Ham on Wry Award-Elizabeth Warren, Senate Candidate from Massachusetts



Ham on Wry takes great pleasure in selecting Elizabeth Warren , Democratic candidate for senator from Massachusetts, as its weekly award recipient.  Finally, someone speaks common sense in plain English.  The "Pay It Forward" concept that she mentions materialized from a film of the same name released in 2000.  Essentially, for a social studies assignment, a 12-year-old boy creates an idea that people should perform good deeds, not to pay back something done for them, but as a means of establishing a continuum of good deeds worldwide.  I personally witnessed a spate of people paying tolls for cars following them in line and others paying for people who came up short when their grocery bills totaled.  In the years that followed, countless examples of this behavior occurred.  If business owners and corporate executives subscribed to this type of behavior, perhaps America wouldn't lose so many potential contributors to our society before they graduate.

Elizabeth Warren has long advocated for consumer rights and has loudly criticized financial corporations that use questionable tactics so that executives can earn astronomical compensations packages.   Time magazine dubbed her as one of the three "sheriffs of Wall Street" in its May 24, 2010 issue because she actively demonstrated her core beliefs in holding Wall Street corporations accountable for the debacle they created.  She also had responsibility for creating the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  Her opponent in the Massachusetts senate race, Scott Brown, has strong ties to the Tea Party.  Regular readers of Ham on Wry already know my stance on that segment of the Republican Party.  Their short-sighted rhetoric that demands no more taxes will seal a grave of economic doom because no budget can balance without revenue increases as well as cuts, if it operates in the red.

Spread the word about this common sense candidate, Readers, wherever you live, and read the words that accompany her picture and memorize them.  It's a credo most of us can understand and support.  Ham on Wry desperately hopes that Warren can increase the small lead she currently has over Brown.  If nothing else, voting for a candidate who doesn't use political speak will offer Massachusetts citizens a refreshing change.

Read More

Prosecutors in Michael Jackson's Death Trial Present Stunning Evidence on Opening Day

Dr. Conrad Murray on the Opening Day of His Trial

Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, faces involuntary manslaughter charges in Jackson's death June 25, 2009. We live in a country where defendants are innocent until proven guilty, and the defense team has suggested that Jackson injected himself with the fatal dose of propofol when Murray left the room. Ham on Wry asks readers to study his face in the picture above and see what the jurors saw yesterday as the trial began.

The prosecution displayed a picture of Michael Jackson on a hospital gurney already dead in their opening statement. Even more startling, they played a recording of Michael Jackson Murray had recorded on his cell phone, his words slurred and almost unintelligible. Prosecutors placed his words on a screen while the recording played so that juros could understand what Jackson was saying. It sounded as though his tongue was so swollen that he couldn't articulate his words, and he spoke as though his mouth were moving in slow motions. Ham on Wry suggests that readers use a search engine or access video sites to hear it for themselves, because no written translation can convey how he sounded.

On the second day of the trial, Attorney Kathy Jorrie testified about her role in negotiating Murray's contract, which neither Jackson nor his promoters ever signed. Drafted just days before Jackson's death, Murray signed it the day before Jackson died. Jorrie said that she asked Murray why he would need the CPR machine he requested because the O2 Arena where Jackson would perform his "This is It" tour likely had one. Murray replied that he didn't want to take any chances and repeatedly told her that Jackson was in excellent health.

Paul Gongaware, an AEG Live promoter who helped sponsor "This is It" testified that Jackson had insisted on hiring Murray as his personal physician, although the promoters stated their preference for an English doctor, since the concert venue was in London.  Murray initially demanded $5 million, which the promoters summarily rejected.  Murray was set to decline the next offer of $150,000 a month, until he was informed that Jackson had dictated that amount.  Not bad for someone who had never earned that kind of money before.  Gongaware also presented testimony that he had seen Jackson a little slow with slurred speech in the early stages of rehearsing for the tour.

This photo is purported to be the last one of Michael Jackson alive.  Ham on Wry will not include the death photo in this post because it could alarm some readers.  Those who want to view it can use any search engine to find it because it proliferates on the internet.  The photo below shows Jackson in rehearsal for his tour, a fitting way to end today's post.



Read More

Odyssey Marine Exploration Discovers Wreck of Gairsoppa

Odyssey Marine Exploration Photo of Stern Compass from Gairsoppa

Odyssey Marine Exploration, headquartered in Tampa, FL, announced Monday that it has found the Gairsoppa, a British cargo ship torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1941, approximately 300 miles off the coast of Galway, Ireland.  The ship had been sailing from India back to Britain carrying a cargo of silver, pig iron and tea.  Running low on fuel, the Gairsoppa slowed its pace and fell behind the convoy of ships with which it was traveling.and headed for Galway, Ireland.  A lone survivor told the tale of the torpedo attack.

When asked what would happen next, Andrew Craig, Odyssey senior project manager, responded, "Now we're hard at work planning for the recovery phase.  Given the orientation and condition of the shipwreck, we are extremely confident that our planned salvage operation will be well suited for the recovery of this silver cargo."  The Gairsoppa was carrying 7 million ounces of silver, the largest known precious metal cargo recovery from a vessel lost at sea.  Valued at 600,000 pounds when it began the voyage, the silver today is worth about $210 million.

The British government has awarded Odyssey an exclusive salvage contract for the cargo, allowing Odyssey to retain 80 percent of the silver bullion salvaged from the wreck.  Odyssey's president Mark Gordon noted,  "We know more about the surface of the moon than we know about the deepest parts of the oceans. It's exciting to be working at depths like these and to be among the pioneers of deep ocean exploration in this unexplored frontier."  It sounds as though this watery frontier has benefits far beyond the pioneering aspect.  With billions of dollars lying beneath the sea worldwide, this kind of salvage is the stuff of which dreams are realized.

Read More

Teachers a Key to the Nation's Security and Success

Tom Brokaw and Melinda Gates joined Natalie Morales for a discussion about the importance of teacher excellence and creating meaningul standards to measure a teacher's performance on an Education Nation segment today.  The Today Show is focusing on this topic for the entire week in hopes that it will raise awareness of the types of improvements necessary for the United States to remain competitive in a world where other nations place more focus on high educational standards.

When Morales queried Gates about how the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation determined teacher effectiveness, Gates responded that they studied 3000 teachers in 6 districts.  They learned that a "good" teacher one year will probably remain a "good" teacher; students know when they are being taught by an effective teacher; and, multiple measures should be used to evaluate a teacher's performance.  She said that student testing should be only one component of the evaluation process.  Finally, someone is making sense in the recognition of testing as only part of the means to measure the effectiveness of a teacher!

Brokaw emphasized the importance of a sound educational system to the security of our nation and said he and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman had been discussing this topic for years.  He revealed that China requires its eighth grade students to study physics, while only 18% of American students take physics.  Brokaw said that as technology advances, so does the importance of studying math and science.  Both Brokaw and Gates feel that people here are finally waking up to the crucial nature of investing in education for all.

Hallelujah!  My mother taught first grade for many years and retired after 32 years in the classroom.  I taught high school and junior high for several years before changing careers, after seeing a deterioration in public educations and a lack of commitment on the part of this nation's citizens to maintain a high level of excellence.  With the current emphasis on cuts to education budgets and vilifying teachers, this nation will fall further behind other nations who maintain high levels of funding.  We can't afford to allow children to fail,  All children want to learn, but many don't have the opportunity to read books or own a computer because they live in poverty.  We watch the performance of the stock market and check our savings and checking accounts, but we have paid little attention to the obvious warning signs of the failure of our educational system to graduate well-informed students instilled with intellectual curiosity. 

My high school class held a reunion last Saturday, and one of my classmates called me over to tell me about his experience in Mom's class.  He said that she was the best teacher he ever had.  He had forgotten the names of most of his teachers, but he will never forget her.  Teachers touch infinity with their influence and responsibilities to their students.  An adage states, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach."  I have a coffee mug my former husband gave me several years ago that countered, "Those who can, teach; those who can't, go into something less meaningful."  That sums up the credo this nation must live by.  Teachers are not the enemy.  People who belittle the educational profession are.

Read More

Moving Up (North)

Due to several reasons -- including the changing economy -- Kathy and I have decided to move to our home in Ellijay earlier than we originally planned.

Don’t worry – I’m not completely leaving Marietta. I’ll still be living in Marietta until our house sells, and....

Even after we move, I will still be available to assist you using my remote services.

Also, we have a granddaughter in Marietta, and we will be visiting her often. (Kathy says she will go into withdrawal if she doesn’t get enough time with the baby.) This will create additional opportunities for providing services here.

Between now and then, I will be gathering new customers in Ellijay. This will cause a gradual shift in my scheduling. I’ll be splitting my time between Ellijay and Marietta as the needs require, but my availability for on-site services in Marietta will become increasingly limited.

We can still be reached at the same phone number as always. So please call us when you need help. Kathy will be happy to put you on my schedule.

Warm Regards,

Brian Freeman
Your PC Tech
770-565-7997 Marietta
706-534-9990 Ellijay
Brian@YourPCTech.biz

Read More

The X Factor Fails to Deliver

Simon Cowell launched his new show X Factor last night along with fellow judges Paula Abdul, music producer L.A. Reid, and  British judge Cheryl Cole, who was replaced by former Sing-Off judge Nicole Scherzinger.  It failed to live up to all the hype generated during the preceding weeks, and, in fact, often seemed a muddling affair.  The mid-show switch between Cole and Scherzinger confused this viewer, who could see no reason for the change, and the editing during the second hour created a feeling of being in a time warp.

Cole interacted well with the contestants and gave on-target feedback for her no votes.  Rachel Crow, a thirteen-year-old contestant who started the show, gave a strong performance that ignited the audience.  When asked what she'd do with the $5 million dollar prize, she replied that her family didn't have much money and six people were living in a two-bedroom home.  She then quipped, "A girl needs her own bathroom, you know."  The main problem in the first hour centered on diseention between Reid and Cowell over which contestants had the level of talent to move forward.  However, that problems paled in comparison to the botched second hour.

With no warning that a new judge had replaced Cheryl Cole, the second hour of X Factor moved from Los Angeles auditions to Seatlle.  Viewers were subjected to the Geo Godley debacle when he dropped his pants, exposing his nether regions to the panel of the judges and the audience.  Whether Abdul feigned her physical reaction or not, she left the stage.  The worst part of the whole situation was Cowell's decision to allow this untalented contestant to continue, despite the fact that he should have been removed immediately when his pants dropped the first time.  Finally, after the first half of the second hour, Cowell introduced Scherzinger as the new judge.  Whoever bears responsibility for editing the show should return to editing school.  It failed to impress.

Ham on Wry believes American television has quite enough talent shows that feature singing auditions.  Simon Cowell should institute many changes before the next segment of  X Factor airs, if he wants to capture significant audience share in a highly competitive television slot.

Read More

Will Tablets (iPads) Replace PCs?

Perhaps you've heard the fireworks and acclaim for iPads, along with the claims that they will quickly replace Personal Computers.  Is this true?

The answer is a little difficult, because all "Tablet" systems -- including the iPad -- are Personal Computers.  They all have the same basic components.  Only the shape is different -- and they run a different type of Operating System.  But Tablets are just as much a PC as your current Laptop or Desktop PC.

Your PC Tech's Short Answer:  No, they will not completely replace Laptop and Desktop computers. However, tablets will be a major part of future computing.  They have significant advantages for light, basic computing needs, but cannot completely replace Laptops and Desktops for "heavy-duty" applications.  (...For the near-future.)

Your PC Tech's Prediction:  Roughly half of all current PC users will buy tablet PCs within the next three years.  Roughly half of those will eventually give up their laptop or desktop PCs, and only use their Tablet PC.  The other half will continue to use both a Tablet PC and a Desktop or Laptop PC.

In addition to this, a large number of people who have never owned a PC at all  (because they were "too complicated") will buy a Tablet PC, and be very happy with it.

Summary:  Tablets may eventually dominate the market.  But for the near future, the physical, technical, and software limitations of Tablets will prevent them from completely replacing Laptop and Desktop PCs.

Read More

TSA Needs Major Overhaul, Director Pistole!

John S. Pistole, TSA Administrator

The Transportation Security Administration uses a ridiculous methodology to "keep us safe" from terrorists.  Anyone who passes through a scanner with an image that shows a "problem area" must submit to a patdown by one of the security agents of the same sex.  This happened to yours truly yesterday, for no known reason, other than a few spots around my knee that showed up on the scan.  After being asked if I wore a knee brace with my response of, "No," the agent required me to submit to a patdown, which I chose to have done privately.  I was not a happy camper!

I inquired why they just didn't send me through the scan again, because the female TSA person said I might not have had the proper stance when the image was taken.   "You have to be patted down," she said.  I was wearing jeans and a knit top and knew no legitimate reason existed for this action.  When we reached the room and were joined by another female agent, I protested loudly.  They said they were just doing their job.  Their job does little to ensure our safety, and their focus must change.  I pose absolutely no threat to this country, and TSA could figure that out, if they hired people capable of intelligent reasoning given data about my traveling history, American citizenship, and lack of any criminal history.

I am fed up with hearing that old ladies wearing adult diapers, children wearing braces, and people like me who are simply trying to fly to a destination for no reason other than business or pleasure should submit to this invasion of privacy.  Instead of employing people who are trained automatons, we should adopt a system similar to that of Israel, where they rely on observing passenger behavior rather than technology to determine threats.  Mr. Pistole, you need to hire people with a higher level of knowledge about suspicious behavior and allow them to discern who should be removed from the line and searched.

TSA has missed people that have shoe bombs, knives, and other weapons while they search passengers who have colostomy bags, an assortment of medical devices, and children.  Stop the nonsense and revise a system that angers people such as I, who are simply trying to get somewhere on time!

Read More

Letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner

Mr. Smiley Face-Speaker John Boehner

Speaker Boehner:

Your stand on President Obama’s jobs programs simply reiterates the same, tired rhetoric we heard during the debates on raising the debt ceiling.  Are you so blinded by your aim at re-election that you don’t read the polls or pay attention to citizens who want to see taxes rise for those with earned income over $1million dollars as Warren Buffett implored Congress to do in his op-ed piece for the New York Times August 15, 2011?  In case you missed it, he wrote in part, “While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks. Some of us are investment managers who earn billions from our daily labors but are allowed to classify our income as ‘carried interest,’ thereby getting a bargain 15 percent tax rate. Others own stock index futures for 10 minutes and have 60 percent of their gain taxed at 15 percent, as if they’d been long-term investors.”  Perhaps you should also reflect on a quote attributed to President Abraham Lincoln, which states, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”  You haven’t fooled me or tens of millions of others who have called for a tax hike on the wealthiest Americans.

You continually spout nonsense about how raising taxes will stifle job growth.  To what job growth are you referring?  No meaningful job growth has occurred this year.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that people do not use their personal money to hire employees for business they’ve started.  That money comes from the business entity.  I call for you and your fellow Republicans to come to the table with a healthy respect for Mr. Buffett’s idea, because it could certainly move us in the right direction of increasing revenues.  Oh, by the way, Patriotic Millionaires, a group of people with earned income well over $1 million, are calling for a rise in taxes as well.  How long will you ignore the obvious?

The Tea Party actually constitutes only a small percentage of Americans, yet you are paying careful attention to their demands.  Well, here’s another one for you.  Read the Preamble to the United States Constitution below and then commit yourself and encourage your party members to act accordingly.  So far, I see absolutely nothing coming from the Republicans that will offer relief to the beleaguered middle and lower class taxpayers.  In fact, I have seen evidence that some of you demonize poor people.  Get with it, Speaker Boehner.  Do the right thing for once!  Remember to read the Preamble below.

The Preamble to the United States Constitution states, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."(as originally written)

P.S. Please smile once in a while.  It will do wonders for your attitude.

Regards,

Ham on Wry

Read More

Are "viruses" and "malware" the same thing?

Updated September 18, 2011

 

Technically, no. But the difference is mostly Geek Jargon. Here's a brief background to help you understand the differences, and how they affect your choices in security software...

First, there were "Viruses". These programs self-replicated and spread without assistance. They did nasty things ranging from erasing your hard drive, to turning your screen upside down. Then came "Trojans". These programs were secretly installed by non-replicating means, and compromised the security on your computer to allow hackers direct (but hidden) access.

Next came "Spyware" and "Adware". Initially, these programs installed by sneaky-but-legal methods, but quickly devolved into more viral-like, illegal infections. Unlike viruses, these programs are not designed harm your computer. They secretly collect and report information about your browsing and purchasing habits, and/or generate those pop-ups advertisements we all know and hate. However, they DO often slow down your PC, and sometimes damage your system software while installing.

From these basic classifications sprung hundreds of variations and combinations, with two or three jargon terms for each of them. They were grouped into classifications by the burgeoning security software industry, which (of course) made absolutely no attempt to standardize them. A few people (myself included) started promoting the term "malware" as a general term for all MALicious softWARE. But the industry hijacked the term to apply specifically to the Spyware-Adware type of infections.

End result: The differences between "Viruses" and "Malware" are vague an confusing. However, for practical purposes, you can think of the difference primarily as legal. A "Virus" is malicious software that clearly installs itself illegally and/or for illegal purposes. "Malware" is malicious software that installs using sneaky-but-legal methods, and does not perform clearly illegal functions. Another term for this kind of software is PUP ...Potentially Unwanted Programs.

PUPs quickly became such a nuisance that a whole new industry for protection software sprung up around them. Their names usually incorporate the words "spy" or "malware".  Of course, they promoted themselves as an essential element to work alongside Anti-Virus software. However, both Malware and Viruses are detected in basically the same way, and these methods consume a lot of your computer's "horsepower".  Consequently, adding an Anti-Malware program to your computer may significantly reduce it's speed.

Today, most top-line Anti-Virus programs can now detect both Viruses and Malware. Conversely, few Anti-Malware programs also detect Viruses.  Also, the Anti-Malware companies have much less experience with Anti-Virus defense -- which is more difficult than defending against much simpler Malware.

The final difference is that "Anti-Virus" applications only delete the "viral" components of the infection.  They don't "mop-up" the leftover components.  While the leftovers do not pose a large threat for re-infection, most people (including me) are not comfortable leaving them there.

Summary:  Malware-plus-AV products (IMO) do not perform nearly as efficiently as venerable Anti-Virus products that also protect against Malware.  However, anti-malware products can perform better "mop-up" cleaning after an infection occurs, than anti-virus programs do.

On a final note, there are a number of popular, excellent, and free Anti-Malware removal programs. These are often recommended as "security" applications that can be installed alongside any anti-virus Program without impacting performance. This claim is somewhat incorrect. In their free versions these programs do not BLOCK Malware.  ...They will only REMOVE Malware AFTER it is already installed on the computer. Only the paid versions of these programs will BLOCK Malware.  Some of these programs DO include small, passive features that assist in blocking malware, but they do not actively scan files for malicious code the way that an Anti-Virus does.

Read More

Ham on Wry Award-A Cat Named Willow



Willow Contemplates the Litter Box

Willow, a calico cat that disappeared from the home of the Squires family in Boulder, Colorado, resurfaced this week in New York City at an animal shelter.  Somehow, this clever feline made the two-thousand mile journey without alerting her owners that she wanted to see the world.  Ham on Wry has not yet substantiated this information, but it seems a New Yorker on a ski vacation found her and flew her to Brooklyn, where she has lived since.  No word yet on how she escaped her Brooklyn digs, but a man found her on the street and took her to an animal shelter.

When Willow's original owners adopted her as a kitten, they had her micro-chipped.  That provided the shelter a means of identifying both her and her Colorado owners.  The shelter contacted the Squires family Wednesday to alert them that Willow had been found after going AWOL for five years.  The family assumed that she had been killed by one of the coyotes that abound in the area where they live.  Willow disappeared when one of the workmen doing a remodeling project left the door open.  Since all cats have a heightened sense of curiosity, Willow took off for parts unknown.  Fortunately, in this case, curiosity did not kill the cat.

Anderson Cooper invited Willow for a guest appearance on his show, where she was reunited virtually with her Colorado family.  Two of the three children are old enough to remember Willow, but the three-year-old has yet to meet her.  Roscoe, the yellow lab, and Willow were buddies when she lived in Colorado; however, she and Zoe, the English Mastiff, will have to "sniff each other out."  Jamie Squires said that they had a second dog during the time when Willow lived there and the cat mimicked the dogs' behavior, apparently thinking she was one of them. 

Ham on Wry has one main concern in all of this.  After spending five years in New York, will Willow's return to Colorado be a case of, "How You Gonna Keep 'em down on the Farm, after They've Seen Pareeee(Paris)?"  Her sophistication might overwhelm her two country dog siblings.

Read More

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Wins America's Got Talent

Nick Cannon Interviews Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. After He Was Declared the Winner of America's Got Talent

Crooner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. took home $1 million last night as the winner of America's Got Talent.  This humble man from Logan, West Virginia, reacted with shock when host Nick Cannon finally announced his name after a protracted, pregnant pause.  Two of the four finalists had been eliminated earlier, so Murphy and Silhouettes, a dance troupe, remained on stage until the final moments of the show.  The dancers erupted with cheers for Murphy, even though they wound up in second place. 

Throughout the summer, Murphy displayed his gentle spirit and kind heart, winning over fellow contestants and judges alike.  He expressed his heartfelt appreciation each time he made the cut along the way, and was so overwhelmed by the experience that he often teared up.  He's come a long way from washing cars at a car dealership.and will headline in Las Vegas at Caesars' Palace next month, with the other three finalists as support acts.

Ham on Wry first heard Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. sing "I've Got You Under My Skin" when he auditioned June 26th of this year.  His nervousness was obvious when he laughed at seeing Howie Mandel, one of the judges, saying he loved Howie.  Piers Morgan, another judge, asked him to remove his gum.  Murphy obliged and stuck it in his pocket.  He followed with a polished performance and stunned the judges.  From that moment on, he remained a crowd favorite.  At left, he sings his rendition of "My Way", which sealed the deal for his win last night.

Murphy is definitely an iconoclast.  His voice, often reminiscent of Sinatra, never fails to hit the notes and entertain audiences.  Yet, who would have expected this kind of talent to be hidden in an unassuming former man of the streets?  Congratulations, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.  Your talent is as big as your name.

Read More

Miss Angola Leila Lopes Wins the Miss Universe Crown

Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2011

Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes, a native of Angola, won the pageant over eighty-eight other contestants.  Ham on Wry could find reference to just five other black women winning the title in the pageant's sixty-year history.  Lopes, a business student, was asked about her views on racism and replied, "Any racist needs to seek help. It's not normal in the 21st century to think in that way."  Ah, if only the remaining racists in the world would do just that.

Lopes downplayed her physical beauty by telling the judges she regards herself as a woman of inner beauty.  That she is.  As Miss Universe, she will promote the fight against HIV globally, as she has already done in her home country.  She also works with the elderly, impoverished people, and appears willing to help in almost about any social cause that will lift Angola out of poverty.



Leila Lopes has more than inner beauty.   As demonstrated in the picture to the left, taken during the bikini contest portion of the pageant, she has a lovely figure and a dazzling smile.  The picture at the top shows her accepting the Miss Universe Crown--another tribute to her exceptional beauty.

Ham on Wry congratulates Miss Angola and wishes her success in her year as a global ambassador for fighting HIV>

Read More

Ahmadinejad Tells Ann Curry Iran Will Release Hikers Soon

Shaun Bauer and Joshua Fattal (AP photo)

Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal, two of the three hikers arrested by Iranian authorities in July 2009 for spying, have always claimed their foray into Iranian territory was an accident.  Sarah Shourd, the third hiker was released a year ago because of illness, after paying $500,000 in bail.  Bauer and Fattal must also pay that amount to free themselves.  Let's hope Ahmadinejad's claim in true.

Procedural delays postponed the two men's sentencing until last month when they received eight years as punishment.  As I watched Ann Curry's interview, her expression changed to mild shock when Ahmadinejad delivered the news of their impending release.  He said it would happen within a couple of days.  Anne repeated his words, and he affirmed his statement by repeating, "Yes," and nodding his head.  The Iranian leader also told Curry that he was solely responsible for arranging the release.  He then spoke about Iranians being held prisoner in the US and suggested our government should reciprocate in kind.

Next week, Ahmadinejad will join other world leaders in New York at the UN General Assembly, so the possibility that this announcement was timed to lay positive groundwork for his appearance is possible.  The hikers' parents have expressed hope that the release will happen as promised.  I have long doubted whether Ahmadinejad truly has the supreme power he would like us to believe.  These two young men deserve better than to be treated as political pawns.

Read More

Republican Candidates a Scary Bunch

Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, and Rick Perry

Claiming that social security constitutes nothing more than a "Ponzi scheme", Texas Governor Rick Perry displays his ignorance of the term and his understanding of social security. Add that statement to his disbelief in evolution and his stand on abortion, which would limit it to rape, incest, and if an expectant mother's life would be threatened reveals a man with a limited scope. He seems to think that pandering to Tea Party demands will will him a term in the White House. Ham on Wry questions a governor who remains on the campaign trail rather than returning to Texas during the wildfire crisis.  Twenty-seven and two-tenths of Texas residents have no health care, over ten percent higher than the national average.  If this is what the Tea Party considers a prime candidate to lead the nation, I shudder at the thought of the consequences if he's elected.

Michele Bachmann called social security "a fraud" and would ban abortion if she had the power.  Her limited views include skepticism about global warming, which almost all scientists now concur is happening, her push to include the teaching of "creationism" alongside evolution in public school science, and her view that the minimum wage should be abolished and would thus eliminate unemployment indicate that she has no business running for president.  The Tea Party certainly knows how to pick 'em!

This post could wax on about other Republican candidates, but readers will understand the gist of why Ham on Wry labels them a scary bunch.  Perry and Bachmann bring forth visions of disaster for this country.  I end this blog in the same way that I concluded my post on 9/11 yesterday, with the Preamble to the United States Constitution.  It states, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."(as originally written) Keep this in mind, fellow citizens, if you ever doubt what common goals our ancestors deemed important to our country and vote for candidates that hold these notions dear.  This country needs leaders who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and understand that the United States must exist in a diverse world.  Perry and Bachmann don't fit that description.

Read More

9/11 Memories

Disasters burn deep in the memory of those who experienced them firsthand, or those who witnessed the events unfold on a TV, computer, or cell phone September 11, 2001.  Earlier that year, I moved back to Florida from New York because my mother's health was deteriorating.  I worked for a large consulting firm that had a presence in the city nearest to my home.  9/11 started the same as most work days--a commute along jammed roadways into the city, parking the car, and then walking a short distance to the office.  A woman on a cell phone rode the elevator to the street of the parking garage, and, as we exited, exclaimed, "Oh my God!"  Those words shattered any semblance of normalcy that day.

She explained that a friend told her a plane had hit the south tower of the World Trade Center, and I felt an immediate unease.  She had no other details to offer, so I ran to the many-storied building that housed our office, so I could check the computer for details.  No one in the office had heard the news, so some of us gathered in a meeting room to watch TV.  Almost immediately after we turned it on, we witnessed the second plane smashing into the north tower.  Flames shot out from the building, and we realized this was no accident.  We were under attack, but didn't know from whom.  I bolted from the room to call our NY office to see if any of our consultants were working at either of the buildings.  Repeated attempts netted no results because all forms of communication to the city were on overload.

The firm sent us all home, and I spent the day watching tragic scenes from the site.  Intermittently, I tried to reach some of my friends, one of whom lived across from the World Trade Center complex.  Finally, I made contact and found that my friends were safe, but I still had no information about whether any consultants had perished.   Later that night, I spoke with someone in the Midtown office, and she told me that 45 consultants had escaped from the north tower, thanks to the quick thinking of the team leader.  He had a narrow escape from the 1993 bombing of  One World Trade, and he insisted that everyone continue down the stairs, despite repeated announcements to return to their offices.  Once they left the building they walked all the way to the Midtown office.  I don't remember his name, but I'm certain his team does.  He was a true hero.

It has taken 10 years, but the memorial was finally dedicated today, although its completion will take at least another year.  It is time to move on from the sorrow, yet we must remember the positive part of what happened after the attack.  People from all over the world mourned with us, and everyone put aside their political affiliations, their races, and their religions and joined together as Americans.  Now, with the economic downturn, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the political upheaval in Congress, we have forgotten our common goals.  I urge members of Congress to remember that their highest priority rests with promoting the health, welfare, and safety of this country's citizens.  The Preamble to the United States Constitution states, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."(as originally written)  Keep this in mind, fellow citizens, if you ever doubt what common goals our ancestors deemed important to our country.

Read More

Ham on Wry Award--President Obama's Speech Attracts 31.4 Million Viewers

President Obama discussed the specifics of his plan to increase jobs and boost the economy Thursday night.  Don't let the expressions on Vice-President Biden and Speaker of the House Boehner fool you.  Obama presented a package valued at $447 billion that economists are giving high marks.  Most had a favorable reaction to the president's focus on infrastructure because it accomplishes a great deal more that jobs creation.  Deteriorating roadways, crowded, outdated airports and insufficient mass transportation impede the effective movement of people and products. 

The president's plan would eliminate payroll taxes for companies that add workers or increase wages of current workers, with a cap at the first $50 million in payroll increases. It also includes a $4,000 tax credit for employers who hire long-term unemployed workers, plus a "returning heroes" hiring tax credit of $5,600 to $9,600 for each unemployed vet hired.  In addition, by extending and expanding the existing payroll tax holiday for another year.  Americans will pay just 3.2 percent on the first $106,800 of income, instead of the previous 4.2 percent, which is the current rate under the payroll tax holiday, and far less than the previous 6.2 percent.  He also included money to support mortgage refinancing.

President Obama combined the legislation with specific offsets and reforms.  For example, he proposed closing corporate tax loopholes and levying higher taxes on the wealthy, much like Warren Buffett demanded in his op-ed piece in the NY Times a few weeks ago.  The plan he presented does not affect the deficit, and, later, he'll present proposals for significant, long-term fiscal reforms to the Congressional deficit super- committee.

Ham on Wry suggests that Congress pass this bill as quickly as possible.  A majority of Americans support Buffett'suggestions of raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.  Middle and lower class citizens have stretched dollars as far as possible, while goods and services regularly rise.  Congress must put partisan politics aside and concentrate on what's best for the country in this time of economic hardship.

Read More

Bones Found in South Africa Possible Missing Link

Bones from one of two skeletons discovered accidentally in 2008 by a 9-year-old boy near the vestiges of a South African cave might prove the direct predecessor to homo sapiens.  A juvenile male and an adult female, dubbed Australopithecus sediba, lived approximately 2 million years ago.  The word Australopithecus means "southern ape," and sediba means"wellspring" in the South African language Sotho.  Researchers determined that the male was between 10 and 13 and the female in her late 20's or early 30's by dating the calcified sediments surrounding them with advanced uranium-lead dating techniques and a method called paleomagnetic dating, which measures how many times the Earth's magnetic field has reversed. (Charles Q. Choi, contributor to http://livescience.com/)  The remains have both human and more primitive features that have led researchers to consider them an intermediary form between Australopithecus and Homo.

Lee Berger, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, assembled a large team of experts to examine the skeletons.  Berger explained, "The fossils demonstrate a surprisingly advanced but small brain, a very evolved hand with a long thumb like a human's, a very modern pelvis, but a foot and ankle shape never seen in any hominin species that combines features of both apes and humans in one anatomical package.  You have things like a heel bone that's as primitive as a chimpanzee attached to the ankle bone that's as evolved as ours is. many very advanced features found in the brain and body and the earlier date make it possibly the best candidate ancestor for our genus, the genus Homo, more so than previous discoveries such as Homo habilis."

Anthropologists have injected a note of caution in drawing definite conclusions from these fossils  Some who question whether Australopithecus sediba directly pre-dates human say sediba could have been one of many evolutionary experiments at the time, one that might have died out rather than creating the final link in the chain of human evolution.  To learn more about this research, check the September 9th issue of the journal Science.

Read More

Amanda Knox Appeal Shows Signs of Hope

Amanda Knox at her Appeal September 7,  2011

Amanda Knox, detained at the maximum-security Casa Circondariale Capanne prison compound just outside the Umbrian capital of Perugia since November 6, 2007, has finally seen some progress in her appeal for the murder of her then roommate, Meredith Kercher, a British citizen.  Knox's ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, was also convicted of the crime, and a third person, Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede, was already found guilty when Knox and Sollecito went on trial.  Guede had a streamlined trial that proceeded quickly and led to a 30-year sentence. 
When an appeals court rejected the prosecutor's request Wednesday for additional DNA testing, it signaled that the independent  review of DNA testing would stand, good news for Knox because the report favored her denial of participating in the crime.  The U.K. Telegraph reports that "court appointed experts have criticised the way the original forensic investigation was carried out by police." 

Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann/s ruling against the prosecutors allows for closing arguments to proceed Sept. 23.  The prosecution will present their arguments first, followed by those of civil plaintiffs and the defense.  Knox's lawyer Luciano Ghirga cautioned against assuming that the court's rejection of new DNA testing would automatically lead to Amanda Knox's release.  It does, however, give Knox and her family some reason to hope for a positive outcome.

Ham on Wry's author has followed this case since its inception.  Online articles have remained popular and always spike when media stories appear.  No one will ever know exactly what happened in 2007, except the person or people who killed Meredith Kercher, but perhaps now the accused and all of the families involved will have closure.  After learning about the Italian court system in following this case, Ham on Wry suggests that travelers from other countries avoid legal problems in Italy. 

Read More

An Open Letter to President Obama

AP Photo

Ham on Wry's author wrote an open letter with jobs suggestions to President Obama last week.  In addition, she pleaded with him to show the vision that symbolized his campaign  promises and take a strong stance on what he believes we must do as a nation.  His approval rating has taken a tumble, and he must choose whether to act on his beliefs or concern himself with fundraising and the 2012 election.  The letter with some revisions follows.

President Obama,

 

I have meant to write to you for weeks and hope you read this message, or one of your minions advises you about it. I avidly supported you in the 2008 election and believe you have more mettle than you have shown since you took office. Your lack of strong leadership has deeply disappointed me because we're living in a time where your eloquence could translate into convincing Americans of thow vital a shared vision is for this country. Somehow, you have missed that opportunity thus far.

 

I don't know what suggestions your jobs proposal contains, but I do know that the federal government should not be in the business of creating jobs, nor should Americans expect it to be. Any proposal for substantive increases in jobs must emanate from the private sector. I could write a treatise on how the government can encourage this, but I'll opt for brevity. Two interlocking ideas immediately come to mind. First, tax companies that export jobs overseas. If exporting jobs bears that additional expense, decision makers will evaluate financial ramifications more prudently. Second, create incentives for companies to establish customer service operations and related call centers in states where clusters of small towns exist. A central area for the building that would house the employees could pull from these small towns with far fewer costs than in large metropolitan areas. Housing, compensation, and commuting costs would constitute significantly less expense for employees as a result.

 

Americans are fed up with speaking to someone in India, the Philippines or other locations outside the United States about customer service issues and dealing with vastly inferior products from China. If we're going to import from China, imports should be held to the same standards we demand in the U.S. Congress has ignored a resounding message from citizens of this nation, and as a result has plummeted to a positive rating from eighteen percent.in the most recent poll. We have a global economy, but that doesn't mean we should tolerate a huge imbalance between imports and exports. If you take my two suggestions seriously, you would win favor on multiple levels. Taking risk is part of any opportunity, and you might as well "go for the gold" because you face strong indicators that you won't be re-elected unless you present innovative ideas. Show the courage of your convictions, and people will rally behind you as they did in 2008. .

 

Respectfully,

 

Alice S. Carter

Read More

Super-sized Croc Captured in Phillipines

Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde of Bunawan Township Emphasizes the Crocodile's Mammoth Proportions

After eluding capture for three weeks, Bunawan township villagers and experts from a crocodile farm in Palawan province finally caught their prey Saturday night, September 3rd.  Several people witnessed the enormous creature attack and kill a water buffalo in August, and locals also suspect that the same reptile is responsible for a fisherman who disappeared in July.  Township Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde joined the hunt and told the Associated Press by phone, "We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers.  When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."

Elorde explained that the croc destroyed four traps set by hunters, so they used sturdier traps that had steel cables.  Eventually, the monster succumbed to one of those traps.  The crocodile weighed 2,370 pounds (1075 kilos) and measured 21 feet (6.4 meters) in length.  Around 100 people combined strength to pull the it from the creek and take it to a clearing, where a crane was used to lift it into a truck.  Super Croc now resides in a fenced area in Augusan del Sur province, where Bunawan township is located.

Curious readers might wonder why the captors want the crocodile alive.  Mayor Elorde explained that they propose "to turn a threat into an asset."  The village is planning an ecotourism park in the area in hopes of bringing prosperity to the impoverished region southeast of Manila.  "It will be the star of the park," said Elorde.  The park will also display other species found in the marshland where the crocodile resided. 

Ham on Wry wishes Augusan province and the villagers of Bunawan township great success on their venture, but suggests they proceed with caution.  If one crocodile that size exists, what other giant creatures might also roam the area?  It seems like the care and feeding of the one species they already have could be dangerous and expensive.  Mayor Elorde might have to tweak the budget a bit until the park opens. 

Read More

Florida Governor Rick Scott's Makeover

Beware the new Rick Scott. The photo at right shows Governor Scott in March of 2011 in shirt and tie, the manner in which he presented himself until Steve McNamara, his new Chief of Staff arrived in July. Almost immediately, his press office released a new official photo, instructing the news media to replace the old one.  Ham on Wry reminds readers that "looks don't make the man", as the well-known adage cautions.

In both the original and new official photos, Scott is depicted with a smile.  However, the casual stance, open shirt collar, and broader smile convey more warmth and approachability--ingredients lacking in the governor's first seven months in office.  Has Scott done a 180?  Steve McNamara hopes voters will conclude that he has.  The irony lies in the fact that Scott campaigned against special interests and insiders, and McNamara is the poster boy for Tallahassee insider.

McNamara has orchestrated several other changes since his arrival.  Scott's office has been redecorated, and he no longer refuses to meet with newspaper editorial boards.  No changes have occurred on his cuts to education, care for people with special needs, drug testing for welfare recipients, changes to Medicaid, shortening the time for voter registration and early voting, and, most glaringly, destroying environmental protections that had been in place since 1985.  He does seem to abide more closely to the "Sunshine Law" that requires open political meetings, but he can't explain away why the majority of his transition e-mails were deleted.  Another adage comes to mind in this situation.  "Where there's smoke; there's fire."  Although his office states the messages were accidentally deleted, Ham on Wry calls foul.  How does someone "accidentally" delete hundreds, if not thousands, of messages?

AP Photo, Bill Coterell, Tallahassee Democrat

Above, Scott is pictured at his first informal session with the Capitol press corps, August 1, 2011.  He sports one of his casual shirts, available in a full array of colors.  His newly adopted, friendly approach includes providing doughnuts for the reporters in attendance.  Ham on Wry fervently hopes that voters see through these attempts to present Scott in a different light.  America has enough media stars already.  What Florida needs is a governor who understands the state that he manages and acts according to the needs of his constituents, rather than pandering to business and ultra conservative voters.  Altering his form does not change his substance.  He made it clear who he was in his first seven months in office.  Citizens must remember that at election time.

Read More

Ham on Wry Award--Wartime Contracting Commission Urges Significant Reform

The Wartime Contracting Commission, a bipartisan legislative commission created by Congress in 2008, presented their final report to Congress Wednesday, August 31st.  More than two and a half years in the making, the commission found monumental waste and corruption in a system lacking sufficient oversight.  Estimates range between $31 and $60 billion in losses over the past decade in Iraq and Afghanistan.due to lax oversight of contractors, poor planning, inadequate competition, and corruption.  The Washington Post quoted Commission member, Dov Zakheim, Pentagon Comptroller in George W. Bush's first term. “I personally believe that the number is much, much closer to $60 billion.”  And we wonder why Congress can't balance a budget.  Members of Congress are far more worried about re-election than they are in paying attention to expenditures.

Christopher Shays and Michael Thibault, Commission Co-chairs

The commission’s 15 recommendations include creating an inspector general to monitor war zone contracting and operations, appointing a senior government official to improve planning and coordination among federal agencies, reducing the use of private security companies, and carefully monitoring contractor performance.
“If these recommendations are not implemented, there ought to be a Hall of Shame,” said Michael Thibault, co-chairman of the commission. “There’s an opportunity at hand.” (from the Associated Press) (photo at right by Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Ham on Wry wonders what Congress will do with this information.  The commission recommended that the bipartisan debt reduction panel study its proposals and consider them in its deliberations.  I see little hope of substantive change occurring unless citizens demand it.  Members of Congress have displayed little ingenuity or commitment toward creating legislation that will actually improve the lot of ordinary Americans thus far, but adopting the commission's recommendations would go far in improving the budget deficit.  Add that to Warren Buffet's demand that Congress stop coddling the uber-wealthy, and it would definitely go a long way toward closing the gap.  It might even raise the under 13% approval rating the last poll reflected of Congress.  Maybe with enough knocks to the head, the entrenched will suddenly "get it." 

Read More

Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice Blast Dick Cheney's Memoir

Condoleezza Rick Talks to Colin Powell with George Bush in the Forefront

Reactions to Dick Cheney's recently-released memoir, In My Time have been understandably negative from former Secretary of State Colin Powell and his successor Condoleezza Rice, since Cheney's version of certain events differ markedly from theirs.  Powell accused Cheney of taking "cheap shots" at him and other members of George W. Bush's Cabinet.  Rice claims that his book "attacks my integrity."

Cheney's and Powell's professional relationship was fraught with disagreements, many of which dealt with policy toward Iraq.  Powell was particularly critical of Cheney's attempt to lay blame for the Valerie Plame affair at the feet of Powell and Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State at the time.  Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was convicted of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI when it was conducting an investigation into a leak to the news media that Plame worked for the CIA. Plame's husband, a former ambassador, had been openly critical of the Bush administration, and speculation existed that the leak had been politically motivated.

Powell revealed that Armitage immediately notified Powell when he realized that a columnist had quoted him  as the anonymous source in the article that "outed" Plame as a CIA operative. They then went to the Justice Department and the FBI about the probe ordered by Bush.

"If the White House and the operatives in the White House — on Mr. Cheney's staff and elsewhere in the White House — had been as forthcoming with the FBI as Mr. Armitage was, this problem would not have reached the dimensions that it reached," Powell stated on Face the Nation Sunday.

Rice expressed anger at Cheney's claim that she “came into my office, sat down in the chair next to my desk, and tearfully admitted I had been right,” after President Bush apologized for an unsubstantiated claim that Iraq was seeking uranium to build nuclear weapons.  Cheney disagreed with her advice at the time.  Rice said that she had told Cheney he was right about press reaction, but not the apology and that the conversation included no tears.  She also disputed his contention that she had misled Bush during negotiations with North Korea.

In a statement made on "Fox & Friends" earlier today and noted on Politico, former President George W. Bush said, “I’m glad members of my family are giving their version of what it was like to serve our country,” Bush said. “I did the same thing. I put my version out there. And eventually, objective historians will analyze our administration and will draw objective conclusions.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62496.html#ixzz1Wjp2qPG5

This has happened rarely, but Ham on Wry agrees with Bush in this case. Memories of past events often fade with time, and no two people recall events in identical fashion.  However, readers of Cheney's memoir should bear in mind that his view of the way things were might just be self-serving.

Read More