Liar: McCaskill and the Cloning Amendment

There is no doubt that senate hopeful and State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D-MO) knows how to play dirty. After her attack campaign that allowed her to beat Gov. Bob Holden in the 2004 Democratic Primary, my dad — a dyed in wool Democrat — refused to vote for her in the general election, instead going Republican. McCaskill has been and continues to be willing to bend the truth to the breaking point for her politics of personal gain. I've been pretty calm on politics lately, but I just felt sick this morning listening to McCaskill.

She, like others promoting “Amendment 2 - Life Saving Cures,” has been trying to fool those who do not know better into thinking voting yes on this amendment will not protect cloning in Missouri — that it will actually ban cloning. I knew she's been saying that, but hearing her say it live on KMOX 1120 with Charles Brennon this morning just made me want to scream through the radio.

FACT: The bill protects Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. This is cloning. When you create an embryo that has identical genetic information to the person who wants the “cure” (if there is such a thing to come out of this research), what exactly do you call that other than cloning? If you do not think SCNT is cloning, then be prepared to say Dolly the Sheep was not a clone.

FACT: The bill is both anti-life and anti-choice. Once the clone has been produced, it must be aborted. That not only proves disturbing for pro-lifers, but it should also bother pro-choice abortion proponents who normally advocate this so-called “right” out of a desire to promote freedom. If that is really the case, how do you support this?

FACT: None of this research is presently banned in Missouri, this bill only rolls out the red carpet to cloning research. By voting on this bill, you insure that scientists will be able to get better at human cloning, making it more and more likely a human clone will be born in the future.

(Incidentally, I liked the new commercial for Senator Talent that had him explain his rejection of Amendment 2, but I'd urge anyone on the fence not to see this as a Republican vs. Democrats issue. Even if you insist on voting for Auditor McCaskill for senator, you can still reject Amendment 2.)

Happy Birthday, iPod

It is hard to believe that it has been five years since Apple launched the iPod. When I first heard that Apple was going into the music player business, I thought maybe Steve Jobs had finally gone off his rocker (hear Jobs launch the product over on Engadget). Although he had guided the struggling computer maker back into the black, ironically, with colorful computers, did he really think Apple had any place in the music player business? I was among the group that was hoping that day's announcement was to be the return of an Apple PDA, but no such “luck.”

Five years later, I cannot think of a more brilliant move by Jobs. Using the iPod as a launching pad while the Mac continued its slow progress toward ditching Mac OS Classic for Mac OS X, suddenly Apple became the cool brand again. And more than just what it did for Apple, consider what this product launch did for the consumer electronics industry? Suddenly, it was desirable to have an “MP3 Player,” something that previously had simply seemed geeky — portable CD players were now so 1990's. Suddenly a new business in making iPod accessories appeared. Suddenly, a word as strange as “iPod” would be part of everyday language. Notice the key phrase “suddenly:” the iPod's growth has been “steady,” but it has been anything other than “slow.”

Few product launches have single handedly altered a market as much as the iPod did. The iPod is to electronic music storage what the Model T or the Beetle were to cars — something that redefined the industry. And just as those two illustrious models are unlikely to be passed up in single model sales ever again, I suspect that if the iPod brand ever falls, it will be unlikely that there will be such a clear dominance in the music player market again.

Really, the iPod is a lot like the Beetle. Like the Beetle, it looks a lot like it did at its launch. Things keep changing to keep it competitive with flashier models, but it never really rejects its essential look and feel that makes the iPod an iPod. And what could be better than a New Beetle + iPod?

I wonder what we will be using to listen to music fifty years from now?

Nameless, Part II

I talked to my classmate for a moment about class, all the while hoping Amelia would not return before I had finished the conversation. But, Amelia came up from behind when, to my surprise, my nameless friend exclaimed, “Amelia, what are you doing here?” Now, that was not what I was expecting! “Hi, Alex,” Amelia replied. I didn't learn the details until one day the next semester when Alex and I got to talking, but they explained to me that Alex too had been a student at the Lutheran high school that my cousin was still attending. At that point, I explained to Alex that Amelia was my cousin and that she had come to get a feel for LU and sit in some classes (including Brit Lit I). Alex remarked that she had not yet had time to read that day's assignment (this was about an hour and a half before class) and that she had better go read it fast, so she could “say something to sound intelligent” in class.

We ended up sitting at a large round table near the windows overlooking the football field. As I recall it, I spent most of lunch quietly tending to my food while Amelia and Maggie talked. Maggie was talking about some career choices; at one point Amelia provided a bluntly honest remark about the one way Maggie was leaning, and Maggie remarked that Amelia's honesty was one of the things she really appreciated about Amelia. I, of course, did not disagree, for my cousin would have likely hit me if I had — she's always been that way to me (I can only hope Amelia does not read this, or… gulp Ouch!).

All kidding aside, it was a nice lunch. With plenty of time to spare, we left the cafeteria and traveled up the hill to the dorm located directly by the local AutoZone. This was Maggie's dorm, and she offered to give Amelia a tour of it. Since I could not join them (obviously — it was the ladies' dorm), I took to leaning up against a column of the building and reading the next reading for Brit Lit. It wasn't a very comfortable column; it was rather slick and its tall foundation only offered enough ledge to barely allow me to pretend to sit. Time passed for what seemed like an eternity without so much as a sign of life from inside the building. Periodically, I checked my watch only to see that “plenty of time before class” start inching toward “not so much time.” After awhile, an acquaintance from another class came out; seeing me just leaning against the column, she asked if I was waiting for someone. I said I was and talked for a little bit; at first she offered to go in and see what had become of my cousin and Maggie, but since she did not know Maggie or what part of the building she lived in, that wasn't really possible.

Finally, about ten or fifteen minutes before class, the two missing members of our happy little trio reappeared. Amelia had not been feeling too well, and had been sitting down for a bit. Fortunately, she was feeling fine now. We parted company with Maggie, who had other places to go, and headed a little less quickly back across campus to Brit Lit. We got there in plenty of time and made our way in. I usually sit in the front row of a class, but since there was not a second front row spot available, I opted to lead us to seats further back. One thing I recall was how much blander and dirtier the back of the room seemed. Maybe that's why those who sit in the front row are statistically said to do better… well, probably not. I offered Amelia the extra bottle of water I had somehow managed to get stuffed in my satchel along with my books — she didn't want it, so so much for my amazing feat of fitting it in — and then busied myself getting my mind ready for the always possible pop quiz, a quiz which did not appear that day.

At any rate, I was disappointed that this class was not among the most interesting of the Brit Lit I sessions I had been in hence far. We looked at a text on literary criticism (I believe it was by the ever relevant Samuel Johnson) and then finally got to something I hoped would show off my professor's talents a bit more: the great metaphysical poet John Donne. We moved quickly and covered a number of Donne's works, including the rather amusing “the Flea.”

After class, I introduced Amelia to my professor, Dr. Glover, and then slipped out of the room toward the room down the hall that had the next stop on our tour. I was a bit dejected. There is nothing worse than telling someone how great something is and then it being less than exciting when that person actually is around to see the thing in question. That had been Brit Lit. Dr. Glover is an amazing professor, but it just had not been the best day. I was pretty sure the next class would be much more successful, and it was. This next class was Philosophy of Religion and our topic was the problem of evil.

We walked in the room, and I was about to again find a seat in the back, when I heard someone call my name. Alex was at the door. Alex and I sometimes chatted and joked about literature on the way out of class, but that day, as I said, Amelia and I had quietly and briskly left the room. When I came over, Alex had thought of a clever play on words from Donne which she presented to me. We talked for a few moments, until my professor, Dr. Meyers, arrived and I returned with Amelia to staking out a good seat. With it a fairly cool temperature outside, it was a good day for Amelia to be visiting — the room this class was in was often miserably hot, but was tolerable that Friday.

A few of my friends were in the class, and a couple that were on the side of the room we ended up on (the opposite that I normally was on) were among those I introduced Amelia to. JonPaul was one of them, and while he was yet another fellow I was unfortunately unable to name at the time (I may forget names, but once they stick, I do remember them), but somehow I fudged the introduction and all was well. A few other friends, whose names I did know were on the other side of the room, and I simply never got to introduce them to my cousin, which was a shame. Amelia is the type of person who people always want to be introduced to; I recall as late as last semester, one friend from that class who I had failed to introduce to Amelia inquired to me about who that was who had been with me that day in Fall of '04. That was not an isolated incident, either.

By this time, it was already 2:00, but there was still more to come in our little adventure. I will detail the conclusion another day.

Let's Go Card-nals!

What a game! What a team! Go Cards!

Yes, for those of you new to following asisaid (now simulcasting on Facebook), I usually have to make my once-a-year sporting comments during the post season (2004 [1 | 2 | 3 | 4], 2005)… and here it is again. I am admittedly spoiled by the luxury that the Cardinals are usually in the post season, of course. Cardinal Nation is excited right now, folks. We've got out boys back in the World Series for the second time in two years and with an amazing first game! 7-2, for those who somehow missed it.

Anthony Reyes really pitched an amazing game in his perfectly ironed cap and long socks. How appropriate: the underdog team (we're always the underdogs, aren't we?) wins the first game of the series we weren't suppose to make it to using a “sacrificial lamb” pitcher. Wooohoo! I say it is time for the Cards to regain the title of World Series champs. La Russa has managed to keep the team's momentum going at an amazing rate for years now, but has not yet returned to the Cards the title we last held in 1982. Let's Go Cardinals!

I might not be the typical sports following type guy, but how can I not love baseball with a team like the Cardinals?

Nameless, Part I

I have a funny mind. I can remember frequently bizarre details, or the dates of things I did, but on the other hand, can easily forget that I meant to update this or that web page tonight or, often far worse, someone's name. That strikes me today, as — depending on whether you choose to count the anniversary of a day by the day of the week or the date — a particularly vivid day occurred two years ago the Friday of this week, today, or, really, two years ago Wednesday. I can say that somehow without looking back on the calendar. I just know innately that it was two years ago. It isn't that the date is stuck in my head, I just remember. How odd.

For some reason, I have the urge to write out the “story” of that day, so I shall.

It was a warm, crisp autumn Friday in October. I got up earlier than usual and cleaned up my car a bit. My cousin, Amelia, was coming over to go with me to Lindenwood so that she could get a taste of the university. Amelia was in her senior year at Lutheran High at the time; originally we had planned to do this little tour and “class sit in” the semester before, but the plans had just not come together — that was just as well, as the classes the previous semester would not have proved nearly as interesting for her to sit in. Regardless, it to be this day and not some other one. I don't think she was really considering going to any other school still at the time, so perhaps the purpose of giving her a taste of LU wasn't as useful as it would have been before, but the main thing was that it promised to be a fun day.

When she arrived, we hopped into my Jeep and headed off. I thoroughly confused her as I cut through the various back roads I take to avoid the traffic of Highway 94 in the morning. We chatted about various subjects, including the upcoming presidential election. We arrived several hours before the first of my two Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes. I pulled into the parking lot of St. Charles Presbyterian, turned the wrong way and tried to maneuver into a parking spot, but ultimately had to back out carefully and come around the right direction.

We talked as we walked up the hill to the campus and I began a tour of the various buildings. I believe we walked through Butler Hall — the professors' offices — first, wound around and back out the basement, went through Roemer, peeked into Butler Library, then Young, and into the dark (and often ignored) Memorial Arts Building, that houses the business faculty. We went to the drab downstairs, because I wanted to introduce Amelia to Dr. Chilton, who is a friend and mentor of mine, but his door was shut all the way and I presumed he wasn't there (I later found out he was).

At that point we wandered over to the Spellmann Center to eat lunch. It was just before 11:00 and we were to meet my cousin's friend Maggie, who had just started at LU. We came down the stairs and Maggie came up and introductions were made. I'm not quite sure the reason, but we stayed outside the cafeteria for a few minutes. I remember leaning against the cool of the exterior facing wall of the building as we talked. I asked Maggie about what classes she was taking, and if I recall correctly, she was in a World Religions class with Dr. Mason.

We entered the cafeteria when one of my professors from the semester before, Dr. Stein was walking over to get a tray. I introduced my cousin to him. My English advisor, Dr. Hickenlooper also walked by and I introduced Amelia to him. I seem to remember introducing my cousin to Dr. Chilton, whom I mentioned a few moments ago, too, but can't say for sure — which is odd, given that I can remember the other details. The cafeteria was extremely sparse feeling that day, it was almost as if there were a few professors there just so I could introduce them to my cousin and that was it. I'm sure there were some students milling around, but I can't recall that at all.

The menu included baked fish, broccoli, and baked potatoes in the “homestyle” section of the cafeteria. I got all three, and, I think, a salad as well. Amelia and Maggie had gone to other sections to get food and I met back up with Amelia on the way in to the cafeteria.

I'll continue on this story tomorrow. I'm not sure exactly why; hopefully it won't prove too uninteresting.

Go. Cards. Go.

That's all that needs to be said right now. It's 1-1 in the 8th inning.

Update (10:20 CDT): Make that 3-1 in the 9th. Slam-a-lama-ding-dong. GO CARDS!

Update (10:37 CDT): Please strike out the last Met. Please?

Tired.

I feel exhausted tonight, for the second night in a row. The funny thing is I slept very good last night and had a mostly peaceful day today. I guess I'm just running behind on energy. More tomorrow.

Force of Good

Volkswagen has a savvy marketing department to say the least. A few months after my parents purchased their Passat, which features a special slot to hold an umbrella, an umbrella arrived in the mail as a free gift from VW. It was the kind of thing that added a new surprise to a car that was several months old already.

Apparently, VW must do this for all of their cars. The other day I received a colorful little box from the company. In keeping with the company's theme that the New Beetle is a “Force of Good,” they gave me a Force of Good kit. It has handy things for “doing good,” such as bandages, floss, a pen (that can be lent in a pinch) and hand sanitizer. Yeah, it's nothing major, but it is kind of fun, and a nifty “owner loyalty” idea.

It makes me feel like, well, doing some good.

That's odd...

Two years ago this month, I purchased an invoicing system for my company. The idea was that it would automatically bill my clients monthly, quarterly, etc. and then I could just sit back and collect the money. Well, not really: I still have to provide service, after all!

Unfortunately, I found that just like my previous invoicing system, the new one was hardly the ideal of automation. WHMAP, as it is known, ties into my hosting control panel nicely, but it didn't ever send out the bills automatically. It would generate them and then they would sit there until I went in and manually selected each one and told it to send. So much for efficiency.

So, a few months ago I decided to get a new system. I tried out a couple, researched even more (including some I passed up when I bought WHMAP), and decided on ClientExec. I really like CE's better tie in with PayPal (even without using subscriptions, the process can remain totally self service for the client: the client logs in, clicks “pay now” and it processes the payment and marks the invoice paid); moreover, the new system attaches the invoice to the e-mail it sends to the client rather than sending a message that tells my clients to login to read their new invoice. I also like that CE has a built in helpdesk system so that I can provide my clients with support and billing in one convenient location.

So what's odd? Tonight I went out to the mailbox and had a payment from a client. The invoice was enclosed with the payment. Guess what? The invoice wasn't from CE. WHMAP finally remembered to send an invoice!

Not Likely to Make Penguins My Friends

Don't think I've given up on GNU/Linux when you read my latest piece on OFB, I do intend to highlight some good things about Linux in coming weeks. Nevertheless, this must be said:

Those of us observing GNU/Linux over the past decade have spent so much time talking about how “next year is Linux’s year on the desktop” that it has become more of a humorous cliché than a useful statement. Nevertheless, while every year the Penguin has disappointed us in not quite readying itself to compete against Apple and Microsoft’s systems, at least in the small office and home office market, we can always cling to the eternal hope: next year. Or can we?