Franscrollow

I just wanted to write about Franscrollow. Baratunde Thurston coined the term which is an amalgamation of Friend+Fan+Subscribe+Follow.  There are so many ways to track favorite people!! Which do you do, or what word do you use to refer? Well Franscrollow is the solution.

I want to thank @Leolaporte, Brian (@schwood), @Baratunde and @Veronica for a great TWiT this week.  Time very well spent.

I must say I am with Brian on the Net Neutrality issue, Yes we need the net to be free of monopolistic or unfair controls, but its worse if the government is regulating it. All they need is one issue to shoehorn their way in and we will be forever lost to worse and worse regulation. The net as it stands is functioning beautifully and beyond expectation. The hive mind I love thee. We should apply anti-competitive laws as they stand , on a case by case basis, and not have some broad restrictive overarching laws with unintended consequences, like all other laws bring.  Anyhoo, Franscrollow me on twitter @Mr_GRE3N

PS Google returns no searches for Franscrollow.NOTE:Nevermind I typed it in wrong.

Update:2 Dudes, not a flood of hits(3 as of writing) but Google ‘Franscrollow’. Also when I tweeted about it @baratunde congratulated me on my non-accomplishment. There would be no post without you Mr Thurston, thank you. I wish you (and Brian for that matter) could be on TWiT every week.

Maybe now it will and I’ll get traffic for this blog. I’ll start writing here again , I promise, Just need to talk about some favorite things. Cooking some Ideas. And to anyone new, a lot of my posts drip in sarcasm that I assume comes across to make my points. (I try to make it obvious when I’m using it, none in this post.. its ok you are safe)

Lest We Forget.

Today marks the 91st anniversary of the end of the first World War. It is a day here in Canada where we remember the sacrifices made by our armed forces.  We remember why we had to fight the wars we did.  In terms of Canadian identity the role our nation played in both the first and second world war shaped our independence and built a foundation for the country  to compete and have influence on the global stage. We fought for the freedom of people overseas, and continue to do so, in hopes that the fight would never reach our shores.

Lest we forget our heroes and their sacrifice.

The Fall of The Wall. 20 Years of Liberty

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the day officials of the East German government opened borders for citizens to leave the impoverished communist country. The Berlin Wall, the largest symbol of communist tyranny was overcome that day, and would make the beginning of the end of communism in eastern europe, and the collapse of the soviet union. While to this day more work needs to be done to repair the decades of stagnation and poverty, time will work its magic, its only been 20 years but progress has been made for Europe at least.

I have found a few very nice reads on the subject.

Celebrate in Berlin with world leaders.

Read a little about Reagan’s role in this Time article.

Here is Doug Bandow via CATO, about why and what we celebrate. Also via CATO an Indian perspective about why the wall fell, in regards to freedom by Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar. I’ll add that CATO has a bunch of articles related to socialism and communism this week, do check them all out.

I’ll do my best to find some more articles, but for now please enjoy. Mark the day by taking advantage of those freedoms you enjoy.

Another post is in my head for Wednesday, can you guess what it will be about?

Wherever you are goodnight and good luck.

Quote of the day: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this Wall. – Ronald Reagan

Looking Back: The Eagle Has Landed.

An occassion such as this deserves a post. Today, July 20th 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11′s landing on the surface of the moon. Apollo built off of the Mercury and Gemini missions, of which explored the tech and skills needed to survive in orbit and in space.  After the tragic deaths of the Apollo 1 crew, the remaining missions prepared for the procedures needed to travel and land on the lunar surface. Apollo 8 and 10 both went to the moon without landing.

Our culture and future was forever changed the moment Armstrong stated

“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind”

That moment and the years that follow are a game changer. later it would be shown that the space race was no race at all, and exposed that the Soviet union was falling apart economically. The world was forever changed due to the advances made during the program.

So there you have it I could say a lot more but I won’t. You should spend the time reading about it. NASA has audio photos and video up on their website, there’s always wikipedia. I’ll leave you all today with the words left there at the landing site 40 years ago today:

“Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.”

Anticipated Games of 09.

I thought I’d do some light hearted fun for therapy from my previous endeavour.

Just want to point out some of the games I’m looking forward to this year. Now as with every form of entertainment there are always surprises. Films you have no clue about until they come out and they blow you away (the matrix, sixth sense) It’s pretty hard for games to do that, but not impossible, perhaps it’s a game that’s just under your own personal radar, or one you don’t have high expectations for, until either you try it out or your friends/ media types bug you until you do. Anyway.. Aside from those mystery titles here are a few I’m pawing after at the moment:

Ghostbusters:

I’m so pumped for this one. Written and voiced by the minds behind the films. Brilliant! This game looks better and more pretty each time I see it. Some game play was showed off around GDC this year and it looks great.  Most people don’t know this but there was a pretty good Ghostbusters game out already way back on the genesis. A side scrolling contra esq shooter, where you fought minions, wrangled ghosts, fought bosses, earned money and bought weapons. Everything from that game is back in this one. Mind you the last one was missing a character (Winston just like the other games left him out) and that game got pretty hard near the end. Anyway I’m digressing. This game has everyone in it, it looks great, it’s exactly what I’ve always wanted in a Ghostbusters, or movie licence game. Looks like it will be pretty hard to mess it up from this point, and I’ll be playing it even if it scores 3′s across the board.

Batman Arkham Asylum:

This looks great. It looks as if Rocksteady has put a lot of love into this game. They aren’t pigeon-holed into making a game based on an upcoming movie, and that allows them to be creative with the visual style, story, and game play elements.  They seem to be using their own take on the character, similar to a more modern style. This batman looks as if he kills, which is darker and grittier then we often see. The look of the game is gritty, twisted and dark.  They put their own spin on the characters, and the game play is trying things in concert that haven’t been done before. Playing the mind games with the AI in stealth mode looks great, and from what else I’ve read, the combat works very nicely. It seems this too, if all goes well, will pan out wonderfully, and I am super juiced for it.

The Beatles: Rock Band.   Do I need to say anything? Not much is known about the game, other then it will differ from standard Rock Band formula. I could speculate on and on about what I think is in it, or should be in it. For instance it would be nice to have 3 guitar tracks per song, keyboard/piano tracks, singing in harmony and every single song period.  When it comes down to it in the end, I’d be happy just to get a good quality sound and a natural feeling, fun note-track out from Apple and Harmonix respectively. There is no doubt it will turn out great with Harmonix track record, popularizing the genre with Guitar Hero, Breaking the mould with Rock band, and a near perfect history of fun and respectful note tracks. Rockband tracks just play better than Neversoft’s GH tracks.  Just about a month or 2 ago Harmonix and EA unveiled that the game would indeed be labelled with the Rock Band name. My guess was that Apple wanted to differentiate its product from everything else, but gave into pressure. It’s clear that the Rock Band name carries with it a lot of weight and will attract some business.  So yeah can’t wait to get my hands on that.

Update: Bioshock 2: Good interview here with Gamespot.

We don’t know too much about the new game , other then it takes place a few years later, and you play a big daddy.  Many people were worried when they heard a startup developer in Take Two was handling the game.  Then we found out however that 2k Marin is made up of ex 2kboston/Irrational developers, fresh of of Bioshock. Next I heard that the lead on the game was the creative design lead on the Fort Frolic stage from Bioshock, and that set my mind at ease. I can’t wait to play this, i’m sure so long as the story is engaging and they don’t go overboard with new features that Bioshock 2 will be another amazing creepy adventure.

On top of that, there is , Assassins’ Creed 2 and the halo 3 expansion Halo3con aka Halo: ODST.

There seems to be a theme developing. Every game I’m looking forward to (besides being on xbox360) is that it’s either a licence or a sequel.  I guess there is nothing wrong with being safe.  However I wouldn’t discredit any of them. The licensed stuff seems to being doing new and interesting things and the old stuff well that’s just a little more of what I already love.  It all comes back to those mystery games, for me. What games get added to my planed purchases?  My guess is a lot of unannounced stuff, with E3 a few months away, we will see some games that were under the radar and others that will be seen for the first time.  Thus is the life of the modern gamer, always a waiting game.   But if I can afford it, I still have a lot already to sink my teeth into. From games of yesteryear, to DLC and just stuff I haven’t completely milked or finished, I’ll be pretty busy this summer.

So I’m a Racist Now, Janeane?

Uggg It’s so hard being a libertarian sometimes. Depending on the issue I can be accused of being a baby-killing hippie who hates the troops and wants the terrorists to win, or a greedy flat-earther who is violently resistant to change.  I assure you I am none of those things. Guess what? Apparently you can add a few more things to that list.

Have a laugh at this.

I found the story on Hotair, and I haven’t been this angry with anyone in a while. Not only does she say the stupidest and most hateful things, but she says them without confrontation. Apparently only liberals are sane logical people, while everyone else has a brain disorder. It all makes sense now!  Your argument is completely won, seeing as because you are the only rational, logical people, you must be always right. If that wasn’t bad enough she has the audacity to say that anyone not supporting socialistic Obama government, those in favor of responsible fiscal policy for which the country was founded, are  RACIST.

No no no. we don’t have an opinion. We don’t care about taxes; we don’t care about pork, we don’t care about authoritarian government. It doesn’t matter the issue; even if Obama’s slices spending in half, catches Osama bin Laden and wins the world series with the Cubs all in one day, we would come out to rally against him because he is a BLACK man in the WHITE house! Forget the fact that the tea parties are just as against republican pork spending as well as the democratic congress and administration. Forget the fact that we are just as upset at the Bush spending as we are the bailouts and other bull.

She speaks about the brain as if she is an expert. probably citing some bullshit non peer-reviewed quak study.

Does Keith step in to say ‘wait a sec , is what your saying actually true, or is this just your opinion?’  Ugg why isn’t there someone from the other side of the argument there? Heck, I’d settle for a democrat, there are plenty of democrats on this side of the tax issue. Fiscal Conservative democrats or independents?  Can’t Keith get someone on his show to counter point this nut job? Not everyone that opposes crippling deficit spending or big government is a toothless gun toting, bible thumping republican.

I’m fed up with media on the left and the right, if its not Oberman being a retard, its Glen Beck being a moron. At least there are some voices of reason on tv.  Sure this is a little aside but I can’t wait for this democratization of media to kick itself up a notch.  At least @aplusk gets it, I was happy to hear him mention Kevin Rose and digg as an example on Oprah.(WHAAT? My mom told me and Kevin tweeted it!) The sooner we get real journalism on the web, the sooner I dont have to listen to quaks and alarmists and crazies just trying to push ratings.

EDIT: Dobbs on Garofalo (normaly not a fan of Dobbs) but he is dead on here. Thanks Chris.

EDIT2: Mark Levin :  on the subject

Alright well I’ve learned my lesson for the day, my brain doesn’t function properly and I’m a racist. now if you excuse me:

I gotsa lynch mob to attend, where’s my pointy hood?

PS  Janeane… you were the WORST actress in Mystery Men. Oh yeah, I went there.(I love that movie ) But YOU suck. Now I’m glad you know that you suck!

PPS: If you love me, digg this story and follow me @Mr_GRE3N

Bailouts and Bull:Public Pre-k, a Wall and the American Dream.

Previously on Sirius Thought.…

I am passing along John Stossel’s special “Bailouts and Bull“(full segments here , you might have to dig after a week), ran during the 20/20 block on ABC. For years John has been the only member of the mainstream media to tackle lousy government policy, expose porkulus spending, and support libertarian ideas, and promotes free market capitalism.  His weekly 10 minute segment on 20/20, “Gimmie a Break” is probably the best reporting on TV each week it airs.  It’s a miracle his bosses at ABC haven’t fired him years ago, but my guess is they value his dedication to real journalism, and he brings in quite a bit of viewership.  Every once in a while he will get his own hour-long special, which are always fun to watch.

Milton Friedman once said of John “Stossel is that rare creature, a TV commentator who understands economics, in all its subtlety.”

Good enough for ya? lets continue..(and now the conclusion)

**PartIII**

Obama and friends and many Americans want the government to nationalize pre-k. This is crazy; we all know that the pre-k sector is highly competitive. It is big business, and it should be that way.  Parents that want to make sure their small children are in good hands.  They want to know that their child is learning to play and learning to socialize, and the competition in the marketplace, provides various programs and unique ideas for accomplishing these goals.  Mind you the cheap places are overrated babysitters, and some parents think there is nothing better for their child then their own time and attention.  The bottom line is that privately controlled and funded Pre-K provides choice. Choice for parents on how to teach their children, when or if they need to be away from them for work.  The liberals will argue that this is an equity issue, that not all parents can afford decent pre-k schooling, not everyone can send their kids to expensive schools.  Universal Pre-K will allow all children to enjoy the benefits of early schooling. I call bull; U.P.K. will ensure that all children get poor schooling, that the government will force you to be away from your children, that they can start indoctrinating them even sooner in life.  Public schools K-12 are already poorly managed.  People say public schools need more money and they will get better, that is bullshit, the government has spent more and more money year after year and the schools are still crumbling.  It isn’t a money issue it’s a management issue, teachers unions, no competition between schools, fixed curriculums and a lack of creativity are some of the factors leading to the poor public school system.  And now the Dems want your kids in the system earlier.

“The government is providing K-12 education. and unfortunately, we’re in the toilet,”  “to say that they are the ones to define what quality is, is laughable.” says Mia Levi a parent, and owner of 6 pre-schools.  She realizes the truth that without choice and without competition quality degrades. She knows running 6 daycares that if her services aren’t exceeding expectations then parents will take their children elsewhere. If you are a parent I urge you to fight this with everything you have. It might seem like the easy way out, but in the end you are just damaging your child’s development. You are the best thing for your child, and to take away your choice means the government raises your child.

That is all I have to say about that for now, I could go on and on and on.

Next topic, I’ll keep brief.  John tackles the bull about the need for a wall preventing immigrants from entering the country.

Those that want a wall along the border are not seeing the whole picture; they do not understand the complexities involved.  For one they don’t understand the benefits of a mobile workforce between 2 countries.  To say this bluntly, the Mexicans are willing to do jobs Americans won’t do, and they will do it for less money, because they are better off doing that, then staying in Mexico. The bottom line is that people will do whatever they can to get in, wall or no wall, because America provides opportunities they do not have. This isn’t about taking jerbs, on the surface that is what it seems, but everybody fails to realize that in a generation these migrant workers will be in a position to create jobs.  America is a nation of immigrants, every single last one of them, and same for Canada, you are all related to someone that came here from Europe or Asia (I’m looking at you ‘Native Americans’!)  We are all leaves on a family tree, whom at its roots reside people that came here with nothing or next to nothing, and built themselves a society we are all proud of, 2 of the largest economies in the world, and the cultural envy of many.

Getting back to the topic, what we need isn’t a wall; we need to make it easier for hard working people to legally immigrate.  I don’t like lazy immigrants, in my opinion anyone not worth their weight in gold should be shipped back wherever they come from, but people that will work hard, pay taxes and contribute to society are all right in my books.  My ancestors came from Ireland and Scotland and who knows where else, and made a life for themselves, a series of lives which ended up with me. I have no right denying that experience to anyone else that wishes to work hard. Some people with regards to the wall want to play the security card, but the fences and barriers up now are easily penetrated, spending millions on a wall will not accomplish anything. The 9/11 terrorists came into the country with tourist visas and some lived in the country for years before they did what they did. A few horrible exceptions shouldn’t be a reason to prevent any honest law abiding citizen from staying in our countries.

Lastly, John showcases a movement that seeks to degrade the idea of the American Dream. These people want to tell you that, in America (and I’m certain the argument can be said about Canada as well) a hard working person cannot make it anymore. That the system is designed to help the rich at the expense of the poor.  Besides the million things wrong with all of that, I’ll focus on one. And that is that the system is not against anybody.  If you are too lazy or unwilling to let it work for you, then you will fail. The brave gentleman in the special, set out to prove these people wrong.  He hid the fact that he was college educated. Moved to a random town with 25 bucks, picked up low paying low skill jobs, and managed to rent a decent apartment and buy a truck, within a year or so.  How many countries in the world can the poor do such a thing? Only the developed ones, only with countries that allow for easy labour mobility. These people claim there is an assault on the middle class, that people are getting poorer and poorer, as the rich get richer.  These are pure lies; the middle class has seen more than doubling of real income in the past 60 years.  Case closed.

For more detail visit the write-ups at abcnews.com or watch the videos. Those were my comments, I hope they were insightful. I’ll be back with more Sirius Thought some other day, for now, please take care.