Quote of the Day
Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! It is a dangerous servant and a terrible master.
George Washington
First Post of New Blog
I just published the initial post of SofDoc; this post reflects on my IT career through the earlier part of my graduate studies at the University of Houston and what motivated my dissertation and the flow of my subsequent research as a full-time MIS professor. I wouldn't say it's an easy read, but I think it's readable given the nature of the discussion. The purpose of the post is to provide context for the blog and future posts. I'm always observing my own interactions with software and documentation.
To give an unrelated example, I once modified my resume to include an innovative Frequently Asked Questions section primarily to see the reaction. I had noted a recurring sequence of questions over the years and decided to make the resume more recruiter-friendly. I didn't even have to ask recruiters; they brought it up in initial conversations with me. A lot of recruiters thought that it was the coolest thing they had ever seen: I had already answered most of the typical questions (am I a citizen, do I have a security clearance, how far a commute in the MD/DC/VA area would I consider, etc.), so all they had left to do was to arrange for phone or in-person interviews. On the other hand, others hated it with a passion because it didn't fit their expectations for a resume.
Future posts will include practical PC topics like my approach to the backup and restoration of emails, the organization of browser bookmarks, and problems running chkdsk with certain security software.
Boehner Backs Away From Confrontation on Two-Month Proposal
I've run critical commentaries the past 2 days on what I considered to be one of the dumbest political moves ever; unfortunately, the House Republicans unnecessarily gave Obama a propaganda victory which might cost the GOP next fall. I have mentioned time and again: you have to know how and when to pick your political battles. The minute the majority of Senate Republicans agreed to the 2-month deal, the game was over. The House was playing a game of chicken and it would be held solely responsible for the loss of a middle-class tax cut. It's worse than standing on principle: the House Republicans had already agreed in concept to extending the payroll tax holiday (which I opposed on principle). But it was willing to risk expiration of the cut over an arcane fight over the length of the extension.
It was a sad story watching CNN news alerts float by my computer screen about Senate Minority Leader McConnell urging the House to go along--and then Obama did the same. Was this a "win" for Obama? In what way? The funding does not come from a class warfare tax hike (it comes from GSE fee increases for government guarantees) and it didn't broaden the tax cut like Obama wanted. So the idea this is Obama "leadership" and a "win" is ludicrous on its face. Then I saw an item float by that Boehner admitted the about-face wasn't the smartest thing politically to do. The House GOP now had to flip their vote just days after voting against virtually the same on principle. (Boehner got some minor face-saving concessions, but make no mistake--the political damage has already been done.)
Do I like the deal? Of course not. Any fees assessed by the GSE's should offset our losses from government-guaranteed loans, not pay off a third of an individual's social security contribution payment. I similarly don't like balancing the budget, say, on the back of cigarette smokers or consumers of alcohol beverages.
Political Potpourri
Gallup still has Gingrich up by a handful, but two recent national polls showed Romney and Gingrich tied. Some of the state polls which showed Gingrich up huge are beginning to decline. Romney once again is tying or beating Obama in matchups. One recent poll showed former US Senator Allen regaining a small lead in Virginia. PPP (a Democratic pollster) showed Dems ahead of GOP by 2 points; I wouldn't be surprised to see that spike modestly in the aftermath of the payroll tax holiday debacle. Interesting: I haven't seen Gallup break above Obama's 43% approval lately although multiple polls show him surging almost to 50%.
I still expect that the GOP will have a good election next fall. I don't think independents and moderates want to put the Democrats back in charge given an already bloated national debt; I think they have seen nothing is going to happen on the financial discipline front so long as the Dems control the Senate and White House..
Musical Interlude: Nostalgic/Instrumental Christmas
The First Noël
Gregorian. German band merging Gregorian chants with modern pop.
Video from Catholic Harbor of Faith and Morals. Just amazing!
London Symphony Orchestra (instrumental).
Vienna Boys Choir.
