. Well, hypocrites, I certainly hope we can do this again sometime. In the mean time,
God bless you all and have a good night.

Re: Did Jesus really say that? - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 19:48:00 -0000

This is probably one of my favorite subjects. I haven't read Bart Erhrman but I have read John Shelby Spong whose books and theories are right along the same subject.

To put a different spin on the discussion though, I would like to present the innaccuracies (sp?) in the bible as evidence for it's truth. WHAT?! My point being; when you have ten different people telling their perception of the same story you will get ten very different versions of the story.

Then, you pass any one of a number of those versions along in the oral tradition for 25 or 30 years before writing them down (much of which was in aramaic, an unwritten language), then you translate it a couple more times into a couple of different languages hundreds of years later and what do you get? Well, you get the bible as it is today.

However, if it were entirely a hoax they would have gotten it right with no discrepancies that my invalidate the hoax. Forgeries are often uncovered using this very concept.

here's a simple example. get a pen and paper and sign your name. Now do it again with another piece of paper. Now do it one more time. You may notice that your own signature is not exact on all three papers. A forgery of your signature would look perfect every time. That's how you know it's a forgery.

I find it hard to believe that so many people over so many hundreds of years, in so many different countries and cultures would all conspire together ro perpetuate a hoax.

The bible is full of lies or, maybe more fairly, full of gross inaccuracies. There are also truths in the bible and the new faith for the 21st century should be about finding the truth about God.

It's still a good book, it just was not well edited. And then it gets corrupted even more by the fundamentalists who are hell bent (pun intended) on interpreting the bible literally and turning a blind and ignorant eye to the human mistakes.

Re: Did Jesus really say that? - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 21:46:00 -0000

Freeman said
"You very rarely find middle class or upper class fundimentalist, they are usually the poor. "

C'mon, Freeman, that was just ignorant.

Re: Girls thought to be gay sue school over expulsion - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 14:26:00 -0000

So I guess the book of Ruth is not part of this school's "christian code" either. One girl said she loved the other girl.
Gregory Bork called the girls' behavior "scandalous and immoral". So this christian school is teaching that love is scandalous and immoral. When are the fundies going to realize that to love one another means to love everyone.
I have always been taught, as a christian, that God is Love. so how is it that when two men or two women share a true and deep love for one another it becomes an abomination?

I believe in God and I believe in Jesus Christ. I am often times ashamed of being lumped into the same heep of hypocracy as these other so-called christians.

Homosexuality is not a choice! It is a biologically programed perception. Homosexuals are God's children also. He made them that way and He loves them that way. The so-called christian leaders are going to be very surprised one day when they find out that "Judge not lest ye be judged" includes them too.

For the girls in this story, I hope they will win but I also hope that they will choose not to return to that school because they are obviously not getting a decent education.

Re: Girls thought to be gay sue school over expulsion - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:44:00 -0000

Yes yes yes, Genesis 19:5 ". . . Where are the men who came to you tonight?Bring them out to us so that we may know them carnally".

This story is not condemning homosexuality. In this era any traveler was considered an alien or foreigner and they were not entitled to any kind of protection unless there was someone in that town willing to take them in. In that case that person would be responsible for the traveler's protection. This was an ancient and, some might say, sacred jewish tradition.

It's funny though how anonymous, like many fundy christians, fails to qoute Genesis 19:8 "See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you and you may do to them as you wish;" So, rather than go against good jewish hospitality, Lot would rather allow his virgin daughters be gang raped.

This is not about homosexuality, it is about power and control.

In this story also, God is portrayed as someone who is not all knowing and all seeing becuase He needs to send two angels into Sodom to see what's going on. Why would God have to do this when He is all knowing and omnipotent? He wouldn't, of course, and I don't believe God would condone a gang rape either so this story is obviously not inspired by God.

Any kind of sex that is malicious or predatory is evil and that is what this story is about. It doesn't matter if it is homosexual or heterosexual and to use it to describe homosexuality is the abomination.

"Homosexuals spread diseases and all kind of that junk"? That is right up there with some of the most ignorant things I have ever heard! Not to mention your grammer is sub-standard.

Oh, and by the way, I am also a christian but, frankly, I am ashamed to be heeped into the same club of fear and prejudice as you, Anonymous.

By condemning homosexuality you are passing judgement and that is in direct violation of christian etthics so please do not claim yourself to be a christian unless you intend to act like one.

Re: Girls thought to be gay sue school over expulsion - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 20:41:00 -0000

cdmon, you don't know how close you are to the truth about Paul. Listen to what he said to the Romans:
"But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire." 7:8 A little further on he says,
"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." 7:23 "Nothing good dwells within me that is flesh".

Wow, doesn't this sound like a deeply religious man steeped in denial and self loathing regarding his own homosexuality?

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:09:00 -0000

I'm not sure it is really an rss thing. If you look at the html on the original post, it is just an "a" tag linking directly to an mp3 file.

Then there is some magic javascript from del.icio.us that adds the autoplay ability. I don't think Javascript code carries over to the rss feed code.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2007/09/evening-reading-91807.shtml

Mike — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:06:00 -0000

You're not the only one concerned about the privacy issue of services like Mint. Almost immediately after reading this post, I read this post:

Who owns your financial data?

One counterargument (that I don't necessarily believe) is that the normal use will get more security and better data backups than storing the information on their home PC that who knows what viruses and spyware are hanging around on or when the unbacked up hard drive is going to crash.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2008/01/home-stretch.shtml

Mike — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:45:00 -0000

Wow. Congratulations. I'm amazed at anybody that can run more than the half marathon.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:38:00 -0000

I used to use iTunes and then record and rerip any music that I bought. But when I switched to Linux 100% at home, iTunes was not an option anymore. Oh well. If they don't want my money....

For the record, I love Netflix but am fairly annoyed that their watch it now only works on IE.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:42:00 -0000

I don't really use Facebook much but I don't think using it as a way to market yourself or site or business is really the way to go. I use it to keep track of a couple friends from high school/college and play a few dorky games now and then. More of the social than the networking I guess.

Also, I never end up listening to podcasts more than maybe one every few months and never watch video blogs.

I'm really getting into comic blogs recently where the author posts a new comic and then has some thoughts of the day, etc in the blog post.

Liveblogs are fun to do when covering something like a sporting event. I've done them for a couple Hawkeye games in the past. I covered a bowl game a couple seasons back and actually had a few people that couldn't watch on TV that were following the game through my updating post. Pretty fun but a lot of work and I wouldn't do them frequently unless I had a ton of traffic and some kind of PPM ads on it.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:12:00 -0000

I told my cell provider to deactivate my texting capability since neither one of us ever text and the only text messages I ever got were spam or from my boss.

Neither of which I was willing to pay for.

It will be interesting to see if text messaging dies as more and more people can access Twitter/Facebook, etc. and even real email/chat clients over their phone.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:05:00 -0000

I've signed up for Evernote but never got around to using it on either a browser of the iPhone app. But, would the browser version be better if you pointed it at the mobile version?

http://www.evernote.com/m

I remember a lot of Plurk users hated the interface at first and used the mobile version on their normal browsers because it just felt cleaner to them.

Re: http://www.newsome.org/2009/03/evening-reading-3209.shtml

Mike — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:33:00 -0000

I've converted most of my family to Open Office instead of Word. It seems to be an easier more direct transition whereas Google Docs might seem odder to people.

Re: Become a Googlebot, get a Free Pass

Mike — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:48:00 -0000

I'm confused... is there somewhere that someone stupid like me can understand it?

Re: http://www.gautamblogs.com/2007/04/hr-as-business-partner.html

Mike — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:17:00 -0000

I think that you are definitely on to something. From what I've seen, there does seem to be a trend as of lately where HR is moving back towards being more of a business partner and less of a business insider.

It will be interesting to watch this over the next year to see whether the trend continues.

Re: http://eastpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/economic-divide-inevitable.html

Mike — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:10:47 -0000

You might wanna google futurist utopic models of sustainable technology and economic sustainable development.

Re: http://eastpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/katong-laksa-2.html

Mike — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:12:30 -0000

Romeo and Juliet is older than Shakespeare.

Re: http://eastpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/katong-laksa-2.html

Mike — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:14:40 -0000

hahah I was complimenting you, Al.

Re: http://eastpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-should-we-respond-to-beggars.html

Mike — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:20:57 -0000

If they 1) don't look like they really need it (e.g. young able-bodied man), 2) are going to use if for drugs (see US statistics - may not be applicable in other countries) , 3) give me a look which says $$$, I don't give. The general principle is to only give to those who really need it and are sincere in the taking, except perhaps where they really need it so much so that, despite insincerity, you give on broader principles of moral good.

Re: http://eastpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-should-we-respond-to-beggars.html

Mike — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:13:31 -0000

I forgot your complete lack of social awareness :) Maybe you can learn to spot sincerity by studying the mirror more often :)

I won't give if unsure. Just decline politely. I don't believe it is immoral to withhold pocket change. It's a request, and a request allows leeway for you to decline. It's not as if s/he's drowning to death.

Re: Full contact against Silat and Karate

Mike — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:44:12 -0000

That last quote on exams was actually what my Judo friend said, haha.

Re: كاظم الساهر - فيديو كليب تقول إنسى - New Video Kadim Al Saher

Mike — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:28:00 -0000

Thank you so much for sharing a wonderful article on music’s… I too have something to share, the Next level of social networking on music and only music related…

The Music Age.com (TMA) is the newest online music hub dedicated to all music lovers around the world. We aim to give everyone a chance to have their music and videos to be heard online.

TMA has pioneered the cell phone (MOBILE) technology that allows users to upload their music, videos, and pictures directly from their phones by email. This allows live content to be shared between TMA users 24-7. Members and artists can also post blogs, upcoming musical events and create a dynamic social network. For more features Visit our site, The Music Age

Thanks & keep on Posting
Mike

Re: comment vit un écrivain de chez gallimard

Mike — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:06:46 -0000

hahahhahaha j'aime ce documentaire... tu lui fais un béco de ma part!

Re: leçon de vie

Mike — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:04:36 -0000

C quoi ce foie gras dans un tupperware... Vraiment... c'est pas mis en valeur bordel... je met 3 pour la présentation du diner c'était bon mais vlà comme c'est de mauvais gout! LOL

Re: ou se faire tatouer ...? chez all tatoo bien sur !! avec gwen !

Mike — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:22:54 -0000

d'ailleurs je t'avouerais que j'y réfléchi sérieusement depuis quelque jours...

wait and see whigger!!!!!!!!

Re: ou se faire tatouer ...? chez all tatoo bien sur !! avec gwen !

Mike — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:44:56 -0000

tu me lance un défi ou koi?

lol

Re: quatre en grand !!!!

Mike — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:17:08 -0000

WOW C BOGOSSE LA PUTAIN DE MADRE!!!

Re: Hotel ...Motel...!!!

Mike — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:26:58 -0000

Je vois bien le truc de ouf... Haaaaaa la chine... sont chelou c Chinois!!! HAHAHAHA! Bien plus ouf que les ricains!

Parole d'un Viet!!!

Re: Hotel ...Motel...!!!

Mike — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:34:01 -0000

le long couloir d'un cauchemar sans fin... putain si il faut être à l'heure pour le petit dej c la merde!

Re: La famille en Chine!

Mike — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:47:40 -0000

hahahahahaha! Trouve une salle et fait des courses sur tapis!

Re: un plat simple mais éfficace !!

Mike — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:59:24 -0000

Voilà un post MARRANT!!! LOL

Re: et si j allais au resto coréen avec mes amies

Mike — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:59:39 -0000

SI SI GROS

Re: et si j allais au resto coréen avec mes amies

Mike — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:22:13 -0000

Asiatique c mieux mec! merci

Re: http://www.kentuckypreppersnetwork.com/2009/01/whats-prepper.html

Mike — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:00 -0000

Well said. I've been kicking around an idea I had for writing about self reliance and how it relates to emergency preparedness and how this impacts urban residents. I'll be stopping by more often after reading your great post on a similar subject.
Thanks -
Mike

Re: http://www.kentuckypreppersnetwork.com/2009/09/food-storage-ideas-breakfast.html

Mike — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:15:14 -0000

Great post!

I like eating steel cut oats over oatmeal but they do take longer to cook. Just to add some other options...maple syrup or honey with walnuts or pecans makes a good alternative. I also like using currents, dried apricots or dried cherries. And as weird as it may sound I like my oats with milk.

One more idea...A good way to save your fuel for cooking steel cut oats, non-instant rice, beans, etc. try googling "cooking beans in a thermos". This is a good way to extend your cooking fuel while being able to use the staple items that you store.

Mike

Re: Delaying the 34 trolley without explanation

Mike — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:30:00 -0000

Same issues in Seattle. Actually, this pains me a bit to say, but I miss SEPTA.< />< />Not that it makes you guys feel better, but you're not alone in dealing with unacceptable delays and lack of communication. Just be happy that your system runs when it snows.

Re: Good enough for SEPTA

Mike — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:43:00 -0000

I was there last week and was shocked to see uncovered exterior drywall that is already water damaged.< />< />Sure it might be a new station, but I doubt it will last as long as the previous one ... even if the previous one were left standing today.< />< />I certainly don't find this level of construction, here & at other West Philly el stations, acceptable. Considering the time and cost associated with this project, West Philly should have a rock solid el that should last until the next century. Instead we have an already falling apart system that will serve to make sure West Philly does not come out of its economic slump anytime in the foreseeable future.

Re: SEPTA dashed my dreams

Mike — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:32:00 -0000

Why didn't you just take the Regional Rail? I'm sure the bus was only an hour or 2 late.

Re: what's a girl to do?

Mike — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:25:00 -0000

the 42 runs more often than the 21. nevertheless, the walk to the 40th st el is shorter from chestnut than spruce.

Re: Top 10 On-Camera Meltdowns

Mike — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:28:00 -0000

good post

Re: Meet The Smiley Face Gang

Mike — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:35:00 -0000

i believe it is real, im in albany ny and recently there was the same thing here a colledge studit went missing and a few months later his body was found, and a white smiley face was painted on a tree where the body was,

thre is also another connection other then the smiley faces the cell phones of the victims were found in a different location.

i mean 0ver 40 people withthe same mo, common sence would tell you that something isnt right and their is a threat.

and who the hell is ms13?

Re: Wesley Snipes Gets Three Years

Mike — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:47:00 -0000

If we don't want to pay taxes anymore then have the 16th Amendment repealed. It was put in place in 1913 and weather or not it was ratified is besides the point, we have been paying these "direct taxes" since 1913 and will continue until it is repealed. The original Constitution only aloud for "Indirect taxes", when the banking systems took over our currency they pushed for the direct tax implementation that is now in place. Call your senators and congressmen and have them repeal the 16th amendment and we will be better for it. Follow the original intent of the Constitution and we will be the free Republic that was handed to the people by the founders who would have already thrown another tea party over the current government situation we have now.
Remember the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are a restriction on the government not the people, they are "Legal Documents" and are to be followed to the letter. we the people have forgotten that and hae let the feds take our rights, money, property, and freedoms.

"Molōn labe"

Re: http://blog.candystand.com/electric-box-level-pack-vol-1-582.html

Mike — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:24:02 -0000

All are possible, I've been able to come up with a solution to them all.

Re: Billiards & Bowling have been updated

Mike — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:50:00 -0000

I am not a fan of the new bowling. Maybe it will just take some getting used to, but it seems the gameplay is quite different...Unlike the new billiards, which just looks nicer.

Re: Eclipse Polarity: Game Video

Mike — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 02:12:00 -0000

Can anyone get past level 14? No matter how good I get at this game, I can seem to get past this chapter of the game. Any tips would be helpful if you can offer them!

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2006/12/gifts-suggestions.html

Mike — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:32:00 -0000

Those all have the advantage of being inexpensive as well as Christ honoring.

Along with cards for my daughters and wife, this year I plan to write each a letter explaining what she means to me. I hope I can put on paper what I haven't been able to say very well for whatever dumb stupid guy reasons.

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/01/political-idealism.html

Mike — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:35:00 -0000

Bob, the label that most closely fits me is probably that of Voluntaryist. To stop voting is not to stop caring. I am one of the least apathetic people you'll ever meet, but I am no longer troubled by the fuss and feathers of politics, having found a way to ignore it with no damage to my psyche and lot's of extra time for real life.

Eventually I will blog about it.

Say, "If voting changed anything, wouldn't it be illegal?"

Peace,
Mike

Re: http://www.kansasbob.com/2008/02/focus-on-election.html

Mike — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:43:00 -0000

Gosh, I'm sorry, but I dismissed Dobson's opinions many years ago.

I simply did not have time to call my congressman every single day of my life to tell him what Dobson needed him to do next.

It may seem strange, but I've had a lot more time to live my life now that I ignore both Washington and Dobson.

Re: "South Park" Parked by Complaints - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 02:45:00 -0000

o.K. I didn't see the episode but it certainly sounds incredibly offensive. Now, I believe in free speech and I don't think anyone has the right to decide what everyone else watches on television.

I must agree with ladysidhe though. Flat out insulting and offending a group or a belief that you hate, dispise, or just disagree with just brings you down to their level. If that be the case then who is right?

Putting this episode on TV on the eve of the Immaculate conception was not simply a statement of free speech, it was a blatant attack on christianity and the catholic church specifically. This is not the way to demand respect. This act could not possibly do anything but create hatred. Christian or ex-christian, atheist or believer, hate is always wrong.

I agree, the so-called christians are equally guilty of offensive and discriminatory acts against anyone who does not share their exact beliefs but, we don't want to become just like them, do we?

Re: Robertson suggests God smote Sharon - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 00:33:00 -0000

Spacemonk, you hit the nail right on the head.

The bible has been quoted constantly, not to promote peace and love, but to condone violence and hatred. The so-called christians (I really need to come up with an abreviation for them) have done so much damage to christianity they must be evil underground spies working for the devil. It' funny, I have found more in common with the exchristians at this site than I ever had with bible thumpin' believers and I am a believer.

I gotta tellya though I am just sick and tired of the fundies making my God look bad.

The bible is absolutely NOT THE WORD OF GOD!!!!!
THE GOD OF THE BIBLE DOES NOT EXIST!!!!!!!!
but there is a God.

Re: Robertson suggests God smote Sharon - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 23:19:00 -0000

Scottnogod, you make a good point. perhaps I can explain it this way. I know there is a sun in the sky and I know that when I drop a stone from my hand it will fall and strike the ground. These things I know because they can be observed. But, for a very long time we knew there was a planet called Pluto even though we couldn't see it. We knew it because of the behavior of gravitational pulls on visible stars and planets in the area ( I know my astronomy leaves a lot to be desired, forgive me) We didn't see it but we knew it existed because of the evidence.

I believe in God not because the bible says so but because evolution needed guidence. I don't believe the primordial soup could have reached the awesome creations it has simply by random chance. An object a rest tends to remain at rest unless acted upon. this, I believe is the evidence of the existence of God. The catalist and the intelligent guide of natural selection.

Re: Sex offender sets up new church - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 10:38:00 -0000

In Canada (which is basically a very secular Anglo-saxon fabian socialist society) the "fundamentalist christians", such as in the USA, would never be tolerated! Pity, only in the "home of the brave and land of the free" do these HALLUCINATORS thrive!

Re: Church youth leader charged with molesting girl, 13 - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:43:00 -0000

Typical,
Christians always claim to have the truth, and preach "truth". Funny how they lie to protect "truth".

Re: 'America's Most Wanted' pastor - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:07:00 -0000

Christianity seems to give people liscense to sin. After all they will be forgiven. I must say that the only people who ever cheated me where christians. In time more and more crazy stuff like this will come from the christian circles- just watch and see.

Re: Haggard's dark side appears darker - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:15:00 -0000

Wow all these stories about perverts in churches. I thought god was the one who set people free from sin. Only "he" can change lives. Seems like the rhetoric does not line up with reality does it? I wonder how christians will explain this away?

Re: Latham cleared of lewdness charge - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:42:00 -0000

Just because someone was cleared in court does not mean they were inocent. Sometimes sloppy police work, technicalities etc cause the guilty to go free. Remember OJ.

Maybe this guy just got lucky. happens every day

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 12 May 2007 23:43:00 -0000

Christian here wanting to ask some questions from an atheists:

1. It seems that Comfort/Cameron failed to convince you there is a God. (Of course). Your turn then! Can anyone POSSIBLY prove that there is NOT a God? (Please give more than the tiny little 'I don't see him...I can't touch him...blah blah' excuse. I believe you can do better!)

2. If your atheistic worldview is so correct then what is your motivation to even wake up in the morning? (To get laid? To make money? To look out for self?) If it is 'self-gratis', then can such a worldview stand the test of time in a society?

Point to ponder. It seems that "Blasphemy Challenge and/or Rational Response Squad has actually done more harm than good to your cause of 'unevangelizing the world.' Let me explain.

Reason #1 - Christians are now aware of this movement and are waking up from their slumber. Before RRS Christians were kind of going to sleep on the culture and not really engaging it. Now that has changed. Blasphemy Challenge done a lot of good in making Christians wake up.

Reason #2 - They as so 'gung ho' about saying 'There is no God!' that it makes me wonder "do they really believe in God after all?" Why do they even feel the need to 'anti-confess' and circle the wagons? Does it somehow purge them from the 'demons within?' If they don't believe in the Bible, why are even using the Bible to 'damn them'. I thought the Bible was a farce? It must have some power over them after all. Why even use it if it isn't true? It seems like a sort of 'reverse' statment of faith. I simply wonder, are they too weak to stand alone in their convictions?

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sun, 13 May 2007 23:34:00 -0000

Hello and thanks for the responses.

Joe, I asked the question, "Can anyone prove that God does not exist?" You seemed to go with the old, "I'm going to prove that the Bible is a farce." argument. That is NOT what I asked. Would you like to try again?? As you probably know, there are many people who do not believe in the Bible, yet believe in God. Just simply disprove that God exist for me. (In 25 words or less...just kidding...)

The root debate of atheism and theism should not be 'which is right'. The root debate should be about faith. You MUST say that it takes faith to believe in your atheistic worldview! (Let's watch our sematics here...I'm not talking about Bible faith...I'm talking about general faith.)

Christians put their faith in the Bible. Yet, you put your faith (or beleif system)in the writings of Friedrich Neitzhce, Aldous Huxley, even Richard Dawkins and/or Sam Harris....or even your own thinking. So, you are putting your 'faith' in something whether you realize it or not. Personally, I don't have enough faith to be an atheist. So, may I ask....

Question #1 - Would you agree that you put 'blind faith' in your 'unbiased history books' the same way I put my 'blind faith' in the Bible? If not, why not?

Second, Joe, I asked the question, "What is your motivation for getting up in the morning." You basically said, "I wake up to look out for me." Am I over-simplifying your response? It is this point that interests me.

I've always thought that a society based upon 'self-gratis' would never do well in the long run. I think America is getting more and more like this. (And please don't tell me America is a Christian nation!) Imagine if everyone is looking out for their own interest. What would you do about the poor? What is your motivation to help those in need? What is your motivation to help the AIDS patients in Africa? In America? I think I understand why you wrote this. If this life is all there is, then I'd better enjoy it. This brings me to my next question....

Question #2 - Do you think it is important to make the world a better place and to look out for those less fortunate? If so, then

Question #3- Are there any famous atheist who have been truly 'philanthropic'? (i.e. Has there been an atheist who has really changed the world and made it a better place?)

---------------------------------

Webmaster...you brought up a great point, but off one degree. Taking us at our worst, you will find self-centered people who only want the joys of heaven, or, as you say, the big pay-off. John Piper, picks up on your theme. He writes, "Would you want to be in heaven if Jesus weren't there?"

Most Christians would like to think that someday we'd be able to say, "I'll serve God even if it doesn't offer me anything." Taking us at our best, this is what we want...but this, unfortunately is not what we always live out.

However, there is something though you said that wasn't fair. You said, "Christianity is all about saving the self, no matter what happens to the rest of humanity." Where do you get this? I think this might be true for some Christians...but this is not the case for 'Christianity' as a system of belief. Christianity in it purest form is all about saving humanity (through evangelism AND deeds of mercy), and leaving self behind. (c.f. Matthew 28:18-20). I think you got it backwards.
---------------------

Jim,

You asked if I thought that an intelligent and educated adult could study Christianity and reach a different conclusion that I. The answer is 'Absolutely'. My New Testament professor in college was a Jew who didn't even believe the New Testament. (I did not go to a Christian college.)

Jim...may I ask you the same question. Can an educated intelliegent person study both sides of the atheism/Christianity arugment and say, "Wow, Christianity is is true."?

You also asked me if I've studied my own religion...and you used the word 'critically'. What do you mean by that word 'critically'? I think you mean this: If a work debunks Christianity then it is labeled 'Critical or Scholarly'. If a work supports Chrsitianity it is labeled "Stupid/Ignorant"? Don't you think that we all gravitate towards books that support our pre-supposition?

If is funny....I read a quote about Abraham Lincoln on his views of the Bible. It reads:

"In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book."

Now....I looked at an atheistic site and Lincoln says this:

"My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures have become clearer and stronger with advancing years, and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them."

Don't you think we make history/books/statistics to say whatever we want it to? We get two views of Abraham Lincoln...one as a Bible believeing man, the other an atheist. WHICH IS TRUE?!?!

I'm not trying to prove the ignorance of Deconstructionism. What I am saying to you Jim is this....."Birds of a feather flock together."

Those who share your views might say something like this:
"I've done "CRITICAL, SCHOLARLY" research and there is not one shred of evidence that supports God, the Bible or Jesus."

No you haven't. You've just read other people who share your same pissed off view of God. If someone else brings up point contrary to yours you quickly say, "That view is stupid." The reason I know you do this is that I DO THIS! It is very difficult, if not almost impossible to find a totally unbiased history book. And it is also difficult to be totally unbiased. An Atheist is not the champion role model for unbiased reasoning!

That is why I love the Bible. (Maybe that topic can be my next blog)

To answer your last questions.... ---yes, I agree with the statment that all other religions are Satan's attempt to confuse....
---And yes, Christianity is the one true 'myth' as CS Lewis put it. I beleive that.

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 14 May 2007 22:23:00 -0000

Jim,

Many of you had great questions. I'm sorry that I can't get to them all. But I would like to dialogue today with Jim.

May I humbly ask that you consider what I feel to be some contradictions in your logic and seek your response.

#1 - Back to FAITH:
You reject my notion that an athiest has faith. To quote you;

"My atheism is a rejection of your "faith" on the grounds that it lacks support. I have zero faith in atheism; I would cast it off if there were credible and compelling evidence for some god or goddess, just as I would cast off any scientific theory that was shown to be erroneous. Faith is, in effect, an opaque wrapper one applies to ideas that cannot stand on their own--it's a way of exempting irrational beliefs from scrutiny.

Earlier you answered my question in reference to disproving God. You said, "NO, I cannot prove that "god" does not exist" Thank you for your honesty.

So, you seem to say that atheism cannot be proven, and you also say that faith is something people use to make difficult beliefs belivable. Am I over-simplifying your view? So, can the tenets of atheism to quote you, 'stand on their own?' I must conclude after reading you that they cannot.

According to what you just said, atheism cannot be proven. So, if faith is an 'opaque wrapper one applies to ideas that cannot stand on their own', then can we not say that it takes 'faith' to be an atheist? Welcome to the leaky boat!

#2 - A quiet admission:
You say, "Absolutely everybody makes errors, which means that beliefs are always in a state of flux--or at least they should be."

So....could it be possible that YOU are making an error? Would your belief system ever evolve to the point where you'd say, "I believe in Jesus."? Why so dogmatic about Atheism? Lighten up man!

--------------------------------

To answer, quickly some of your questions....
1. I cannot disprove the existence of leprechauns. I can say that they PROBABLY do not exist. Debating the existence of God and the existence of leprechauns aren't exactly in the same ball park.

2. The reason I chose YHWH of the Bible is to me the message of the Bible makes the most sense when compared to other worldviews.

3. The reason I asked the question about the benevolent nature of atheism is that I feel that atheism is a selfish system that has no concern for those outside it's hallowed walls.

4. In regards to Satan's attempt.... and you asked, "What do you base that belief on." Answer - The Bible.

5. Different Hypothesis... sure. Short and sweet...
- Pluralism - All religions say the same thing.
- Deconstuctionism - You cannot believe any written text.
- Feminism - Religions exist to subordinate women, not free them.
- Inclusion - All religions who have not rejected Jesus as Messiah will be saved.

- I'll stop there. Grey's Anatomy is on.

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 14 May 2007 22:29:00 -0000

Why so hard on the "Marc" guy? Why does he bother you all? Most of you here are great to talk with. Some of you are idiots. If your not careful, your going to give atheism a bad name!

From,
Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:32:00 -0000

Jim,

Thanks for the response. I found it very interesting. Yours was rather lengthy. I plan to read it when I have time and respond in the next few days.

Thanks,
Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:35:00 -0000

Jim,

Sorry it has been so long since my response. Been busy. Just wanted to ask one more question before I address your lengthy response. I want to make sure I understand you.

Am I getting your position? Your understanding of Atheism is NOT that it believes in something, but rather it believes in NOTHING. Is this what you believe? (You can just answer Yes or No if you want.

thanks,
Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:56:00 -0000

Hi Dave8,

Perhaps I'm reading too much into you, but you seemed a bit threatened by my questions. I'm merely asking this....Why can't you see that atheism and theism are both worldviews of which neither can be proven scientifically. If you somehow can disprove the Bible then this does not qualified you to dismiss Theism. Therefore, (and I know Jim hates this) it takes 'faith' to believe both theism and atheism? I'm still unsure why your camp is afraid to admit this? Do all atheist hold to this strict view?

After all, you said, "The tenets of belief a person holds that supports their theism, can lapse out of coherence over time."

Is this true for atheism too? If you say, "NO" then are you playing by your own rules?

Also, you seemed to have trouble with a Theist who is a Christian coming onto this sight asking some honest questions.

You say, "Your attack on a logically founded atheist is to attack the very experience(s) in their life, as if it held no meaning. Now, how do you propose you can actually come onto an ex-Christian site, and mingle without rudely projecting your belief(s) onto everyone?"

I certainly don't want to be rude to you or anyone for believing what you do. Perhaps I am and if so, I apologize. It is your choice to be an atheist and I respect that. My question is this: do you not like me being here? Do you not like me asking these kinds of questions?
For me, in a wierd way, it is kind of fun to knock around these ideas and hear from a different perspective than my own. Do you not share this sentiment?

Mike

You said, "The tenets of belief a person holds that supports their theism, can lapse out of coherence over time."

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Thu, 17 May 2007 21:50:00 -0000

Webmaster,

Short and sweet....here goes. I agree. Theism is the belief that a force outside the realm of nature created it. Atheism adheres to Naturalism which is best defined by Carl Sagan, "The universe is all there ever was....is...and shall be."

Both are worldviews that attempt to explain the world in which we live in. Both believe their view to be the correct view. Why then do you feel that the Theistic view needs the burden of proof? What fantastic claim do we make that is not as equal as your own fantastic claim? Why is Atheism some sort of an axiom needing no proof? Why does Atheism 'get off the hook' when seeking evidence? Is your best evidence really this: 'The Bible makes no sense.'" or better yet, "There's not one shred of evidence supporting a God." Come on! Give me more!

Simply put, "You say there is no God." I say, "There is a God." Who has to do the homework to prove their positon?

Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Mon, 21 May 2007 15:30:00 -0000

Webmaster and Jim Arvo,

This is in reference to your comments to me. I know this is a long blog, but I hope you will consider what I say and read it with an open mind.

The question, as I understand it, is this: "Atheism or Theism, which is right." When many of you enter into this debate you are trying to prove your theory by debunking the Bible. I think we are still along way off from the Bible. There are many who are Theist who do not believe in the Bible. Let us save this until we are farther down the road (if, of course we want to go any farther.) I would respectfully ask you to consider these few points.

Point #1 - The Contrapositive of the Conditional problem.

Let me take you back to high school logic class. Let us suppose this: "If A, then B." This is commonly known as the conditional.

From our conditional, we know that this also is true: "If not B, then not A."

But this is NOT NECESARILY TRUE - "If not A, then not B."

For example, "If I drive too fast (A), then I'm breaking the law (B)."

This is true, "If I'm not breaking the law (not B), then I'm not driving too fast. (not A)".

This is not necessarily true, "If I'm not driving too fast (not A), then I'm not breaking the law.(not B)." I could be breaking the law by stealing or murdering someone as I drive. So this isn't necessarily true.

Would you all agree with this statement: "If there is proof for God's existence (A), then there is a God (B)." Would be willing to believe in God if, someday, we were to find proof? Let's frame this as our conditional.

Well, logically speaking, to say, "If there is not proof for God's existence (notA), then there must not be a God(notB)." does not pass the contrapostive of the conditional test. In other words, since you claim to find no proof for God's existence then you conclude there must not be a God. You are basing your entire worldview on this premise which is not logically true.

Many of you are going to try and 'get me' here. You'll say, but Mike, I can say this: "If there is NOT proof for God's existence (A), then there is not a God (B)." Then I can use your argument against you by saying, "If there is proof for God's existence (not A), then there is a God (not B)".

The difference is this: To be rational, you must say, 'Yeah...in 10 years or so, there MIGHT be proof, so I can affirm the first notion.' But, the second notion must be false if I've already found proof of God's existence. In other words, to prove this statment "There is no gold in China" is false, I just have to find one peice of gold to disprove your notion.

#2 - "Extraordinary events require extraordinary claims." problem.

I keep trying to ask you, 'Why do you feel that it is the theist job to provide the burden of proof for the existence of God.' You keep trying to debunk the Bible and tell me about Big Foot and green cheese on Mars and how I haven't found proof for this.

I wonder, where you get the notion that the theist must provide proof and you do not. You may get this notion from David Hume, a 1700's Scottish philospher. He said, "Extraordinary claims requires extraordinary explanations."

Quite true up to a point. If I were to say, "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact." then, yes, I would need to provide the burden of proof.

The problem is this: There are two ways to determine truth....deductive and inductive reasoning. Deduction deals with formal logic that produces necessary conclusions; conclusions that are 100% certain. Induction deals with informal arguments and yields probable conclusions. When dealing with history, (law and many times science) one must use inductive reasoning.

The problem is your criteria. Many times, you ask for evidence that simply cannot be met. Unless I have a video tape, I cannot prove to you with 100% cetainty the validy of the resurrection or the nature of creation. You must use reason and logic to come to a conclusion.

Now, (WIHTOUT debating the resurrection - save for later) for us in this little debate, remember our question. "Is it the atheist or the theist perogative to provide the burden of proof". You say it is the Theist because his view is 'extraordinary'. But I say, it is the atheist view because his view is also extraordinary. And what are the fantastice claims of each worldview?

Theistic Fantastic Claim - God created the universe.
Atheistic Fantasitic Claim - The universe came from nothing.

BOTH VIEWS require the burden of proof....both views require faith. Without debunking the Bible, prove to me that Atheism (naturalism) works with anything other than faith in itself? Trying to second guess your response, you might say, "Well, prove to me Theism works." Here goes:

Here's my proof for Theism:
1. Why don't atoms collide with one another on a subatomic level? Answer - God made them that way.
2. Why does a flamigo have a backwards kneecap? Answer - God made him that way.
3. Why are most fruits so yummy? Answer - God made it that way.
4. Why does the penis fit so perfectly in the vagina? Answer - God made it that way, to enjoy.
5. If our planet is just a mile or two closer to the sun, we'd burn up...a mile or two away, we'd freeze. How did it line up so perfectly? Answer - God made it like that.
6. How come there are so many types of fish in the ocean? Answer - God made it that way.

All of my 'proofs' require a degree of inductive reasoning and a large degree of faith. What are your answers to these questions? Do they require induction too? Do they require faith as well?

It's like this: Suppose we are in a painting. Suppose we could talk. You are the flower and I'm the tree. Let's take a listen....

Tree: "Wow! Look at us, we're beautiful! Wasn't our Painter so talented?!"

Flower: "I don't think so. There is no painter? I haven't seen him. There is no proof for him."

Tree: "Then, how did we get here?"

Flower: "I think some monkey took a dump and a baboon picked up his turd and slung it on this canvas...and here we are."

Tree: "That is a fantastic claim. How do you know this?"

Flower: "I know this because you've provided no evidence to the contrary proving your view."

Kind of silly right. The flower dismissed himself from the debate on the grounds that the tree had the absurd claim. Which claim is the most absurd in your opinion?

#3 - The absoluteness of saying 'there is no God.'

To say, "There is no God." is so absolute. It is like me saying, "There is no gold in China." The rational person will say, "I don't know if there is gold in China, there might be." Isn't it the same with God?

I realize that my view is just as absolute. But I base this not only on induction, but also on faith. Yet you say, by your own admission that it takes no faith to believe in atheism. It is the absence of faith. I'm at a complete and total loss to understand why you feel this way?

There might be a God. Remember, our debate is about God's existence without debunking or exalting the Bible. So, can you say with me that there MIGHT be a God?

But, just as there might be a God, this God just might be the God of the Bible (Want to go here next?) If we were to go here, you must be able to say that an atheist view takes faith and that there 'might' be a God. Be warned!

I hope you will not take offense at my questions. I'm just seeking dialogue, and I had an hour to kill today at work. I'm sure you have a response that will be equally filled with vigor.

Thanks for your time.
Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:14:00 -0000

Alan,

You said, "...its probably impossible to know anything about what preceded the Big Bang.."

So, you believe in the Big Bang? Well, how do you KNOW that the Big Bang is true? Can you prove it with 100% certainty? No. You can only say, "Well...smart scientist said so, so I believe them!" Or better yet...."Creation guys have NOT proved theirs....so I have to believe this!"

You say, "Prove to me that there is a God." I simply can't! If I produced a video tape of God making the universe would you then believe? I can 'infer' based on looking at creation. You can't prove the Big Bang is how we got here with any certianty either.

I believe you have proven my point within your point. By your own admission, you say that it is impossible to know what preceeded the Big Bang. So...you don't know FOR SURE that God DID or DID NOT make our world. But, you talk as if you are sure atheism is the most logical explanation of our world.

Alan, seriously...you say, "We've advanced as far as we have because we moved past religious explanations, stopped taking things on faith, and developed better ways of understanding the world around us."....

Uhhhh.....You ARE taking things on faith! Your 'explanation' for our existence is just as 'crazy' as mine!

Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:22:00 -0000

.:Webmaster,

OK....here goes....Let me just change a few words around and whallay...you have completely shown my view too! I've capitalized words I've changed.
-------------------------

MikeG: "Theistic Fantastic Claim - God created the universe.

Atheistic Fantasitic Claim - The universe came from nothing."

No WEB DAVE. This is your ATHEISTIC claim:

"A super-duper, outside of all known BIG EXPLOSION, worthy of our complete blind faith, which can not be proven in any known way, created the universe, and those who fail to come to believe in this SCIENTIFIC FACT are STUPID, BLIND and UNSCIENTIFIC.

THEISTIC claim:

"The ATHEISTIC claim is interesting, but a Super-natural explanation seems much more likely, especially considering how so many dogmatic claims by ATHEIST in history have been proven erroneous as knowledge has been accumulated. ... However, if any verifiable evidence can ever be presented indicating the existence of said EXPLOSION, then perhaps research could be performed to identify if this EXPLOSION had any thing to do with creating the universe."

Web, if you are playing this game, then you gotta use your own rules. Give ME proof that Naturalism is the correct way to interpret our world.

Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:42:00 -0000

Dave8,

I'm unsure if you are sure what 'meta-cosmology' means. But, I'll take you at your best. Any way, I have time for one. You said, "It's logically fallacious to suggest you can speak about something beyond your natural existence.".

So, if it is not outside your natural existence, then it is 'bad' to talk about it. What about love? is that in our natural existence? If so how? Please explain using scientific terms.

As far as your questions: I'll play your game. I believe in rational theism.

Mike

Re: Debating the existence of God - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 26 May 2007 11:52:00 -0000

Jim,

You just said, "You (Mike) attack the position "no evidence proves non-existence", which is not held by anybody I know."

From what I'm reading here, that is PRECISLEY the typical atheist response. Your comrades have said something like this to me time and time again, "If there is a God, prove it....ahh...you can't, I must reject theism then." For them, 'no evidence proves non-existence'. You haven't honestly looked in the mirror, Jim.

Want proof that you hold to this presupposition?
- Read 'Alanh' posted May 21st...last paragraph...
- Read ".:Webmaster" May 17th last paragraph....
- Even you Jim said on May 15th, "If you make a fantastic claim and provide no credible evidence for it, then I am behaving rationally by not believing it."

You are saying in essence, "No evidence proves non-existence."

If you were to say, "If you make a fantastic claim and provide WHAT I FEEL IS NO credible evidence for it, then I am behaving rationally by SAYING "YOUR VIEW IS PROBABLY NOT CORRECT." I'd let you off the hook. But you have become dogmatic.

Mike

Re: How To Set Up Cleat Positioning

Mike — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:29:44 -0000

Eddie, care to share where you had the specialist service, with the litany of people offering bike fit's these days a good recommendation is a very good reference.

Re: Jayco Herald Sun Tour – Are You Pumped???

Mike — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:32:51 -0000

Wade, make sure you have your helmet cam on for this one.
Mike

Re: TGIF

Mike — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:47:55 -0000

One HD have in listed to replay at 3:45am Saturday morning, the perfect motivation for that early morning ride.
Cheers

Re: More Cyclist Rants In The Media…

Mike — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:07:59 -0000

don't reply to NH - she's just baiting

Re: More Cyclist Rants In The Media…

Mike — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:58:44 -0000

Wade, if they are going to put it to air, please ensure that you get it posted on this so we can hopefully get a fair hearing to a reasonable argument.

Re: Lanterne Rouge Stage 12 – Go Kenny!

Mike — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:50:24 -0000

And how many Tours have you finished? Or started for that matter?

Re: Beware Of Dodgy Advertisers

Mike — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:50:40 -0000

that's great CT. When new to the sport you always wonder what is legitimately a good product or service and what is crap. Great move to have this credibility behind you. I will check out any ads you place with keen interest.

Re: Velodramatic

Mike — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:05:44 -0000

love the photos. Velodramatic should write some tips here on how to take good cycling shots

Re: Theo Bos To Switch Sports?

Mike — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:58:30 -0000

After looking at some videos of the crash and reading Bos's statement I dont think it was intentional. Look at the crappy job they did setting up the barriers and how close they were riding to them. Should he have put his hand up to Impey's back, no. But It is certainly believable that Bos's front wheel hit one of the barrier feet causing him to crash and take Impey down with him.

Re: Theo Bos To Switch Sports?

Mike — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:08:13 -0000

Take a look at the barriers. They were zig zagging all over the place.

Re: Watch Gent Wavelgem Live!

Mike — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:15:37 -0000

Thanks CTB! This is the best TIP you've given yet!

Re: I know the bible is crap but then how do I explain THIS? - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:28:00 -0000

Anonymous,

You said, "give him a try and it will never be regretted!".

Let me tell you. I regret it. I was crippled at nineteen years old. I cant tell you how many times I have cried out to god for help, for healing of the physical and emotional pain. I was a christian, but was he there-NO! There was no comfort, there was nothing from this so called loving god. My life has been extremly hard and poor because of this wreck. Was god there to help me help myself-again NO!

Why do you think we are exchristians? We woke up and learned that the only way to be a christian is to be able to self delude yourself.

Of course I am sure you will have the same old answers that maybe I was not a real christian, or god has a plan. But after twenty five years of crying out to god he has never been there, and never had a plan!

I am better of without the phoney son of a bitch.

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:55:00 -0000

It just amazes me how all you atheists can feel so superior in your enlightened open minds but you all still have to resort to belittling comments and petty insults toward people who do believe in God. That is how cowards behave because they are afraid of what they don't understand. Is that really how you expect to get the rest of the world to respect your beliefs? I just read an article about atheists being disrespected in the armed forces and I agreed with the author's point of view 100%. But if you cannot show the same respect for others' beliefs that you are demanding for your own then you can't really expect to get anything more than the same treatment.

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 18:21:00 -0000

The point where all atheists, or excuse me, ex-christians, fall out of faith is when they can no longer stand the idiocy being spouted by the fundamentalists. I can't stand them either. The fundies are doing more damage to Christianity than atheists are. But if you don't believe them and you don't believe the Bible don't blame God, blame the ignorant, albeit well-meaning, fools who wrote the Bible. God didn't write the Bible and He is not guilty of half the crap that is written about Him.

But if you truly want to take a step further, try reading "The Sins of Scripture" by John Shelby Spong.

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 20:15:00 -0000

I'm not sure I called anyone a bigot but if I implied that it was not my intention,

Dave8, I have to say I agree with pretty much everything you said. Truth is not absolute. Fact is absolute; Truth is relative.

And when I said "all atheists" that was an over generalization on my part and I apologize. The point I was trying to make was that the fundamentalists in their insistance on interpreting the bible literally are perpetuating the ridiculous notion of the mythological god and that's when people stop believing.

I had a hard time with my faith for this very reason and I continued to study the bible and try to discern what the writers meant and how they perceived actual events which influenced their writings. And they did get it wrong quite often. After all, they believed the world was flat and those kinds of perceptions affected their understanding and therefore their writing.

Now, I do believe in God, I believe in Jesus. I do not believe in the virgin birth. When the book of Isaiah was translated into greek the word virgin was used in translation for woman. Also, if Jesus had been born of a virgin I think Paul might have mentioned something about it as would Mark but neither of them did because the tradition of the virgin birth was added much later.

Christianity went through at least 2 to 5 years before Paul wrote anything on the subject and then another 25 to 30 years of oral tradition before the first Gospel (Mark) was written.

The writers got much of it wrong. They meant well but they still got much of it wrong. But they didn't all just make it up. Something remarkable did happen regarding a man named Jesus and it is the Relative truth not the Factual doctrine should be addressed.

The bible is not the word of God, it is an interpretation, a perception of events. In order to begin to understand the bible it must be read using the frame of mind and understanding the level of intelligence of the people who wrote it.

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 22:56:00 -0000

No, Adam and Eve, the six days and original sin are all mythological tales based on moral truths. And no, I will not stop believing in Jesus just because the bible writers and everyone since have gotten the interpretation wrong.

They were all writing about something real. Their perceptions of what they experienced were as naive as the era and the translators stretched these perceptions even further.

I don't blame God for the lies told about Him.

When I read something in the bible and I think it is not something that a loving god would do then I tend to think that that is a mis-representation, a common belief of the age for example.

For instance, I don't believe that Paul's condemnation of homosexuals is the Word of God. I do think, however, that Paul may very well have been homosexual and abhored himself because of it which is why he preached it as an abomination.

The bible offers alternatives other than the fundamentalist interpretation which is just nonsense. It's very exciting to see what comes of the bible when you read it, not as if the writers are all deliberately trying to dupe you (which makes no sense), but as if the writers were very simple people trying to describe and understand something far greater than themselves.

Re: Atheism has made me a better person - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:05:00 -0000

Spirula, to me it's kind of like shopping at Best Buy on a slow day. Everybody in the store will approach you , sometimes multiples times asking if you need help. The first time it's not too annoying, especially if you are looking for help, eventually it gets really annoying. They are all trying to be sincerely helpful, but they don't know that 50 people before them have already offered help.

Maybe we should all wear, "No thanks, I already tried Jesus" hats or something similar reflecting our individual experience.

Re: Atheism has made me a better person - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:04:00 -0000

Spirula,

Well, it would deter a few of them, but I agree with you, probably not most. I have had a few friends act like I told them I just joined NAMBLA when I came out as an Atheist.

Their belief structure can't handle any concept but friend or enemy of the cross.

Re: "A Sabbatical?" or "My Anti-Testimony" - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 18:15:00 -0000

A very interesting and I’m sure for some very challenging autobiography. Webmaster Dave may I ask during this period of your life and the many ups and downs why you felt or knew at that time you were a Christian? Was there some particular experiences or physiological phenomena that occurred or were there other reasons such as a decision that you had made etc? Thank you for your attention.

Re: "A Sabbatical?" or "My Anti-Testimony" - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 19:40:00 -0000

I am intrigued by the amount of effort the Webmaster put into his pursuits and wondered what it was that drove him for 30 years. What at the time made him so convinced in what he believed? Was it a series of experiences, a belief system based on certain doctrine, his iron will decision, a desire to be a “somebody” in the community he was in? Did he just cling to a worked up faith in the bible and ignore his feelings or was it more? Were there certain iron clad proofs (within his mind) that he was a believer and if so what changed that? Was that a type of lightening bolt experience or a series of things and then did he merely explain the past away to himself or was there really nothing to explain away? You must admit it is a most fascinating story that takes up most of his life.

Re: "A Sabbatical?" or "My Anti-Testimony" - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 07:07:00 -0000

Surely you must have had some grievous doubts over a 30 year period? What did you do to ease those? Were you utterly convinced that you were a convert and what proofs did you give yourself? How did you reinforce your belief system for so long? Sorry Anony but it doesn’t sound like people turned the Webmaster off at all.

Re: NO TRUE CHRISTIANS! - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:45:00 -0000

Hi. I'm Mike. I'll be honest, I don't trust many Christians, I think most folks who say they're Christians are liars. However, I do know the Bible and when I was 14 I did accept Jesus as my Messiah, and I also pastor a Non-Denominational Church. The verses that were quoted by the leader of this site are not being compared with other scripture. 2 John makes it plain to not wish anyone bearing false doctrine Godspeed. That means don't help that person in his spreading of false doctrine. Jesus was referring to people doing evil things and that we aren't supposed to be vengeful. However, love dictates that you protect the innocent, many times by killing the guilty. You lend and don't expect to get back when someone has a need as a testimony and just as a testimony. However, if giving will hinder God's work, then as 2 John said, don't wish them Godspeed or help them in any way. This site does fall under spreading false doctrine, and to rightly divide the Word and to compare scripture with scripture, it seems to me that this site would be a wrong thing to give any help to.

Re: Exposing Christian Propaganda for What It Is - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:13:00 -0000

My father put us on the Koinonia club mailng list with out telling for the longest time we coudnt figure out were this crazy news letter came fom. All the information was lies and crazy rants on the end of the world. Now my dad believes in u.f.o's be cause of Chuck Missler. I guess if you believe in one fairytale you believe in them all.

Re: Religious Discrimination Continues in the Military - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:12:00 -0000

Just a humble Navy corpsman here, proud to have served a very short and relatively uneventful tour of duty in the Reserves. We had some born agains in my unit and a couple of mormons. Religion however was just not a topic that came up. I do recall in boot camp, however, that all the recruits (well, most of them anyway) seemed to be trying a little too hard to demonstrate to everyone else just religious they were.

Even though I am a believer, I can't stand people who just assume I need to be saved and try to force their beliefs on me. I am glad to say that never happened to me while in the Navy.

Honestly though, I never saw any action during my service so I guess there wasn't much of a test of faith. In fact, I have actually been in more combat action under fire as a paramedic in South Phoenix than I ever had in the military.

I would like to say that I think the chaplains do serve a legitimate purpose in the military; I never knew that accomodations were actually made for satanists but I can understand the military illogic behind that. I can also see why the military has no accomodations for atheists simply because the military probably doesn't realize that there might be something they can provide. But that's no excuse.

I do not agree with the the beliefs of the atheists but if an atheist is willing to pick up a rifle and defend my right to disagree with him/her then the atheist deserves as much respect as anyone else who wears the uniform.

Re: Religious Discrimination Continues in the Military - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 21:24:00 -0000

Wait. . . . we were supposed to be shooting at targets?

Re: http://steintranquility.blogspot.com/2009/04/sky-watch_16.html

Mike — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:39:00 -0000

Beautiful symmetry in that shot :)
My Skywatch

Re: http://steintranquility.blogspot.com/2009/11/final-glimpse.html

Mike — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:47:31 -0000

Cool images!

Re: http://leftofthehill.blogspot.com/2009/01/sharon-bulova-asks-for-your-vote.html

Mike — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:32:00 -0000

Go Sharon, go! We need her to continue to push for Tyson's redevelopment, the Metro extension to Dulles, and delicate handling of the budget crisis.

Re: http://www.krististephens.com/2009/03/ultimate-blog-party.html

Mike — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:11:00 -0000

Hello there. Knocking on your door from the blog party. Hope you don’t mind.

Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com

Twitter: About Parenting

Re: Zelda!

Mike — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:07:11 -0000

skulle inte resultatet komma någon gång zelda är grymt bra

Re: http://newbloggingtipz.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-methods-to-increase-your-alexa-rank.html

Mike — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:30:43 -0000

Thanks for the tips. I did installed alexa toolbar but my AntiVirus keep telling me it's an Adware so I am not using it now. Very good article about Alexa.
Best Deals Online

Re: http://j-travel.blogspot.com/2008/06/foods-of-bukit-gambir-muar-johor.html

Mike — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Hello from New York! Those look very good. I don't drink coffee but that looks very good still. I watch a lot of the travel and cooking shows here. I have a Food blog on my favorites.

Re: Awards Verification Center aka Silverleaf Resorts aka – that blue postcard in the mail!

Mike — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:27:24 -0000

I just got a blue postcard saying all the same things you are all talkng about. Trip to vegas/orlando, $49,000, etc. My appointment is set for january 4th. What exactly is the scam? I dont have to travel all that far and i was promised a gaurenteed prize of $500 cash. Almost seems like its worth a shot. Anyone actually get anything from these jokers or what?

Re: Awards Verification Center aka Silverleaf Resorts aka – that blue postcard in the mail!

Mike — Tue, 29 May 2007 18:09:29 -0000

theie still at it , i just won a mercedes benz
how can they get away with this?

Re: http://ilblogdilameduck.blogspot.com/2009/09/tengo-famiglia.html

Mike — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:04:45 -0000

Bersani: Col popolo ci stiamo noi, loro aiutano i ricchi evasori...

era ora. E' finalmente tornata la lotta del proletariato. Evviva!

Re: http://ilblogdilameduck.blogspot.com/2009/09/tengo-famiglia.html

Mike — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:04:45 -0000

Bersani: Col popolo ci stiamo noi, loro aiutano i ricchi evasori...

era ora. E' finalmente tornata la lotta del proletariato. Evviva!

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2003/05/philosophy-of-matrix-reloaded.html

Mike — Thu, 12 Jun 2003 01:13:00 -0000

I read somewhere that they were going to make another 3 matrix movies, where the kid was suppose to be the main character and that HE was actually the chosen one. Neo takes him under his wing and trains him, prepares him because he will be the one who will lead the human race.

Also did you guys not also think about that maybe the sentinals are designed not to kill neo because he has to be assimilated back into the matrix, so they automatically shutdown when they are near his body? and that maybe the sentinals create somesort of shockwave when shutdown which made neo fall into a coma?

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2003/06/supercharge-your-browser-follow-up.html

Mike — Mon, 09 Jun 2003 04:58:00 -0000

"The UI for this isn't the greatest (it involves you editing the CSS files manually)"

There is a slightly better interface for this editing. Open a new tab, and type in about:config into the URL bar. This will give you an XUL listing of all preferences in the browser, with a simple interface to turn options on & off (true & false, respectively).

The first thing I do is set "browser.tabs.autoHide" to false; I like my tab bar to stick around, even if only one tab is open.

Re: http://tins.rklau.com/2003/11/web-hosting-suggestions.html

Mike — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 20:37:00 -0000

i use www.ilovewebsites.com
i've tried many different hosts and i've had the best results with them.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:48:00 -0000

Hey, what's one more social network URL to remember?

I'll take an invite and let you send me your music.

Re: Newsome.Org

Mike — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 21:10:00 -0000

Partial feeds. The only partial feed blogs that I keep are ones of friends that don't know how to turn them off. There's some A-lister that I accidentally resubscribe to every couple of months and then unsubscribe when I see the partial feeds.

Using the post teasers on the main page of the blog doesn't bother me, but partial feeds are another evil story.

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/01/zune-surface-touch-screen-device.html

Mike — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:53:00 -0000

haha Karen thanks for quoting me lol. I do agree with you on the standpoint that its cool having several devices that serve as a powerhouse in their own respective fields, but unfortunately... I can only fit so many things into my jeans pockets lol

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/01/zune-surface-touch-screen-device.html

Mike — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:31:00 -0000

ya on that subject of the cameras... sonys releasing a cybershot phone lol. starting with a 5mp with full capabilities. a year and 1/2 after that theyre projecting the 7mp version on a (4)g network. craaazy cool... but thats just me

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/01/zune-surface-touch-screen-device.html

Mike — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:55:00 -0000

ha i know, its easier for women cause they have purses. our only option is 1) everything in 1 2) stuff teh pants pockets awkwardly (haha) or 3) ask our lady friends to carry our excess necessity electronics whenever we go out lol. oh well... i just would really love to see this as a reality sometime soon.. and theres nothing wrong with sesame street. but thats just me haha (notice the effort at the recurring quote ^,^)

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/06/zune-system-maintenance-beginning-june.html

Mike — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:30:42 -0000

both services were down so that the microsoft team could collaborate the two portals together. since xbox live is now linked to the zune marketplace, they needed to shut both services down temporarily to integrate the two.

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/07/will-next-gen-ipod-touch-outshine-zune.html

Mike — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:25:52 -0000

granted, as much as I would enjoy the camera feature, i would overall find it a bit cumbersome. since i always carry my phone on me, i always have a camera at the ready, and by the time I own a Zune HD, i'll also have an android phone that'll have a better resolution than the one Apple uses in their devices. I know this seems sort of contrary to one of my previous posts, where I stated the Zune should have a camera, but I think native HD content is more than enough for an upgrade. I just hope that MIcrosoft will make it capable for us to run Win Mobile apps on there, as well as allow us to tinker with some degree of high def gaming on the device. As far as speed goes, based on all the vids i've seen, the NVidia Tegra chip certainly pulls its own weight in regards to providing for a swift device, and I predict that the Zune HD will certainly be faster than Apple's 3rd rehash of the Ipod touch, but that's just the way I see it.
later ^,^

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/08/zune-hd-to-come-in-5-cool-colors.html

Mike — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:09:49 -0000

by the way it looks, we may end up seeing a firmware update at launch. On all the demos we've seen of the device thus far, there has been no evidence/menu option for games, yet on all the presell locations (including the online Microsoft Store), there's constant mention of gaming. I'm just assuming, but thats what I see happening. At this update, I'd also expect to see the capability to use the qwerty keyboard in landscape form, which is a feature we have seen art of, but in demo videos, they have been unable to produce the feature. I don't know what to say, but that's what I expect.

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/08/zune-hd-to-come-in-5-cool-colors.html

Mike — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:18:55 -0000

yes, I am aware of their position on the games/apps viewpoint, as I do get my mp3 insider podcasts, I was just pointing out that there is a lot of hype in the advertisements for the Zune HD that emphasizes games. As Brian pointed out, this is a device meant specifically for music lovers, as opposed to a device like the ipod touch that seems more centered on add ons as opposed to audio/video quality. Just like the EQ, however, I believe that enough of a market request will prompt Microsoft to allow WinMo applications down the road. And I am aware of the landscape keyboard in stills, but in every video I've seen, they've been unable to produce it, as well as I believe there was even a mention of a lack therein of a landscape keyboard in this firmware.

Re: http://www.zunephilippines.com/2009/08/will-gaming-on-zune-hd-be-kinda-awkward.html

Mike — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:12:12 -0000

although i agree it may seem a bit awkward in regards to the fact that the screen isnt centered, i dont think any kind of gameplay would be that difficult, as i would see myself holding it by the sides more. frankly, i couldnt see holding it by the edges at the top/bottom as portrayed here, for fear of accidentally dropping it. nice job on the photoshop there though

Re: http://www.fairyblogmotherblog.com/2009/09/timex-wireless-fitness-tracker-giveaway.html

Mike — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:46:03 -0000

I really like the Expedition E-Tide Temp Compass Watch.I spend a lot of time outdoors.

Re: Yo Betty, lets go camping and pack the cocktails! A review and giveaway!

Mike — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:08:00 -0000

i want to win

Re: http://spyswings.blogspot.com/2009/06/thats-all-she-wrote.html

Mike — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:15:07 -0000

Great stuff! Keep it coming...

Re: http://spyswings.blogspot.com/2009/10/can-it-be-more-clear-than-this.html

Mike — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:50:57 -0000

Looks good, may be setting up for a 1-2, 1-2. 104.50 could be a good short...

Re: The elusive Chocodile

Mike — Tue, 11 Dec 2001 21:36:57 -0000

The peanut butter ones were the best. I think the cake was chocolate in those and the filling was peanut buttery. I was beginning to think that I was hallucinating the existence of Chocodiles. Remember the crocodile who was the Cartoon Spokesanimal? I ate them in Los Angeles as a child in the 70's.

Re: fiene & dienstag

Mike — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 07:17:00 -0000

yeah... radio eins ist wirklich der bester Sender ;-)

Re: http://ourlittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/06/very-special-weekend.html

Mike — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:27:16 -0000

great weekend! how come your blogger header isn't "home to two creative tree-hugging idealists"?

Re: The new iMac, oh so sexy

Mike — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:53:00 -0000

Sorry, I thought I asked it to hide my email before...can you remove that? Thanks.

Re: The new iMac, oh so sexy

Mike — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:48:00 -0000

For the record, I have never owned a mac. I haven't even used them that much. I'm pretty much a windows man with a bit of linux thrown in.

Originally, the thing that got me thinking about buying a mac was the ability to use parallels to run windows on them. I just like the idea of having that flexibility.

However, now as I get closer to that point of purchase, that original reason seems to have faded into the background...one of those things I'll eventually get to but not a big priority probably. ;)

Re: Even MORE Commercials in Movie Theaters on the Way?

Mike — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 12:52:12 -0000

Question: Why do most people go the movies these days anyway?

With the increasing affordability of a decent home theater, coupled with the convenience of Netflicks and the like, it seems to me that the movie itself is increasingly a commodity.

Answer: People go the the movies for the experience!

Theaters would do well to learn from successful service-oriented companies like Starbucks that have focused on selling the experience, not the commodity. Last I checked they donâ€™t run advertisements for those waiting in line for their cup of joe.

For example, what ever happened to the short films and cartoons that would be played prior to the main movie?

Re: http://agenda-mea.blogspot.com/2009/02/pif-nu-murit-doar-plecat-un-pic.html

Mike — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:44:00 -0000

Nu am auzit niciodată de Pif. Probabil pentru că sunt "mai nou", născut imediat după revoluţie. Oricum, naşpa că nu se mai printează. Acum desenele pentru copii sunt pline de violenţă şi alte tâmpenii, nu se mai fac desene ca altădată...

Re: http://www.gorkem-ercan.com/2008/07/symbian-foundation-and-eclipse.html

Mike — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:15:00 -0000

To be honest, I am not sure if I understand the question.

I think the Symbian Foundation is great news for Eclipse, and we are going to help them any way we can.

Is your post suggesting that Symbian should be done at Eclipse rather than creating their own foundation? Or...?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:25:00 -0000

Hi, Dave8:
I admire yout conviction. I also admire how you can accuse churches of repression, bigotry, discrimination (I'm paraphrasing)when you are just as guilty.
"churches are in the business of tormenting society, telling everyone they're going to hell, because they were born of "Sin"..." Isn't that what you said? Mark Twain once said "It is better to keep one's mouth shut and only appear dumb than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt". Now, I must agree that there are some churches that may fit your description but those churches are few and far between and you obviously have not visited any churches with an open mind.
Now listen carefully and try not to hurt yourself. . . Faith in God requires just that, faith. Knowing something exists because there is impirical evidence to back it up requires no effort. Faith requires effort and that is how we believe in God.
The Bible is a guide book not a history book. I am well aware of the fact that much of the Bible is myth. I am also not concerned with that. I am, however, only concerned with the teachings of the Bible. I am not concerned with whether Jesus was born of a virgin or whether He might have been married. I am only concerned with what He teaches us.
Oh, and one more thing, we were all born of sin. Human beings are inherantly evil. Do you know why? Because evil requires no effort. Good does. When you feed wood to a fire you maintain the warmth and the light. Stop feeding the fire and cold and darkness ensues. When you stop striving for goodness evil ensues. That argument, by the way, can be supported by physics. remember, darkness is merely the absence of light.

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:36:00 -0000

By the way, Dave8, Amethyst, Ped. Did any of you love your parents?
I'm not trying to be rude, it is a serious question.

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:55:00 -0000

Cerise,
"Well that's a big pile of bullshit. Where did you come up with that? Good requires effort, yeah as much as maybe breathing."
Was this comment of yours inspird by goodness? How much effort did it require?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 21:12:00 -0000

Webmaster, you make an excellant point. No, I don't think it would be easy to murder and rape but I would if I had no conscience. It would be a lot easier to do such things if there were no consequences. Now, you said you might lie to your wife and tell her she's beautiful in the morning when she isn't looking her best but aren't you doing so because it is easier than telling her the truth and dealing with the fight it will cause when you hurt her feelings?
Now let me quote you here for just a moment, "the fiery pit of hell" that is a very mythological depiction of Hell. I believe Hell to be simply a cessation of existence. Perhaps I should clarify myself a little better. I believe it is harder to do good than it is NOT to do good and by not striving to do good I would simply cease to exist when my time comes.
I enjoyed your response, thank you.

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 22:43:00 -0000

Well, Webmaster, you say that writing is hard work but you enjoy it because it energizes you. But you don't like cleaning the house and that makes it un-enjoyable, hard work. But still,it must be done and you do it because you know the consequences (a filthy house) and you choose not to accept them. And I think your providing this website is wonderful! And I appreciate you allowing me to express my opinions here. Yes, all animals, including humans, are selfish in one degree or another. To rise above that selfishness and take an active role in being good to others is the very essence of Christianity. Now I agree that some religions get distorted and are used as an instrument of oppression by those who are merely seeking power. But God gave us all free will. That is why I can look beyond the distortions and corruption and see the true God for myself. On the same note that is why you can choose not to believe in God. God gave you that right, that choice, when He gave you free will. The gift of eternal life is God's gift so if we want it we only need to follow His commandments and believe in Him. We may also choose not to accept that gift. Now, you said, "the whole threat of eternal damnation (or ceasing to exist) vs. eternal bliss in a city where the streets are paved with gold - that's hitting right on that old survival instinct. We want to live and Christianity promises an eternal life." I'm a little confused here, it sounds like you are proving MY point. Oh and streets paved with gold, that's El Dorado, not Heaven. Also, you say that maintaining this website is a labor of love, it energizes you. That's precisely what I was talking about when I wrote about feeding wood to the fire. If you stopped providing this website it would cease to exist. Finally, the whole essence of Christianity IS eternal life. That's like saying the sun is bright and shining but does not offer light. Oh, and if my wife did happen to ask me if she looked beautiful when she just woke up and was not, at the moment, looking her best, I would tell her "at the moment you don't look as hot as you usually do." Then I would accept the consequences and grovel for her forgiveness. By doing that she knows I am telling her the truth when I do tell her she is beautiful.

Oh, I wanted to mention, I was looking back and reading what I wrote to dave8 and it was pretty insulting. I would like to apologize to him. I tend to respond to rudeness in like manner. . .It's easier.
Thank you.

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 00:02:00 -0000

The absence of warmth is cold. The absence of light is darkness. The absence of life is death. The absence of good is evil. Cerise, you say "the good" thing to do would have been to ignore my silly coment but instead you felt it necessary to respond and insult me. Is it easier to make an insult than to make a compliment, or an apology?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 01:06:00 -0000

You quoted me quite well, Passerby, but you really didn't listen, did you? I said much of the Bible is myth but I also said the Bible is a guide book. The lessons are what's important. The Bible was written by several different authors over hundreds of years. It was also written during a time when myths were the way inwhich moral truths were taught. If ten different people tell the same story you will hear ten different versions of that same story. Facts can be mis-construed and fallible human beings have a habit of embellishing the truth as well. The details of a story may be distorted. Therefore they are not as important as the moral truths that the story is demonstrating.
now let's see:
Talking snakes?
Talking donkey?
Talking bush?
Person lived in whale for 3 days?
A beast with 7 heads and 10 horns?
A woman impregnated by a Ghost?
And a man-god popped out?
A man rose from the dead?
God authored 10, 20, 30 commandments?
Giants?
Fire breathing leviathan?
If you must insist on focusing all your attention on these details you will never understand the meaning of the stories. I'll say it again, it is the moral truths, not the details, that are important. Now, can you pick out the lesson of any of the stories you pulled your details from and tell me that they are wrong?

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 01:21:00 -0000

webmaster, if you were homeless and near death with no shelter from the winter cold and I were to invite you into my home and say "stay as long as you like, eat my food, drink my beer, watch my TV until the wee hours of the night would you consider it selfish of me to ask you not to smoke or leave your dirty underwear on the bathroom sink? Would you be thankful or would you assume that I am just taking you in to deceive you? By the way, you also have the choice to refuse my offer and remain out in the cold. Oh yeah, and if you do accept my offer you still have to walk to the door and come inside. I'm not going to carry you. I have bad knees.

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 01:45:00 -0000

Of course there are moral truths in other books, the truth is the truth. Jesus never claimed to be the first person to ever tell the truth. And if we're going to have a intellectual conversation will you please pay attention? I never said the Bible is nothing but a book of myths. I said that much of the bible is myth and I also said that myths were the manner inwhich moral truths were told in the times the bible was written. And the fact that you seem to think that the Bible only has "some" moral lessons in it leads me to believe that you really are not paying any attention when you read it.

Re: Professor apologizes for e-mail - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

Mike — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:04:00 -0000

Wow, dave8, very impressive how you can quote the Bible so easily to suit your own purposes and then chastize me and any other christian of doing just that. As far as your grand list of atrocities throughout the ages, all in the name of God, thank you very much for proving my point that humans are inherantly evil. If I went out and murdered someone right now and then said I did it because you, dave8 said it was the right thing to do, even though you never said such a thing, would you still be guilty? Oh, and surprisingly enough, my wife is Native American also. She is 1/2 Ute and 1/2 Jicarilla Apache. I am currently a paramedic on and Indian reservation. I also never said children were evil, although I understand how you warped what I have said to suit your own purposes. You all seem hell bent on insulting me and trying to put words in my mouth so that you may accuse me of repressing you yet you demand that I respect your beliefs while you call me a fool for my own beliefs. Who's the hypocrite? And, webmaster, "He just responds with deflecting questions colored by an accusatory tone." You still have not answered my question. And you have no right to accuse me of being rude when you all have been just as rude if not more so. I entered this site after reading an article about a university professor and I was truly interested in hearing what you all had to say. I was greeted with hostility. If you athiests and ex-christians and agnostics are so much more enlightened than the rest of us foolish christians then why is that you must resort to childish school yard insults and hypocrisy to prove your points?

Re: Religious Discrimination Continues in the Military - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 00:15:00 -0000

There's an old saying among corpsman: we carry two bullets in our .45s one for our patient and one for ourselves. despite the obvious morbid insinuations in this saying it would seem pretty clear that both targets ought to be significantly less than 500 hundred yards so if we can't make those two shots than we're pretty well F#@ked anyway. lol

Re: Paul Harvey’s REVISED Christmas Tale - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 01:20:00 -0000

I have heard this story before and I just love it. It demonstrates to me what kind of parables modern disciples would have written if the bible was being written in this era rather than in the first century. Now, would anyone in the here and now believe that this actually happened? Or would we think it is what it is, a nice story depicting a moral truth?

This is what the writers of the bible were faced with back in the first century. They needed to describe something and they were completely unprepared for the task so they did the best they could using poetry, metaphores, analogies and relations to old testament figures of greatness to describe that which was true yet tottally beyond the limits of their comprehension.

This story is a parable describing perhaps why God chose to come to earth as jesus so that He could bring himself down to there level and make them understand.

I know most everyone here doesn' t believe and I respect your beliefs. But if I may be so bold as to ask that from time to time you point your unbelief at the lunacy of the fundamentalist interpretation of god and not at the real God who is NOT portrayed in the bible.

Re: Paul Harvey’s REVISED Christmas Tale - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 23:52:00 -0000

dave8, I'm not sure I follow you but I think that may be because I am not explaining myself very well.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the true God is visible in all living things. Like I was trying to relate God as the Chi in an earlier post. That also does not quite hit the nail on the head either but, as was the problem with the first century writers of the bible, I am attempting to describe something with the limits of my own knowledge and perceptions. I believe God to be a real force throughout the universe and the bible is a source for understanding but absolutely not the word of God.

If Dave8 were the personified God (and I'm not trying to insult you, I'm just making an example) and a group of people wrote in the bible that Dave8 said anyone caught working on the sabbath must be taken out of the city and stoned until death. would it be your fault and would we all have the right to blame you for this atrocity simply because a bunc of ignorant fools swore that this is your word and your law?

Would it be your word simply because some fundamentalist, fallable human being said so? Of course not.

Dave8, you and I have had some really indepth discussions lately and I have come to respect your and I could not imagine you saying something so insane. I also cannot believe for one minute that God said this either. Now, does this mean there is no God? No, this simply means some ignorant but well meaning fool tried to describe the all powerful God in a rather terrible and ominous way so that the enemies of the Jews would truly fear the awesome and all powerful Jewish god.

Re: Creationism by Any Other Name - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 16:44:00 -0000

This is the first time I have actually bothered to look further into the claims of ID. It really sounds to me like this would be what the fundamentalist's arguments will evolve into in another thousand years or so. Just like when they finally consented that the world was not flat.

I think the ID folks are on the right track but not quite there yet. There are still a lot more questions to ask and answer.

I will never be smart enough to make any of these grand theories myself but I like to keep it kind of simple. We're all talking abou life. God is life and life is intelligent.

I do read just enough hebrew and greek to know that Jesus was not born of a virgin but of a young woman.

Re: The Bible is true - I'll prove it! - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:10:00 -0000

This page is funny. I saw a list of uses for "bi-bull" pages, and should add to it. The misfits in a little texas town use them for rolling papers.

Re: The Three Keys to Heaven - By azsuperman01 - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 11:46:00 -0000

Paul, I am going to need you to come in on Saturday, yeah that would be great, and I am going to need you to come in on Sunday, yeah that would be great thanks. And make sure you have those TPS reports to me before five yeah thanks.

Don't feel bad, I used to be a drone too.

Re: Christianity IS Mind Control - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:39:00 -0000

That was a waste of time.

Re: The brain - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:08:00 -0000

I have to add my comment on the "healing" thing. I was crippled when I was 19 years old by a drunk driver. Of course being a Christian I went to many so called healing ministries, evangelist, and my church officails, who all believed in healing. The one thing that I noticed in all these healing services is that the only people who seam to be "healed" are the ones with very basic achs and pains. There are wild claims about people in wheelchairs walking, but they were just people who let their health go, overweight, old, or lazy or just did not want to walk much. No one with a true spinal chord injury was ever healed. Also, I have seen poor young children with cereberal palsey and other horrible conditions go home with nothing while people were claiming to be healed of things you could not see, such as ear aches, back aches and other minor problems. The point being. I challenge anyone who claims that such miraculus healings occured to show documented proof. I bet you will find that no one, NO ONE, with a true medical condition like paralysis etc has ever been healed. Some claim that cancer has been healed, but we know of many documented cases of spontaneous remissions. Why is it that all these people growing legs, raising the dead, and other outlandish claims always happen in Africa? Chrisitians claim that it is because there is more "faith" there. Hogwash, if you believe that dead people can be raised, then why not here in America? Why would the dead man need faith? He cant have faith he is dead! Excuses, excuses.

Re: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:51:00 -0000

It is said that Adam sinned by his own free will. But, without knowledge did Adam truly have free will? It seems that God did set it up so that Adam would fail. Pretty sick to send people to hell now when it was God that really caused man to fall. What do you think?

Re: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:53:00 -0000

Man, there are some really smart people on this website. I love it. Thanks for the comments all.

Re: Logical Proof that God doesn't exist - Prayer - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 11:50:00 -0000

Even Christians dont believe in the "power of prayer" totally. When they get very sick they run to the doctor. Could it be that in their hearts they know that in serious things prayer does not really work. For instance, if they believe that it is "Gods will" no matter the outcome, why go to the doctor and try to be healed? Would it not be logical to just pray and see what happens?

As I say, I do not think christians really believe half of what they spout off about from the pulpits.

Re: Holy Christian Beatdown - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:14:00 -0000

It makes me sick.

No wonder these people believe in God- they dont know how to think for themselves.

We should not be surprised. If one looks at the history of the "christian" church all one will see is abuse, murder, and hypocrisy. When christians are in charge there is horrible attrocities. Just look at history.

I hope they through the book at these lunitics.

Re: Holy Christian Beatdown - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:32:00 -0000

please forgive the above spelling errors, this made me so mad.

Re: Holy Christian Beatdown - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:05:00 -0000

kanisha said
You cant blame christ for the actions of men.

Well, yes you can and here is why. The bible claims that christ was there at the begining of the world. Well he suppossedly was involved in the writing of the bible. The bible suggest the beating of your kids ( spare the rod spoil the child), we all know the verses. Then you have christians who cannot use their own brain that take this scripture and apply it. So yes we can blame jesus for teaching such trash in the old testament.

Re: Following God’s example? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:26:00 -0000

I too am where you are at Kevin,

God tells us to love our enemies and do good to them. Yet, he himself does not. Even the bible says that if you love those that love you what good is that. The true mark of love is to be able to love your enemies, and yet, god does not do this. What a hypocrite he is! He wants to send everyone to hell, just because they dont see any evidence that he is anymore real then any other false god.

Re: Following God’s example? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 10:38:00 -0000

Christians are always talking about morality. Funny thing is there is very little of it in churches.

In talking about gods morality it is funny how they sweep things under the carpet just to try and make god look good. The fact of the matter is that morality is or it is not right. A person cannnot split hairs in saying that god has a different morality. The old testiment proves that god is a kind of dictator. After all the way he treated others is no better then Hitler, Saddam, or any other dictators have treated people who did not "toe the mark".

Wake up christians and quit trying to explain away the obvious with such childlike logic.

Re: Following God’s example? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 10:47:00 -0000

Further more, christians argue against abortion as "immoral" and against god. However, in the old testament god commanded that pregnant women would be cut open thus killing them and the baby. Is not this abortion? It seems to me that god is confused. Not to mention that the sins of the fathers wont be put on the children etc etc.

Again it is sickning how christians try to explain this stuff away.

Re: Jesus Lives in Texas! - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:59:00 -0000

I hate to tell you all, but I seen Jesus at the mall. I think he was with Elvis.

Re: Foolish Christians? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:03:00 -0000

Yea, christians talk about being content with what you have, but they sure fight to get all they can. Interesting isnt it?

Re: The Jews are God's chosen people - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:06:00 -0000

PauL,
The true test of love is how one treats their enemies, not those who love you. Christ claims to have such love for people, yet he wants to kill everyone, like a dictator, that does not come under his rule. Wow, just like a human being. Even Jesus taught that it was wrong to take revenge, yet he does, or will not, abide by his own words! What a total hypocrite. And we are to serve a hypocrite? He wants mere, fleshly man, to leave by a standard that he himself willnot?

IF the head is corrupt so will be the body.

Re: The Jews are God's chosen people - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:09:00 -0000

excuse my last post, it is live not leave. I was furious when I wrote. Also, he does not instead of does.

Re: It is NOT OK! - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:17:00 -0000

I just love how all these christians drip and ooze the love of christ!

Re: I LIKE BEING A MONKEY'S UNCLE! - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:13:00 -0000

This is where Christians distort truth. We did not descend from apes. We both descended from a common ancestor.

Love your post man!

Re: Evolution for ID-iots - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:48:00 -0000

Kent Hovind is in jail for tax evasion. I guess christians only really like to live part of the bible.

It is interesting how these "keepers of the so called truth" lie and cheat so much these days.

Re: Does God exist? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Fri, 18 May 2007 12:52:00 -0000

fed up with christians your experience is just like mine in many ways. I too tried to seek god crying my eyes out to know him-but no answer and no comfort. What has given me peace and joy is through my own mind.

Happiness is to be found within not with some pie in the sky hype and hoopla.

I am glad that people are comming forward to tell the world that christianity has lied to us. The promises that the spout off do not line up with real life. The christian promises dont come through unless one is able to get excited about some emotional tickle they might have had.

Re: Does God Heal His Own Human Leaders? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:43:00 -0000

Why dont you know, all the healings are in Africa! We just have to go there for some reason.

I too have prayed for healing only to be ignored by God. Funny thing is my heart really wanted to live for him, but I think he does not care.

Re: Why does God hate me? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:03:00 -0000

Binh

You are yet another christian that is all talk and little of what you preach. How dwells the love of christ in putzes like you. Your letter shows your true attitude. What a fake, what a phoney.

Re: Stop looking at imperfect people; look at 'GOD' instead - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:58:00 -0000

Awesome post and to the point!

To christians, we have looked to God also and he has left us wanting. Why? Because all the promises and hoopla of the christian faith does not pan out in real life.

Awesome post man!

Re: Stop looking at imperfect people; look at 'GOD' instead - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:32:00 -0000

Ah Yes God is at work making Christians wonderful people.

Why is it that christians raise up a few rare individuals as an example of how great christians are?

Yet the divorce rate in the church is slightly higher then in the "real world". Pornography is running near rampant among ministers. Child abuse and molestation is becoming more and more the norm in churches.
Christians are sarcastic and mean and un-giving to the needy when it might hurt their lifestyle.
Yes God is doing a great work in his people!

Just because a few rare saints are doing something good does not mean that is the norm among Christians. If anything it is a rarity.

Re: Cherished Beliefs - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:45:00 -0000

Hey Bill I love the idea that you wrote of:

However, do me the favor of calling the elders of the church to come forward and pray for the sick.

For the last thirty years I have been in a wheelchair due to a drunk driver. When healing does not come christians always have excuses after excuses. They love to sweap away the failures and popularize the seeming successes. But the fact is the retarded child, or the one with a true spinal chord injury, or downs syndrome etc, never get healed. But hey they will always tell the person god loves you and has a great plan for your life! Bullshit ! After thirty years of crying out to god to end the pain, well all I had gotten was pure silence.

Re: Why Can't I Own a Canadian? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:56:00 -0000

Oh, you'll LOVE this. Here is someone's attempt to answer the questions sent to Dr.Laura. I don't know what's funnier, the actual answers or the serious tone the writer takes in response to questions intended to be tongue-in-cheek.

http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/laura.html

Re: Is there "free will" in Christianity? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:59:00 -0000

Great Video? Simple precise logic.

Christians say that God wanted people to worship in free will and not like the angels. If the angels did not have free will, then how were they able to "rebel against god?" Would not free will have to exist for the angels? That negates the whole argument from Christians.
So it would seam that angels really did have free will.

Also, how could anyone love a god, or anybody, that forced you to love them by such a choice as hell or my way? There could not be any real true love in a situation like that. Just acting out of fear.

Maybe that is why so many christians really dont follow it themselves, they just go through the motions in hope that they will escape this hell.

Re: GOD IN A BOX - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Mike — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:51:00 -0000

Jason,

You are an ass...but I have to agree with you about one thing. From an epistomological point of view this experiment is fundamentally flawed.

Re: Beware, The Developer Who Isn't Interested In Development!

Mike — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:50:00 -0000

Really enjoyed this article and agree completely.

Re: Red Alert! The Commies are Coming!

Mike — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:13:00 -0000

Hi! Crazy Guides here....wow wow, thank for such a good review, it s always good to know how much fun and joy you give to people!!!!!
Crazy Mike

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/christ-youre-perv-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:16:00 -0000

Hang on a second, the priest gets offended?

K, according to them, man is modeled after god, and jesus is god, and if jesus isn't allowed to have a boner...

Can you see where this is going? I DON'T LIKE IT.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/i-like-mike-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:04:00 -0000

I wish I could AFFORD to hire a bad contractor so mike homes MIGHT come and fix it.

I'm stuck doing all this shit myself.

Which reminds me... Mike Homes is stalking material? Really?

Well, to each her own! :P

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/do-you-like-me-now-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:25:00 -0000

Listen

You don't have to hire a worker to have sex with you in cranky bastards yards.

I'll do it for free!

I'll see you.... tomorrow around 3 pm, say?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/my-eco-solution-to-global-problem.html

Mike — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:31:00 -0000

I've met eco ed.

I found him by following the smell.

He taught me the value of not showering.

I'm still single.

hoooooyah!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/so-what-are-you-reading-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:32:00 -0000

I just read "raising alligators for fun and profit"

Unfortunately, they got out of the cage.

It seems that for the gate instructions, I misread "latch" for "patch"

Anways, my gaters got into the kindergarten class at the school three houses down.... and you know? The gaters that did that are so soft, tender and tasty!

I guess you really are what you eat.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/wordless-wednesday-easter-edition.html

Mike — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:18:00 -0000

What you didn't see is the rest of the rabbit.

My dog won.

To find her, follow the bunny blood and guts trail back to her hole.

It's characterized by the piles of cutesy animal bones piled around it.

For some reason, nobody would give me a dog training liscence.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2007/12/your-jewish-master-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:12:00 -0000

Shit, after I read the words "pictures of me in a camo bikini", I did read everything else. But every word was blah.

Blah blah blah.

....me in a camo bikini blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah

HOOYAA!

blah blah blah blah blah.

You see what I'm getting at, right?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/deliverance-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:55:00 -0000

You had me till Hooyah!!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/weekender-offender_29.html

Mike — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:03:00 -0000

I get lots of dogs around my property too.

It's because my dog is a total slut.

Good thing I had her junk removed!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/04/you-really-suck-and-thats-sad-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:50:00 -0000

If you really hated me you'd put on the camo bikini and pose in various compromising positions.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/04/wordless-wednesday-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:03:00 -0000

Hey! Don't put pictures up of my gramma scary bitch!

.... every picture of her on the internet gives her a bit more power... soon, she'll be back....

Re: The "Good Old Days" Offensive

Mike — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:28:00 -0000

Witchcraft! Blasphemy! BURN HER!

Sweet!

Re: The "You Like It, It Likes You!" Offensive

Mike — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:58:00 -0000

First of all, where do you think all the old people come from? CANADA. We send them down there to torment all you crazy American bastards!

Secondly, there was not ONE hooyah! in this post.

I'm disappointed.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/04/wtf-friday-offensive_18.html

Mike — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:06:00 -0000

If it was vlad, you can su.....

Uh, never mind ;)

Re: http://www.cad-notes.com/2009/06/troubleshoot-when-autocad-is-not.html

Mike — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:21:13 -0000

Currently finishing a Drafting degree with CAD specialization and we are taught to scale drawings so problems like this don't occur. An interesting point though. What is the exact error, or process that create these distortions?

Re: Why Is Wal-Mart Endorsing Employer Mandated Healthcare?

Mike — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:33:41 -0000

Wal-Mart favors an employer mandate for a very simple reason- it would drive up costs for all of their competitors, while reducing their own costs. It is a sneaky way to have the government hurt competitors like Target, not to mention mom 'n' pops, whose current employee health care coverage doesn't match Wal-Mart's.

Re: Solar Stocks Very Low Despite Obama Victory

Mike — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:21:46 -0000

1. No one is quite sure what Obama's plans really are.
2. If we judge Mr. Obama on his actions and not his words, we're looking at the 3rd term of Bill Clinton, since he's packed his cabinet with ex-clinton people...
Obama seems to be more of the same when judegd by his actions. This doesn't match what he says, so the result is much uncertainty....

Re: Eco Cabs – Emissions and Fare Free Transportation

Mike — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:44:17 -0000

They should bring something like this to the states. It would lower the accident rate and help with the environmental problems.

Re: World’s Largest Polysilcion Plant Comes On-Line in Michigan

Mike — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:52:01 -0000

Forget Detroit, jobs are most needed everywhere and I dont even live in Michigan, sorry just a selfish comment, besides its the way this industry is, travel - travel and more travel wether is product personel.

Re: Clearing the Air on Liquid Natural Gas

Mike — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:50:27 -0000

I agree with Rod. The author is basically clueless.

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:13:00 -0000

Despite the New Year I went to bed a little early last night and I just noticed that my last post somehow didn't post. I can't remember everything I said though.

Madbuni, I apologize if I insulted or offended you or anyone else with my comments last night or on previous visits to this forum. I have spent some time at christian sites attempting to find a really good theological conversation but unfortunately all I seem to run into are fundies. I originally came here with some very prejudice beliefs about atheists and I think that was evident in some of my earlier posts.

What I have discovered, now that everyone has stopped being hostile (myself included), is that everyone here is very intelligent and I share almost everyone's opinions regarding the fundamentalist view of christianity which must, and I hope will, soon die.

BTW I am a christian. I am an episcopalian to be more specific and what I have found and come to love about the episcopal church is its open mindedness, although that may not be found in every church.

What I have found here is a forum where I can test my own theories and get some feed back. Ironically, I think I am of the same consensus with all of you here with the one exception being that I truly believe in God and Jesus and am dedicated to finding the truth beyond the superstition.

It is sometimes very difficult to break through all the myths and, quite frankly, the fundamentalists are no help. You folks here are, however, a big help for me in strengthening my faith in the Real God.

I hope you all will continue to welcome me at your site because I have really enjoyed our conversation. They have been most stimulating. In return I will respect everyone else's beliefs and I hope I won't offend anyone in the future.

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 02:47:00 -0000

I hadn't had the chance to read all the posts until just now:

Dave8, I loved your analogy of the perception of colors! If I may say so, it really doesn't sound like you are atheist just anti-religious. And I can certainly see where that would come from.

I grew up in the roman catholic church, I later became an episcopalian because, as Robin Williams put it, it's catholic lite, all the ceremony none of the guilt. I have no animosity toward the RCC but I didn't like the fact that the RCC considers attending mass every sunday an obligation where as the episcopal church considers it a priviledge. I also never cared for being told what to believe and not being allowed to question doctrine.

My views and ideas about God and the universe fit very close to what you were saying. Very close. I also do not believe in a god that is a giant person in glowing robes with a long white flowing beard sitting on a throne in the clouds. I do not believe in the six day creation, that was put in the bible in order give authority to the sabbath day so that the early jews would have the right to do no work which worked to set them apart as a people from the gentiles.

I am very much involved in the martial arts, Seidokan and Tai Chi. In eastern philosophy the chi or ki is the energy that flows through absolutely everything. It can also be manipulated. I have seen some pretty remarkable demonstrations by some tai chi practitioners. This energy is what makes flowers grow, it is the energy of the interactions of atoms I believe. George Lucas called it "The Force" lol. It is the energy of the entire universe and it is real.

This is what I believe God to be.

I believe in evolution. But I think if God didn't exist I have a hard time believing that life would have evolved with such specificity.

Evolution is the survival of the species best adapted to its environment enabling it to survive in order to pass on its better traits. We use this concept all the time. Through "intelligent selection" we can breed a faster race horse. We develope corn crops that are hardier and can grow in harsher climates. Thanks to our abuse of antibiotics we have bred viruses that are now immune to all antibiotics.

My point here (and forgive me for rambling) is that none of these things would have happened withhout human intervention, without something deliberately guiding the evolution. I believe this is how God created the universe and all life within.

All that we can see and feel and understand and prove through science about life is under inteligent control. Without purposeful guidence there would be nothing but a cosmic soup.

God, in my understanding, is Chi personified.

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 02:57:00 -0000

Ken, good point:

I disagree with the sun god analogy though becuase, through technology we could survive without the sun. We are many years away from that but it is coming. But I do agree with you that the sun is a source of life and in that respect is part of the all powerful life force/energy of the universe i.e. God

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 20:17:00 -0000

Well gosh, Ken, how very impressed you must be with yourself having just passed judgement on people you have never even met. "Judge not lest ye be judged." Have you ever answered "yes" to that one?

The creation of the universe, i.e. the "big bang" theory and evolution, are the most awesome forces of power, so much so that they can hardly be comprehended fully. Don't you think God is that powerful?

Think about this; God said "Let their be light" and BANG!!!!! there was light.

What was a simple little suggestion on God's part, "let there be light" was such an incredible force that some scientists call it "the big bang". My God is that powerful, isn't yours? The universe exploded into near infinity and billions of years of evolution brought us to where we are today simply because my God made a suggestion. Why isn't your God that awesome?

Re: Fantasy versus Reality - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 21:10:00 -0000

When fundamentalists, conservative christians or anyone for that matter, read the bible and either believe and profess it to be the Word of God absolutely literally or, renounce the bible all together for the same reason, they are doing a terrible injustice.

The bible is not the literal truth.

{And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'this son of ours is stubborn and rebelious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his city will stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil person from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.} Deut. 20:21

This is not the word of God!

But, now having said that how can I say that other "more acceptible" passages in the bible are the word of God? The only way to avoid hypocracy here is to stand on the roof tops and proclaim that the bible absolutely NOT the word God! (well I'm afraid of heights so I'll just type it onto the internet)

There is truth in the bible though. The writers were using the 'tools' they had available to them and the 'knowledge' and 'understanding' of the world in which they lived in order to try and explain something so awesome that words are, even to this day, completely insufficient to accurately describe.

I'd better get off my soap box now. The height is starting to give me a nose bleed.

Re: I see I'm not alone... - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 00:41:00 -0000

Hi, Tracy;
I am very sorry to hear of your troubles and this is going to sound terribly odd from the exchristian website but , God bless you for your strength and courage. I am sorry that you had the same experience that many here have had with the fundamentalist churchesand it has been leading me to believe that it is the churches, not God that are repressful and down right evil.

I am very lucky to have found a church of very open minded, loving and accepting people all of whom share a pleasant variety of beliefs about God. Hanging around this site I have sadly come to realize that those churches are very few and far between.

Being a member of a church is not a prerequisite for being a christian and any church that says otherwise is not the church for you. Churches should be there for support and comeradery (spelling) not judgement. If the members of one church have astrosized you that doesn't mean that God did.

Don't give up on God just yet. Find Him for yourself and don't waste your time with the churches. Everyone here has some really good reading suggestions that you might consider, for my own two cents try anything you can find by John Shelby Spong. But also ask some of these other folks here what they might suggest.

Best of luck to you, Tracy.

Re: A righteous anger - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Fri, 26 May 2006 18:14:00 -0000

I often get angry at how stupid xians can be. It's as though reality is staring them in the face, but they can't--or won't--acknowledge it. I'm amazed when I hear otherwise intelligent people start a sentence with, "Well, because of my religious beliefs, I think..." No! Because of your religious beliefs, you don't think!

At best, I feel like an anthopologist living among some backward tribe. Their primitive belief system amuses me.

Re: I am Glad that I have found you all! - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 19:56:00 -0000

Ben said:

"...when we took out Saddam Hussein, why did not the conflict end immediately, if Saddam was such a great threat to the world and the Iraqi people where under such oppression, why have not the Iraqi People not take over their own country and resolved their own peace?"

I can probably explain a really complicated situation with a really simple comparison:

If children are rescued from a narcissistic or sociopathicly dysfunctional household, why aren't they immediately functional?

C’ya
Mike

Re: I feel God everywhere - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 18:22:00 -0000

I'm curious. Since one has to choose to become a Christian if they become one, how did you choose it at six weeks old? Child prodigy :)?

Re: For the first time, I feel free - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:49:00 -0000

Hi.

Mike here. I want you to know that I love reading this sight! How fascinating. I do appreciate the civil tone set by a majority of bloggers here.

I've commented before, and I come from a Christian worldview perspective, and I'm not trying to convert anyone here (...although I'd love it if one of you came back to the faith). I would like to comment on Mr. Dano's position in regards to the comment made by Doug, the minister in training.

He writes, "But the sad thing is, all of the proselytizing cults, have built into them, warnings about listening to reason and logic, and the command to "JUST BELIEVE" So far, you have all the makings of a good cult member."

May I say, with all respect, that I could argue that you are doing the same thing. I could argue that you are warning 'exChristians' not to look at logic and reason and simply "just NOT believe." Do you honestly feel that someone of faith is stupid? As you (Dano) said said, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." Are you implying that if you are a Christian then you've waisted your mind? In my opinion this type of thinking is not tolerant. Maybe for YOU the Christian faith felt like you were waisting your mind. But do not imply that everyone who adheres to the faith of Christianity is stupid. Would you say JRR Tolkein is stupid? Flannery O'Conner? Blaise Pascal?

For that matter, there are many things in the fabric of life that beckons you to "Just believe." For example, I have no idea how a car works. I only know to put gas in it and it goes. So, I 'just believe". There are appropriate times to have 'blind faith.'

But I don't think that the faith of Christianity is all that blind. What if there are some logical, rational reasons for coming to the faith? Let's start with God's existence. No doubt that some of you are Atheists. You might say to the Theist "Give me your proof for God!" However, is the burden of proof left up to the Christian/Theist? Why can't I say, "Give me your proof against the existence of God."? Got any? Do you have any hard evidence other than your frustration with God because He doesn't come down as a lightening bolt to tell you happy things?

What if this is not your problem? Maybe you believe in God but do not accept the faith of Christianity. Many of you would classify the Bible as a myth or a fairy tale. (I would assume after reading a few blogs here that this is the case. Am I right in this assumption?) In this case, you are right in saying, "Give me the proof for the reliability of the Bible" because the Bible/Christianity is the one going out on the limb.

I cannot possibly give you all the proofs for the Bible in a forum like this. I might be able to on a case by case basis. I also recognize that there are examples that I do not have all the answers to. I can give you one example for you to ponder.

In Acts 17:6 Luke (who was writing in Greek) uses the term "polytarch" which is translated to mean "City Official". For years critics thought this was a mistake since this term only appears in the New Testament. Recently, an inscription was found on a first century arch that reads, "In the time of the politarchs..." Later archaeologists have found more than 35 inscriptions that mention politarchs. In this case, the critics were wrong and the Bible held up under scrutiny.

So I ask you, has your departure from the faith been a good decision based on reasonable evidence? Are you SURE that the Bible is a joke and Christianity is a farce? If you can answer, "Yes" to this, what are your specific reasonings? Where is your evidence to the contrary?

I await a response,
Mike

Re: For the first time, I feel free - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:04:00 -0000

One more thing. Tigg13 said in a few comments earlier: "One of the reasons I left christianity was that I realized that I couldn't ever be 100% sure of anything; I always leave a little room for doubt because there's always a chance that I might be wrong."

So, are you 100% ceratin that Christianity is wrong? But wait...you just said that you can't be 100% certain of anything. In order to be true to your worldview, you must agree with this statment, "Christianity MIGHT be right." Are you willing to say this?

Something to ponder...
Mike

Re: For the first time, I feel free - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:13:00 -0000

Dear Webmaster,

Thank you for the response.

In your first point you asked why I did not beleive in other books claiming to have ultimate spiritual truth. For me, it really comes down to the idea of absolutes. 2+2=4 pretty much always. If you've studied Christianity you'll know that it claims to be the only way to heaven. (John 14:6). I'm sure these other books/relgions have some truth to them, but they lack the 'one-wayness' that Christinity claims. So either Christianity is true and the others false, OR Christianity is false and one (or more) of the others is true. For me, I think the Bible makes the most sense. Have you stuided world religions? What is your take on them?

For your second point you talked about the Bible being a myth that happened to contain some history.
Do you feel that even if the Bible has correct history in it in certain places, these facts are negated by the other things that are very hard to belive? (...such as "Axeheads floating, flying chariots, etc.) In other words, should the Bible be thrown out as myth because some of it is hard to believe?

I can see how a lot of the Bible would be hard to belive. Sometimes I have a hard time with it. I'll be totally honest with you. My most difficult miracle to comprehend is the virgin birth. I think about this with an open mind and say, "How can this be possible...surely someone impregnated her, like the Roman soldier theory."

But I ask myself, "Why is this so impossible?" If the universe is created by a God who is beyond time and space, then why can't he come down from time to time and interupt time and space? Why can't he bend the laws of physics as He sees fit?

You might call it myth...I call it miracle. Why is a miracle outside the realm of reason?

Thanks,
Mike

PS - Are you the Webmaster of this site?

Re: For the first time, I feel free - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:55:00 -0000

Thanks for your responses. I wish you all the best.

Mike

Re: For the first time, I feel free - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:24:00 -0000

To Mr. Zetetic,

I was going to leave this site and leave you guys alone, but I would like to respond one more time. I would love a dialoge with Mr. Zetetic.

First, you say.."The "arguments" put forth by Mike are so typical of the complete nonsense that is all too frequently spouted by Christians." Why are you calling my arguments nonsense? Which part was nonsensical? Was it really void of any logic and reason? If so, I must have really missed it. Are you really looking at the issue, or do your presuppositions of anti-Christianity come into play?

Second, I hear you when you imply that you've heard the arguments in favor of Biblical Christianity over and over and over again. I get the sense that you are not impressed. Well, we've heard your arguments over and over and over too...and we're not impressed either. I just want you to see that your worldview takes just as much faith as mine. Come on...you have to admit that! With all due respect, open your mind! You've exchanged one worldview requiring faith(Christianity) for another one requiring just as much if not more faith (ex-Christianity).

Third, you start to speak on the issue (which I guess is why you are not a Christian) and then you somehow make a claim that Creationist are assaulting science. Do you really think that a Creation world view is attacking science? Christians have done more FOR science than any other group. I can argue the exact opposite of your view stating that Creationist are assaulting science.

Exampl #1 - There are a few school systems where Creationist want to teach along side of evolution. The school board in charge would not allow it. It was later found out that all the school board members had an evolutionary worldview and simply thought that their view of creation was correct. THAT seems narrow minded to me. No one has proved evolution! Why couldn't they tell both views and let the students decide? Why did they have to shove evolution down the throats of our youth when evolution is still a theory?

Example #2 - At Texas Tech University (Lubbock), Michael Dini, professor of biology, said he would not recommend any students for medical school if they did not believe in evolution. Dini's university rushed to defend him on the grounds of 'academic freedom'. Who is the one assualting science here? Dini refused to give anyone a recommendation unless they thought like he did. How narrow minded!

Likewise, you say, "gays are bashed" and liberals are hated. By whom? By Christians? Come on! No doubt that some profession Christians might bash gays and liberals....but you must also lump your folks into this as well...I'm sure many an atheist/agnostic has done the same thing. One thing bugged me. You said, "what a sad, pathetic, black and white view of the world they have." Who are you refering too here? Christians? If you are against bashing anyone like gays and liberal...then are you against bashing Christians as well? Well, may I say that YOU are the one bashing here, not Christians.

Fourth, I consent to a statement made earlier. It is true that sometimes a person must look beyond logic and reason and simply 'Just Believe'. Even St. Augustine said, "Belief comes before understanding." There is a place for this, I think. However, I stand by the statement I made earlier. I said, "I could argue that you are warning 'exChristians' not to look at logic and reason and simply "just NOT believe." You vehemently disagreed. If you would just look at the worldview you've now embraced you'll see you are doing the same thing only in reverse. I challenge you to think on this point again.

Fifthly, you missed the entire point of my car analogy....or perhaps I wans't clear. It was a point about how there are things in the fabric of our lives that beckons us to simply believe. It is an argument FOR blind faith. You seemed to take it on the level of a proof text for God, or the Bible, or something like that. I'm unsure exactly why you brought that up. Are you wanting a proof that the Bible is correct??? I don't understand your logic.

It sounds like your mind is pretty made up about the Christian God. I'm glad you said this: "So....can I prove that the Christian god doesn't exist or isn't what he says he is? No." I certainly can't prove it either. Just please don't think I am stupid...or those who share my worldview. Of course I don't believe that the world is flat and sitting on the back of a turtle.

Finally, as F. Nietzsche said, "The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments." (The Gay Science, section 191.) I'm sure I have messed up here with my arguments, and I'm sure you guys will be all over it like 'white on rice'. I realize I can't argue you back into the fold.

Let me leave you with one thought. As CS Lewis once said, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." Perhaps you'll find in your journey that the most probable explanation for our short stay on earth has something to do with the next world. And perhaps, the God of the Bible was right after all.

Best wishes to you all...
Mike

Re: God is dead, or a liar - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:07:00 -0000

Thanks all for your kind support. I appreciate it. That is what I hope to be, someone who can encourage others through their pain.

Thanks for your input too.

Re: God is dead, or a liar - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:26:00 -0000

Anonymous,

In reality I dont blame "god" for the accident.I might as well blame the tooth fairy. The point of the article was to refute all the "promises" that christians always make about god "being there" in the time of need.

However, if a person could have prevented, say a murder of their child, and they did not, would they not be just as guilty or close to it, of that childs death? In the same way god would be quilty.

It is amazing how christains always say god did not do it, the devil did. God always seams powerless when the devil is active. You see it is always excuses with christians and no logic at all.

Re: God is dead, or a liar - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:37:00 -0000

Hi all!

I'm Mike's wife. What I've seen when we first were married, is a man who earnestly, completely, and whole-heartedly cried out to god and searched for him relentlessly. All I witnessed is heartbreak. When you watch someone you love in so much anguish and there is nothing you can do to ease their pain, this too will turn you away from god. I felt like that if he really cared about my husband, he would at least help him with the complications of being in a wheelchair. I don't think that was asking a lot. So to me, god either doesn't care or doesn't exist.

Re: God is dead, or a liar - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:26:00 -0000

Hello Everyone,

Thanks so much for your encouraging words and advice. I have gotten more support here then from my last church since I left!

Thanks for all the ideas also. I am very grateful to you all. I think it is time for folks like us to speak out about how god has let us down in various ways.

Thanks all. Mike

Re: God is dead, or a liar - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:28:00 -0000

Hello Neilmarr,\

Thanks for all the great advice. I appreciate your comments and encouragement. I will check out that website. Thanks again.

Hell jfraysseo,

I appreciate your comments also, very good. I do have a great gal. I never thought that would happen for many years. It is funny thing what someone can accomplish once the mind is over the fear.

Thanks again all.

Mike

Re: I was a pastoral worker - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:26:00 -0000

Hello Alan,

Sorry to hear about your wife. That hurts. There are many here that have found out that Christ does not deliver on his promesis. When the chips are down there is no real comfort. The only way christianity works is if one is easy in the art of self delusion.

I wish the best for you in all you do.

Re: I finally made my decision -- I couldn't possibly believe in a God - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:51:00 -0000

Hi Andrew,

Before I start, I'm a Christian who 'snoops' around here from time to time...so I want you to know where I'm coming from.

I think it is good that you question Christianity....but have you put 'all the cards' on the table' and honestly looked at these two religions?

You said, "It didn't take me long to start questioning Christianity, as the whole thing just made little sense. A big guy in the sky watching everything we do? Where? Why can't I see him?"

Interesting....I've spent some time in Japan and I've met some young Buddhist men (perhaps like yourself) who would say the same thing about Buddhism. One said to me, "The idea of reincarnation makes no sense. Me...coming back as a cow? an ant? a tree? How can we know this?" YOu reject the notion of a "Big God in the sky"...however this is shared by many Buddhist...so keep that in mind.

Could it be possible that if you spent some time in Asia, and lived with a Buddhist worldview for a while, you'd become 'burned out' on it too? Could it be that you'd have the same questions about it that you now have about Christianity?

Re: An atheist's confession - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:53:00 -0000

I know a christian woman that claims god is always taking to her. God told her this or that. When the opposite of what "god" told her happens she just says god changed his mind! It is so funny that god seams to tell her what it is she wants to hear.

Re: Where are you, God? - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 09:56:00 -0000

hello Scott,

I am so sorry to hear of your great loss. No words could ever replace the pain. If I could I would give my life for him. There is nothing more tragic then a child being ignored by god.

A very sad and horrible event for sure.

Re: Where are you, God? - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:55:00 -0000

Agree that Christians say and do really stupid things in response to tragedy and I think it is important to point that out to them when they do. The point I would like to make is that (believe it or not)christians are real people too. They just think they are better than everybody else and have an exclusive hold on the truth, hence their zeal to tell it, appropriate or not...but aren't we (agnostics and atheists) sometimes guilty of the same thing?

I think that, if given the opportunity to outlaw all religion, we would do it...and impose what we think is right on others. This is what scares me about some of the rhetotic I read on this site. The same thing that disturbs me about christian fundamentalism also disturbs me about angry atheism. I know that the "zeal" of christian evangelism has fanned this flame and that they have taken the first shot across the bow but let's not become like them in our efforts to counter what we think are false claims.

One of my favorite quotes is actually from a 19th century Christian named G.K. Chesterton. In response to a request to write an essay entitled "What is wrong with the world?" he simply responded...I AM. Sincerely, G.K. Chesterton. I like that.

Re: There is NO GOD - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:21:00 -0000

Janet, can I publish your story in my book titled "Atheist Acrimonious" ?

Mike

Re: Cutting the tie that binds - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:51:00 -0000

Gabe this is a very serious matter and we are taking it seriously. There is a scheduled meeting for next Wednesday to excommunicate you from the flock of God. This will include handing you over to Satan for the destruction of your flesh

Isnt the "love" of christians amazing. They say they love someone, yet are willing to cast them into hell? My friends that is not love. Also, if God is real is he not supposed to keep those whom the father has given him?

Christianity yet disproves Christianity.

Re: I feel like I have some 'splaining to do - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:20:00 -0000

Brian, I'm pretty sure Jesus wouldn't mock someone for a misspelling or condescendingly refer to people here as kids. You are a guest here and acting disrespectfully.

Regardless of what you think of Brother Jeff, you don't know his mind or his heart, do you? I think you would reserve that knowledge for a certain higher power. It may be your wish that he is just a back slider and angry at God, but the fact is that many of us have come to our lack of faith without anger of any kind. It's more of an awakening. Peace be with you.

Re: I would turn to my Bible, struggling to believe - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:14:00 -0000

Sorry Anonymous,

But that cult has already come and gone.

It was called, "Heaven's Gate".

They all committed suicide, and supposedly flew out of here in a UFO to heaven.

Sorry that you missed the rapture.

Re: Atheism has made me a better person - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Mike — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:00:00 -0000

Nice testimony! I can totally relate as I didn't deconvert in anger either.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/04/skirt-wearing-eunuch-pills-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:30:00 -0000

Don't worry chelle b, I won't fall for that commie horse crap.

You can count on me and my man penis for years to come! ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/05/dont-ever-offend-google-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:56:00 -0000

Listen. I don't give a DAMNED who wants to be antichrist.

If you, or google, ever, EVER screw up MY crops again, I'll shove my damned tractor up your ass sideways!

Well, not you Chelle B, you might enjoy that. I'll think of something else for you.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/05/my-offensive-art-collection-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:35:00 -0000

Is it just me or does the clap look like mini chocolate easter eggs?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/a-picture-is-worth-some-tacos-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:05:00 -0000

ChelleB

Don't risk having your dog poisoned by a mormon.

I hear they're made of pure rat poison.

Instead, do what I do:

Schedule a visit from a mormon and a Jehova's witness AT THE SAME TIME.

Two benefits:

1. A show.
2. They kill each other off.

Try it, you'll LOVE IT.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/may-best-offender-win-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:03:00 -0000

Chelle B -

You've already seen my latest post of the North Korean offensive.

Since you actually commented on it (a comment from Chelle B is an award in itself) I think that post is a contender, don't you?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/and-winner-is-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:27:00 -0000

I insult dog lovers AND koreans, and all he does is threaten to zap a dog?

ChelleB, is he sleeping with you? :P

Seriously though, congrats to the award weiner. I do enjoy a good offensive.

And thanks to ChelleB, so we can all enjoy more offenses!

If I had an award to give out, I'd give it to chelleB.

I'd like to close it off by saying,

Q:Whats the difference between a truckload of bowling balls and a truckload of dead babies?

A: You can't unload the bowling balls with a pitchfork.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/pay-up-whitey-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:09:00 -0000

Would you give Jesus a break and let him eat your taco already?

Poor guy.

Hey, really, it's something you'll both enjoy. Trust me.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/wordless-wednesdaycaption-this.html

Mike — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:10:00 -0000

If I think really, REALLY hard, I can pretend this is a penis!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/let-voting-begin.html

Mike — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:49:00 -0000

Damnit, I was offended by NONE of them.

They suck ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/we-have-winner-now-lets-kick-this-up.html

Mike — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:00:00 -0000

check out the bottom of my July 3 post.

I hope you're offended!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/06/lick-this-heinz-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:54:00 -0000

You need to do commercials.

Seriously.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/how-to-self-torture-ones-testicles.html

Mike — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:16:00 -0000

Chelle B, your google results are tame compared to mine.

Except for the children thing.

That wasn't you was it? Because if it was, you sure did do a good job passing the buck!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/happy-birthday-america-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:55:00 -0000

Us Canadians celebrated on the 1st of July.

We blew some shit up and went home.

Hurrah!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/why-i-cant-be-catholic-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:57:00 -0000

No no.

What you do, is go, confess a bunch of sins, either real or made up, and when he tells you to do penance, tell him no.

Then go to the middle of the church, fart, and leave.

It'll be great fun!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/my-offensive-dream-sketchbook-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:55:00 -0000

Are reprints of your artworks available for sale?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/ill-never-go-green-again-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:14:00 -0000

Damnit chelle B, you're getting awfully close to revealing to the world the fact that eco friendly tree huggers are only out their to tug their own genitals and don't REALLY care about the environment..

Oh wait, that's already common knowledge, never mind.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/get-over-it-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:22:00 -0000

Many, MANY moons ago when I was young, my buddies dad came home from a lost soccer game.

We played that song as he walked in the door.

He whooped us good.

I guess he was OFFENDED?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/rip-you-dirty-old-bastard-offensive.html

Mike — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:56:00 -0000

You need to spend some time with my family.

Just sayin.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/07/wordless-wednesdaycaption-this.html

Mike — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:19:00 -0000

I'll let you in on a little secret: I'm totally a dood! Bet you couldn't tell!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/08/something-old-something-new-why-does.html

Mike — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:31:00 -0000

Edible underwear and crotchless panties.

Start em off on the right foot.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/08/caption-this-shexy-wordless-wednesday.html

Mike — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:10:00 -0000

They say black clothing is slimming... but I don't think it's working for me.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/08/we-chinese-we-play-joke-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:18:00 -0000

Sorry Chelle, all I did was pimp your new site.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/08/clown-porn-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:20:00 -0000

Chelle

Remember, jews aren't just for suing.

Hire a jewish accountant to invest some of that lawsuit money too!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/08/caption-this-wordless-wednesday_21.html

Mike — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:45:00 -0000

Jihad for Allah!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/08/caption-this-very-naughty-wordless.html

Mike — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:26:00 -0000

Easy enough.

Catholic school bus.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/09/jesus-why-hast-thou-forsaken-me.html

Mike — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:12:00 -0000

I thought your ruger was a Hello Kitty model?

Oh wait, that's your vibrator.

Hooyah!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/10/suicide-support-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:15:00 -0000

Chelle

NICE

NICE NICE NICE

That's all I got to say.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/10/id-hit-that-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:56:00 -0000

Chelle B.

I used that photo in my most recent blog post.

Should I like..... hit you on the shoulder or something?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/11/why-vote-we-all-know-who-runs-world.html

Mike — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:17:00 -0000

When you use the word Hooyah! in a post, it completes me.

Thank you.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/11/caption-this-total-prick-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:30:00 -0000

It'll take some work, but I'll getcha in there big feller ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/11/dear-editor-waaaahhhh-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:13:00 -0000

Yea, sorry about that.

We put all of our whiny bitches up in Barrie.

Don't ever go there, you'll get mobbed by a bunch of white oprah wanna be's with mustaches and serious front ass.

Barf.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/11/what-stays-in-vegas-just-might-be-me.html

Mike — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:38:00 -0000

I'm planning to go to vegas too. So, if you see a loudmouth Canadian yelling HOOYAH and stuffing dollar coins down your hello kitty panties as your drunk dancing on a table at the Casino, that'll be me.

Also, I'd like to arm wrestle red raider for that nazi porn.

I plan to give it to my jewish mother for christmas.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/global-orgasm-for-peace-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:18:00 -0000

damn, thats a lot of love juice.

Well, at least you'll know when you'll be able to catch em with their pants down ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/i-wish-i-had-hairy-ass-offensive.html

Mike — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:56:00 -0000

Here in Canada, we just crawl inside hookers snatches for warmth.

If you do that, just make sure you have no open cuts, sores, and an adequate supply of oxygen (don't breath the snatch gas - it's poison and it smells bad too).

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/hey-no-whiteys-allowed-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:17:00 -0000

Hey, if you wanted all that to happen to you, you could have just come up to Canada.

-Spaz the socialist black/mexican/chinese/german guy.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/sheep-shaggers-unite-against-hate.html

Mike — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:26:00 -0000

Ahhh Chelle B.

I knew you had a penis :P

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/secret-santa-can-suck-it-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:15:00 -0000

Where can I buy those nazi balls to hang on my jewish mothers Hanuka tree?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/yo-quiero-caption-this-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:09:00 -0000

Luckily for the FDA, there are no physical training requirements.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/if-youre-going-to-throw-dog-off-balcony.html

Mike — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:30:00 -0000

Why would you throw a dog off a balcony? They are useful.

I think that would be a much better solution to our overcrowded prisons.

Even cheaper than a bullet you might say.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/koombaya-my-ass-obama-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0000

Socialism! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
No! NO NO NO NO NO!

Take it from the Canadian.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/caption-these-fruitilicious-babes.html

Mike — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0000

These pumps don't accentuate my legs? Take that BITCH!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/name-this-nasty-crap-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:40:00 -0000

Is that Steve Irwin's thumb after he stuck it up the ass of an African Rhino to see if it would get pissed off?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/epic-fail-on-name-this-nasty-crap.html

Mike — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:26:00 -0000

I didn't think it was mooooogs penis. Wrong colour. ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/sorry-cant-offend-you-today-its-oprahs.html

Mike — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:24:00 -0000

You get an award for the longest run on sentence I've ever read that was truly super special and it makes me all tingly in my special spot because run on sentences are very very special like Jessica Alba covered in extra virgin olive oil dancing to techno music without a bra on oh that's some great stuff you know what I'm trying to say right it's really really good.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/google-dont-make-me-call-pope-offensive.html

Mike — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:06:00 -0000

I'll have you know I didn't lose a single one of my 45 subscribers!

I still hate google ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/do-it-yourself-divorce-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:54:00 -0000

OR - she makes lots of money and he's getting some 19 year old blond bimbo to blow him on the side?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/name-this-nasty-edible-crap-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:34:00 -0000

Deep fried abortion!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/winner-of-golden-poo-award-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:43:00 -0000

I thought they put that stuff in hot dogs?

Hey, would that be a food for gay people? Eating out the anus?

Just saying.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/denied-you-suck-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:24:00 -0000

You tried to rape me as a young man, and the only thing that came of it was V.D., remember?

....Drawing board time, methinks.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/tastes-like-chicken-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:17:00 -0000

Personally, I kill my 'roos and wallabee's with offensive butt gas gotten from eating 'roos and wallabee's.

But that's just me

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/slicksumbich-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:54:00 -0000

You know, I'm kind of finding the word "feck" irritating. Kind of like nails on a chalkboard.

gobshite, on the other hand, is absolutely fecking fantastic, for fecks sakes.

As you can see, I fecking annoy my own fecking self.

gobshite.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/oh-bloody-hell-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:15:00 -0000

You scare me.

Good job!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/oh-bloody-hell-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:10:00 -0000

chelle b. - that picture must have been taken in that week when us men get all weird and violent ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/guess-my-offense-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:21:00 -0000

I really have to go with #2. As much as #1 would have been fun, I think the laxative thing would have been a 13 year olds evil genious, not 10.

I really HOPE that #3 isn't true

So #2 it is!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/oh-yes-god-more-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:28:00 -0000

Hang on

didn't god PUT all those nerve endings down there so we WOULD shout his name?

Doesn't that constitute prayer?

The church is just afraid we'll all catch on and they'll lose all their money ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/where-are-my-keys-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:26:00 -0000

Fucking brilliant.

I got nothing else to say but that.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/triple-nipple-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:40:00 -0000

You mean nipple cream is for nursing women?

..... oh.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/01/just-say-no-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:06:00 -0000

Screw you, I am NOT giving up ANY of my Korean slaves!

NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!!

-Canadian Mike.

Re: The "It's the End of the World" Offensive

Mike — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:37:00 -0000

I still have one question.

Did god tell you who REALLY goes to hell?

I mean, is it the pussywads that go to hell, and the non offended go to heaven?

What you're saying is there's a chance this asshole won't fry?

Re: The "Bring on the Global Warming!!" Offensive

Mike — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:48:00 -0000

Psst - Chelle B. got some bad news for you dood.

Global warming will cause global freezing.

What, you say?

Shortly after the polar ice caps melt, the oceans will raise to the point where the large currents stop flowing.

The currents are what keeps north america from freezing and the equator area from burning.

I'll try to keep the horny homeless from violating your frozen body, but no promises ;)

Re: The Weekender Offender

Mike — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:42:00 -0000

Hey, now that you're an islam bitch, you're going to have to change that picture of you.

Now, everything should be covered BUT the eyes.

Do it for your god allah, lest you be buried up to your nipples and stoned to death in the street!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/02/ok-what-fatwa-went-wrong-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:13:00 -0000

Don't worry. Me and the 29 others that make up the Canadian army are rounding up our bb guns and are coming to spring you!

Right after morning worship.

And afternoon worship

And evening worship

and the two snack worships

Which we plan to join in.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/i-love-rich-and-vain-and-tupid.html

Mike — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:52:00 -0000

You rubbed your "hot rocks" on people?

Really?

Wow.

No wonder they payed you!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/a-preview-of-things-to-come-offensive.html

Mike — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:16:00 -0000

We don't have grizzlies up here, just black bears. They're smaller, only 500 lbs instead of 1000. Cept they climb trees.

Oh, but our flies are the size of terriers!

I had one as a pet. I called him "bitey".

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/03/oh-um-ehwww-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:07:00 -0000

Wow.

Hey, she could join a band!

All she has to do is bend over and jump in tempo with the music and...

THWAP THWAP CLAP THWAP CLAP CLAP THWAP!

Good career move, huh?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/how-i-learned-to-do-laundry-guest.html

Mike — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:53:00 -0000

That was your mom? Ugh. dood.

Also, I'm amazed that Chelle B scoured google and found an ACTUAL picture of me! Way to go Chelle!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/name-this-nasty-crap-special-vd-edition.html

Mike — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:14:00 -0000

Uhh, looks like a vag that's been ripped off in some horrible horrible surgery gone wrong.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/name-this-nasty-crap-special-vd-edition.html

Mike — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:40:00 -0000

It's plaque buildup removed from a heart!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/i-hope-she-brings-some-lube-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:22:00 -0000

Thank you for my golden poo!

Much better then flecks of gold (corn) IN my poo.

Also, the dood that wrote in writes EXACTLY like you.

Is it your brother?

You can tell us.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/what-about-how-recession-affects-me.html

Mike — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:24:00 -0000

Aura massages? Can't your husband or jesus rub your nipples?????????????????

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/groundbreaking-research-proves-all-men.html

Mike — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:18:00 -0000

You're just pissed because you don't have a penis with which to beat people with.

You'll have to use your boobs. Or your crossbow.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/name-this-nasty-crap-that-i-stepped-in.html

Mike — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:41:00 -0000

I would have eaten the Ramen nooodles anyways.

I'm going with the dog poop.

That's the grossest ever, cuz dog poop smells a billion times worse once disturbed by a foot ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/02/i-see-colored-people-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:08:00 -0000

That was extra offensive.

Hooyah!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/03/gimme-back-my-bullets-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:11:00 -0000

I'm just wondering why that commie gun needs more than one bullet?

BTW, welcome to my world. I tried to get an automatic assault rifle up here.

That was ten years ago. Another five and my waiting period is over!

Hooyah!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/03/caption-this-homeless-leprechaun.html

Mike — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:14:00 -0000

"In the leprechaun training core, they teach us how to use our pot o' gold as a latrine, then clean it out, disinfect it and make breakfast in it. Let me show you how."

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/03/holy-barnacles-no-more-potty-mouth-for.html

Mike — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:27:00 -0000

F*ckin A! You are such a C*NT for joining that S*it *ssed C*ckS*cking M*therF*cking T**ty *ssed G*y club.

I'm joining so F*cking fast it'll make your C*nt spin.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/03/yay-i-have-final-solution-offensive.html

Mike — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:44:00 -0000

Chelle, I'm with you 100%.

As a matter of fact, I just bought myself a gas powered reciprocating saw!

Powered by a big block chevy V8!

I'm starting on the welfare office and working my way to Al Gore.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/04/because-you-potentially-mean.html

Mike — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:10:00 -0000

Damnit Chelle.

I'm not signing it.

Instead, I'm applying to be your cabana boy in Fiji.

I'll even shave my back ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/04/move-over-mr-dirty-sanchez-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:41:00 -0000

You forgot about the spelunker.

For this one, you need a few miles of rope, a helmet light, and a (very) experienced and used hooker.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/04/wanda-has-penis-meme-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:20:00 -0000

Chelle B, that was deep and twisted. Head injuries from rough sex? Dismembering myspace admirers? German prostitution?

Is this now following your life?

That was so entertaining i'm not even going to complain about the excedence of the one paragraph limit for you or for venom. And I'm not going to penalize you for not linking back to the HBDC.

I mean, between Jesus and your german prostitution, penalizing you would be the last thing I'd want to do.

Also, I can't because you are the HBDC owner :P

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/05/can-you-retire-early-during-recession.html

Mike — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:19:00 -0000

That is a sick, sick sick thing you're brain came up with.

Sick.

Sick sick sick.

I like it.

Too bad it only works if you're a woman. Or your boss is a woman. Or if your boss is gay. But not if your boss is a gay woman. Unless you're a woman. Which you are.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/05/my-shaving-cream-is-lawsuit-waiting-to.html

Mike — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:05:00 -0000

Hey, isn't that a picture of Clay Aiken after an all night man orgy?

Gross.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/05/being-minority-isnt-as-fun-as-it-looks.html

Mike — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:05:00 -0000

we have three mormon churches in a 500 mile radius.

Can I send them down to your area?

You won't notice the difference, but I sure will!

Thanks in advance.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/05/holy-hell-im-surrounded-by-meatheads.html

Mike — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:13:37 -0000

I'm offended that you're blogging again. Now I'm having a hard time keeping up.

Oh hell.

Glad to see you're at least the #3 offensive in all of google. Couldn't have happened to anyone more deserving.

Or Aryan looking ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/05/i-dont-need-jesus-i-have-vibrating.html

Mike — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:25:04 -0000

Wow, you have a vibrating zucchini for each orifice!

What a weekend you'll have ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/05/i-am-high-maintenance-bitch-but-it-isnt.html

Mike — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:36:23 -0000

It's amazing.

I've never met someone that comes off as such a complete dirty skank ho, but yet is completely faithful to her husband.

And Jesus.

You blow me away Chelle B ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/05/i-am-smarter-and-you-are-going-to-hell.html

Mike — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:11:37 -0000

There was a distinct lack of HOOYAH'S! in that post. Only the one.

You cold calculating bitch.

You KNEW that would upset me!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/06/mein-campf-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:53:36 -0000

They have no choice to go down there Chelle.

They come back up here and see my gun toting right winged capitalist ass and shit a green turd.

It's like fucking ping pong between you and me.

HOOYAH!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/06/some-gays-should-stay-in-closet.html

Mike — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:58:55 -0000

Admit it Chelle. You hate fags ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/07/if-i-die-before-i-waketh-part-one.html

Mike — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:27:41 -0000

I'm not a moron, ugh, moron, but if you showed up to my place like that asking for tequila shooters for clothing, you'd get no tequila shooters.

I'm sorry.

On the plus side, I do have some glass that needs to be cut.

I'm just saying.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/07/if-i-die-before-i-waketh-part-one.html

Mike — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:09:15 -0000

I thought catholic priests were only interested in little boys. When did you become a little boy?

In any case, I'm definitely not a catholic priest ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/09/consider-yourself-served-mr-obama.html

Mike — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:35:40 -0000

Circumcision with WELL groomed toenails?

Should have told my parents that 30 years ago.

That's why I have a ragged dick. Kind of like a popped balloon, you know?

Things you need to know first.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/09/how-to-survive-until-world-ends-and-we.html

Mike — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:45:37 -0000

I was wondering.

Can I still resort to cannibalism? I mean, it's THE way to go. Think about it.

The average American is mostly fat, which means juicier, more tender meat AND they keep a LOT longer. All you have to do is give them water. You can put them in the dungeon for MONTHS without having to feed them. Maybe even years. Retrieve them once in a while, cut the fat away and render it into lamp oil, and there will be 40 or 50 lbs of useable meat.

PLUS their overbloated, diseased livers can go to feed the dogs.

Win win?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/09/my-other-totally-non-offensive-blogs.html

Mike — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:54:34 -0000

If they cut out the piece of your brain that governs your ADD, how will you keep up with all your blogs?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/what-we-need-are-vegan-zombies.html

Mike — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:16:50 -0000

Hooyah!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/no-fair-i-want-my-own-dwarf-commune.html

Mike — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:37:56 -0000

I'm sorry, did you just say you were bullet proof?

Then what are you worried about?

HOOYAH!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/nice-guys-never-win-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:13:21 -0000

Chelle B on population control, one sucker at a time ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/my-ouija-board-hates-me-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:13:42 -0000

Sorry, that wasn't the ouiji board demon asking you to show your tits. That was me.

I really have to find a better use for my psyco powers, eh?

Re: “VM i Sydafrika kan bli ett fiasko”

Mike — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 06:57:01 -0000

jag har bott i zimbabwe vilket är lite varmare än syd afrika på sommaren, ibland på nätterna hade vi minusgrader och man hörde att det snöade ibland i johannesburg, så det kan bli kallt som fan

Re: Backe och Lennartsson är klockrent

Mike — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:35:52 -0000

Vill vi ha Svennis! Det får bära eller brista, men det är Svennis vi vill ha!

Re: Liverpool-liket lever

Mike — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:41:33 -0000

Fälld? Ja det är Barry. Enkel fråga.

Re: Gästblogg om att älska Bolton Wanderers

Mike — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:16:14 -0000

man väljer inte vilket lag man håller på..Man håller på det lag man älskar och är uppväxt till att älska

Re: Förlust mot Ukraina och patetisk ursäkt från Ferguson

Mike — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:46:36 -0000

tycker jay-z blir bättre och bättre och det hjälper ju att han är arsenal fan, du måste gå

Re: Idea of the Day

Mike — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 10:56:02 -0000

it's a great idea, and i'd love to see it happen. but it'll never happen because the mpaa wouldn't allow something like that. bad reviews = less money for them. they already blame piracy for people not seeing crappy movies.

Re: Earth to Sony - reality is a nice place

Mike — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 12:23:24 -0000

this is why i don't support the riaa anymore. they are so completely out of touch with music that their only focus is money. this is why every song you hear on the radio has the exact same structure as the one before it.

i will never support the riaa again. suing consumers, not releasing real music, and now this :: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A... had enough of their crap. they've lost all respect from me.

Re: Continuing iTunes Podcast Saga

Mike — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:34:09 -0000

You're definitely in the directory, I came across it on a search for "Lego," but it comes up second on a search for "Community" as well. Just not in the right category.

I'm laughing right now as I'm reading your complaints about Apple's lack of follow-up support; I've been reading a lot of almost-identical complaints in which the word "Apple" is replaced with "Legofan." Launches of this scale almost never go smoothly, and I'd bet they've got enough fires to put out right now that they just haven't had time to work out a public response strategy.

To draw a different parallel, how long did it take LEGO to finalize their public statement about the recent color changes, after all?

These things don't just happen with a snap of the fingers. Especially not with so many management committees and approval heirarchies standing between the guys who're aware of the problem, and the guys in charge of evaluating what a public statement will do to the bottom line. Have a little patience.

Re: The Fight Over FlickrFan, The Last Great ‘Bitchmeme’ Of 2007

Mike — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:18:00 -0000

http://mike-mcgrath.wordpress.com/2007/12/28/de...

Re: Champions League Matches on U.S. Television

Mike — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:57:00 -0000

Anyone know if ESPN2 ever plans to show these games in widescreen HDTV?

I was devastated to find that the Liverpool game I DVR'd last week had those annoying black bars on either side of the 4:3 layout. Now I'm back to regular ESPN2.

Re: Why Brits Don’t Like Winners in Football | EPL Talk

Mike — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 11:55:00 -0000

I must disagree that this is a purely British phenomenon. Everybody hates winners... unless we liked them when they were losers.

In the US, look at the most despised teams in sports: the Yankees, the Cowboys, the Lakers, Duke, Notre Dame. What do these teams all have in common? They win!

Yet we looove the underdogs -- the Red Sox, the Cubs, any double-digit seed in March Madness... these are the teams we root for year after year.

As a die-hard Red Sox fan I like to think that losing is more interesting; I wouldn't trade my sox memories for all those Yankees championships. But that's just me.

Re: The Time Has Come For Beckham To Join L.A.

Mike — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:48:00 -0000

It really depends on the performance of the MLS. Sure, this will get eyeballs to the MLS games on FSC, but the quality will need to be there to keep eyes there. If games are good enough to keep people watching (which I personally haven't seen from the MLS), then perhaps fans will also branch out to other leagues on FSC, most obviously the EPL. On the other hand, how much time does the average person have in any given week to watch soccer? If that time is being spent watching the MLS, perhaps this will draw people away from the EPL.

Re: ESPN Interested in Bidding for Setanta Sports

Mike — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 21:58:00 -0000

Very torn on this issue like many of you... on one hand, as a cable subscriber, I would support anything that brought Setanta to my TV.

On the other hand ESPN has become a walking promotion for itself, which is becoming more and more brutal by the day. I can't even watch SportsCenter anymore.

Re: New Premiership Shirt Lettering/Numbering

Mike — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:05:00 -0000

I can understand somewhat Charlie's opinion, though I would always pick a player who would be less likely to move.

I don't think age makes any difference, Dan.

Re: Toronto Tickets to Aston Villa Friendly Cause a Stir

Mike — Mon, 21 May 2007 23:58:00 -0000

Actually Tottenham have always been on pursuit with Gareth Barry. Just because the big 4 clubs don't go for Barry doesn't mean he's a class player. He has been touted year in and year out to help solve Englands left midfield problem but does he get notice? No because with guys like McClaren and the former Eriksson in charge, you would never see the natural talent Gareth Barry holds. He also plays wherever the team wishes he plays. Name me another English left leg that has been consistent as Barry over the past few seasons. Then we'll talk

As regards to the tickets, in all honesty, i don't care how much i would have to pay to see Villa. The opportunity does not come knocking at the door ever so often. The lower priced tickets i believe are sold out. I for one would want the best seat in the house and i don't care if they field a weakened side, just to see the team play is already a plus for me.

Re: 5 Reasons Why Playing a Premier League Match Won’t Happen in the USA

Mike — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:11:00 -0000

This is one of the dumbest posts I've ever read on EPL Talk. Let's break it down, shall we?

1) "It is more likely to happen Asia first." That is not a *reason* why there will never be a Premier League match in the United States. It may be true, but there is no magical law stating that both can't happen. In fact, if they have success doing it in Asia, it probably makes it more likely that they will try the US.

2) "They would want to conduct a pre-season tournament first." Again, this is not a *reason* why they won't play here. In fact, it is a suggestion that they WILL play here, but that they will try some more friendlies before committing to a regular season game.

3)"They will lose credibility because it is based purely on greed." First -- it is A BUSINESS. Their goal it to MAKE MONEY. Growing the brand globally does this. Second -- has the NFL lost credibility by playing in the UK? NO!

4)I don't live in the UK so I'm not going to comment on the Press. But since the NFL, MLB and NBA have had success and positive press by going global, I can't see how this would be that different.

5)"How would they decide which game"? Are you serious? How is this a reason that it will not happen? How did the freakin' NFL decide which game to move to the UK? A bunch of people from the league got together and made a decision. It's not rocket science.

Hey Gaffer, I'm not trying to be a huge jerk here, and this is an interesting topic, but give your readers some credit and come up with a list that makes some sense next time.

Re: Breaking News: Martin Jol Resigns from Spurs

Mike — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:17:00 -0000

Jol did some great things for the club over the past few years but, like the Yankees with Joe Torre, the time has come for a change. (Ok, so Torre was a tad more successful than Jol, but you get the idea).

My point, really, is that Jol was a good manager who did some great things, but was not going to take the team any further. His tactics and inability to put a team on the field that could play passable defense just aren't what this team needs to break into the top 4.

(of course, spending those millions on some defensive and midfield help could have made things easier on the guy.)

Re: Most Famous Soccer Players on Facebook

Mike — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:35:00 -0000

Even though they're not as famous, I know Fran Merida (reserve) from Arsenal has one, as well as Henri Lansbury (also reserve). Armand Traore and Justin Hoyte also have one.

Fran - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=62780581... - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=67585657... - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=62347590... not positive any of these are real, but relatives and other players have posted stuff on each of their walls before.

It's actually Justin's B-day tomorrow.

Re: Upset Alert

Mike — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:16:59 -0000

Arsenal beat City 3-1 in Manchester on Feb. 2nd and Blackburn 2-0 at the Emirates on Feb. 11th.

And you can't discredit the home advantage and their record of one loss ever at the new stadium. They don't look very good at the moment but I think they'll be up for this one just to win it for Eduardo.

Re: Upset Alert

Mike — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:17:34 -0000

Oops..sorry. Posted too late.

Re: A Tale of Two Midfields

Mike — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:08:46 -0000

hah great photo

Re: Premier League and Major League Soccer Sign Exclusive Agreement

Mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:56:32 -0000

I haven't seen anything else on other sites about this, must be a prank.

Re: Champions League Semi-Finals Bring Out the Worst in Premier League

Mike — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:07:58 -0000

Is it just me or did the official miss the foul on Ronaldo in the box? Secondly, are not hip-checks considered an infraction? I prefer a physical game myself but it looked like a foul to me. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Re: Champions League Semi-Finals Bring Out the Worst in Premier League

Mike — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:06:52 -0000

Thanks guys for the feedback. I'm a new fan to the sport (3 years). I was @ St. Andrews pub yesterday watching the match and there was some debate even withing United fans themselves as far as if the aforementioned incident was indeed a violation. I'm aware that `intent` is one of many factors the officials consider when ruling but I'm still in newbie mode as far as learning the game. Thanks again for the feedback.

Re: Flamini Signs With AC Milan

Mike — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:31:51 -0000

wont be offical till its on Arsenal website

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/demon-itch-from-hell-offensive.html

Mike — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:08:00 -0000

Chelle

For the last time, I'm sorry that I gave you VD.

You don't have to be all passive aggressive about it and post it on your blog, ok?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/meals-on-wheels-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:01:00 -0000

Chelle B.

even though I didn't give you permission to take or to post that picture of me, I won't sue you.

You got my good side.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/misconstrued-news-that-i-peruse.html

Mike — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:38:32 -0000

Your blog makes me want to both boil more crabs AND boil John and Kate even more.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/oh-nobel-he-diint-offensive.html

Mike — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:56:52 -0000

I spoke to Mike Holmes. He said that he's now surrounding himself with more ambiguously gay workers to protect himself from you.

HOOYAH!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/dont-axe-dont-tell-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:32:34 -0000

See that's what I thought of you because you have an Idaho accent. But I WAS willing to put that aside until this post.

HOOYAH!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/what-we-have-here-is-failure-to.html

Mike — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:06:06 -0000

I once read a news story where the catholic higher ups excommunicated a priest and made a huge public stink because he had sex with

ready for this?

A CONSENDING ADULT WOMAN.

But when they diddle kids, it's all hush hush.

At least you don't have to worry about that with your boys being older and your daughter being female ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/what-we-have-here-is-failure-to.html

Mike — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:06:24 -0000

Oh and the above CONSENDING should be consenting. Just saying.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/generation-xxx-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:18:38 -0000

If i was old, I wouldn't be offended.

sorry!

HOO HA!!!!!!!!!!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/10/free-ball-waxing-at-my-place-offensive.html

Mike — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:53:41 -0000

So.

How DO you wax YOUR balls?

I'll be looking for the youtube clip.

Thanks.

Re: Halftime Thoughts–Chelsea vs. Liverpool (Second Leg)

Mike — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:10:37 -0000

Universal Time Coordinated or GMT are constant and never move ahead or behind. Eastern Daylight Time in the US is GMT - 4 hours. When we revert back to standard time, it would be GMT -5 hours. Current London Time is actually UTC/GMT + 1 hour during daylight savings or BST (British Summer Time), then reverts back to GMT proper during standard time. So to summarize in a nutshell, live 10:00 AM games in the states are actually being played @ 2:00 PM GMT or 3:00 PM London Time.

Re: Halftime Thoughts–Chelsea vs. Liverpool (Second Leg)

Mike — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:58:35 -0000

Sorry Michael. It was intended for the prior post relative to the match times.

Re: Why this Welshman will be Supporting Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final

Mike — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:19:09 -0000

the jack(swansea fan) who left the first comment above.......
cant wait to see ya next season.........

bring it on.....you may as well be singing god save the queen

Re: Manchester City and North America: The Strong Connection

Mike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:02:20 -0000

I love this blog and have been reading it for almost 2 years now, but lately the articles have been way too long.

Re: Dimitar Berbatov Wearing Man United Shirt

Mike — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:12:53 -0000

I can't beleive I used to like this guy. I want to wipe that stupid smile right off his face. what an a-hole.

Re: Scam Alert: Automotive Warranty Advisors

Mike — Tue, 08 May 2007 11:09:12 -0000

I just got off the phone with these guys and am glad I told them NO. I called because my factory warranty was about to expire and the timing seemed right. The longer I talked to the rep the more pushy he became. He then put his floor manager on the phone to close the deal and he was even worse. The whole thing reminded me of the movie "Boiler Room". When I told him I wasn't ready to commit right now and that I would call him back, he said that if I hung up, the deal was off. That just solidified the fact that it was a scam. I'm glad I did not give him any of my information. I should have checked them out on the internet before calling. Beware of these guys.

Re: GoFirstline.com: Evil, Deceptive Marketing to College Students

Mike — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:41:17 -0000

Having worked most of a summer with the group I am very familiar with their tactics. First thing I'd like to say about your Firstline article. You hit some key points, even if somewhat exaggerated, particularly how much a rep has to sell to actually turn revenue.

But what the hell, that's not what I wanted to tell you. The fact is I have installed almost a hundred accounts as an f-line technician. I'm not telling you this to toot my horn, I'm telling you this because it directly relates to your suspicion about licensing.

During every one of those installs I wore a badge with my picture, it claimed I was licensed by the state of Maryland to go into a person’s home to install a security system.

However, neither me nor any of my tech co-workers actually filled out paperwork, gave photos, or submitted fingerprints to the licensing division.- Supposedly we were waiting for money from corporate.

My card may have been created in Photoshop for all I know.

Keep digging

-Mike
That's why I did it

Re: GoFirstline.com: Evil, Deceptive Marketing to College Students

Mike — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:00:19 -0000

Shoestring budget?

Go to its corporate office, see the high level management team. Multi-million dollar incomes are rampant. Shoestring implies low margins and a strugle. I believe the proper term is"Skimp" or "Skimm" as in skimming off the top, or skimping anywhere they can save a buck to pad their own pockets.

Re: Commute My Sentence, Please!

Mike — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:40:11 -0000

After your recomendation of seeing this show, I'm quite pleased I spent the time to do so.

Its rare that comedy can be so witty and honest at the same time.

Re: Protect America Act: Bend Over and Show it to Big Brother

Mike — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:00:57 -0000

Its really frightening to see what kind of power the government is creating for themselves.

I came across a new type of politician who may interest you-

"Since 9-11, protection of privacy, whether medical, personal or financial, has vanished. Free speech and the Fourth Amendment have been under constant attack. Higher welfare expenditures are endorsed by the leadership of both parties. Policing the world and nation-building issues are popular campaign targets, yet they are now standard operating procedures"

-Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, address to the U.S. House of Representatives, 10 July 2003

Becuase of your concern I suggest looking into Ron Paul for his clear interest in our American rights.

Mike
Read it here

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Mike — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:22:44 -0000

-Attention Firstliners: Please leave this woman alone, she's too bright to be manipulated.

I'll dare say that -Apples to Apples- is not a homeowner at all, but is rather, a Firstline employee.

As a former employee, it is apparent that this 'homeowner' has a very intimate knowlege of the inner workings of the company, accompanied with the same spin that many Firstline employees have.

What a great tactic, I believe successfull politicians are also implanting knowlegable staff to appear like innocent citizens.

The truth:

Many of my fellow coworkers used deceptive methods to sell systems. One rep told people there is a smoke detector in the panel. Another tells people that if they choose landline- rather than cellular- that the systems still sends signals even if the phone line is cut.

Rather than ensuring these poor people knew the truth, it was my job to ensure the homeowner didn't cancel. Imagine what I challenge I had when attempting to explain- a mini smoke detector, or worse, a cut phone line which can still comunicate.

And I do know that the cost of the system is added into the monthly 'monitoring rate.'

I'm shocked to see that the best reason to buy from Firstline, rather than a discount distributor is: the supposed 'professional installation.' Check out the reality here, and take time to look at the pictures of the 'professional installations.'

-Mike
Firstline: Your First Line of lies.

Re: Scam Alert: Automotive Warranty Advisors

Mike — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:12:56 -0000

All of you guys need to get a life.. If you do not want the hassle just throw away the letters and the postcards.. The company is doing nothing wrong by sTheending the letters out and asking that you make a decision on the phone call. The real scam is when the dealer doesnt give you a warranty or offer it to you and you pay them $100 per hour to repair your car.. The manufacture's do not sell extended warranties all of the coverage you receive from a dealer comeas form the same sources that send you the postcards.. wake up people.. FORD, GM, HONDA, TOYOTA all give you 3/36 warranties anything else is underwritten by a third party warranty or insurance company. It isnt a scam to ask for your business when you call them.. Credit Card companies do it all the time.. Dont want it or think that you have it dont call simple as that.

Re: New Kanye West – Coldest Winter

Mike — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:19:28 -0000

It's official, Kanye has gone all emo on us...

Re: New Leona Lewis – Forgive Me

Mike — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:57:40 -0000

this is a amazin tune!

Re: New Bloc Party – “Letter To My Son” / “Your Visits Are Getting Shorter”

Mike — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:27:10 -0000

Bloc Party live is a whole different experience. cant wait for a US tour!

Re: Thanksgiving and junk | Letter Never Sent

Mike — Wed, 03 Dec 2003 07:00:45 -0000

I think I ate a small dog for Thanksgiving.. :( Wait.. Okay.. Maybe it was a large dog..

Re: Why | Letter Never Sent

Mike — Wed, 03 Dec 2003 07:04:41 -0000

It sounds like that 24 hour sleep disorder that's been going around.. :P

Re: UpsideTrader

Mike — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:34:00 -0000

great site! Thoughts on next week..2sweet's 906 short area? you think its too close or maybe 920 for pullback?

Re: Things I Can’t Friggin’ Believe IV

Mike — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:34:00 -0000

Fantastic! That post should be syndicated!

Re: New Old Lupe Fiasco – Accept The Troubles

Mike — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:57:11 -0000

this was when he rapped gangsta way before changing his style and releasing Food & Liquor.

Re: Dress Up As Kanye West, M.I.A., Lil Wayne This Halloween, Otherwise Known as Pretty Much Amazing’s Official Halloween 2008 Post, Part 1

Mike — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:57:12 -0000

I think I might do this! So fun! Seriously, I have the glasses and everything.

Re: New T-Pain feat Kanye West – Therapy

Mike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:49:37 -0000

This is such a huge yawn, I dont know how anyone can think it's "hot" -- the lyrics are idiotic.

Re: New Kanye West – Anyway

Mike — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:39:32 -0000

Yay for video game sounds

Re: New The Killers – Spaceman (’Day & Age’ Version)

Mike — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:51:56 -0000

This song is fantastic... now we have to wait for Neon Tiger!

Re: New The Killers – Spaceman (’Day & Age’ Version)

Mike — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:54:07 -0000

There's another clip going around.. the song is called "A Dustland Fairytale" -- the snippet is only a minute long though:
http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWDRkm3WarQ

Re: Classic JM: Psalm 1, the Law, and the Missional Church

Mike — Sun, 27 Feb 2005 12:03:27 -0000

In a typical day, do you read The Book more than other books? Other books have a needful place in the life of a Christian, but not nearly as needful as the only Book inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Re: Classic JM: Psalm 1, the Law, and the Missional Church

Mike — Sun, 27 Feb 2005 12:40:13 -0000

Bravo to that! Good answer!

Re: Is it OK to Share my WiFi? (Comcast)

Mike — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:36:00 -0000

Hi,

Thanks so much for your detailed and insightful analysis of the Comcast terms of service, and how they relate to WiFi sharing.

I have to point out one fundamental difference between Whisher and Fon, whereas Whisher does not allow nor support reselling of one's connection, Fon's model is based on reselling your broadband connection to others (the so-called 'aliens'), in exchange of giving you roaming rights on the rest of the Fon network. With the 'bill' mode, you actually share revenue generated by paying visitors on your WiFi, and thus start to operate on commercial terms, something that ISPs would start looking into would Fon grow to a significant size.

Regards,

Mike (Whisher CTO)

Re: Britney Spears @ VMAS: So Many Levels of “Suck”

Mike — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:50:27 -0000

Oh god, why MTV? Why Britney?

She can't pull that off

Re: WL.TV Spoof!

Mike — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:41:20 -0000

Yeah it would be fun. You could do a thing where everytime you swirl the glass . The wine comes pouring out viscously.

Re: My Passion. The Second Surge.

Mike — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:27:58 -0000

Congratulations on your hard work! And the first place finish!! I am sorry that we couldn't come and see it. I was just so whipped after working that I really honestly wouldn't have been any fun. But I can't wait to see it. Everybody needs something to get their teeth dirty on. I think this is a great thing for you.

And how was the first day of work?!

Re: Yagoohoogle!

Mike — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 11:20:54 -0000

http://www.GahooYoogle.com is like that too!!

Re: Control.DesignMode Misbehaving?

Mike — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:25:16 -0000

Hi there,

One solution to the DesignMode problem that I have found that seems to work is to override the OnCreateControl method. Place anything that you would have placed into your constructor into this method, after the base implementation and wrap it in an if(!DesignMode). At this point, the control seems to be able to determine if it is in design mode or not. I don't know if it will work for every eventuality, but it seems worth a try for now. I have made a note of your suggestion though! Just in case.

Regards,

Mike

Re: Sony Ericsson M600i versus Nokia E70

Mike — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:50:16 -0000

"The M600i of course supports UMTS, whereas the E70 is EDGE only" - this is untrue. The E70 of course supports 3G UMTS(maybe You don't have 3G range in your area. Please read "technical specification" on Nokia site: http://europe.nokia.com/e70. I have this phone and UMTS works beautifully according to specification 3GPP WCDMA Release 99.

Re: What Perez Sez: Satisfy You’re Inner Bitch.

Mike — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:47:46 -0000

He plugged his whole main page with these. ick.

Re: Even Wordpress Dickfarts… Playlist

Mike — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:23:58 -0000

Great playlist, very amusing :)

Re: Undomondo Radio Show #22

Mike — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:21:49 -0000

superb mix - nicely sequnced and thought out - thank you ever so

Re: Anybody want a Pownce invite?

Mike — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:13:29 -0000

need invite

Re: Videogasm: The Arcade Fire Rock ACL; Gwen Stefani, and Kanye West @ Emmy’s

Mike — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:28:48 -0000

I hate that Gwen Stefani song, there are so many other songs that should be singles before than one.

Re: mtvU Woodie Award Nominations

Mike — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:53:21 -0000

Wow, the Arctic Monkeys aren't nominated...

Re: Mary J. Blige: New Single and Release Date

Mike — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:04:59 -0000

I actually like this song a lot. its loads of fun.

Re: I like Cameras, hello

Mike — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 21:47:00 -0000

Looks like a cool site but the RSS feed doesn't display all the content... Only a subset it seems. if that gets fixed, it looks like a must read feed.

Re: I like Cameras, hello

Mike — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:19:00 -0000

Seems to be working now. When I looked yesterday there were stories on the homepage that weren't in the Feed. That's why I thought the feed was pulling a different set of stories.

Re: I like Cameras, hello

Mike — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:30:00 -0000

Yes.. I am using bloglines. Glad everything is working now!!

Re: Speedy Ireland

Mike — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:12:00 -0000

Any idea when?

The Isle of Man TT Races started out as car races around 1900 because of the restrictions in Britian at the time.

Story at http://www.iomtt.com/history/intro.shtml

Re: The great cull

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:54:00 -0000

What a great review. I snagged a few of them, but I really need to do some cleaning of my feeds as well, but I'll make sure to leave yours on there :)

Re: Nano sized bite of the forbidden fruit

Mike — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 19:55:00 -0000

Congrats on the purchase. I'm waiting for the "Real" video iPod to come out before I upgrade.

Just a note on the iPod updater. Did you chose Restore or Upgrade? Restore will wipe out your songs, Upgrade won't. I've never lost songs when I upgraded my iPod. Just a thought.

Re: Nano sized bite of the forbidden fruit

Mike — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:56:00 -0000

Apple has to come out with an iPod where Video is a main function. Widescreen, maybe speakers, more storage etc. I'm guessing the next version of the iPod will be something that is more video capable and not just an "add-on".

Re: GMail me

Mike — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 13:45:00 -0000

I've been doing that for what seems to be forever (well, nearly a year). You won't regret it. It has changed the way I use email. Search rocks.

Re: Fodie

Mike — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 14:50:00 -0000

What's a fodie? Must be a non-US thing...

People often refer to photos over here as "Shots". As in, "Did you get some good shots?" That one bugs me too.

Re: 114233618597819257

Mike — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 13:59:00 -0000

Oh Vegas. I've had the pleasure a couple times of visiting that place... That place is unique. There are quite a few characters there, so watch out.

Re: Lost Vegas

Mike — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 15:19:00 -0000

Although it sounds like there were some similarities, your trip sounded quite a bit different than mine...

Re: Quitting coke

Mike — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:27:00 -0000

Is this your first time quitting? I think I'm on about #6. This time does seem to be going better for me, yet I still ache for the bubbly burn of a Dr Pepper. Best of luck!

Re: S3 + Subversion

Mike — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:09:47 -0000

Hello Gents,

I just mapped drive S: to my local machine using Jungle DIsk and then used TortoiseSVN to create a repository ... S:\\svn ... then checked that repository out via url file:///s:svn ...

Seems to work fine ... bit sluggish on commit but by that stage it's probably time for a beer anyway. ; )

Cheers

Mike

Re: Science of Smell - Can wine critique really be “objective”

Mike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:32:26 -0000

Avery Gilbert also recently did a Podcast for the New York Academy of Sciences' Science and the City, where he talks about some similar themes. For those interested in listening and hearing more from Dr. Gilbert, you can listen to that here: <a href="http://www.nyas.org/snc/podcastdetail.asp?id=1841..."><a href="http://www.nyas.org/snc/podcastdetail.as....

Re: Science of Smell - Can wine critique really be “objective”

Mike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:32:26 -0000

Re: Science of Smell - Can wine critique really be “objective”

Mike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:32:26 -0000

Re: February and March @ Catavino - Rioja, Rioja, Rioja

Mike — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:44:55 -0000

Does anyone have an explanation for the lite green , red and burgandy stamp on the back of the rioja's. Mike at miketurpen@hotmail.com

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Mike — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:21:35 -0000

I work for the Herb Chambers Co's as well, I;ve been in the business for 12 years and with Herb for the past 8. Most employees are in this business because we like people and like to HELP people. We, the employees work very hard and incure lots and lots of stress helping people on an every day basis 9 times out of 10 the client is either very difficult or unreasonable and it is our job to change this client and earn their trust and business. The problems and the nasty clients come our way if we like it or not, the employees have to make the best of the situations and make the best decision for the client and the specific department and store we work for. The majority of employess in this business are paid based on customer satisfaction levels and if we dont hit certain criteria we dont get paid our highest potential. Believe me when I tell you the employees do whatever it takes to a certain level of abuse from clients to make them happy and hope for a good survey score, the employees and the employees family depends on it. Out of the tens of thousands and at this point in Herbs hugely successful run at this point hundreds of thousands, a very very small percentage of customers are dissatisfied and it is usually due to the clients unreasonable requests or self inflicted issues that put the staff at the dealership in a bad position. The Herb Chambers Co's are a strong and fair company to work for the automotive industry in general has a very high turnover rate due to the amount of stress an individual goes through when helping people and the demands of the clients due to the amount of money they spend on vehicles. the Herb Chambers Co's have a very low turnover rate compared to industry standards, the reason for this is because we are compensated very well for our efforts, Herb makes it worth our while to do a good job and make every effort to satisfy the customer. Herb did not build his empire with the attitude to screw the client and this reflects right down the the personel sweeping the lots. Sometimes an individual needs to look inward. M.R

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Mike — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:29:47 -0000

It seems to me Ray just gave someone some credit. Another clever comment by a HC employee!! I bet you if he was not treated badly in the first place he would have bought there, shame shame!!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Mike — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:29:35 -0000

So, Loyal HC employee, whats your response to that?

Re: Youtube Videos auf den iPod kopieren

Mike — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:00:49 -0000

leider kostet der podtube konverter mittlerweile 4,99$.

Re: Song Of The Day : Justice / D.A.N.C.E.

Mike — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:17:41 -0000

c un hommage a michael jackson cette chanson!!!!!

abc et 1234 sont des titres des jacskon 5 et viennent s y ajouter des titres comme pyt,black or white,whatever happens ou encore working day and night!!!!

superbe hommage a un artiste qui merite le respect!!!!!!

Re: Album Review: Jimmy Eat World – Chase The Light

Mike — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:37:12 -0000

This album as a whole wasn't one of my favorites, because it lacked the harder, bleed american side, of jimmy eat world. However, it introduced some of my favorite Jimmy Eat World songs like Let it Happen and Dizzy. Overall i thought it was a pretty solid album, and I like all of the tracks except for probably here it goes and feeling lucky

Re: The Greatest Black Conservative Organization: Black Panther Party

Mike — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:28:00 -0000

For a brief discussion of the New Black Panther Party, see,
www.youngblackman.wordpress.com

The comment is at the end of the latest post on the Duke Lacrosse Case.

Re: Joe Biden — The Democrats’ Answer to Trent Lott and George Allen

Mike — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:34:00 -0000

I agree, very well put about the "underlying" racist tone to his statement. However, in some ways I'm inclined to give him a pass for this latest statement, if only because I think we all know what he was trying to say. He was trying to be complimentary.

This is actually similar to John Kerry accidentally implying that our troops are uneducated. We all know the point he was trying to make but it just came out completely wrong.

But it'd be hypocritical of me to not also consider his past statements. When you throw in the 7-11 comments, I think you do have to strongly question him, and I am surprise there hasn't been more outrage.

I think most democrats are just sitting back, letting him self destruct, rather than take a chance at "going negative" this early and attacking an opponent. He may be DOA, which is too bad, because I really like his Iraq plan.

Re: FBI Spied on Coretta Scott King

Mike — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:31:00 -0000

"So, anyone who is shocked by this doesn't understand the history of the United States of America."

My goodness, child, anyone who is "shocked" by this anywhere in the world cannot have a mental age of about 12.

Of COURSE you track your political opponents ... and their wives ... and their children. How else do you get an edge? To use an example closer to home, how do you think Mugabe does it? How does Putin do it? How does Amadinejad? Or the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party?

Welcome to the world of grown-ups!

Re: Bush to Help Mortgage Holders in Crisis

Mike — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:57:00 -0000

I have very, very little "compassion" for little guys who bought way the hell more than they could every pay for -- WHO KNEW IT AT THE TIME -- an now want the rest of us to pay taxes and keep giving them cheap play money so they can try to flip their $600,000 mortgage for a $100,000 LA ghetto bungalow to some other greedy moron who is willing to pay $750,000 for it. Yeah, right. While my family lives in a $100,000 condo because I could SEE this coming like a train wreck.

Black folks never should have bought into Bush's play-now-pay-later free-mortgages-to-every-nappy-headed-fool real estate boom. And now to suggest that bailing them out by getting the rest of us with common sense to pick up their tab is just obscene. All it is going to do is push off the inevitable day of reckoning for another two, three, five years so they can get their house prices jacked up to $1,000,000 for that cracker-box $100,000 bungalow and then they will REALLY b!tch about de debbil white man. This whole pyramid has to crash. They dis ain't no bigger fools to buy from the current fools.

PS: They aren't "homeowners". If they were "homeowners" they wouldn't need any help. They are "debtors" who tried to buy way more on time payments than they could ever hope to, praying there would be a Bigger Fool in 3 years they could dump the property on, and now are now suffering major league buyer's remorse. Nobody should ever have lent those fools one thin dime. And nobody but a common everyday fool would bail them out. Folks who cannot do simple math -- addition, subtraction, and percentages -- have no place buying houses. Let 'em go down and take Cramer's friends with them. Biggest favor Bush could ever do them OR the nation.

Re: Jesse Jackson Really Needs to Read a Book… explaining what satire is

Mike — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:14:00 -0000

I didn't quite know what to think when a white kid from work gave me the link and started laughing his ass off, singing along. He knew it was a joke, or was it?

He laughed and said, "I can see it now, a high school assembly where they pass around the 'Reading is FUNdamental' book markers to the white kids, and then say 'and now we have a special presentation for our African-Americans classmates, please watch the screen ... <'read a book, read a book, read a m'f'ing book, nigga'>'."

I think he got the message - that there are special ways you have to communicate to get the attention of black youth -- but I can't say I was very comfortable.

I had the same feeling that I did when that Ali G Jewish comedian got white folks to say stupid things. Yep, it was "satire", but what was he satirizing? His stupid character? How stupid white folks are? Or how all white folks are anti-semites? Or all three?

Re: Williams: Middle Class Blacks Are A Different Race

Mike — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:24:00 -0000

Nice site, I'll add you to my blogroll...

I don't think it is that far off to suggest that blacks are divided on values by class. There has always been a values divide between poor and middle class--it just seems to be wider now. Money, or lack of it changes values. Two worlds? I think that's an exaggeration but not too much so. But this divide is a reality for ALL races--not just blacks.

Where Williams makes a complete leap and overreach is in his conclusion, "This comes down to black Americans who believe in family, education and personal responsibility vs. those who point at "the man" or the "system" for the added weight on black Americans."

There is just no way the data from the report can support this statement. This is simply William's opinion.

Re: DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting Open Thread

Mike — Sat, 31 May 2008 11:17:00 -0000

Check out this audio clip of Bill Clinton admitting the only option is to cut the delegate slates in half.

Re: Blip.tv empowers independent content creators

Mike — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:14:44 -0000

Hey Luca,

Just wanted to drop you a line and say that our video quality should be at least as good as Brightcove for the same source video :)

If not, please point us to a particular video and we'll find out why and fix it. Right away.

Yours,

Mike

Re: ABC’s “The Practice” Renewed Without 6 Main Actors

Mike — Mon, 17 May 2004 22:03:35 -0000

Finally ... the best show on television. And its all because of ...

Denny Crane

Re: Album Review: Britney Spears – Blackout (Times Review)

Mike — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:44:27 -0000

what the fuck????! i can't understand a goddamn word of this review. whoever wrote it is a fucking pedantic moron.

Re: SXSW Video Recap: Day 4

Mike — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:33:30 -0000

Much thanks for sharing the BSP finale and letting us all in on the mayhem. Cheers.

Re: Listen: The Mission Veo

Mike — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:34:08 -0000

catchy song

Re: Album Review: Evil Urges

Mike — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:47:33 -0000

i'm glad i'm not the only one hearing the "subterranian homesick alien" bit in "evil urges."

Re: Lolla Main Event: Rage Against the Machine (8/2)

Mike — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:34:31 -0000

Damn I wish I was there to beat the shit out of everyone around me - so much fun!

Re: Lolla Main Event: Rage Against the Machine (8/2)

Mike — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:25 -0000

The show was badass, but Zack and Tom didn't want to encourage the audience. The crowd was going apeshit and people were getting injured and tossed around - it was like a fuckin body pit. I was like 25-30 feet from the stage at the beginning and i couldn't even enjoy the music. I was sufficating and exhuasted from being pushed, pulled, slammed, and kicked in every direction, I didn't have any strength to raise my fists in the air let alone lift the hot, slimey bodies that were rolling on top of me. I fucking love Rage and I've been waiting for the concert for years, and I knew I was going to go nuts for this concert, but I had to pull myself outta there. My friend's shoulder popped out. All while this was happening, Zack and Tom were barley acknowledging the audience. In between songs, they'd either say nothing and go to the next song, or tell the audience to step back. Its almost as if they just wanted to play the music and get it over with. It wasn't necessary for them to pump up, excite, tease, or taunt the crowd because Rage is already a true legend.

You know a band trully rocks, when the band is trying the crowd to calm down.

Re: The Killers announce three U.S. dates, more on the way?

Mike — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:15:58 -0000

saw them at the Borgata earlier in August

Re: http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/09/25/cos-giveaway-oasis-dig-out-your-soul-box-set/

Mike — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:01:59 -0000

I want it I want it I want it!

Re: http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/09/25/cos-giveaway-oasis-dig-out-your-soul-box-set/

Mike — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:08:37 -0000

When will we find out who won?

Re: Velvet Revolver out; Chickenfoot in as new supergroup

Mike — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:47:45 -0000

It is pretty funny. Page shuld just put his guitar at Satch's feet ,bow to him and say "Thank you for making me realize what a real guitarist sounds like".

Re: Festival Outlook

Mike — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:17:55 -0000

Anyone heard any news on the festival that was going to be in Vineland, NJ? whatever happened to that? They couldnt get it off the ground last year but were shooting for this year last I heard.

Re: “Commercializing” the game

Mike — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:27:40 -0000

It's an awareness commercial. It's supposed to make those who are unfamiliar with the MCLA aware of the organization's legitimacy. If you know what the MCLA is, then yes, there's nothing new to the message, but if you think teams like BYU, CSU and Michigan are just "club" teams, then the commercial might make you think twice about what's going on outside the East Coast. Wouldn't you agree?

Re: “Commercializing” the game

Mike — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:35:58 -0000

They were aired during the MCLA championship TV broadcasts each year. Out of curiousity, what would you like to see in a MCLA commercial?

Re: “Commercializing” the game

Mike — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:12:33 -0000

No offense taken, Rusty. I love to see the MCLA grow and am always eager to hear different perspectives. The problem is that getting more people to see something costs money. Fortunately, YouTube can help. And they were actually done quite cheap...

Re: Achievement Unlocked

Mike — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:26:09 -0000

Yayzors, achievements ftw, i never get achievements i am such a loner :(. Also, what is happening this week you pilgrim. Msg me via email.

Re: Achievement Unlocked

Mike — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:41:37 -0000

Also me thinks Adrian 4got to change the screen sized on latest comic ;).

Re: What is this?!? (A costin contribution)

Mike — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:51:44 -0000

Looking forward!!!!!!!

Re: Yahoo Gets It (or, Why The Economist Is Balanced And Still Wrong; or, 10 Reasons Why Yahoo Will Do Better Than The Mobs Think)

Mike — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 02:24:41 -0000

I've been thinking the same thing. They've been making all the right moves lately and it's just a matter of time before this pays off for YHOO shareholders.

Re: Music of the Moment - Cold War Kids

Mike — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:43:05 -0000

I saw them play in San Francisco back in October. They are totally animated on stage. Here's a video that I took of Hang Me Up to Dry: http://youtube.com/watch?v=QR3sHKNoIBU

Re: In LA

Mike — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:12:13 -0000

Not sure if you're still in LA but check out El Coyote on Beverly for Mexican food. It's an old school place with pretty good food (try the Enchilada Howard), eclectic crowd, and margaritas that will knock you on your butt.

Re: Social Proprioception

Mike — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 01:25:26 -0000

I wasn't too surprised by Scoble's response. He has over 5,000 followers on Twitter and I'm pretty low-profile so I didn't really expect him to recognize me. If it had been someone who had a smaller number of followers I probably would have expected them to have a better idea of who I am.

Re: Review: Picasaweb vs. Flickr

Mike — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 03:55:47 -0000

You should try out Yahoo Photos. It may not be 100% as intuitive as Flickr, but it gives you unlimited space for free, and the interface is generally not bad at all.

Re: Six Movies That Are Supposed To Be Funny… But Aren’t

Mike — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:06:07 -0000

One film that looked funny from the tv ads... Date Movie.

There are some movies you listed above like Ace Ventura that I didn't find hugely funny, but none of them like Date Movie that I really wish I didn't waste my money in seeing.

I think the safest thing to do is avoid any film that has anything to do with the guys who did any Scary Movie.

Re: Is there a point hidden in this site somewhere?

Mike — Wed, 28 Apr 2004 23:44:59 -0000

Well, thanks. I'll mark you down as "Hell Yeah Bitch! .com: Fan #1"

Re: Is there a point hidden in this site somewhere?

Mike — Mon, 03 May 2004 15:53:16 -0000

Thanks for the support Glenn. I will continue to post news and views the way I have been for over a year now. But I do have some new projects (with a point) hopefully coming soon.

Keep reading and posting!

Re: Aicha Unleashed

Mike — Mon, 10 May 2004 00:59:30 -0000

So you just hang out in your room and do drugs while you watch the Aicha video? Hey, throw in some sandwiches and I'll hang out with you.

Re: thepirateship.org

Mike — Tue, 18 May 2004 20:11:23 -0000

No problem! I plan on trying to be over there as much as possible...and hopefully many will follow me.

Re: I Couldn’t Resist

Mike — Wed, 16 Jun 2004 00:06:32 -0000

...and you love it!

Re: Another “G4TechTV Sucks” Article

Mike — Thu, 08 Jul 2004 13:55:35 -0000

I'm with you Dan, the "games all the time" sudo-mantra that seemingly embodies all of the G4TechTV programming people is a little much to swallow. Now, back in the TechTV days or even the ZDTV days, I never really watched everything. Fresh Gear's dialog was a little lame, along with some of the other shows. But I did really like the simple but fun Call For Help (the only show that talked about Apple), the Screensavers, and for those that remember, Internet Tonight was great.

Aw Well. Maybe something will take its place in the future.

Re: O’Reilly vs. Moore

Mike — Wed, 11 Aug 2004 02:01:39 -0000

Seemed to me that Moore was the one back peddling and not answering questions. Moore never really did give a solid answer about how exactly why he thinks Bush lied about the weapons of mass descrution, even though Moore admits that Bush got faulty information...

Re: A low-tech “hack” with a high-tech payoff

Mike — Tue, 17 Aug 2004 22:16:31 -0000

No, in fact, you don't have to fill out anything but your name, I allow annoymous comments. (Just like it says above the text field when you posted your comment.)

Also, if you were worried, what if all your information was shown?...and you just posted anyway. I mean, you are safe, but there are better ways to test something that just diving in head-first while asking if this is a bad idea.

Re: Mike@Work…kind of.

Mike — Wed, 18 Aug 2004 20:21:41 -0000

Jack your dad.

Re: A Call To Arms!

Mike — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 23:22:16 -0000

You are welcome to write whatever or whenever you want. Just write something up and email to me, I'll post it.

On the subject of "being gay with you", I think we all know that isn't true...Even if I was gay, I would have to be pretty desperate to be "gay with you".

Re: Boredom at Best Buy

Mike — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 23:25:12 -0000

That first post was not written by me...lets clear the air right now. However, she really doesn't specify if she is looking at Christien (first picture), or me (third picture down). I'll just assume she is a fan of both of us.

(We all know how much broads like guys in uniform, especially Best Buy uniforms.)

Re: Gmail Anyone?

Mike — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 23:41:07 -0000

I have 4 left...well 3 now. I'll hook you up in a sec Bryan.

Re: iMac, 3rd Generation

Mike — Sun, 05 Sep 2004 02:09:19 -0000

Feel like sharing?

Re: Gmail Anyone?

Mike — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 01:12:09 -0000

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-c85c41a121-d4a047552d-6b234d99f0

(Steve, if you don't get to this link fast enough, email me and give me a working email address and I'll hook you up...again.)

Re: Do you really know how to fold a shirt?

Mike — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 02:36:55 -0000

Good to hear from you! If you need any help with the big words, feel free to email me and I'll explain whatever you need. Have fun in Minnesota, and keep in touch.

Re: GMail Invites Update

Mike — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 13:42:33 -0000

Thats true. I've heard of this site as well. But doesn't the Military supply them with some sort of e-mail anyway?

Re: iMac, 3rd Generation

Mike — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 17:02:04 -0000

Yes, I know. I understand the confusion. I was referring to G3 = 3rd Generation.

Re: Windows RSS readers

Mike — Wed, 22 Sep 2004 19:21:53 -0000

You know I have Firefox 1.0 on my system for a little while now, but I have yet to really explore its features. I'll check that out.

Thanks

Re: metabitching

Mike — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 15:15:41 -0000

The supreme court approproated that Bush be given Flordia huh? Guess what that means? He won Flordia. Like I said thats fine that you hate it, but if say it goes your way the next time, I don't want to hear all this electorial college hatred go away becuase your boy won. Thats my problem with it.

Don't misunderstand me...I don't care if you say that you don't like the electorial or who you voted for. Thats not what I'm addressing here. What I'm metabitching about is the people that bitch about it becuase they think it is the cool thing to bitch about becuase some Hollywood actor is bitching about it. A good chunk of the people that bitch and bitch the loudest, with little knowledge about it are the ones that probably didn't even vote!

Re: IOgear KVM

Mike — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 11:08:14 -0000

Yeah, I saw that after I posted this and I was wondering myself what exactly the point of that thing was...

I'll call him "Kevin the KVM Gopher Thing"

Re: The Linux Install

Mike — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:03:21 -0000

The situation that I'm in is I have a old ass computer that I would like to just mainly get some servers running out it so I can become more comfortable with the inteface and the UNIX command line. So becuase this is such an old machine, I can't do much with it.

I was going to go with KDE, but the graphics card I put in there (a salvage off of an old Gateway Pentium 100) is just horrible so KDE might be a bit much. But I hope that won't matter as much when I get it setup I hope to never have to use a monitor or mouse on that machine again. Maybe if I get a new graphics card for my PC and can give my current one to the Linux server that way I can get off of running 640x480!

I thought about using Fedora or one of the other ones, but right now the thought of installing them is a bit much. Maybe if I had a better computer to put Linux and a friend that has done it with me, I would be a bit more apt to try another one...I'm interested in Fedora at some point.

Re: Mandrake and Me

Mike — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:04:10 -0000

The permalink and comments have now been fixed on this post.

Re: Mandrake and Me

Mike — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 19:02:17 -0000

After taking a look at their site, I'm with you Dan. Plus, I think I've stopped having problems with my linux server for the time being, so I'm not changing a thing for a little while unitl I need too!

Re: Are you a closet iPod user?

Mike — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 12:24:47 -0000

Good to hear from you! And glad that you still read this "stupid site"

Thats how I like my readers: They read the site, but aren't happy with themselves when they finish.

Re: Is Scott Rolen funny?

Mike — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:43:50 -0000

His brother had a good comment on Scott Rolen's struggles in the first playoff round as well:

"That last game in L.A.," Rolen reported Wednesday night, "my brother told me -- and this is total (baloney), by the way: 'You know, you could at least go get the guys on the bench some water.' "

Re: How To Build a Web Application

Mike — Mon, 18 Oct 2004 00:51:04 -0000

I like the marktwain.net site. Looks good. Right now at work I'm redesigning the "see your artwork framed" feature of artfinale.com's site. Its a mess right now, but I've got something cooking that should speed it up a ton and get it to not look like shit. I'll let you all know when something is posted.

Re: How To Build a Web Application

Mike — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 12:08:06 -0000

Right now, working on the artfinale.com site? Just me. I had a little help with the morleygroup.com site (which I think they wanted an ugly site), but artfinale.com is all mine for now.

There is a surprising amount of code there to wrap a frame around a picture like that. But I'm getting through it. I have a feeling that I'll be pretty much redoing the whole site peice by peice when I finish this part.

Re: What iMac?

Mike — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 00:12:12 -0000

I am holding off on posting until we take game 7. I'm sorry, that is the way it is.

Re: Take tabbed browsing to the next level

Mike — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 19:31:01 -0000

If you want to know the weather, can't you just stick your head outside?

Re: Take tabbed browsing to the next level

Mike — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 02:22:40 -0000

Give it time...soon someone will make a Firefox extention to do that too.

Re: Boston: No More Excuses

Mike — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:50:08 -0000

Yes. I believe the term is typo. Too bad that had to be my 100th comment posted on Hell Yeah Bitch! .com

Re: I’m Covered in SPAM!

Mike — Sat, 30 Oct 2004 01:19:48 -0000

Well thanks for visiting...I need to have those people. I have a few sites that I don't think are hugely popular hat I frequent and I'm sure they appreciate me too.

Anyway, I do try my best to delete the spam as soon as I see it. Plus they always seem to spam posts that are a few months old. Weird since they are old posts noone really sees them near as much as the other or bigger posts, so whats the point of spamming if noone sees it?

Re: I’m Covered in SPAM!

Mike — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 12:02:57 -0000

Yeah, that is pretty weird. I've been taking a look at your blog, looks good. But weirdness like that is bound to happen with all of these open-source blogging tools. I've never found one that is perfect.

Re: I’m Covered in SPAM!

Mike — Tue, 02 Nov 2004 11:43:32 -0000

Now I seem to be getting SPAM from playboy magazine. However, it does appear that the spam blocker built into MT is working better than the MT-Blacklist.

Re: I’m Covered in SPAM!

Mike — Tue, 02 Nov 2004 21:12:34 -0000

Now thats some good thinkn'!

Re: I’m Covered in SPAM!

Mike — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 21:46:30 -0000

You know what? I like it.

Wanna be Hell Yeah Bitch .com's PR / Advertising head?

Re: 4 More Years For Turd Sandwich

Mike — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 22:55:35 -0000

I have been watching the news. I don't think I'm missing the "magnitude" of this at all. I understand why people are upset, but do I have to watch other countries to see how I should feel about my country's government?

Re: Hell Yeah Bitch! .com vs SPAM (Round 2)

Mike — Mon, 08 Nov 2004 11:00:18 -0000

So far its working. This is the first time in quite a few days that I haven't popped into my admin page at work and not see a list of spam in the recent comments section. I hope it keeps up.

Re: Apple iPod Socks

Mike — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 11:03:24 -0000

There was just a lot of good stuff to talk about today. I wish I could update like this everyday, but I'm just ONE MAN!

I think these socks are cool! More Apple stuff for my growing collection. I've even got my girlfriend looking to buy her first Apple computer sometime soon.

Re: Another “G4TechTV Sucks” Article

Mike — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 18:39:45 -0000

Good point. I never watch it anymore. However, when the Screensavers was still hosted by Leo and Kate I watched it all the time. Never missed it. I've slowly lost interest over the years and even in the last generation of the show I rarely watched. Now I don't have any desire to watch that channel.

Its all ESPN and Food Network for me now!

Re: Another Reason To Hate America

Mike — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 22:24:47 -0000

Thanks, but if its "killer kool-ade" I'll need something a bit stronger than sugar. That, and if you know its going to kill you, is it being sweet a real big concern?

Re: Another Reason To Hate America

Mike — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:00:23 -0000

I don't really hate america. You are really taking this all way to literally. I just hate the fact that nothing can happen anymore with out someone finding it offensive. That was my whole point.

Think of it when someone you like says something stupid. "I hate you". Is more of an expression at that point, not a literal statement of true feelings.

Also, I don't think the "grass is greener" in France. I guess my scarcaism didn't translate well in this post.
Sorry for not getting those message across well enough.

I a crappily worded post is what I get for trying to throw an article up during a sticking point in a project I'm working on at work.

I do see your point though about the time and place for things. Its nice to see posts like that on here more and more lately.

Re: CSS vs Tables

Mike — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:50:21 -0000

Oh wow. You just commented my thoughts exactly.

I've been making sites at work all day, and fighting IE along the way.

(I had more here, but I just decided to just make this long comment into another post, becuase I got lazy and didn't write anything yesterday.)

Re: The Grey Video

Mike — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 11:21:01 -0000

Awesome. Thanks for the update with the link.

Re: What A Stud

Mike — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 23:33:56 -0000

Nope, I'm not still working at Best Buy. I have a real job now, as a web developer.

By the way, I found your site by a bookmark I found on my iBook. I guess I got it when we were still at Best Buy.

Re: pseudo-OS X

Mike — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 00:02:06 -0000

yeah, it has a tiger visual style to go along with it. I just installed it and I'm taking a look around now...

One problem I noticed right away: For some reason after skinning firefox, all form text input boxes are about 3-4 times the size they should be.

For instance google's input field is so huge that I can only see all of it by maximizing the firefox window.

Annoying...

Re: pseudo-OS X

Mike — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 10:48:55 -0000

Thanks flyakite! Works great now with that registry tweak disabled.

The new version sounds great. Keep up the good work flyakite. The scene has come a long way since I was really into it.

Re: Calling All Photoshopers!

Mike — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 17:00:35 -0000

Thanks for all the support!

I'll write something up tonight after work and send an email out to all.

Re: Make Your Own Tablet Mac

Mike — Mon, 13 Dec 2004 11:08:49 -0000

Hell Yeah Bitch! .com: 1,
Slashdot: 21,321,387,329,847,324

It looks a bit bleek I know, but we got into the game late and I really feel a rally coming on.

Re: Free DNS and VPN

Mike — Wed, 15 Dec 2004 18:59:20 -0000

Yeah, the tabbing is a bit off when I added the NOSPAM feature. Not sure why it does that, but when I added the lines to movable type's cgi script, it just worked that way. I don't know, maybe that helps in SPAM prevention too.

Cool idea with the cron job. That is slick and I'll look into that when I get home tonight. After that, and after I get all my apartment (otherwise know as: "Hell Yeah Bitch World Headquarters") setup, then I'll play with VPN stuff.

Thanks!

Re: Help For A Out-Of-Touch Gamer

Mike — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 23:41:11 -0000

Yeah, if I ever go near X-Box live Microsoft will ban me forever, Bill Gates will send guys to my house to break my fingers, and possibly might come to my house personally take a shit on my coffee table.

But as long as I don't do that...everything is gravy.

Re: Livestrong, die now!

Mike — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 06:43:49 -0000

Hi Mike,

Get a fucking life im sick of your shit.

Think of a better word to use than Retard.

Get fucked!

Re: Livestrong, die now!

Mike — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 19:28:24 -0000

Hey Mike,

I really am sick of your opinion why dont you find something else to combine your negative thoughts with.
The person who wrote above me I dont even know!

I have a quick question for you though. Were dropped on your head as a baby?

Simply because it will explain why your the retard! (hey look your favorite word)

Re: Livestrong, die now!

Mike — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 19:33:31 -0000

Hi Mike,

Another thing, you think your so smart "the two guys that posted right after you are your little friends"
Guess what asshole they're the same guy. Are you sure your not 13. Maybe you should start reading the stuff that people put on your site before you comment.

Re: Livestrong, die now!

Mike — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 03:49:32 -0000

Hi again,

There is no subject to get back to because it has been exhausted from your continuous unsupported hate of the livestrong bands...
So yeah maybe you should tell us about your life so we all can be ANTI-MIKE. And no i dont love you but i do have a question for you!

Re: Livestrong, die now!

Mike — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 08:29:19 -0000

Too bad Mike i would really hate to be you right now trying to rebut everyones thoughts because clearly they think your insignificant....

Maybe you should quit while your way behind.
Do you know anyone who has been ravaged by cancer, do they wear a livestrong band?
I just hope you dont become diagnosed. As i am quite sure you would regret the comments you have made to people on this site.

The reason why i was getting stuck into you earlier is because you were the one giving everyone else abuse and unnecessary sarcasm. I bet it made you angry with the comments i made to you! (i figured you should learn how it feels)

Its fair enough to have your own contention. People would listen to what you have to say more if you didnt mouth-off as if they have thrown a rock at your head.

Re: Livestrong, die now!

Mike — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 20:03:48 -0000

Hi mike,

Can you get a condom big enough to cover that huge dick on your head? Maybe you could fill it with some DOUCHE!

Re: Why Are They Still Called MP3 Players?

Mike — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:41:59 -0000

I know what you mean Mike. I seen a Best Buy commerical today and it was all about MP3 players, but the players didn't just play MP3's. I think if it was changed to media player, or digital player people might get confused as they are used to the name mp3 players.

Re: Why Are They Still Called MP3 Players?

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 21:12:38 -0000

Why does everyone hate the site design so bad? It's a simple layout, it's minimal design and everyone always has to talk shit about it.

Re: Dan is Released from his SBC Shackles

Mike — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:10:26 -0000

Damn Mike you tell them man. All companies try to screw us at some point or another. Comcast did the same thing to me and after I chewed their GM's ass I got free cable and internet for 5 months.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/i-changed-my-mind-i-wish-i-had-fat-ass.html

Mike — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:26:00 -0000

Look at it this way.

Your boobs would cover that space between your gunt and your chins and keep your front worm too!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/what-were-we-thinking-offensive.html

Mike — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:52:00 -0000

"or acknowledges your stalkeresqueish emails begging me to send naked pictures."

Chelle!

You said you wouldn't mention this outside the courtroom!

Now everyone's gonna think I'm a freak :(

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/caption-this-mad-scientist-offensive.html

Mike — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:53:00 -0000

Caption:

OOOO OO OO OOO AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Translation: I just stuck it to the MAN!

To Dana: Hot. Japanese chick fluffing a big tit with a smiley faced nipple. NICE.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/holy-mary-mother-of-god-offensive.html

Mike — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:01:00 -0000

I'm rather surprised his palms got raw before his dick did.

Very surprised.

If his dick is that leathery, tattoo's probably wont' take.

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/merry-offensemas-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:40:00 -0000

I'm so offended!

I celebrate chrisnukwanzika and now I will be sure to fatwa your front ass!

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/the-economy-sucks-so-i-got-my-husband.html

Mike — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:00:00 -0000

I had to prostitute myself for food this year

And I have a job.

Fucking economy.

But I did have fun cleaning the wet spots from your sheets ;)

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2008/12/the-economy-sucks-so-i-ate-my-neighbors.html

Mike — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:46:00 -0000

Chelle, you're forgetting economies of scale.

Dogs are relatively scarce compared to humans.

Think about it.

How many Labs would it take to equal one Oprah?

We just don't have that many.

See?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/unforgivable-offense-offensive.html

Mike — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:07:00 -0000

was it also evil of me to replace my blind sisters teddy ruxpin tapes with AC/DC and guns & Roses?

Re: http://www.offendedblogger.com/2009/01/i-be-pimpin-whorin-never-borin.html

Mike — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:11:00 -0000

"Yep, I am like a virtual bacterial stew of venereal waste oozing from the deepest, darkest gutters of humanity, degrading and debasing myself for the masses while simultaneously exploiting others like myself"

Huh. So you ARE really my ex girlfriend.

Bitch :P

Re: Dan is Released from his SBC Shackles

Mike — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:11:35 -0000

Sorry about calling you Mike, Dan. I posted before I looked, lol.

Re: Hell Yeah Bitch! .com Wishes You a Happy New Year

Mike — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 19:34:11 -0000

Well I made that one design for the logo man. I liked it, but who knows if anyone else will. Maybe you could make a post about that design, and see if people like it or not or I could just make something else for you like you said already.

Re: Hell Yeah Bitch! .com Needs a Logo

Mike — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 02:58:33 -0000

Good idea Mike. I would make something, but you have already seen what I made.

Re: Hell Yeah Bitch! .com Needs a Logo

Mike — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 17:02:45 -0000

Well Mike it looks like you have a pretty nice logo up now!

Re: iMovie 6’s Missing Feature: Record iChat Video

Mike — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 02:14:34 -0000

I agree with you on this Mike. That program looks very nice, and I would have thought Apple would have included that feature in it. I don't even own a Mac, but Apple should have done it!

Re: Why Chris Berman Sucks

Mike — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 15:07:39 -0000

Chris Berman and Stuart Scott SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why won't they die???????!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Letâ€™s Swap Aging Point Guards: Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson

Mike — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:54:15 -0000

So where do you put JR's value now? Is he more valuable than say Jason Terry?

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Market Research

Mike — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 08:41:21 -0000

Oh and I think you might mean research instead of reasearch?...

And make things even better!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The iPod nano Wallet

Mike — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 00:08:50 -0000

I dont think it is the worst idea although, not the best. If you keep your pocket in your front pocket its okay but im sure there are gonna be some dumb idiots who break their nanos by, ok i dont know, sitting on it, and try and sue, oh well

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Escape The Inferno Safely, With The EVAC-U8 Escape Smoke Hood

Mike — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 04:20:52 -0000

We at a FrogStyle are also interested in surviving. You must be quick or you will be so dead. Luckily there is even help for pets.

Re: RevoPower Turns Your Bike Into A Moped

Mike — Tue, 09 May 2006 14:11:23 -0000

Sweet, now I don't need to buy a scooter when the gas prices hit $5 a gallon. Plus I can ride on the sidewalks :)

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Wego Kite Tube

Mike — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:42:51 -0000

I was just released from the hospital where I spent 3 days. I had used the KiteTube a few times and never reached over 12 feet of air. I caught an unexpected gust of wind that took me to over 40 feet in the air. It flipped and I feel hard on my side. I was knocked unconscious with my face in the water. I bruised & hemorraged my kidney & right lung which led to internal bleeding. I had a concussion from the hard smack to the water. My friends that were in the boat are surprised I'm alive. Don't buy this thing. I've spent my life on the water doing the most technical tricks in wakeboarding. This is an unsafe product and several people will die from it. It should be banned.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Quadrupled Barreled Paintball Gun From Hell

Mike — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 16:55:46 -0000

Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Wego Kite Tube

Mike — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 01:19:06 -0000

Wow...it literally took me an hour and a half to read through this huge string of chat...and as a Kite Owner, I tell all of you that I will be kiting on Saturday.

I just watched the safety video once again...note that I watched the safety video about 10 times before I ever went out, and the rule I have is that IF YOU HAVE ANY PLANS on using the tube, you have to watch the safety video WITH ME before we head out to the lake. I?ve made several of my buddies watch it twice, as they got caught up in the hype & excitement of what the tube would do and weren?t paying attention to the safety instructions.

The safety video clearly says a couple things ? first, that you should not travel at speeds more than 17-22 miles an hour. It says this more than once. It also says that you should spend HOURS kiting at the beginner length of the rope (45 feet) before moving to INTERMEDIATE. With a 45 foot rope, you can?t get 45 feet in the air at 22 miles an hour?it?s physically impossible.

As someone who is 235 pounds, I?m 35 pounds over the recommended weight limit for the tube. I am well aware that this puts me at additional risks on the tube, and I choose to take these risks.

I?ll also say that the first five times I tried the tube, I couldn?t get it more than a foot out of the water. I got frustrated?told (and told and told) my friends to drive MY boat faster to get me out of the water?and they all held me to my own rule ? 25 is the MAXIMUM SPEED that you travel with the Kite tube behind you?or your time on the lake with me is done.

After four weeks of being the one person who couldn?t get the darn thing out of the water, I finally did. I got max 6-8 feet up and it was a thrill. I can?t wait to do it again.

The video gives many, many warnings ? do not go too fast, do not kite in high wind, start at the beginner length of the rope, and that SERIOUS injury ? beyond that of ANY OTHER WATER SPORT ? could result if you fail to follow the safety instructions.

In reading everything here?did one single person (and I?m the second to ask the question) have a challenge on this tube going less than 30 miles per hour? Did anyone fall off the tube when following the DIRECTIONS and tubing at the beginner length until they learned what they were doing?

We live in the country of blame?and sue?and make it someone else?s fault. I?m not surprised at all the negativity on this site?but what I?m disappointed in is that the failure to follow directions on behalf of 28 people (yes, 28 people) results in over 19,000 kite tube owners facing the possibility of their tube being illegal. If ONLY the owners were to use their tubes, this means that ONLY .1% of people who own it are having problems, and of these, 100% of them weren?t following the safety instructions?this isn?t taking into account that I?m just one owner of 19,000 ? and to date, about 35 different people have used my tube. If 35 people have used every tube, that means that 665,000 people have been on the tube, and there have been 28 injuries. Again, all of which are correlated to NOT FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS?and this means that such a low percentage that my calculator doesn?t even go far enough over to show the PERCENTAGE of people who have been injured.

So?quoting some others ? SKY DIVE AT YOUR OWN RISK. FLY A PLANE AT YOUR OWN RISK. CLIFF DIVE AT YOUR OWN RISK. And most of all, FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, and KITE TUBE AT YOUR OWN RISK. If you follow directions, that risk becomes so minimal that you needn?t worry.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Hover Creeper

Mike — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 09:14:51 -0000

I know that this rides of bladders or air, so no air is rushing out from under.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » HP Releases TouchSmart IQ770, Fancy Billboard For The Kitchen

Mike — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:48:47 -0000

Yeah right they are going for about $1800. Best buy, and HP already have their prices displayed, and you can order one from Best Buy's website.

Re: Glide Toaster

Mike — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 14:54:18 -0000

Exactly, although I don't know about garlic bagels (yuck)... but cinnamon raisin, now that's what I need it for!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Netgear’s EVA8000 To Ease BitTorrent HDTV Viewing

Mike — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 09:39:53 -0000

Have to agree with Scott. When I read "maybe the only one that could challenge the Apple TV" I threw up a little. I watch videos like Ctrl-Alt-Chicken on my TV, it's very very easy. Vista Media Player Sharing is simple - Download file - turn on Xbox - open Videos.

Oh by the way, Xbox is already out, I already own it, and so do people I want to share video with.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Linksys Wireless-G USB Adapter With WiFi Finder

Mike — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:09:15 -0000

I think this one actually was announced in 2005...

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » XCM Best Tilt Gives Xbox 360 Controller Some Motion-Sensing Action

Mike — Mon, 14 May 2007 09:17:20 -0000

Excuse me guys, whats wrong with having fun with your system. Some people dont have the luxury to buy the wii if they have the 360 or vis versa with the ps3. The 360 is its own console and should plenty of accessories and options for your system as much as possible. Am I the only one that sees putting a motion a sensor on a controller really rocks !? You spend COUNTLESS hours on the 360 playing games, and you lazy bums out there tellin me you cant take 5 minutes of your time to do a job properly ? its jus unscrewin and screwin back. And as far changing gameplay. Its up to the player how he feels to play, If motion sensor gives someone the edge then they will use it, and if others cant use it for their advantage oh wells, thats competition and thats were the strongest survives at any means neccessary! - im a true gamer and its in the year of 2007. We should expect to see motion sensors and other high tech gadgets. If not the sh*t gets boring after awhile.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » We’re Hiring!

Mike — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 03:57:53 -0000

Hey Im not sure if Im the best canadate, but before I think to much about that could you possibly crush my dreams by telling me you have to be 18+? Im 16 but would love the $$

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » iTeddy Will Destroy Teddy Ruxpin

Mike — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:21:53 -0000

"It would be kind of like Terminator 2 where the old-fashioned Schwarzenegger T-800 model (Ruxpin) would be fighting the high-tech Robert Patrick T-1000 model (iTeddy)"

As long as they don't make it like Terminator 3, where there's an even more new and improved teddy who happens to be a hot chick. God, the plushies would love that.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Gratuitious Shocking Video: BIGGG Tesla Coil

Mike — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:58:36 -0000

That'll keep those Mammoth Tanks out of my base.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Brilliant Video: If Minesweeper Was… A Movie?

Mike — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:26:51 -0000

Best movie trailer of the year so far!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Zen Garden Sink Is A Good Idea In Theory

Mike — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:51:15 -0000

but there's no limit to how much water gets to the plant right? so it will be over-watered....

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Thank You, Sponsors

Mike — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:21:50 -0000

Yeahhhhh Wicked Lasers hooked me up with that Christmas giveaway Nexus laser. I still have it... it's a good time!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » New Self-Chilling Sprite Bottles From Coca-Cola

Mike — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:59:01 -0000

Something in the bottle will give you cancer. Popcorn gives you cancer too. Thats crazy.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Maximum Squishy: Japanese Gel Saves Suicidal Eggs

Mike — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:03:38 -0000

Oh man, that reminds me of that 7th grade project where we had to design protection for an egg. I would have loved to have some of that stuff.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Navtones Pities the Fool Who’s Late with Mr. T

Mike — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:16:32 -0000

The Mr T one will only be cool if it has a special easter egg that refuses to give you directions to the airport. "I ain't gettin' on no plane, Hannibal!"

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » TEMPer USB Thermometer

Mike — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:20:20 -0000

Why do they advertise the size of USB devices by showing them next to coins? Is there anybody who doesn't know how big a male USB connector is?

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Whirlpool Puts Espresso Maker in Fridge Door

Mike — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:07:02 -0000

"a soft drinks machine in the door" ??
Open the door, lazy ass.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » World’s Largest Outdoor Swimming Pool

Mike — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:48:21 -0000

I'm dying here over the last comment. Carl Lewis jerkin off haha!!
but yeah this doesn't make sense. lol..Chileans are funny, what the hell were they thinking building this massive pool right next to a sea..lol...what a bunch of dumb asses. before this I never even knew there was a country called Chili. oh well.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Let’s… Cancel Google, Shall We?

Mike — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:51:12 -0000

lol stupid people

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Make A Mixa - Cassette Shaped USB Drive

Mike — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:19:15 -0000

Does the USB connector fold away somehow? If not, this thing isn't going to fit on my shelf with my other tapes, and it's only a matter of time before it gets broken.
Decent enough fun idea (kind of), but badly executed methinks (and oh so very expensive for what it is!)

Re: Win A Shiny New Neuros OSD!

Mike — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:02:47 -0000

I would hook mine up into the faulty Westinghouse TV I bought a few weeks ago and lament the crappy picture quality while loathing my time spent on hold with Westinghouse customer support. Once the TV is fixed I'll probably just use it to watch porn or something.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » LA Auto Show: What Do You Want To See?

Mike — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:47:10 -0000

it would be cool if you could report on new navigation system features. also, what is going on with tesla? i have a friend who works for them and the word is they still have a lot of kinks to work out.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Bluetooth Helmet Lets You Rock Out Wirelessly

Mike — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:19:38 -0000

$300 for a quality ski helmet isn't really that bad. (The one in the photo above is definitely a ski helmet. It would get way too hot in most of the climates people skateboard in)

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Microsoft Mobile Memory Mouse 8000

Mike — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:20:29 -0000

Mouse developers, I have a suggestion:
Make a corded or bluetooth mouse with the memory built into the mouse itself, not the receiver. That way there are less pieces for me to lose.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OGCC Day 20 - Place Anywhere Outdoor Solar Light Set

Mike — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:08:42 -0000

Now they just need to build a clock in it so I can leave it out there all year.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Tiny Carbon Fiber Pyramids Used For Lighter & Stronger Bike Frames

Mike — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:34:55 -0000

I bet it's a real bitch to clean the mud out of all those holes.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Fishtank Friday: Livingston, I Presume?

Mike — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:47:48 -0000

Yeah, the mutant one. Livingston would have presumably devolved into like a trilobite or something. Spot was central because her pregnancy made her immune, which gave Data the idea to use Dr. Crusher's pregnant assistant to make a vaccine.

Who the eff is Chester though?

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Monitor Your Home From Afar With AlertMe

Mike — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:14:57 -0000

Why the hell does it come with a monthly service fee? Because it sends SMSes? Just let me hook it up to my router and have it send me an email.

Would also be better if there was a fob that fit well on my dog's collar. Having him around kind of makes the motion detector a moot point, but I'm fairly certain that if somebody broke in, he'd run off, so it could easily notify me that the dog was out of the house when he shouldn't be.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Sunscreen Mist Spray-On Booth And Station

Mike — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:35:59 -0000

oh my god I've always dreamed of something like this. I WANT ONE!!! travel sized!!!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Kiddo Kidkeeper Proximity Alarm

Mike — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:01:50 -0000

How does being waterproof guarantee noninterference with the avionics?

And 26 feet is a long way. Is it really possible for your kid to go that far on a plane?

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Top 5 Nap Tech

Mike — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:26:14 -0000

has anybody ever heard of the Oculas , it can be found on the Hammacher Schlemmer website.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Pandora Alarm Clock For Chronic Snoozers

Mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:28:43 -0000

The name got me all excited thinking it was a clock radio that connected to Pandora.com.

Think of the possibility. Every time you hit snooze, it plays a lower and lower rated song, forcing you to get out of bed for sheer hatred of the music.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » From The Road: RC Back To The Future DeLorean Is All Kinds Of Awesome

Mike — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:56:01 -0000

It should have come with the same remote that the doc used at the beginning of the movie.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Virtual Console 60 Port USB Flash Drive Duplicator

Mike — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:48:16 -0000

I can't at all fathom what the extra cost for encryption would get you. It's copying data. If you want that data encrypted, why not just encrypt it before copying it?

Just a superfluous feature to get naive IT departments to waste money, I guess.

@Earthworm: Maybe their 21 port duplicator is more within your frugal budget. At a mere $4999, they're practically giving them away.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Microsoft TouchWall Makes Everything A Surface, For Cheap

Mike — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:01:58 -0000

Awesome! Laborious arm movements to accomplish simple tasks that would have been easier to do with a mouse and keyboard!

Re: JVC Everio S Series Camcorders Include One-Touch YouTube Uploading

Mike — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:37:33 -0000

Very cool however most people do edit videos before putting them on youtube, also what it youtube raises the 10 minute max? Aside from that, I'd get it. Coooo

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Cooler Snow Cone Machine Could Put Snoopy Out Of Business

Mike — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:12:36 -0000

I had the snoopy one too!!! That's fun!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Bierstick Lets You Chug Beer At 1 Can Per Second

Mike — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:49:20 -0000

Thats a good way to drown!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Last Minute Father’s Day Gadget Gifts - The Good, The Bad And The Really Bad

Mike — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:11:30 -0000

I want that USB vacuum, my keyboard has so much crap in between the keys. I wonder how strong it is

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » DIY Twittering Animatronic Teddy Bear

Mike — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:28:11 -0000

Man, I thought it was cool when I used to put Metallica tapes in my Teddy Ruckspin, but this is just crazy.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Westinghouse 56″ Quad HD Monitor Now Officially Available For Purchase

Mike — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:42:54 -0000

For $50k you better give me more than 1200:1 contrast and 6.5ms response time!!!!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Disneyland’s Latest High Tech Ride

Mike — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:46:36 -0000

Best ride ever!! I actually work for Disney and rode the one at Disney World (yes there is one there too!) about a month ago. It's unbelievably impressive. I wasn't expecting anything like it. You pull the string on the gun and when you release, whatever it is your shoot flies out of the gun and hits the target on the screen! (at least it seems like it flies out of the gun!!!!) Highly recommended!!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Better Than A Heated Swimming Pool In Your Backyard

Mike — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:46:12 -0000

Looks soooo painful

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Nike To Finally Release Back To The Future “Hyperdunks”

Mike — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:16:53 -0000

I know what I'm being for halloween!!!!! I just need help with the rest of the costume now!! Help!! :DD

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Louis Vuitton Trash Bags

Mike — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:33:44 -0000

fuck yeah..perfect for stdent houses

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Prototype Back To The Future Shoe Up For Auction

Mike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:39:11 -0000

Neat!!!

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Fish Tank Friday: The Galapagos Islands

Mike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:41:12 -0000

Hammerheads are scaryyyyyyyyyyyy

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Boeing 747 Repurposed As A Restaurant (Insert Lame Airline Food Joke Here)

Mike — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:23:03 -0000

No big deal, we have a shuttle re-invented as a resataurant in Moscow

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » OhGizmo! Review - Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick

Mike — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:32:01 -0000

You say: "since cable does not carry an ATSC signal" that is why the stick is not working with cable. My cable company uses ATSC signal that my ATSC/NTSC TV is able to receive but Pinnacle is not able to receive this. I suspect that the software classifies signal as "protected" even if it is not. Not good for the idea of time shift watching. And software setup and use is much more complicated than presented here.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Scent-Emitting LCD Displays Used To Enhance Restaurant Advertisements

Mike — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:06:10 -0000

This seems like what Disney uses for a couple attractions at the parks - Soarin' and Philharmagic. Those smells are only fruity though, it would be interesting to smell something like steak :p Smart thing for a restaurant to do!!

Re: Twine beta invites

Mike — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:36:00 -0000

Thanks for the opportunity to check out Twine. I would appreciate trying out one of your invites.

Cheers,
Mike

Re: Twine beta invites

Mike — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:53:00 -0000

But NP, email is mbaker9999@gmail.com. Thanks!

Mike

Re: Net Neutrality, France and iTunes

Mike — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 09:19:28 -0000

Sure its not a perfect world, but I can't see how the backbone market gives telcos a monopoly - the SBC-AT&T; merger still left the new AT&T; with less than 20 percent of the backbone market, and Verizon/MCI with about ten. (see http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17635). Hardly dominant. That plus a second-place showing in the last-mile still makes for an odd "natural monopoly."

Re: Software Patent of the Week: Six Degrees of Separation

Mike — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 06:27:29 -0000

This patent really highlights the utter insanity of the system. Lawsuits are inevitable. I guess Friendster is just mad because they're a complete failure. Remember the days when being a failure meant returning to the drawing board and coming up with something better? I've been there several times myself.

Friendster is over. The company just doesn't realize it yet. The market realizes that Friendster is over, that much is clear. No one cares about their site. According to the article in WSJ, their market share is pretty embarrassing. Actually, it's pretty much nothing. Less than a million visitors per month compared to Myspace at 45 million visitors per month and Facebook at 8 million? Friendster will never, ever, ever recover that traffic. That would be like trying to get consumers to switch from Coke to Pepsi or from Pepsi to Coke. Not going to happen. Friendster is an also ran, an insignificant brand, utterly irrelevant to the market. But that's just what the market says.

Psst. Hey Friendster ... um ... no one cares ... and the sooner you get over it, the better ... stop acting like a jilted lover and move on with your life ... yes millions of people prefer MySpace and Facebook ... who's fault is that? What if it's no one's fault? A patent isn't going to make you popular. A patent isn't going to suddenly inspire millions of people to join. A real product is what will attract people to your site again ... as a brand you have no significance in this category ... your patent will never, ever, ever, ever help you become a powerful brand in this category.

They will never be an important company and they'll never have any cultural significance in this category. I guess I don't see how their patent helps them. Sure they might make some money but what they want and need to sustain their organization ... cultural significance and massive mind share ... never gonna happen.

Patent or not, Friendster is over. Friendster has no useful life left as a social networking brand. MySpace already owns the category. MySpace is practically the category word.

Re: Doctorow on Platform Monopolies

Mike — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 06:49:43 -0000

Ah, I'm going to spend some time talking about something else besides software patents, which is usually my area of interest when I'm browsing techliberation.com.

There is an important concept in life and by extension, an important concept in business. It's called common sense. A company should have the right to protect itself from reverse engineering. It's well understood that reverse engineering is one of those things that can be used as a tool for good ... and certainly as a tool for evil.

I'm not going to lecture anyone on common sense. I am often short on common sense myself. That said, inter-operability is essential for customers who are averse to using a single supplier. Many customers are averse to using a single supplier, but more importantly, using a single supplier is more often than not, an impossibility. Thus, closed technology is not common sense to most customers. The market always decides such matters.

Apple shouldn't have to open their technology. Of course, long ago, Apple decided it wouldn't open its technology and this allowed Windows to rise up and take the entire market. As a computer company, Apple is an irrelevant brand. As an operating system vendor, Apple is an irrelevant brand. Apple is a culturally significant brand, but not a significant brand in the market. There is a difference. Sure Apple makes the iPod, but the iPod is its own brand, separate from Apple. I doubt very much that many consumers care that Apple makes the iPod.

If a company wishes to keeps its technology closed, fine. The market will speak on the matter. Closed technology simply gives your competitors an important edge. Closed technology does nothing to build the ecosystem, or aftermarket, that is essential to the long term success of most products.

Re: Doctorow on Platform Monopolies

Mike — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 02:38:49 -0000

How should a company protect itself from reverse engineering? I suppose a license agreement is fine. I can't speak about the legality of click through licenses, so I won't. As far as I know, in the U.S., click through licenses are binding, but I'm not sure of the case law specifics.

I am opposed to software patents. This is such a complex issue that I won't comment further.

To reiterate my previous arguments. Let the market decide if it prefers closed technology. If a company does not wish to provide interoperable software products, so be it. In many cases, the market has already indicated its feelings on this matter. Windows is a great example. Not completely open, but they managed to roll over a superior technology [Mac OS] by providing open systems. Steve Jobs has said that keeping Mac OS closed is one of his biggest regrets.

Refusing to provide interoperable systems gives a significant edge to any competitor who chooses to provide open systems. Refusing to interoperate flies in the face of common sense, and therefore it's bad business.

Let the market decide.

Re: Doctorow on Platform Monopolies

Mike — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 21:29:46 -0000

I don't have anything to say about the DMCA. Interoperability makes good business sense for a variety of reasons. 1.] Customers are often averse to using a single supplier, 2.] Customers often cannot use a single supplier, and 3.] Closed technology makes it difficult to build an aftermarket for a product. An aftermarket and/or ecosystem is an essential element of long-term success. I'm just repeating earlier points.

A company should be allowed to create closed systems/platforms if they want. The market will decide, as it always does, whether it values closed systems or not. [The market already has a lot to say about this.] I fail to see how the DMCA affects this, as there are numerous ways to create a closed platform with or without the DMCA. The DMCA might put more teeth into the issue, but again, the market should decide if it values closed technology. In many cases the market has already decided.

I have worked extensively in computer graphics. There's a popular "open" platform for storing scene graph data. Well, guess what? It might be an "open" standard but it's controlled by the organization that developed the standard. We developed tools that wrote into the semi-proprietary standard and were then "asked" not to redistribute our tools. I can't comment further on this issue, though I would like to.

At any rate, a group of developers created another standard, a truly open format. DMCA or not, do you think the semi-proprietary standard has fared well in the face of competition from the truly open standard? At one point the semi-proprietary standard was the absolute market leader. It's market share was basically 100%, for all intents and purposes. It was de facto. That is no longer the case. I believe that market share between the semi-proprietary standard and the "open standard" are now equal, with increasing adoption of the "open standard". We're making tools again and this time we won't bother worrying about whether or not our tools write into the semi-proprietary standard, lest they again "ask" us not to release this type of extension. The "open standard" on the other hand, has our full support. Guess who's market is growing?

I doubt the existence of the DMCA had any effect on the development of the secondary standard. I think the semi-proprietary standard is more or less dead in the water because the open standard offers incredibly superior economics and now has a growing market of vendors who are offering products in support. Lots of serious organizations have adopted the open standard, which means less mindshare and less commercial use of the semi-proprietary standard.

The $64,000 question: if a closed standard eventually drives business elsewhere, who is helped by closed standards? Answer: "elsewhere" is helped.

Re: The Technology Liberation Front » Archive » For Shame!

Mike — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 19:05:58 -0000

Matt Stoller needs to grow up. It's seriously unprofessional to make comments about Tim Lee's appearance, but it's especially inappropriate in the context of a response to someone's opinion. If Matt Stoller made similar remarks in an office environment, he would almost certainly face disciplinary action. Matt Stoller obviously has some personal/professional problems if he feels the need to include derogatory remarks about Tim Lee's appearance in his response an op/ed column in the New York Times. I wonder if he would make the same comments if Tim Lee were more prominent? I bet Matt Stoller would have kept his mouth shut if someone like Paul Krugman or Thomas Friedman had written the piece.

Re: Software Patent of the Week: Activating Perverse Incentives

Mike — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:41:57 -0000

Typical software patent. Who's surprised anymore? Though I'm not necessarily a fan of Microsoft, I really hate to see anyone victimized by software patents.

One word solution: moratorium.

Re: Ron Paul

Mike — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:43:45 -0000

Many people have said things in the name of God that are absolutely racist. Do you fault God for it. Paul was too busy delivering babies to proof read this stuff when it was published.I'm sure he's delivered babies of all races, colors and creeds. There you got a comment on one of your blogs....happy now?

Re: Thom York vs Trent Reznor: Chi-Town Take Over

Mike — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:01:01 -0000

NIN has been more innovative, sure, but I don't have a doubt in my mind that Radiohead will bring the heat in August.

Re: UIowa Poll shows ‘Don’t Know,’ Romney Leading GOP

Mike — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 23:02:39 -0000

Who is "Don't Know"? The 35% "Don't Know" is Ron Paul.

Re: UIowa Poll shows ‘Don’t Know,’ Romney Leading GOP

Mike — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 23:08:13 -0000

God bless Ron Paul, champion of the constitution I hope all the 35% who said "I don't know" learn about Ron Paul and vote for him.

Re: La Junta Balks On Army Expansion Plan

Mike — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 17:56:49 -0000

Lets hope that the government will listen. The La Junta City Council did the right choice. Lets hope that the government will listen.

Re: Sen. Tapia On the Craft Of The Moral Document

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:24:49 -0000

Settle How about principles? While you may have a misguided view of a word, doesn't make it so.

Running the state government, is not the same as running a business as you put it; "cold judgements about what works and works well," but rather decisions that affect families, children, the eldery, the consumers, the producers, the religious and more.

Re: Science Sunday: Intelligent Design Goes to the Movies

Mike — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:16:32 -0000

Get your facts straight, please? I wonder when this author took his couple of Genetics classes? He says, "Something like 80 percent of the genetic material in a strand of DNA is not used for anything." It was once believed that 95% was junk, then they found out that this "Junk DNA" actually had some purpose, and then the percentage was lowered to 80%. Now the number is much closer to 5% then 80%, and I suspect they will find that the rest of the so called junk DNA plays an important role as well.

A few genetics classes, does not an expert make.

Re: Ferry Steps Down as Vail Chamber Director Following ‘Riff-raff’ Comment

Mike — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:14:28 -0000

Guilty as charged Sounds to me like she did in fact make the comment-and then denied it(lied) after realizing that it was going public & how badly it would come across.

Re: Attorneys Hold ‘Know Your Rights’ Training for Democratic Convention

Mike — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:55:17 -0000

It's Denver..... The cops are going to beat your ass, and you better be ready for it, because it WILL happen.

Re: Spirit, Spending Can Keep Somali Kids out of Gangs, Report Says

Mike — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 09:11:45 -0000

their are NO somali GAng my name is Mike i used to work at ceder riverside
where the majority of somali lived in MPls

since i benign working at ceder i never seen somali gang, their many kids that smoke weed hanging out togher at the same place

most of them they throw up squads but they are not gang relate.

so that are no Somali gang in MP LS espied couple of guys

Re: Changes Under the Hood at Minnesota Monitor

Mike — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:53:56 -0000

Hard to read Hey, I love your site but this blue backdrop makes it really hard to read.

Re: Spirit, Spending Can Keep Somali Kids out of Gangs, Report Says

Mike — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 09:11:45 -0000

Re: Changes Under the Hood at Minnesota Monitor

Mike — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:53:56 -0000

Hard to read Hey, I love your site but this blue backdrop makes it really hard to read.

Re: To Global Warming Skeptics: What the Hell Do You Want?

Mike — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:07:22 -0000

Those companies fox sucks speaks of are going green for a simple reason
S-A-L-E-S- and you people are supporting this. By Jumping towards them and buying from them. Look at thier owners I bet thier not green. And once again your people are saying what the big companies and figures do is right instead of forming your own opinion. and a eco thought That is what your brains evolved for not for rou to make bs sites like this and I also bet the the inter4net providers you guys use are major energy wasters so do everyone a favor get of the internet.

Re: To Global Warming Skeptics: What the Hell Do You Want?

Mike — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:41:09 -0000

mow most of you are simply lying and using info from someone else who is lying or ignorant just to get more people to rally around the first catastroiphe you can make up like those guys on the street saying the end is near.

Re: Fox Attacks Obama

Mike — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:02:28 -0000

Alright, well you have not proved that Fox News Channel is being unfair about anything. They are simply distributing factual information. Because you don't like certain stories that this channel distributes, it does not lay a foundation for making profound allegations such as them not being truthful or fair and balanced. Besides, name one news channel that doesn't do this kind of thing, whether it's towards a liberal or a conservative. You guys promote progressive ideas, and this comment is most certainly a progressive comment (on this site at least), but let's just see how long it takes before somebody takes it down. I'll bet $100 on 2 hours tops. Have a good day y'all.

Re: Fox Attacks: Black America

Mike — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:49:21 -0000

FOX NEWS has seen their ratings plummett 58% in the last six months and continues to free fall. Nuff said.

Re: Fox Attacks: Black America

Mike — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:57:04 -0000

Oops, I meant since before the November election. Multitasking here. 58% dropoff in ratings with no sign of slowing down. FOX NEWS won't be on the air much longer at this rate. FOX NEWS is garbage and I don't even have to watch the video on this site to know that. American's have become to smart to fall for this stuff. People have wised up since 9/11 as close to 405 of American's believe the government orchastrated 9/11 and that number also continues to rise. The sht is going to hit the fan within the next year and something major is going to happen. People are tired of being lied to and FOX NEWS definately does it's share of that. Fair and balanced, that's a laugh.

Re: Fox Attacks: Black America

Mike — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:58:15 -0000

40%, geez.

Re: Bill O’Reilly attacks Obama staffer

Mike — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:49:09 -0000

In truth, o'reilly shouldn't be confused with real journalists, reporters, or newsmen.

He's a gauliter for rupert murdoch, plain and simple, so's hannity. The fox Noise network isn't in the business of being fair or balanced, they are the propaganda house organ for the neoCons.

Of course Obama shouldn't go on bull-o's show, it would dignify the hollow and bereft arguments of the right by means of rebuttal.

Really, murdoch's minions need to be shut down - give us back our free press! Down with the reichsblondes who sneer at the mere mention of Democrats!

Re: Fox Attacks Obama

Mike — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:37:10 -0000

A useful resource would be a website where the sponsors of all News Corporation's subsidiaries, including Fox News, would be listed. Those like myself who despise Rupert Murdoch and all he represents could then advise these companies that they face the threat of boycott if they continue to participate with this media conglomerate which has been so destructive of our fragile democracy.
Revenue is really the only consideration that News Corporation and it's sponsors care anything about, and the possible loss of it is the best tool to create enough pressure to force some change.

Re: Fox Attacks Obama

Mike — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:20:53 -0000

Fuck You you commie liberal asshole! Fox is the only news broadcast that is NOT biased and carrying the water for your commie pals Hillary and Barack Osama.

Re: Bill O’Reilly attacks Obama staffer

Mike — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:25:03 -0000

heil eric ! You must be a winner and we intellectuals are just winers. Life is easy, if you don't even try to think too much, so continue to do what you seem to do best - don't think about it, eric.

Re: Bill O’Reilly attacks Obama staffer

Mike — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:39:18 -0000

Bill Hicks wouldn't have mentally survived G.W.Bush. So somehow, luckily he spared himself commenting this ridiculous though disastrous red elephant.

target-orientated vomiting
Mike

Re: What a girl needs…

Mike — Thu, 18 Dec 2003 03:43:00 -0000

Good point. I agree with you about the necessary unnecessary things in life.

Re: Reader Is Bull About The Word S—

Mike — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:34:13 -0000

Let's keep it that way. Children may discover "adult language" in their own time, but let their parents control that (as best they can).

Re: Bring on da lobsta

Mike — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:04:30 -0000

...and don't forget the best Bloody Mary's in New England!

Re: Grizzlies celebrate a birthday at Hooters

Mike — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:08:45 -0000

Great job covering this Bob...one minor update...Addison is celebrating his 15th birthday in these pictures. Happy Birthday Addison!

Re: Jim Wallis: State of the Union - Reactions in Davos

Mike — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:33:08 -0000

Dear Mr. Wallis,

I'm sure you are meeting many new people and learning many new things in Davos. I hope that next year you see the other side of the coin at next year's World Social Forum, held annually along side the WEF, this year in Nairobi, Kenya. It's the Davos for the rest of us and every year it's a fantastic event. Please consider going to the WSF 2008!

">http://wsf2007.org/>

Re: Ryan Beiler: With a Little Help from Our Friends

Mike — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:58:43 -0000

The reason that the previous post was controvertial was that Wallis was treating an urban legend like it was a fact. By pretending a non-existant issue is real, he is contributing to a right wing meme.
It's a bit like Biden's 'praise' of Obama as articulate and clean. Why wouldn't he be?

To make vague accusations about progressives without actually providing any actual evidence invites scorn.

Re: Verse of the Day: Love Your Neighbor

Mike — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:07:29 -0000

Even if my neighbor is gay? "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death." Leviticus 20:13

Re: Joel Hunter: What the Candidates Forum Could Have Been

Mike — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:39:44 -0000

It's too bad that almost all of the candidates have identical views on all the real issues... While some will point fingers about "the War", none will speak out boldly against war; some will argue for more specific immigration laws, but none will fight for real tangible equality; some will preach "real compassion" but all are among the wealthiest 5% in the richest country in history; some will say that they have "important agendas" to accomplish, but all lust for power.

I long for the day when we all wake up and realize that we have the only important power in the world: the power to decide what we won't buy today, who we will love, and how we will show that love.

"Another world is not only possible, she's on her way. On a quiet day, if I listen very carefully, I can hear her breathing." Arundhati Roy

What/who are you listening for?

Re: Wireless broadband in the North Country?

Mike — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 07:47:50 -0000

I don't know why people are afraid of FairPoint. There are plenty of residential places in southern NH to which Verizon refuses to provide DSL service. Including my town. I have inquired to Verizon about DSL for more than 5 years before finally switching to Comcast for Internet (and phone).

My point is you don't need to go to Gilsum to learn about Verizon's commitment to residential DSL service.

Re: More SEO

Mike — Mon, 29 May 2006 16:36:13 -0000

I personally hate registration to view articles. If I run across it I usually navigate away. Otherwise, I will put in phony information.

In fact I just clicked a Telegraph article and it asked for information, so I hit the back botton.

I am willing to fill in short requests for zip code and birthdate, but anything more I'll give up.

Re: More SEO

Mike — Mon, 29 May 2006 16:36:13 -0000

I personally hate registration to view articles. If I run across it I usually navigate away. Otherwise, I will put in phony information.

In fact I just clicked a Telegraph article and it asked for information, so I hit the back botton.

I am willing to fill in short requests for zip code and birthdate, but anything more I'll give up.

Re: Could Wheel of Fortune Change More?

Mike — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 13:30:00 -0000

Three to four minutes is generous. When I saw WoF tape eight years ago, the round-to-round wheel modifications took as long as Charlie's description of a prize being added to the wheel. Surely a Buzzer staffer who was on Wheel could provide info on how long it took to change the wheel layout just over a year ago...:-)

Harry Friedman has to stop taking such large doses of the wacky tobaccy. The show has gone from tolerable to horrible to possibly downright crap in the span of two seasons.

Re: GSN Programming Note:

Mike — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:04:00 -0000

Actually, sorry to be nitpicky, but there is one other noteworthy schedule change. Win Ben Stein's Money takes over the 1:30 am slot on weekdays, replacing the second Street Smarts. The 2 am timeslot will be filled on weekdays with Poker Royale episodes for at least the next two weeks.

On weekends, there will still be a block of Street Smarts at 1, then at 2 it will be Kenny vs. Spenny (ugh) and Match Game on Saturdays, and Greed on Sundays. So it looks like Spy TV is finally gone.

Again, I'm not pointing this out to be critical, just thought that it was good to know. Keep up the good work on this site!

Re: "Strategic Detractors" in the News

Mike — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:12:00 -0000

Now, Peter, you wouldn't by chance have any deep dark experiences in your illustrious history that would lead you to believe that the Coast Guard would feel threatened by any form of transparency, especially in the search and rescue arena that we tout so openly when we show those cool recruiting commercials? Ahhhh, the subtleties that we weave when, but for relationships with others, out deep secrets might lie at rest and remain unknown... Bravo my friend, you may finally get your due as the Coast Guard may yet someday be influenced to open up and shed light on previous "cultural" practices that kept so much information from the light of day... ;) Mike M.

Re: Rescued! But let’s not talk about it

Mike — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:49:00 -0000

You know, these "policies" are generally precipitated when "operators" and "lawyers" spend too much time in the same room. And, Peter, for the record, you and I both know that this has to be a knee jerk reaction to something! Nobody in their right mind would impose a policy of this magnitude (I'm talking the enormous workload with such tight resource restrictions that we have in the Coast Guard) if they had actually taken the time to think it through. Gee, I wonder how much time it takes Coast Guard personnel to comply with a FOIA request - think about it; research, digging through records, figuring out a way to reproduce the record so it can be shared, and then this is the one I love, sending it through the chain of command for approval! That has to take at least several hundred thousand dollars worth of executive leaders' time to ensure that the request was complied with appropriately... You know how I feel about routing worthless paperwork for review and signature... ;) Mike M.

Re: Yup; that’s close

Mike — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:53:00 -0000

No doubt. Probably something like finding a way to force gawkers to pay in order to recoup some of the funds necessary for the project itself... or, better yet, maybe a congressional review of the Coast Guard's spending for security projects like this one (did I just say that out loud)?

Re: Coast Guard releases final decision letter about the Healy dive accident

Mike — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:07:00 -0000

No need to digest much; this is absolutely pathetic! Beyond the obvious lies a dark path to overstretching our perceptions about what we are capable and not capable of doing well. This endeavor was doomed before it began, because at the end of the day, the Coast Guard has a significantly ridiculous diving program and never should have been engaging in that activity to begin with. We have confused professionalism with foolishness and come up with 2 dead divers. Having lost my own son to foolishness, I have a particular negative bent for these kinds of things.

Unfortunately, most Coasties don't have the mental capacity to truly understand what happened here, not because we aren't smart, but because we a woefully underprepared to truly understand the complexities behind surface supplied diving. Its a miracle that we only lost 2, it certainly could've happened any time and I hope that those overseeing the program will pull their heads out of their a**es and if we are going to have such a program, learn to do it the correct way. How can we possibly oversee the commercial version of this endeavor and enforce the regulations if we don't even know what we are doing ourselves! OK, I feel better know. I'm just so sad for the families that lost these wonderful people, including the Coast Guard family. It was so unnecessary. Mike M

Re: DHS Secretary publishes a blog!

Mike — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:40:00 -0000

Secretary Chertoff is one of the few I think who really has the bigger picture and is genuinely trying to manage the privacy/no privacy dilemna. Its a new day for sure, but its nice to know that someone up high is doing their best to achieve balance in a world of chaos.

A good friend (Mr. Sutton) once said, "I can't seem to get away from my core beleif that the cat and mouse game of good guy and bad guy must somehow be maintained. Its the "game" that gives us purpose and satisfaction." He is a retired 32 year veteran of the police department and he and I were talking about all these new technologies and policies and their place in the larger picture. Interesting perspective. I suppose there will always be good guys and bad guys, but to what extent do we as a people have to go to achieve safety and security? I'll stick with the 32 year police veteran! MM

Re: Unconfirmed scuttlebutt: Coast Guard to cancel CASA contract

Mike — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:57:00 -0000

Isn't that the purpose of the blog, to vet things that are heard and seek the truth, maybe even gather opinions and share information? For someone so vehemently pushing Peter to "Please check your facts in the future and stop spreading hear say!", seems a bit cowardly to do it as "anonymous"! Thanks for setting the record straight, next time keep the stupid rebukes to yourself unless you're willing to reveal who you are!

Re: Still flying

Mike — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:13:00 -0000

Sorry Peter, this particular topic has me spun up a bit, so I might as well get it out...

What a ridiculous idea, that this blog and its "hearsay" could possibly do any damage to the Coast Guard and it's ability to do its missions. Or at least any more damage than the leaders do by consistently exhibiting ridiculous leadership behaviors... Lets get real, the Coast Guard carries out its missions incredibly well, in spite of many of its leaders, and certainly in spite of this blog. Oh, I'm just so spun up over these comments. I've seen so much real damage done that is no kidding, "holding back our ability to prevent loss of life and property" by stupid decisions by leaders that are motivated by career aspirations that are higher than their responsibilities to Nation and Coast Guard - don't even get me started (I suspect it's too late) - warning, if you're going to assign blame to this blog (or any other) for causing the Coast Guard missions to be harmed in some way, be prepared to defend your idiotic ideas - I don't buy it!!!

Ok, I feel better and I apologize for any hurt feelings I may have created... ;(

Re: Still flying

Mike — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:01:00 -0000

I couldn't have said it better myself. By the by, I really am feeling better now - what's it feel like to have so much power, I always wondered..? ;)

Re: The truth is out there

Mike — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:59:00 -0000

This is a tough one, an asthma attack, wow. I can see how the family would wonder - it would seem to most normal people that asthma is a fairly abundant ailment and that there should be some degree of first aid available to treat it by responders - just never thought about it myself before this... Things that make you go hmmmm..?

Knowing the ABC's of first aid, I wonder how we handle other types of "Airway, Breathing, Circulation" issues that we run across? When the crew noticed he wasn't breathing they probably looked to clear his airway (I'm guessing of course) - what do we have aboard the helo's to deal with "Airway and Breathing" problems..? It's easy to say intubation was the answer, but there may have been many others available, not sure..?

I'll have to ponder this. I do agree that you can't be prepared for everything necessarily - what a dilemna...

Re: Bad News? Get it out there.

Mike — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:16:00 -0000

Good post Peter. I remember a number of years ago there was a whole line of training that rolled out to CG officers and PAO's to address these types of issues - if memory serves me right, it was on the heels of the Exxon Valdez...

I agree that we did a much better job this time, but times have also changed, so it begs the question, is there really a "right" way to do things in chaotic situations, or should we do a better job managing expectations. I mean, no government agencies handle everything perfectly, and they all seem to get blasted after major events... Oh my God, did I just defend the Government? I need to get off of here before I find myself yielding to the temptation to drink the kool-aid... ;)

Re: Great stuff posted at Coast Guard News

Mike — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:18:00 -0000

What was the nationality of the Captain of the San Francisco oil polluting ship? Was he foreign?

Re: Spill Response Lacking? Or out of excuses?

Mike — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:01:00 -0000

Amen! Well Said!!!

Re: Pollution/Political saga continues

Mike — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:43:00 -0000

At the end of the day, I believe its all about expectations. We are living in the "YouTube" era and people are as impatient as ever for accurate information.

As we've seen on the Internet, its possible for a savvy internet surfer to gather a lot of information quickly and formulate an opinion and associated expectations of what should be done. We in the CG need to get smart and take advantage of this environment and the tools that this generation utilizes and do a better job of getting accurate information out to the public in order to better manage these expectations.

One of the main problems that I see here is the relative slow pace with which we released information; some accurate, some inaccurate. We also have not done a very good job telling our story here - in comparison to past crisis, I could argue that we are getting better all the time; but maybe we just aren't getting better fast enough to match expectations, not sure..?

Re: Let he who speaks sour be known

Mike — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:57:00 -0000

Amen. Amen. and uhhh, Amen again!

Re: The days of "three from the ring" are long gone

Mike — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:08:00 -0000

It got me in trouble. I was doing the initial pull from the ring and yelled "Halt" just as my grip on that heavy flashlight thing (with 8 D batteries) slipped from my grip... It hit the Senior Chief in the stomach and I was running around Yorktown for about the next two hours yelling "I will not let go of my weapon".

Ahhhh, those were the days huh? Did we really ever use those things on anybody?

Re: The art of "loaded language"

Mike — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:13:00 -0000

She is such a loser! That is such a typical California attitude... I think they should just go ahead with their real hidden agenda and just secede from the union - it would make a lot of us Republicans very happy. (speaking as a high school graduate of Los Angelos County High Schools)... For sure, Loni, oh my gawd..?

Re: Great News: US Coast Guard rallies around Web services architecture

Mike — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:13:00 -0000

OK, I'll take a shot...

All the acronyms are designed to confuse the uninitiated and 'wow' the ones with money. I spend a large portion of my life these days dealing with this very situation for the CG Intel program.

My opinion, too much complexity causes problems. Too much money is invested into something that may not get us anywhere. Our networks will never support it because at the end of the day, our cultural behavior will undoubtedtly make us continue to screw up our approach to managing technology - mainly, our paradigm is buy old stuff, long after it has gone on sale, from the lowest bidder and only after they confuse the sh*t out of us by creating long chain acronym sentences that ultimately make us part with our money...

Translation: we will always be behind because we won't spend the money to get smart on this stuff before we buy it! Read; snake oil salesman... Here we go again. SOA is just another approach to designing systems architectures - the idea is to give the user access to services that they may need using the web - sounds easy doesn't it - truth is, we don't have the comms pipes to appropriately exploit these things, nor do we have robust enough desktop/laptop/network machines to process the stuff - don't take this the wrong way "CG-6 guys", but neither do we have smart trained people that are best of breed and know the real deal wrt managing these things... So, I say lets go back to typewriters and paper - they were cheap and easy and we all knew how they worked!

Serco will make money because we are desperate for the latest expensive toys - without really giving any thought to what real mission value we will gain. This is the CG, and this is how we always do business in the technology space - its really frustrating... ;(

Did that help... :) MM

Re: Coast Guard, Leadership, and our Junior Workforce

Mike — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:17:00 -0000

You're right on Ryan. We've been saying this for years. The folks at the LDC know it. I don't really know why we are moving so slowly to remedy it? Training of any kind has always taken a back seat to CG ops, reorgs, recapitalizations, etc. Amazing and scary if you ask me...

But that is the CG, always has been best I can tell... Maybe someday we'll address it, but I suspect it will be a slow moving remedy, so standby and try to keep pushing... MM

Re: Organizational Structure 101

Mike — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:49:00 -0000

I usually don't comment on my own blog, so this is a first, following Peter's example... ;O

The Coast Guard cannot possibly be compared to a 47' MLB attacking a surfline - think apples and oranges! By the by, the reason they can do that is because of the structure that is in place, standards, training, equipment maintenance, etc. - practice, practice and more practice, get it...

The CG is a highly complex organization that changes daily, its not resourced appropriately to conduct all of its missions, so it changes enough already - maybe that is what the COMDT is talking about, and at the risk of appearing stupid, I may be agreeing with him without knowing it..?

Better yet, why don't our senior leaders wrestle with our mission set and decide if they are ever going to resource them fully or drop the ones we can't do well... Hmmm, that would mean that they would have to really exercise visionary leadership, I know, its a tough thing to ask...

Sorry, just tired tonight... MM

Re: USCG, USA, and the Convention on the Law of the Sea

Mike — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:03:00 -0000

I don't suppose there are any provisions for the safety of those going to sea to conduct these mining and offshore drilling operations that the global community can agree on and enforce?

It may be too much for me to hope, but right now, the body of law that governs such activities was written in 1917-1920 and is sorely lacking. While it may be prudent to become part of this global agreement, lets try and not forget about those that go down to the sea to conduct these operations - as it stands right now, the "wild, wild, west" paradigm prevails and makes it a very dangerous environment to conduct these operations... Want to know more, I think I'll put up a blog about what I'm talking about soon.

It seems we've covered the ground with regards to the countries, companies and Coast Guard's stake, but not the workers who will be risking their lives to go and implement these agreements...

MM

Re: Coast Guardsman indicted in connection with fishing fleet’s use of illegal workers

Mike — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:50:00 -0000

Partnership paradigm explanation... I was referring rather glibly to one of the strengths of our management model, which is to reach out to as many partners as we can and leverage (read force multiplier) these relationships to accomplish better results over time.

I was sort of noticing all the different agencies involved in this particular case and wondering if Mr. Hughes had any idea what he was getting himself into when he started down this path?

I agree it is sad, he probably didn't really realize the magnitude of this thing...

So I was expressing my observation of how the partnership paradigm can become a mess when mishandled... Wierd huh?

Note: hey Peter, thanks for the help in formatting, for some reason I couldn't remember how to go back in and edit the post - I'm sure it was ugly when first posted... ;) MM

Re: Final Investigative Report: PS3 Gill’s death preventable

Mike — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:43:00 -0000

Sad - I'm sure his crew is having difficulty dealing with this, these kinds of things are hard to deal with for crew members...

I hope we can keep this from happening again, but in reading the summary, it could've probably happened to any gunner at any time, an unknown in the big equation of life until this incident - and of course, we can't really ever seem to field equipment fast enough - my prayers and thoughts to the family... MM

Re: Final Investigative Report: PS3 Gill’s death preventable

Mike — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:32:00 -0000

Alright, Peter, I've had time to think about this - are we talking out of two sides of our collective mouths when we say that there were system failures "and" if those that had tactical oversight had paid closer attention they could've prevented this..?

Maybe I'm having a Baldrige meltdown, but if its systemic, can we also say that direct supervisors should be held truly accountable for failures? If I remember correctly, if it "systemic", don't the "SENIOR LEADERS" bear the brunt of responsibility for FAILING to correct the system failures!!! And by accountable I mean that the direct supervisors' (read TACON) personal records will bear the brunt of "corrective action" while the senior guys continue to get promoted...

OK, I'm getting spun up, breathe, breathe, - seems quite unfair to follow our traditional approach of scorching the direct supervisory authority while letting the SENIOR LEADERS off the hook completely... MM

Re: This "Systemic Thing" is not just Dogging the CG

Mike — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:39:00 -0000

OK, I'm willing to take a position on this whole thing once and for all. Here is my position:

If its "systemic", the burden of responsibility belongs to SENIOR LEADERS, not TACON! They should be reprimanded and sent home packing for FAILING to fix the "Systemic Failures" - Category 1 all the way baby!!!

If you are going to punish the front line supervisory authority, you MUST punish the seniors in the chain!

Of course, you could always hide behind the "systemic" thing and nothing ever changes - so where do we go from here? Don't punish the poor guy making $10.00 an hour for being young and inexperienced unless your willing to punish the older, more mature fella who is making $100.00 or more per hour.

Rather, don't punish anybody (blame game) fix the damn problem!!!

Re: Final Investigative Report: PS3 Gill’s death preventable

Mike — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:50:00 -0000

According the definition provided in most management effectiveness literature; those leaders that have decision making power, the owners of the systems...

If we are going to claim "systemic" failures in our investigations, I would argue that we should be willing to hold those that have decision making authority over that system accountable - E.g. they could have changed such system to keep these things from happening had they been aware of the potential dangers - now being aware of potential dangers in your system is the responsibility of the owners of the system... I hope this isn't too complex an explanation - just trying to paint a picture...

My heartburn, I suppose, is that over the years I've seen a great many lower level personnel get in big trouble, and maybe rightly so, but those higher up in the food chain seem to walk away unharmed - without going into too many details, I've conducted some of these "investigations/assessments" and produced reports calling out the failures at each level in the chain of command and the particular 'systems' that failed, only to see the poor guys as the front line get hammered (even relieved of command) while those higher up, and who arguable "own" that system that failed never really take any lasting action to change the system so it won't happen again... MM

Re: Final Investigative Report: PS3 Gill’s death preventable

Mike — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:13:00 -0000

Not to prolong this thread, but let's take the executive summary - I read that the CG was aware of potential for problems, otherwise why would they have spent so much time developing a solution to said potential problem?

Summary mentions that shipments were in process for gunner restraint equipment. No announcement had been made to the field that this problem existed - someone high up in the food chain knew of the risk (the owner of the system knew it, thats a good thing), were taking measures to mitigate risk, but didn't tell anybody that said risk existed or that there was a solution on the way to fix problems...

This is the kind of systemic failure that directly involves the "senior leaders" not taking appropriate action to inform the community that some risks had been discovered, and that the field should follow some form of "temporary" procedure until the solutions had been permanently fielded to fix the risks.

With this as a back drop - who owns the burden of responsibility? I would advocate that the person at the top of the system food chain owns it. The poor guys onboard 25501 apparently were operating under the belief that all was well and followed what they believed to be proper procedure (according the summary). Their direct supervisors bear some responsibility to ensure that they were equiped, certified, trained, etc. to do their jobs based on current CG direction - it sounds like they did that (again, based on the summary) - we're still moving up the food chain here... See where I'm going?

If the senior leaders were aware of the risks, were taking action to fix the risks, but failed to communicate to the rest of the chain of command concerning the risks and what temporary measures should be applied to mitigate those risks until the permanent solutions arrived, then SHAME ON THEM! I'm just saying, this is what the summary leads the reader to believe if you read it closely...

"Additional oversight and direction by the command authority assigned TACON of the MSST detachment may have averted this mishap". OK, what am I missing? Were they aware of the program's efforts to fix problems that the program knew existed? These are missing pieces for me. The only way they could've averted it is if they were aware of the gaps/dangers in the way the gunner was positioned and the efforts of the program to make them safer. If they didn't have that information, I would argue that the burden needs to creep higher up in the food chain - hmmm, like the ones who are doing the actual review to begin with.

I'm very interested in how this turns out - I wonder if some poor schmucks at the bottom of the food chain will get hammered, while those who really knew the dangers but didn't share get away with it - as seems to be the case so often in the organization... Wheww, I need to go cool off. Thanks for the question. MM

MM

Re: CGC Healy: Mistakes at every level of command… we know

Mike — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:43:00 -0000

You know what's so odd to me as I read this today? I was just remembering my own son, Chandon who at 22 lost his life 11 days after these divers lost theirs, in a commercial diving "accident" eerily similar to theirs. Same basic problems at the core, same basic failures at many levels of leadership and the one common denominator, was the Coast Guard at the center of the problem - the very agency mandated to oversee these operations.

I suppose its the holidays, but I was just thinking about him and how much I miss him, when I read this post. I don't think we are supposed to forget these experiences. I believe that instead we are supposed to remember those whose blood created the rules to begin with and re-commit ourselves to doing the right things the right way.

What makes us in the Coast Guard think that we can take shortcuts, or ignore those rules? Just because we may have actually written many of them, or because we are supposed to be enforcing them (yeah, right)?

I think the rest of the world would like to know that at least one Government agency has the integrity to follow its own rules, set the example for others to follow, and enforce the rules that they are mandated to enforce. Maybe that is why this keeps getting pushed into our collective conscience by these different groups... Maybe we are supposed to keep hearing it until it sinks in and we begin doing what we are supposed to be doing...

Just some wayward thoughts as the year begins to come to an end - may we all have a better 2008 than we had for 2007... MM

Re: USCG seeks $96.1 Million for 123′ conversion debacle

Mike — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:47:00 -0000

Sell the vessels on Ebay, and get what you can. I doubt the Coast Guard will ever see a penny of that money. My guess, its just going to be a public protest at best, those guys aren't going to part with their precious dollars... its too bad, really..!

Re: USCG seeks $96.1 Million for 123′ conversion debacle

Mike — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:49:00 -0000

Maybe the Iranians will be interested, because if they keep provoking the U.S. Navy, they may lose a few of the ones they have...

:) Haha! MM

Re: Terror boat tactics: Swarming works

Mike — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:39:00 -0000

This incident also has me very concerned. I believe we witnessed a significant change on philosophy here and I'm worried that our political correctness has influenced our operational leaders' ability to think on their feet and directly defend hostile action of all kinds.

If nothing else, now all the bad guys in the world know that they can get away with sending several small vessels directly within striking range long before we will figure out that we should shoot them - and without the proper weapons systems, training, etc. as CDR Salamander points out, I don't think we are truly prepared; unless the CO of the particular vessel being targeted resorts to "old fashioned leadership" and makes the decision to shoot on his own, thereby taking the career risk that many officers seem to avoid these days...

What a dilemna, huh..?

Re: USCG Combating Terrorism in the Arctic?

Mike — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:46:00 -0000

Great posting. There are so many unanswered questions with regard to the northern passage. One that most folks don't know about, the Canadian Govt doesn't actually have a strong military or L/E presence up there. They are now starting to wrestle with "what are we going to do about this" within their own Government.

Another issue, what caused it; most scientists would say "global warming", still don't believe global warming is real..?

Russia recently put a flag on the bottom of the ocean near the northern pass as a testament to their commitment to exploit northern territories... hmmm, could this territory become an international hotspot?

And then there is Peter's question, what play does the Coast Guard have here? If we are called upon to enforce treaties, or any other L/E mission sets, are we going to be prepared.

Does is make sense to begin addressing this? I like the way Peter is thinking on this, could we exploit this territory and come up with some leverage, or cost savings for other areas of the CG? I'd sure like to hear from other Coasties on this one, especially those with the really cool "Arctic" ribbons on their chests..! :)

Re: I’ve Joined the Club..?

Mike — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 01:12:00 -0000

Hey, thanks folks. I appreciate the support. Semper Paratus.

Notice that I'm writing this at 0110 on Sunday am. How many folks do you know give thought to making the Coast Guard a better organization at that time of the morning during their "off time"? Point made I think... ;)

Re: Shots Fired by Coasties in Florida

Mike — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:51:00 -0000

That's coooooool man! I know a lot of Coasties that would like the chance to do something like that... ;)

Re: I’ve Joined the Club..?

Mike — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:56:00 -0000

Wow, thanks Thomas, I was unaware of that method. See, I'm getting smarter every day.

I have actually been walking a bit more lightly around the office, howbeit, not more lightly online. I am officially an embedded contractor by day now, and a reservist by (hmmm, not by night, hmmm) by status..? I suppose my status might become the issue since I'm not officially an active duty or civilian guy.

I'm just curious, does that change the equation..?

Re: Catastrophe for Deepwater?

Mike — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:33:00 -0000

Have you ever heard the term "where there's smoke, there's fire"? I'm sure you have. I was debating whether to post something on this in light of my most recent experience, however its just too tempting, 'cause there is real fire here, so here goes...

I'm at a conference this week, with other "technology" Coasties. I'm hearing about all the cool stuff that our sister services are using to prosecute their missions, and I'm aware that we use alot of the same stuff. But here is the kicker; a well intentioned DoD guys speaks up and reminds the group that standards are published about minimum requirements necessary in order to fully take advantage of the technologies that we all use - mostly because the Coasties were probably too nervous to bring up the subject themselves. So while he is speaking, you can here the Coasties kind of chuckling...

Why are they chuckling? I asked them at the break, because I don't think its very funny. We know in the CG that we never purchase hardware, or comms pipes, or enough support to take full advantage of the many technologies that our sister services give us access to. The lame excuse is always that we don't have enough money. BS! Translation: we spend millions of dollars on trying to acquire technology capabilities that we know we can't really use because we always buy old stuff that will never allow us to really use the cool technologies! I was always told growing up, if you don't have the time/resources to do it right the first time, you surely don't have it to do it over and over again trying to get it right...

It pisses me off. Not only are our personnel struggling and frustrated trying to use that stuff, but what a waste of resources - it gives me that gut feeling when you know you're not doing the right thing, and you're just waiting to get caught! Well, I'm not going to jail, I'm on record here and other places stating emphatically that we need to stop managing technology this way! Its not right and there is no doubt in my mind that at some point, some heads are going to roll!

There, I said it. What say ye?

I can't tell you how many times I've brought this subject up to my superiors, but they just keep managing technology that same old way. Half-assed and with an obvious antiquated paradigm about buying the cheapest stuff you can get to do the job. Now, the paradigm is manifesting in the Deepwater and other projects all across the CG. We even got the money, and still screwed it up by trying to cut corners and not do it right the first time out - it just sucks. OK, I'm done... ;)

Re: Catastrophe for Deepwater?

Mike — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:42:00 -0000

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING!!! AND THEY WON'T LISTEN TO THE ONES WHO DO!!!

WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME IN THE COAST GUARD - OUR LEADERS WON'T LISTEN!

Sorry for the caps, I'm still a little spun up! I know ADM Allen listens because I used to work for him, but those leaders that are below him aren't allowing the correct information to get to him, so he's not getting the access he needs to make the good decisions to get this corrected!

OK, I promise I'll shut up now... MM

Re: Is that smoke I see coming from the Second Deck?

Mike — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:00:00 -0000

I would also like to echo Peter's assertion. During my recent rant responding to the Deepwater post, I mentioned that my belief was that ADM Allen was a very astute individual and that I thought he was getting the "filtered" version of how things are really going within the CG...

In another experience I just had today, I was told that my relationship with the CG is being examined and that I should be cautious how I proceed forward, slow bell sounding the fog horn... or in the case of the CG, with a non-rate yelling like a fog horn off the bow ;) because we can't afford the fog horn technology...

I'm not sure where this is going, but I may become another statistic if this keeps up.

So, with that said, I am astounded at the "blowback effect" we are feeling after so many years of preceived progress forward - through a variety of programs like the civil rights program, the quality and management effectiveness programs, among many others. I genuinely thought we were making good progress discovering new more effective methods of managing that would lead us into the future.

I'm starting to think that maybe we didn't make as much progress as I originally thought. I'm calling it blowback because I've noticed that some folks are sincerely angry that their management methods are being challenged - all with the intent of making them better by most - but sadly, I'm reporting that "THEY ARE NOT LISTENING" like I said yesterday.

Well, back to my old mantra from the early 90's - I guess we're retreating back to "improving the CG one retirement at a time" - too bad, I thought we actually had a chance... MM

Re: The world may be flat, but the military isn’t quite comfortable yet

Mike — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:07:00 -0000

General Caldwell, You're the man! Bravo Zulu for taking this stand. It gives some of us hope that maybe we'll see some progress during our lifetimes...

You know, for the record, WE ARE AT WAR! Sometimes I think our leaders are so busy trying to cover their collective asses and careers that they forget, WE ARE AT WAR!

If we are genuinely going to defeat these enemies, we must come into this century and employ methods that will ultimately disarm this crazy terrorist/radical philosophy. Great post Peter! MM

Re: Coast Guard places in the 5th at Santa Anita Park

Mike — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 19:21:00 -0000

Love this blog.. Keep up the good work. This is one of my "goto" sites to get the latest and greatest "poop."

This is not related to this post, but how about writing a column in reference to the discussion of a new LE rating..? As a reservists in the law enforcement field, I would love to hear your opnions and/or knowledge on this rumor. Thanks again.

Re: Commercial Diving 101

Mike — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:48:00 -0000

Thanks, Mikey. We'll keep on trying our best to make sure you guys go out and come home safe. Its going to be a rough road for awhile, but guys like me will continue to do our best to champion your cause.

As for the knucklehead that posted about the blame game - we are way passed all that. I know sometimes its tough, but try to keep up will ya..? MM

Re: Commercial Diving 102

Mike — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:22:00 -0000

I invited our esteemed friends over at Offshorediver.com to link over to this blog and stay abreast of our discussions if they should choose...

I know its a bit of a stretch, but why not ask our stakeholders to become aware of our conversations? They may even want to jump in from time to time as Mikey did on my Commercial Diving 101 post earlier.

You know, at the end of the day, we all have an symbiotic relationship with each other. We all operate in a very dangerous maritime environment, so I asked them to take a peak if they wanted to.

Hope that's OK Peter, I figured you wouldn't mind. You and I tend to like transparency... ;) MM

Re: President meets with Military Combatant Commanders

Mike — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:58:00 -0000

Wow, that was all very interesting. But, doesn't it sound like the same argument that those who don't want to pay taxes make about the illegality of the IRS' existence...

Its all a blur to me - but it seems like those who own the gold, rule, as my dad always taught me. So here we are today - where do we go from here..?

The history that Coasties are taught as history is very different from what you posted. Maybe the MM Academy historians and the CG Academy historians ought to spend some more time together creating some common version of maritime history - oh yeah, I forgot, we live in an age where nobody seems to really know history - this could be a problem...

For those of you who don't think history matters while you're taking those classes in high school and college - this is a great discussion and lesson... MM

Re: President meets with Military Combatant Commanders

Mike — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:59:00 -0000

Peter, to your point, does this diminish our role in the world or lend it strength - where do you see this going? MM

Re: President meets with Military Combatant Commanders

Mike — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:05:00 -0000

I had another thought or two. In what way does history really matter when it comes to organizations?

I mean, Nokia used to make rubber boots, now they make cell phones. The various factions that currently make up the Coast Guard had their role and place prior to 1915, but then that changed. So, its OK to change your role and position in society isn't it?

History is interesting if nothing else to see the evolution of things and learn lessons about how to aviod major problems, right?

But at the end of the day, I stand by my assertion! This is where we are today, history be damned. The CG is currently a military, maritime, multi-missioned (and a variety of other things) force that is both Military and Law Enforcement - a strange combination that legally allows us to play on both sides of the fence.

In some minds, a force-multiplier, that should be leveraged to give us a leg up on the forces of evil that would do us harm. We are currently a global force - I don't think a history lesson, however accurate or inaccurate, will change any of that - the train is moving too fast... Just my 2 cents... MM ;)

Re: Chewing them up & spitting ‘em out, again

Mike — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:08:00 -0000

Why do we always relieve first, then investigate? Shouldn't that happen in reverse order?

You wonder why officers are so reluctant to take risks - career fear is real and alive in the CG. We always over react - now if it is proven that he did what they are accusing him of doing, then consider it a lucky guess - because they (whoever they are) are not always right about these things - and there are those of us who know this after so many years of being subjected to it...

Knowhadamean verne..? MM

Re: President meets with Military Combatant Commanders

Mike — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0000

The world has changed. The missions and purposes of the CG back in the day, have all changed. The philosophies of politicians have all changed. Are you seeing a common theme here? Not saying its right or wrong, just noting the reality of it all.

Maybe we should change the name of the organization to something different, I don't know.

But I do know this, commerce, shipping, and all the variants of maritime operations happens much faster today than it did many years ago - innovations in shipping (e.g. containers) have created new problem sets that need to be addressed in other countries' ports long before they enter our ports, thus our global reach - again, in light of history, we learned a few lessons and are trying to apply that learning - catch the bad guys overseas, before they get here and abscond from their vessels and do our country harm...

I get that your pissed off at the tax issues (I agree, it sucks), and I get that you feel the American shipping industry may be under seige by the CG - I don't know much about that - If what you're saying is true, then maybe we need to step back and think about how we in the CG are treating our maritime brothers in the commercial industry - I can accept that.

I don't think using history as your strategy to convince current CG leaders to "go backwards" or "back into your boxes" is really going to work - they will just ignore you and me for that matter.

If we don't like something, lets examine it, make a good case for change, and communicate that - maybe we will see some change. I definitely agree that we in the CG need to improve a lot of things - its a target rich environment.

We really are not the Coast Guard that you are trying to convince us that we should be. Those days are over - the real question now is what should we become as we sail into the future..? MM

Re: Chewing them up & spitting ‘em out, again

Mike — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:07:00 -0000

You're right. Once a CO is actually relieved of command under questionable circumstances, no matter what the investigation reveals - its over! The fat lady has sung!

That stigma will continue for the rest of their career. Now, thats a good thing for the ones who genuinely do stupid things, but for those who are wrongly accused, its a harsh bit.

Here is another question. I know of a situation that happened several years ago - Male CO, Female Ops - apparently caught in the CO's cabin doing..? He gets relieved, she gets transfered and has a long and wonderful career without any blemishes. He retires under the cloud of doom for fraternization with a female subordinate, career over!

Doesn't it take two, in many cases? Especially at the officer level? Did I give enough detail to have a good conversation without revealing who I'm talking about? MM

Re: Video of Admiral Allen’s National Press Club Speech Available

Mike — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:46:00 -0000

And you guys thought I was crazy... ;)

For the record, the CGA is one of the two most difficult schools in the country to get into - Harvard and CGA... Snap...!

Getting a "Congressional Appointment" is a political process - e.g. if you pay or know the right person and is easier - whereas the CGA is competition based - i.e. best of the best..!

I didn't go to the CGA, don't even really like the place - but had to make sure the facts were correct.

As far as the content of the comments - I find them very interesting. It seems like there is a lot that we don't know, or we perceive we know, but maybe don't, not sure.

In light of recent experiences I have had lately, I wouldn't put it past the CG leadership to do such things - if they did however, I would argue that it would be dumb luck - not necessarily intentional - I would hate to think our folks are "THAT" smart...

Conspiracies aside, The world has changed, and the Coast Guard needs to find its appropriate place in it. Maybe we are in the middle of an identity crisis of sorts - I mean, we do have too much to do without the resources to do it, maybe its time to find our place and do what we can, well - drop the rest... MM

Re: No UAV until 2014

Mike — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:45:00 -0000

This is another really stupid thing that the CG will spend lots of money on for no good reason!

Give me $3M and I'll tell you exactly what the CG should do - this really isn't rocket science you know. Let the Navy work through this, they are funded a lot better than we are. They will eventually figure out what works well in the maritime environment. Then, we can modify the hell out of it to meet our needs. At least that way, we won't spend any unnecessary funds doing the research ourselves, just be patient boys, this stuff takes time...

I just hate reading stupid stuff like this. The UAV phenomenon is relatively new, and I would argue, that nobody in the CG has really made a good case why we just have to have those things, not to mention what we will do with them once they are available.

The ramifications of making ill informed decisions at this point in the game are very serious. Why do we feel we have to engage in this right now? There is no hurry here - we've done fine without them for a very long time. We already have plenty of access to aerial surveillance if we really need it and have proven it - its a no brainer, fly a C-130 or helo until the smart maritime folks at Navy have time to muddle their way through the majority of the expensive R&D; - then get engaged to see if its still a real need for the CG.

Sometimes I wish I had a large iron frying pan to hit these guys in the back of the head with - this is just so unnecessary and stupid. What are these guys thinking..? MM

Re: Whistleblowers and bloggers

Mike — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:19:00 -0000

Well, "bloggers" appears in his comments - that must mean something... I noticed that he differentiates between bloggers and his "own people", hmmm, interesting... Where does that leave us?

Actually over time, we have never really managed secure comms on Cutters that well. We are always behind the curve when it comes to disconnected ops - the fact that we refer to it as "disconnected Ops" should create red flags...

You know, I read somewhere that we entered the 21st Century a while back here - seems like we would at least try and catch up with the technology curve - if we don't get our brains around this and enable our cutter forces comms/technology, we are going to find ourselves being passed up by the world's Navies, like Iran, Venezuela, and Nigeria... ;)

They are after all getting all kinds of oil money, I bet they don't have all the stupid rules and ridiculously slow processes that slow down the purchase and implementation of robust technologies on their vessels - as a matter of fact, some of them still need to purchase vessels, and I'd be willing to bet they can purchase them, equip them with technology and still do it better and faster than we can... ;) MM

Re: Chewing them up & spitting ‘em out, yet again

Mike — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:59:00 -0000

If you'd have actually come up with a reason that made sense, it would've had a greater impact...

Try this one - imagine yourself on a 110 foot patrol boat in the middle of the Persian Gulf - off and on for months - ever been on a patrol boat, oh yeah, you guys float around on those behemoth floating cities - and wouldn't know anything about patrol boat operations - and the tight quarters and hours of mind numbing security routines, like boardings and searches of potentially dangerous vessels...

Not knocking the Navy, they have their place, but sitting around pushing buttons on a floating city is very different from what we do in the Coast Guard - but you wouldn't know that because you obviously haven't done any home work...

Maybe you should take a step back, try and get to know the organization and its people, then you might have a leg to stand on when you rant about how screwed up we all are... MM

Re: Somehow this just doesn’t make sense to me: Coast Guard may slash tugboat training

Mike — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:01:00 -0000

Now I have to say, LT Shine is actually on the mark in his comments here - particularly the second comment about foreigners. This has been an ongoing debate over at offshorediver.com...

As far as a "military" agency deciding that less training is better for civilian operators, who have very difficult and complex jobs driving tug boats/barges/etc. - whoever came up with that just needs to be terminated!

It makes no sense to me. I know that some of our equipment has gotten better over the years, but that doesn't replace good training and experience... Not in the maritime environment, just too dangerous... MM

Re: Thoughts on organizational use of New Media

Mike — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:23:00 -0000

Our cadets aren't investigated by the Defense Investigative Service because we aren't owned or controlled by the Department of Defense - that is the only reason, and by the way, it makes no difference - there are several agencies that conduct investigations for "background checks" for various positions within Government...

Let me expound further - the CIA belongs to neither DoD, nor DHS, but their personnel are "checked" by a Government agency other than the DIS... same with FBI and others... So, seems like a moot point. The background checks that are done on our personnel are just as valid, and are accepted by the other departments just as theirs are accepted by us - its a mutual agreement to trust each other while we conduct operations together...

Now, I know that in real life it doesn't go as smoothly as we'd like to see, but the point is our background checking process is pretty darn sound when you consider the volume and complexity of the process and the various agencies that play in that space...

The other point you brought up, about "military" service - their are "military"/"armed" services that don't completely fall under DoD - they exist - the CG is a "Military/Armed" service - like it or not - don't believe it, try to run your go fast loaded with explosives into one of our 378' cutters and see what happens - you will be blown to small pieces by an armed vessel with authority to do so under U.S. Government oversight conducting U.S. Government military/armed missions.

Not trying to give you too hard of a time LT Shine, some of your points are interesting to me and make some sense when I take the time to read through all the stuff that you post - they make me think and ask questions.

The background check and military service issues is unfounded however... ;) MM

Re: Earmarks and the Coast Guard

Mike — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:41:00 -0000

This is great. I'm actually laughing so hard I'm crying... ;) Well, I don't think anyone could claim that we don't at least have fun from time to time here at UCGB...

In a world that seems to be getting harder to understand by the day, I find it refreshing that humor can still prevail. BZ!

Now, back to the subject at hand; what about the cool boat? MM

Re: Expectations for interactions with the public

Mike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:12:00 -0000

The surest way I know to solidify this "professional" behavior; recruit the best (check), train them well (hmmm?), set the right example (ouch), and create a culture of professionals that perpetuates a strong set of behavioral norms and challenges status quo when someone steps out of that norm (no matter where they sit)

I would argue that at the deck plates we are doing pretty darn well, I find it interesting that the COMDT is hearing about these alleged actions - from who? Sorry, I'm a bit suspicious of things like this - I guess I've just seen too much good professionalism at the tip of the spear in spite of the wierd things up the chain of command... ;) MM

Re: Unprofessional Coasties? No, just a misunderstanding.

Mike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:15:00 -0000

Good post Ryan. Thanks for bringing this topic back to the top.

I reiterate my earlier post (of course I just posted it, then noticed the newer one):

"The surest way I know to solidify this "professional" behavior; recruit the best (check), train them well (hmmm?), set the right example (ouch), and create a culture of professionals that perpetuates a strong set of behavioral norms and challenges status quo when someone steps out of that norm (no matter where they sit)

I would argue that at the deck plates we are doing pretty darn well, I find it interesting that the COMDT is hearing about these alleged actions - from who? Sorry, I'm a bit suspicious of things like this - I guess I've just seen too much good professionalism at the tip of the spear in spite of the wierd things up the chain of command... ;) MM"

Re: Unprofessional Coasties? No, just a misunderstanding.

Mike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:18:00 -0000

Sorry, I just had another thought...

I can understand a "loss of trust" - seems to me mismanaging hundreds of millions of dollars would breed mistrust more than being nice to the guy you're boarding... ;) MM

Re: USCG gets dinged on Shore Facilities

Mike — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:25:00 -0000

OK, I'm putting a stake in the sand and going on record to say that we (the CG) need to be done with this silliness - like buying all the cool new toys - and go back to the basics!

I've been telling this to my own program for over a year and nobody is listening. Like a bunch of children walking into Best Buy during the Christmas season we are. Caught up in the glitz and glimmer of fleeting promises - hustled by the best of the best - our Christmas money soon went by the wayside and we found ourselves wondering where the next meal was coming from, let alone Christmas presents.

Many of the programs that we have covered on these blogs over the last several months would be significantly improved if our leaders would stop spending all the money on cool toys, reorganizing, changes of command, and other ridiculous activities and push all of it over to covering down on basic requirements; gee, like acceptable facilities, equipment, C4IT, training and a whole list of other things I can think of.

We have been caught in the snare of the illusion of future sophistication at the expense of the present simplicity! Wow, I was feeling philosophically poetic tonight... ;) MM

Re: Dive Accident Investigation: Have they really evaluated everything?

Mike — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:46:00 -0000

Thanks for the backup guys. I appreciate it more than you can imagine. I've tried to exercise patience while the process works itself out, but there are so many questions still left unanswered - and I'm not convinced that we (the parents) will really ever know what happened.

The situation in the Gulf of Mexico(GOM) is truly like a chapter out of American Wild Wild West history. Its a story of neglect on the Coast Guard's part - I'm reluctant to chastise those at the front line level (like the guys who are trying to conduct the investigation) as I usually prefer going for the leadership, as they are the ones who have the power to make changes and many times just simply choose not to.

Its a story of profits by very large companies that average Americans don't have the imagination to comprehend; its a story of very brave (some would call them crazy) Divers doing very dangerous work (some call them adrenaline junkies) so that we can all have our fossil fuel to drive our economy, vehicles, etc.; and its as close as a story you can really get to a real "conspiracy" novel, just in a really bad way.

I will continue to try and work from my limited position to help the Commercial Divers - they are the guys/gals that I care about. The rest of those involved are fair game as far as I'm concerned - why, some of you may ask, because you failed me and my family!

I can take some of the blame, and my son will bear his own consequences of his decision to dive that night and has by his death - but at the end of the day, I can't imagine how the leaders involved here can sleep at night. I hope your conscience rips you apart, until you surrender to it and do the right thing! Make the changes that you know you are responsible to make.

One would be: providing the resources necessary to educate inspectors and investigators to really get a handle on the best way to keep these folks safe. Provide the billets, provide the training and do what you can to regulate this industry in such a way as the balance of power no longer goes to the companies, but is equally balanced among all stakeholders - make it a safer place!

One more thought - there are a couple of guys at CG HQ that have embraced us (the family) and are working real hard to update the CFR's - you guys are hero's! Be encouraged and don't give up, you have my full support and thanks. The story is not completely bad, but a lot of it is.

That's all I have to say right now (Forest Gump)... MM

Re: Another post about the U.S. Code, the law of the land, like it or not

Mike — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:12:00 -0000

You know, it figures. We were at least willing to listen to the ranting and raving of this lunatic for awhile - it figures he would turn it around and against us... MM

Re: Financial Pressure?

Mike — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:16:00 -0000

You and me both my friend. You make me laugh! ;) MM

Re: Pointed questions from Senator Maria Cantwell

Mike — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:51:00 -0000

Seems like a good plan Peter. The best acquisition folks available may be a tall order however. We have a tendency to skimp when it comes to paying for good talent... So we generally end up paying exponentially more for not so good talent to do it over and over again...

I've been giving this "Deepwater" thing a lot of thought lately. I know that we all agree its a bit of a mess - I am however, willing now to relent on my attacks (some) and start putting some effort into putting forth suggestions for real, long term improvement. So here are some things that I've been thinking will help...

1) More oversight won't! Right oversight will (those with skill, experience and vision - they will cost us though)!

2) Money is apprently no object, so ask for what you really need, no matter the cost, to really get this thing right! It seems to me you really do get what you pay for, so might as well put a figure down that is "ground truth" - if Congress fails to give it, let the burden rest on them, not the CG!

3) If it isn't working, STOP! Don't keep trying to fix something that obviously isn't going to get fixed! Better to spend some more time at the drafting table and get it right than keep throwing money at it and hope that will fix the problems.

4) Get your story straight! Congress/GAO/OGA's will continue to attack if they smell blood. Back up, get a truthful account of the entire deal, then go and tell a truthful account of current state and what you propose to fix it. Stop the nickle and diming to death - its costly in both resources and time. Better to tell those who are asking, let me have some time to gather facts and get the story right - then I'll be back with what is really going on and how we intend to make it right.

These are my thoughts for now, may have some more later. Can anyone else jump in and add to this train of thought? Maybe we can bring some real suggestions to the table here in this forum that will really help these folks get this right... MM

Re: And the definition of is… is…

Mike — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:46:00 -0000

I don't buy it! Imagine that..? ;) Let me explain from (pick one) virtually any leadership publication on the planet; Leadership owns communication! If they don't like what is being "communicated" in the "blogosphere", don't blame "internet rumors", blame yourselves for not fulfilling your leadership responsibilities to communicate that which is correct!

In today's time, people are hungry for information, and they want to participate in many more processes and decision making efforts than in the past. Whether or not we like that, it is a current phenomenon, and I suspect one that is with us to stay.

The CG is fighting this "transparent" thing hard. You can't expect to ask for 30 Billion dollars to spend on new toys and hope that nobody notices when you start spending it. Deepwater is a big deal - its costing American's money, duh, of course they/we all want correct information. Don't act surprised when you spend money on something that doesn't get delivered on time, or on budget - people will get pissed off if you go over budget too much - thus the present situation.

Back to my main point batman; leadership owns this miscommuniction (if indeed there is one) - don't point fingers boys unless you are pointing to yourselves. Learn from it, and become better at communicating facts, in a timely manner, to the stakeholders and their advocates when it is necessary to do so and things will get better... MM

Re: Coincidence or Synchronicity?

Mike — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:31:00 -0000

Since it is obvious that you are more in "sync" with the CG than I am, can you fix my formatting again on the message I just posted? I have the hardest time getting those "format" items working right... ;( MM

Re: DSV Jillian Morrison Tragedy

Mike — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:30:00 -0000

As always, thanks Peter... MM

Re: GAO releases Status of Selected Aspects of the Coast Guard’s Deepwater Program

Mike — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:03:00 -0000

Let me try and break this down.

LM only had

$3,033B in net earnings in 2007,

$2,529B in 2006, and

$1,825B in 2005

(based n their published financial statements).

They are a very big company and they pay their folks very well, not to mention all those very expensive facilities and gobs of money they spend to get the big projects to begin with...

Their stock price is benefiting from a few key factors:

1) The illusion of defense spending due to the war currently, 2) Geopolitical uncertainties,

3) The promise of future revenues. Stocks only trade on the future, not the present.

Based on this brief analysis, I would argue that LM is benefiting from the "Deepwater" contract in a huge way. Not just in the actual dollars, but in the trust they gain by doing it right (oops). The illusion of taking on this project and doing it right gains them trust in the market place.

Notice the trend in Net Earnings for the last 3 years; trending up significantly. Associate this with the Deepwater payment cycle, along with the increase in Defense spending (and again, the promise of future spending, that Deepwater and Defense provides) and you get an idea of why their stock price is doing what it is doing...

If the Deepwater thing gets real ugly, watch for the stock price to drop - why, because the promise of future earnings is primarily based on the companies ability to be trusted; lose that trust (like congressional hearings and investigations) and watch how the street responds. It will open up doors to other projects being scrutinized as well, which will start the death spiral. This is why all the actors are trying so hard to resurrect this thing, and keep everybody calm, before its too late.

There is a lot at stake here - why, because at the end of the day, LM "DOES NOT" manage money very well!!! They spend about 93% of everything they make on their expenses - keeping only about 7% of what they make. 2007 they brought in almost $42B, they kept only about $3B. They are playing the game on very tight margins and they need these contracts... Food for thought... MM

Re: DSV Jillian Morrison Tragedy

Mike — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:21:00 -0000

alljoy, if you'll give me your contact info, I'll get in touch with you...

Don't know if you ever read the diver's blog over at www.offshorediver.com, but there is some information there as well.

After my son died, I got together with Jess Sullivan (editor of off shore diver magazine) and Bobby Delise (maritime attorney) and created a fund for such tragedies.

I found out today that our first payout has occured to a family that lost their beloved diver father. I just wept, but I'm glad we set aside those funds to help that momma and her 3 kids.

I'd be glad to talk with you. Unfortunately, things are going to get ugly for the poor guys that got hurt, but I'll help in any way I can. MM

Re: DSV Jillian Morrison Tragedy

Mike — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:24:00 -0000

alljoy; email mikemcgrat@gmail.com

God Bless, MM

Re: Debate and figurative language

Mike — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:45:00 -0000

Brilliant idea! Today's generation thrives on figurative language and hyper sensory visualization - those in charge should learn how to interpret that stuff in a way that doesn't become threatening to them without good cause... ;)

Re: About the explosion aboard the DSV Jillian Morrison

Mike — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:48:00 -0000

Where there is smoke, there's fire I always say - its too bad that the CG doesn't currently possess the capability to really dig deep enough to really discover the hidden nuances that could really reveal what truly happened during incidents like this or why...

Gee, I don't currently have a job, maybe I could offer my services teaching those "allegedly" gathering intelligence how its done... MM

Re: Streisand Effect, Part Two

Mike — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:07:00 -0000

I'm not sure how to post to the POGO site - tried, seems like no joy, not sure. There are some corrections I'd like to make just to make sure I'm transparent...

In order to maintain accuracy I would like to correct the following information - if you don't mind, just want to be careful to keep my record straight - transparency you know...

I have been with the CG since 1981, off and on, meaning I had a gap in my relationship with the CG - between my various roles, its adds up to a total of about 20 or so years total - there were a few gaps there in actual employment, but I've always been connected via relationships, etc...

My son was not permanently brain damaged - he ended up dead. The incident killed him much to my grief.

The other point that I would like to make - I believe that generally people do go to their supervisors and leaders - in my experience many times ( not always) folks don't feel like anybody is listening so they turn to other venues to express their frustrations - its not that they don't like their organizations or jobs, they feel a strong loyalty basically - the very thing that leaders are hoping to build - its a strange dynamic actually - as a leader you get what you wanted, but now you don't want it - sounds like bi-polar behavior to me... I mean do you want transparency, innovation, improvement in management, mission, etc. or don't you - make up your mind... MM

Re: I spoke too soon: ULDP website accessible only inside CGDN

Mike — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:31:00 -0000

I would like to see a solution that incorporates all the various stakeholders' needs - e.g. reservists, auxiliary, contractor, etc.

Right now if you aren't active duty CG, you have hurdles to jump through just to get access to important information. If you are a reservist, auxiliarist or even contractor, you are running on third world technology, access and procedures - which naturally makes you feel like you are third world.

So, however they do it, it must be user (all communities represented) friendly.

Here is a thought, rather than trying to figure out how they are going to architect the technology solution, why not take a step back, and figure out what it is they are trying to accomplish and for who first. That would be a refreshing approach to witness from a community of technology engineers that normally have a hard time fielding "useful" technolgy solutions..? MM

Re: AN UNOFFICIAL COAST GUARD BLOG sold to Unofficial Networks

Mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:03:00 -0000

Halleluia! Maybe I finally found a job. I've been wanting to move south for many years - I hear Americans live like kings in Bolivia... Does this mean that we will all get fired? I've been lonely lately, it would be fun to have you guys join my community; that would be the UnCensored Community of Great Bolivian Bloggers - UCGB2... MM

Re: From the Department of Irony… and the Department of Clearly-I-Need-to-Not-Be-Subtle

Mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:05:00 -0000

I love this blog. Isn't this kind of what we've been beating all along? MM

Re: Three things I beg for in the next iteration of T-PAX

Mike — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:23:00 -0000

The company that I previously worked for had an arrangement with another company whereby you faxed your receipts (or emailed them or whatever) and they would immediately send you a file that could easily be uploaded to a travel system - it made it easier for those folks who were in the office to get their receipts uploaded to our travel system.

I used to have to either scan them myself at home, then use Adobe to create a file (.pdf) then I could upload them into our travel expense system. Many times I was in the office the day after travel and it made it easier to just fax all the receipts and have a file show up in my inbox at work. That was cool.

And of course, we had total access to the travel expense system no matter where we were, home or office. That also made it easier.

Excellent points Peter, I'm surprised that nobody has ever addressed these before. Seems like a lot of folks in the CG travel quite frequently... MM

Re: Trust..?

Mike — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:48:00 -0000

When I was let go, I was told by those who employed me, that they no longer 'trusted' me.

Well, I have news for you, the very accusation that you fired off at me, will boomerang back around to you if you don't change your ways, and quickly. Yes, that was a direct threat and you should take it as such.

I find it fascinating that they could say such things while they managed and lead in such a poor manner that I could easily argue that they have set the program that they are managing back several years due to their incompetence. Instead of investigating me and my little hobby of blogging, they should have been investigating the program managers and how poorly the resources were improperly expended which created such a mess that it will take years to clean up - oh, and did I mention that we are still at war with a real enemy? Do we really have years to play with here boys? MM

Re: Bloggers Roundtable, anyone?

Mike — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:54:00 -0000

Wagons circling, Indians preparing for battle, settlers shaking in their boots awaiting the impending chaos... I'm getting a vision and its not pretty. For the sake of those who are caught in this nightmare, I hope that it all turns out well, I genuinely do. My advice, find smart people and listen to them, quickly! MM

Re: Why would anyone reasonably expect anything to the contrary given what has come before

Mike — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:08:00 -0000

Hoorah! I agree with all of you - good to blog with you old friends... ;)

I'm beginning to think this whole thing has grown too big to be fixed, easier to cover up and hope it blows over. I stated this in one of my earlier postings, not sure I'm the first, but I do believe that these problems go beyond the CG. I've been poking around and well, if these problems really do get publicized because the CG fumbled it so bad, who else will get sucked into the vortex? I'm now thinking that there are other agencies and larger players involved (I knew I'd be accused of conspiracy theories, oh well, sorry). If these problems are surfacing in our projects, I would bet they have been going on for a long time in other OGA's projects as well. Our cabling/tempest and who elses? We recently heard of another Navy project potentially experiencing a similar problem, who else..?

Now, follow me here, if somebody really began to dig deep here, it might be a situation where its just too big and scary. Maybe that is why nobody seems to be biting off on the hook we are tossing out here. Lets say some of the big integrators (LM, NG, GD, etc...) get called on the carpet (as well they should), where does it end? Lots of dollars, lots of heads rolling, get the picture? Is that really what everybody wants? How many jobs could be affected? Will it jeapordize our capability development and thus our national security? Where does it all end?

I say we just continue business as usual - lets pretend nothing is wrong and hope it all just goes away (lalalalala - fingers in ear). what's wrong with that approach anyways? (you know I'm just kidding)... MM

Re: Meanwhile in Marinette, Wisconsin

Mike — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:15:00 -0000

Lalalalalala (fingers in ears). I read somewhere that we successfully built like 300(?) aircraft carriers during the WWII years - and even more liberty ships.

I was fortunate enough to go on a cruise aboard the "Voyager of the Seas" a few years ago - it was her 3rd voyage - largest ship afloat (people carrier) at the time - it took the builders 3.5 years to build her with a workforce from 54 different countries - modular approach - more sophisticated than most naval ships - 3.5 years!!!

What is wrong with these pictures? MM

Re: Split Disbursement is here! Split Disbursement is here!

Mike — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:08:00 -0000

That really is awesome! Somebody should get a real award for making that happen! Let's reward good performance OK? MM

Re: Spending time on the important stuff

Mike — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:13:00 -0000

It they would have engaged the blogging community for ideas, we certainly could have helped with their agenda... ;) Sounds like Thomas has a great start on building one... (laughing)

That, however, would run counter to their modis operandi, which would be to never engage with their stakeholders. A distinct violation of the principles of "Visionary Leadership", which is clearly laid out in their published criteria under the "Commandant's Quality Award" process criteria (which is modeled after the MBNQA).

Why would we want to follow our own published policy, after all, that's no fun... MM

Re: Feeling I’m a bit played

Mike — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:23:00 -0000

Holy Falsified Tempest Batman! (Caveat - FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE!)Ouch..! That about says it all...

If true, that was the most complete and succinct version of the story that I've read so far and aligns real well with my previous experiences serving my previous masters inside the beltway Robin... This really is National Security stuff folks, no kidding, its too bad others don't really see it that way.

Another reason I moved to the mountains. With these guys running things, we aren't safe near the coast... ;) MM

Re: Feeling I’m a bit played

Mike — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:30:00 -0000

If I may gentlemen, jump into the fray... C4ISR, in today's CG, and in today's world of operations, is a deal killer if done incorrectly.

SAR, while one of the CG's missions, is not our only mission - we are a multi-mission organization. When our assets sail or fly, we undertake a responsibility to execute the various missions we are being paid to execute by congress, as reps of the "American Tax Payer". Therefore we would never undertake SAR only, and never without our latest and greatest equipment or training - if we did, we would be held liable legally if we screwed it up.

Couple that with the fact that our enemies (drug lords, communist bloc countries, rogue threats of all kinds, among many others), watch every move we make and record and use that information to try and counter our efforts. Any transmissions 'in the clear' would seriously compromise our security and possibly give the bad guys a free advantage over us, or others in the game as well.

The short version, while I like the can do attitude, the senior folks know better how complex this game is on many fronts. Without somebody finding a solution to all this C4ISR stuff, these vessels are very expensive fishing charter vessels at best, not USCG assets... I hope that this all works out, in the meantime, we are all at risk until this is all figured out - time is ticking and the bad guys are looking for opportunities to exploit; wonder what they are thinking about all this..? MM

Re: More bad news: DHS IG reports on marine inspectors

Mike — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:42:00 -0000

I hate being right all the time!

Re: There are two sorts of Coast Guard here in the USA

Mike — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:45:00 -0000

Gee, lets examine this "Change" stuff and the concept of "A Learning Organization".

Step One: "Build Trust"! You must start there, otherwise you will never, let me say it another way, "NEVER"!!! have "A Learning Organization" because "Learning" requires a safe environment!

'Nuf said! MM

Re: Embracing Social Media: USJFCOM on Twitter!

Mike — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:49:00 -0000

They also recognize the value "Blogging" brings to the table and they actually have a blogging policy. I get 2 or 3 email invites a week to join in their bloggers' roundtables - and I don't even work there anymore, but am still considered part of their extended community...

Imagine a world where... ;) MM

Re: Commandant to unveil Marine Safety Performance Plan

Mike — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:12:00 -0000

The unveiling of the plan seems to suspiciously coincide with the release of the results of the IG investigation..? Building Trust every step of the way huh, boys?

Re: Marine Safety Performance Plan revealed

Mike — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:48:00 -0000

Read the document - virtually no mention of any efforts related to the offshore oil and natural gas production fields in the Gulf of Mexico, or any other aspect of that industry!

Peter, I have to admit I'm very disappointed; hoping to see more effort there, especially since this industry is so important to our economy and national security.

This is my initial scrub - will be putting together real comments for the good Admiral, but be prepared to get shot at with both barrels from me and those I represent on this issue - we feel ignored; and that's not a good thing... MM

Re: Readers Connect #4: Wikis on CG systems?

Mike — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:53:00 -0000

One would have to go higher up in the food chain than the ESU to get a tool of this type approved and instantiated within the CG domain. Intelink would probably be the best solution for now - but

I would argue that the CG should look at this at some point in the near future and decide what their approach will be. We are all waiting, er sort of... OK, well we aren't really waiting, but that is the nature of these things. Without "Visionary Leadership", the thing takes on a life of its own, and before you know it, the cat is out of the bag, running around screeching and scratching everyone, because we were unprepared for it to come out - wierd metaphor, I know, but you get the point.

More to my point, time is ticking. This technology and the associated behavior is unraveling, and did I reinforce the point that we are "at war"! Come on folks, I know you're busy, but this also has to be looked at and a solution brought to the table soon. Take the advice of those already playing with it, and save yourselves some time. Don't be afraid - remember "need to share" vs. "need to know"? I say, make the course correction and set a new course, times have changed! MM

Re: Readers Connect #4: Wikis on CG systems?

Mike — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:13:00 -0000

I don't suppose in your conversation with the COMDT about blogs that you mentioned your buddy Mike McGrath and how passionate he is to help the COMDT get the organization "transparent"..? MM

Re: Readers Connect #4: Wikis on CG systems?

Mike — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:38:00 -0000

Really do tell - maybe you should call me or email me, I'd be very interested to know what he said... MM

Re: Readers Connect #4: Wikis on CG systems?

Mike — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:43:00 -0000

That puts us at a great disadvantage doesn't it. Without the where-with-all to find root causes - the offshore companies have no reason to change - if the CG can't show what is causing all the accidents and deaths, who will...? It is as I suspected; but please tell him/her thanks for for allowing us to discuss this situation in the CG.

Bringing these things into the light of transparency will hopefully help us get the problems that we are having solved - awareness that a problem exists is a good starting point. MM

Re: Thomas Jackson compares Admiral Thad Allen with Nancy Reagan and the Criteria for Performance Excellence with Astrology

Mike — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:20:00 -0000

In the real world, there are teeth in the "Quality" programs. In a world of adapt & overcome or die, the leaders tend to emphasize the accomplishment of the various strategic goals - I mean think about it, if the goals are properly identified, then they are important to attain.

One of the biggest problems I've moaned about the entire time I was an OPC (OK, actually I was a QPC), was that nobody was held truly accountable for implementing the principles articulated in the criteria. No accountability, no reason to play along...

Lets imagine a CG where specific goals and objectives are identified through appropriate processes and people get fired, or organizational structures actually get moved around to accomodate the implementation of the goals, and then see what the difference would be.

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I see a common theme in many of the posts here and over at CGReport, worker bees just want to know that leaders are being held to at least the same level of accountability that they are - albeit we were taught in "Knife & Fork" school that leaders were to be held accountable to a "HIGHER" standard - hmmmm, where do we go from here..? MM

Re: Why can’t we do this?

Mike — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:07:00 -0000

That was truly awesome! I'm done with the CG, going to Navy!!! CYA

Just kidding, but it made me think about it... :) MM

Re: The continuing saga of the BERT FOIA request: We’re still not media here…

Mike — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:56:00 -0000

Games, games and more games. My question, do they require every entity that requests a waiver of the fee to answer these questions..?

Honestly, I've tried my best to sit on the sidelines and watch the foray from a distance; not just with CGBlog but also the CGReport.

It is very disconcerting the consistent gamesmanship coming from CG HQ - not helping with the "building trust" part of Leadership by conducting business this way you know...

The whole point of FOIA is to ensure that the "public" has access to the information that they pay for with their tax dollars to make sure there is accountability in the process. If its not "national security" stuff, they really have no choice but to quickly comply and give up the information - its all electronic anyways, gees, give me a break. The tax dollars they have spent trying not to give you what you want, could have already been spent to give you what you asked for. Does nobody in that office have any shred of common financial sense.

As for my relationship with the CG, going downhill fast. It seems that I was thwarted once again by those who would have me permanently assigned to the sidelines (Peter knows what I speak of) - so, I've tried to resign myself to focusing on building a whole new life, "Post-CG" as it were. But I just can't seem to get away from my desire to know how things are going in the CG world. CGBlog, and the many other sites are very helpful - but I must reiterate my earlier mistrust of CG leadership. Be careful what you write folks - at some point it will probably be used against you... MM

Re: Is Microsoft’s Vista operating software worth the pain?

Mike — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:41:00 -0000

I imagine that is quite the "expensive" upgrade. I wonder how those dollars could have been more wisely invested to give CG operators other capabilities that they desperately need.

Having been inside the technology loop at some point (trying to stay generic here), I can tell you there are literally hundreds of requests hitting them on a regular basis for technology capabilities; many get pushed aside because somebody in HQ has decided (in its infinite HQ wisdom) to spend the dollars on something that will make the folks at HQ feel more "up to date". If it isn't true, they should probably do a better job communicating their reasoning/logic to the field...

Category 3, Customer Focus? Yeah, right... ;)

Where is the cry from the field (not that it would matter) for more appropriate stewardship of those funds to ensure that the CG can actually conduct it's missions more effectively? Sorry, this is just the way I see it.

Nothing like watching as HQ types mis-managed lots of money buying cool new toys, while CG units suffered from a significant lack of basic technology...

One result, (my opinion) the CG missed out on one of the biggest drug busts in history coming through the commercial shipping routes - ICE/CBP got all the glory, CG was left standing on the sidelines... Wanna know more, search the archives at Virginia Pilot around the January, 2007 time period and you'll see ICE and CBP all over the biggest drug/ring bust in the history of our nation's ports (and no mention of the CG, because we were out of the loop, there were also policy and other failings, not just technology) - hmmm, what else have we been missing out on - all out there in the public domain boys... ;)

I know the good folks at CG-* have difficult decisions to make with the limited resources they get, and the technology side of the business is genuinely a nightmare to manage - so I'll give them that, but come on guys, give me a break - VISTA? Slow bell, fog horn sounding, caution on this one, just my humble opinion... MM

Re: Is Microsoft’s Vista operating software worth the pain?

Mike — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:22:00 -0000

Good point - this however is nothing new for Microsoft. They have a lifecycle management approach for all of their products and some facts about it can be found at http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifewinfaq .

The article that you put up indicates the writer believes by mid 2008, about 25% of businesses will have it deployed.

My perspective, generally those businesses that can afford to take the risk and upgrade will go first, followed by more businesses, followed by the "home gamers", some Govt agencies, followed by the rest of the crowd. Who knows when the process really ends, Microsoft themselves generally extend these deadlines because they know it takes time to properly migrate. Then of course, there is always the option to work the back channels and get support beyond the "deadline" for many years - I mean how many years did we get support for all the other operating systems.

Believe it or not, I don't really have a chip on my shoulder - I write with a style that is designed to elicit responses as if I were some crazed ex-employee, but try to take a contrarian, albeit logical approach to my responses.

The CG has limited resources; which means they have to be smart about the way they use them if they are going to accomplish their missions and keep us, the American taxpayer safe from the evils that may come to us from the maritime environment. Occasionally, the folks that make decisions have sound reasoning behind their decisions - but they never tell anybody. If they did a better job communicating with the field, they wouldn't get so many "Monday morning quarterbacks"...

With that all said, if I know I have very limited resources, and my commitment to the mission is sound, then I may occasionally take those funds and deny the HQ nazis their creature comforts and deploy technologies that are going to really help the mission - because I don't want to get blown up while making staffers comfortable - and anyone that has spent any time in the CG staff world, knows what I'm saying is true... ;) MM

Re: The continuing saga of the BERT FOIA request: We’re still not media here…

Mike — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:47:00 -0000

Anonymous, I definitely empathize with the time and effort it takes, more like hassle, to put some of these requests to bed, I know it sucks, been there.

However, Peter's (and others) request's will set precedent due to his request to be recognized as media, and exempted from the fee. So I was making an argument for smart use of the resources that are going to get used anyways. We tend to forget that government salaries are paid from taxpayer dollars, again I know it sucks, but taxpayers get to task government employees from time to time, they paid for it already. I find it fascinating that the govt. has passed rules allowing taxpayers to be charged (again) for services they already paid for, but that is another argument altogether, I digress...

So, do I fight the folks requesting and potentialy waste more time, or do I just suck it up and get the information together - I know its a tough decision, not taking anything away from that.

Taking this topic and expanding a bit; I also get that "Open Books Management" is tough to transition to. The CG actually led the way for a while there during the late 1990's, we were pushing the envelope and getting rave reviews for our management approach from those who review and assess government. I'm still trying to figure out what happened; how did we lose the momentum and become such a 'secretive' society when I know the COMDT wants transparency and smart management..?

Part of transparency is mastering the FOIA process. Hopefully as the CG discovers and decides that "Open Books Management" is the right and responsible approach to take, these practical, day to day activities will get easier, quicker and more efficient and not take so much effort to accomplish.

My kudos to those carrying out the FOIA process on behalf of the American taxpayers, I know its not easy work. My advice to the CG, manage smarter, communicate more openly, align efforts with stakeholder requirements more robustly and you probably won't end up getting so many FOIA requests, which will relieve you from carrying out this activity to begin with... MM

Re: The continuing saga of the BERT FOIA request: We’re still not media here…

Mike — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:19:00 -0000

OK, I'll bite. So we charge extra sooo ... we can hire somebody else to take up the additional slack created by the diversion of giving the public what they asked and already paid for once..? I'm pretty sure that nobody will be getting paid any additional salary in the existing ranks - maybe it makes us feel better that we took some "more money" from the public taxpayer and therefore it justifies our billing them because they caused us unnecessary effort to be expended when we could have been utilizing our time for higher value activities - I get that and can see that argument...

But the other side of that argument says something like, communicate with your stakeholders, on matters that they have a right to have access to (not justifying access to the stuff in the list you provided) - and maybe we won't get so many FOIA requests to begin with to take up our valuable time...

I don't know, its a tough situation and a tough judgement; however history tends to side with the taxpayer in the long run and if we aren't careful and we end up creating a "secretive approach" to the way we manage, I would suspect that the problem and effort put into FOIA's will actually grow, vice shrink - not sure charging a fee will necessarily shrink the problem - but I would argue more information flow would...

Thoughts..? This is a good discussion by the way, at least I'm enjoying it, learning a lot about the FOIA process. Like I said before, I know from first hand experience getting all the docs together does indeed suck - so I'm not necessarily trying to bust anybody's chops here... MM

Re: Leaders Ought to Ask #3

Mike — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:26:00 -0000

Leaders lead more and communicate more by their behavior vice their words. Words on a cool poster or in a cool plan are worthless unless the leader is willing to put his/her behavior where his/her mouth is!!!

What was that famous quote, something like "I can't hear what your saying because what you are doing is so loud" ... MM

Re: Leaders Ought to Ask #6

Mike — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:13:00 -0000

One must be willing to change pieces and parts of the existing systems, structures and policies in order to implement strategies. Otherwise, its just talk, or a shelf puppy.

If one wants different results, e.g. the whole reason for publishing a strategic plan, which is a plan for change, one must be willing to "do" things differently. Nothing is sacred; and one should avoid the pitfall of hoping everyone will read it and magically everything will change as good followers align their efforts to achieve such new results. Leaders must be willing to drive change if necessary. If the organization has good followers, its generally easier... MM

Re: Intel & Ops - Can’t They Just Get Along..?

Mike — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:09:00 -0000

Nobody seems to be biting on our posts about Intel and Ops. Ok, no problems - maybe its a better idea to read the following linked article, so you don't think I'm just making sh*t up...

Read this and shake in your boots my fellow CG members, because this may very well show up in your back yard - and its not me who came up with this, its our Nation's Intel folks...Discussion to occur this Thursday.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId;=69056

Lets hope none of this ever happens, or our new floating computer, Bertholf will be having serious operational problems I think... Just wanted to give you one more thing to worry about. ;) MM

Re: Who is more Creative and Adaptive?

Mike — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:32:00 -0000

The people are - the senior leaders are generally too caught up in the soap opera of their careers (there are some good ones, not dimishing them)...

My take; control is important if you want to keep the average folks under it for the purposes of maintaining the illusion that everything is going be just fine - I would propose that the voice of "history" would beg to differ.

We need to be allowed (and I emphasize "allowed") to be more creative, more adaptive and more liberated (aren't we a free country after all?) to employ our many talents to protect ourselves against those who would do us harm.

I have huge concerns that the pace of change is outpacing our ability to respond to it - Leaders own this dilemna... MM

Re: Do Coasties Need More Language Skills?

Mike — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:14:00 -0000

Well, it depends on how you propose to solve the problems with language, and where you want to hang your hat... let me explain;

Within the next couple of years, there will be technologies on the market that will allow for many of the languages that we would need to speak to be managed by interpretive/translation technologies - these would be integrated at all levels of the communications systems, military and civilian. Could be given to units, personnel, etc. to accomodate any translation requirements - and of course, they will cost money...

Or, you spend the money on a longer term, more intense process to actually train or recruit limited numbers of personnel in languages - limits the ability to cover multiple languages like the technology solutions - but gives permanent training that can function with or without technology...

Hmmm, so, do you believe that the terrorists (or others) will actually attain the capability to systematically, and occasionally knock out our technology with EMP or other (like hacking) approaches to taking down our technology - or do you believe we can protect our technology over the long haul and use it, leverage it, and make it a principal part of our business...

For example, Ebay intends to have translation technology enabled within the next 2 years to facilitate global business - problem solved for them as long as it doesn't get hacked, or knocked down...

What is the right answer for the CG - probably to have a good debate about the pros and cons of both approaches on limited budget - unfortunately, we aren't very good at taking the time to debate and think these things through thoroughly enough.

Do we really need this in the CG, not to mention the military in general? Absolutely! I believe we are so far behind this curve, its scary, just my humble opinion... MM

Re: Maritime Civil Affairs Group and the U.S. Coast Guard

Mike — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:36:00 -0000

The "International Training" folks at Yorktown are funded by State Dept. if I'm not mistaken...

Where would that leave the CG if for instance, somebody looked at this from a bean counter perspective and decided it was truly redundant..? MM

Re: Admiral Allen on leadership, change, and blogs

Mike — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:22:00 -0000

Define for me please, what is "positive change"? And how often does it occur "naturally"?

Most often "change" occurs because somebody has noticed something that needs fixing, or is missing something, or is causing harm in some way. Most often, those who hold the authority to make the changes don't have the resources, or the time to do so. Most often, they need some sort of "reason" to go through the wickets to address and implement those changes; otherwise, why bother? Change is hard!

Take for instance the situation in the offshore oil & natural gas fields (say in the Gulf of Mexico). Strategically, this slice of the CG's responsibility is getting ready to ramp up production on a major level. Has the CG addressed this at all in its strategic documents. That would be a NO! As a matter of fact, the new Marine Safety Performance Plan had NO mention of this "Nationally Strategic" element in its document.

Translation; the Oil/Natural Gas companies will continue making record profits and even more people will die and get injured; partially due to the CG's alleged inability to get its arms around this territory and regulate it appropriately. There is an opportunity for "Positive Change" but nobody in the senior food chain is seeminly willing to take it on and get it working right.

For the record, there is a small office in CG HQ with some hard working folks who are genuinely trying their level best to work this issue; I've talked with them a lot and they have my utmost respect. But they are significantly underfunded, underresourced, and they don't have the final say (authority) to implement the changes necessary to actually save lives and property. That comes from above.

Without media, nobody would be aware of this. Traditional media are struggling just to stay alive. The blogosphere is the future. Where would you turn if nobody was listening and folks were getting killed and hurt on a regular basis?

The CG continues to get stuck having to conduct these "post diver death" investigations, but doesn't have the resident expertise to do so. What would you propose? How do we get these things fixed? I'm not the only one who thinks these things, just the most vocal. I represent a community of professionals and families that continue to find themselves on the short end of this problem set.

If the CG doesn't soon respond to these issues, there is a movement afoot to address these issues at the congressional level; and my suspicion is that the CG won't look very good, especially when reps from the various maritime community (who are banding together as we write) begin laying out the concerns that they have about safety of life at sea and the detrimental effect of the CG's continued resource management (or mis-management) issues.

Our maritimes are of national security interests. Our economy is hugely dependent on safe/secure martimes. Frustration is mounting while we purchase stuff we don't need, or stuff that is broken to the point it won't do us any good for years, and while we don't reinvest in the capabilities that will actully solve the problems that we face.

It was bred into my thinking at a very young age to save lives and property at sea. When I see that falling apart, I mention it. When I continue to get ignored, I find other methods. Changes need to occur, whether we like it or not. Until we fix the internal change management approach, I suspect we will be stuck with less than ideal approaches. That is the game that senior leaders deal with. Don't like it, get another job! MM

Re: Gustav bears down on USA; FakeThadAllen tweets

Mike — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:26:00 -0000

The post Gustav response and rebuilding effort is just as important as the initial response. My hope is that some small group of somebodies are up in the puzzle palace, or other location discussing and planning for the post-hurricane recovery, beyond just the first 3 months or so.

My experience suggests that we will shine during the actual hurricane, and short term post hurricane clean up - but I'm hoping that we've learned from the last one and are preparing to provide oversight of the rebuilding process - our national security and the lives of thousands of people depend on it... MM

Re: Gustav bears down on USA; FakeThadAllen tweets

Mike — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:35:00 -0000

Sorry, forgot something. You folks should really surf on over to offshorediver.com and log into the 'divers forum' and check out the chatter. If you really want a glimpse into what is going on in the oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico - this is a great place to start. These guys are on the front lines, literally and they offer some great insights into the realities of trying to evacuate the personnel from the oil rigs, etc., and the realities they will face when they come back to clean up the mess.

You may have to ignore some of the language, these guys are working class, real americans facing real dangers, so they get a pass in my book... MM

Re: Winning Hearts and Minds in Georgia: USCGC Dallas Earns an A+

Mike — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:15:00 -0000

I believe I read an article yesterday that mentioned that any country giving aid via military, or military aid, etc... Russia would consider it an act of war. I wonder how this is going to play out - are we using the CG because of our humanitarian perception in the world - will Russia consider it strictly humanitarian? It is an interesting game we are playing here.

On a grander scale, the KGB has basically completed its take over of the Russian Govt. and is aggresively posturing to try and control that whole region of the world - mainly for the oil - My advice (not that anyone cares) to Dallas, stay on guard. The Russian military may not cause any problems for now, but you gotta think that they are not real happy about all this. I find it fascinating that our Government sent in the CG to this situation. Exciting and Terrifying all rolled into one... MM

Re: Vice Admiral Papp to participate in DOD-sponsored bloggers roundtable

Mike — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:53:00 -0000

I know we are fantastic managing the front end of these situations, that is what we do and we do it very well I think. Are there any plans to conduct post hurricane surveys to determine the extent of damage to the offshore oil and natural gas apparatus, if necessary, and engage that community to ensure that the clean up process is watched closely and managed safely?

If the hurricanes do no damage, fine. But if they do major damage like Katrina did, its not safe to let the companies manage the process without CG participation and oversight. This type of thing takes expertise and planning over longer term horizons (typically 1 - 3 year minimum).

Are we addressing this aspect of the planning process? Have we even thought about it or are we basically just trying to survive the darn hurricanes and we'll figure it out as we go...

If the later is the case, can you mobilize me to be the guy to get a small group of smart people together to do this important work for the CG? I'm just trying to save lives post-hurricane... MM

Re: Commander, Atlantic Area, at the DOD-sponsored bloggers roundtable

Mike — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:56:00 -0000

Thanks Peter. You probably don't get enough of the thanks that you might deserve from the universe, but I'm thankful that you asked the question... MM

Re: Coast Guard Identifies Downed HH-65 Crew

Mike — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:53:00 -0000

My heart goes out to the families of these brave souls. I am so sorry for your loss. We grieve with you as they were a part of our family as well. God bless each one of you. MM

Re: Verdict on the MORRO BAY is in

Mike — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:48:00 -0000

Thank you Admiral Gabel for setting such a fine example of real leadership! This is indeed a glimmer of hope.

I can't remember the last time a press release addressed a previous incident number one, and number two actually allowed the CO to remain in command. When investigations actually clear members of wrongdoing, I believe its crucial to communicate that and restore the member to the fullest - it seems many times the reputation damage is enough to keep many a fine leader out of the saddle once the damage is done.

While it may not happen very often, I think we should celebrate this - I'm going right now to do so in good CG fashion... ;) MM

Re: Offshore Oil Apparatus..?

Mike — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Sorry for the spelling errors folks, I was in a hurry... ;)

I also wanted to mention that it was primarily my involvement writing about this very same topic that seemed to be the major reason I lost my job with CG. Not saying there is a conspiracy here, but it sure doesn't smell very nice to me... MM

Re: What were you doing on 9/11?

Mike — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:34:00 -0000

I was on the 2nd deck of the LANTAREA building polishing off my second cup of coffee when we were told of the first plane hitting the WTC - I had the same thought even though I'm not an aviator - I mean come on, that was a huge building in a very well managed airspace, right?

We had CNN on in the office and several of us were standing around speculating about what was going on, when we witnessed the second one hit the building. Talk about an eerie feeling - we all knew at that point what was going on. We immediately started running scenarios as planning folks - and knew the inevitable Incident Management Team watches would stand up, so we got prepared for a long arduous watch schedule. I never did get my 911 ribbon for that, but I digress... ;) MM

Re: DSV Jillian Morrison Tragedy

Mike — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:53:00 -0000

On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, I will apologize. Nobody else has the guts to!

I am so sorry that we failed those men! I live with the pain of the failures by the Coast Guard in the Gulf of Mexico every day!

It sucks! Until somebody steps up to the plate, this will continue - and I don't care if senior CG leadership likes what I'm doing or not - shame on you for allowing this stuff to happen on a routine basis - you should be shot! MM

Re: 21 Reasons Why McCain’s VP Pick is HILARIOUS! (a work in progress)

Mike — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:40:39 -0000

nick1317, you are the ignorant and uneducated one here. did you even read anything on the post? No one said anything about hating McCain because he owns property and is successfil. This article is mainly about PALIN. Learn to read. And a muslim terrorist? I suppose you're one of those psychos who also think Obama is the anti-Christ.

Re: Staff Development & Web 2.0

Mike — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 20:26:28 -0000

What about using a social bookmarking service for online collaboration and sharing? Students could bookmarks and tag related research sites, blogs, etc. all under the same tags?

We just launched a social bookmarking site (www.blinklist.com) and are thinking on how to make the tool more useful for teachers and students. If you have any ideas, please let us know on how we can improve our service.

Mike

Re: Social Bookmarking with BlinkList

Mike — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 05:07:23 -0000

Thanks for writing about BlinkList! We are glad to see that you like our site and hope that we can keep making it better and better. If you get any ideas on how we can improve our service please let us know. In the mean time, happy blinking!

Mike

Re: ScuttlEDU - Social Bookmarking - Professional Development

Mike — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 12:42:57 -0000

Hi John,

First of all, thank you for taking the time to write to us (the www.blinklist.com team) for sharing your idea. I completely agree that you are on to something and that there is an opportunity in this space. We are still trying to wrap our heads around how, what, such an offering would look like. Your emaild definitely sparked some ideas.

Just so you know, we have lots of blink projects in the pipeline right now and I am in the middle of moving over to KL, which is why we have not yet had the chance to get back to you. Will keep noodling on your idea and hopefully continue the conversation and brainstorming.

Mike

Re: Tabbed Browsing Lifehack

Mike — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 03:10:03 -0000

Thanks for this tip! That is way cool. I figured out that you can use the (|) symbol to have two pages start at once but your way is much easier to do. That is way cool. Also, did you know that you can add your www.BlinkList.com bookmarks to your browser favorites via FireFox's livebookmarking feature? Another way to always have the right information where / when you need it.

Mike

Re: Letting Yourself Be Changed

Mike — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 22:32:36 -0000

Very insightful observation! I think you are dead on. Since you are inspired to check out new online tools, I thought you might like to check www.blinklist.com. Perhaps you might find it to be a delicious alternative. Just so you know, you can just import your links from del.icio.us so no need to start over. If you do take a peak at our site, I would love to hear your thoughts. Mike

Re: pmaCAST #6: The “F*** My Life” Episode

Mike — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:43:44 -0000

@Dillon: omg I was just thinking that!!

Crazy. It sounds just like it (not the music, but the way he sings the song)!

Re: A Sueldo de Moscú: Saldos en Navarra, oigan

Mike — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:48:49 -0000

resulta ahora que UPN no ha sido la fuerza más votada? eso de que les ha castigado los navarros... ejem ejem

Re: Who took all the glass?

Mike — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:09:00 -0000

Answer is customized packaging :)

It's the savior nowadays!

Re: N82 : Camera-Light it up with Xenon flash

Mike — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:15:00 -0000

great article. i linked it up!

Re: Des batteries 4800 mAh au lieu de 5200 mAh ? (Sondage inside) - By Pierre Lecourt - - Blogeee.net

Mike — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:00:28 -0000

Bonjour,

J'ai achete mon eee hier sur Paris.
Je viens de lire ton post, je vérifie ma batterie et oui, en effet : 4800MAh !!
EEEPC4G-BK011

Re: Flip-flopping about flip-flopping

Mike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:43:22 -0000

The problem is they're polliticians instead of politicians. Changing you mind is not necessarily a problem, it is why you change your mind. Credit to Switchfoot

Re: Welcome to Braves Blog

Mike — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:03:30 -0000

Good to see you up and running Jaq, it has been a long winter but now the boys of summer are out tiptoeing through the daffodils of spring. Things are really looking promising for the year, and I don't envy Bobby and Frank with the job they have making the roster. Looks like they will have to send down enough good talent to make another team and I know there will be some showing up in a few weeks after the start. Flowers has been impressive with the bat which might just be the incentive that Thorman needs, like that monster granny he had Sunday. Just when I was learning to navigate your other blog you up and make this old man learn something new again. Feel bad about that! Thank goodness for MLB.TV it's like infusing young blood in these old veins, I don't miss much of the play.

Re: Welcome to Braves Blog

Mike — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:03:30 -0000

Re: Wow, that must be some college education..

Mike — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:49:03 -0000

The look on his face is priceless.

Re: Cafe Cafe

Mike — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 05:05:02 -0000

Hie~

Re: The Wild Live Party!

Mike — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:48:05 -0000

Jessh you are sizzling hot!!!

Re: Panda Bear, Burial & Grouper Remixes by Phaseone

Mike — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:47:18 -0000

Nice! I dig it. Thanks for shedding light on this dude.

Re: Raleigh Addresses Minority Firefighter Recruitment - Firehouse.com News

Mike — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 08:23:00 -0000

You are correct that the workforce does need to reflect the diversity of the local population. With the exodus of personnel leaving for other departments, maybe we should be examining what we can do to retain trained, qualified employees. Most all municipalities offer basic benefits such as health insurance, paid leave, etc. In this day and age, it is going to take more to recruit and retain quality employees. Progressive municipalities are starting to offer other incentives such as career development programs and compensation for higher levels of training. With the growing number of departments adding career staff, potential employees now have a choice where they can and will go to work. Cities and counties need to look at what they have to offer to attract these employees and keep them from moving to another department for "the greener grass". My 2 cents

Re: Raleigh Addresses Minority Firefighter Recruitment - Firehouse.com News

Mike — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 11:36:00 -0000

I agree that the "job" needs motivated, hard workers. I would further agree that a diploma never put out a fire. But, I think you may be missing the point. When most of us started in this job many years ago {20 years ago for me}, all it took was a strong back and we received low pay for it. Low skill requirements meant low pay. The job has changed dramatically over the years as well as the technology associated with the job. We went from filling out paper-based daily staffing reports and fire reports to using computer programs to track staffing and incident reports. We used to have manually operated master stream devices. Now we have pre-piped waterways, remote controlled nozzles and computer controlled pump panels. This technology takes new skills that were not needed many years ago. We all are aware that EMS is a very large part of the service these days {roughly 75% of all calls} and that requires higher levels of training and certification.

Now we have young firefighters obtaining these skills and they are becoming highly sought after individuals. They can go pretty much anywhere they want for a job. That is why I feel that municipalities have to offer more than basic benefits to retain talented workers. For the rest of us, it is difficult to demand pay increases when the skills don’t match.

Re: Raleigh Addresses Minority Firefighter Recruitment - Firehouse.com News

Mike — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 12:32:00 -0000

If I am not mistaken, I believe that there is a Training Incentive budget stipend of about $100,000 in this upcoming fiscal budget for 06/07. For the last fews years it has been cut out to meet budget reductions for the department.

Re: Raleigh Addresses Minority Firefighter Recruitment - Firehouse.com News

Mike — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 12:33:00 -0000

Here is a good example. Check out the amount of stipend for ALS providers...

Fire-Rescue Technician I

Prince William County, Virginia

$34,598 - $55,357

Deadline: None Specified

Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue is seeking highly motivated and physically fit individuals capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st-century Fire Service. Duties of the entry-level Technician I position include pre-hospital emergency medical services, fire suppression, heavy tactical rescue, other hazardous duties, harm prevention and public education. NREMT-P providers are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to individuals who hold NREMT-P certification. $5,000 incentive pay for ALS certified providers. Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue is a tobacco and drug free work place.

Re: The ARFF Challenge

Mike — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:31:00 -0000

I wasn't at this camp, but I was over there when this happened, and I knew a couple of the guys who were on assignment there.

That's an Oshkosh Ti-3000 from an "undisclosed" location in northern Iraq. At low setting the roof turret pushes 500gpm. It was, as you can imagine, a bad day.

Re: Retail Therapy

Mike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:39:56 -0000

hell 'a'?

hella

Re: WALL-E and EVE

Mike — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:56:00 -0000

great to see a movie tackle an epic theme and not sell-out (ala Caspian). Too often we see movies with what we expect to be great heart, lose the heart of what would make the movie great!

Interestingly - the screen duo pairs great design (EVE) with great character (WALL-E). ...at least that's on the surface! We find that ultimately WALL-E is perfectly designed for his purpose, and EVE has equally profound character - they are just not their most obvious attributes. Not a bad illustration for our human co-founders there either! :)

Re: Medicare reimbursement

Mike — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:01:00 -0000

"Tort reform" is not the only thing doctors are protesting for, but the media would have you believe that. I hear George Bush talk about tort reform every day on the subject of healthcare. And thats because insurance companies pay for his campaigns!!!

Dont confuse media hype with what doctors are REALLY pissed about, which is low reimbursement and insurance company tactics of denying payment.

Re: Physicians as healthcare providers

Mike — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:02:00 -0000

Anon 2:02.. yes, it is ego that makes me not want to be on an equal par with PA's and NP's, not the extra years of schooling and murderous residency and incessant licensures and fees and exams. Obviously all of these "providers' know the same information and have equal skills.

So make sure you see an NP or PA in the future. they're just like doctors. Arent they???

Re: "Is an error-free residency what we really want?"

Mike — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:41:00 -0000

Are you kidding? Extend IM residency? Isnt three years enough?That last year is often ajoke anyway. Make it two years I say.

Re: My response to "screening" EKG’s

Mike — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:32:00 -0000

ECHO! Not EKG.

Re: Nighthawks, dayhawks, and the demise of the American radiologist

Mike — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:04:00 -0000

A recent scan by an in house and skilled neuro radiologist read a cerebellar mass as an old infarct. Turns out three months later it grew and now appeared to be a metastasis from a lung cancer. This second reading wasn't a slam dunk either. It took a lot of deduction and differentials from an internist (me), a radiation oncologist and another skilled neuro radiologist.

Outsourcing THAT would have made the process 10 times worse.

Re: ER visits and health care costs rise in Massachusetts due to lack of primary care access

Mike — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:50:00 -0000

Carla, I think trying to have a workable solution in place BEFORE experimenting with the overburdened ER system would have been more prudent. Especially if Kevin and anyone else with any sense could have told you this would happen.

Gee, what if physicians who had "been there" were spearheading this, instead of a bunch of politicians and administrators with little experience and obvious self-interests. Just a dream, I guess.

Re: Executive physicals, and what the Mayo Clinic doesn’t want you to know

Mike — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:31:41 -0000

This also ignores that the machines themselves must be paid for. Let the executives pay the cost of the machine. That way, the doctors won't feel compelled to order tests for non-executives to cover the machine cost.

What's that? You say it isn't fair that the executives should have to pay for the machine? well, they insisted on getting the battery of useless tests they are "entitled" to because they are so affluent. The machines aren't free. And one out-of-pocket cardiac CT doesn't cover it. Or even 100. And then, other places like MAyo want to do business, so they have to have the "me too" machine. And then they have to order a lot of scans to cover costs.

Does this pattern not seem evident to the brilliant scribes like MAtt #1, #2, etc? It is wrecking the system, it is wrong, and they are not entitled to it. Kevin is correct.

Re: Executive physicals, and what the Mayo Clinic doesn’t want you to know

Mike — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:49:08 -0000

MAtt, you are the one not making sense. Your analogy is inapt because Medicare (i.e. taxpayers) pay for scans that are "reasonably" indicated. CArdiac CT is a perfect example. It's benefit is clear, but only in a minority of cases is it indicated. Do you not see how MAyo is likely pushing the scans more than is necessary to cover the cost of the machine? So a few "executives" can have the test they deem "superior"? And on YOUR dime???

This has nothing to do with medicine as a "system" (whatever that means). I'm an internist in NY and I see this over-ordering of tests to cover the costs of newer technology, in an attempt to woo an un-saavy public, over-influenced by the internet and television ads, demanding MRI's of every organ. And I waste so much time explaining why that shouldn't be done, But according to you, if they can afford it, then I should just let them at it. That's why medicine is sucking lately. Thanks, Matt.

Re: Executive physicals, and what the Mayo Clinic doesn’t want you to know

Mike — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:19:38 -0000

Matt, I didnt say medicare is paying for the physicals. I said they are helping pay for the machines that the "affluent" executives need. If 100 executives pay out of pocket, that doesn't even BEGIN to cover the cost. Does this make sense?

In addition, if you honestly believe that radiologists and physician owners of these machines are not pushing the scans to cover costs, then I don't know what else to say. But I personally do not own machines and do not profit from scans. So as far as your point about physicians "making up their minds", it's not most physicians. Please stop generalizing.

My original point is when you say its okay to let the "affluent" executives have their scans, I repeat, it is NOT okay, and it is harming everyone, including YOU.

Re: Outside Lands Festival in San Fran

Mike — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:16:48 -0000

pricey tickets, but it sounds like an amazing show.

Re: Guestbook

Mike — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:10:59 -0000

Name: Mike
From: Oregon, USA
E-mail: woodawg@comcast.net

Hey TC. Just purchased episodes 61 and 62....finally. Thanks for getting the paypal link to work in english.

I'm loving episode 62 so far. That opening by Joe Frawley was amazing. Very haunting/moody piece. Going to have to get ahold of some of his works.

Anyway happy to be back in orbit and listening to Spacemusic once again. Take care.

-Mike

Re: Lily Allen and MR GASPAR Strike Back.

Mike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:19:58 -0000

love that voice

Re: When Did Modest Mouse Cover The Killers?

Mike — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:11:52 -0000

goddammit. thats a really good idea though modest mouse should definatly do that now.

Re: New Daft Punk – Daft Gang, For Realz?!

Mike — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:58:52 -0000

Ah jeez what is this?

Re: Will Sony stop making PR disasters

Mike — Sun, 27 May 2007 16:49:00 -0000

More Sony fuck-ups

http://www.boredstop.com/index.php?option=com_content&task;=view&id;=102&Itemid;=34

Re: Gifted – Dopamine

Mike — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:11:09 -0000

I think I have almost every track that PJO/Gifted has released and this is by far one of the sickest tracks I have heard! These guys don't settle for anything less than WAY over the top! "Dopamine" is so unique, original, and powerful...keep it up guys...can't wait for Presence!

Re: The Killers – ‘Tranquilize’

Mike — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:11:58 -0000

damn for me they're getting better and better... and change style oll the time so it's hard to get bored of them. this song rocks!

Re: Flat in London

Mike — Tue, 27 May 2003 22:48:07 -0000

I thought it was only for the summer?? wasn't it?
although pay in UK is pretty good from what I hear.

Re: Blog In

Mike — Tue, 27 May 2003 22:49:32 -0000

well.. and "Logined" breaks number of linguistic rules for english.. :)

Re: Flat in London

Mike — Wed, 28 May 2003 15:34:44 -0000

My ex-worker used to work in UK for 2 yrs before they told him he has to leave.. and he was living it out..

Re: London: The Real Deal

Mike — Wed, 28 May 2003 19:20:49 -0000

So.. how long are you stayin in UK?
I do have enough frequent flier miles to fly to Europe and back.. hmm.. only if I had any paid vacation...

Re: Inside the Computer

Mike — Thu, 29 May 2003 14:04:05 -0000

Hey me too!! stupid mass communications!

Re: On Getting a Bank Account

Mike — Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:29:55 -0000

nice... how nice... Don't people ever setup a feedback system in the beginning if you start a new policy? At least you got a good blog material out of the experience..

Re: Blog Database Corruption

Mike — Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:32:16 -0000

What's so good about B2?? seems like just another implementation using php..

Re: Mac to School Special

Mike — Mon, 04 Aug 2003 05:11:33 -0000

12" powerbook is nice but I would wait out for 15" to be updated. With the G5 tower about to be shipped, 12" G4 isn't worth what they used to be. I think the current lineup will either be discounted or updated soon enough. Since you can afford to wait, I say way it out :)

Re: Travel Advisory Warning

Mike — Thu, 11 Sep 2003 15:46:34 -0000

My goodness, that's a tale. So what's going to happen with your luggage?? have they located your bag?

Re: Big Day

Mike — Tue, 23 Sep 2003 19:26:50 -0000

hehehe.. there goes Ben again..
Anyways.. Ok/Cancel is cool!! I got a good laugh out of it :) Keep it up and I can promise that you will have at least one loyal fan visiting every Friday..

Re: Handhelds - Time for New Gadgets

Mike — Tue, 07 Oct 2003 19:39:52 -0000

The applications Ben and I have are for Palm OS 4.. which really doesn't take advantage of StrongArm processor your Zire 71 has. They should still run on yours since OS 5 was designed to work on Dragonball processor. What kind of applications were you looking for?

Re: What a Great Deal!

Mike — Wed, 22 Oct 2003 14:35:46 -0000

My typical response is "I'll fix it myself."

and they try to come up with scrap, "XXXX part is worth more than the extra warranty/insurance/etc"

One thing that always stops them is "I'm an engineer I can fix it if it breaks down".

Of course, I'm not an electrician nor a repair man so I probably can't fix them but that at least shuts them down.

Always tempted to just say, "What makes you think I will pay extra so you can get earn more money without really being helpful to me in anyway?"

Re: SXSW Interactive Announcement

Mike — Fri, 30 Jan 2004 16:27:32 -0000

Congrats!! :) Now, when can i vote?!?!

Re: State of the Arcade Industry

Mike — Tue, 24 Feb 2004 16:45:17 -0000

Now, that would be cool and I would play the MechWarrior game if they had that! Hmmm.. possible business venture?

Re: Ring Ring Ring

Mike — Mon, 01 Mar 2004 16:30:58 -0000

Well, I think Diamond ring has become more of an expectation than a tradition. I'm probably one to question this but when it comes down to it, I'll probably just bite my lips and buy the stupid ring. If you start your marriage without what she wants, you will have the rest of your life to hear her complain. I think the price of the ring is worth the peace and quiet. :)

Re: Movable Type’s Pricing

Mike — Sun, 23 May 2004 03:58:32 -0000

WordPress has been pretty kind to me so far.. With one exception of upgrade process taking too much time since it doesn't really have too good of an abstraction for customization.

I took the wordpress route because php is easier for me to customize than perl..

Re: Long Term Structure of the British Pound

Mike — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:13:15 -0000

I agree with jane

when you claim: "Market Club members tend to do well applying their strategies to FOREX market"

is it based on a survey that you have done? if so, how many people were surveyed, what was the sample size? what was their success ratio? How much of that success was direct result of using market club software? Could you publish the study to back your claim?

Re: Two Markets - Two Directions - SP500 and Crude Oil

Mike — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:06:07 -0000

While there appears to be an inverse correlation between Crude Oil and the USD of about 75% since 2002 - - - that "correlation" doesn't give one any indication that the change in the value of the Dollar against the Euro will represent a CONSTANT portion of the change in the price of Crude Oil!

"For example, if the dollar falls 10%, the price of oil in dollars does not automatically rise 1%, 10%, 20% or by any other constant factor.

n 2002 the percentage increase in oil was a bit more than three times the fall in the dollar against the euro (oil rose 50.1%, the dollar fell 16.4%). In 2003 the relationship was reversed, the dollar fell almost three and a half times the percentage that oil increased (dollar -21.1% vs. oil +6.1%). In 2004 the difference reversed again at a factor of 3.4: The dollar lost 7.3% against the euro, and oil rose 24.7%.

In 2005 and 2006, the oil price moved in tandem with the dollar. The dollar and the price of oil rose in 2005, and both slipped in 2006. In 2005 the price of oil accelerated four times the amount (in percentage) of the gain of the dollar against the euro (the dollar gained 12%, oil added 51%). In 2006 the relationship was almost equal: The dollar lost 12% against the euro, and the price of oil fell 8%.

Again in 2007, the inverse relationship reasserted itself but now at a factor of 6.18, (the dollar fell 11.5% against the European currency, while oil shot up 70.8%). In 2008 the dollar fell 9% (at the low of $1.6037), and oil gained 46.2% (at the record crude price of $145.66). Through July 29, the dollar had regained 2.8% against the euro, but oil has sunk 16%.

Approximately three-quarters of the time since January 2002 (five years out of seven) the dollar and oil have moved inversely to each other. But even in those five correlated years, the factors are wildly disparate. If we take the percentage of the rise in oil against the decline in the dollar against the euro. the ratios are as follows: 2002, 3.09-1; 2003, 1-3.49; 2004, 3.38-1; 2007, 6.18-1; 2008 (to July 29) 3.81-1.

Even if we ignore the two years when oil and the dollar moved in the same direction, the correlation between the value of the dollar against the euro and the dollar price of oil is directional at best. It does not have any predictive value for the degree of change."

Re: Introducing New Chart Upgrade from Market Club

Mike — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:44:28 -0000

The move back above 805 is rather strange for sure, but it would appear that we simply retraced roughly 61.8% of the (A) wave down with this (B) wave back up into the close.

Tomorrow's first hour will be key!

Re: Elliott Wave Update - Possible Count for March 26

Mike — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:42:04 -0000

Corey,

My hourly count has (a) where you have labeled Wave 3 in the move up off the 666 SPX low. I then have (i), then (ii) where you have labeled the word "support" on your chart, with (iii) where your Wave 5 is.

(iv) was Friday's action and we should see one more push up to complete this DIAGONAL.

Re: The 11 Absolute Best Songs of 2008 (58% of it)

Mike — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:20:53 -0000

Fantastic! You didnt rank Campus at No.1!!

I see growth! haha.

but srsly, great picks. maybe not my list, but all choices are great and memorable 2K8.58 songs

Re: A Request

Mike — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:26:28 -0000

Transparency
Urban Decay

Have fun :)

Re: A Request

Mike — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 10:43:36 -0000

Does "urban decay" counts as two words? If so I'd like to redefine part of the English dictionary and add the word "urbandecay"

Re: Christmas Traditions.

Mike — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 04:51:04 -0000

Your opening paragraph reminded me of a sketch a few years ago that was played on radio 1. It sort of went like this.... Arnold Schwarzenegger was having his traditional Christmas day affair with his family and they started singing "chestnuts roasting on an open fire". At which point Arnie shouted "oooh, open fire, oozy 9mm". Then the next thing you heard was a round of machine gun fire where by he distroys his house. It's kind of lost in my retelling but you'll just have to trust me on this one when I say it was really funny.

Re: Dentists

Mike — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 05:46:10 -0000

The last time I went, Dr Savage (true name) injected my gum in what I suspect was the wrong place as all the fluid squirted out the corner of my eye. At which point I did my usual and very predictable party piece of passing out. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut until after you'd got back. I'm sorry, but I do wish you the very best of luck.

Re: Christmas HNT

Mike — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:50:10 -0000

Oh, good afternoon err I mean good morning, nice to meet them oops sorry I meant you. Think I should have knocked before poking my head through the door. Errrr can I get you a towel or something?

Re: Back to Normality

Mike — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 07:00:06 -0000

I'm with Kristen on this one, she really should get what she wants on her birthday, and I don't think it's asking too much at all :)

Re: The Purple One

Mike — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:32:43 -0000

Farting in his mash!!!!! That's evil! Mind you, I went camping a couple of years ago and one of the mornings my mate shouted over from his tent "put the kettle on". So I did. What I didn't do was tell him I'd peed in it the night before because it was raining too hard to get out the tent.

In my defence though, I did it as a revenge attack for him dangling his todger in my beer some weeks earlier when I popped to the toilet.

What comes around goes around as they say.

Re: 2006 Overview

Mike — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:23:01 -0000

Matchbox Twenty, you have great taste in music. "Yourself or someone like you" was their best album in my view.

Re: Seedy Sex

Mike — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 01:36:10 -0000

Now that you don't use it, I don't suppose there's any chance of nicking your Breville toaster is there? All this talk of healthy food has got me drooling over cheese and ham toasties with brown sauce....proper food!!

Re: Things Which Define Me

Mike — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 07:31:12 -0000

Miss U, you've just stated ... "I guess I’m an arty farty kind of person, lol."

After reading an earlier post of yours, are you sure you're not just a farty kind of person? lol

Re: Veggies and Lie-ins

Mike — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:43:27 -0000

I think it's pretty rotten of her.

Personally, if it happened to me, I'd be onto head office giving them a few home truths. Either that or sit on it for a while, then discretely get revenge when the chance arises.

But I can understand why you want to leave it.

Re: Come Here.

Mike — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 05:50:48 -0000

You sound a bit pissed off.

Come here and I'll give you a cuddle.

Sorry, crap joke I know.

Re: I Just Wanna Dance…

Mike — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:24:49 -0000

I've thought long and hard about this one and I'm pleased to say I've found a solution...

Take up the sport of gate crashing!!

Re: 25 Peeps

Mike — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:47:04 -0000

Tell me about it. I've just filled my tax return in, and dropped it in at the local office. Apparently tax doesn't have to be taxing you know. Yeah, right!!

Re: Q & A Part 2

Mike — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:14:45 -0000

I'm with you on the Italian cuisine.

Re: Q & A Part 2

Mike — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:31:52 -0000

Oops, I hadn't finished (don't ask. My favourite restaurant is also an Italian.

Re: Q & A Part 2

Mike — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:38:45 -0000

Now I've gone and missed off a ). Can you just delete all my comments and I'll start again in a couple of hours when I wake up? Thank you x

Re: Q & A - Final Part

Mike — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:36:12 -0000

It's OK for you. My local Chinese takeaway seems to have "took off".... disappearing in a moonlight flit. No more do I have a rapid response team of Chinese takeaway delivery men on the end of my mobile phone's number 8 speed dial button when ever I decide I want food NOW DAMNIT.

Sad sad days.

I blame Tony B.Liar

Re: Q & A - Final Part

Mike — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:27:49 -0000

Miss U, I've just checked my now useless takeaway menu and your #96 & #42 equates to sweet and sour pork (cantonese style) and a portion of chips.

Have you tried #57 instead? It's a lot healthier.

Re: Q & A - Final Part

Mike — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:13:56 -0000

Now this is a bit spooky because on my menu, the recommended dish, number 57 I mentioned earlier, is in fact a special chow mein. I know you won't believe me so tonight I'm going to take a photo of the menu and email it to you. Such is the sad life I lead lol.

Re: Whoops!

Mike — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:32:16 -0000

Get off with you!!! The only reason you've quit is so you can take up full time residency in Blogsville!!!

But seriously, does Rob know you're thinking of Robbie Williams when he's making love to you???

I mean, come on! Of all the people in the world, you go and choose Robbie bloody Williams!!!!!

A proper serious now... If the job's been getting you down and it's started to effect your life I think you've made a good decision.

Re: TME’s Entry

Mike — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 07:59:51 -0000

After reading all this I don't think I can add anything that hasn't already been said, but I would however like to share a story with you about a good friend of mine.

He was working in another country at the time. It was about 8 years ago when he was 30 years old. He had an unexpected phone call from his Mum telling him he'd better come home as there were things he needed to know. So he got the first flight home he could. His Mum then started to tell him that she had split up with his Dad, and she thought he should know he was never his true Dad (This was also news to the poor bloke who thought he was his son). It turned out his real Dad lived 10 miles away, and the poor bugger didn't even know he'd got a son because my friend's Mum had told him the baby wasn't his, and in any case, she'd given the baby up for adoption.

Things have worked out well since then. He hasn't forgiven his Mum for all the lies and deceit, but he has struck up a great relationship with his real Dad. At least now, he knows the truth.

Miss U, I'm sorry for using your comments to share one of my stories, but I thought it was sort of relevant in a round about way. Have I broken any secret unwritten blogging rules here?

Re: Sucking Pussies

Mike — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 02:47:31 -0000

Congratulations, I'm really chuffed for you and, I'm looking forward to having a read later on today when I have a little more time!!!!!

errrrm..... Which Sainsburys do you shop at?

Re: Sucking Pussies

Mike — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 09:55:58 -0000

Well as promised, I've had a read and I think it's excellent, so well done!!!

I'm going to have a go next time to see if I can actually achieve a position other than last, although I realise this is going to be incredible difficult to accomplish.

I'll obviously be writing under a false name to save myself the humiliation.

Re: Whoops!

Mike — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 02:41:28 -0000

I keep checking my email.... nobody loves me :(

I can understand your embarrassment though. I once thought I'd sent a really private text message to all of my contacts in my phone. Bank managers, customers, parents, grand parents etc really didn't need to know the finer details of my sex life.

For a couple of minutes you could have toasted bread from the heat off my face.

Re: The Current Mr D

Mike — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:56:14 -0000

I've been putting off reading this because I knew it was going to touch a nerve with me.

But twenty four hours later and a big deep breath, I've took the plunge, and I'm so glad I did now.

My thoughts are with him, his family and everybody else around him.

Re: Knickers

Mike — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:32:51 -0000

Knackeries are places where knackers hand out!!

Re: Knickers

Mike — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:39:10 -0000

I'll reword that.

Knackeries are places where knackers HANG out!!

Sorry for the confusion.

Re: Knickers

Mike — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:42:29 -0000

Also, so I'm led to believe, the somewhat little known sport of Freeballing can be found from inside I Knackery.

Re: Dreams and Wet Things

Mike — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:29:50 -0000

These fish...... I was just wondering..... errr..... well you know.. (cough)... how.. wha...errmm, mmmmm... size and all that? Never mind, forget I ever mentioned it. It's just that my friend was asking me to find out.

By the way, those goldfish might actually be coy carp.

Re: Dreams and Wet Things

Mike — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 08:28:54 -0000

Oh b****x, I spelt koi wrong didn't I?

How embarrassing!

That serves me right for pointing out it wasn't actually a goldfish.

Re: Take Two, Three times a Day

Mike — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 04:51:44 -0000

Blogsville is a nice town. The houses are dirt cheap and the neighbours are really friendly.

I popped into one of my neighbours houses a few weeks ago and found them half naked in the kitchen and they didn't bat an eyelid! Fekker never made me a coffee though! ;)

I have a tree house at the bottom of my garden in Blogsville. It's a great place to chill out, and I get a great view of what all my neighbours are up to.

I'm thinking of moving a few doors down, the house is the same size but it has a double garage so I can get more motorbikes in there. Oh, and it hasn't got a hole in the kitchen ceiling where an old light fitting used to be so that'll save me some DIY.

On another note, I'm having great difficulty finding a garden centre around here that sells COY carp for my pond! Any ideas?

Re: Take Two, Three times a Day

Mike — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:19:06 -0000

Newquay Brown indeed. I think you're getting the wrong impression of me. I actually turned up with a couple of bottles of Newquay Brown AND a bag of pork scratchings for the ladies.

Anywaaaayyyyyyyy....

I've woken up with a rotten stinking cold this morning and I've lost my voice. It's occurred to me that losing your voice isn't a problem in Blogsville. Another great reason to move into the area.

Re: Take Two, Three times a Day

Mike — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:06:48 -0000

A hedge is a vast improvement up the Blogsville ladder than a gutter. It's less draughty for a start. (I thought it was spelt drafty but answers dot com informs me it's draughty. I'm not convinced. It sounds like something Prince Charley would say!)

My above drivel is excused by the fact I've been to the pub.

Have a lovely weekend all.

Re: 1st Birthday

Mike — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 03:38:48 -0000

Eh up, I've brought a pile of wine and some pork scratchings for the ladies :). Happy 1st Blogaversary.

Re: 1st Birthday

Mike — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 05:56:13 -0000

Am I gonna give you a spin on my bike later?

Not after all the wine you've drunk! I hope you realise I didn't get one single drop of it. I'm glad I brought Blue Nun now ;)

Oh btw, I see you've made it into the Shaggy Blog Stories book. Congratulations. I never made it. I suspect the judges all wear tank tops.

Re: Empty yer Pockets

Mike — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 07:47:55 -0000

Congratulations! I'm so so happy for you. Of course, you do realise you're mixing it with some big names there you know.

P.S. Don't let your head swell too much will you? lol x

Re: Mirror Mirror

Mike — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 05:42:49 -0000

I think your mirror is a peeping tom. A dirty one at that.

Re: Letting Go

Mike — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 10:35:00 -0000

FFS Laney, I was hoping not to hear this.

My thoughts are with x

Re: Strength

Mike — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 05:11:24 -0000

If you're going to start talking about Robbie bloody Williams then I'm not going to bloody comment! :)

Re: Checkmate

Mike — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 05:24:38 -0000

I just don't get this. I really don't understand. I mean, come on now, what's wrong with you? You should be ashamed of yourself. You should feel guilty and bad for the rest of your life. You tell me now, what the hell has that poor Breville ever done to you that warrants your actions of casting it away in such an unloving, uncaring manner. Brevilles have feelings too you know!

Treat Brevilles as you'd like to be treated yourself. That's my motto!

Shame on you girl.

Re: Checkmate

Mike — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 15:31:23 -0000

Elaine, the annoying thing here is, I know you're right GGGRRRRR. But, come on, Breville has no friends any more. My Breville is hot and also very lonely. Can't we fix the pair of them up together?

Re: Oh Dear!

Mike — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:29:40 -0000

Oh no look what you've gone and done... You've forced me into saying something sensible!

I think it's a very good idea to remove some of the more revealing things you have on your blog. Also, I don't think you need to really change much else on here. People visit your site primarily because you write so well, not because you've on occasions revealed your breasts. :)

Re: SHHHHH, IT’S A SECRET!!!

Mike — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:28:53 -0000

Happy birthday to you, squashed tomatoes and stew, happy birthday dear Laney, happy birthday to yooooooouuuuuuuuu.

Now go blow out your 47 candles ;)

Re: Birthday Fun

Mike — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 05:57:47 -0000

I've recently had a visitor from somebody who googled ....

"bummed her" -out

There's some strange folks about.

Re: 5 Things

Mike — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 05:39:14 -0000

You used to iron your HAIR?????

NNNOOOOOOOOOOO

Please tell me you didn't?

Re: Um…

Mike — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:16:32 -0000

Happy belated Easter greetings.

Sunshine all over the holiday????

It rained on Monday up here:(

Re: Hmmm.

Mike — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:55:17 -0000

I always thought "peni" should be plural for penis.

Just saying.

Re: Grrrrrrrrrr

Mike — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:17:28 -0000

You know, I would feel sorry for you if it wasn't so funny lol

Many years ago I tried to get onto a bus with a canoe paddle and the bus driver said I couldn't take it on the bus.

The reason......... it was above six feet tall!!!

"Errr ok then bus driver, you tell me this; what happens to people who try to get on your bus that are taller than six feet?"

"That's ok, people above six feet bend in the middle"

Yes and so will my fekkin paddle in a minute when I wrap it around your head if you don't let me on the goddamn bus!!

A law to themselves, I tell ye.

By the way, I didn't actually threaten to wrap the paddle around his head (hence no speech marks), but I was thinking it.

Re: 2 for 1 TMI Tuesday

Mike — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:23:03 -0000

My boiler which is a combi boiler only ever breaks in the middle of winter.

The thing hates me.

Re: Sometimes….

Mike — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:17:43 -0000

Oh Christ, I think I'm going to chuck up lol.

Re: Sometimes….

Mike — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:09:20 -0000

I'm sorry, I just can't watch it without laughing. It's his teeth that crease me up. I'm not even going to mention the cardigan that's positively dripping sex appeal.

You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna link to that song on my blog under the title "In Need Of A Good Laugh?"

Go on, I dare you to look at his teeth?

Re: TITS

Mike — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:19:07 -0000

I once googled "watersports in staffordshire". After finding what I was looking for, which involved boats and lakes and such like I was then greeted by "watersports" of an entirely different nature!. There's some strange goings on in Staffordshire you know!

Re: Why Rob and Laney are Separated. Reason #127

Mike — Tue, 01 May 2007 05:52:20 -0000

I'd quite cheerfully flash my tits for £20!

Re: Morph

Mike — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:23:45 -0000

Fantastic morph! Isn't the weather gorgeous. Early day at work for me today, I'm off for a trundle on my bike :)

Re: I Don’t Do Politics

Mike — Fri, 04 May 2007 05:19:49 -0000

There was a couple of chaps in a van with a loud speaker driving around our area yesterday afternoon with a loud speaker interrupting what would otherwise have been a nice quite afternoon in the garden.

"Vote conservative, don't forget to vote for John such and such."

Just go away. John who did you say you were again? I couldn't give a flying........

Re: Thinking Blogger Award

Mike — Tue, 08 May 2007 07:57:53 -0000

Yes congratulations indeed. I'll be taking a wander over to your five blog choices for a nosey.

Re: Windfall

Mike — Wed, 09 May 2007 04:32:39 -0000

Caring Laney should be saying help Mike out with a new engine for his broken car ;)

Artistic Laney should go out and buy herself a Canon EOS 350 :)

But if it was me I'd be clearing off my debts. Boring I know but hey, easy come, easy go.

PS don't take my advice on clearing your debts. You know you don't want to be doing that!

So to summarise..... New engine it is then, my new best friend in the whole world lol.

Re: Dinner Party

Mike — Mon, 14 May 2007 05:02:14 -0000

Great Uncle Bulgaria. A very wise old Womble, very interesting character in my view.

Re: Embarrassing Illnesses

Mike — Mon, 21 May 2007 07:26:44 -0000

I can't say that I've ever had any. However, I did once go to the doctors because I couldn't keep off the loo. It was pouring out of me like tap water and I'd had it for a week. I explained the situation to the Doc and he just laughed at me. :(

Re: Uuuuuugh

Mike — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:43:45 -0000

Don't worry about it Elaine, I've been writing drivel for over 12 months now ;)

I'm glad you're feeling better. You know the coleslaw, well I can tell you that when coleslaw goes off it starts to smell like emulsion paint. I'm somewhat of an authority on the subject of rancid coleslaw. Maybe it was the ham.

Re: Uuuuuugh

Mike — Tue, 22 May 2007 05:24:26 -0000

Ali - Thank you so much. I love you too!

x x

x x x x

x x x

x x

x x

x x

x

Re: Uuuuuugh

Mike — Tue, 22 May 2007 05:25:20 -0000

Oh that's rubbish! It was a nice pretty heart on my screen before I posted it :(

Re: Brace Yourselves…

Mike — Wed, 23 May 2007 04:39:30 -0000

Right then. I'd just like to clarify that it wasn't Mike as in myself who wanted to know about this. It was in fact Michael. Although my name is Michael I never go by that name and I only get called it when I'm in trouble. Thank you.

And by the way Laney, I never actually got to the end of your story. I have a feeling there was way too much info about to be disclosed. lol

Re: Green Fingers

Mike — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:51:41 -0000

I'm growing some chilli plants at the moment. When they decide to sprout fruit I'll use them to make a chilli. I'll then invite everyone round to my pad in Blogsville for dinner on the condition you bring some alcohol. Deal?

Re: The Personals

Mike — Thu, 31 May 2007 05:28:20 -0000

£300 was a bit extortionate but I have to say that 67 messages is fairly impressive! You obviously never showed a picture of yourself in the ad!

PUT THE KNIFE BACK DOWN

I'm only joking ;)

Re: Weekend Frolics

Mike — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:53:31 -0000

"relax with a few pints"

"Later, we walked a few minutes along the river"

Elaine, are you sure the term "walked" is correct after supping several pints?

Re: Tea & Biscuits

Mike — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:12:49 -0000

Elaine, what was wrong with the lazy old fekker pouring his own cup of tea?

Idle bastard.

Re: Making a Difference

Mike — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 02:51:28 -0000

When my mate started training for the London marathon his toe nails went black and dropped off. maybe I shouldn't be telling you that lol.

Are you sure, I mean really sure you need to give up the wine? That bit is worrying me. ;)

Re: The Search Continues

Mike — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:40:00 -0000

You wouldn#39;t phone up the bride to tell her there#39;d been a amp;*+% up? Chicken!!!!!!!! ;)

Re: And the Winner Is…

Mike — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:12:00 -0000

I once won some crap in a tombola.... that's about it as far as I can remember.

Re: R.I.P. Wellard.

Mike — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:47:00 -0000

He's not really dead you know ;) Like most folk (not that he's actually a folk) he's sick and fed up of the constant depressing story line and wanted out. He'll be on Corra by next week.

Re: What is Love?

Mike — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:25:00 -0000

A great bunch of fun family photos and an interesting biology lesson. I always suspected slugs were a bit weird.

Re: Customer Service

Mike — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:49:00 -0000

Good luck with the job training. This ID thing, you know I have the same problem all the time. Gets a bit tedious after a while ;)

Re: I’m sorry, this is a very long post full of nothing but ranting so feel free to just click right back off….

Mike — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:14:00 -0000

Maybe you should go on the sick for a couple of weeks until things settle down.

Re: They’re 8 Years Old!

Mike — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:36:00 -0000

yo dude thats so gay- let the kids have their fun.

Re: Lets Digest Some Top 40 Radio

Mike — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:23:49 -0000

Man, that Mark Ronson remix of Maroon 5 is awesome!

Re: PMA’s College Music Project

Mike — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:28:15 -0000

Sweet idea. I'll contribute once I get some dish from my buds

Re: Check This Out: The ADN Project!

Mike — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:41:09 -0000

NICE!

This is cool. PMA should have one of these! :D

Re: ArsenalFC : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:16:17 -0000

Can you make an AS Roma one? or a Seria A one?
That would be awsome

Re: Girl Stamps : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:27:37 -0000

nice theme good work

Re: 68 Camaro RS : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:34:26 -0000

Nice but that is a 69 camaro!!!!!

Re: Sexy Emo With Random Icons : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:46:21 -0000

fucken dip shit ugly fuck emo motha fucka keep them hood gansta

Re: Subaru Impreza : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:00:02 -0000

you just don't know the car mudafuka

Re: Megan Fox (HD Only) : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:04:03 -0000

just google how to make ps3 themes. it's time consuming, but there are step by step guides.

Re: Unofficial MGS4 Theme #2 : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:30:21 -0000

love the sounds. classic! thanx

Re: JLA : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:57:49 -0000

any chance on an updated version with a few extra character backgrounds? maybe Aquaman, green arrow, captain atom, nightwing, etc.?

Re: The Ring : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:33:30 -0000

Where can I get just the wallpaper of this for my computer? ..in 1920 X 1200

Re: Dragon Ball Z 02 : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:14:21 -0000

Man where did you get that background?

Re: rev Blue : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:44:25 -0000

Hi revscott,

Great wallpaper in your theme, would you be able to send me a link of the image alone.

That would be much appreciated.

Thanks Mike

Re: HHR : All PS3 Themes

Mike — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:09:21 -0000

u suck a101k47 so do ur themes

Re: Two Mixes to Get You Through The Last Few Hours

Mike — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:31:18 -0000

excellent, cheers! Iâ€™m loving the stuff youâ€™re posting lately!

If you havenâ€™t already heard it iâ€™ve got an arctic monkeys cover of British pop band â€œGirls Aloudâ€ over at my site.

Re: Enterprise 2.0 Attains Legitimacy

Mike — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 05:34:23 -0000

Ironically enough, my primary motivation for setting up the entry is to solidify the concept in my own mind, and explore whether or not it can stand alone from Web 2.0.

Considering that, your vanity is expected!

Re: Help, Help — We’re Being Repressed!

Mike — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 02:23:44 -0000

I'm with you Andrew, let's try a new entry and if necessary use Ross' platform to build it.

Was a bit put out about that little action from some autocratic 'ikipedian, must say...

Re: A Chance at Redemption

Mike — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 03:53:03 -0000

I agree wholeheartedly and like this outline as a point of departure. Will be putting some effort into it too. Can this be done at Ross' talk page?

Re: The Pursuit of Busyness

Mike — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:10:17 -0000

I agree with some of the other comments that it is a fundamental shift in culture that must come top down.

Also, it is important that the new technologies actually add value to the organization and help employees do their job better. People will see through a hollow attempt at deploying the latest technology buzz.

Re: Homework the Teacher Learns From

Mike — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:40:08 -0000

Agreed, I think that this 2.0 is more of a two way communication that is much easier to handle as opposed to email... etc.

It's a good way to inform everyone were the company is heading in the future as well it opens the communication lines a bit easier as opposed to listening to a presentation or worse - not being heard at all.

In todays economy it's everyone's responsibility to ensure the company succeeds, anything less and everyone could be looking for new jobs.

This platform should be a welcome addition along with incentives to encourage interaction from the top of the company all the way down o the person who takes out the garbage.

Re: Enterprise 2.0 Inclusionists and Deletionists

Mike — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:46:07 -0000

I share the opinion of the writer in full load.
Thanks in order to have given the possibility to me to take part.
Blog much beautiful one

Re: Terror and Twitter

Mike — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:31:49 -0000

This is essentially a commentary on civil rights and privacy law. Where can we as a nation draw the line? And how will the patriot act adapt to include virtual property?

Re: The Ghost Who Hated Christmas

Mike — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 19:05:00 -0000

This is the perfect scary Christmas story. I want to know more!

Re: The Ghost Who Hates Christmas II

Mike — Thu, 09 Dec 2004 12:23:00 -0000

Ok...you totally have to put a camera in that room. I want this caught on tape!

Re: So I am "Neo-Pagan"

Mike — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 19:18:00 -0000

I am soooo...
1. Mahayana Buddhism (100%)

2. Neo-Pagan (99%)

3. Unitarian Universalism (98%)

I am sooooo not...

25. Roman Catholic (16%)

26. Islam (14%)

27. Seventh Day Adventist (14%)

All this coming from a person who went to Catholic school for 12 years, and who's family is Church of God and Baptist! I'm actually shocked that Taoism was in the middle of the list. I thought it would be higher.

Re: Fat Actress: a new favorite!

Mike — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 19:30:00 -0000

I have to admit, I like this show too. The episode that began with her trying to fit into different pairs of pants while screaming, "Where are my fat pants!" caused me to put down my popcorn with extra butter and laugh really hard. I always like a good abdominal workout.

Re: Venus Hum & Stars!

Mike — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 02:41:00 -0000

I saw Stars on their last tour with Broken Social Scene, who I don't like. Stars is one of my favorites, but seeing them live ruined it a little for me. They are not what I expected at all. Everyone looked as if they just went to some horrible resale shop to pick what they would wear that night. That nerdy/unkept look didn't fit the lovesick music that is Stars. They also had some technical difficulties which I forgive anyone for when playing live. I couldn't get enough of the CD before the concert and after I couldn't listen to it for a month or two. I have some video clips of the concert on my website under the Gallery section.

They also have strong ties to Metric and thank them on their CD. I think a Metric/Stars concert would be much better.

Re: Venus Hum & Stars!

Mike — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 15:25:00 -0000

They played two nights in San Francisco, so they must have "fix" the issues. I would give them another shot in a heartbeat.

Re: Interview Me!

Mike — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 01:31:00 -0000

Interview me. Is that good enough for you?!

Re: Troy Radio PART TWO

Mike — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 02:47:00 -0000

You have no idea how much I love this.

Re: Feedblitz

Mike — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:44:00 -0000

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Project Runway: New York Style!

Mike — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 13:09:00 -0000

What a hoot! If you're going to dress like that then you better be prepared to be watched. Hell, if you leave the house you better be prepared!

Re: Weave Me Alone!

Mike — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:20:00 -0000

HA HA HA HA! Heh Heh...ohhhhh, damn that's funny!

Re: The Path to Home Leads Within

Mike — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:49:00 -0000

When it rains, it pours...or in your case, floods the basement where you should not be living. First of all, I am so glad to hear you have landed on your feet. I'm not sure I would have been so lucky. Second, you are far more skilled at dealing with the "people" part of everything you've gone through. I don't think I could continue a relationship with people after all that. I've cut people out of my life for far less. You're a hell of a man.

Re: Half a Million Kids in the US Have Autism

Mike — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:06:53 -0000

Matt Savage - http://savagerecords.com/ - is another successful autistic kid. He's one of the best jazz musicians around and he has several CDs available. Part of the profit from sales of his CDs goes to autistim research.

Re: Half a Million Kids in the US Have Autism

Mike — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:06:53 -0000

Re: Bling-Bling iPod og iPoder

Mike — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 08:14:00 -0000

Not more information about teen bling! Seems to be so much around and it makes me feel old not knowing it even existed until now. If you want to get your hands on some bling bling stuff. Try this site out teen bling

Re: Natural Spring Water

Mike — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 13:14:56 -0000

But you make enough money!

Re: RAWR!

Mike — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 13:47:44 -0000

Only one more year, Trenty-poo!

Maybe next year when you turn 21, you will actually get carded when purchasing alcohol. I've been 21 for a couple of weeks now, and not ONCE have I been carded. It's kinda pissing me off.

Re: Hemispheric Lighting is Purdy

Mike — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:05:47 -0000

That is pretty... Except for the red background.

Re: An Exercise in Superfluousness and Sensitivity

Mike — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 18:24:52 -0000

For the last time, I'm going to be up there playing with lasers. See http://www.physics.lsa.umich.edu/academics/rese.... I get paid to come up there, harrass you, not melt from heat over the summer, and research stuff.

While I'm on the subject, let me just stress the following: Physics pwns computer science.

Kthxbye.

Re: What I’ve Been Up To:

Mike — Mon, 16 May 2005 15:02:14 -0000

Sad.

Re: The State of All Things Minor

Mike — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:54:28 -0000

Hmm. Apparently IE sucks even more than I had previously thought. In the bowels of North Campus, I have attempted to use IE, and instead of viewing your site, it tries to download something.

SPOOOOOKY!!!!!!

Re: Internet Explorer Problem

Mike — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:40:14 -0000

OMG WERKS!!!1

Do you understand the irony in the fact that I, a linux commie, am the one verifying that your site works with IE now?

Re: Battlefield 2 - The Future of Gaming?

Mike — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 10:49:02 -0000

In response to the hardware problems, this is yet another sign that PC gaming may be nearing its end with the launch of the next generation of consoles. The problem with PCs is that the hardware (even when it's top of the line) isn't meant for gaming alone. You still have lots of other crap running. The next gen consoles should be able to easily outpwn any PC game just by the shear awesomeness of the hardware alone (at least as far as XBox 360 and PS3 are concerned).

Don't get me wrong, I still like PC games better (for the most part), but as consoles get better, it seems like the PC games just get worse in terms of performance.

Re: Battlefield 2 - The Future of Gaming?

Mike — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:21:04 -0000

Whatever. If you actually read my comment, and decided to actually comprehend it, you would have seen that I did say "may." Details, yes, but you apparently missed my point.

PC games aren't at their end, but they could be nearing it. But this is mainly only if the hardware doesn't keep up with the games (or perhaps it's just poorly written software... I really don't know what the deal is).

Re: The Death of the Death of Game Criticism

Mike — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:39:55 -0000

@Jim Croche:

It really, really isn't worth pointing out that it isn't worth pointing out that it’s worth pointing out that if you have an article entitled “The Problem with Games Journalism,” then the tagline of your site best not be “Independent game journalism.”

In fact, it's so not worth it that I question your very existence, because I cannot even begin to fathom someone so utterly and completely worthless as you yourself must be.

Good day.

Re: His arm didn’t fall off

Mike — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 13:40:00 -0000

Rob,

Did you watch all the new conditioning stuff they did yesterday? If so, who stood out (good or bad)?

Re: The Ides of Manny

Mike — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:55:00 -0000

Rob,

Shelly beat me to my question. How does Mirabelli look given his contract incentive to stay in good shape?

Re: The rear-view mirror

Mike — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 03:05:00 -0000

Rob,

I don't even know which kids are in minor league camp. Do they all go there (besided the ones playing in the Dominican)?

First, is there any prospects you've seen that have caught your eye in minor league camp, or perhaps you've heard some buzz about from a source?

I'd love to hear about anything you know about anyone really, but some names I am curious about...

Pitching, Pitching, Pitching!!

- Clay Buchholz (of course)

- Michael Bowden

- Daniel Bard

- Bryce Cox

- Justin Masterson (starter this year)

- Felix Doubrant

- Caleb Clay

As for hitters, I'm wondering about Jed Lowrie. He seemed to grab some people's attention last year in camp (Francona), but had an up and down year and is looking to bounce back.

...but really, anything about any of the young kids would be great.

Squeeze those sources for info!

Re: Manny has arrived

Mike — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:26:00 -0000

Rob,

Any word on how Matsuzaka looked pitching to Manny?

Re: Clearing it up with McLeod

Mike — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:38:00 -0000

Hello Rob,

Here's a few question. Maybe you can pick one or two -

1. Daniel Bard - Great arm, but what secondary pitches will he be working on in his first season of minor league action?

2. Michael Bowden - has the organization ever had the urge to re-make his unorthadox delivery?

3. How badly did you cringe when the Red Sox had to give up the 20th pick in this year's draft to sign Julio Lugo? (not that signing Lugo was a bad thing)

4. Has Jason Place made changes to his swing, and how has he adapted to those changes?

5. How does the elimination of "draft and follow" effect how teams will draft from now on?

6. Do the Red Sox regret not signing Pedro Alvarez (the likely #1 pick in the 2008 draft)?

7. Justin Masterson will be a starter this year. Did you envision him becoming a starter when you drafted him?

8. Lars Anderson. We've heard guys like Jim Callis rave about him before he has even played a game. What can you tell us about where he is now, and what his potential is? btw, how did Lars enjoy taking BP vs. David Wells out in Oakland before he signed with us?

9. Will you be aggressive in signing your draft and follow kids (Brandon Belt, etc.) now that the draft and follow process is being eliminated?

10. Which High School kid that you drafted this year... is the most advanced and most ready for facing advanced minor league action?

Re: Clearing it up with McLeod

Mike — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 01:08:00 -0000

Hell, I may as well throw a few more out there...

11. Which kid from this past draft do you feel like you absolutely stole.

12. (crazy question) Given the trade value and scarcity of great pitching, I would be tempted to draft nothing but pitchers. Am I wrong?

13. Kris Johnson. Super-Skinny kid. Does he need to put on some serious weight?

14. Last year you broke up the USA into 4 zones, and also gave your scouts a video camera so more people could "cross-check" a kid. How much help has that been to you?

15. I'm amazed at how fast the picks are made during an MLB draft (even in the first round). When you sit down for a draft, how do you lay out what you are going to do? In the NFL, a team might have a value board and take the highest ranked guy on the board. Do you work similarly?

16. Do you discuss "signability" with every player you draft, before you draft them? Do you already know that a kid like Lars Anderson is going to fall that far before the draft begins?

17. Is Caleb Clay ok? I heard he didn't pitch after he was drafted, because of a tender arm.

18. Kris Negron - really stood out in Futures at Fenway game. Are you hopeful he can stick at SS if he makes it to MLB?

19. I'm going to bed.

Re: No holds for DeBarr

Mike — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:28:00 -0000

Rob,

We've heard alot about John Farrell... what's up with Dave Magadan?

Re: Chatting away

Mike — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 12:56:00 -0000

Rob

Don't have anything real insightful to add, just wanted to thank you for writing such an insightful blog. I heard about you a couple of weeks back on SoSH and have been looking every day, awesome read. You're on the top of my favorites list and the first site I visit every day. Keep it up!

Re: March moodiness

Mike — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:43:00 -0000

Rob,

I have 2 questions.

1. Have you heard anything about Dave Magadan so far?

2. The Todd Helton saga a while back. Are Red Sox fans correct in believing Charlie Monfort & the Rockies have acted like total idiots? It seems they leaked the names, and have been talking in the press as if the Red Sox are evil and to blame for everything the did/didn't happen during those talks.

Re: I can’t keep up with Curt

Mike — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:17:00 -0000

What do you think about the Derrick Turnbow Rumors? I'd love to see them get a deal done, the kid saved 39 games with a 1.7ERA the year before last. The Brewers already have a closer, which makes Turnbow expendible.... we really should be pursuing that option IMHO.

(I LOVE the blog, keep up the great work!)

Re: Don’t count on Lidge

Mike — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:43:00 -0000

The Red Sox are doing what they should be doing. Scouring the reliever market for any possible option.

Re: It’s true

Mike — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:01:00 -0000

Great move - a needed move.

Re: It’s true

Mike — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:56:00 -0000

I like the idea of Paps as the closer but for the wrong reasons. He is lights out and the front line up is killer already - I bet the other starters are happy to know he is going to be there and save their wins. Add to that the idea Lester will probably be ready by the All Star break (not to mention Clement, who could turn out to be healthy and ready for some action) and this gives the club a lot of options.

M

Re: Found in translation

Mike — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:58:00 -0000

Rob, long time reader, first time commenter here. Just wanted to say that this is the kind of stuff Red Sox fans have been starving for. Today's description of the lunch with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima was great reading. I'm looking forward to reading your blog once the season starts.

2 Questions for you:

After being around the relief pitchers through the spring, where would you slot Okajima among the other relievers?

Is there any one arm in the 'pen (besides Papelbon) that stood out over the others?

Re: What to make of it

Mike — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:18:00 -0000

No need for Rob to answer that one, the rotation has been set for a while. Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Wakefield, Tavarez and apparently the Sox won't be skipping starters with the off days. So, we should see Beckett tomorrow, Matsuzaka Thursday, Wakefield Friday & Tavarez Saturday. That puts Schilling back in line to pitch Sunday night on ESPN.

Re: Matsuzaka over and out

Mike — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:01:00 -0000

Rob,

Don't forget he has a "tired arm".

Besides the pitching, the best part of this series was JD Drew offensively and defensively, along with Pedroia going 5 for 10 hitting lasers every time he puts the ball in play.

Re: This just in … Papelbon is good

Mike — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:28:00 -0000

A few factors contribute to Papelbon's unhittable nature. One is command. The ability to successfully work both sides of the plate at any time is a huge advantage for him, and any other pitcher for that matter. Second is the splitter. Same arm angle and look as the fastball, and the fact that he will throw it at any given time plays serious mind games with opposing batters. Third, much like Rivera, the intimidation factor plays an integral role in his success. Just like most fans know the game is over when the bullpen doors open in the ninth, or eighth, so do opposing teams. Barring injury, Papelbon has the stuff, makeup, and sttitude to close baseball games for a team many years down the road while cementing his legacy as one of the games best closers of all time.

Re: Ron Paul on the IRS

Mike — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:15:36 -0000

I agree with Kane (12-31-07) and maybe it's because that's all I have ever known. I don't mind paying my fair share because the money has to come from some where in order for the government to provide services and have a military. Obviously if we can maintain the same life style that we now have or better and not pay income tax that would be fabtastic but we need to see a plan and some results and not just talk.

Re: Loving the vimtutor

Mike — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:38:38 -0000

There's a dvorak/qwerty key binding for your vimrc at http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Using_Vim_with_the_Dv.... This way you can use dvorak for insert and ex, but qwerty for commands

Re: New Death Cab For Cutie – Cath (Live)

Mike — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:59:19 -0000

Is till can't get over how amazing the new Death Cab sounds!

Re: Thieves Target Xof1 Solar Car Team in New Orleans

Mike — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:48:38 -0000

I am from New Orleans and we are working to make sure that they leave this town with more than what they came here with.

Re: http://www.aeropause.com/2006/07/robots-play-tetris-too/

Mike — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:06:27 -0000

Useless but cool!

Re: http://www.aeropause.com/2006/07/console-interfaces-its-simplicity-stupid/

Mike — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:22:58 -0000

The PS3 interface looks terribly boring. You guys say the 360 interface looks like a cereal box. Well that retarded. So you'd rather have a boring stupidly layed out interface then one with colour and is customizable. I think you have to be a moron to not be able to figure out the 360 interface. This also might explain why you wrote this article in the first place.

Re: http://www.aeropause.com/2006/08/the-anatomy-of-a-fanboy/

Mike — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:26:44 -0000

Heh, nice article. Sadly true...

Re: Does Rolex make a Harley Davidson model?

Mike — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:35:30 -0000

You're looking for Harley jewelry? Good luck girlfriend.
References :

Re: Inauguration Day

Mike — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:27:02 -0000

Great post!

Re: Gunpowder River - Maryland Pictures

Mike — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 05:33:00 -0000

whoooa. will add it to my i-want-to-get-there-now list ;-)

Re: Is Your Knowledge Management Strategic?

Mike — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:29:00 -0000

Thanks for posting the summary. If you are interested in learning more, read my articles “The Strategic Advantage of Knowledge and Learning”, International Journal of Intellectual Capital and Learning, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2005, pp.1-20; "Rethinking the Knowledge-Based Organization", Sloan Management Review, Vol. 44, No. 4, Summer, 2003, pp. 67-71; and "Developing a Knowledge Strategy", California Management Review, Vol. 41, No. 3, Spring, 1999, pp. 125-145

Re: Last Listen 2007: Best Songs (#35, 28, 26, 19, 9)

Mike — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:02:00 -0000

You! Me! Dancing! is definitely my most played song of the year.

Re: Britney Spears vs Madonna – 4 Minutes To Break The Ice

Mike — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:37:24 -0000

It doesnt quite fit... idk if I like it every much

Re: New Missy Elliot! Viva Glam!

Mike — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:19:00 -0000

Fantastic. I don't know whether or not I want to shake my ass or hang myself.

Re: Congressman Asks Pelosi To Change Schedule So He Can Go To BCS Title Game

Mike — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:07:00 -0000

How terrible that these Congressmen might actually have to do their jobs instead of attending some football game. It's not like the economy is falling apart, or we're undergoing a transitional period, or there that there's an international crisis going on right now.

Did it occur to you that Congress should be doing nothing instead of trying to help? The notion that many Americans have is that government can fix the problems. However, didn't they create all of these problems?

There's no magic piece of regulation or legislation that can monetize more debt to get us out of our recession. It's that Keynesian thinking that got us into this mess. Nor is there anything they should be doing about Israel-Palestine, as we're just going to give reason or some twisted justification for terrorists to attack us when we inevitably explicitly support Israel.

Not to mention, the Big XII defenses suck and we all can't wait to see them exposed as frauds.

Re: Ra Ra Riot – Webster Hall, NYC, April 4 2009

Mike — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:34:40 -0000

great story

Re: Dead Space Launch Trailer is Hardcore

Mike — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:30:06 -0000

I LOVE a good trailer, and that was a damn good trailer. More games need to have this style! I remember Bioshock having good trailers as well, but this one felt very cinematic while still showing some great gameplay footage. Just awesome.

Re: Dead Space Launch Trailer is Hardcore

Mike — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:21:45 -0000

I've been playing it lately. My problem is the severe lack of spare time that I suffer. Games I'm currently "attempting" to play: Dead Space, Oblivion, Gladius, Naruto Accel, Twilight Princess, and soon Fable 2. The list just continues to grow... and god forbid I can ever afford a PS3!?!? MGS4, White Knight, Final Fantasy, Uncharted... Anyone wanna do me a huge favor and give me loads of cash so I can just play games instead of working?

Re: NXE Earlier Than Expected? For Some Of Us, Yes.

Mike — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:24:31 -0000

The blog post went up!

Re: Looking for Mirror’s Edge Time Trial Codes?

Mike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:09:25 -0000

Yeah I was sad to miss out on this too.. the demo was pretty sick, and I've heard the time trial is fun.

Re: NXE Preview Gets Second Round of Invites

Mike — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:22:10 -0000

Gah, I made it in the sign-ups, but didn't get tapped for wave 1 or wave 2. Nov 19th should arrive sooner. Don't know what I'm excited about, I don't have netflix lol.

Re: Golden Lancer & Hammerburst Giveaway!

Mike — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:51:29 -0000

URL:<a href="http://gearsofwar.xbox.com/photogallery/default.h... Photo's a bit dark but check out the headshot! Gamertag:SMOOTHnSHINY Hammerburst for me please.

Re: A Next Metal Gear Is…

Mike — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:25:23 -0000

The power icon makes me think PC RPG.

Re: Resident Evil 5: Is it Racist?

Mike — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:40:58 -0000

The game IS racist! It's racist against bad players. Have you played that demo? It's hard as hell! :P

Re: Half-Life 2 Gets Short Film-ified

Mike — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:45:49 -0000

Damn that was sickness. The acting wasn't horrible either, surprisingly!

Re: Resident Evil 5: Is it Racist?

Mike — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:56:40 -0000

Naturally, a game world's locals should correspond to the country. Wouldn't it be awfully strange to see "local" zombies of Japanese descent when a game is set in--oh I don't know--AFRICA? Of course, this fair-skinned Sheva is a curious argument, but I think Capcom placed her in the game to address the "racist" issue.

Re: No More RROD?

Mike — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:08:23 -0000

It's still hard to say for sure. Since Jasper is new, any definite information has yet to be collated. The last person to believe is anyone from Microsoft. Let's remember that this same company originally denied that RRoD incidents are "isolated" cases, then proceeded to extend the warranty of their console. Extended warranty is good, but let's not lose sight of what we consumers really want: a quality product that's worth our money. This may just be MY opinion, but I would rather have an excellent product with bad customer service than a bad product with excellent customer service.

Re: Resident Evil 5 Gets Limited Edition Red Elite

Mike — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:21:02 -0000

If it's the same price as a regular Elite, but you get all that!? It might just be time to upgrade my old 360...

Re: BioShock 2 Teaser Site

Mike — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:24:08 -0000

Would you kindly steal me the alpha copy of Bioshock2? Thank you, Jack.

Re: WCG’s Ultimate Gamer Hits Airwaves Tonight

Mike — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:58:24 -0000

Yeah.. I hate to say it, but you KNOW some of the female "contestants" are executive plants to raise ratings. Not saying that it doesn't work.. I want to watch it now, lol. But I remain suspicious until I see the episode. Film-room editing can hide a lot.

Re: Resident Evil 5 “Versus” Mode Revealed

Mike — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:52:52 -0000

I agree. If an already standardized component of modern console games is missing from the release, with a planned DLC, then it should be approached from a component perspective. If the DLC is available for $4 for players who want multiplayer, then the game itself should cost $4 LESS for those who don't want it.

Re: WCG’s Ultimate Gamer Hits Airwaves Tonight

Mike — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:28:42 -0000

After seeing the first episode, I'm slightly hooked. The dialogue is pretty bad with the hosts, but oh well. It's gaming on tv, how can we not watch?

Re: Toggle Compiz with Fusion-icon in Ubuntu 8.04

Mike — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:00:34 -0000

metacity --replace link that command to a keyboard shortcut and be done with it. metacity --replace && programname && compiz --replace allows you to run a program only after replacing the windowmanager with metacity and restore compiz after you are done using that program.

Re: Create a Bootable USB Drive the Easy Way in Ubuntu 8.10 | Tombuntu

Mike — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:51:24 -0000

usb-creator is absolute garbage. It's the same crap with those Python based utilities, time and again.
Flaky, incomplete, incompetent.

Re: Help Me Buy A Laptop!

Mike — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:05:09 -0000

gl Luis! I had a laptop stolen from me the night I did a whole bunch of recording on it. It's funny how most people's mentality is to blame the owner (like Dave is doing to you). Think of it as a new start!

Re: By Privatizing Infrastructure, ETFs Can Build Up Returns

Mike — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:12:29 -0000

I subscribe to ETFTrends email newsletter. Thank you for your service.
I realize you want to keep your articles short and to the point, however,
it may further benefit the reader if you outlined one or two key differences between the ETF's you are reporting on.

Mike

Re: When I will realize I'm a grown-up

Mike — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:28:55 -0000

Just passing by.Btw, your website have great content!

Re: Don’t Watch Nic Cage Movies - A Public Service Announcement

Mike — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:02:05 -0000

Haha love it, good find :)

Re: Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (Review)

Mike — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:10:00 -0000

'With a cool indie soundtrack' Only reason it got your tick of aproval :P.

Re: Australia (Reviews)

Mike — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:56:29 -0000

Nice review. The screen shots you have show off that blue screen look we were talking about, ah well still enjoyed it.

Re: Gossip Girl vs Chuck Music Showdown – Episode 1

Mike — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:17:00 -0000

Chuck man. Journey rocks

Re: Artists of change

Mike — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:55:28 -0000

Love it dude

Re: A Letter To Satan

Mike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:39:00 -0000

Actually i was thinking of that too.. maybe in the summer break i'll have A LOT OF projects hehe! but i dont think i can put it on film rigth now.. but feel free to use it, make them read it.. actually it was inspired by Blair Wingo's work. And true bes! I figured that instead of my ranting about salvation, why not expose my darkness so that God's light will shine, right? I have nothing to lose anyway.. technically speaking, im already dead to this world and alive in Christ.. shame and taunts would be laughable obstacles to the Spirit but of course.. it depends on God's grace..

God bless Bes! - Mike

Re: The Day The Lord Came

Mike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:41:00 -0000

You too my fellow vine branch!

Re: A Prayer From The Book That Started Puritanism

Mike — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:51:00 -0000

WOW!!! What a prayer! THIS is true prayer! God-centered with a deep understanding of man's case before the Lord, God's purpose, the Spirit's work on earth and most important of all, THE TRUTH as it really is.

JUST GREAT! Its been a while since I've seen or heard powerful prayers such as these..

I need to strengthen my prayer life.. please mark this Bes.. I want to read this prayer again..

Re: I had an "uneasy" experience this sunday.

Mike — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:40:00 -0000

Bes!!! what an article??!!!

I felt and saw the truth there..

You are now writing at a different level.. completely different from before!

And you sound like the materials we've been reading hehehe! parang aw pink na dating ha hehe!

keep it up! God bless!

Re: Trip to the Bookstore: "The Prosperity Bible"!

Mike — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:42:00 -0000

true.. sad but true..
i like yun post mo about your experience.. the offense was there but you were so tamed hehe! you sound like a puritan

God bless bes!

Re: Seeking Comfort where Comfort Cannot be Found.

Mike — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:57:00 -0000

well said bes..

God's holy and sovereign throne has become a call center..

People do not seek the Truth of Scripture nowadays then they wonder why such events are happening in their lives. I do not pretend to know the will of the Father but I do know that we need to first understand and accept the Truth before we can live by it.

Re: The Prayer of the Arminian

Mike — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:22:00 -0000

perfect! Arminians exposed!!! The prayer says it all! There is not way they can escape now.. this is a great reinforcement bes.. really great.. If God willing, and after I've fully established myself in our Church, I'll be sharing reformed theology, using these resources..

Amazing bes! God is amazing that He hath loved us!

want to emphasize this part:

ah! when they are preaching and talking very slowly, there may be wrong doctrine; but when they come to pray, the true thing slips out; they cannot help it.

Re: The Prayer of the Arminian

Mike — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:59:00 -0000

Well said bes.. well said..

As a former Arminian and also by obeserving modern-day Churches, most Christians fully accept the doctrine of predestination (I have never encountered one who doesn't probably because the Bible states it clearly from the old to the new testament), however, they still simply could not explain how predestination could occur when human will exists.

The people know the truth, but, like you said, they haven't given up wholly to it. And the truth really goes against our corrupted natures. Our vile nature will defend itself in an attempt to minimize God's sovereign grace simply because it could not accept the fact that it has absolutely no control.

The flesh wants control. The reason why Adam and Even sinned is because they "wanted to be god" which is synonymous to saying that they want absolute power, knowledge and control over everything else.

Satan, himself, in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 (Not sure though), wanting also to be "god" rebelled against the Lord.

Our natures simply do not want to be trampled on. We all crave for that dark sense of control. And as James said, sin is born when we become entrapped in our own evil desires. Indeed the first sin was born from such.

No wonder the world hates the Gospel. The Gospel will tell us that we're vile and that, unless God intervenes and draws us to Him by His grace, there will be nothing left for us but eternal torment.

If people would just wholly give themselves up to the Truth of our Savior and also with His irresistible grace, the Gospel will have more power in their lives.

The Gospel is really a message of hope, grace and ultimately, love. We are in a sinking ship and those that escape can only do so by His grace. Apart from that, there is nothing else but eternal condemnation.

This is Truth has to be known. Perhaps I'm gonna use these materials but first, by the grace of our good Lord, I've gotta preach the Gospel (again). Many of my brothers and sisters are not yet saved bes. They go to Church but you can see the spiritual famine brought about by these false fires inside them.

Lets continue praying for one another bes for the good of His Name, Kingdom and glory!

Re: A Cry For Revival In My Homeland

Mike — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:31:00 -0000

History clearly shows that whenever God's reign becomes dominant in a country (regardless of the persecution or poverty), there was always advancement.

The history of Christianity in America, Korea and Britain (esp the Elizabathan period) are just some of the examples

Like what many American Evangelists say, America's wealth is attributed solely to God's grace and work which empowered Christian citizens.

Sadly, that was decades ago. God's work in Korea was also a magnificent sight. Back in the Philippines, in the Bread of Life, Butch Conde often talked about countries much poorer than the Philippines but has surpassed us simply because the citizens have lived by God's standards, fully depending on His sovereign grace.

(PS I like what we're doing, intellectual conversations are simply rare nowadays haha!)

Re: A Cry For Revival In My Homeland

Mike — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:17:00 -0000

To be honest, in my high school days, I was a strong believer that man could be god or at least at the level of a god in this world.. what a joke! its a good thing God, by His mercy, took it as a humor or else I wouldn't be here right now lol

Wow!!! I didn't know your dad and Bro. Butch were close! that's great! yeah, im always praying for revival all over the world.. When God moves, grabe, cardiac arrest aabutin natin sa tuwa at kakapuri sa Kanya.. or yun mere fact lang na mawitness natin yun pag-galaw Niya among the nations is totally overwhelming.. to be honest, I haven't even finished one full documentary about God's revival in a specific country.. yun mga news lang na naririnig ko sa Bread grabe na sa bigat at talagang mapapaluha ka na lang ng may pagpupuri

(bes! remind mo ako next time lol public site pala to.. I shouldn't be taking in tagalog so they can also join the conversation, pasaway, ooops not again.. XD)

God bless sa dad mo! I'm praying for your family too

Re: Knowledge of the Holy

Mike — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:58:00 -0000

love it! awesome!

"We must take refuge from God in God."

Only God can satisfy His justice and He alone can please Himself.

To think that man on his own could please God is not only a denial of the true nature of man but also idolatrous as you put yourself in equal with Him,.. as if God needed anything from us.

Really great post bes! it straightforwardly proclaims the essence of God's holiness and the nature of His work ("to preserve His creation, He must destroy all those that threaten it").

Re: High Doctrine: God in the Applying

Mike — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:08:00 -0000

Wow! love the analogy of the horse and the rider hmmm.. I'm gonna use it..

"The cross of Christ is not put up there merely for every man to look at, and then left to chance as to whether men will look or no. There stands the cross free to every soul that lives, but, nevertheless, God has determined that it shall not be neglected."

This is why it is impossible to believe that man is totally free. If man really is free and can only be "encouraged" but not "driven", then the arminian must consider that there is a high possiblity (if not total) of the negligence of the Cross and Christ would have died in vain; His suffering would be futile and what's worse is, no one would even have understood His work!

God freely exercises His sovereign grace to maintain the "checks and balances" in His creations (not even a sparrow falls without God knowing or purposing! and we are worth much more than sparrows!). However, it does not mean that He has turn man into a puppet, rather He has "riden" man. If He desires to let go, man would fall. If He desires to pull, man would be restrained and corrected.

Oh! How wonderful that His grace keeps us safe!

Re: High Doctrine: God in the Applying

Mike — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:04:00 -0000

Another reason why people find it hard to believe to sovereign grace of God is that they think that God is violating their "rights" if He practices such sovereign actions.. but the truth is, on the first place, we had no right! No right at all! For if we had, we could have saved ourselves on we could, on our own, have the potential to choose God all the time.

Anyways, true bes! What kind of God would we have if He just leaves everything to chance? What kind of God would we have if He man makes the final decision and not Him?

anyways, we can write reflections about this. Starting may bes, it'll be our break, so i'll be making reflections on every post to reinforce the truth for our readers. Do you want my relfections here? Anyways, just decide when you see them.. I'll send you my gmail account and password in case you want to have access to my site or you want to "tweek" something..

God bless bes!

Re: A Cry For Revival In My Homeland

Mike — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:08:00 -0000

True bes.. agree.. sometimes Butch's anger and arrogance gets the best of him.. anyways, its really only God who can drive our pastors. All we can do is bend our knees and fall flat to our faces to beg for His mercy and grace.. We are really at His mercy..

Re: Knowledge of the Holy

Mike — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:11:00 -0000

same with me bes.. exams na din namin. But in His time, I will have time. And besides, He has given me something to do now.. check your mail bes later..

Re: What Does it Mean for God to be Sovereign?

Mike — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:24:00 -0000

What an exhortation of God's sovereign grace!

5 stars and one I-am-speechless award to you bes!

Re: Theology Matters

Mike — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:15:00 -0000

bulls eye! very straightforward! brief but has all the nuggets that a Christian would need to know in the importance of theology (or if i may correct my self, not just importance but the necessity of theology!)

--im gonna write a blog about this too..

Re: News//Random//Updates

Mike — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Bes! love this new site lay-out and opening words! thats right! spring break is COMING!!! raaaar! time to go devour all those nuggets in reformed books and puritanic teachings!!!! gaaaarrrr hehehe.. next week is my finals so please add that up in your prayers for me.. wonderful things are happening, I'll give you a short news feed on whats going on after my exams.. church newsletter was also a success..

God bless my regenerate friend!

Re: Theology Talk: Is Calvinism Dangerous?

Mike — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:21:00 -0000

good to have you back bro! let the comments begin! ^_^

bes? invite you're friends in multiply to comment here.. positive or negative LOL i'm desperate to share.. its been a while since i've shared the Gospel with someone.. hmmmmm.. not a good sign ^_^

Re: The Danger Of Theology

Mike — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:44:00 -0000

Jm I didn't put any tags.. I don't know what category should I put it under.. but its about humble orthodoxy although I didn't mention it.. to tell you the truth, humble orthodoxy bothers me because the Truth does not just result to humility but just wanting Him more than anything else and just falling on your knees without any care, right? but i can find not better term than humble orthodoxy and besides I know and understand that the connotative meaning of "Humble Orthodoxy" is not just limited to "humility". Reminder that I think you know already but I'll mention it anyway for our readers: humble orthodoxy can also destroy us if we confine humble orthodoxy into virtue.. man.. exactly how hungry is our flesh that it has to eat even the things that glorify God.. grrr hehe

Re: Have We No Tears for Revival?

Mike — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:01:00 -0000

I think the most important thing here in reference to humble orthodoxy is "before Jesus whipped, He wept". Preaching the Gospel comes not only with perspiration but also with tears of love for the people, and most importantly for the lowly Son who suffered, and died but rose again.

"A true man of God is heartsick and grieved towards the Church" -- Amen

Re: The Danger Of Theology

Mike — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:14:00 -0000

i cant click the link..

Re: The Danger Of Theology

Mike — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:46:00 -0000

oh.. found a link in new attitude that defines humble orthodoxy.. i think it was me who had a narrow idea about humble orthodoxy hehe i thought it was just being humble and committed to the Truth of God (most of the articles I read were about arrogance vs humility and love vs "i'm right and more doctrinally sound" so this was what I thought).. i didn't know it also means to live/represent the Truth; not redefining it but just living it as a means to the greater End that has no end

Re: Higher and Grander

Mike — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:10:00 -0000

Thanks also JM for posting this in our site..

Amen.. higher and grander..

Re: Your Real Competition Is Perception

Mike — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 05:43:19 -0000

Great thought provoking post John. Thanks. I have emailed the article to several clients to seek their feedback on my 'uniqueness'

Re: Is this the future of Nike+?

Mike — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:01:00 -0000

I heard that they were doing a deal with gym equipment companies as well to link all the data from the different machines

Re: A Cool CSS Effect - Dashboard [Updated x2]

Mike — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 09:09:26 -0000

z-index:20; is a bit overkill, don't ya think?

Re: T-Mobile reach 500k Web’N'Walk UK subscribers

Mike — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:55:40 -0000

its to slow i cant broudcast myself or watch videos on the internet with it or anything

Re: Do you think golf clubs these days are made for hitter not swinger?

Mike — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:34:23 -0000

New drivers tend to be very light. Heavy club heads feel like you can let them go easier, not "hold on" as hard. Try adding 2 or 3 strips of lead tape to the bottom of the club, see if that feels better.
My dad loves my old R7, its supper heavy. It had a big piece of lead tape and I added a 14 and 12gram weights, it also has a very stiff shaft. He hit heavy persimmon woods for 30+ years. After a while he took some weight off to help hit the ball farther. Lighter really does make the club move faster. But golf is all about feel. Try the lead tape, you can always take it off when you get more used to the new club.

Good Luck!

Re: Tryvertising - Give an apartment away for six months

Mike — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:20:00 -0000

Mark,

Great post.

I agree wholeheartedly with the comment: "It’s just like any other marketing or advertising, your efforts are not going to appeal to everyone."

I think the keys in using social media are authenticity and transparency. Audi is exercising both by accepting the fact that guy will be equally authentic and transparent. Ford is exercising both in what it is trying to accomplish with the Fiesta movement. I applaud them in spite of the fact that many people will take the "buying feedback" position and or spin it into something entirely different.

We live in interesting times.

Have a compelling day. M

This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://themarketingnerd.blogspot.com/2009/02/walkin-line.html?showComment=1234963200000#c688316669641216529" rel="nofollow" title="“Walkin' the Line” (http://themarketingnerd.blogspot.com/)">Tidbits from a Marketing Nerd

Re: Passion is Hard to Maintain

Mike — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:19:00 -0000

I'm of the opinion that periods of inspired webdev are akin to a really good wave for a surfer. Every so often, the circumstances (deadline stress, work, life, state of mind, time lost playing the latest game the night before) all align to produce that perfect hour whereby you crank out 300 lines of code and invent 2 new techniques that you add to your permanent nerd toolbox.

In my own life, those peaks are getting higher (ie, more magnificent crescendos), but they are still far between and punctuated by long troughs of distraction, garbage code, and hacks.

The various people who employ me, I hope do so knowing that on occasion, they get the benefit of my occasional peaks, and that it is marvellous -- and that even my troughs are not so bad usually.

Also, nobody will understand you in an empathic way, ever. Lesser programmers will envy your success and hear your words as boasts, greater programmers will think the code you write is toylike, and the ones on your level? well, you can never seem to tell who they even are... leaving a curious vacuum of no-peer-dom through which you toil alone.

And yet, those productive little peaks will be enough to draw you back, every time... for just one more dance up the mountain.

Re: Stress Free Productivity

Mike — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:20:00 -0000

for the more entrepreneurial:

www.workhappy.net

Re: NAMB’s retort to Business Week.

Mike — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:40:00 -0000

..."a better explanation is that brokers take advantage of this product's low, initial payment, and push it like car salesman with his four square worksheet."

Todd. That is some beautiful poetry right there. I used the same analogy a few days ago basically telling the consumer that "If they seem like a used car salesman, perhaps it is time to find another brokerage."

I am suprised NAMB would be standing up for this as opposed to condemning it, but none of us are in Harry Dinham's mind so who knows what the rationale is.

Re: Death Proof (2007)

Mike — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:05:00 -0000

Hello,

We would like to do an interview with you about your blog for

www.BlogInterviewer.com . We'd like to give you the opportunity to

give us some insight on the "person behind the blog."

It would just take a few minutes of your time. The interview form can

be submitted online at http://bloginterviewer.com/submit-an-interview<... regards,

Mike Thomas

Re: SARS

Mike — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 13:00:04 -0000

Jay's a faggit!!

Re: pmaCAST #7: The “Valentine’s Day 2009″ Episode

Mike — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:47:00 -0000

HA - you caved pma! I won't pretend I don't like this though.

Re: SARS

Mike — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 13:29:20 -0000

Amy's a slut

Re: SARS

Mike — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 13:29:24 -0000

Amy's a slut

Re: Photo Hunters #53 Hobbies

Mike — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:54:00 -0000

I tried this hobby as a kid but it didn't last. It sure is a neat hobby though. Good post for this weeks hunt.

Re: Tuesdays Don’t Exist

Mike — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 20:16:00 -0000

I like it. I've been confused by Tuesdays ever since I decided to be an artist. Trying hard to not be an artist any longer didn't help with the Tuesdays thing.

Re: Railings

Mike — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 13:32:00 -0000

Wrought iron? I thought that fence was made entirely of paint. That all I ever found digging and picking at it.

Re: Johnny Cash Likes My Song

Mike — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:39:00 -0000

You could do worse.

Re: Boris Johnson: Honest Conservative

Mike — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:43:00 -0000

For anyone who appreciates Boris and his jocular bumbling style, his mop haircut and his eccentric approach to public life and believes that this man can bring London deliverance from Red Ken, join this group.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2593996539

Re: Bird Photography Weekly #36

Mike — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:31:00 -0000

Great photo! I love taking pictures of geese in flight and, even better, landing.

Re: A Dog Day Afternoon

Mike — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 12:01:53 -0000

Abdul - I was the one who called in commenting about the numbers of dogs at Animal Control and how many of which are put down and about housepets being chipped in case a screen window pops out or someone leaves a door open then my phone cut off...

Unfortunately as much as I don't like meddling government micromanaging our lives, the Lowest Common Denominator among society pretty much requires micromanagement. I'm in favor of animal licensing - and perhaps fees can be levied to favor spay/neuter - very low fee for fixed animals and higher fees for intact ones. The only pets that IMO should be left intact are purebred pedigreed animals. There's too many animals that show up at Animal Control that end up being euthanized because of a lack of space ... now if only we could apply that logic to the Marion County Jail ...

Re: We Are What They Eat

Mike — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:06:22 -0000

I also have a Masters in Public Affairs and Communications and have taught the class for the past 5 years. So I know what's going on.

Re: A Public Safety Cut or a Freeze?

Mike — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:18:17 -0000

You know, every time you ask the goverment to do something for you, get your wallet out, because who do you think is going to pay for it? You and I are, that's who! I agree with Wilson46201. Firefighter scheduling is way outdated and needs revision. I'm all for cutting just about any of the goverments budgets if it's going to reduce the tax I pay. Being elected or appointed to office or getting goverment or civil service jobs shouldn't be like winning the lottery! And so many of those postitions and jobs are viewed exactly that way, because they provide way better pay and benefits, way beyond the general public. Retirement for the general working public has for many years been withdrawing from employer participation to more of the employee's responsibility, i.e 401k's, 403b's, IRA's, etc. It should be no less the same for politicians or goverment employees. They've certainly done this with Military pay and retirement, so why not the rest? I'm just using this as an example as Overtime isn't the only budget cuts that need made.
As far as abandoned houses, there are many different, creative ways to deal with those without asking the city to be responsible for demoing them! Again, everytime you ask the goverment to do something for you, get your wallet out!
And as far as freedom goes, everytime you rely on or want someone else to provide for your needs, your giving up control and your giving up your freedom! So it's no surprise people have been treated the way they have in these public hearings and town meetings, being thrown out for no good reason and such. We've all given up to much of our freedom to the goverment, expecting it to provide everything for us. We've given the goverment to much say and control of our lives!

Re: A Public Safety Cut or a Freeze?

Mike — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:18:24 -0000

Re: Yahoo Sees Advertising Slowdown, Share Price Drops

Mike — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:09:00 -0000

Call me a cynic, I believe the comments by the CFO and CEO are designed to drive the share price down to make the company more affordable to MSFT.
Executives of Y stand to make hundreds of millions upon any merger or buyout.
Crazy thought?

Re: Publishers to Spend Half Million Dollars on a Robots.txt File

Mike — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 22:24:00 -0000

Wow, someone talked them into that deal?
If people want to throw away money I'll take some.

Re: Ingenio to Provide Pay Per Call to Windows Mobile Search

Mike — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 06:04:00 -0000

Another brilliant idea from Google.

Re: PRWeb Stopping Free Press Releases

Mike — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 01:44:00 -0000

Ads on YouTube before a video plays is a given in time. I suspect some commercial categories will require a charge.

Re: Update: I’m on Chelsea Lately on Monday, May 26

Mike — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:37:00 -0000

Didn't they cut out the Friday shows (ala Daily Show and Colbert) a few weeks back? There just isn't the audience.

Give Chuy a hug for me.

Re: Rejected titles for Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mike — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:27:00 -0000

Those were great.

Hey Allison,

I didn't know Andy had the time to make 700-some fake Twitter accounts to make him look so cool. *grins*

Re: Calling all nerds: Can you help Anna figure out how to hook up her DVD player?

Mike — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:16:00 -0000

Those cables should do fine. The yellow cable will carry the video signal. The white and red carry audio signals. An s-video cable carries a video signal. You don't need both a s-video cable and a yellow cable.

If you plug all three into the DVD player and the back of the tv, it should work fine. Just match the colors.

Forget about the cable box, you now need to turn on the dvd player and the tv, then use the remote to select the side input. Press VIDEO or SOURCE button, it differs with different teevees. Then everything should work fine.

Re: Think you know me? Take the quiz

Mike — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:02:00 -0000

I did terribly but my name is Mike so I have a potential internet friend.

Should I say **SPOILER** before that?

Re: Say hello to my little friend

Mike — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:48:00 -0000

Phillip, appropriate after what happened today perhaps. Or how about Bo after the allergic garden?

Mike

Re: I turned 30!

Mike — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:17:00 -0000

happy belated birthday old man.
ZEP RULES!!

Re: Coming Home

Mike — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:20:00 -0000

As I've recently dived into the world of tv/video production software, I subscribed to this blog as a means to figure out what this xolo tv is. As it looks like a Dutch company, I was even more interested.. The blog has been very quiet, and the first post I get to see leaves me with more questions than answers (you feel betrayed?). Whatever is happening, I love the homecoming video so I'm glad I subscribed :) Family is everything, so enjoy your time. And please, one day tell me what the heck is going on will ya?

Re: Theory11 Bicycle 909 Centurions Cards CLUES

Mike — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:04:00 -0000

to get to the 4th page it has to do with edition.909_+_ in the source code and you have to reverse it i've been told

Re: Theory11 Bicycle 909 Centurions Cards CLUES

Mike — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:52:00 -0000

ive gotten stuck on http://www.theory11.com/909/edition/

Re: God Smiles on Talor Battle, PSU WINS!

Mike — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:08:11 -0000

nice article

Re: CPA Exam: AICPA says July/August were best months to take exam in 2007

Mike — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:05:00 -0000

It is because most of the CPA exam takers currently work in CPA firms, for which Jan - March is the busiest of times, therefore less time to study.

Re: CPA Exam Rants: April/May 2009 Window

Mike — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:34:47 -0000

Anyone have an estimate when BEC will be out in NY?

Re: CPA Exam Rants: April/May 2009 Window

Mike — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:03:11 -0000

BEC IS OUT IN NEW YORK

85 :)

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May Window - Wave 1

Mike — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:49:38 -0000

Thanks for the info on REG. I am waiting for REC too, checking the site every 5 minutes...So when do you think it will be showed on NASBA?

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May Window - Wave 1

Mike — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:57:18 -0000

Thanks Jeff. BTW, great website! I love it.

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May Window - Wave 1

Mike — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:06:56 -0000

cpa_hopeful,
Sorry, it's typo. I passed BEC. I am waiting for REG, and planning take FAR in July.

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May Window - Wave 1

Mike — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:01:29 -0000

Waiting for REG too, no score came out yet. Will it be out tonight?

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May Window - Wave 1

Mike — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:14:44 -0000

Thanks. Ok, I better stay away from the computer before I go crazy.

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May Window - Wave 1

Mike — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:52:36 -0000

Cherly_csr，
I am with you. I took REG 4/1, and still waiting for score. I failed in FAR once, 65; and couldn't concertrat, which I know I have to.

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May Window - Wave 1

Mike — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:26:58 -0000

NASBA REG is up. I just got my score on their website.

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:06:14 -0000

anyone in MA hear about BEC yet? The suspense is killing me!

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:05:43 -0000

no NY BEC for me yet... geez

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:40:01 -0000

whoo hoo, BEC 78! 2 more to go.

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:44:19 -0000

ma bec is up, 82! wahooooo, good luck to all!!!

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:37:31 -0000

Say you took a part of the exam on 4/1 and you did not receive your score in Wave 1. Does that mean anything? Does having to wait until Wave 2 indicate a lower or closer to 75 score? Or is it all random?

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:33:27 -0000

Waiting to hear about AUD?

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:54:33 -0000

Are there only two waves of score releases? Just wanted to be sure that I am not waiting for a release in vain. I took AUD late May.
Anyone know?

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:03:59 -0000

Thanks, I took my test in Utah.

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:44:31 -0000

Any word on the AICPA release of AUD?

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:20:28 -0000

I actually took REG back in November...was 100% sure I failed, in fact...I continued studying for it JUST in case...score came back an 86

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:40:45 -0000

Any word on the AICPA release of AUD??

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:06:41 -0000

Is it looking like AUD will not be released by AICPA until tomorrow? When are the cutoff times? What has been your experience in the past Jeff? Should we still have hope to have our scores posted by NASBA for AUD tomorrow??

Re: CPA Exam Score Release Predictions - April/May 2009 Window - Wave 2

Mike — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:24:01 -0000

Any updates on AUD???

Re: Θέλω χάρη

Mike — Wed, 03 May 2006 18:50:00 -0000

Σοφία, δεν έχουμε γνωριστεί κι ας σε διαβάζω τακτικά, όπως άλλωστε και τα άλλα blogόπαιδα.
Επίσης δεν έχω ιδέα για τι μιλάς και ποιο είναι το πρόβλημά σου καθότι νέος, μα πολύ νέος στο αντικείμενο (για την ακρίβεια, στο κείμενό σου οι άγνωστες λέξεις ήταν πολύ πολύ περισσότερες από τις γνωστές).
Άρα βοήθεια από μένα δυστυχώς yok.
Είδα όμως ότι με το δέλεαρ των ροξακίων πήρες αυτό που ήθελες.
Μπράβο!
Εγώ τώρα, ο ανειδίκευτος εργάτης, τι πρέπει να κάνω για να έχω μερίδιο στα ροξάκια;

Re: Λονδρέζικο αζ μπέτερ*

Mike — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:26:00 -0000

Πέντε (μετράω για δύο). Άντε καλά, τέσσερις.

Re: Είμαι διχασμένη η ξενιτεμένη

Mike — Tue, 09 May 2006 19:52:00 -0000

Σκέψου να ζούσες και να δούλευες πίσω στην πατρίδα. Πόσες φορές θα εκνευριζόσουνα και θα σιχτίριζες κάθε μέρα.
Δε νοσταλγείς την Ελλάδα. Νοσταλγείς τις αναμνήσεις που κουβαλάς μέσα σου.
Ακόμα κι αν γυρίσεις αύριο, μη νομίζεις ότι θα βρεις αυτό που έχεις στο μυαλό σου.

Re: Πουτάνα μνήμη…

Mike — Wed, 10 May 2006 00:46:00 -0000

Εσύ που είπες ότι "... θα διαβάσω. Δε θα γράψω. Θα θυμηθώ. Δε θα γράψω. Δε θα γράψω.
Θα έχω επιλέξει το χειροπιαστό - από το νεραϊδοφτιαγμένο..." έγραψες το σημερινό blog;
Tι να πούμε κι εμείς οι απλοί θνητοί;

Η μνήμη μας στοιχειώνει.
Μας παρηγορεί και μας πληγώνει.
Μας κυνηγάει όταν είμαστε μόνοι και μας σημαδεύει όταν της γυρίζουμε την πλάτη.
Ξυπνάει τα φαντάσματα και αφήνει βαθιά το αποτύπωμά της πάνω μας.
Η μνήμη μας είναι εμείς.

Re: Η Γενιά της Κούρασης

Mike — Wed, 17 May 2006 19:33:00 -0000

Ναι, έχεις δίκιο.
Και εμένα μου τη δίνει το στυλάκι "βαριέμαι να σε κοιτάξω - δε σου ρίχνω ούτε μισή ματιά - είμαι ευτυχισμένος μέσα στην αποχαύνωσή μου - είμαι cool μα πολύ cool - σε γράφω στα τέτοια μου - είσαι ένα μηδενικό - εγώ είμαι γενικώς απο πάνω - φοράω γιαλιά ηλίου μετά τις δέκα το βράδυ - κλπ, κλπ, κλπ"
Τι έγινε η ζωηρή και ζωντανή γενιά μας;
Μήπως αυτή η νεότερη γενιά τα έκανε και τα είδε όλα νωρίς και τώρα δεν έχει ενδιαφέρον για τίποτα;
Θα μιλήσω σαν παλιομοδίτης αλλά προτιμάω τη σκανταλιά από τη βαρεμάρα.

Re: Η “άλλη” άποψη για την γενοκτονία - UPDATE

Mike — Mon, 22 May 2006 20:32:00 -0000

Συμφωνώ με Zavalo γενικά.
Όλως λέει και πολύ απλά απλά ο λαός, μονός καυγάς δε γίνεται. Σε έναν πόλεμο ποτέ κανένας δεν είναι 100% ο καλός και ο άλλος 100% ο κακός.
Έχει κανένας αντίρρηση ότι κατά τις διάφορες στρατιωτικές αντιπαραθέσεις γίνονται βιαιοπραγίες και από τα δύο μέρη; Μόνο στις αμερικανικές ταινίες οι Αμερικάνοι είναι πάντα οι καλοί και οι "βάρβαροι" οι κακοί 100%. Τώρα το ποιος έχει το περισσότερο άδικο δε μπορώ να το ξέρω από πρώτο χέρι, καθώς (θα συμφωνήσω με zavalo και πάλι) στατιστικές βασισμένες σε αριθμούς σχεδόν ενός αιώνα (και μάλιστα της Ελλάδας του τότε) δε στέκουν.
Είμαι σίγουρος ωστόσο ότι πολλοί απλοί άνθρωποι σφαγιάστηκαν γράφοντας τραγικές μικρές ιστορίες που ποτέ δε θα μάθουμε, πολλές γυναίκες βιάστηκαν και πολλά χωριά κάηκαν μεχρι θεμελίων. Και ό,τι ήταν Ελληνικό εκεί τώρα πια χάθηκε.

ΩΣΤΟΣΟ...
ΑΝΑΡΩΤΙΕΜΑΙ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΕΧΟΥΜΕ ΠΡΟΒΛΗΜΑ ΜΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΤΟΥΡΚΟΥΣ ΜΟΝΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΤΕ ΜΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΙΤΑΛΟΥΣ Ή ΤΟΥΣ ΑΙΓΥΠΤΙΟΥΣ Ή ΤΟΥΣ ΒΟΥΛΓΑΡΟΥΣ Ή ΤΟΥΣ ΓΙΟΥΓΚΟΣΛΑΒΟΥΣ Ή ΤΟΥΣ ΑΓΓΛΟΥΣ Ή ΤΟΥΣ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ ΚΑΤΕΧΟΥΝ ΟΤΙ ΠΡΙΝ ΑΠΟ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΗΤΑΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ Ή ΠΟΛΕΜΗΣΑΝ ΕΝΑΝΤΙΟΝ ΜΑΣ(ΚΑΤΩ ΙΤΑΛΙΑ, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΕΙΑ, ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ, Α ΒΑΛΚΑΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ, ΚΥΠΡΟΣ, ΚΛΠ, ΚΛΠ, ΚΛΠ).
ΓΙΑΤΙ ΟΙ ΤΟΥΡΚΟΙ ΕΧΟΥΝ ΜΕ ΟΛΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΙΤΟΝΕΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΙΣ ΜΕΙΟΝΟΤΗΤΕΣ ΣΤΟ ΕΔΑΦΟΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΕΝΟΠΛΕΣ ΣΥΓΚΡΟΥΣΕΙΣ;

Γενικά δεν πιστεύω στην ανωτερώτητα ή στην κατωτερώτητα των λαών, αλλά περιμένω απάντηση.

Re: Η “άλλη” άποψη για την γενοκτονία - UPDATE

Mike — Mon, 22 May 2006 20:37:00 -0000

Και για να τελειώνω, δε θα συμφωνήσω με Zavalo ότι η λέξη "προδότης" ταιριάζει στο Βενιζέλο γι απολλούς λόγους.
Δύο πρόχειροι:
1. Τα κίνητρά του δεν ήταν ιδιοτελή.
2. Είχε όραμα (νομίζω ο μόνος πολιτικός με όραμα της σύγχρονης Ελλάδας, από όσο θυμάμαι).
Δέχομαι ωστόσο ότι έκανε λάθη.

Συγγνώμη για το μακύ comment, Σοφία, αλλά ξύπνησε το κτήνος μέσα μου.

Re: Η “άλλη” άποψη για την γενοκτονία - UPDATE

Mike — Mon, 22 May 2006 23:06:00 -0000

Σοφία:

Σαφώς και κανένας λαός δεν είναι γονιδιακά χειρότερος. Κάποιοι λαοί όμως λόγω συνθηκών (και όχι γονιδιακών παραγόντων) παρουσιάζουν ιδιαίτερη συμπεριφορά.
Παράδειγμα: Θυμάσαι τους πρώτους Αλβανούς στην Αθήνα μετά το πρώτο μπαμ στη δεκαετία του '90; Δε λέω ότι είχαν χειρότερα γονίδια, αλλά ήταν καταπιεσμένοι, στερημένοι και πολλά άλλα και έκαναν (και μερικοί κάνουν ακόμα) ό,τι έκαναν.

Ειδικότερα για τους Τούρκους, επίσης δεν πιστεύω ότι έχουν χειρότερα γονίδια από τον υπόλοιπο κόσμο. Ξέρω μερικούς Τούρκους στο Λονδίνο και σε διαβεβαιώνω ότι τους προτιμώ από πολλούς Έλληνες. Πες μου ειλικρινά όμως, αν μπορούσες να διαλέξεις ποιους θα διάλεγες για γείτονες της Ελλάδας, την Τουρκία ή π.χ. την Αίγυπτο (επίσης μουσουλμανκή χώρα);
Δεν ξέρω αν φταίει η πολιτική ή το μίσος που διδασκόμαστε από τα σχολεία κιόλας ή ο φόρος που πληρώνουμε σε ζωές νέων ανθρώπων τακτικά (ΒΛΕΠΕ ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΟ ΣΥΜΒΑΝ ΣΤΟ ΑΙΓΑΙΟ), αλλά πιστεύω ότι η γειτνίαση με αυτή τη χώρα μας έχει πάει πίσω (στρατιωτικές δαπάνες, ανάγκη στρατιωτικής θητείας, διπλωματικό μειονέκτημα σε διεθνές επίπεδο κλπ).

Όσο για τον Ατατούρκ, θεωρώ τύχη που υπήρξε κι αυτός γιατί αλλιώς δε θα είχαμε να κάνουμε με μια χώρα που προσπαθεί τουλάχιστον να λέγεται Ευρώπη, αλλά με κάποιο θεοκρατικό ή δικτατορικό καθεστώς (τύπου Ιραν - Ιρακ κλπ) και τα πράγματα θα ήταν χειρότερα.

Όσο για τους Τούρκους των Δυτικών παραλίων, σε διαβεβαιώνω ότι λατρεύουν τους Έλληνες καθότι Έλληνας σημαίνει ψώνια, εμπόριο και χρήματα. Ξέρεις πόσα καραβάκια τη μέρα φεύγουν από το Βαθύ Σάμου για απέναντι; Μεχρι εκεί όμως.Δεν είναι και πολλοί αυτοί που παντρεύτηκαν Τουρκάλες ή Τούρκους - δε φτάνει μεχρι εκεί η Ελληνοτουρκική φιλία, ούτε έφτασε ποτέ.

ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΣΜΑ: Γενετικά δεν είναι χειρότεροι αλλά κάτι φταίει - πιθανώς η πολιτική ή η παιδεία τους. Όσο για τον Εθνάρχη τους, ευτυχώς κι γι' αυτούς και για μας που υπήρξε.

Και πάλι sorry για το χώρο

Re: Η “άλλη” άποψη για την γενοκτονία - UPDATE

Mike — Mon, 22 May 2006 23:08:00 -0000

ZAVALE,
Κάτι ξέρεις και μας το κρύβεις
VIVA ESPANA

Re: Twitter Best Practices

Mike — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:21:00 -0000

George,

Thank you for answering the call to help those that don't know what they are doing wrong. Social Media is an artfully walked medium.

Re: Could Wheel of Fortune Change More?

Mike — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 13:30:00 -0000

Re: GSN Programming Note:

Mike — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:04:00 -0000

Re: And fuck you, I like this chick’s music

Mike — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:49:00 -0000

Cool. Who is she? Definitely a few hints of Suzanne Vega who is just fantastic IMO.

Big Mike

Re: What Was That Closed Price Again?

Mike — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:56:03 -0000

Damn..and still no way to efficiently short this pig

Re: Not Worth Their '05 Prices?

Mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:52:12 -0000

Totally agree. There must be some balance.

Re: Not Worth Their '05 Prices?

Mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:58:57 -0000

You get it. Most don't. As you say, it must link to the economic reality of the property-not some falling knife comp. Try and catch it... In a lot of study of bubbles and taking part in the tech one as a an investor, they always go beyond what is rational. So when we hit this point, we still have more to go. Just how market psychology works. Nobody wants to admit it. Home prices are too emotional. Here comes '99. Nobody thought we would every see '05 in in MB. People are scrambling now. The banks are bankrupt, so no backstop there...

Re: When We Say Walkstreet...

Mike — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:48:35 -0000

200+ MB homes for sale (per Zillow)..and only 6 knife-catchers were found in the last 30 days?? LOL

Re: A Few Sat. Opens (4/11)

Mike — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:34:17 -0000

Quick Zillow search shows 125 units for sale in 90266..3 sales in the last 30 days.

Re: Tough Deals

Mike — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:32:37 -0000

$300 a foot for sloped three level makes sense, if anything it might be north of that. I contemplated doing a three level house 3 years ago, but the costs were too high. The architect that I was getting an estimate from said $400, but my lot is narrow and construction costs were much higher then.

Re: Pay it forward

Mike — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:59:00 -0000

Thanks guys! It's an awesome release and I'm glad I could help. You've made the best album design experience I've ever seen, and I'm excited to see it hit the big 1.0 milestone.

Congratulations!

Re: Urban Jacksonville goals for year #2

Mike — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 11:14:00 -0000

i'm a jacksonville blogger and i love your site. i've even got you linked up. i have two blogs, one for music: gottobeachocolatejesus.blogspot.com

and one for film:
mikeflicks.blogspot.com

keep up the great work!

Re: Urban News and Linkage

Mike — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:23:00 -0000

thanks for the link up! and congrats on the newspaper deal, that's great news!

Re: Iceman Turns cold

Mike — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:53:50 -0000

when are you putting up photos from the beach party?

Re: Iceman Turns cold

Mike — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:54:38 -0000

I mean the pool party

Re: Let’s do a poll

Mike — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:30:09 -0000

sucks about the hand brotha...

you still aint never posted dem pictures of them fine ass girls at the fight

Re: First ‘Cloverfield 2′ Photos !?!

Mike — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:32:17 -0000

I plugged the coordinates that are on the first pic in the bottom right hand corner into google earth and the coordinates are pretty much right in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean in between North America and Europe. Maybe that's where the monster was first hatched? I dunno.

Re: Paul Walker Confirms Fast & Furious 5

Mike — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:07:05 -0000

this movie was awsome

Re: Thankful Thursday

Mike — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:11:00 -0000

Now that is pretty funny stuff, with the car at least. I have locked my keys in my car two times in the past 3 weeks i think. Once with it still running. It must run in the family! Ha! Thanks for reading the poem!

Re: Assignment Tracker [Updated 0650 1/30/07]

Mike — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:42:50 -0000

I found that pword too, but bennet/GGeh81zu doesn't work for me when I click C3004?

Re: Shaw Brothers classics premiere on Kung Fu HD

Mike — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:45:25 -0000

I gotta clear my DVR woo-hoo

Re: In uscita Sabato le Nike più attese dell’anno

Mike — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 08:06:28 -0000

Girano voci che tra poco viene Michael Jordan a Milano....Fo' real!

Re: Renzo Rosso

Mike — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:35:51 -0000

sei un grande un renzo!!!

Re: PIG Magazine 54

Mike — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:55:56 -0000

ho perso PIG di Agosto...qualcuno puo dirmi quali sono i modelli degli orologi Casio di cui parlano in un articolo?!
comunque gli Shitdisco are kunzt!!!

Re: Tying Tiffany

Mike — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:47:58 -0000

Avrà un bel fisico, ma di faccia mi sembra proprio un cesso!!!

Re: Windex colors

Mike — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 02:51:52 -0000

Hello guys, I work S.C.Johnson - A Family Company who just happens to make Windex. Mom is right. The colouring is basically a marketing ploy. But it does a couple of other things. It helps to tell the difference between the different kinds of Windex. It also helps the consumer decide when they need to buy more because it is easily visible when your'e getting low. And when it is on the gorcery shelves, it just looks more appealing. It draws the eye. I hope this helps you all. And yes Jason, there is a clear Windex. It's called No Drip Windex.

Cheers all

Mike

Re: Free ipods doesn’t seem like a hoax to me

Mike — Sun, 17 Apr 2005 19:00:27 -0000

If anyone is reading this, I'll give $5 via Paypal to anyone who completes an offer using my referral: http://www.FreeFlatScreens.com/?r=8341614

Re: Things I Didnt Know Before I Went to the Finger 11 Concert Last Night

Mike — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:13:00 -0000

Their original name was much better ... Rainbow Butt Monkey.

Re: Sick

Mike — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:55:00 -0000

Late Onset Albinoism is a side effect of using Vaxadrine in it's hair loss tonic capacity.

That's right ... Vaxadrine, the only Detox, Hair Loss, Skull Health medication recommended by Dr. Stephen T Colbert, DFA

(Warning Vaxadrine is HIGHLY addictive)

Re: Sick

Mike — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:38:00 -0000

I don't have a blogger account and the 'other' identity never seems to work for me. I have added the http:\\ part so maybe it works this time.

Anyway, it's PiratesAndNinja.com Mike. Obligatory friend of The Jorge.

Re: Peaches – I Feel Cream Album Review

Mike — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:30:27 -0000

Excellent CD. I'm not even a huge Peaches fan. I only wish I could make out all of the lyrics to the chorus of "I Feel Cream".

Re: Web 2.0, Bubble 2.0, Enterprise 2.0 – Differences and Similarities from a Marketer’s Perspective

Mike — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:15:00 -0000

All true. I don't think we'll see the same thing happen again. I do however believe that when the smaller dust cloud rises up and settles it will be the companies driven the technologies behid the scenes that make the second movement happen be the ones who survive. As before, the ones who deliver real business value to others and therefore themselves.

Re: How to Write a Social Media Press Release, Why, and What It All Means

Mike — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:42:00 -0000

Brian, is dark text on light background an idea you're considering? I enjoy reading the blog, and it's great to hear a strong voice in the hRelease/SMR discussion, but reading your blog actually hurts.

Re: You.tv

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:08:00 -0000

I agree 100%. Most people who have been quick to dismiss Justin.tv as a gimmick are not seeing the forest through the trees. This is a new medium with a lot of potential. Justin's show is really just an elaborate proof of concept of what can be done with this. And the part of this that really strikes me is the mobility. Streaming a fixed location is not compelling but being able to stream from anywhere is a game changer. And pretty soon it won't require carrying a backpack and sticking an obvious camera to a baseball cap. It will be a discrete, wearable camera and a transmitter the size of an iPod, like an iSight camera that you can wear.

Re: Top iPhone Applications for PR and Marketing Professionals

Mike — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:59:00 -0000

You just forgot AddFone.com
http://addfone.com

It is a search engine that has the largest database of iPhone related applications (twice the size of the second largest database - including Google).

You can search using powerful boolean expressions or using keywords like 'games', 'business', etc.

Users can add their own applications to the engine.

Re: The Future of the Press Release – Part II, It’s about people

Mike — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:56:00 -0000

I think that Erica has a great point. Perhaps the next segment can be on how to convince your client to give it a try.

Change is hard. It is natural to fear the unknown. So how do you convince a client that the with the world (literally) watching, you need to change?

Re: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, The Social Media Release is not a Meatball Sundae

Mike — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:45:00 -0000

Brian,

That's probably the best info I've read on the social media release. But what thing I've learned is what may be considered 'newsworthy' or not newsworthy is difficult to define. People have different interests at different times even if the PR topic is relevant to their needs or not. I have done tests with a number of PR companies for an Industrial Supply MRO site I manage and they all had different opinions on what a newsworthy release should be. Go figure.

Re: Keep on Rocking in the Free World – Why I Blog

Mike — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:41:00 -0000

Thanks for all your work, Brian. Your site is one of my favorite reads on the Web.

(And thanks again for ditching the white-text-on-black motif!)

Re: In Blogger and Media Relations, You Earn the Relationships You Deserve

Mike — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:54:00 -0000

Extremely helpful! This is a great summary. I spent many years in traditional healthcare PR, but am relatively new to the digital PR world. This post provides some solid direction on how to get things going and further supports my notion that we're all in this together and need to help each other to get the best results. For PR folks it's all about doing the homework and personalization, which isn't anything that new, but for some reason most PR folks don't do it and we're now at a point where it's do or die. Thanks Brain

Re: Online Reputation and Brand Management Starts with Identity

Mike — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:19:00 -0000

With online reputation tools like Rapleaf, RepVine, FriendFeed you can give your online identity a boost. With a consistent brand image across the web and a little upfront effort, the task of maintaining multiple profiles can be less tedious. Another option is to get your credentials verified online using free Crederity account

Re: Tragedy Befalls Highland High School Marching Band

Mike — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:23:44 -0000

i am a trumpet player in this marching band. when we found out what happened, we were all devastated. our hearts and prayers to their family. thank you for everyones support.

Re: LOTR Q

Mike — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 19:22:00 -0000

I could be wrong, but I think Saruman's power was greatly diminished when he lost his staff. That is why Gandalf was insistent about taking his staff into the hall of Theoden: without it, he would have be unable to do what he did.

Re: Web 2.0, Bubble 2.0, Enterprise 2.0 – Differences and Similarities from a Marketer’s Perspective

Mike — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:15:00 -0000

Re: How to Write a Social Media Press Release, Why, and What It All Means

Mike — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:42:00 -0000

Re: You.tv

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:08:00 -0000

Re: Top iPhone Applications for PR and Marketing Professionals

Mike — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:59:00 -0000

Re: The Future of the Press Release – Part II, It’s about people

Mike — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:56:00 -0000

Re: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, The Social Media Release is not a Meatball Sundae

Mike — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:45:00 -0000

Re: Keep on Rocking in the Free World – Why I Blog

Mike — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:41:00 -0000

Thanks for all your work, Brian. Your site is one of my favorite reads on the Web.

(And thanks again for ditching the white-text-on-black motif!)

Re: In Blogger and Media Relations, You Earn the Relationships You Deserve

Mike — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:54:00 -0000

Re: Online Reputation and Brand Management Starts with Identity

Mike — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:19:00 -0000

Re: .youGet What You Pay For*

Mike — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:34:00 -0000

Hello,you have an interesting blog, it is very good and i love it.

Re: Survival Tricks – Cheeto Fire

Mike — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:31:14 -0000

Loved your latest post, by the way.

Re: Festival Off!

Mike — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:48:17 -0000

Hell, I'm still going this year :D

Re: New Pepsi Logo Looks Like Obama Campaign Logo

Mike — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:57:47 -0000

It's a cross marketing effort. If you all looked in the background of all the celebs interviewed at these Inaugural Balls, you'll see "HOPE" with the New Pepsi Logo as the "O". I am sick to my stomach with this propaganda and marketing...I don't like what is happening here folks...

Re: What’s Your Biggest Question?

Mike — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:25:30 -0000

The biggest problem that I have is that I have great products, but can't get them to my website. I can't get listed on the search engines for anyone to find my products.

Re: What’s Your Biggest Question?

Mike — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:22:08 -0000

Hi Ryan,

Like a few others mentioned, I would like a behind the scenes look at how you do what you do kind of mixed with an updated version of your "Million Dollar Rolodex."

What kind of camera do you film with? What programs do you use on your computer to edit and create products? What do you use to make your cool ebook and DVD covers? What affiliate junction sites do you like? Who do you use to design your website? What autoresponder do you prefer?

All these little things could be answered by you quite quickly in a video or PDF, and would probably help us all greatly. A person could spend hours and hours trying to figure out the best cameras, software, websites, to use, etc., precious time that should be spent actually creating content.

Thanks for you great videos lately,
Mike Ross

P.S. What happened to Mr. G? Did he get laryngitis?

Re: Do Entrepreneurs need more help?

Mike — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 12:53:00 -0000

Yes, I certainly agree with what bl stated.

For a very good example, take a look at the business cultures in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the US. There are very few government policies that are targeted at helping entrepreneurs.

What is lacking in Singapore in my opinion is the lack of a risk-taking and can-do attitude in our culture. Also, Singaporeans tend to be more selfish and do not like to work together as a group, quite unlike the Japanese or Taiwanese.

Ultimately, the government can only provide the "hardware" infrastuture. The "software" aspect is one that we as a community need to cultivate.

This blog is certainly a good start.
Let us build on this.

Re: Recent Thoughts on Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM)

Mike — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 13:26:00 -0000

I would like to have seen a deeper study conducted on the social-cultural and political factors on entrepreneurial propensity in Singapore. To me, these factors play a much more significant role than infrastrutural or other business conditions in promoting entrepreneurs.

As a case in point, Japan has one of the lowest TEA ratings in the world. This is perhaps not surprising given that the society frowns on non-confirmists and the highly rigid social structures there.

A good point that is raised by Mr. Cheong is that entrepreneurs should learn not to be over-reliant on government policies or support. This is a skill that most Singaporeans lack, being "spoon-fed" from cradle to grave. In the global business environment, you have to be flexible and try to succeed inspite of any local government policies.

Re: Ride with the Marketing wave

Mike — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:11:00 -0000

This post has been removed by the author.

Re: Ride with the Marketing wave

Mike — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 14:35:00 -0000

Check out the blog post "How to Suck Up to a Blogger" by Guy Kawasaki.

The technology that Web 2.0 brings has definitely provided an exciting medium for viral maketing. As any good marketeers know, any product is only as good as its marketing.

The role that bloggers play in creating "buzz" and influencing consumer decisions is interesting. But as time passes, how often would bloggers remain true to their conscience? "Power tends to corrupt", so there certainly will be cases where once-trustworthy bloggers are influenced by the lure of money.

However, astroturfing is and will always be a danger to the integrity of the web as an information source. However, for every challenge, an opportunity awaits for companies that can audit, check against such abuses.

References:
Sun Microsystems: Blog Heaven

Re: How Do I Build an Online MLM Business?

Mike — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:42:59 -0000

imisidro has it right. I have a retail store, so in the about us on my site I mentioned that so that builds trust and your payment gateway method.
References :

Re: Vista Nightmare: The “Oww!” Starts Now

Mike — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:56:42 -0000

I just bought a new laptop from Dell, the website didn’t allow me to customise the OS so I phoned Dell and requested XP installed as standard unfortunately they said they can only supply Vista on the model I chose. I opted for a 9 cell battery having read reviews that it may last up to 7 hours, apparently these review were based on an XP operating system because my 9 cell battery only lasts 3 to 4 hour running vista and I wasn’t doing anything processor intensive with it either.

I am a graphic designer and 3d animator, so the real question for me is will Lightwave and Photoshop work under vista? And if so will it render 3d scenes slower than XP? Assuming my software will install and run under vista I’m going render out a scene using lightwave, then format the drive, install XP and render the same scene again. If the scene renders significantly faster under XP then I wont be using vista.

Vista seems to work ok if you only need to surf the net and type up your home work, but those users who use the cpu to it’s full potential are probably better off using XP. However as I have found the only way to know if Vista is for you is to simply test it out, find out if vista will do what you need it to do and them compare that to XP and then make an informed decision as to which OS works best for your own needs.

Re: The Sport Has Many Players

Mike — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:52:49 -0000

"B.T.W. naming PETA a terrorist group is a little embarassing. I'm not sure them sneaking into another country and freeing bunny rabbits is going to ignite the level of fear normally reserved for terrorists."

Posted by: K Ackermann | Jun 14, 2009 10:36:30 PM

You really need to watch the Penn and Teller on Peta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqlF2rvcYIs&feature=PlayList&p=89AD05CC54EDD41A&index=1

Re: John Stossel's Take

Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:13:49 -0000

Awesome! Just added him to my RSS feed. Thanks!

Re: Erasing All Data On Handheld

Mike — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:02:13 -0000

The above procedure for "Erasing all data on handheld" does not work for my Blackberry Curve 8310, v4.2.2.170.

1. You should mention that you have to go to the Settings folder to get to "Options".

2. "Security Options" is on the menu under Options, but "Wipe Handheld" is not an option under that, on my Blackberry Curve.

Re: Pepsi Samba Inspires Dancing Legs

Mike — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 22:48:00 -0000

I have the song i got it off a friend and rocks if you would like a copy i can send it anyone email me at mike_the_undertaker@hotmail.com and i will send it to you.

Thanks it was you guys who inspired me to look for it and Molotov rocks as well.
Thanks from Mike the undertaker.

Re: Get Firefox

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 10:57:00 -0000

Firefox rocks... I'm trying to convince my work to migrate to Firefox instead of IE. I was able to convert them to Thunderbird instead of Outlook. I'm using Firefox at home and it runs so much better than IE.

BTW, I had my kid about 6 weeks ago. You can see his picture on my site: http://neg99.bravejournal.com and click the Photo Album link on the left. They're listed in the My Family photo bucket.

TTYS.

Neg

Re: Help! Need to figure this one out.

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 16:29:00 -0000

I'm so moving to NZ to play with these toys ya'll have :-P

Re: "EXTREMELY CRITICAL" unpatched IE flaw

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 16:38:00 -0000

Should I even be remotely close to surprised?

I love how OpenSource is so much better than MS. Make's my life less expensive... It's like a car that never dies :)

Re: Help! Need to figure this one out.

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 16:41:00 -0000

I suppose rubber bands and bungee cords are out the question? hehehe... If there's a way, let me know. I'm interested in finding out :-D

Re: "EXTREMELY CRITICAL" unpatched IE flaw

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:06:00 -0000

Okay, maybe I worded my first comment incorrectly :-)

In many ways, OpenSource isn't as advanced as software like Office. The only part of anything MS I use is Excel, and that's because I have to. I need to be able to use complex formulas in cells that OpenOffice does not understand (which is fine).

What I meant to say is that I've never ever had a single problem with an OpenSource program breaking or making my computer even remotely vulnerable. I built a computer with WinXP (as my wife will not use Linux) and it was wormed in 3 days (I left it unprotected to prove a point to my wife).

How's that?

Re: Mwahahahah!

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:08:00 -0000

Nice!!!!!!!! It's like that local channel weather warnings (but I won't give a hint as to exactly what that means).

I need to migrate my stuff to blogger so I can do that too :-D

Re: Help! Need to figure this one out.

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:10:00 -0000

It may be cheaper here, but I have no one to use the expensive computer stuff with. It would be nice to have someone that knew what they were doing live close.

Re: Mwahahahah!

Mike — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:28:00 -0000

I can't do anything with my templates. I still plan on migrating over to blogger.. Just haven't had the chance.

I will definitely put that in. The more advertisement for Firefox, the better IMO!

Re: Mwahahahah!

Mike — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:00:00 -0000

Hah, consider it done.

Re: Help! Need to figure this one out.

Mike — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:12:00 -0000

Yes, of course I have ideas :) I'm hoping to set up a site to compete with IGN. I think that site is poorly constructed, etc.

Some day :)

I drool over hardware daily.

Lots of wishes but no $$$ to pay for it.

Backing that up would be fun! Admit it :-P

Re: Help! Need to figure this one out.

Mike — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 21:19:00 -0000

Its not just you. I tried while I was at work... Just couldn't keep going.

Re: Spoof game title :-)

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 19:31:00 -0000

Whoa! Where do I get a copy? :-P

Re: Linux is so much fun. ;-)

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 19:32:00 -0000

That screen shot is beautiful! Brings a tear to my eye! hehe I love Linux

Re: Lack of memory doesnt mean it didn’t happen

Mike — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 13:42:00 -0000

"Or Wayne and I making recycled paper and throwing it on to the ceiling where it stuck. And apparently it is still there to this day, 15 or so years later"

hahah!!! I just visited my school last week for a fund raiser and the paper wads and garbage we threw up to the ceiling in gym is still there. It's gross! haha

Ahh memories.

Re: Blogger errors causing me hell

Mike — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 12:52:00 -0000

Heh, the antivirus and firewall at work says there is in intrusion attempt from this site.. Unless I ignore it, I can't get access to this site.

It's fun.

Re: Does Bill Gates not know Google AdSense exists?

Mike — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:32:00 -0000

This coming from the same person who thought it was brilliant to release the XBOX360 6 months before the Playstation 3 would be released. He thought that if people bought the XBOX now, they'd have no reason to purchase PS3.

If I had the $$$, I'd purchase both. XBox is the only MS product I like. Then again, XBox 360's software has been buggy :)

Re: Coin on the Side

Mike — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 21:36:00 -0000

Looks like fun. I will definitely be reading your coin on the side blog to get some ideas. I may even get that going for myself and we can share thoughts, etc.

Here's a question for you... How is Google gmail? I've heard a ton about it, but never had a chance to use it. Should I be jealous? hehe

I'm trying out Google Earth tonight. Heard good things!

~m

Re: Woomba – The little pink robot that cleans your noony

Mike — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 16:31:00 -0000

The fact you call it a "noony" made me laugh before even seeing the video.

Re: Woomba – The little pink robot that cleans your noony

Mike — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 19:29:00 -0000

Hah! Even better!

Re: Hosts vs Sub Domains

Mike — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 19:41:00 -0000

Excellently done!

Re: GMail on your Cellphone

Mike — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:06:00 -0000

aw man, that must really be tearing you up... Especially since you LOVE cell phones, and Google.

Re: Updated: Its official – I’m going in to the web hosting business

Mike — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 16:07:00 -0000

Nice job! I love the look! I'll give you whatever word of mouth I can get. Some American money wouldn't hurt :) (That is if you accept USD) :-)

Re: Google caves in to TimeWarner

Mike — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 16:12:00 -0000

I saw this coming from miles away. The last thing I want to do is download and use google's freeware and have a large graphical ad on it for "6 Months of Free AOL".

Or "subscribe to AOL in order to use this software".

Re: TimeWarner talking exclusively with Google

Mike — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 16:49:00 -0000

C'mon, you have the admit that was an awesome quote. I'm glad they noticed it! See, your work does mean something, and it's always been a good read.

Me, on the other hand, is just lazy. By the way, when my blog is finished, can I link SCK Hosting on it? Give you some word of mouth advertising, which never hurts. :)

Re: Updated: Its official – I’m going in to the web hosting business

Mike — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 10:14:00 -0000

yes, it sure is!

Re: TimeWarner talking exclusively with Google

Mike — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 10:16:00 -0000

Don't worry about any affiliate program. I'm not here to make money :-P

Just giving a bud word-of-mouth advertizing!

Re: Google Bad. Me no like no more

Mike — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:58:00 -0000

Damn... What a crappy way of ruining a night.. Looks like you did find a replacement, though :)

Re: Google Bad. Me no like no more

Mike — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 21:58:00 -0000

That's great motivation :-P I would be pretty pissed off too if I were in your shoes. I'll keep an eye out too and let you know if I find anything.

I need to get my backside on the internet more.. I'm beginning to fall behind on reading up on new technology. I really need to find myself a new job. I can't wait until I move to California in July...

Re: Google Bad. Me no like no more

Mike — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:53:00 -0000

haha! We wouldn't be moving anywhere near the desert :-P We would be moving to the Napa region of California. Mmmmm wine!

Her dad lives there and we're moving there so he can help us get on our feet. And hey, if I get a really good job paying good money, there's all ready plans for a vacation to NZ :-P (Don't ask me how I talked her into that)

Re: Google’s SEC filing Re: AOL

Mike — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 15:15:00 -0000

There's still trouble there just waiting to happen, I think.

Re: Google’s SEC filing Re: AOL

Mike — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 20:34:00 -0000

Okay Big Stevie Cool... I set my own blog up on Blogger :P

And low and behold, my first article is about Microsoft!!! :-D

Re: New (sort of) blog

Mike — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 10:00:00 -0000

Thanks for the props! I'll be adding more stuff today. I couldn't get anything done this weekend. Then again, I could barely walk due to the Crown Royal... ooooo

Re: New (sort of) blog

Mike — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 10:03:00 -0000

Oh, and yes, EU has gone a little overboard, but you have to admit, it's hilarious watching MS squirm :)

Re: Reply to Rodney Hide’s loop unbundling comments

Mike — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 10:19:00 -0000

Go! Steve Go!

That guy seems to be a schmuck. I have to deal with those sort of issues here in Buffalo.

Re: Snowball Fight!

Mike — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 13:06:00 -0000

Ugh, I want to play Guild Wars so bad! I just can't afford it :(

Re: Snowball Fight!

Mike — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 15:55:00 -0000

I know that. Christmas made me broke. I can't afford to actually go out and buy the game :-)

Re: Save the Creative Commons this Christmas

Mike — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 12:20:00 -0000

That will really suck a big one if they close. I'm not looking forward to it.

Re: Whats wrong with this script?

Mike — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:17:00 -0000

This is why and how I never get through all the lessons of learning code :P

My wife would kill me because I do the same thing! (stay up all night thinking about it)

Re: Current JavaScript problem – Anyone have any ideas?

Mike — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 21:19:00 -0000

Hot Scripts

Try here... I get a lot of scripts from here... Not sure if there's anything there you're looking for.

Re: Creative Commons Saved!

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 21:10:00 -0000

YES! Eat me, Disney! lol

I can't believe MS did something good for a change... Will this be something MS does to try and win back the techies? lol

Re: Reason for the quiet time

Mike — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 10:41:00 -0000

I feel your pain. I'm going thru the same right now.

Re: Google Crazy… Absolutely Freakin’ Nuts!

Mike — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 16:43:00 -0000

Can I have the drugs he is on? I could use that kind of a high...

Re: Silent Hill : The Movie

Mike — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:36:00 -0000

Woo go War Pig!

I never liked Silent Hill.. In fact, I can't stand the game. But then again, that's just me.

Re: Police confiscate BOY RACERS Mercedes Benz

Mike — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:57:00 -0000

If you didn't read my blog article from Friday.. I bet this new US law beats your law by a bit. American government is full of morons. Oh wait, I may get arrested for that! Then again, this is a New Zealand blog, so I should be good!

Re: More on Guild Wars: Factions

Mike — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 18:20:00 -0000

Steve! Keep it in your pants before you make a mess! haha

I *will* get that game one day, if it's the last thing I do!

Re: GW:F client download and key available

Mike — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 12:30:00 -0000

Depending on how things go, I will be trying it out :) Maybe I can talk my wife into letting me get the game because she loves this genre of games.

*evil grin*

Re: Make your personal blog your own… Please.

Mike — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 12:49:00 -0000

I just haven't had the time lately to do anything with my blog. As it is, I barely like the scheme as it is. I just like the one I use more than any other one on the blogger site. C'est la vie though. I do have plans, I just can't at the moment (plus I'm bad at images) :)

Re: Artificial Consciousness? Simply put, impossible.

Mike — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 21:32:00 -0000

*scratches head*

...

Um...

Yeah, what Steve said!

Re: Recommended daily intake…

Mike — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:24:00 -0000

You cut down on caffiene? Yeah right. I think Microsoft has a better chance of going out of business. :-P

Re: Just a really long general chat :-)

Mike — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:40:00 -0000

Woohoo!!!! I think I will be getting Guild Wars with my tax return! Muhahahahahahahaha!

BTW, I've been playing Mesmerize and Hypnotize in my car since they came out. I just can't stop!

And my old computer (Legend) died yesterday. It was the same one I used back when we were all gathered in #Window98 bashing Ra :-) Now I'm stuck without being able to cache! What a difference in speed without it :-/ Until I put a new computer up, I won't be online from home because I can't deal with the change in pace (unless I'm on my work's T1).

Hopefully I'll be back to normal in 2 weeks. At least that's my goal. By then I should (hopefully) have GW :-))))))

Re: European English

Mike — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 21:02:00 -0000

hah! You just figured out how I got through German class. :)

Re: Two Days Feral

Mike — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 15:50:00 -0000

I am a proud owner of a shiny new box with the words "Guild Wars" all over it. I also built a replacement PC so I can cache again :-D I'll let you know when I should be on the most. :)

Re: Email wars and VoIP wars and its all rumbling

Mike — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 12:30:00 -0000

Damn, I need to update my blog.. Stupid busy schedule :(

Re: Email wars and VoIP wars and its all rumbling

Mike — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 13:07:00 -0000

... and I was getting there eventually to get the post to go a little more "into it" like your's. Having almost no time to yourself really sucks.

Re: MS admits Malware problem too big to recover from

Mike — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 12:41:00 -0000

I knew it was only a matter of time before you put something about that article on here.

I agree with you completely. It's refreshing to hear MS wave the white flag of defeat about something.

The anti-spy/malware they will put on Vista will have their own holes for people to exploit, not to mention existing IE holes that won't be covered by the anti-bandaid.

This once again proves how much better virtually every OS is over MS. :)

Re: How heavy is that? Huh?!!

Mike — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 23:53:00 -0000

Thanks. I don't think I will ever look at foreplay the same again.

My life is officially ruined.

:)

Re: Very minor, but useful, changes

Mike — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:04:00 -0000

I like the show/hide menu's. They don't work in IE though, which is fine by me because I don't use it. It may fill your comments/e-mail with those IE folks tho, but I don't they will even notice all that much (depends if they use your archive/blogroll or not).

I think that makes your "link" column cleaner with the user choice to display the links if they choose to. Good job.

Re: Google Calendar API available

Mike — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:05:00 -0000

You are now entering: Christmas part II. :)

Re: Visionary not quite right…

Mike — Wed, 10 May 2006 09:34:00 -0000

Steve, I'm going to guess you wrote that. It looks like your style, and it's not cited (and not citing a blockquote is a no-no) :-P

But I am probably wrong :) but at least a guess was made ;)

Re: How … Interesting.

Mike — Fri, 19 May 2006 15:50:00 -0000

Maybe Google just doesn't want you as a customer. lol... First adSense, and now this. Go figure.

Oh, and Microsoft has another flaw. This time in MS Word!!! Shocked? Not me!

Re: How … Interesting.

Mike — Mon, 22 May 2006 10:33:00 -0000

Yeah, it's all on my "to-do" list, but time is in a pinch lately as we just bought a house and will be spending a lot of time packing and moving.

This past weekend was a flop too. Which is upsetting.

Re: Farming in Factions

Mike — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 12:48:00 -0000

Monster genocide... I like!

Re: Google’s tabbed homepage

Mike — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:40:00 -0000

I am in the same boat with you there, my friend. I rarely have to venture away from google.com. They hit the nail right on the head when it comes to the personalized home page.

One thing I wanted to add about My Yahoo! is that it is incredibly hard to personalize, and it's not very friendly when it comes to picking out what to display.

I think Google took what My Yahoo has and improved it dramatically. I sent a very long note to them about how thrilled I was about the new programs lately and their personalized home. Hopefully things will get even better.

Also, if you come to the US, we can finally meet, and we'll really have no excuse... Or so that's my thinking!

Re: Ramblings and Conjecture of the Google kind

Mike — Mon, 07 May 2007 09:44:00 -0000

This may belong on the Doubleclick post, but I love the hot air being spewed by MS and Yahoo about a possible merger between the two to try and catch Google.

Even if the two do happen to merge, I still don't think they could catch up all that much to Google. So their share of the market goes up to 30% in searches, but that is still less than ~60% that Google received.

Maybe I just love watching MS squirm and whine about actually being 2nd in something.

Re: Security: Authenticating Identities

Mike — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:24:00 -0000

Yay! Dorky Steve is back! w00t!

Re: Steve’s IPv4 Subnetting 101

Mike — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:23:00 -0000

Brings me back to my college days learning about this stuff.

I wish the IT field wasn't so watered down here in the US!

Re: Steve’s IPv4 Subnetting 101

Mike — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:43:00 -0000

Just copy and paste that rambling and put in on the main site.

My company is about 200 employees and are all about security, especially with T1's from other companies sharing bandwidth with our T1's.

Our IP settings were all over the place, but since we hired some new IT folks, and some talking from me and a few others, we managed to organize all of the IP's similar to how you would have it set.

All of our IT guys are Unix guys as well. They're also trying very hard to switch all of the workstations to Linux. Unfortunately, several are whining that they don't know it, but throw a simple GUI over it, and everyone will be happy.

I know I would!

And your taking my attention away from firewall.cx! Then again, the more material to read, the better!

Re: Apple soaring, Windows Vista deactivating

Mike — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:40:00 -0000

I can say that XP will be my last Windows OS. I unfortunately can no longer play games on the PC due to very limited time constraints since I was promoted. Damn salaried pay checks!

I will be installing Ubuntu this weekend, hopefully. Between you and the five IT guys at work, that seems to be the best Linux choice. I've heard pretty much nothing but good things. It will be interesting!

Re: Whats Steve doing? Hello?

Mike — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:19:00 -0000

I sooooooooooooooooooooo feel your pain there.

Fortunate for me, I've all ready beat FF 12: Revenant Wings :)

Re: Russian Hockey – Showing the rest of us how its done.

Mike — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:23:00 -0000

Yeah, that hockey in North America is long gone. If you watch NHL games from the 60's and 70's it was a lot of similar bench clearing brawls... especially Boston vs. Philadelphia. We have since "civilized" the sport. They turned it sissy :/ It was a good vid to watch. Good job

Re: Microsoft conceeds defeat in the online gambit

Mike — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:45:00 -0000

Great read, Steve!

It is funny though. Microsoft is essentially going to try and waste 44.6 billion over what? Yahoo!? I bet Google is looking at this and thinking, "someone get the mosquito spray, they're biting!"

I don't see them gaining any ground on Google, unless they do something to blow us out of the water. We all know how well they try to change it up in an attempt to shock and awe us. Example: Vista. Looks sleek, looks nice, overall complete NIGHTMARE to use and implement

Go MS: Lightyears behind the technological world.

Re: Microsoft conceeds defeat in the online gambit

Mike — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:51:00 -0000

muhahahaha, Yahoo! is going to say thanks, but no thanks to MS. Price is too low. What a great day.

Re: SCO Group lives to fight again

Mike — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:14:00 -0000

Heh...$100,000,000 just to waste taxpayer time and money just for the judge to say, "did you not hear me before, Novell wins, you lose!" I really can't imagine them winning, even in the time battle.

They are like that annoying shit that floats on top of the toilet water. No matter how many times you flush, it keeps coming back.

Re: Enough Already!

Mike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:41:00 -0000

I feel for ya. My RSS feeds seem to have nothing else to say other that Microsoft trying to takeover something that has been slowly fading away in the sunset and how Icahn is trying to overthrow Yahoo. Blah... It's garbage now. I think everyone stopped caring except for the shareholders. General public.. not so much.

Re: Preview of a new look

Mike — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:44:00 -0000

I remember EVERYTHING. Bahaha

Yes I remember it :) You can't slip things by me, sir. If I don't remember it, I bet I have logs of it (chats at least). I have floppy disks full of logs (which is funny because I don't have a floppy drive anymore) of stuff all the way back from #Windows98.

Now that we're reflecting, I oddly miss IRC.. A lot... I just wish I had extra time to set up a channel.

Lazy I am.

Oh, by the way, completely off topic, but I have to admit I'm really excited that Rockstar North announced GTA4 for the PC. :-D I hope this starts a trend that more console game designers start putting out their popular titles on to PC. Square Enix tried, but failed.

I like the new blog design. Even if you didn't add a third column, just adding the lime green makes a HUGE difference and very appealing. Good job.

Re: Werbefinanzierter Mobilfunk ab 2009 in Deutschland

Mike — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:21:45 -0000

Hat in den U.S.A. nicht vor kurzem der erste werbefinanzierte Mobilfunker zu gemacht?

Re: MNVO Kundenzahlen in Holland mit 4,7% Anstieg

Mike — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:07:59 -0000

"Auch bemerkenswert, daß die großen MVNOs Kunden verlieren, die Nischen-Provider aber stetig weiterwachsen."

Jetzt fehlt nur die passende Analyse dazu. Liegt das am Preis? In Deutschland sind die großen MVNOs ja auch keine Preisführer mehr, sondern es sind neue kleinere Player wie z.B. maXXim mit 8ct/Min.

Re: The first Aggressive Marketing & Entrepreneurship podcast

Mike — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:45:49 -0000

One other thing, are there plans for a follup up podcast?

Mike

Business Blog

Re: Holiday Gift Idea: A Great $10 Stocking Stuffer for Wine Lovers

Mike — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:46:32 -0000

Thx, fixed.

Re: The Curious Case of HDL Cholesterol

Mike — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:33:59 -0000

On 1-30-09 my total cholesterol was 325. both the HDL and the LDL were high. I also had a very low level of vitamin D. I went on Lipator 20mg and took vitamin D as prescribed by my doctor. Five weeks later I was retested and my total cholesterol level is 186.

Re: Sooo tie-tie…

Mike — Sat, 13 May 2006 23:40:00 -0000

Writing is hard...but can be rewarding. As for falling asleep in public...i haven't experienced that yet.

Re: i’m not sick but i’m not well

Mike — Thu, 17 Jan 2002 02:37:22 -0000

I've joined your notify list...

even though NO ONE joins mine ;-) *nudge nudge, wink wink*

I don't really like the idea of piercings, but then again that's what the pain of monthly IV treatments will do to you.

Re: potential epic disaster averted

Mike — Thu, 21 Feb 2002 00:29:10 -0000

What a gal!

How did you get her old number to go through to her new mobile? Is the American system different to the British one?

Re: looking for ms. muse

Mike — Thu, 21 Feb 2002 00:34:12 -0000

kd, you got me set on the road to MT too, and I've never looked back. Though recently when I sit around and meditate it's on the wonders of Linux and how lost I'd be without my Suse 7.1 to replace Windows.

Re: potential epic disaster averted

Mike — Fri, 22 Feb 2002 04:03:56 -0000

Shellagh - Yeah, I know you can do it if you've got all your information, and I was able to do it because I was due a free upgrade, but it's not exactly the easiest thing to do last minute over here, and there's not much option.

Re: the potty mouth

Mike — Fri, 12 Apr 2002 01:35:31 -0000

Fuck best describes my reaction to the national newspapers today. Not to sound like I'm plugging my site, but go read the latest entry to read about this fucking disgrace

Re: for the melly

Mike — Sat, 13 Apr 2002 21:14:05 -0000

Quoted from my site;

"I personally feel more than slightly guilty for the fact that, 4 months ago, when the big event that was the birth of her little sprog, I didn't achnowledge it [in TripleB]. It was quite an event for bloggers too, as the newspaper article discusses, because she blogged the full way through her pregnancy and has been posting ickle babby photos since the birth.

That and she's started writing blog entries in Mommy-to-baby-speak."

That is why Melly rocks!

Re: filler

Mike — Sat, 13 Apr 2002 22:22:52 -0000

I am waiting to be upgraded to MT2 (Suey has been very busy lately) however I'm trying to find ways of updating my TripleB design...you know I get bored of designs every few months and MT makes them so changeable. This time I'm merely considering a new colourscheme however...any suggestions? I'm desperate for suggestions and aid. What do you think of the MSN site colourscheme? I like that blue. Or maybe an orange...I don't know.

Re: wedding at blogcon

Mike — Sun, 14 Apr 2002 21:25:25 -0000

I remember these two, but I haven't the foggiest idea how I came across them. Must have been recent because the design's mostly the same.

Re: it’s tough being a superhero

Mike — Sun, 14 Apr 2002 21:26:26 -0000

/me stands tall and proud, preparing to face the wrath head on as only a suicidal Welsh dude can

Re: chasing the sunset

Mike — Tue, 16 Apr 2002 07:41:15 -0000

Whoo, weird headlights on that car there, all thin and one colour-like

Re: life with me

Mike — Wed, 17 Apr 2002 07:06:26 -0000

It looked more to me like a 'knowledgeable car husband thinks he's being questioned on his ability to maintain a car, then realises he's being asked a question as an authority so is happy' situation.

Re: perspective

Mike — Fri, 19 Apr 2002 01:45:41 -0000

The detail in that article was a bit much...or am I just used to British reporting? Brought home what it must have felt like for that guy and the woman hit by the train though, when they included what she said as well.

She should have stopped though. Reminds me why I'm a defensive driver.

Re: like watching a train wreck

Mike — Tue, 23 Apr 2002 23:50:17 -0000

I now know living in another country to you guys can be a detriment.

What train crash?

We're too busy having the press kicking themselves for announcing that missing 13-year old schoolgirl Milly was found dead this morning...she wasn't, it was a 72 year old woman (Nobody is bothering to report on the fact that a 72 year old woman has been found floating in a river, however).

So what train crash? and where is Milly?

Re: like watching a train wreck

Mike — Thu, 25 Apr 2002 01:41:46 -0000

Millie is a 13 year old English schoolgirl who was last seen 4 weeks ago walking home from school. It's eerie because they even have her on security camera leaving the school grounds. Anyway, someway home someone saw her walking along normally, but nobody knows what happened after that. She certainly didn't end up at home. She had a good home life and absolutely no worries, and as she hasn't turned up for 4 weeks now, it's obvious something has happened to her, but the press/authorities/family/general public is desperate to know what. I think, judging by the fact that she's female and 13, it's likely she's been kidnapped. She could of course have just run off, but it seems with her background that's a very vague chance.

As for the Amtrack disaster, the same thing happened near Paddington quite a few years ago, led to major investigations into the train service and such. Though it wasn't nearly as horrific as when some guy lost control of his van, ran it off the road, down a hill and onto the tracks, and then while phoning for help spotted a busy passenger train headed straight for it. That also caused a major investigation.

Re: holyfreakincrap

Mike — Sun, 28 Apr 2002 02:32:40 -0000

Where do I go to login kd? I want to play!

Re: holyfreakincrap

Mike — Sun, 28 Apr 2002 02:36:25 -0000

Never mind, my work frazzled mind finally cottoned onto the 'login' bit and I eventually remembered my password.

Still, I think MT remains my blogware of choice

Re: linky love

Mike — Thu, 09 May 2002 07:09:11 -0000

No TripleB yet? tut tut ;-)

Re: melly

Mike — Fri, 10 May 2002 04:37:15 -0000

In his defence, he is a parent.
My entry against him was just bizarre. I think I'm on something, or too open-minded

Re: oh, more toys!

Mike — Sat, 11 May 2002 03:22:47 -0000

Heya, thanks for debugging my MT comments. I fixed the subscribe thingummy whatsit, but for some reason I just can't get the cookies to save in comments :-( I want my 'save info' back!

Re: Starwars kid moves

Mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2004 12:08:38 -0000

yo this kid is hillarius and not only that but the starwars remix is the best with the sounds and every thing. but the best part is when his light saber hit the floor and wall.

Re: Analyze Them!

Mike — Mon, 24 Feb 2003 05:50:56 -0000

are u the wanker?

Re: Cyber U Cyber Me

Mike — Sat, 07 May 2005 15:15:11 -0000

Just say you're under 18 and the conversation stops right there

Re: Il Federalismo fiscale de noantri

Mike — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:35:08 -0000

Non prendiamoci in giro,in l\'Italia attualmente non è una nazione pronta ad accogliere il federalismo,perchè non ci sono i presupposti per il pieno rispetto del principio di equità orizzontale,che peraltro è costituzionalmente sancito. Insomma per noi della Campania sarebbe il colpo di grazia e la defenitiva paralizzazine degli investimenti economici...SIAMO ALLA FRUTTA!!

Re: New Song: The Killers – Human

Mike — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:26:45 -0000

I agree with "Minimart"
Theres really not many bands like that anymore that i can find. This new single is pretty good start, I think the cd will be pretty great.
Btw There was nothing wrong with Sams town it was an amazing cd itself.
Flip "The Critics"

Re: New Kooks – Kids (MGMT cover) / Friday Covers

Mike — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:31:06 -0000

axl and bruce? wtf, that's such an unlikely duet... but great! thanks for fishing these out for us!

Re: Gossip Girl to release an Indielicious Soundtrack

Mike — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:05:50 -0000

is this turning into 90210 vs Gossip Girl?

what ever happened to Chuck vs Gossip Girl?

Re: Chombo grabs Mugabe’s wife for himself

Mike — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:48:57 -0000

Thank u for such interesting gossip, this will certainly add value to my life.........idiots

Re: Not Too Far To Go

Mike — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:48:42 -0000

Based on how you felt about Talib Kweli's Eardrum, you should probably 1) Listen to it again (seriously, this time), or 2) Simply quit writing reviews. No kidding...

Re: Här är ljusen bland reklambyrånamnen

Mike — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:56:31 -0000

Creative Republic är en byrå med ett slönt namn. Man får hoppas att de håller vad de lovar. M

Re: Här är ljusen bland reklambyrånamnen

Mike — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:56:31 -0000

Creative Republic är en byrå med ett slönt namn. Man får hoppas att de håller vad de lovar. M

Re: Här är ljusen bland reklambyrånamnen

Mike — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:56:31 -0000

Creative Republic är en byrå med ett slönt namn. Man får hoppas att de håller vad de lovar. M

Re: Ska du bara se en presentation i helgen – se den här.

Mike — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 07:24:00 -0000

Tveksam till om idén funkar i praktiken. Vem orkar gå in och kolla på adidas-tv när det finns hundra gånger roligare saker att kolla på nätet? Tror inte ett skit på att "the audience is screaming for participation", de vill ha coola kläder och skor, that´s it. Tycker Volontaires tugg mest låter som nåt Nisse Tunebjer sa 1999.

Re: Ska du bara se en presentation i helgen – se den här.

Mike — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:24:00 -0000

Re: 29th April Results + 213 pips

Mike — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:39:39 -0000

HI MARC HOPE YOU HAVING A NICE WEEKEND IN THE SUN .MARC I WANT TO ASK YOU THE FIRST CHART IN THE RESULTS OF 29 APRIL 2009 WHAT TIME PERIOD IS IT ,NOT THE CHF CHART I THINK YOU REFERING TO AUD USD WHAT TIME PERIOD IS IT THANK YOU MIKE

Re: ETL Method – Fastest Way To Get Data from DB2 to Microsoft SQL Server

Mike — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:49:52 -0000

The output file contains fixed position columns with leading blanks on numeric fields. SQL Server format files do not provide for skipping these extra blanks. How do you handle this?

Re: Britney Spears’ New Album “Circus” New Single “Womanizer”

Mike — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:29:25 -0000

Max Martin is back?! YES! Classic brtiney!

Re: How to quickly backup your Mac using Time Machine and the Airport Extreme Base

Mike — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:01:48 -0000

Awesome man... thanks so much for the great tutorial. Worked perfect and I now have a better understanding of the differences between NAS backups and Local drive backups!

Cheers.

Re: http://sffmedia.com/films/science-fiction-films/75-terminator-4-in-the-works.html

Mike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:40:23 -0000

Sorry Paulie G, I\'ve gotta agree with John - I thought T3 was pretty poor. The main problem they\'ve run into is that Terminators don\'t age - Arnie has! Arnie would be better served reprising his Conan role (if we could only forget Conan The Destroyer!)- at least that could be convincing - Conan as an old warrior king!

Re: http://sffmedia.com/books/fantasy-books/86-the-children-of-hurin.html

Mike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:27:47 -0000

Sounds depressing! :cry

Re: Nickname the Broncos “D”

Mike — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:45:39 -0000

Denver Doomsday Defense (DDD)

Re: Steelers won’t see same defense

Mike — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:40:26 -0000

best game by the snake, by far.
hope he keeps it up. javon and champ deserve their fat contracts, without these guys we'd be 2-6...

Re: Broncos should do fine in “breather” game

Mike — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 10:21:16 -0000

There is potential for a trap game here. However, the Broncos are a group of professionals that typically don't get too high or too low for any given game.

Re: 7-2 at half-throttle: Good or bad?

Mike — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 19:50:40 -0000

We will know a lot after the SD game....7-2 is great, no doubt, however we have seen 6-2 turn into 10-6 a few times. They will need to get better.

Re: Cutler gets the nod

Mike — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 23:13:20 -0000

THIS IS NOT ALL JAKES FAULT, ALOT OF THIS IS SHANAHANS PLAY CALLING. BUT WE NEED SOMEONE THAT CAN GET THE BALL DOWNFIELD. IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE BUT WE NEED SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. GO BRONCOS

Re: Cutler to add cannon, pluck to O

Mike — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 16:01:57 -0000

I think this is the right move and it should have been made earlier in the season. Let's face it, Plummer is not going to win us a Super Bowl and most likely not even get us into the playoffs this year. Worst case scenario now is that we miss the playoffs, (which would have been likely with Plummer anyway), and Cutler gets some regular season experience. The coaching staff is also to blame for the recent performances (they should have let LT score the touchdown and at least give us a chance to tie with a TD and 2-pt.), but I think Cutler can do at least as well as Jake. I mean, who can't?

Re: Jake as backup in ‘07? Unlikely

Mike — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 10:49:18 -0000

Mike knows his best shot at winning this year is with Plummer. To get these results, he will sit plummer for two games then give him back the keys. At that point Plummer will be so pumped, he will perform one last time, for one last season in Denver.

Re: D. Williams senses something amiss

Mike — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:15:21 -0000

I don't believe a professional athlete would ever take a play off. They are doing something we all wish we could do and Champ is right if they don't want to be there please take off the Bronco Blue and put on some other uniform......We don't want you and we don't want to pay to see you play. By the way Darrant it looks like you have already been on vacation!

Re: Voice your holiday cheers today

Mike — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:07:03 -0000

Geez, can Cutler move at all. This kid won't amount to anything but a average QB.

Re: Cutler proving coach prescient

Mike — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 11:45:55 -0000

Call me crazy but for the first time since Elway you finally see the Mike Shannahan offence. Cutler's arm makes everyone around them better.

Re: Cutler leaves game with injury

Mike — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:05:40 -0000

FIRE SHANNAHAN!!!!!

Re: Cutler leaves game with injury

Mike — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:07:29 -0000

How bout Gary Kubiak?? Every Shannahan team in the Post-Elway era with the exception of last year has TANKED.

Re: Denver’s season ends in overtime

Mike — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:46:58 -0000

San Fran finished what Cincinnati should of finished last week!

Happy New Year Donkeys!!!!

Re: Denver’s season ends in overtime

Mike — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 21:02:31 -0000

Can the Broncos please release Tatum Bell tonight

Re: Bicycle Powered PC

Mike — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:23:40 -0000

With great effor you will pedal about 150watts from you leg power. pc's take minimum around 200 watts, and thats without invertors and other electrical loss. Forget about direct power supply. Perhaps thru a battery and invertor, and pedalling to slow down the power loss from the moment the pc is turned on.

Re: 02033089000

Mike — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:08:31 -0000

Don't answer to this number!!!! Enough Said!!!!

Re: 01482590502

Mike — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:22:28 -0000

Westcott Credit Services debt collection.

Re: 6035011134

Mike — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:36:16 -0000

Got a message on the answering machine saying that my application was ready, and I was approved for "top tier." His name was Ian Overa (sp?) and he works for Direct Capital. I called back using a calling card (which ultimately hides your number), but he has not answered (probably because he can't see my number). This appears to be a scam.

Re: 0002135371000

Mike — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:21:34 -0000

Had call from this number which hung up immediately . It seems strange that we can block emails from specific senders but cannot block specific phone numbers

Re: 01563556391

Mike — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:16:57 -0000

Just save this number to your contacts and name it as Don't Answer and play them at their own game. Bliss