I'm short on words right now, and just mentally tired. I'm up here in Ohio neck deep in a client project that is stretching the limits of my knowledge and creativity. This week, like last, I'm trying to give some training on this new method of web programming that my company does. I love sharing knowledge with people and watching them get it, then seeing what they can do with it. What wears at my nerves is when I don't have all the answers readily at hand. Today was spent moving a development environment from a Windows server to an HPUX 11 server. I wish it had been Linux, but HPUX is what we have to work with. What we discovered today is that the service processes that normally take up about 20 MB in memory were rocketing up to 400 - 700 MB, and bringing the server to its knees. I suspect it has something to do with JVM, but troubleshooting that is way outside of my specialization, so I feel pretty helpless. My beautiful, useful, innovative programming must run on this service, so a failure to fix the problem pretty much negates everything I've been working on this year. It's do or die.
Last night was spent watching election returns, and updating our tallies, along with Max Miller of the Cross Timbers Gazette. It was great to be able to share the labor on what is normally a very tedious undertaking. As far as the results, I guess I'm disappointed in a few, but like I said in another thread, nothing that the Republican base does surprises me anymore.
The primaries just basically drive home my belief that our political system is broken, and does a really poor job at representing the average citizen. The two party system is constructed in a way that favors extremism. Of course, I have a lot more to say about that, and I actually started writing it last Friday on the airplane home. Hopefully I'll have time to finish that.
Anyhow, my point is that I'm pretty busy this week and have not had time to do much with regards to researching and writing news stories or columns. So I'm just going to post a few links for now, and hopefully within the next couple of weeks, I'll have more time to follow up on the numerous things I've been researching for local stories. (Now that I think about it, the elections yesterday rendered at least 2 of them moot)
Another Texas Judge can't seem to control himself, and has made unethical statements in his re-election campaign regarding pending cases in his courtroom. Judge Trey Loftin allowed himself to rule based on partisan leanings, then used those rulings to bolster his re-election campaign. The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct should investigate, and voters should show him the door. We need judges to interpret the law, not be activists for their partisan causes. In Loftin's case, he ruled that a homeowner whose water well was contaminated with natural gas must pay the driller, Range Resources for damaging its reputation. Loftin has also ruled that blogger Sharon Wilson must turn over personal emails relating to her activism in opposing natural gas development. WFAA has more. Of course, the good news in this is that voters just un-elected him in last night's primary. Don't know if the new one will be any better or not, but it's good to see karma do its job.
Over in Flower Mound, that Kroger that wanted to spend millions of dollars to expand and revamp their store, but was turned down by the previous Council has resubmitted their application to try again with the current council.
The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Poster
Thread
Anonymous
Posted: 2012/5/31 9:03 Updated: 2012/5/31 10:03
Re: Thoughts on Wednesday Night
Did you see the recent story that New York is going to outlaw the sale of large portion sugary drinks at restaurants, delis, etc? By large, they mean anything over 16 ounces. The ban should take effect by March 2013.
I saw that. Here's the link. Important to note this is New York City - not New York state. You would still be able to have free refills, but cups could not be larger than 16 ounces. Convenience stores and grocery stores could still sell large containers.
Personally, I think this ban would be ridiculous. The term "Nanny state" is thrown around way too loosely these days, but I think it's apropos here.
Yes, I believe there is a place for government in regulating things to improve public health. For example, the ban on trans fats being served in restaurants was a good idea, because 2 grams per day is the limit. One serving of restaurant-prepared food using trans-fats like hydrogenated oils could put you over the limit, and you wouldn't know it. You'd only know when you had that heart attack, or your doctor told you your cholesterol was too high. Sugar, on the other hand is not inherently bad for you, but if you choose to cut back for health reasons (or diabetes), it's pretty easy to know whether a given thing you are being served has it or not. (at least compared to trans fats) Banning smoking in public places protects the health of those who chose not to do it, and that's a legitimate government interest too.
I just think this soda thing crosses a line.
Poster
Thread
Anonymous
Posted: 2012/5/31 9:30 Updated: 2012/5/31 10:04
Re: Thoughts on Wednesday Night
Funny thing about the Birther Movement and Mitt Romney, Mitt's dad George Romney ran for president in 1968 and his birthplace was contested by people in his own party [Republican]. He was born to American parents in the Mormon colonias in Mexico. Many people thought that he wasn't eligible to be president because his birth in Mexico disqualified him as a natural born citizen. However, "natural born citizen" was construed at the time to mean that location of birth didn't matter if one or both parents were American. By virtue of his parents' status as American citizens, he was an American citizen regardless of where he was born. Mitt knows this and won't attach his wagon to closely with Trump regarding the Birther Movement.
Just a side note, I had a friend tell me a few weeks ago that "natural born citizen" meant that you had to be born in the continental U.S. Those born in Hawaii and Alaska need not apply for the job of president of the U.S. because they didn't count as natural born citizens. I informed my friend that she was incorrect and that American parents grant you citizenship when you are born. Further, I explained to her that Obama may have had a Kenyan father and was born in Hawaii but John McCain, his opponent, was born in Panama to American parents. So, in the 2008 election, neither of the candidates would have been eligible to be president of the U.S. by my friend's definition. And oh, don't forget that Sarah Palin was born in Alaska! Joe Biden would have been the only one that ran that year that was born in the continental U.S.
![Open in new window](javascript:CaricaFoto("http://lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/uploads/img4fc6f05c8b5b1.jpg");)
![Open in new window](javascript:CaricaFoto("http://lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/uploads/img4fc6f08051cae.jpg");)
![Open in new window](javascript:CaricaFoto("http://lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/uploads/img4fc6f0a5df96d.jpg");)
![Open in new window](javascript:CaricaFoto("http://lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/uploads/img4fc6f0c386dd8.jpg");)
![Open in new window](javascript:CaricaFoto("http://lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/uploads/img4fc6f0e6d1877.jpg");)
Re: Thoughts on Wednesday Night
![Open in new window](javascript:CaricaFoto("http://lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/uploads/img4fc7f70a4876d.jpg");)