tfl: The Flatiron Life

Tory sends along this video from Dilbert the TV show. I don’t understand, what is wrong with being an engineer?

And while we are on the subject, I think the dictionary might be a little confused. I am inclinded to believe definition 3 is not an engineer. “One who skillfully or shrewdly manages an enterprise.” Sounds like manager to me. If you disagree, post a comment using engineer in this was in the comments.

Last week the 110th HoR passed HRes 78. HRes 78 overturns the constitution and allows non-States to have votes for all matters but final passage of bills.

George Will has a good article on this issue, but I will summarize. American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands elect people Delegates to the House. These Delegates represent the interests of our Territories and Protectorates. However, as these areas are not States and only Representatives from States have the right to vote in the House. That was until 1993 when Democrats first notices that all the Delegates are Democrats and the House voted to give them voting rights In 1994, Republicans took the House and repealed the act. Now the Democrats have done it again.

We should be up in arms about the House trying to change the constitution via Resolution. If these territories should have a vote, and I think they should, there is a very simple solution. It has happened 37 times in the last 218 years. They should seek Statehood! Why don’t they seek statehood? The answer to most questions is always follow the money. The Right of voting used to come with the Responsibility of paying taxes.

Kris sends this along.  It made me laugh.

A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is an Indianapolis Colts fan.  She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Colts fans, too.   Not really knowing what a Colts fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air.  There is, however, one exception.  Kelly has not gone along with the crowd.  The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. “Because I’m not a Colts fan” she reports.

“Then,” asks the teacher,” What are you?”

“I’m a Chicago Bears fan” boasts the little girl.

The teacher asks Kelly why she is a Bears fan.

“Well, my Dad and Mom are Bears fans, so I’m a Bears fan too” she responds.

“That’s no reason,” the teacher says. “What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot.  What would you be then?”

Kelly smiles and says, “Then I’d be a Colts fan.”

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS!!!!!

The most resent episode from the Re:Sound podcast is about Jewish death rituals.  It is a really interesting and enlightening program.  The documentary is a trilogy of segments and the thrd is about the afterlife.  According to the program, there is not clear answer if Olam Haba exists and if so what form it takes.  A Rabbi in the documenty says “If you get 3 Jews together you get 50 opinions.”  One of the more humorous tales is that the afterlife is a place of learning.  Moses sits and teaches Torah all day long.  For the righteous people, this is heaven; for the evil people, this is hell.

This week on TWiT the TWiTs were talking about Virgin Airlines wanting to start American domestic service and the problems they face. There is a Federal regulation that requires domestic airlines to prove they are well funded and managed . They also must show American ownership. Both of these regulations are unnecessary and have a negative affect on the market. Virgin has this site explaining the situation and encouraging visitors to sign an online petition and send a form letter to their representatives. I have done both and encourage all of you to. I also sent a personalized letter to the President and my Congressmen.

Below is the text of that letter.

Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

I recently learned that our law requires American airlines to obtain a “Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity” to operate. To me this sounds like antiquated regulation from the era of the CAB. As I understand it, the certification process requires an airline to prove it is well funded and managed as well as owned by Americans.

Why does an airline need to prove that it is well funded and managed? The market will quickly sweep aside any airline that fails these tests and it will do it much more effectively and efficiently than the government. The government does not tell businesses in general they must have proper funding and management to operate. To do so would destroy the entrepreneurial spirit and make every industry as unstable as the airline industry.

Is the protectionist policy of American ownership of airlines best for America? I don’t think so. If a foreign company finds an innovative way to deliver us goods or services at a discount of the price offered by American companies we should not reject them. We should encourage them so they may stoke the fire in our domestic carriers and cause them to think differently and innovative.

For Liberty,

Jacob Tomaw

Looks like Orbitz might be going public again in a few months.  I don’t know anything that can confirm this.  All I know is that stock options are not part of my compensation.  Maybe I will be able to buy some stock at a discount in the future.  Even at a floundering company like AMS that was a good deal.  Free to me money is always nice.

For Hoosier-Chicagoans it is the perfect matchup. I would be happy to see the Colts win the Super Bowl, but I am going to be cheering for the home team. Bear Down Chicago Bears! The early odds are against them, but being a fan is not about the odds. In our team meeting this morning there was a lot of trashtalking against the Colts defense. Bear fever has taken over Chicago.

Now I need to decide if I want to spend $75 for the Adewale Ogunleye #93 jersey. Why Ogunleye? Not only is he a Nigerian Prince, but also an Indiana Hoosier that someone is paying to play football!

Today, I finalized plans to visit my sister and brother-in-law in Minnesota in the beginning of March. Did a little work, I had forgotten to write the test cases for a bug I fixed. At the end of the day my mom called and told me my grandpa had a stroke today.

He is doing fine and should not have any residual effects. As was also the case after his heart attack last month, he amazes doctors with his abilities to recover from stuff that kills other people. When he was first brought in he had some reduced muscle control in one side, but by the end of the day he was fine. Fine enough that he is scheduled to be released tomorrow. Keep old Herold/Slim/Tubby/Grandpa Miller in your prayers. He is like an old Timex and I want to keep him that way.