Democracy or Dummies?

A good friend recently asked me, following this years (2010) mid-term elections:
- November 3 at 5:34pm (via Facebook)
"What is your take on all of this? Is it doomsday? Or do we have a chance to regroup and go for a new strategy? Is Obama a one termer or two termer? What are your thoughts?"

My reply:
"Such a fickle population of mid-term voters is historically consistent and further proof as to how clueless we as American voters are. Meaning, the tendency to "react and flail" tends to be the only recourse available to a population of voters which absolutely fail to "study the problems". (Listening to FOX News, or any editorialized commentary, is in no way "research" or studying.) Put another way; any of those voters who seem to be so upset, or narrow enough, as to blame anything of our country's current state on just the last (2) two years of governing; are those same folks who understand exactly nothing! These are the same folks who have evidently never "studied", nor likely stated an intelligent, educated utterance in respect to our country's choices, form and/or method of governance, past or present.

I think anyone who's vote is consistently or strictly based on party loyalty is utterly foolish. For that matter, maintaining such a constrained vote in times of rebuilding or extreme change, solely based on "party loyal", is shamefully choosing to ignore the opportunity and most potent strength of a free democracy. These types of "loyal" or VERY LAZY voters are letting others choose their candidates for them. Additionally, they are voluntarily sending a message that lacks any culpability or accountability. They are acting as if any EXCLUSIVE party has been a part of the solution versus part of the problem.

No "side" in this problem is an innocent. So I have very little respect for people/voters who depend on little to no examination of how we arrived at this point in our history. Here's is a hint, it had nothing to do with the last 2 years!

I have little respect for those who don't even try to grasp the lengths and uncomfortable decisions we have no choice but to attempt in order to get ourselves out from under our literal decades of poor decisions. And to this end, I personally remain fervent in my opinion that "conservative" thinking in a time following 8 years of failed governance and the resulting faltering economy is far from the form of governing capable of digging us out of this hole. I will continue to avoid "conservatives" and "Grand Ole Parties" at all cost, at this point...

No party has a perfect solution, but furthering this country's inability to act, and therefor creating even more instability and dysfunction within our government is definitely not the solution. It is however, a recipe for failure! However, it is no mystery, that an uneducated democracy is an ineffective democracy; and yes, unfortunately also one that could much more easily fail!" :-(

Democracy or Dummies?

The "Why" is more crucial than the "How" - Blogging

A friend of mine asked:

"You may have heard of a recent trend called "blogging". My wife wants to start one and has the following goals:
1 - use a feature set such as is offered by WordPress
2 - control/eliminate/sell the ads on the blog
3 - use her own domain name
I know WordPress offers a Premium package but good luck finding the price. Any quick pointers for my research?"
-Your friend"

There are definitely some very cool features on Wordpress. I have just used the free google service they bought years ago called, "Blogger". I set it up my blog about 4-5 years ago, and called it: www.TheMichaelHulmeProject.com . 

(Incidentally, I'm sorry for all my up-and-coming typos. I'm responding from my phone.) ;-)

I also have my Blog site setup with adds through Google's AdSense; however the most I have ever earned in a month was just a couple of bucks. (Takes a long time for those Nickles to add up.) 

What I like about the Blogger route, is it is freeeeee (with or without adds), and my current ability to just create a Google Doc, using the online version of "Word", Google provides for all sorts of editing; then I just hit "Publish to Blog", and it automatically throws it up to the Blogger blog site for me.

I will admit, every blogger needs an "editor" or serious proof reader. I don't hardly ever do that, and I desperately need to. I just selfishly started blogging because doing so FORCED me to seriously research other areas of the American experience, besides my own focus of almost exclusively technology & religion. My mom always told me, "never put anything in writing, you may one day regret." 

Therefore, I initially proceeded VERY cautiously, before I ever hit the "publish" button.  In time, and soon after I finally realized the shameful differences and motivation between the reporting of real News, versus "editorialized", News cloaked, programing; I became more and more inspired to hit the "publish button" as soon as I was made aware of actual facts; rather than after I had read and re-read dozens and dozens of varied positions, including those editorialized, add mongers.  Knowing full well - I would never end up selling adds with factual opinions or reports.  Just not the stuff that keeps us Americans compelled and coming back for more.  That and the fact my writing skill, hardly warranted repeat readers.  Plus I never publicize the fact I post anything to a blog site.

It was a cool platform for a lot of good exchanges for me and a few other folks, prior to the crash of 2007. And one of the main inspirations I had for realizing I needed to get behind Romney's level of expertise. (Even though I knew no Southern voters would back a Mormon.) 

Thanks to Blogging on Blogger, I knew well prior to the Nov 2007 "election season" (by late 2006) through my Blogging research, what everyone seemed to later get, about 3-10 months before Bush left, and then oddly blame anyone they could find in the months that followed his departure. Blogging re-mined, taught and forced me to maintain a truer time-frame, cause and perspective since I had actually personally documented the same findings, far in advance of others in the "News" media, once the damage was done and our pride was unexpectedly swallowed.

Point being, blogging unexpectedly opened my eyes to a whole new world of knowledge, positions and interactions, I just wouldn't have otherwise known. Simply because I refused to type and publish anything I had not thoroughly researched myself. My mom's life long warning was the driving force to growth threw my Blog. This is also when I really became aware of what drives our 24hr "News" media outlets. (Wasn't my mom's motto!)

I highly recommend Blogging to anyone wanting to learn and grow - it is a very humbling and stretching experience if used as such. Truth is, I'll end up publishing this (e-mailed) thought as well, since I don't think I've ever admitted this "humble Pie" or facts on my own site in any previous entry. (Since I use G-mail, I simply hit two buttons, "convert message to Google Doc" and then "Publish to Blog". (Goto: www.TheMichaelHulmeProject.com in a few minutes to view.)

If there is an exquisite Word Press app on the iPad, then I'm sure that would work great! I don't pay a dime for Blogger, it is just free, but probably not as spiffy as Word Press. Google just recently announced their ability to perform editing with Google Docs tools on the iPad. Not sure if it is out yet, but was announced last week.

Lemino what she ends up calling it? I just reserved a URL and pointed it (via a permanent forwarding) to my actually "Blogger" site name... I'll be excited to read it!

The "Why" is more crucial than the "How" - Blogging

Independence of the spoiled

"No morn ever dawned more favorable than ours did; and no day was every more clouded than the present! Wisdom, and good examples are necessary at this time to rescue the political machine from the impending storm." - George Washington, letter to James Madison, November 5, 1786

Always inspiring to consider how progressive, out-of-the-box, pragmatic, brave and creative our founding fathers were! their actions represented true innovative and originality! I often imagine they would hate the notion of any derivation our era of American politics and the resulting government represents in relation to their historic efforts. These days it is easy to hide behind party loyalty and blame one another, rather than challenge ourselves to consider true solutions. Relying on such laziness and cowardly notions never would have founded a Nation capable of sustained success and growth. 

Here we all sit, for literally decades of our lives, with historically unoriginal challenges, being met with far less risk and creativity. Rather than finding inspiration from our own founding father efforts; thereby applying even more inventive spirits and intellect, given all that has been a stake for so many years. Instead we choose to expend our energy blaming one another! Bolstering nothing more than our own ego's, while seemingly determined to prove we are our own worst enemies.

No wonder we find so much pride in claiming to have founding "fathers". We are all really just children in ageing bodies and minds! We are like the spoiled, undeserving children of parental figures who understood and made clear the lengths it took to earn what they reaped. However, we have been so busy enjoying the spoils of our parents riches, we have failed to consider the character and continued innovation we would ultimately have to represent in order to sustain a vision of freedom, equality and prosperity far beyond the 21st century.

Shameful to think how unoriginal any founding father would view this "evolved" democracy of now 360,000,000 free people, acting as if there are a whopping, two schools of thoughts; or offering nothing more than an insistent on determining which of those two parties are "right" and condemning those whom they have determined are "wrong". Quite a reduction of a once broad and inspired "Declaration of Independence" spawned from men willing to revolutionize the governance of people! We the people! All "we" have turned out to be is ignorant, prejudice, greedy, and determined to spend more time and energy convincing one another which side of "the issues" they should join or stand behind. It has become a soap-opera of embarrassing bickering, rather than any thing producing or capable of revolutionary thinking in the face of challenges or defeat.

It is now as if we've forgotten we were all born into a democracy where EVERYONE is culpable and spend more time these days making sure no one from our side of the camp is accountable. Sad state of affairs. To have simply found "identity" and comfort were our founding father strove for originality, revolution and Independence. We don't deserve to claim loyalty to such a group of wise men, as long as our most original thought is to blame another side or condemn those who don't think as we do.

"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by obvious realities. We need men & women who can dream of things that never were . . . " John F Kennedy.

Independence of the spoiled

Age old questions? And the grace that follows.

An old friend of mine I have known most of my life recently posted this VERY frustrated sentiment about life with their grandmother. (They share a home with them and care for them on a daily basis.)

"ENOUGH!! Really need all of my prayer warriors out in full force praying for me and my grandma. I have had it. I want a divorce from my grandmother. Just because she is 87 years old DOES NOT give her the right to be a hateful person. We are supposed to treat others as we want to be treated right? I can tell you I would NEVER EVER treat anybody anywhere close to the way she consistently treats me and my mother! Its truly heartbreaking :("

I often wondered; do we become more of what we were as we get older or less? Meaning does a grumpy, mean person become meaner and grumpier? However, if this were true, wouldn't happy people be annoyingly joyful as they approach 90? Age certainly hits everyone differently! I know my friend is not alone in their above expressions of exhaustion and frustration! So much harder for folks when they live under the same roof!

Coincidentally, I had another friend recently who was facing a few similar challenges with their father who is only now just approaching 80. We agreed in our discussions together how hard it is to imagine, when most of us are only half his age, what toll, both mentally and emotionally (not to mention physically) the years will place on each of us? 

The point my friend and I came to, is the fact there comes a time when folks who are up this far in their years, have to be taken less directly or less personally if you will. They are not really processing the relationships and the moments quite the same way as those of us who are half as old.

I think life, our minds, and our attitudes, often become quite an overwhelming challenge at this advanced point in our lives.  Perhaps aspects of life (and the loved one's around them) are perceived so completely differently, it seems foreign or even abusive to the loved ones who are witnessing these changes first hand.

This acceptance by no means changes how unfair it all feels and perhaps is; Just possibly gives us an ability to make an excuse or two on their behalf, when they don't even know to ask for one. The hardest thing to prepare for, is the inevitable fact that these neglectful moments will not likely become less common but rather more. This is why my friend and I were trying to find a way to reason through it a bit, and perhaps lesson the pain through more understanding and forgiveness.  I hope my friend and others can find a way to be at peace with the frustration of their loved ones aging and even angry or abusive tendencies. 

I know it is painful. Just know this is not the same person (mentally) dishing this out on you, which was your loved-one of 10 or 20 years ago.  We all know how much time changes us all... However, the mental changes are some of the very hardest to cope with! And perhaps the hardest to forgive or even recognize.

Age old questions? And the grace that follows.

Android Application Selection - 80,000 and Counting!

Choosing which applications to install when setting up your new smart phone can be a bit overwhelming. However, in order to really get the most out of your new device it is great to find applications which effectively target your interest, hobbies and daily needs.

Mobile computing should be a technology which helps make your life easier to manage, more connected, a bit more entertained and always better informed.

For those using the Android platform, here is a nice little set of tips and the accompanying application needed for managing your entire App Collection and discovering and installing new tools as thousands more are being introduced every week. Yes, we will be using an App to manage and discover new apps. May sound a bit confusing at first, but it will save a lot of time and energy in the long run, and allow you to get the most out of your device from day one!

The key to this Application Management and discovery process is a tool called "AppBrain"; so there are a few steps you need to follow to initiate and utilize this time saving tool.

• 1st) go to the AppBrain website, and create your own account. (This really isn't very difficult since AppBrain, uses your Android phones own Google account to register you.)
• 2nd) Go to your typical "Android Market" icon on your device to download the AppBrain application.
• 3rd) Your almost done! - just run the newly installed "AppBrain" application on your Android device, and all of your current Application information will be synced with your online "AppBrain" account.
• 4th) From now on when you are curious about getting a new app, you can start by frist browsing he "AppBrain" site from your won personal computer, read reviews and rating, and even go to their "What's Hot?" listing to discover the latest apps. You can of course still browser, search and install directly from your phone, but this gives you a perhaps easier, faster way to to started in your searches.

When you return to AppBrain.com it will now display statistics on your apps downloaded; including costs, free vs paid percentage, total storage size, plus a breakdown in categories. You can share your app list publicly or keep it private. You can even uninstall apps from via their website.

There are two other ways you can simply review and learn about new apps via your web browser

1. Google host an online listing of all of the apps at the following web address: http://www.android.com/market/
   The only downside to this listing, is the fact it isn't searchable. Other than the fact you can choose the "top app" list and then select categories beneath those list.
2. You can use the AppBrain site itself to see a ranking by Android developer download stats and who’s producing the most downloads, highest ratings, and total apps available in the Market.

And once you've create your own AppBrain loggin, you can also share with other the apps you have found most usefull. Appbrain even provides a list of your favorite apps complete with their corresponding links and HTML code neccesary to e-mail or embed your own current listings.

Here is an example of some of the Apps I currently have installed on my own Android device:

hulmevv's Apps on the phone

Phone: T-Mobile G1
48 total, 41 free (85%), 7 paid (14%), 24MB total size, $23.73 total price

• Tricorder
• LastPass for Premium Customers
• Auto Mount Your SD Card
• Amazon MP3
• Goby
• Newspapers
• Fast Web Installer
• AppBrain App Market
• Shopper
• Movies
• Fast Food Calorie Counter
• Scanner Radio
• Antennas
• Zillow Real Estate
• backup SMS MMS Photo to Gmail
• FxCamera
• MyBackup Pro
• Google Maps
• Google Translate
• Google Sky Map
• Listen
• SSI gTasks ToDo
• Pandora Radio
• Brightness Level
• My Tracks
• PdaNet free edition
• Advanced Task Manager
• Voice Recorder
• Moov. "#1 App" --CNET
• Finance
• Bedside (Night Clock)
• AndExplorer
• WiFi Toggle
• G-MoN for Android 1.x only
• Speedtest
• TivoRemote
• Flashlight
• Shazam
• Metal Detector
• Text-To-Speech Extended
• Google Goggles
• Google Voice
• Orienteer
• Video Player
• Rings Extended
• aTrackDog(SD) track backup app
• aTrackDog - track new version

View this app list on AppBrain

Android Application Selection - 80,000 and Counting!

We have far to much potential!

Allow this astonishing work of a mere 12+ graduates students to BLOW YOUR MIND! Let it expand your view of God, creation, and the wonders of our existence. We are in a true renasaunce of Physics and our position of learning and understanding our place in this universe.

Carter Emmart demos a 3D atlas of the universe

www.youtube.com

http://www.ted.com/ For the last 12 years, Carter Emmart has been coordinating the efforts of scientists, artists and programmers to build a complete 3D visualization of our known universe. He demos this stunning tour and explains how it's being shared with facilities around the world.

I'm often blown away that folks would ever limit these (and other) topics to such poor interpretations of the book of Genesis (or other areas of the Bible). Perhaps it is my own journey from a Religion/ Phycology major to Physics which has always opened my mind and steered me away from any "young earth" notion of a 6,000+/- year old planet.

I can't imagine a God or a place in our heavens which would prove less wondrous or amazing than the imagination of a Leonardo Da Vinci or the creative direction of a Steven Spielberg. And to this end I don't feel we should ever find ourselves comforted in defending highly limited, human perspectives of life, love, generosity and purpose.

Humans have far to much potential to be guilty of "pigeon holing" God's purpose, desires or methods. Be inspired to live by faith and inspirations rather than limited interpretations... Life isn't about conjuring up a "comfort zone" and then preaching other's should join you by sitting squarely within it.

We have far to much potential!

North American's will soon learn to avoid all cellular contracts!

In the coming weeks I will set up a new website allowing visitors to quickly understand the advantages and disadvantages of singing up for long term contracts with North American cellular providers.

While avoiding contracts can add up to a sizable savings for any end-user, it does come with the added burden of learning to shop for ; purchase your own cellular equipment, smart phone or handset.  So my site will also provide you with simple step-by-step guides to both choosing and ultimately purchasing your phone and having it shipped directly to your home or business.

Time for North American consumers to learn what European and Asian cellular users have understood for some time; concerning their choices and the HUGE price advantages available to them when they avoid getting locked into long term, limited, high-price, contracts.

While the North American carriers tempt us with ($150-$400) subsidies placed towards the initial prices of the limited selection of equipment, they each strategically chose to offer new customers; they make out like bandits with the annual, total cost of ownership, they garner from each of their long-term, contracted, costumers!

Once my site is up and running, it will be accessible by either of the following URLs:

AnyCarrierNoContract.com

NoContractAnyCarrier.com

Inspiration:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications: originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile) is the most popular standard for mobile telephony systems in the world. The GSM Association, its promoting industry trade organization of mobile phone carriers and manufacturers, estimates that 80% of the global mobile market uses the standard.^[1] GSM is used by over 4.3 billion people across more than 212 countries and territories.^[2][3] Its ubiquity enables international roaming arrangements between mobile phone operators, providing subscribers the use of their phones in many parts of the world.

The ubiquity of implementation of the GSM standard has been an advantage to both consumers, who may benefit from the ability to roam and switch carriers without replacing phones, and also to network operators, who can choose equipment from many GSM equipment vendors.^[4] GSM also pioneered low-cost implementation of the short message service (SMS), also called text messaging, which has since been supported on other mobile phone standards as well. The standard includes a worldwide emergency telephone number feature (112).^[5]

^{<For more on the worldwide history of GSM, click here.>}

^{For High-Res version of this World of GSM poster CLICK HERE}

http://www.betanews.com/article/Sprint-announces-25-unlimited-data-plan-new-paybytheminute-network/1273170675

New Virgin Mobile Plans

• $25 -- 300 voice minutes, unlimited messaging, email, data
• $40 -- 1,200 voice minutes, unlimited messaging, email, data
• $60 -- Unlimited voice, messaging, email, data
• $10 -- Blackberry data service charge

The pre-paid plans can be cheaper because there is no phone subsidy. You pay for the whole phone with no special discount that's spread over 1 or 2 years.  Therefor, my site will include a simple menu allowing visitors to pick from the top 10 phone choices for each of the  the most popular standards for mobile telephony systems in the world.  

http://www.betanews.com/article/To-match-the-Nexus-Ones-speedy-FroYo-update-TMobile-rolls-out-faster-network/1274739150

• T-Mobile USA announced it would complete its HSPA+ network upgrade by mid-2010, bringing a theoretical maximum down-link speed of 21 Megabits per second to its entire 3G footprint.

... Simple searches, like the following: Google: "no contract any carrier";

... and; announcements like these, which most consumers don't know how to profit from: "Apple sells no-contract iPhones at full price"

You can easily find a list of all MVNO carriers here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators

North American's will soon learn to avoid all cellular contracts!