Some of our Facebook Comrades posted photos of their father over the weekend.
With their permission we re-post here without further comments about 1) how stunning these photos are, 2) about the peak of American civilization, or 3) lost core values.
Variety may be the spice of life, but the rule for cigars is stick with what you like. We deviated from the plan with a Punch Rare Corojo. Rare, as in the taste is rare.
The book we just started is making up for the cigar. Big time.
He was jailed four times from the early 60's to the mid-70's in the Soviet Union. Our two take-aways so far are 1) his sense of humor, and 2) the Post-Stalin changes to the realities of prison life.
As to his humor, he discusses the evolution of "Soviet Man", the Soviet citizen who learns for himself the lies and distortions of Communism. This is 20+ pages of riveting explanation as to each stage of discovery, and each subsequent level of outrage.
As to propaganda, Soviet Man is compelled to read and listen to it all. Not to learn anything, but to stoke his rage. And, as only the Russians can do, they convert these experiences into jokes.
Speaking to propaganda praising the Soviet experience and accomplishments (P. 72):
What's the best way to have plenty of everything?
Plug your refrigerator into the radio network - it will always be full!
For those who do not know, we come from a technology background. So we saw a bit of the recent news out of Apple and Microsoft and felt compelled to share our thoughts.
First, Tim Cook should have come out on stage at the WWDC conference this past week and said, "Steve Jobs is still dead. We have no idea how he did it." He then should have walked off the stage.
Instead, he chose to embarrass himself and his company, and probably a few in the audience.
Except, maybe, this guy...
So the big innovation with the iPhone will be a new look. The icons will appear - wait for it - "flatter".
And the Mac Pro, Apple's top desktop computer, will have a re-designed box.
Dear Apple,
You can't replace a Steve Jobs. Stop trying to act like Apple is some cutting-edge dynamic and innovative company.
You're a bloated company filled with super-bright employees who lack a strong leader with a compelling vision. You will now follow the same path as Xerox did over 20 years ago. You'll fail to recognize innovation within, and watch the best among you leave.
Our advice: cancel all future MacWorld and WWDC shows and start telling your market about new products or upgrades the same way Buick does: buy a commercial.
Sincerely,
Karl
They might have been cheering at Microsoft after this Apple news. They should be. Microsoft sold its soul long ago (if it ever had one). They chose Corporate over Consumer and have been forced to follow others down the innovation path ever since. The only way Microsoft will look good when compared to Apple is when Apple fails as it is doing now.
The only innovation out of Microsoft in the past two decades has been the high-gloss wax used to buff Steve Balmer's bald head to a radiant sheen before he takes the stage at an all-staff meeting to do the fat-boy dance.
The new Microsoft X-Box game system is coming out, and here are some interesting "features." BTW - Did Microsoft's Marketing department convene even one focus group?
The system must connect to the Internet every 24 hours to upload your gaming activity, or it's "No X-Box for you!"
You cannot share games. A purchased game may be sold once to a registered X-Box user.
The camera and microphone stay on even when the machine is off.
And only for $499.
Maybe there is a market that will pay that price. Or maybe it'll be $249 a couple months after launch.
Assuming there isn't a recall.
Our advice: only produce a dozen at a time and relish in the media reports of a nationwide shortage.
The good news: there is plenty of innovation going on. Former Apple and Microsoft employees, and other enthusiastic independent thinkers, are working long hours in Silicon Valley on the next batch of services and products for us (and the NSA).
Full disclosure: We use Apple products and were big fans of both Apple and Steve Jobs. We don't play video games (except for Tetris on our iPhone).
From Doug Ross, FOX News founder Roger Ailes shared this joke in a recent speech:
I heard a story about a guy who was in a hot air balloon. He was lost and he lowered his altitude. He spotted a man down below and descended a bit more and then called out to him.
He said, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I’d meet him an hour ago, and I don’t know where I am.”
The man on the ground consulted his GPS and replied, “You’re in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above ground elevation at 2,346 feet above sea level. You are 31 degrees, 14 minutes north latitude; 100 degrees, 49 minutes west longitude,” and the guy in the balloon said, “You must be a conservative,” and he said, “I am. How did you know that?”
He said, well, “Everything you told me is technically correct but I have no idea what to make of your information. The fact is I’m still lost -- and frankly, you haven’t been very much help so far.”
The guy on the ground yelled up: “You must be a liberal.” He said, “I am. How did you know that?” He said, “Well, you don’t know where you’re going or where you’ve been, you’ve risen to where you are on hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep. You expect me to solve your problem.
"The fact is you’re in the same place you were before we met and now it’s my fault!”
Shouldn't you take an 1:15 out of your day to hear this panel discussion on Communism: Past and Future?
The first speaker (at the table) was part of CIA's N. Korea desk. He gives a good summary to what is happening in N. Korea today.
The second speaker explains what Russia should have done after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Notice he has a hard time discussing Stalinism without referencing current events here in the US....
Speaker #3 discusses the hypocracy of passing judgement on some dictators when they are silent on Fidel, the never ending enchantment with Che, and the revision of communist history.
Speaker #4 rambles on about the wealth disparity in China. We were not impressed with his presentation.
One of the few pleasures in watching the greatest country decline into a European Socialist blob of amorphous shit will be to see the useful idiots on the left come out of denial and demand a return to prosperity.
Ha! Ain't gonna happen, libs!
Leading the pack is Jonathan Mann, a YouTube sensation who posts a music video every day. He is talented and has been writing and posting daily songs for years now. He is also a full core Obama supporter and liberal.
We saw no vengeance, attitude, or fame-seeking in the interview. Did you?
Well spoken, no? Speaks about privacy better than our president, no?
He seems very mature for his age and is well versed in National Security terms and concepts.
He obviously thought it out. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing.
The NSA scandal is a setback for Obama's image. Coming out and saying this was for terrorism is like saying the Little Boy bomb was dropped on Hiroshima for redecorating purposes.
The NSA scandal is NOT a setback for the myriad of privacy violations still occuring against US citizens. Obama has not ordered a halt, nor has the NSA stopped this assault.
Edward has succeeded to shame his former NSA co-workers. He saw something wrong and acted, despite his $200k salary and Hawaiian comforts. His former co-workers have either become too comfortable in their jobs, or too blind to right and wrong to react. And did NSA boss, General Keith B. Alexander, ever consider resigning when he received these orders? If not, why not?
We think the NSA should send all the data they've copied from the IRS's Lois Lerner's computer to Rep. Issa to assist with the IRS investigation.
We're gearing up for the coming smears of Edward. Will he be a child molester? A tax cheat? A drug user?
Drudge links to a source that suggests Edward will defect to China. He is a man without a country at the moment (we say with a touch of envy). There is also talk of Iceland. We think a powerful senator needs to stand up for Edward's safe return and testimony. Protection too, if necessary. If he does defect to China - he is a spy and should be charged with treason.
Speaking of China, Edward is well-spoken about the current cooperation between China and the US. But her is a flaw in his logic. He can use logic to predict the end-game if the NSA were to continue without exposure - Tyranny. Yet he can't use current events and recent history to know where US-China relations will be in the coming decades?
The Manning Comparison:
As for comparisons with Manning, the Army soldier who gave information to Wikileaks during the Bush years, this is weak. We only see one common reason in four:
1) Gay. Manning is gay. Edward is not. This wouldn't be an issue we'd raise, however if you see the Manning protesters you'll notice one common trait among them, hence sexual preference is fair game.
2) Political. Manning is a LiberalProgressive Communist. He released the information for political purposes. There is no evidence yet this is true of Edward.
3) Bulk. Manning did a data dump. He did not hold back on information that would lead to the deaths of US personnel or setbacks to the war's mission. It appears Edward was selective with his release to limit the information to only the government's massive privacy breach with her citizens subjects.
4) Intent. It appears that both Manning and Edward knew their release of confidential information would draw attention to something they saw as wrong.
Policy:
The NSA should identify every surveillance option and present those options to the President.
But we elect our leaders to represent our security needs and values such as privacy in their decisions.
The decision to violate the public's privacy, and thus our trust, was Obama's.
It is a tyrant's decision he has yet to reverse.
Best proof yet that Obama has far-left inspirations.
Our conclusions (as of June 10):
We're on the fence about this guy's political leanings. He says the NSA, and thus the president, are violating the privacy principles that Obama had promised in his campaign. This suggests he was an Obama supporter, which a majority of government workers and contractors are.
But he speaks a bit too well with regards to privacy and liberty. Could be a shadow tea partier.
Either of those two options are realistic and would no bearing on our opinion. If instead Edward is a Libertarian, then no doubt he released the information for the right reasons. But we also do not doubt he has psychiatric issues that the background screening missed.
Stunned:
We are still stunned by this story. We are stunned that not one congressman or senator has come out and demanded this must be stopped immediately.
Obama has figuratively broken into every American's house and stole things that they hold private and dear.
It appears Rand Paul is making some noise, but where was the immediate and resounding scream from Capitol Hill?
Too numb to react to another scandal? Or too comfortable with the idea of more data on the citizens subjects?
Everyone walking around is scared. They can't talk to anyone else because they don't know who is reporting for the government. Hell, at one time YOU were reporting for the government. Maybe they just want their kid to get through school. Maybe they want to keep their job. Maybe they're sick and want to be able to visit the doctor. It's always a simple reason. Good people always do bad things for simple reasons.
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I actually get really upset when people say "I don't have anything to hide. Let them read everything." People saying that have no idea what they are bringing down on their own heads. They are naive, and we need to listen to people in other countries who are clearly telling us that this is a horrible horrible sign and it is time to stand up and say no.
A RINO's Opinion
We've been on the fence with the question: Patriot or Traitor? Speaker Boehner came out today with his verdict: Traitor.
So we're going to go with: Patriot.
Some Context
Last, we'd like to share some information with you to put our original post into context. This is information that Gen. Alexander can verify with just a couple mouse clicks.
1) Karl resigned an Army command when he was ordered to ignore illegal activity.
2) Karl held a top secret clearance when he was Edward's age.
3) Karl has completed graduate-level work in the field of national security.
