Month: January 2007

Posted on

Colorado Amendment 41 Goes to Far

Colorado Amendment 41 goes to far in limiting gifts that state and local govermnet employees, elected officials, and their families can except. Gifts can be no more than $50.
But what is happening is that families are not able to except scholarships over $50 because it is felt that this would violate the ban. Why can’t students who compete fairly with others except these scholarships? There is no bribe or any other intention than providing students money to attend college.

The Denver Post looked at this today in a story, “Amend. 41 Holding Up Scholarships“. Two students who were awarded 9Kids Who Care Award scholarships will not be able to accept them because at least one of their parents works for a state or local government.

Granted Amendment 41 is being reviewed to see if scholarships are covered by this, but if you read the letter of the law, it is. This problem should be immediately fixed, but it can’t without a vote of the people because it was an amendment to the state constitution.

This is why I voted against this amendment. It went to far and overreached in limiting gifts and money that officials may receive. There were already plenty of laws and ethics that are out there without having to amend the state constitution.

It is only creating more problems than we had before and it will probably cost us more money in the future because we will have to amend the amendment to allow children of permanent employees of our state and local governments to receive scholarships to attend school. Heaven knows they need it because they don’t nearly make enough money to pay to attend college, especially in Colorado.

Posted on

WordPress 2.1 Working Well

Well I just updated to WordPress 2.1 and everything seems to be working well.
The only problem that I had was that I had to upload a couple files again to get it to work properly.

But it is worth it and will be interesting to see how this new version works.

It has some pretty cool features but the favorite one of mine is the autosave on drafts.  Too many times I hit the wrong button and poof, my long post is gone.

Online media beat seems to think the same, WordPress 2.1 is here.

Posted on

Unrestricted Music Coming Soon…Hopefully

I hope that the music industry is seriously thinking of providing DRM free music. This would be a tremendous step forward in the progression of the internet and the music industry.
In an article in the New York Times, “Record Labels Contemplate Unrestricted Digital Music” the Chief Executive of Real Networks thinks that it will happen in a couple years.

“It will happen between next year and five years from now, but it is more likely to be in one to two years,” said Rob Glaser.

I think that this will be amazing. There have been increases in people being more open to unrestricted music. E-Music has seen success and the Pod Safe Music Network has really helped independent and sole-promotion artists get play time without having to bribe radio stations.

I can’t wait for this to happen. I just wish the record companies will get a clue and do it sooner rather than later.

Posted on

MyFoodDiary.com

I have joined the affiliate program with MyFoodDiary.com.  I have been using this website to help with a diet and it has really helped me focus and keep on the program.
My Food Diary

So, if you are interested, just click on the link here.

Posted on

Hilary’s In

Hilary Clinton has posted on her website that she is in for a 2008 Presidential run.
Read CNN’s story.

Read the Washington Post‘s coverage.

The field gets more crowded and the major contenders are coming in.

Posted on

Elk Public House in Spokane

If you are ever in Spokane, Wash., you need to go have lunch or dinner at the Elk Public House.
This restaurant reminds you of many public houses that appear over Europe. The music is wonderful, the beer selection is incredible, and the food hits the spot.

The dish to try is the Reuben Sandwich. I have had many Reubens across the country, but whenever I am going through Spokane I stop and have one. It is warm and the house made sauerkraut is some of the best that I had.

The Reuben goes best with the roasted corn pasta salad. It has a good spice and taste and is unique to the Elk Public House.

To wash it all down it has a wide selection of beer, but it does not come better if you have a Mac n Jac Amber. It is only on draft and available only in the northwest.

If you are in Spokane, make a visit to the Elk Public House, you won’t regret it.

Posted on

Dvorak Nails it with Deep Linking

Deep linking is something that every blogger and most all people who manage websites do. They link to web addresses other than the top level domain.
In a column in PC Mag from December 27, 2006, Hate Deep Linking? Lock the Door, Dummy!, John Dvorak hits it on the nose when if you don’t want it, don’t let them do it.

I agree that if this ever gets enforced across the web, the internet as we know it will go away. It hits at the very basic building blocks of why the Internet has taken off. It allows information to be linked and shared and other links, tying it all together. That is why it is called the web.

If you don’t want people deep linking to your site, use the technology that is available today to block it. If you allow it, I agree with Dvorak:

The message a judge should hear is that if a site technically allows deep linking, then it is tacitly and overtly allowing it—perhaps encouraging it. The links are fair game, period. If it tries to block it, then it is not allowing it. That’s that. Simple. It works. No more complaining.

Judges who will be ruling on this need to understand the technology that they are ruling on and make rules that apply. If someone tells you to stop linking to their site, respect them and take it down. But if you have site and don’t want people to deep link into your site, then block it. If you don’t, you can’t complain.

Posted on

It’s Cold Today in Denver

It is nice and cold here in Denver this morning.  The temperature is 0 degrees with a wind chill of -7.  It is not as bad as Billings, Mont. with a wind chill of -40 this morning.
Stay warm everyone.