Author Ray Bradbury once said, "I don't understand this whole thing about computers and the superhighway. Who wants to be in touch with all of those people?"
He makes a good point.
Too many people, especially the younger ones, think that the Internet is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You need bread to live; you don’t need the Internet.
The Internet is a great resource tool. Email has its place, and porn that should never see the light of day is just a click away.
People spend a great deal of time perfecting their MySpace and Facebook web pages. They constantly email and text message. They have iPhones and BlackBerrys with Internet access. What is so important that people feel the need to be in constant communication?
It’s not that I don’t “get it.” I get it, I just don’t believe it’s the way to live. I’ve seen the world before the Internet and I’ve seen it since. It was a lot better before.
Of course, I’m also a hypocrite. I’ve downloaded an iPod’s worth of MP3s, I email people I don’t feel like talking to in person and yes, I’ve even peeked at a few dirty pictures.
A lot of great things have come from this technological boom, but it’s also responsible for many of the problems the country is experiencing right now.
The job market has suffered from a technological glut. Many things that needed to be done by people are now being done by computers.
There used to be plenty of entry-level clerical, data entry, and filing work. Now that most of these things have been automated, those jobs are disappearing.
Computers have replaced human employees in a variety of tasks. Science fiction writers like Bradbury predicted that this would happen. Sure enough, it did. I know from experience.
I wasn’t replaced by a computer, but many of my co-workers were. They were replaced because of me. They were replaced because I designed and programmed a medical claims auditing system that eliminated their jobs.
When word gets around that you’re the reason their friends were laid off, it doesn’t exactly make life easy in the workplace. I was friends with them too, but it didn’t matter. I did what I was supposed to do.
This is the kind of thing that is happening every day at companies around the world. Once automated computer systems are in place, it only takes a few employees to do the work of many.
Technology can only take us so far. We have to remember that we are smarter than the machines that seem to be taking over. We have to remember that the world is outside and not on a computer screen.
Using technology should improve your life, not make you a slave to it.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Prop 8: It Ain’t About Hate
There’s one thing that people against Proposition 8 don’t understand. Everyone is equal.
That’s what the opponents of Prop 8 are trying to say, but it’s not really what they believe. Everyone is equal, everyone’s opinion is equal, and everyone’s vote is equal. Yet here we are, enduring the threats of the opponents of Prop 8, people who will apparently stop at nothing to extinguish my rights in favor of theirs.
If this is about “equality,” then why does my vote not matter? Twice. We voted on this issue twice. The results of the votes were the same both times. The majority of voters do not want gay marriage. Those on the losing end can’t accept it, so they want to play lawyer-ball until they get their way.
This is not a decision that belongs to the courts. Gays have exactly the same right to get married as any heterosexual person. There is no denial of civil rights. They can marry anyone they choose as long as that person is of the opposite sex.
To be honest, I’m not even entirely opposed to gay marriage. Perhaps more people would be open to allowing it if they hadn’t forced it down our throats in an “in your face” way. You just can’t tell people that their views are wrong. Like everyone else, I am the world’s number one authority of my opinion and what I believe cannot be wrong.
The two things the opponents of Prop 8 preached were that it was “unfair” and “wrong.”
Unfair? Life isn’t fair. My mom’s been telling me that for as long as I can remember. And it really isn’t. The income tax code isn’t fair. Affirmative action isn’t fair. The ban on talking on cell phones while driving isn’t fair. What isn’t fair doesn’t matter. Love the one you’re with and leave me out of it.
Wrong? There is no right and wrong when it comes to the law. Wrong is a judgment call. What one person thinks is wrong may be what another person thinks is right. The best we can do when it comes to right and wrong is try to get along. That’s where the vote comes in.
They’ve also claimed that Prop 8 is hateful. If you want hate, I’ll give you hate. I hate being told what to think. I hate being told that my opinion is wrong. I hate people who think their opinion is more important than mine. I hate that my vote doesn’t seem to matter.
I’m not going to go into how many gay friends I have or that I have had gay roommates in the past. It really doesn’t matter to me. I don’t think any less of them; I say live and let live, just don’t demand my endorsement.
It’s always been kind of a tenet of the gay community to not care about what people think of their lifestyle and that’s great. I do think it’s kind of sad, though, that gay people who want to get married demand my approval and a piece of paper from the state to validate their love.
For anyone who opposes Prop 8, don’t worry. It’s likely that gays will be allowed to get married in California sometime in the future. I might even be persuaded to change my mind if opponents of Prop 8 would be a little nicer about the whole thing.
They’re the ones spewing the hate and anger. I don’t hate anyone. I don’t want to stop anyone from having a committed relationship. I just want to be free to believe what I want without being made to feel like I'm evil.
That’s what the opponents of Prop 8 are trying to say, but it’s not really what they believe. Everyone is equal, everyone’s opinion is equal, and everyone’s vote is equal. Yet here we are, enduring the threats of the opponents of Prop 8, people who will apparently stop at nothing to extinguish my rights in favor of theirs.
If this is about “equality,” then why does my vote not matter? Twice. We voted on this issue twice. The results of the votes were the same both times. The majority of voters do not want gay marriage. Those on the losing end can’t accept it, so they want to play lawyer-ball until they get their way.
This is not a decision that belongs to the courts. Gays have exactly the same right to get married as any heterosexual person. There is no denial of civil rights. They can marry anyone they choose as long as that person is of the opposite sex.
To be honest, I’m not even entirely opposed to gay marriage. Perhaps more people would be open to allowing it if they hadn’t forced it down our throats in an “in your face” way. You just can’t tell people that their views are wrong. Like everyone else, I am the world’s number one authority of my opinion and what I believe cannot be wrong.
The two things the opponents of Prop 8 preached were that it was “unfair” and “wrong.”
Unfair? Life isn’t fair. My mom’s been telling me that for as long as I can remember. And it really isn’t. The income tax code isn’t fair. Affirmative action isn’t fair. The ban on talking on cell phones while driving isn’t fair. What isn’t fair doesn’t matter. Love the one you’re with and leave me out of it.
Wrong? There is no right and wrong when it comes to the law. Wrong is a judgment call. What one person thinks is wrong may be what another person thinks is right. The best we can do when it comes to right and wrong is try to get along. That’s where the vote comes in.
They’ve also claimed that Prop 8 is hateful. If you want hate, I’ll give you hate. I hate being told what to think. I hate being told that my opinion is wrong. I hate people who think their opinion is more important than mine. I hate that my vote doesn’t seem to matter.
I’m not going to go into how many gay friends I have or that I have had gay roommates in the past. It really doesn’t matter to me. I don’t think any less of them; I say live and let live, just don’t demand my endorsement.
It’s always been kind of a tenet of the gay community to not care about what people think of their lifestyle and that’s great. I do think it’s kind of sad, though, that gay people who want to get married demand my approval and a piece of paper from the state to validate their love.
For anyone who opposes Prop 8, don’t worry. It’s likely that gays will be allowed to get married in California sometime in the future. I might even be persuaded to change my mind if opponents of Prop 8 would be a little nicer about the whole thing.
They’re the ones spewing the hate and anger. I don’t hate anyone. I don’t want to stop anyone from having a committed relationship. I just want to be free to believe what I want without being made to feel like I'm evil.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Free Beer!
Finding a restaurant that serves a great hamburger shouldn’t be difficult. After ordering the burger at Hoppy Brewing Company, only one thing can be said: the search goes on.
Hoppy Brewing Company is a happy little brewpub located on Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento. The place is what it appears to be from the outside, a drinking establishment that happens to serve food.
Inside the brewpub is a long bar with a full array of liquor and plenty of taps for dispensing a variety of pilsners, including several that are brewed on the premises. The dining room itself is not particularly large, but it isn’t intimate. Tables are easily arranged to accommodate groups of different sizes. There is limited outdoor seating, but those tables only seat two.
Seating a party of seven wasn’t really a problem; the wait for a table was reasonable for any restaurant during peak dining hours. However, there wasn’t much room for waiting. Standing around the hostess’ podium as other diners and the staff navigated through was a bit uncomfortable.
The restaurant was particularly noisy and it was difficult to carry on conversations. Above the chatter was a sound system that played music. While the chatter is something to be expected and overlooked, the music was unnecessary.
Once seated with menus, the waiter promptly took drink orders. A free pint of beer was offered to those who had voted in that day’s presidential election. In addition to the varieties of light and dark beer, the menu features a decent selection of wines and spirits. For those with limited wine knowledge, the menu lists the location of the vineyards to aid in selection.
Without a free pint of beer (not for lack of voting), the soft drinks were of the Pepsi variety. Ordering a Coke and receiving the “Is Pepsi okay?” comeback, root beer was my drink of the night. A bit overpriced at $2.50, I was expecting a refill before the end of dinner but was offered none.
The menu is complete enough to cater to the desires of most diners. The appetizers are typical for a brewpub: potato skins, hot wings, calamari and cheese sticks. Much of the entrée menu seems a bit ambitious for this type of dining establishment. Pizza, mahi mahi, ribs, steaks and pastas are difficult foods to prepare well. Many restaurants that specialize in those kinds of foods don’t always succeed in quality.
The entrées that made more sense for a brewpub to serve are burgers and sandwiches. The hamburger was the most appealing, reasonably priced entrée for me. Rather than having half a dozen different hamburgers on the menu, burgers are available with an interesting variety of fixings.
Included on the burger are lettuce and tomato. For forty cents each, different seasonings, cheeses, sauces and toppings like mushrooms, pineapple and jalapeño peppers can be added. Unfortunately, adding onion to the hamburger was a forty-cent addition as well. Charging extra for onions on a hamburger borders on the unthinkable.
Hoppy’s was hopping but all of the food came quickly, in about 15 minutes. The burger was prepared medium rare with lettuce, tomato and onion, exactly the way it was ordered. The shape of the burger was perfectly round and flat, a telltale sign that what I was about to eat was recently a frozen 1/3 pound industrial patty. One bite of the burger confirmed that suspicion.
There was nothing terrible about the hamburger; it just wasn’t anything great. For the $8.25 plus the forty cents for the onion, I expected something more than a factory burger. It was better than a Jumbo Jack from Jack-In-The-Box, but those are less than two bucks and they come with onions.
The service was completely professional and efficient. Plates were promptly cleared and individual checks were issued without having to ask who ordered what. The entire experience was pleasant and enjoyable. I would dine at the Hoppy Brewing Company again, but I would order something other than the hamburger.
On the Net
http://www.hoppy.com/
Hoppy Brewing Company is a happy little brewpub located on Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento. The place is what it appears to be from the outside, a drinking establishment that happens to serve food.
Inside the brewpub is a long bar with a full array of liquor and plenty of taps for dispensing a variety of pilsners, including several that are brewed on the premises. The dining room itself is not particularly large, but it isn’t intimate. Tables are easily arranged to accommodate groups of different sizes. There is limited outdoor seating, but those tables only seat two.
Seating a party of seven wasn’t really a problem; the wait for a table was reasonable for any restaurant during peak dining hours. However, there wasn’t much room for waiting. Standing around the hostess’ podium as other diners and the staff navigated through was a bit uncomfortable.
The restaurant was particularly noisy and it was difficult to carry on conversations. Above the chatter was a sound system that played music. While the chatter is something to be expected and overlooked, the music was unnecessary.
Once seated with menus, the waiter promptly took drink orders. A free pint of beer was offered to those who had voted in that day’s presidential election. In addition to the varieties of light and dark beer, the menu features a decent selection of wines and spirits. For those with limited wine knowledge, the menu lists the location of the vineyards to aid in selection.
Without a free pint of beer (not for lack of voting), the soft drinks were of the Pepsi variety. Ordering a Coke and receiving the “Is Pepsi okay?” comeback, root beer was my drink of the night. A bit overpriced at $2.50, I was expecting a refill before the end of dinner but was offered none.
The menu is complete enough to cater to the desires of most diners. The appetizers are typical for a brewpub: potato skins, hot wings, calamari and cheese sticks. Much of the entrée menu seems a bit ambitious for this type of dining establishment. Pizza, mahi mahi, ribs, steaks and pastas are difficult foods to prepare well. Many restaurants that specialize in those kinds of foods don’t always succeed in quality.
The entrées that made more sense for a brewpub to serve are burgers and sandwiches. The hamburger was the most appealing, reasonably priced entrée for me. Rather than having half a dozen different hamburgers on the menu, burgers are available with an interesting variety of fixings.
Included on the burger are lettuce and tomato. For forty cents each, different seasonings, cheeses, sauces and toppings like mushrooms, pineapple and jalapeño peppers can be added. Unfortunately, adding onion to the hamburger was a forty-cent addition as well. Charging extra for onions on a hamburger borders on the unthinkable.
Hoppy’s was hopping but all of the food came quickly, in about 15 minutes. The burger was prepared medium rare with lettuce, tomato and onion, exactly the way it was ordered. The shape of the burger was perfectly round and flat, a telltale sign that what I was about to eat was recently a frozen 1/3 pound industrial patty. One bite of the burger confirmed that suspicion.
There was nothing terrible about the hamburger; it just wasn’t anything great. For the $8.25 plus the forty cents for the onion, I expected something more than a factory burger. It was better than a Jumbo Jack from Jack-In-The-Box, but those are less than two bucks and they come with onions.
The service was completely professional and efficient. Plates were promptly cleared and individual checks were issued without having to ask who ordered what. The entire experience was pleasant and enjoyable. I would dine at the Hoppy Brewing Company again, but I would order something other than the hamburger.
On the Net
http://www.hoppy.com/
Monday, November 3, 2008
Hot Diggidy Dog
It's no secret that Americans love to eat tubes of mystery meat on a bun, otherwise know as the hot dog.
They're offered up at every major league sporting event. They're sold on the street out of portable hot dog steamers. They're sold in most movie theaters. They're available in every supermarket and at thousands of independent hot dog stands around the country.
New Yorkers boast that Nathan's of Coney Island serves the best hot dogs. While there are many Nathan’s locations in the New York area, the one actually at Coney Island is the place to go. Millions of New Yorkers also patronize the famous Sabrett's hot dog carts that can be found throughout the city.
Detroit lays claim to the best "coney islands," restaurants that specialize in chili dogs. Chicago also claims to have the best hot dogs with the most unique toppings, like pickle spears, tomato and relish.
Hollywood is home to Pink's, with its wide variety of topping-laced dogs named after celebrities and golden, delicious chili cheese fries. Its walls are adorned with pictures of hundreds of celebrities who frequent the joint.
As good as any of these hot dogs may be, there is a chain of hot dog stands in the San Fernando Valley called Cupid’s that out-dogs them all. Their menu is simply hot dogs, potato chips, and sodas.
Cupid's has been a Valley landmark since the chain opened in the early 1940s. They serve up their hot dogs with no pretences. A chili dog costs $2, and "everything" includes mustard, onions and chili. And while it is practically unheard of in Los Angeles, I take ketchup on mine.
The hot dogs are prepared on wooden paddles with curves on them that hold the bun and dog in place while the toppings are quickly applied by the expert staff. They can be eaten on the spot at the provided picnic tables or wrapped to go.
When you unwrap your Cupid’s dog at home, the chili stays on the dog thanks to a special dual wrapping process. One layer holds the chili in place while the second wrapper, placed at a 45 degree angle, covers the bun securely. The bun remains soft and chewy, and when you take that first bite, the flavors explode in your mouth.
The tart deli-style mustard gives the dog zing, while the onions provide a crunchy texture. The chili is soft, smooth and solid so you can safely eat the dog without worrying about dripping ingredients on your favorite shirt.
Given America's love of the hot dog, it's surprising that fast food chains haven't cashed in on that love. Yes, there is Weinerschnitzel, but no hot dog aficionado would willingly eat there.
We can be grateful for this lack of commercial interest in the hot dog. It leaves more room for the local and regional chains and independent stands. Could you imagine the McHotDog?
They're offered up at every major league sporting event. They're sold on the street out of portable hot dog steamers. They're sold in most movie theaters. They're available in every supermarket and at thousands of independent hot dog stands around the country.
New Yorkers boast that Nathan's of Coney Island serves the best hot dogs. While there are many Nathan’s locations in the New York area, the one actually at Coney Island is the place to go. Millions of New Yorkers also patronize the famous Sabrett's hot dog carts that can be found throughout the city.
Detroit lays claim to the best "coney islands," restaurants that specialize in chili dogs. Chicago also claims to have the best hot dogs with the most unique toppings, like pickle spears, tomato and relish.
Hollywood is home to Pink's, with its wide variety of topping-laced dogs named after celebrities and golden, delicious chili cheese fries. Its walls are adorned with pictures of hundreds of celebrities who frequent the joint.
As good as any of these hot dogs may be, there is a chain of hot dog stands in the San Fernando Valley called Cupid’s that out-dogs them all. Their menu is simply hot dogs, potato chips, and sodas.
Cupid's has been a Valley landmark since the chain opened in the early 1940s. They serve up their hot dogs with no pretences. A chili dog costs $2, and "everything" includes mustard, onions and chili. And while it is practically unheard of in Los Angeles, I take ketchup on mine.
The hot dogs are prepared on wooden paddles with curves on them that hold the bun and dog in place while the toppings are quickly applied by the expert staff. They can be eaten on the spot at the provided picnic tables or wrapped to go.
When you unwrap your Cupid’s dog at home, the chili stays on the dog thanks to a special dual wrapping process. One layer holds the chili in place while the second wrapper, placed at a 45 degree angle, covers the bun securely. The bun remains soft and chewy, and when you take that first bite, the flavors explode in your mouth.
The tart deli-style mustard gives the dog zing, while the onions provide a crunchy texture. The chili is soft, smooth and solid so you can safely eat the dog without worrying about dripping ingredients on your favorite shirt.
Given America's love of the hot dog, it's surprising that fast food chains haven't cashed in on that love. Yes, there is Weinerschnitzel, but no hot dog aficionado would willingly eat there.
We can be grateful for this lack of commercial interest in the hot dog. It leaves more room for the local and regional chains and independent stands. Could you imagine the McHotDog?
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