Archive for category Society

Your $$$ into ‘The Cloud’

Jun 23

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Society, Technology | No Comments

One of the aggravating things about university life is the tendency of those who have been educated beyond their native intelligence redefining simple things with catchy intellectual labels and making them more complex than they need to be. This has filtered down to other areas–the least of which is marketing. Take “The Cloud” for instance. This is fancy talk for data of one sort or another on someone else’s computers–and not your own. For years, we managed to describe this as ‘off site servers’ and ‘distributed computing’. Anything that is contained on the Internet is “in the cloud” to us.

It seems now that vendors of everything are looking at ‘cloud based solutions’ for everything from delivering computer programs on an as needed basis, to storing all of your images, data, and entertainment media. An article in the NYT helped drive this home:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/ar…ines&emc=tha26

What a catchy little name–dematerialize–and how appropriate to what can happen to your access or data. And a very catchy intellectual take on the matter. I always equated ‘dematerialize’ to making something disappear or cease to exist. And the bottom line here is that is what they are talking about here also. Some of these services are “free” up to a point. Then they charge based upon use and storage amount. Folks like Adobe (with their AIR program delivery system) and Microsoft want to dish all of their programs to you from the cloud. While they tout convenience–this is the ultimate in control–and increasing their revenue streams. Now, consider this;

ALL OF THIS REQUIRES A STABLE CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE ONE–OR BETTER YET–WHEN YOU REACH YOUR BANDWIDTH LIMITS?

I find it interesting that this simple fact of internet use is omitted from discussions about ‘going to the cloud.’ Quite a few blog, article, and other internet discussions recently touch on how much bandwidth average users consume–and the lower limitations imposed by home service providers and cellular data plans. Consider for just a moment what happens to your bandwidth when suddenly your browser, office productivity suite, and other programs must stream down to you in order to use them. When every time you wish to look at your photos, listen to songs you have bought, or watch your home videos or movies you have purchased. Devices are moving toward forcing you to pay “rent” for all of your information and productivity–and essentially holding you hostage for when, where, cost, and how much access you have to it. And no real liability when they make mistakes or cannot provide you access.

Think real hard on this technology fans–it’s not a trendy, overly intellectual conversation. It’s a matter of fact coming to a device near you…

I Hate Computers

Sep 21

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Society, Technology | 1 Comment

Once upon a time, in a land far away—I bought my first computer. In 1985, I spent every dollar that I had to purchase a Compaq Portable Plus, the very first IBM PC compatible computer. This tasty box was all I could think about. It was a little over $3600, and had an incredible 128K of memory, and two 5 ¼” floppy drives that one was consumed by the operating system—DOS 3.2—in a case that resembled a sewing machine. It was wonderful! In those days, the race was not to upgrade your software, but to build the hardware system. By 1993, this 30 pound behemoth had a 1.44Mb floppy disk, a 20Mb hard disk, 640K of memory—a new Panasonic processor–with a 1Mb extension card. Good God, and a 9600 Bps modem!

There was no public internet, so this marvel let me get into several dial-up bulletin boards that operated out of people’s homes! Unfortunately, in those days as this–a lot of what was found was cheap porn. As to graphics on the green monocolor screen, a draw was like this—I would issue the command to open the file, got up and go pour a cup of coffee. Step out on the back porch, and have a smoke. Return to the computer 8-10 minutes later, and watch as the draw—usually a vector graphic—complete its task.

Now later in the Windows age (beginning with Windows v3.0 on a 386 processor computer) I began to cut my teeth on helping others set up, and maintain small business networks. Novell was king of this heap at the time. It is interesting to observe that anti-virus, adware, and spam filtering was not necessary—nor was it a regular thing to have to update software or anything else except to load a new application on the computer. This was a good time—and everything that could possibly go on a computer was less than 15Mb. Amazing, isn’t it? I still have that old Compaq, and incredibly enough, it still runs and does everything that it is capable of doing… Continue reading “I Hate Computers” »

Tags: adware, antivirus, computers, consumer, junk, software, spam, systems, Technology, value, virus

Niggers on the Bus

Sep 17

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Government, Society | No Comments

It’s 1971, and the South has not quite dealt with Brown v. Board of Education. Nor Green v. County School Board of New Kent County. And is having a really hard time with Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenberg Board of Education in regards to busing. The South is a little slow, and those in South Carolina will tell you that they have not quite resolved the “recent unpleasantness” of over 140 years ago. Those darkies are still a thorn in everyone’s side.

The Supreme Court forced busing to “desegregate” and equalize education—the success of that is still up for debate. Various civil rights acts, in combination with affirmative action attempted to equalize the workplace. Yet, in 2009, we have a much more insidious form of racism than ever before—because it is unspoken. Anyone who truly believes that the color or ethnic lines have been broken is either ignorant or lying to themselves—it is still there, and takes forms not thought of a generation before.

Now we seem to have a black in the White House. Nothing the man does is acceptable to the right wing establishment—and we have to ask ourselves why. Joe Wilson, a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, represents just the tip of the iceberg that seeks to undermine the president—diluting the authority of the presidency—and denigrating the holder of that office. The only thing that was missing from his vocal attack was the word “boy” after “you lie”. This is just another rotten page in the book of lies that already contain such choice labels as Kenyan, foreigner, Muslim, socialist, Nazi, communist, America Hater, so on and so forth. Where do they come up with all of this rubbish?

It’s tragic that we are still fighting the same battle of putting blacks on the bus as putting one in the White House. One would assume as America has grown older, it has grown wiser and resistant to fear of the “other”. The far right of the Republican Party is by far the most vocal—and has not had a single good thing to say about anything the man has done. Nor have they offered a single, workable alternative to any change or reform being offered. One has to wonder—and their own words explain themselves. They want him to fail at any possible cost. There is a nigger on the bus, and by God—we are going to teach him a lesson.

What is happening is far beyond any partisan posturing. Although a sufficient number of Americans voted a black into office—there is beyond initial conscience a certain sense of “buyers remorse”. No where is the resentment more apparent than in Republican attacks. Being modernly politically correct, these various loumouthed representatives of an America we need to move beyond–but dare not say what they are really thinking–are using other tools to marginalize and denigrate the president and his office. It’s high time that the Limbaughs, Hannitys, Malkins, and others of their ilk are put into their place. Well political fans, Barry is not going to the back of the bus, and it is time to work for the progress of the county—not narrow minded bigotry and party agendas.

Nuff said….

Tags: discrimination, Hannity, hatred, Joe Wilson, Limbaugh, Malkin, Obama, racism, republican, rhetoric

Fear Thy Neighbor

Sep 4

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Education, Political, Society | No Comments

The end is near—all of those people we thought were crazy, toting about signs claiming the fall of mankind are close to being right. At least as far as rationality goes in the greater American political discourse. The latest straw to be added to the pile of extremist fear mongering is that next week, President Obama is going to indoctrinate our children into a socialist Brownshirt brigade—to serve his evil ends. My information told me that the President was speaking to encourage students to remain in school and excel. That appears to be scary stuff the ultra right conservatives, affiliated whackos, and gullible members of the American public who keep buying into such right wing fear mongering. A story in today’s New York Times illustrates the stupidity: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/us/04school.html?_r=1&hpw

For the past several days, I have been engaged in a forum conversation about just this thing. It has been an opportunity to read just how screwed up average Americans have become—and how much they are buying into the hateful, deceit filled propaganda being shoveled out by the more vocal members of the Republican Party. Along with the expected paranoid delusional and conspiracy fanatics, village idiots, and those who are simply unable to resolve the fact that a negro couple now sleeps in the big bed at the White House—are those who are buying into every bit of rabble rousing fallacy being churned out by the Republican machine and their illustrious spokespeople. What they are writing is frightening, and the general attitude is one that threatens the premise that America has been built upon.

Over the past 50 years, we have seen a transition away from the once collegial Congress that shaped national ends, toward an extremely polarized and adversarial collection of powerhouses of polemic. Beginning with Barry Goldwater in the early 1960s, the Republican party has become increasingly bellicose, distanced from the interests of the ordinary citizen, and enamored in playing a game of fear and distrust in furthering its agendas—usually those of the elite rich and large corporations. This crew has progressively more seen government as akin to a sandlot football game—in that a particular team must win at any cost. This is in direct disregard for the fact that the majority of the history of Congress has led to a series of middle of the road comprises that have generally done well to serve the needs of the American people. Continue reading “Fear Thy Neighbor” »

Tags: children, Education, future, hate, idiots, indoctrinate, learning, message, Obama, propaganda, protest, Republicans, schools, socialist

Grade School Sweatshop

Aug 31

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Education, Society | No Comments

Articles about education—or the current sorry status of it in many public and private schools—always draws my attention. It is education and the ability to think and put that thought into reality that defines a nation and a culture—something that is critical to its stability and future. The quality of what passes for learning and knowledge and how it affects a people is best summed up by Thomas Jefferson in this quote:

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”

So when this morning an opinion piece in the Washington Post caught my eye, I had to see what the story was. In essence, students are arriving at the start of the school year, already academically tired. From what, one might ask—as summer vacation is a time of rest and recreation. But alas, the shortsighted “professionals” that have ruined the teaching sector have added a new dimension to a student’s life—summer homework.

It should not be a surprise—students have been falling behind on every measure of education with the exception of taking a standardized achievement test—and the competence in that is given by an entire year of a subject squandered in teaching the test. Now there are those who worry that children will become amnesiac dullards if they are not put to the task throughout the summer. Consider this one more effort to regiment and control the lives of the ordinary citizen-consumer. The article itself is here:

This trend and my tendency to think about the past in my old age—got me to pondering the status of education and the experience of students between my generation and the current crop of unfortunates that are subjected to this travesty we call the American educational system.

We tend to center on what the educational system was in that short window between the end of WWII and the introduction of constructionism into educational practice in the 1970s. It is important to remember that our educational system was reshaped during that period by the GI Bill, a Baby Boom, the rise of suburbia, new economies, and the Cold War. However fleeting, this is held as the gold standard, a time when students actually appeared to be learning something useful.

I remember during this time—beginning in 1961—teachers did not teach and students did not learn for the purpose of passing a statewide achievement test. We learned to acquire a solid set of skills that would serve us in the workplace, and in society. There was a correct answer and an accompanying narrative to what we were learning–and coming to our own frame of understanding and belief about something was not a factor. We had to learn the basics, and then we could use those tools to become critical thinkers. Continue reading “Grade School Sweatshop” »

Tags: constructionism, Education, failure, homework, learning, recreation, schools, summer vacation, teaching, testing

The War We Lost

Aug 2

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Economy, Health, Regional, Society | No Comments

In a surprise pre-dawn attack, Special Forces infiltrate an area and prepare to secure the perimeter. They hope to seal the enemy inside the cordon they have created, and to capture those targeted by intelligence agents without bloodshed or casualties to innocents and children. The risk of causing an explosion due to hidden stockpiles is very real, as is the problem of chemical contamination of the skirmish line during the raid. It is known that the enemy is well armed. If all goes well, another dangerous anarchist cell will have been eliminated in this very lengthy war.

If one thinks that this is just one more tale from Iraq, Afghanistan, or another part of the Middle East, then they are wrong. This is a story that unfolds around us every day in this country when law enforcement authorities confront an illegal drug lab and its operators. Here in Appalachia, methamphetamine production can be found in every county, produced and supported by users from all economic and social walks of life. And there are other kinds of drugs manufactured as well; Ecstacy, PCP, crack cocaine, designer amphetamines, hallucinogens, the list goes on. And then there is Tennessee’s number one cash crop, marijuana.

There are two realities here. The first and most important is that throughout the entire discernable history of all cultures of humanity, man has sought and found ways to change his perception of reality through plants, chemicals, and alcohol. No society has ever been free of this, and many encourage the behavior as it is built around significant cultural and spiritual rituals.

In the modern Western “civilized” world, it is estimated that approximately 25% of the population uses some sort of illegal or legal prescription drug (in a manner not intended) on a regular basis to feel different about themselves and the world they interact with. Perhaps another 10% are very occasional recreational users. Continue reading “The War We Lost” »

Tags: alternative economy, Appalachia, cocaine, decriminalization, drug policy, failure, marijuana, methamphetamine, neighborhoods, war

Whacko’s and Puppy Mills

Dec 8

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Humor, Society | No Comments

[Editorial Note: Six months before this rescue, a similar one was conducted in Lyle, Tennessee. 650 dogs were placed in a very short time. Meanwhile, the state reports nearly 2100 children remain languishing in foster care awaiting adoption .]

Big News!!! A redneck in Virginia has been arrested for breeding dogs in unsanitary and “inhumane” conditions. Hundreds of “concerned” citizens have been calling and traveling to Virginia to help out and adopt these poor animals. The Humane Society of the United States [HSUS] claims a victory for animal rights. All is well in fantasy land.

I find this rather confusing, and deeply disturbing. This writer has been following the reprehensible conduct of our President and Congress in enacting a decent bill to protect children’s health. Oil prices spiral up, Detroit is collapsing, and Wall Street imploding. The Chinese vomit cheap garbage upon us, and every day American troops are maimed or killed supporting a war of lies. Where is the outrage here? Yet the well intentioned whacko’s line up to help out a passel of dogs and protect their rights.

This writer spent over an hour reading word for word the American Constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights. No where–not in a single line–were animals or any rights given to them by God or Government mentioned. Yet I am informed by my legal counsel, Cheatham Steele & Tortwheazel that there are literally thousands of laws on the books protecting CERTAIN kinds of animals from mistreatment. A little research revealed that only the cuddly and amusing kind are protected. Continue reading “Whacko’s and Puppy Mills” »

Tags: abused children, animals, Appalachia, consumer, dogs, HSUS, puppy mills, rescue, social services, stupidity

Educate dat

May 6

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Education, Society | No Comments

A fellow by the name of Will Okun wants to rap and hip-hop his way into the minds of school kids. You see, Okun is a former English teacher who taught at an alternative school in Chicago—and he believes that one method of overcoming cultural barriers in learning is by entertaining the students in a way they can relate.

One has to wonder what has become of our educational system when teachers become entertainers in an attempt to surmount the apathy students can express for learning. A look backward might give a few clues. In the 1970s, psychologist Ken Gergen created quite a stir for espousing a “relational” view of the world. In this, he posits that

Traditional emphasis on the individual mind is replaced by a concern with the relational processes from which rationality and morality emerge.”

This new “constructionism” boils down to the idea of moving away from a common, imposed set of social beliefs to letting the individual come to their own frame of understanding based upon the dynamics of the time. Educators have embraced this rationale in full. Today, educational institutions try not to force history, humanities, and other academic subjects in the traditional “here is how it is” format—instead encouraging students to “come to their own frame of understanding.”

All of this has come to a rotten fruition in an age of multiculturalism, pluralism, and political correctness. God forbid that an institution impose its world view on someone else. Blacks will be marginalized by white history. Women will be disenfranchised by the great patriarchy. The truth is though, that these dynamics are part and parcel of American history, however diverse we wish to repaint our past. Continue reading “Educate dat” »

Tags: constructionism, Education, History, learning, multiculturalism, schools, teaching, Will Okun, world view

America For Sale

Apr 10

Posted by Patrick Thrush in Economy, National, Society | No Comments

The trouble with reaching 50 is that it enables one to have a personal view of the paradigm shift that has overwhelmed America and its economics. It was not that long ago in the scheme of things that “imported” usually held the connotation that the item was a special, to be coveted item. The phrase “made in” was universally seen as cheap junk and trinkets from Hong Kong or India.

Today it is estimated that over 60% of our consumer goods are manufactured abroad. I doubt that this figure includes the American produced goods that are assembled from materials and components made elsewhere. The rationale given by producers is that these sort of production systems make items more affordable for the consumer, and meet demand for the product.

The reality is that much of the demand is artificial due to marketing and an artificially suppressed price tag due to cheap foreign labor. We as citizens are convinced to buy cheaply made disposable goods—all in the name of profit for the corporations that funnel them to the retail market. So, let’s all roundly boo the big bad corporation.

Incredibly enough this control is largely financed by debt—borrowing against other debt financed ventures to keep it afloat. This economic house of cards bears a remarkable resemblance to a legal Ponzi scheme.”

Bashing the company is a pastime that has its roots in the 20^th century labor movement, but now is little more than a shadow of the meaning behind the original stereotype. Consumers conveniently forget that old John D. and his ilk are long gone and the real control of a corporation and its course are now completely held hostage by the power of its stockholders. Incredibly enough this control is largely financed by debt—borrowing against other debt financed ventures to keep it afloat. This economic house of cards bears a remarkable resemblance to a legal Ponzi scheme. Continue reading “America For Sale” »

Tags: alternative economy, bankruptcy, corporations, failure, foreign investment, investment bankers, outsourcing

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