Linkdump: Windows & Apple(s), Google & Paying More

Taking a cue from Second Avenue Saga's recently titled post "Vacation Linkdump", I'm posting a bunch of links with brief descriptions which have been sitting in my "To Be Posted" bookmark folder for a loooong while.

2009
PC World - 23 Years of Wacky Windows Launches - A great amalgamation of videos of Windows launches from Windows 1.0 to Windows 7.  Truly history-making and is remarkable seeing how something so simple eventually made all of today's technology possible.

Seattle Times - Precocious 5-year old gives Windows 7 pitch - Continuing with the Windows theme, this kid has been the talk of the town as Microsoft launched one of its most successful TV ads in awhile.  From critic reactions, they're finally getting it right to fight back against Apple's successful 'Mac vs PC' ads.

Personal note - And have you ever seen the classic ad from Apple that told people to "Think different"?  The ad is available for your review here; also see the infamous 1984 Superbowl one showing everyone following Windows and Apple helping break that monotony.  But today, things are different, indeed.  Today, Apple's products look alike.  Basically all white, all in a plastic case.  The same design for mp3 players, the same phones, the same desktops, the same notebooks.  This standardization

A Turn-Around for the Post and Daily News?

In response to the recent positive comments from the New York Daily News and The New York Post with regards to New York Governor Paterson's pick of Jay Walder as the next head of the MTA and trying to pressure the State Senators to quickly confirm him, I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. Over the past year, both papers have been hugely critical of the Governor and especially the MTA. They keep on blaming these two parties for stuff that is really the Senate's fault. It's the Senate who can't seem to approve funding for camera enforcement of keeping illegal traffic from bus lanes, funding for congestion pricing, as well as a sure means of funding for the MTA in the LONGRUN.

I am really surprised by their recent “siding” with the MTA and the Governor...have we finally got them to side with the pro-transit group? Or is this just a temporary ploy as a result of the Albany coup to get readers to be loyal to their presses...?

Published Post Number:141/147
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Overheard on the 7 Train

As I was taking the 7 towards Flushing this afternoon, I overheard a couple of fans of the St. Louis Cardinals (from St. Louis) comparing the mass transit systems of St. Louis and NYC. They remarked about how the NYC Subway went "just about everywhere." However, they made a key point on how St. Louis' Metro got you to the airport with a new and clean train. Here in NYC, LaGuardia Airport is only connected by buses. (JFK Int'l is connected by the AirTrain, but no one really rides that since you have to get out and transfer to the local subway to head to the city.) If only we had the money...and political will.

Published Post Number:134/140
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Gantt Reappointed

David Gantt, the man infamous for screwing over New York City's traffic enforcement cameras as well as defeating funding for new bus-lane traffic cameras has been reelected to his position as chairman of the State Assembly's Transportation Committee. By Sheldon Silver. Even the New York Times called for Gantt's removal. SHAME ON SILVER!

Published Post Number (PPN):103/109

A Lesson in Economics

Recently, the proposals by the Ravitch Commission on how to save the MTA were attacked by numerous politicans in the area for being an "unfair tax" and as ridiculous ideas. Yet there is a reason why politicians always come up with even more ridiculous and nonsensical plans. As Second Avenue Sagas puts it, Assemblyman Micah Kellner and City Comptroller William Thompson suggested a new fee of $50 per year for a driver's license.

Therein lies two problems with their plan. The first would be that people who do not drive would be forced to pay eight times the amount for a form of ID. This may discourage people from getting or keeping their licenses, a threat not only to national security but also to themselves, should anything ever happen to them. And sure, in New York State, you could get a Non-Driver ID, but what if you needed to drive in an emergency or for a trip? Secondly, as Angus and Julia puts it, people would be more encouraged to drive to get back their $50.

Of course, there is still plenty of time for city and state legislators to make up their minds behind the Ravitch proposals before the public is outraged at having to pay more fares while getting much, much less service. The MTA board will vote on it in March 2009, with its enactment in June. Hopefully, by then, our elected officials will saddle up behind the plans that will truly save the MTA...and the riders and drivers.

Politicians at Fault for MTA Trouble

The MTA recently voted to raise fares to $2.50 and cut late-night service and eliminate two lines completely, among other items in so-called "Draconian" actions in a "Doomsday" scenario. However, although the MTA should get better accountability within their organization, politicians should bear the front of the blame for their irresponsible attitudes towards funding for the MTA. People such as Sheldon Silver or David Gantt or the countless other assemblymen and councilmembers who refuse to believe that in today's world, mass transit in metropolises like New York City mandate that reliable, efficient, and inexpensive mass transit is vital to the city's economy and standard of living.

Read about the MTA's 2009 horrible-to-look-at-but-even-more-horrible-when-it-is-implemented budget in Second Avenue Saga's extensive analysis.

(This post was scheduled to be published on Nov. 22, 2008 but was delayed. Apologies.)

OBAMA: #44 (3rd Post)

Speeches:
John McCain's concession speech with video
Barack Obama's acceptance speech with video

Random public reactions in NYC following the results:

• Yelling on city streets for the better part of the night, honking
• Egyptian woman, with her young daughter, talking with an acquaintance on the subway: "I have been living here for 33 years...McCain's too old...I'm glad Obama won."
• African-American woman speaking to her husband on bus: "On [Linden?] Blvd. last night, the Bloods and Crips were dancing together!"

New York Times' Electoral & National, State Election Maps

Google's election gadget:


Or run for president yourself and see what states you want to win with Yahoo's customizable election map at their Political Dashboard.

And here's what my dream electoral map for U.S. elections would be like:
Yahoo! News Political Dashboard

OBAMA: #44

Congratulations BARACK OBAMA on becoming the 44th President of the United States! He will also be the first African-American President in the U.S. The projections were made first by ABC at around 11 PM EST. Right after the projections were made, throngs of supporters in Times Square, NYC, and in Grant Park, Chicago, cheered. Many were in tears. Times Square looked nearly as crowded and ecstatic as on New Year's Eve.

In an ABC poll, 80% of those polled said that race was not a major factor in their voting decision, instead, 63% believed that the economy was the reason.

When John McCain gave his concession speech in Phoenix, Arizona at around 11:20 PM, his supporters booed when McCain first mentioned the name "Obama." McCain took it professionally and signed that he wanted them to stop. I applaud him for finally taking responsibility about the actions of his supporters. However, I still fear that many right-wing Republican conservative extremists, who were clearly upset at his speech by continually booing Obama, may be even more deeply divided from the rest of the country and may now have an even bigger reason to cause hate in this country.

Plus: reactions

• Aunt (before projection): Are you voting just because every other youth is voting? Did you hear in the news that if Obama wins, to watch out for terrorist attacks to "test" Obama? Or from white supremacists?
• Mom in a seemingly disgruntled, "Yeah-he-won-so-what-I-just-don't-plain-like-him" tone.
• Dad: Already? I just went up to take a shower and he won already?
  

VOTE! (for Obama)

This is one of the most important elections of our lifetime and after eight years of lies, deceit, and irresponsible governance by the Bush Administration, it is time for a New and Better strategy.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, the United States has appeared as a greedy and carefree nation who only care about the rich and lets the nation's poor live a miserable life.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have left the developing world to fend for itself and brushed away the actions of vicious military leaders who have committed genocide.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have ballooned our national debt into the trillions and have caused our youth and future generations to not have an outlook where they will be able to retire and enjoy life.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have put our children and students behind while students in the rest of the world have far exceeded us in education standards.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have neglected the environment in order to put money into the oil and gas companies, and have quickened our death by rejecting international proposals to reduce our pollution and clean up our only home.

That is why
This Election Day, let us show ourselves and the world that we DO care about those who are homeless, those without health insurance, and those who have been trampled by the credit and mortgage crisis.

This Election Day, let us vote for the party that gets things done with the future in foresight while learning from our past mistakes.

This Election Day, let us vote for the candidate that will ensure that the United States' standing in the world is not blemished by ill-conceived and ill-planned wars, and that we will make sure our financial systems are amongst the best in the world.

This Election Day, let us choose the one person who will bring our nation together by regaining trust in American consumers and households by reforming our old laws and updating regulations to reflect that of today's society.

This Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, make your voice HEARD.

This Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, CHOOSE a new direction that will better our and our children's futures.

This Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, VOTE for BARACK OBAMA to be the next President of the United States of America! And vote for the Democrats in any other positions as well!

Biden-Taken Out of Context

John McCain and Sarah Palin's recent attacks on Barack Obama regarding his running mate's opinions were taken entirely out of context in order to misinform voters. Joe Biden's statement that there would be

"An international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy,"

referring to Obama, meant that there would be a situation that would put up resistance to the next President. The fact is, any President will have to be "tested," especially with the current international and generated economic crises (all of the world's markets are in turmoil right now, and were generated by banks, mortgage companies, and other businesses practicing in risky actions.) Many experts are agreeing with Biden's comments, that the current world's state is not in good standing and that even McCain would be tested if he were elected (God forbid). In addition, McCain's remarks on the comments that he would "test them" instead of the other way around simply puts him in a hostile position.

>>> Think Progress: National Security Experts Agree: Biden Was Right; Enemies Likely To ‘Test’ Next President»

Last Laughs for Will as Bush

"A vote for John McCain is a vote for George W. Bush."
So said Will Ferrell, portraying George Bush, on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update Thursday on 10/23. He played Bush attempting to endorse McCain/Palin in a primetime event. Watch the hilarious bit, and the entire episode, at Hulu-SNL:Weekend Update Thursday:10/23

Obama for President

In the final 1.5 weeks before Election Day, the more support there is for the next president of the U.S., the better. In case you may not have noticed by now, I just wanted to make it clear that
I am supporting Barack Obama for President.
His policies and ideals will be a breather from the disgraceful past eight years.

Funny how this comes after my publicized endorsement for Bloomberg...but NYC politics are pretty important too.

(From:BarackObama.com)

What McCain Really Is

With all the recent negative ads and incorrect allegations by the McCain/Palin campaign against Obama and Biden, it is time to point the finger back. McCain and Palin have recently claimed that we should be suspicious of Obama and that we do not really know him. ('Fear' of Obama Rampant in Ohio, Metro, Oct, 10, 2008, New York Edition)

Perhaps this image, taken right after the 3rd Presidential Debate ended, might hint that McCain is not who he really is...and that he is an old, breathless dog underneath.


(From About.com)

2008 Presidential Debate #3 Notes

No, I unfortunately did not transcribe the 2nd presidential debate nor the vice-presidential debate. But here are the notes from the last debate.

2008 Third Presidential Debate Notes

NYC Needs Bloomberg

A special thought for my 50th published post:

New York City as well as New York State requires the current Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, to continue to lead the city, especially through these tough economic times. His decades of leading his seven billion dollar financial services firm and overseeing its international operations as an employer of over 10,000 overwhelmingly qualifies him to stay for a third term.

His leadership in reforming education in New York City in the past seven years as mayor has led to increased graduation rates, lower violence and crime in schools, and the opening of more charter schools for the rapidly increasing student population. Mayor Mike's years of managing his own company led him to make wise and efficient decisions that helped put New York City back on track, especially after the events of 9/11. His unparalleled expertise with people of all types of backgrounds helped him negotiate fair deals with teachers, police, and firefighters. His openness and free-thinking helped revive NYC's reputation as a city that welcomed the arts with the Gates in Central Park and the New York City Waterfalls. Bloomberg's brave thinking and actions which won critics led to the city's nomination as one of the five finalists in the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the creation of PlaNYC/2030 which involved ambitious-but-obligatory plans to help the environment and to responsibily plan for the city's growth, and the proposal of congestion pricing, a controversial but proven transportation plan that would have helped the environment by having fewer cars on the road and would have increased funding for the city's mass transit, which is direly in need of funding. Although some of his plans, including congestion pricing, were defeated by out-of-touch state representatives as well as conservative city officials, the ability of a Mayor to continue fighting and championing for what is best for the city (while only taking $1 per year salary as Mayor, as per his request) even though it may jeopardize his political career and legacy, is one of his strengths.

Mayor Bloomberg's professionalism at handling numerous city issues and events concurrently, wealth of experience with daily operations in a rapidly changing environment, and steadfastness on issues that are vital to the city's economy, future growth, and livelihood is something that many leaders in the world lack but makes up the heart and soul of the Mayor. His unselfish character and determined demeanor has helped win the hearts of numerous New Yorkers and has consistently garnered a 70% approval rating. It is of utmost importance to have Bloomberg to continue to steer the city in the right direction and we, as the voters, are obliged to rally our city's constituents to get rid of the term limits law for the mayor and re-elect Mayor Mike.

Therefore,
I wholeheartedly endorse the Honorable Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to continue as the Mayor of New York City for the 2009 mayoral election.

~ecstatice

>>>NY1: NY1 Poll Shows Bloomberg Has High City Approval Ratings (10/18/2008)
>>>Quinnipiac University: August 29, 2007 - Effective, Cold - That's What We Like, Dislike About Mayor, New Yorkers Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Bloomberg's Approval Tops 70 Percent - Again
>>>The New York Times: Poll Finds Most Support 3rd Term for Bloomberg

Edited 10/20/2008

What's Black and White and Read All Over?

Apparently, Palin doesn't know the answer to that. In an interview with Katie Couric of CBS' Evening News, she could not name a newspaper she read before she was nominated for the vice-presidency. Watch the awkward video here.


>>>National Post: Video: Palin on newspapers she reads: 'Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me'

McCain Flip-Flops on Debate

I was going to post about how McCain put Obama in a tight spot earlier this week by "suspending" his presidential campaign to "work" on the bank bailout plan. However, it turns out that McCain relented flip-flopped today, and is on his way to the first presidential debate of 2008 in Mississippi tonight. I will watch it and blog about it soon after.

Historically, tonight's debate is also 150 years after Abraham Lincoln's famous debate with Stephen Douglas.

>>>ABCNews: McCain-Obama debate to go ahead

Streetsblog: David Gantt

This time, the MTA is not too blame for screwing over its riders. Streetsblog writes about how the transportation committee's chairman in the New York State Assembly screwed over New York City's attempts to enforce a new bus rapid transit program. The defeated bill, which would have allocated money to the MTA to install cameras onto the rear of special buses to enforce bus rapid transit, which was a proposed plan to offer faster transit on the surface. Alhough the MTA has a knack for these upgrade programs taking longer than anticipated and ending up costing more than planned for, at least there could have been a source of money to begin with. Some critics say that Gantt's moves were fueled by the city not using the technology products of a good friend of his. This follows another devastating blow to the NYC transportation system and economy of the whole state; the defeat of congestion pricing a few months earlier.

>>>Streetsblog: How David Gantt Sent Bus Cameras to Defeat in Albany