AtomicBaboon!?!

With our government going unchecked whilst broadening its powers to spy on the world I am sure most everyone feels pretty helpless to do anything about it. However, it is possible for us to adjust the way we do things in order to keep Big Brother out of our business whether we have something to hide or not. There are ways to use encryption for voice communication. Skype is a popular VoIP (Voice over IP) peer-to-peer system for voice communication. You can get a Skype enabled phone, hook it up to your broadband connection at home, and use it a lot like a regular phone. When you call other Skype users it makes a peer-to-peer connection that is encrypted.

It's a good idea, but there are things about the way it has been implemented that make it a problem. All authentication for access to the Skype network takes place via a central server. This server stores all users public encryption keys. Because of this, Skype has the keys to decrypt conversations. It is possible to make a call to a traditional phone from Skype but all calls of that type have per minute charges applied to them that are in my opinion a bit steep. The protocol used is proprietary which "makes it much more difficult if not impossible for other developers to interact with Skype."

The point I am trying to make isn't that we should all run out and start using Skype. My point is that the technology is out there for We The People to take our power back. Call me a Libertarian Geek, but other than apathy (and I have plenty of that, believe me) there isn't a reason we can't thwart our governments efforts to spy on us. It's not about having something to hide. It's about what living in a surveillance society does to people psychologicaly. It's about protecting what freedom we have left. That's the way I see it anyway.

So, I have my motorcycle. It is red and shiny. I need to work on taking off from stop signs or otherwise getting out on the road into traffic. I killed it the other night because I didn't give it enough gas. I was half-way into the road when it died. No traffic was near enough to worry about it, but it could have been a bad situation. I got it started again no problem but at that point I had entered panic mode a bit and gave it too much gas which also isn't good. Almost ran it off the other side of the road. Can't let my fear get the best of me.

I hate tail-gaters even more now. Especially in the dark. Makes me want to start packing. Blast out a couple headlights with a sawed-off shotgun and people will probably back off a bit. Not exactly legal though...

Thanks to Ed for helping me get it home from El Dorado Springs. I rode it the first 40 miles and he rode it the rest of the way. Crazy thing is I didn't realize until we had it home that it didn't have temporary tags on it.

On a semi-related note, I just saved a ton of money on my insurance by switching to Farmers.

So, I went to the DMV and had them put the official 'M' on my license to show that I have a motorcycle endorsement. The addition of that letter cost me $20.

The weird thing about that is, when I obtained my motorcycle permit the DMV printed a new license just like they did today. The permit has 'PERMIT' printed in all caps behind the normal license info, and that is only 3 or 4 bucks. I'm not sure why a normal looking license with just the 'M' added is $20.

Anyway, I spent this weekend taking the Rider's Edge New Rider Course which was an extremely valuable learning experience and well worth the $275 fee. I learned that riding a motorcycle properly (i.e. so you don't kill yourself) is not as simple as many people probably think, and that physics is your friend if you let it be. It is an activity that I think demands more respect and caution than most people give it.

The instructors were awesome. Between the two of them they had 60 to 70 years of riding experience. They gave constructive criticism, and shared their years of wisdom about what to look out for on the road, the correct way to react to a situation, and the likely consequences of reacting improperly. I have a great deal of respect for them. I am not big on having the government control when we can or cannot do something we want to, but I think it should be required by the state that people take this course before they get their motorcycle license.

So, I have the basic training, and I have the license. This coming weekend I go pick up the bike. I'm nervous.

PS. If any of you decide to sign up for the Rider's Edge New Rider Course let me know. If I get someone to sign up I get a $50 gift certificate for Cycle Connection.

It's Ordered.

This weekend I met up with my friend John and his wife and little boy and we all went to El Dorado Springs to the motorcycle dealer there. John had never been there and I like looking at Triumph's so we made a trip up there. I ended up filling out a credit app in preparation for my future ordering of a Thruxton.

The problem is I am a very indecisive person. Those who know me personally know this all too well. I can't make a decision to save my life. It's hard enough for me to decide where I am going to eat lunch everyday. Anyway, where I'm going with this is I need to buy a house. I would like to have a house before I have a motorcycle so I have somewhere to keep it. That would be the responsible decision. However, waiting until I get a house means waiting to have fun. I want to have fun riding a motorcycle NOW not later. But, if I have a motorcycle now where do I keep it. I still live in an apartment. I don't want to leave my motorcycle in the parking lot. I could "borrow" space in friends garage or rent a small storage space but talk about a pain when I want to go ride it.

Bah... anyway. Look at what John did to his motorcycle. It's crazy looking! It will definitely turn heads! Other colors are available from Tomhawk tires.

<EDIT: Fixed the link to the essay> This essay by Albert Einstein entitled "The World As I See It" is a bit... what's the word... well... it seems like something I would write if I could write that well. Honestly, except for the fact that he was an amazing genius and I'm not, I identify with practically everything he says. Even his take on heroism and patriotism to an extent. I wish that men in our society could feel like they've accomplished something or proven themselves men without having to put themselves through what they do. Maybe that is just how I see it. I often think that in order to prove my honor and that I am a man I need to join the military to become a hero. To prove to my family and my countrymen that I am worth something and should be taken seriously I need to have my mettle tested in combat. Granted, what our people in the service do is valuable and honorable, but should I feel that way about my worth?

He also writes about his solitude and his lack of need for direct contact with other people. Although recently my feelings in that area have begun to change a bit I know exactly what he means. I relish the time I have alone to think about my existence and that of humankind and of the universe. To attempt to wrap my mind around the very fact that anything exists at all is quite a trip. By attempting to look beyond what my temporal mind can understand and contemplate the infinite I can make myself vaguely aware of just how small and insignificant we all are; before I scare the bejesus out of myself and have to go do something to take my mind off it.

The last paragraph of the essay touches on that mystery and the origin of "religiosity." As I have gotten older I find myself thinking of religion and spirituality more in the sense of admitting to the mystery and being in awe of it than something I am told or read in a book. Granted, I stand on the shoulders of giants when it comes to what I know of the world and of that great mystery. However, I cannot with clear conscience simply accept what I am told on that subject. To accept what mortal men have said simply because they were here first and wrote about it first would be absurd. If we are all truly equal in the eyes of our creator then the ideas presented by those before me are no more valuable than my own.

I really enjoy his paragraph on democracy and the value of the "sentient individual." He wrote "In my opinion, an autocratic system of coercion soon degenerates; force attracts men of low morality..." I can't argue with that.

In my opinion this essay very succinctly and elegantly sums up the way I feel about the world. However, it makes me worry that I may be egotistical to say so considering who wrote it... makes me feel good at the same time though.

Coolness: I got my motorcycle permit today at lunch. I scored 100% on the test. cool.

Stupidity: Short, fat people may get rights. Mmmmkay... so... when did they not have them? If a person is being harassed or discriminated against for ANY reason it is wrong and in severe enough cases legal action can be taken. It's the same thing as sexual harassment. Say what you want, they are not different. If you are being harassed at work and it makes your work environment hostile the company has the legal obligation to address the issue or face legal action. Do we really need laws any where that list out when that is wrong? Is this something that is different in Missouri than other places?

I paid my car off today. After almost 5 years I actually own the vehicle I've put 98,000 miles on. Sweet...

I was thinking today. If Sheryl Crow would go on national television and show that she can get by using one or two squares I will start using one or two too.

I know how it is done and it wouldn't be pleasant. But if she can prove she does it I will do it.

P.S. Just like her, I am kidding too. I think she's got a good sense of humor.

As of Friday evening, I am no longer part owner of Geekerz. I was 1/3 owner for a little over a year and it was a learning experience. However, I am glad to be freed of that obligation. It becomes extremely apparent how nice free time is when you don't have as much of it any more. I am glad I have mine back.

My Mom is participating in the MDA "Lock-up Luau" 2007 in Carthage. If you are interested in helping the MDA you can do so here and at the same time it will help her reach her goal. Here is the message included with the e-mail I got from my Mom about it:

This year, I have the honor and pleasure of participating in MDA's Carthage "Lock-up Luau" 2007 to help "Jerry's Kids®". To reach my goal I need your help!

I'd like to include you or your company on my list of contributors who are helping me reach my goal. Your donation would help MDA continue the important fight against muscular dystrophy. Check out my web page by clicking on the link above. There you'll find all kinds of information about MDA, and be able to make your tax-deductible donation on-line using your credit card.

MDA serves people in our community with neuromuscular disease by providing clinics, support groups, assistance with the purchase and repair of wheelchairs, braces and communication devices, and summer camp for kids. MDA also funds research grants to help find treatments and cures for some 43 neuromuscular diseases that affect people of all ages, right here in our community.

I sincerely hope that you'll take the opportunity to support MDA.

On behalf of the families MDA serves, thank you!

I am "working" down at my favorite place right now and I just overheard part of a phone conversation that included the following phrase: " Business is church and church is business. They're the same thing..."

Maybe that's what's wrong with it... sort of misses the point I think. Who wants their personal and spiritual interactions with people to be treated like business transactions? I sure don't...

I'm working down at The GZ (Geekerz) tonight, which I don't care for much any more. However, every once in a while we get some genuinely interesting people in here.

Tonight I met a guy named Willy. He used to be called Wanderin' Willy. He was a Marine at one time. From what I put together he was in Viet Nam and when he came home he started hitch hiking and didn't stop for the next 30 years or so. Hence the moniker "Wanderin' Willy"

He said that at one time he was homeless living in San Francisco and at that time his address was 101 **Bayshore Blvd Number 3. He lived in a cardboard dwelling near the third column under the overpass where the 101 and Bayshore Blvd intersect. He couldn't afford a place to live on his income there at the time because the city was too expensive. However, he was able to pick up an HTML for Dummies book and he taught himself how to make web pages.

At some point he got into working with computers and from the sounds of it either had a business or worked for a business that involved computer maintenance. He had been working on computers since the DOS 3.0 days. He learned Windows 3.1 when it came out because a customer of his decided they wanted it. He had installed a network of Windows 95 machines in a school at one point, and currently uses XP where he works now. He also mentioned working with Macs for several releases of the OS ( versions 6 though 9 I think it was). He stopped into Geekerz to find out if we taught any classes because he is wanting to learn about Vista. Unfortunately that's not something we do.

His wanderin' days were brought to an abrupt end a while back when he was hit by a car out on the road. So now he has a big steel pin in his leg and has to walk with a cane. He now lives here in Springfield. He works at the Myrl Billings Memorial Veterans Center helping veterans and their families. He told me that they are finding out that agent orange has been linked to Diabetes in Viet Nam vets. I hadn't heard that before so I will have to warn my Dad.

He also brought up his interest in uses of alternative energy sources and asked if I or anyone I knew was interested in that sort of thing. I mentioned my involvement in a solar car project when I was younger and he said that he works with solar energy for cooking. He has a website he put together about some of his projects and sources of information concerning alternative energy: Alternative Energy Engineers. Some of those solar cookers look like they would be cool to put together... yet another project to add to my list.

He was a genuinely friendly and seemed honest, at ease with himself, and very intelligent. I get really sick of being in the store down here all the time but every once in a while someone like Wanderin' Willy shows up, tells a good story and starts up a great conversation and it makes my day.

**Note: I think I have the Bayshore Blvd. part right. I didn't get to write this down right away so I had to look up the 101 on Google Maps and see what intersected with it. Bayshore sounds right.

If you are reading this you probably already know that yesterday afternoon John Stone of Curbstone Critic passed away.

One of the first Springfield Blogger's I met was John Stone. He was a hilarious old guy that had a lot of great stories about his life and the Springfield area. I didn't know him very well but from the few times (too few now that I think about it) that I got to enjoy his company at the meetings you could tell he enjoyed life and enjoyed sharing his opinions about it as well as his experience.

I have been a little bummed that I haven't made it to a blogger meeting in a while and this just makes me more bummed. There are people in the group that knew him better than I and some of them have posted about him so I will provide links to those posts. Tony Messenger also has a podcast up from the blogger meeting last night where they talked about John.

Zach Is Here: John Stone Passes Away
Rhetorica: Goodbye John Stone
Chatter: John Stone, 62
Tony Messenger: A Tribute To Curby...
John Stone Tribute Podcast

From Wikipeida: John W. Backus

John Warner Backus (December 3, 1924 – March 17, 2007) was an American computer scientist. He led the team that invented the first high-level programming language (FORTRAN) and was the inventor of Backus-Naur form (BNF), the almost universally used notation to define formal language syntax. He also did research in function-level programming and helped to popularize it.

He received the 1977 ACM Turing Award "for profound, influential, and lasting contributions to the design of practical high-level programming systems, notably through his work on FORTRAN, and for seminal publication of formal procedures for the specification of programming languages."

I like this quote of his found in the New York Times Obituary about him:

"You need the willingness to fail all the time," he said. "You have to generate many ideas and then you have to work very hard only to discover that they don’t work. And you keep doing that over and over until you find one that does work."

He laid the foundation for what makes it possible for me to do what I do today.

Via Slashdot: John W. Backus Dies at 82; Developed FORTRAN

There's a good entry at Life Hack entitled "Eat For Productivity." Yet another reason to stop drinking coffee and eat more Sushi.