I Just Fell In Love with RSS Feeds & XML All Over Again!!!

Today I started checking out the various RSS feed reading software in greater detail as well as various websites such as Del.icio.us and Technorati.

But with the Google's new feature announced today to search blogs and its accompanying RSS feeds from the results, you can obtain content and information from a ton of websites without having to go to each one and logging in if any website requires user registration.

I did notice that there is more than one link to visit the Google Blog Search website and the link given above is easier to use than the Blog Search found on Blogger's website even though Google owns Blogger and both websites return the same information.

The Google Blog Search just returns the results in a format similar to any Google search result and more results are found on a single page.

The best new observation today is that it is going to become a de facto requirement to have a RSS feed using XML if the website is going to be recognized as being worthwhile within the new Web 2.0 era.

There is no way to get around this requirement either. Either create or obtain the capability to add RSS feeds to your website or risk losing visitors and especially repeat visitors to your website.

Another mind blowing tool found today is that it is also no longer a requirement to be able to do any heavy lifting or heavy programming in order to incorporate RSS feeds or XML into a website.

Just locate or create a search query FROM ANY WEBSITE that returns any search results within a RSS feed that you want and you can create both a RSS feed and the necessary Javascript code at the same time to place INFORMATION FROM ANOTHER WEBSITE into your own website.

This feature alone will create opportunities for people to visit a website over and over again.

The only thing that I have yet to locate in a format that I like is the ability to create and add tags to websites that I would normally bookmark or create a favorite for as well as having the ability to tag a webpage on demand.

I had one extension added to Firefox that did the job, but I removed it while trying to eliminate an error message that has been popping up everytime Firefox is started lately. Since the error message still appears since it was removed, I may reinstall it.

But as a result of these findings, I know that it will be virtually impossible to look at websites and the internet itself in the same way ever again.

My tagged websites are located here.

del.icio.us Tags: xml blog blogs del.icio.us technorati rss google blogging firefox wysiwysell

Sec. Chertoff, Why Were You Running With Scissors?

Knight Ridder newspapers have recently printed a story that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was in control of the federal government's emergency response versus FEMA Chief Michael Brown.

Not that Brown did not deserve to be fired but as I mentioned before, Chertoff does not need to get too comfortable now that Brown has been disposed of.

The Art of Bureaucracy (a book that I should write but would get too sick in the process) states that Chertoff should blame Brown for as much damage that Chertoff now has to fix as much as humans will believe.

But the subtle self-deception that accompanies such actions includes statements that will boomerang to reveal that Chertoff either knew information in advance that directly reveals his own missteps that contributed to a delayed response or that Chertoff indirectly contributed to a delay by not acting when it was within his power to do so.

The two horns of the bull states that if one does not get you, then the other one will.

Since everyone clearly knows that W will not resign over a huge act of literally sleeping on the job (as Newsweek has reported) that lead to deaths on domestic soil this time around versus foreign soil, the next head that has required the sharpening of the guillotine has to be Chertoff's.

Let's now see Chertoff becoming extremely visible away from Washington in order to get sent home just as Brown was.

The sweep is clearly going on the federal level before it will undoubtedly begin at the state level. The states will have to have commission hearings before they take action I believe.

FEMA Chief Falls On His Sword or Was He Pushed?

As a tombstone could easily predict because I sure saw it coming, The former head of FEMA Michael Brown turned in his resignation today after getting sent back to the dugout on Friday.

W had him benched Mafia style by having Homeland Security Michael Chertoff pull the trigger on Michael Brown versus doing it himself.

But Chertoff need not get too comfortable since he needs to get the Soprano "let's go for a ride" treatment himself after having the bald headed audacity to say that there was no scenario for a Katrina-like impact on New Orleans.

The simple now want to say that there was a scenario for a hurricane to hit New Orleans or for the levees to break but not both to occur at the same time.

Anyone who opens their lips or documents their stupidity on paper or electronically should be fired at the press conference versus behind closed doors.

I have been either listening to or watching footage from the major networks and other media sources that have been compiled on a website entitled Crooks and Liars. To hear the insanity come from the mouths of supposedly grown up adults is both stunning, gut-wrenching sickening, and grounds for treason in their hearts and minds of any American who knows anything about American history.

I just started using a few websites and online tools to create tags within the past month I believe. The amount of tags created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has clearly struck a sensitive nerve within me, but I already knew that leadership has a been a favorite interest of mine for many years and incompetent leadership and bureaucracy is a pet peeve that has been in my family for generations on my father's side I know and remember for sure.

My father served in the Korean War and I remember nights at the dinner table or during the news hearing him either go off or become livid at the presence of incompetence and/or bureaucracy witnessed at work or on the news.

Knowing my uncles, I know that my father was not the only one who felt this way:D)

At recent family gatherings, hearing the tales of the fights of the sons within my father's family (my father and uncles alike--as a team or against each other) are legendary like The Lord of The Rings;D)

But unfortunately, bureaucracy and incompetence has been stealing elections as if cameras and microphones and the internet were never invented;)

I did recently learn that the governor of Louisiana is indeed a Democrat as well as one of the US Senators (female) who was defending the federal government. Yesterday or this past weekend they went on the attack to get the heat off themselves. I guess they read my blog on the political aftermath of the storm;)

The Louisiana US Senator Mary Landrieu has supposedly threatened W. This is not a threat from me, but if I hear anyone else grandstanding and going through a roll call to open their statement or respond during a press conference with a protocol best reserved for peacetime, I am going to send them both my doctor's bill and a bill for the dry cleaning or disaster recovery that is going to take place within my home or car after hearing their bureaucratic bile.

Then I will think about offering them a ride myself;) Can you hear me now?

But let us not forget the statement of the year: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job"!!!

eBay Buys Skype: When Money Burns Your Pocket

Well ebay has signed up to buy Skype for between $2.6 to $4.1 billion dollars.

The CEO for Skype is 33 years old I believe. Can you say blessed? I'm happy for him and his descendants.

Yes, I still hate the deal because it is even more clearer how ebay is going to integrate Skype to the detriment of its customers but not without showing the same customers that they really do not need ebay , PayPal, or Skype unless they want to work with them.

ebay plans on charging buyers and sellers to communicate to each other via conversations conducted online computer to computer.

This simple strategy is really stupid since e-mail conversations are sufficient.

But the new game is to charge sellers (for Skype inquiries leading to potential sales) who buy advertising from ebay just like from Google (with its keywords format) but within a Yellow Pages style format instead. It is called pay-per-call versus pay-per-click.

So they are really selling leads now that essentially have been free on ebay if potential customers made contact with the sellers.

All of this tells me that ebay knows that its past strategy is really game over within North America at a minimum.

What ebay really wants the capability to do is to charge for e-mail;) This would solve their problem better than buying Skype will.

Immediately tonight I changed my Skype profile to not use any information that has been used with ebay or PayPal.

Since I already have been using Gizmo Project and its free capability to make even international calls computer to computer. So who needs Skype?

I know that Gizmo Project is going on the block to be sold and I think that Microsoft may have an inroad to make a purchase.

ebay likes the network effect or the "piling on" effect as I call it. After the innovators and early adopters choose a product or service, the rest of society suddenly jumps on the bandwagon because the feature suddenly gets a new round of media coverage. Most have said that the fax technology increased in value with each purchase of another fax machine. But Skype has been free essentially until this deal goes through.

Only the current uninformed masses have the capability to make the network or piling on effect happen though and not ebay . This deal is like buying the golden egg versus the goose that lays the golden eggs.

So ebay goes out and buys Skype for this golden egg capability.

What ebay or some other creative company really needs to do in order to get a new mega round of customers is to start buying and/or becoming an outsource provider of solid, professional, customer service for major corporations.

Oops, but in order to provide customer service to other companies---you have to have decent customer service for yourself. ebay has failed within this category shortly after it went public and clearly after it bought PayPal. PayPal has not been the same after it was acquired by ebay .

The customer service component of businesses worldwide is still lacking and forces customers to spend time and money to get the great service that they originally thought they were buying.

But the buck does not stop there. With the growing visibility of RSS and Atom feeds, XML, and RSS readers, all buyers and sellers are immediately empowered to conduct business on their own terms regardless of what websites have acted as clearinghouses before.

Even PayPal is not really needed as a payment processing method either. There are companies that will allow individuals to create merchant accounts just as easily as businesses have opened merchant accounts in the past. To even reduce potential losses due to fraud, there are many other payment options available that will keep your information as secure as the major companies are offering or better.

So the only people that will use the current brand name services are those who are most susceptible to believe everything that they see advertised. If you are easily programmed, then these companies are more than willing to reduce the load on your wallet or purse;)

There is a segment of ebay sellers who will lose deeply if past history provides any indication within the short to intermediate term of the post Skype acquisition.

ebay sellers who are either new to selling online, minorities, introverted, and/or without great real-time communications skills will see their sales suffer if the expectation of being fully able to contact sellers overwhelmingly increases.

Not that minorities have poor communication skills by any means, but racism will undoubtedly become a part of transactions as a characteristic ebay has not taken into consideration in its purchase of Skype.

As one old internet cliche' goes, "On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog" as one cartoon featured a canine using a desktop computer.

The willingness to conduct business without racism has been a clear plus of the internet and online commerce but this ebay -Skype deal is going to push the internet into a realm that will not benefit anyone.

I can see a reverse-integration to self-segregation on the part of minority communities though. Many people will then use Skype to create relationships and conduct business without ebay even more. So ebay really has bought the gun, bullets, drugs, and alcohol to commit suicide on its own terms. Can you hear me now?

I have been working myself to create a solution to enable people to conduct business at a faster pace than previously imagined. The only hurdle that we have recently faced is to create a solution to assist within the Hurricane Katrina aftermath.

We have finally found a particular niche that we have seen unfilled. We have really sought to not reinvent the wheel as found elsewhere and now believe that we will have something publicly available to really make a difference.

But to the companies with money burning your pockets, just check out Quantum Concierge because it is going to make the eBay-Skype deal look like a newbie buyer who suddenly finds out that there are more options for people than previously imagined.

I do not know if Quantum Concierge can be sold at a discount as Skype or to an eager buyer like eBay yet though;) If it does, then after getting some therapy and making several huge donations and contributions, we will take on any and all comers like eBay head on;)

eBay
Skype
gizmo
paypal

FEMA's Chief Smoking Gun

Oh well, FEMA Chief has been noticeably absent and not available from recent media requests.

If he goes down into the same rabbit hole as VP Cheney, he might as well submit his resignation after tonight's news that he waited until after the storm hit to take action and told other agencies on the local levels to stand down and not travel to the impacted areas reaches the airwaves tomorrow.

There appears to be an internal memo documenting his actions.

Hurricane Katrina

Politics

W to Mama Bush: Hang Up The Phone!!!

Does anybody remember having telephone conversations back in the day and having someone pick up the phone and start dialing or hearing some other sound?

Well, former First Lady Barbara Bush has picked up the phone and evidently she forgot her daily medication I hope.

"Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them," Mrs. Bush told American Public Media's "Marketplace" program.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo, we realized that some people were indeed "modernized" one or two generations, but did they have to experience near death and absolute loss to get in the right line?

The not-so-subtle sincerity of such comments really make you wonder if somebody fell asleep in a room that was just painted without proper ventilation.

When the President told the head of FEMA "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job", I wondered if he was talking about the FEMA director in terms of getting coffee or opening a door or something;)

Clearly he was not talking about FEMA's shuffling of papers and photo ops of the president while a national disaster was unfolding.

But still these events happened after Air Force One dropped to a low altitude in order for the President to observe the damage.

No wonder such empathy is running rampant.

With such comments being thrown around, why not send several buses of "refugees" to stand and pass the coffin of Chief Justice Rehnquist lying in state?

Maybe somebody will "get it" then.

Until then, does anybody have any buttons from the 80s that said "Just Say No To Drugs"?

Even the White House Chief of Staff McClellan made me wonder if somebody is spiking the red Kool-Aid with Ecstasy or Crystal Meth. But no, these are supposedly LOVE drugs.

barbara bush

New Orleans Should Have Been At The Top of Many Priority Lists

The immediate demographic shift of New Orleans (NO) is going to be understandable while the working class that will occupy the city is the wild card that all of us will have to witness over time.

I have been wondering the hows and whys of Texas getting so deeply involved, but it is further inevitable that a new form of post-Katrina corruption will be discovered in Texas and other places by people receiving funds without providing any assistance whatsoever.

I have always wanted to visit the glamorous NO that no longer exists, but something always interfered and kept us away.

I now wonder about the Essence Music Festival, the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International Convention, Sugar Bowl, and a host of other annual events that filled NO.

What event could now compel people to return to NO from all over the world?

My wife and I were talking about how surreal and unbelievable it would be to attend an event held at either the Superdome or the Convention Center.

To us, it would be the same as attending a sports event at Ground Zero in NYC.

I did hear a report about the instability of the Superdome and it may be torn down as a result of the storm first and then the deaths that occurred there.

In terms of the snipers, try this rationale on for size whether it was right or wrong (I do believe it was wrong).

If they had lived, the snipers would undoubtedly claim that due to the lack of food, water, shelter, and other life necessities, that they had to do something in order to bring attention to the areas that had the greatest need and were most overlooked previously.

This is basically the same rationale as Osama Bin Laden's.

But on the other hand, the same NO snipers would have been able to claim that they were continuously programmed to violence by the media, movies, rap music, and other programming and content that they filled their hours with.

The same dead horse would have been beat in terms of gangsta rap.

But who can really blame the chickens for coming home to roost?

NO was clearly ignored for decades if not centuries.

After it was no longer used as a port for human cargo and the end of the Civil War, the decline of NO has been not just an invisible hand writing on a wall, but the spray painting, wall papering, and mural artistry of neglect by the entire US.

The only redeeming factor that has been traditionally given to NO has its ability and asset as an entertainment and party center.

Take away the party factor, and the traditional value of NO evaporates.

But why a major port city in terms of the energy (and clear cut importance to national security) has been overlooked blows my mind.

NO should have been at the top of the priority list for no other reason than its existence of being a main point for the distribution of oil, gas, and other cargo moving in and out of the area.

Harden Not Your Hearts In This Season or Else!

Regardless of your beliefs, political affiliations, and all other preferences you may have, all of us need to realize that there is something going on within and around the world that man has no control over to the naked eye.

But those of us who have faith know where our source and supply exists are never mistaken to know that God is moving in ways that are no longer mysterious.

The destruction of everything that has been exalted against God has already begun. Every institution must go through the fire to be purified and tested to see if it is of God. Anything of God will pass the test while anything less will be destroyed.

The WORLD Trade Center was destroyed and now the SUPERbowl is being talked about as being torn down in the aftermath of the storm Hurricane Katrina and the delay in aid assistance.

The dots are definitely connected and already are in plain view for the baby Christian even to see.

The nonbeliever who is either refusing to acknowledge God or accept the sovereignty of God is acting to their own detriment. God is demanding that the hearts of mankind are returned and reconciled to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ.

I was wondering when God was talking to me earlier this year and gave me the title of my next book which is "Every Seed Needs Water" and I found the link where I shared it online:

http://roneysmith.blogspot.com/2005/05/my-next-book-is-on-horizon.html

God has already planted something and still is planting something that we need to catch a greater vision of through the Holy Spirit. The large amounts of water are being used by God to water His Seed for the Harvest that can be only reaped to the glory of God.

The tracks are already there and although we know the end result, we are still dependent of the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us day by day.

God has already been talking to anyone with ears to hear, now let's see how many respond accordingly.

To the naked eye man has no control. But to the spiritual eye, the control that mankind has is to submit and obey the will and Word of God.

The nonbeliever who refuses to believe, submit, and obey is hardening his or her heart and challenging God to provide a stronger demonstration of God's power and might.

We already know that California is going to be one of the locations of upcoming disaster. Whether we believe or not, all will see the Golden Gate Bridge and other landmarks severely weakened and destroyed along with the lives of many.

My hope is that as many who can be saved spiritually are indeed reached in time as well as those that can be rescued to see another day will seize the opportunity to give their lives, souls, minds, and hearts to God.

Do not worry about terrorists who seek to destroy your body, be more concerned with the One who can destroy your soul.

Exodus 7 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

16 And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

17 Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

One critical thing to remember is that many of the disasters as well as miracles and blessings that shall be witnessed will take place near large bodies of water. Water plays an extremely important role literally and figuratively in the days that God is turning the hearts of man back to Himself.

Here is a message entitled "Get Your Party Started Right!!!" that was sent on the last day of January 2004 and it still rings true today.

Copyright 2004 Pastor Roney Smith. All Rights Reserved.

We Are Committed To Boldly Loving You Unconditionally in the Name of Jesus
Christ! (tm)

2004 Year Infection 31 January 31, 2004

Continue to receive The Year Infection by subscribing to Online Christian
Soldiers by sending a blank e-mail to:

Ochristiansoldiers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Yesterday's Seed Is Today's Fruit:

Do not allow yourself to fall in a groove and settle down and allow the
enemy to come in and make you feel any less than the more than a conqueror
you are.

Today's Seed:

Get Your Party Started Right!!!

2 Corinthians 10:6-7 states:

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your
obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to
himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as
he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

In staying alert, we become more in tune with our own limitations and
frequent need for rest.

The next step is then to make the necessary adjustment from the right
foundation.

We have already witnessed through the guidance of the Holy Spirit the areas
that need improvement.

Now that our focus and attention has increased to specific areas, we are now
able to move under the unction of the Holy Spirit to make constructive
change in our lives.

The changes do not have to be perfect according to our own eyesight, but
they have to be in the same spirit that guided Christ.

This means no ego trips, no selfish motives, no looking out for number one
only, no conditional love, no moments of "scratch my back and I will scratch
yours", and anything else that is not within the spirit of true love.

When God is in control, all needs are met without the selfish thought
process.

We have to move in step and according to what God has stated for one and
all.

The limitations of single eyesight does not comprehend the full realm that
we are operating within.

This is why teamwork is so important.

Teamwork allows the entire field of competition to be surveyed in real time.

The 360 degree perspective gives the advance opinion and perspective that
does not short change one area to the benefit of another.

The major point is to remember that we all will cross the finish line
regardless of who crosses first.

Without holding on to the belief of total and complete dominion, the kingdom
is already divided against us.

Move according to the Will of God for each other and yourself at the same
time to the glory of God!

The first step has to be from the right foundation, intentions, and motives
in order for the battle to be won from the beginning and not just the end!

Be blessed!!!

What Do You Mean You Did Not Know About The Script?

The amounts of mass programming being conducted around the world would produce its own hurricane if the truth were known.

As a minister, I am always reminded that the First Commandment is "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me". The other supposedly Nine Commandments are actually to explain and support the First Commandment. Keep the First Commandment and you will automatically keep the other 9 as well as the 5 commandments not restated after Moses destroyed the other tablet after seeing the behavior of the children of Israel.

God is in on the act because He knows how important attention is to mankind. God created the system.

As NBC network held a telethon to raise money last night on NBC, CNBC, and MSNBC, Kanye West went away from the script.

I have to give a lot of respect to Kanye for having the courage to do so regardless of what was said and its being right or wrong. There are too many others who are not questioning the existence of scripts and cowardly fall in step with the current program even if certain death and destruction are undoubtedly evident.

I noticed this morning that when CNN's Soledad O'Brien asked a favorite radio personality of mine Tom Joyner about Kanye's comments, Tom was mentally looking for a neutral corner as if the "big a** check" (as huge checks, donations, grants, and contributions are called whenever Tom is raising money for HBCUs and students through his foundation) he received from Radio One had not either been cashed yet or the funds not been verified as good yet.

I also remember a suspicious, flag-waving program held by America's first black female billionaire and the modern era version of Madame CJ Walker one afternoon prior to the start of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom to launch the war in Iraq.

If these actions are the requirements to break free from poverty and lift others up out of the mire of living beneath their potential, then just as Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner will say "I ain't mad at cha"!!!

Just let us know if and when the script is in effect or do not hold Armstrong Williams in too much disgust when he is not the only only one being given a script to read from right or wrong.

Just let a brother know where the applications are being taken and what are the passwords needed in order to obtain a script (and its corresponding compensation especially) to be read;)

There is no better way to obtain that Krispy Kreme coating and glaze for your eyes than being a paid actor to read from a script written just for you to deliver.

Here is my new sign for the day: WILL READ SCRIPT FOR FOOD!!!

The Heads of Lemmings Shall Roll Without Mercy

Earlier this morning I had a conversation that pointed me to look in a direction regarding the news of Hurricane Katrina that I knew of but had not fully considered.

I know that there has been a steroid-induced frenzy of power, sign-me-up-to-join-the-club-and-bandwagon, and take-me-out-to-the-ballgame-mom's-apple-pie, and let's-roll-with-W since at least 2 presidential elections have been stolen back to back with the consent of the Supreme Court and even a few Democratic presidential candidates, but the times are about to get as complex and ugly and irresistible as if the television shows "The Sopranos", "Oz", "American Idol", and "Survivor" were about to get rolled up into one, brand new reality show and with a political twist thrown in for good measure.

Mark Burnett only wishes that he could bottle these ingredients. Watergate, White Water, and previous assasination commissions were the part of the Polaroid pictures torn off and discarded for what is about to come.

The irony for many is that there is going to an internal sacrificial lamb among those who have been onboard and with the program for some time.

In order to keep the submarine from sinking, a few good soldiers will either have to fall on their swords and take one for the team or experience the misery of being isolated and eaten by their own kind. All of this will occur within the Republican Party.

Right now and going forward, the Republican Party will escalate further into crisis mode in order to protect itself and the appearance of American Democracy on its watch.

The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama will become the fall guys and their positions are greatly self-induced. Forget about the campaigning and work that you have done to deliver your electoral college votes as a red state and just remember that blood is thicker than water.

The residents of Florida have been the beneficiaries of the family ties of its governor to the White House even if Gov. Jeb Bush does not want to eventually run for president.

But these other governors of southern states have been foolish to believe that they will have the same level of protection for their incompetence, lack of vision, and failure to lift their citizens out of post-Civil War poverty.

It is going to take decades before a president is elected from a non-southern state or one that does not come from the midwest after that (as Ohio has proven that it will step up more in the future).

The mindset of thinking that we know how to control our own (in terms of people, the poor, minorities, and political opponents) have produced generational poverty, misery, and the lack of capitalization on crystal clear global opportunties for all versus a small minority.

The White House is going to produce its own Downing Street memos to get the political heat off its own back and the 3 governors will not have any recourse to push the buck back to the White House and then futilely attempt to send blame toward the local levels.

For the slow-to-understand, the bottom line is this: the 3 governors either did not ask for help or refused it when the federal government offered it prior to the storm. The federal delays then were produced as a result directly from the lack of state leadership versus (or in addition to) the federal leadership.

Whatever their (state) rationale was probably can be contributed to my most previous post.

Each state does not have enough US congressional representatives to go to bat for them. Each congressional representative will undoubtedly seek to protect the image of the federal government by default and to the letter.

One observation about the media is that the White House correspondents are already in the back pockets of the White House in order to keep their seats and presidential access aboard Air Force One.

Expect them to ask questions that will set up the federal officials to easily make the state officials to look bad and worse before it is all over.

The political machine is still running and Karl Rove will have governors for breakfast.

Just when they thought it was safe to be on the team will the governors get shanked for life and history.

Their legacies will be that their own team built, judged, and distributed the cases against them.

Incredible Comments on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight Program

This evening I heard the most incredible statement or thinking aloud by business journalist Lou Dobbs regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the growing comments about the slow response of federal aid.

Dobbs questioned the lack of criticism by the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, and other predominantly minority organizations on the black leadership and power structure in New Orleans.

He basically wondered why there are no fingers being pointed at the black mayor and other black leaders involved.

Mr. Dobbs, within the past 18 years of respecting your opinions and reporting, I am amazed that you willingly disconnected the dots through your verbalized questions.

There are no corresponding municipal departments (of any popularity and significance) nationwide to FEMA, Homeland Security, and other federal departments for any event that impacted citizens across interstate lines.

If the hurricane affected the residents of any city or state only, then the leader of the affected entity still would have the responsibility of notifying the larger levels of government about their problems and need for assistance.

If a single administration could be held responsible, then responsibility and negligence would have to be attributed as well to the administrations and policies enacted by the state and federal government levels before, during, and after primary responsibility is put upon the shoulders of an administration.

I survived Hurricane Hugo in SC. I remember the warm words spoken about Charleston, SC mayor Joseph Riley back then. But I also remember that he sounded the same trumpet of the need for help and his calling of the federal government on the carpet about the lack of assistance is what many remember him for.

The questions that are needed now are what plans, logic, and rationale justified the delays in responding to the impacted areas, what corrections can be made immediately, and what checks and balances can be put in place to prevent the same from reoccurring.

As an American citizen and person who has typically voted for Democrats, I foolishly might hope that such failures of leadership are confined to Republican administrations if at all. But unfortunately, I know that bureaucracy is a growing club and mindset and has members across any political affiliations.

The posturing of the Mississippi and Louisiana governors and the heads of FEMA and Homeland Security have been sickening.

The solution is to immediately swarm the problems with temporary aid (to equally preserve and rescue life) and balance the long-term assistance with breakthrough solutions to address the critical structural problems that threaten American citizens through natural and man-made disasters.

This disaster and the slow response reflects upon the lack of leadership and political opinions and doctrines based and held upon the concepts of economics and poverty first, geographical location second (the response would have been faster anywhere else than the US southern states--the poverty belt), and race third and finally.

Address American economics and poverty, geographical balance, and race and the vast majority of American problems can be eliminated very quickly.

Fortunately and equally unfortunately for all American citizens, our foreign antagonists have only considered our economic center of gravity for their focus to attack.

Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath Is Going To Reveal The Lack of Compassion for The Poor Before It Gets Better

Unfortunately, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is rapidly decaying into a greater human tragedy than most would ever imagine. New Orleans especially was poverty filled and stricken decades before the storm ever hit.

The massive poverty continues throughout the rest of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The storm just revealed the lack of investment in human capital that was tolerated under the disguise of the gambling, tourism, and other low paying industries.

Now that the wealthy have been able to self-evacuate themselves and leave the truly poor behind, the rush to get aid and assistance to the poor is only an after-thought until it begins to jeopardize the pride and show of force that our country loves to portray internationally.

The agencies responsible for rendering aid are now putting tough talk into their soundbites and press interviews. The blaming the victim mentality will unfortunately provide the justification for the rough treatment, manhandling, and physical brutality that will accompany the mindset "the others left, so why did you decide to stay behind and cause trouble and make people think twice about attending future Mardi Gras?"

I just hope that the poor within California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado are paying attention as well as the rest of America when our respective regions eventual turn in the barber's chair comes.

May God help us all.

G4 Trying To Reclaim TechTV's Audience

G4 (formerly TechTV) has brought back the television show entitled "Call for Help" with Leo Laporte.

The network has returned a lot of the feel of what made TechTV very special to its audience.

The bad thing for G4 is whatever voices they decided to listen to when they willingly downsized the audience that they had inherited but decided to throw out with the bathwater from its purchase of TechTV.

I saw a few minutes of another show entitled "Attack of the Show" which reminded me of another show that was eventually cancelled.

The new personalities do not seem to be building any long-term trust for the network since they know what happened to the former employees and it shows on the air within their eyes.

Must See TV: Current TV.com Network!!!

Tonight after the TiVo kicked the bucket earlier in the day, we discovered a new channel not previously viewed before.

It is channel 366 on DirecTV and entitled Current. Their website is located at:

http://www.current.tv

The network seems to broadcast a ton of viewer created content which they call VC^2 (pronounced VC squared).

The channel is so engaging that it is very hard to multitask while it is on.

Google has some involvement with the channel as there are brief, silent moments where various search results, statistics, and data are placed on the screen without any verbal commentary.

Everything related to the channel seems to be aimed toward my generation (Generation X).

There was also a flashback segment which revisited the OJ Simpson trial verdict. The flashback segment seems to be a regular feature.

After TechTV became G4TV and got immediately flushed, it seems that Current.tv will more than pick up the ball and share a broad range of news topics, pop culture interests, international hobbies and interests, entertainment, and technology related issues (not as much as TechTV or for the more serious geeks and gamers) while holding court in our television viewing hours.

I just did a Google search on Current.tv and discovered that the network has a significant investor and supporter in former vice-president and presidential candidate Al Gore.

CNN has an article here.

Kudos to the vice-president!!!

Our TiVo Kicked The Bucket, Bought The Farm, and Crossed Over Today;(

This morning I turned on our television set to find that Pastor Creflo Dollar's image was frozen onto our screen.

I thought that the pause button had been activated on the TiVo remote control, but the image remained until I unplugged the product.

Upon its rebooting, everything worked fine until 3 to 5 minutes later when the video started pixelating (breaking up into the pixels) and the playback and sound were extremely jerky.

I went online to see that the problem was not an isolated one. Since our box was made by Phillips, I was referred to give them a call.

I then rediscovered that Phillips charges almost $20 bucks just to talk to someone in technical support and will apply the fee to a repurchase price if the problem is not solved.

But when my wife returned, the decision to disconnect the product altogether was made since the problem continued.

So I had to make another telephone call to TiVo to cancel the service and learned that they have special pricing for replacement units (Series 2 boxes at that) that are either new or refurbished in 40, 80, and 140 hour boxes.

The caveat is that you cannot cancel your service in order to obtain the pricing for the replacement boxes. So we are going to decide how much we going to pay for a replacement.

The programming on the broken box may be possibly retrieved at a later date, but right now other issues have a greater priority.

The strangest thing is that the 140-hour refurbished box was bought in the summer of 2003, the internal modem died 6 months later in late December or January, and we found the replacement modem in early spring. So the cost involved has to get lower and the benefits must increase rather than having to replace something every 6 months.

One huge plus about the Series 2 boxes is that they can be connected to the internet in order to download the latest programming guides as well as use the TiVoToGo feature which will allow viewing of recorded shows on a wide variety of hardware including a computer connected to broadband and other devices.

We were laggards in holding on to the 1st generation TiVo boxes and will look forward to enjoying the comforts of being the last of the early adopters with the 2nd generation boxes.

Already our daughter Rachel has asked for the tv to be frozen (paused) as she and her sister Hailey put it. So hopefully we will not face the hard withdrawal pains as we did when the internal modem died and get the replacement box soon.

If it isn't one thing, it's another for sure.

Now I must get the replacement modem ready for sale on eBay;)

Peace!!!

How To Create A Placemark for Any Location You Desire

The following steps are for anyone who wants to know the GPS coordinates (earth's latitude and longitude) for a location.

1. Go to Google Maps http://maps.google.com

2. Click on AutoCoords On

3. Enter the address that you are trying to find the GPS coordinates
(latitude and longitude) within the search box and click the SEARCH
button.

4. Click the Satellite icon to see the location as viewed from a
satellite in outer space.

5. Click the x within the pop up window to close the window hovering
over the search location returned.

6. Click the Plus sign (+) in order to zoom in on the location returned.

In a lot of cases, the results will show your specific area but not
the exact location you are trying to find. As a result, just start
entering a different street number and see how much closer to your
preferred location the placemark appears.

7. After entering a new street number, go back to step 4 and repeat
the process until your preferred location is positively identified by
the placemark that appears.

8. Copy and paste the coordinates which will appear within the
following format: geotagged geo:lat=33.804176 geo:lon=-84.515762
wherever else you may need to use them.

You may avoid having the write or manually type the information
elsewhere by clicking the link "Link to this page" and select "Copy
link location".

Then paste the link wherever else you may want to use it. It will
appear in the following format:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1+georgia+dome+drive,+atlanta,+ga+30313&ll=33.804176,-84.515762&spn=0.003820,0.007522&t=k&hl=en

One suggestion is to e-mail the link to yourself within a free e-mail
service such as Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, or Gmail. This method will then
allow you to retrieve the information from any internet connected
computer at will.

Google Earth, Yahoo Maps, & Microsoft Virtual Earth Are The Latest "Killer Apps"

I have been conducting further experiments with Google Earth and just ran across a great blog entry that Rev. Dan Catt made about the "Network Link" feature within Google Earth. The technology might work with Google Maps, but I have not seen it to be fully incorporated into Google Maps yet.

The rapid pace in which information is being combined, synthesized, and morphed together is nothing short of amazing.

Take traditionally separate concepts of digital photography (or even a camera phone), GPS technology, blogging, and a search engine (Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft all have one now) and mix them together and what do you get?

You now have geoblogging, geosearches, and a host of other unique ideas that should serve to revitalize failing economies.

The main thrust of the latest mash ups of technology is that you can better combine, separate, or isolate the online world to the offline world.

Photo websites like Flickr now are having people add GPS coordinate tags to their photos to indicate where the photo was captured.

I just saw the website Geoblogging and saw an amazing combination of Google Earth, GPS technology, and digital photography added together. You can essentially rotate a global map and see the latest photos that people are sharing.

I know that this fits into what we have done with GPS Concierge and expect to further observe eBay, Overstock.com, and online commerce websites have to play catch up since the satellite map technology essentially cuts out the middleman altogether.

Right now as a result of this blog, I realize that you can tag a photo on Flickr and add another tag such as "online auction" or "available for sale" and any other identifying tags imaginable and state the identification and availability of supply and stimulate demand for the item.

One could still essentially use eBay or another online auction marketplace simply as an outsourced technology since there is no desktop auction management technology immediately known and identified. Does this identify a need for a program called eBay Desktop or Desktop eBay? I strongly think so.

The ongoing key is going to be to inform the buying public that they can use search engines and geophotography websites such as Flickr to buy items.

One comment mentioned how satellite maps will be in real-time at some point in the future. This will make substantial economic growth AND poverty be manifested and vaporized at the speed of thought.

This is definitely one of those thoughts and concepts that our children will become more proficient at than any of my peers;)

I would love to see the various tools added to social networking websites like Orkut, Friendster, Dodgeball, and other mailing lists and online communities.

As a matter of fact, I'm on my way to contributing my part right now!!!

Google Earth Is Too Cool

I finally got a free program called Google Earth to work on my computer and it is da bomb!!!

It has GPS capability built in just like MS MapPoint and it provides free satellite images. There are paid upgrades available and have a yearly subscription from $20 per year or $400 per year currently.

The real key if you encounter problems just like I did is that you have to go to the program from the Start button, change the setting there to use the OpenGL version, and then restart the program.

I kept trying to use the DirectX version by clicking on the icon located on my desktop and was not getting anywhere. The program seems to work very well with a broadband connection since it obtains the maps from Google's servers.

The images are basically the same as found within Google Maps, but there is a whole lot of other things that can be done such as place markers for various business, governmental offices, and nonprofit locations such as colleges, libraries, and schools.

There are a ton of Google Earth hacks found online as well that enable a person to map various information such as school districts, crime statistics, and other demographic data as an overlay over the images.

The overlays enable you to have an multidimensional (visual and data) view of any area within the world. I have not toured the rest of the world with it in detail yet, but I plan to.

I entered my own street address and zoomed in on my neighborhood. The center was not as accurate as desired, but I was able to see my own house within the image.

Since I have a GPS unit, I was able to confirm the latitude and longitude given.

I also entered the street address of the neighborhood where I grew up and I could see the street, but not pinpoint the house.

It seems that major metropolitan cities may have been photographed by satellite in greater detail while smaller cities receive a limited snapshot. You can zoom in on a rural town, but everything gets fuzzy faster than within a metropolitan city.

There is going to be more usage of GPS technology within daily life worldwide. We have offered information online through our GPS Concierge website.

It is one thing to have the technology while it is something else entirely to know how it can be used.

Keep it up Google!

The Pipeline Is Percolating!

There are some things on my mind that I am just allowing to percolate, build pressure, and fully develop before sharing them.

In the meantime, enjoy your summer and get ready for a great outpouring of what has been happening!

Peace!

Remembering Luther Vandross

My wife told me the news this evening and the day has not been the same. I remember fondly and bought virtually every song Luther has performed from his days with Change and solo career and saw him in concert several times.

Years ago in college, I also won a lip-syncing contest while imitating Luther complete with a scarf to throw the ladies and a Kentucky Fried Chicken box;) Over the years, I had always heard (but never positively had confirmed) that Luther grew up and went to some of the same schools that I attended in Mullins, SC. Maybe now in his death, the rumors will be confirmed.

Goodbye Luther and this brother will indeed miss you always. May God bless your soul.