Google Goes Satellite

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In their never ending attempt to control all that is Holy — or at least Internet — Google has added satellite photo coverage to it's new map service. Oh yeah, a birds eye view of the whole country! Well not really the whole country. Google has focused on metro areas for detailed images. Around the cities is a small buffer of lower-res images and then beyond that the rest is filled in with a standard low res image that restricts zooming in significantly. Not that you need a lot of detail in the country for driving directions, but it would still be cool to zoom in anywhere. One feature that is noticeably missing, in my opinion, is the ability to click on the map and find out where THAT is. I mean where IS that nice looking lake front property? Or that rugged mountain trail? Or that hot chick sun bathing in her backyard? :D Just kidding. The zoom is stops way before such voyeurism is possible. So don't worry, only the 15 US Agencies and 3 Foreign Governments with access to current and full-res imagery can see that book your reading out on your deck. If that doesn't put you at ease… know that the satellite images are old. Terrorists planning to assassinate me will find their Google Intel somewhat lacking when they discover their forested staging ground behind my house is now high-end condos. Hmmm. I bet that's a selling feature the developer didn't think of: retirement condos, reducing terrorism in your neighborhood.

Thanks Adam

MoveOn… Where?

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So I keep hearing about this MoveOn.org… and since I'm not sure where I'm moving on from and to, I figured I would give it a look-see. Apparently MoveOn is planning on doing just that… sslloowwllyy. Here's the first sentence, on the top story, on the main page: George W. Bush is going to make Social Security privatization a key part of his State of the Union address this week. For those of you scratching your heads: The State of the Union was February 2, 2005. There is also a petition to tell congress how much your against personal accounts. Their goal: to deliver 500,000 signatures to Congress in just 10 days… it doesn't really specify which 10 days, but it is an older story than the above one about the up-coming State of the Union. So that means they are about two months behind their target. Surprising really since they are only looking for 0.169% of all the people about to get screwed by stock market returns on their retirement savings! Being the altruistic soul that I am, I did what i could to help. I called up my old friend Barbra Boxer and told her about their plight and she told me would do what she could to help. At last count Barbra had added her name to the cause — well, let's just say a lot. Keep up the good work Barb! My favorite part of the site is where they want you "the masses" to donate money to fund the media propaganda against social security reform. Can I just keep my money and promise that I will sway my own opinion myself with pretty pictures and motivational music??? So after a quick look, I must admit that I still don't get it. Especially the Moving On part… move on from what? The current agenda? The landslide election for Red States? Why to I get a picture of Officer Barbrady saying "OK People, move along, there's nothing to see here."

Tom Delay And Such

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So Tom Delay has been in the news lately for putting his family on staff and -gasp- paying them for it. Now while many find this "unethical" it is a common practice in Washington… and I would argue in business as well. Everyone knows some shmoe working for a fortune 500 company because his uncle was a big wig with the company. I think it's more envy than ethics that we feel in those cases (why isn't MY uncle someone important…). Small businesses often employ family members, I know I do. In fact studies have show that family business have harder working employees because they are not just employees — their family. A concept not lost to big business as they try to build "team", "group", or "family" cohesion. Anyway, I digress. The irony is that the two people pointing the finger at Delay have done more and worse… Harry Reid not only has family working for him but has sponsored legislasion that gave kickbacks to a lawfirm that employs 5 family members. Nancy Pelosi was slapped with a $21,000 fine by the Federal Election Commission for funnelling more than $100,000 in illegal contributions to Democratic candidates in late 2002 as she was vying to become Democratic leader. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

News From The Front

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The latest from the Iraq…

hello all, as i have previously stated, sorry for the mass email as i hate getting mass email. however, i don't have time to write everyone. just wanted to tell you about my day today.

i realized that i am in a war zone, but it became much more clear today. the 278 conducted a huge raid consisting of approx. 600 us troops and approx. 200 iraqi army. we took down a bad guy, (some sheik) which some believe is a major player. none of our guys got hurt, and as far as i know not a round was fired.

i was on another mission later today, so i wasn't able to go on the above one. i went out today to clear all our routes (of bombs and bad guys, IEDs, etc.) which is something i commonly do. however, as we were going through a local town on our return from the mission, so were the iraqi army from their mission. we were driving side by side with three of our vehicles and several of their's loaded with IA guys. we bottle necked in traffic, and then it happened. someone either fired at us or the IA; or one of the IA freaked out and fired for some unknown reason. we heard a few shots, then we heard at least 100 rounds firing all at the same time. the IA are a jumpy group. we looked for enemy targets but found none and never fired a shot.

but it was pretty freaky. i was surprizing calm. i just got my rifle ready and looked for something bad. i also made the vehicle commander ask if there were any injured (since i'm a medic). none that anyone knows of. but after the inital volley of rounds fired, into the air it seems, some other IA and iraqi police called for a cease fire and things returned to normal like it was a common thing. not 2 minutes later, a kid was smiling and waving as we passed by again like they always do.

so be glad that these occurances are not an everyday part of your lifestyle. when i first got here, hearing mortor rounds fire and hit and gunshots were something that alarmed me and i got 'ready for war'. now i don't even bother to ask what the explosion was i am so used to it. be thankful that you and our kids DON'T have to get used to it.

this 'war' is nothing like what other previous wars have been. i have it easy in compraision. however, the ignorace i lived in while in america – no matter how many times i watched 'saving private ryan' – is forever gone. be thankful that you live where you do, and aren't woken at 3 am to mortar rounds. also be thankful that america hasn't completely rejected God yet. we are more blessed than any other place by far, even with our problems.

just wanted to share my experience today and the lesson it taught me.

may Christ be very real to you.

don

All men die, some men never really live.