Blog @ MoreWhat.com

When’s the last time a politician gave us what we wanted? When’s the last time your boss gave you what you wanted? To be fair, when’s the last time an employee gave you what you wanted? And finally, how often have you purchased a product or service that really impressed you in terms of utility, overall value and price or affordability?

In the ‘tech’ world there never seems to be a shortage of those willing to buy whatever is offered. Neither does there seem to be a lack of those willing to applaud the debut of each new item touted by vendors like Microsoft and Apple. This time a mild rant is presented on Apple’s latest ‘thing.’ The iPad has the same naming convention allowing a previous Apple bash on this blog indicating the ‘i’ in iPhone is for idiot.

The same applies for the iPad. Without benefit of manufactured memory this blogger’s own recalls a brief visit to Apple dot com to obtain an official press release. Would have dealt with images but Apple’s paranoia made that option excessively annoying as well. So the use of an earlier technology that has remarkable similarities to the iPad is the substitute.

Apple dot com listed a price of $499 for the iPad versus those near $700 at various sources around the net. The 500 dollar price may have been a bare bones version. And there were availability questions which caused some laughter. More laughter was generated by the details about what the fine device can do, or not. These debuts are so silly and the response to them equally bizarre it is all one can do to remain silent observing such nonsense.

Beyond the fact that this is another ‘device’ what the hell is so different about this one from all the others over decades? Oh sure, we’ve seen dial up move to broadband like they couldn’t have done that sooner. Oh my, we have wireless, sort of. The only reason there has been massive increases in memory and storage is to accommodate no technical advancements nor real reasons to purchase additional or replacement devices. Tech is stagnant.

Apple you are no more impressive than that other outfit…. Microsoft. Although you produce funnier advertisements. Speaking of humor, here’s someone else’s reaction to the news.

Tabula Rasa: Apple’s Press Release, Before the Editing
Genius Knows No Bounds
By Peter Jeffrey

For Immediate Release. (Apple employees: Thanks for keeping it under wraps. You may reclaim your first-born sons before the close of business Friday.)

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27 — Apple Inc. announced today a revolutionary new tablet computer offering live HDTV, 3D movie downloads, 4G broadband Internet access from anywhere on Earth or low orbit, interactive multilingual color e-books, e-newspapers, e-magazines, an e-sense of purpose in life and e-anything else we have to do to blast our “competitors” back to the Sprocket Age.

And here’s a link to the Apple iPad press release, really.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Not much to get excited about these days. The debut of another Harry Potter movie should be one small bright spot. Of course how small is 104 million on a movie’s first day? Tiny compared to the $600 billion healthcare plan from the Democrats. And even smaller compared to the more likely 1 to 1 1/2 trillion dollar price tag it will likely reach.

Microsoft and Yahoo are haggling about a search engine deal. And in these tough economic times and scaled back consumer spending you have to wonder how the kids got the 104 million to give Harry Potter a good send off? It would seem parents found a way to send the kids to the movies this week even though paying that credit card bill or house payment may be tougher than it once was.

Most would probably say Sotomayor is a lock for the Supreme Court but that doesn’t stop the pundits from analyzing and reanalyzing the hearings and the judge’s resume’, etc. The GOP can go along with Obama or vote against his nominee. They can also filibuster but with the sixty vote liberal advantage what does it matter?

Foreclosures or those in trouble with making payments has risen to a record level and the nation’s 2nd largest bank just posted a profit. Must be nice to have someone take those toxic assets off your books. Yes, bash those who may have made less than wise choices about buying a house and now facing foreclosure. And bash the banks for getting bailouts. It is easy to criticize when the complaint is not directed at yourself. With all the bad news and problems to solve you could think everyone has a share in it and we should look inward for some of the answers.

Healthcare would be one of those problems if not for the political use of that issue to gain power and control over citizens with legislation. You might want to inquire of your elected reps on one feature of the bill approved in committee. If it becomes law, one year from that date employer’s will not be allowed to add anyone to their health plans. Gee, Wally, could that be how the liberals plan on forcing us to take the public or government option? They claim you will be allowed to keep your coverage if you like it. But the plan feature mentioned will make your current coverage really unaffordable when no one else can enter the plan. This is what this post means by bad news.

Maybe we can borrow some of Harry Potter’s magic and tricks to end healthcare reform, reject the SCOTUS nominee and return some sense to the White House and Congress. Remember those promises from the likes of Obama and Pelosi? The culture of corruption is over. Transparency and accountability are the rule. We will change Washington and it won’t be business as usual, etc.,etc. So much for your hope and change.

As for the requisite hope and change joke, you better hope you at least have some change left after Washington gets done spending all your money.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

You cannot find this on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter or any other nonsense location. Oh, and about the guy from Twitter and the hack problem…… who cares?

It’s not fair but this blog really enjoys stories about MS getting their’s. There are no MS fans here. No one here likes Microsoft. Bill Gates is not a role model here. It is mostly due to the Darth Vader of IT that this sinister joy is embraced. It is like the empire striking back but not really. It’s just plain fun for all the annoyance Mr Gates has caused throughout the years.

DOJ has more than two years to produce a better antacid moment for IT’s Prince of Darkness.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that Microsoft has agreed to remain under its watch for up to another 18 months, designed to allow antitrust regulators to continue monitoring the company’s efforts to share interoperability information with its rivals, who develop products that use the software giant’s Windows operating system.

The Justice Department is exercising its right to extend its monitoring ability through May 12, 2011, rather than letting it expire on November 12 of this year.

How’s this for adding insult to injury: Microsoft has asked some of its 1,400 recently laid-off workers to pay back some of their severance pay because the company accidentally overpaid them

Talk about adding insult to injury. Apparently Microsoft has inadvertently overpaid severance to some of its recently laid off employees, and is now asking for some of the money back.

Update: CNET reports that Microsoft has decided to allow any workers who were overcompensated to keep the money. The story also notes that around 25 workers were overpaid, and around 20 underpaid.

45 errors out of an earlier reported 1400 employees laid off. Do the math, that’s between 3 and 4 percent. Okay, this sort of story can fire up the public easy enough. God knows this blog loves bashing MS. The fact that MS makes a mistake and the press picks up on it is understood as it sells. Microsoft, the company everyone loves to hate. Then why do so many still use their products? It is the main reason this blog bashes MS.

That MS let this go far enough to become a story is typical Microsoft. Just like the near infinite list of problems with anything MS since their beginning the problem reaches epic proportions due to lax damage control or not thinking things through before acting. But the MS customer base shares in the problem by not holding their vendor accountable. If they keep screwin’ up and you keep buying there is no incentive to do things right the first time, every time.

For this particular Microsoft oops at least one question remains unanswered. Did MS implement the severance arrangements using their own software, doing it manually or by some other means? Maybe using their own software is why no further comment can be found from the company on this part of the topic.

Microsoft, making major problems out of minor ones. One of the few constants in their history.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Imagine that.. Someone is interested in taking Bill Gates and his legacy, Microsoft, to task for laying off American workers. The complaint from US Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa ties the current financial crisis and the trend of increasing unemployment to companies who abuse the H-1B visa program of hiring foreign workers for American jobs.

Political life in Washington may be as fragile as anything else vulnerable to the impact of severe economic downturns. Where was all this angst over visas and foreign workers during the summer of 2007 when Congress and the White House tried to pass McCain/Kennedy shamnesty? There’s hardly a difference. A primary responsibility of the federal government is to defend its citizens from foreign attack. Whether that is from the typical source of armed forces of another country or countries, the sinister terrorism from radical groups without a well-defined geopolitical base or an economic invasion on our shores and borders from foreign sources the task is understood. You protect your own citizens first and once protected then and only then do you extend assistance to those who are not citizens.

One could say better late than never except these occasional expressions from elected officials are more often political in nature and for their vested interest and not yours. Senator Grassley is an elected official with some volatility. Similar to a company’s stock which responds wildly and unpredictably to changes in the market. But this recent press release and letter from the Senator does have some usefulness. To bring some attention to both inequities in the labor market as well as a renewal notice that immigration policies including visa programs and offshore outsourcing are by no means dead issues. With the election of the most liberal senator in the US to the Office of President of the United States you can bet the farm on the fact the issue of amnesty will rear its ugly again this year or next.

For Immediate Release
January 23, 2009
Grassley Works to Ensure American Workers are Priority

WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that in a time of economic downturn, American workers must be a top priority for American companies. Grassley reiterated those words after he sent a letter to Microsoft urging the company to make efforts to retain qualified American workers during the recently announced lay-offs.

Microsoft employs thousands of people through the H-1B visa program. This temporary work visa program allows American companies and universities to employ temporary foreign guest workers who have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in a job category that is considered by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to be a “specialty occupation.” The purpose of the h-1b program is to help companies hire foreign guest workers on a temporary basis when there is not a sufficient qualified American workforce to meet those needs. However, the program is not intended to replace qualified American workers.

In October 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released an internal report that found the H-1B program has more than a 20 percent violation rate. The fraud identified in the report included jobs not located where employers claimed, H-1B visa holders not being paid the prevailing wage, forged documents, fraudulent degrees, and shell businesses. In one instance the H-1B position described by the employer was “business development analyst.” However, it turned out that the H-1B visa holder would be working at a laundromat doing laundry and maintaining washing machines.

Grassley has been a leader in the effort to improve the H-1B visa program. In the 110th Congress, he introduced a comprehensive H-1B and L visa reform bill with Senator Dick Durbin that would give priority to American workers and crack down on unscrupulous employers who deprive qualified Americans of high-skill jobs. He has also asked questions of both American and foreign based companies about their use of the H-1B visa program.

Here is a copy of the text of Grassley’s letter

January 22, 2009
Mr. Steve Ballmer
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond , WA 98052-6399

Dear Mr. Ballmer:

I am writing to inquire about press reports that Microsoft will be cutting approximately 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months. I understand that the layoffs will affect workers in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal and corporate affairs, human resources, and information technology.

I am concerned that Microsoft will be retaining foreign guest workers rather than similarly qualified American employees when it implements its layoff plan. As you know, I want to make sure employers recruit qualified American workers first before hiring foreign guest workers. For example, I cosponsored legislation to overhaul the H-1B and L-1 visa programs to give priority to American workers and to crack down on unscrupulous employers who deprive qualified Americans of high-skilled jobs. Fraud and abuse is rampant in these programs, and we need more transparency to protect the integrity of our immigration system. I also support legislation that would strengthen educational opportunities for American students and workers so that Americans can compete successfully in this global economy.

Last year, Microsoft was here on Capitol Hill advocating for more H-1B visas. The purpose of the H-1B visa program is to assist companies in their employment needs where there is not a sufficient American workforce to meet their technology expertise requirements. However, H-1B and other work visa programs were never intended to replace qualified American workers. Certainly, these work visa programs were never intended to allow a company to retain foreign guest workers rather than similarly qualified American workers, when that company cuts jobs during an economic downturn.

It is imperative that in implementing its layoff plan, Microsoft ensures that American workers have priority in keeping their jobs over foreign workers on visa programs. To that effect, I would like you to respond to the following questions:

* What is the breakdown in the jobs that are being eliminated? What kind of jobs are they? How many employees in each area will be cut?

* Are any of these jobs being cut held by H-1B or other work visa program employees? If so, how many?

* How many of the jobs being eliminated are filled by Americans? Of those positions, is Microsoft retaining similar ones filled by foreign guest workers? If so, how many?

* How many H-1B or other work visa program workers will Microsoft be retaining when the planned layoff is completed?

My point is that during a layoff, companies should not be retaining H-1B or other work visa program employees over qualified American workers. Our immigration policy is not intended to harm the American workforce. I encourage Microsoft to ensure that Americans are given priority in job retention. Microsoft has a moral obligation to protect these American workers by putting them first during these difficult economic times.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator

The following is an excerpt from Microsoft’s website on the testimony of Bill Gates at a Congressional hearing in May 2008

U.S. immigration policies need to allow American companies to hire the best talent. Gates calls on Congress to reform immigration policies to allow more highly skilled professionals to work for companies in the U.S. “At a time when talent is the key to economic success, it makes no sense to educate people in our universities, often subsidized by U.S. taxpayers, and then insist that they return home,” he said. “To address the shortage of scientists and engineers, we must … reform our education system and our immigration policies. If we don’t, American companies simply will not have the talent they need to innovate and compete.” Gates urges Congress and the White House to address this problem by extending the period that foreign students can work in the U.S. after graduation, raising the cap on H-1B visas, creating a clear path to permanent residency for high-skilled foreign-born employees and increasing the number of green cards. “The shortage of scientists and engineers is so acute that we must do both: reform our education system and reform our immigration policies.”

Funding for basic research should be increased. Gates believes basic research funding is an essential part of keeping American companies competitive and sparking new industries. “Even though we know that basic research drives economic progress, real federal spending on basic research has fallen since 2005,” he said. “I urge Congress to increase funding for basic research by 10 percent annually for the next seven years.” Gates said that federal funding for basic research supports the education of the next generation of scientists and engineers, and provides the raw material that U.S. companies transform into commercially successful products.

Here is one reaction by an elected representative obviously enamored by Mr Gates and a believer that the Darth Vader of IT brought worthwhile technology to the masses.

“Bill Gates has played a key role in our nation’s economic and technological growth for more than 20 years and I found his testimony today informative and compelling. I was most struck by Gates’ strong appeal to Congress to fully fund the America COMPETES Act. This new law makes a significant commitment to our country’s future by investing in math and science education and federal research. I will continue to vigorously advocate for funding of the America COMPETES Act,” said Rothman.

The excerpt below combined with asking government and the taxpayer to do his research for him are the things Bill Gates was really interested in.

I personally witness the ill effects of these policies on an almost daily basis at Microsoft. Under the current system, the number of H1-B visas available runs out faster and faster each year. The current base cap of 65,000 is arbitrarily set and bears no relation to U.S. industry’s demand for skilled professionals. For Fiscal Year 2007, the supply did not last even eight weeks into the filing period, and ran out more than four months before that fiscal year even began.

In summary the view from this blog is as follows. For regular readers the views here on Microsoft are known. As an example there are reports on another lawsuit against MS called ‘vista capable’ where customers are upset that hardware requirements for vista exceeded those stated or some such nonsense. While this blog detests the attitude of MS toward customers and the repeated crap software sold, if customers have not learned by now what they can expect from MS they deserve what they get. But that is not the central point of this post.

There was mention of funding research in the information provided. That’s nice. The question would be is it the taxpayer’s responsibility to pay for research or educating future employees? Is it fair for the private sector to benefit from those expenditures rather than fund their own research? There are technology transfer programs with the federal government whereby arrangements are made to move publicly funded research to the private sector. Is a fair monetary exchange made for those transfers? And for the last point is Senator Grassley’s latest expression of discontent to Microsoft just another politician trying to make points with voters?

As this post really relates to the current economic conditions and the mass frenzy to push bailouts and stimulus packages on the public dime something else needs to be said. Once government does something undoing it is nearly impossible and if it is possible there is much more pain and suffering involved than would have been present with precise and reasoned action. There is no need for speed since no one in Washington nor anywhere else can guarantee that any solution suggested will work.

If these spending programs are to be deployed then they should be done in such a way as they can be stopped on command and rather than huge outlays smaller amounts should be floated as test balloons to avoid even larger mistakes. The experience thus far with AIG and others in their arrogance to spend taxpayer money should be proof enough that planned spending will not work without deadly force as a protection. Just today CITI has decided to buy a private jet. Ya, they say it will not be paid for with bailout funds. Right. If you need bailout funds then you don’t have enough of your own money or you lied about needing bailout funds. In any event you don’t need to buy a private jet. Has this post made the point clearly?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Another report of how enthralled (had to add this, enthralled = beguiled, filled with wonder and delight) consumers are with electronics offerings from manufacturers. This post is another attempt to raise some issues regarding consumer electronics. Some long standing criticism from this blog toward those who market electronics and control the infrastructure on which much of it is used range from how internet access is manipulated between what is available, offered and how it is priced to similar issues living in other telecom areas like wireless communication. Have you noticed how cell phones are marketed and its relationship to the primary function of telephones. That’s right. Voice communication between humans has long been the need filled by telephone service. Text messaging, chocolate phones, camera phones and all manner of other bells and whistles have relegated speaking to another on the phone as an afterthought. Could it be that spending the money necessary to offer reliable and quality voice communication does not present the profit margin desired by the providers? Could it be the public has once again allowed the market to be driven by the easily manipulated younger demographic with all that loose change to spend being ‘cool’? The manufacturers know it. Ignore the more demanding demographic for the one you can manipulate and who may have the most discretionary income with the most liberal criteria for purchasing decisions.

The ridiculous nature of the coming switch from analog to digital broadcasts is a critical tipping point in electronics related markets that should require no explanation for using adjectives like ‘ridiculous.’ The reasonable method for introducing new products and services by offering value in terms of quality, utility, pricing and other factors has been supplanted by collusion between entities within the public and private sectors in the electronics industry just like the examples found in the current ‘financial crisis’ stemming from the subprime mortgage scheme and lack of regulation and oversight from Wall Street to Main Street to the halls of government.

That is all the angst this blog author can withstand for the current post on this topic. It would be gratifying if the consuming public could muster enough discretion over their buying decisions as an aggregate to apply the needed pressure on suppliers to do the right thing. The vendors certainly won’t do it on their own. But then the same could be said about the public reaction to activity in government. And we all know to well how that usually works out.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Retailers around the country are reporting a slower-than-usual holiday shopping season this year. But 2008 has been a terrific year for those who love consumer electronics - whether they are buying or just looking.

Despite the current economic downturn, large consumer electronics chains like Best Buy are doing brisk business this year

During lunch hour at the Midtown Manhattan outpost of Best Buy, the largest consumer electronics chain in America, the checkout line is 30 people deep and counting. That’s no surprise to Nicholas Thompson, a senior personal technology editor at Wired magazine.

“It’s been a cool year,” says Thompson. “There has been lots of stuff introduced that’s faster, smaller, sleeker, cheaper, better than anything we’ve had before.”

Thompson adds that product design also has improved this year, partly as the result of Apple products.

“Apple makes beautiful things, and these things sell. So now everyone is making beautiful things!”

Wired Magazine editor Nicholas Thompson says that in 2008, the smart money for portable music players is on the Sansa Fuze

One of the new products that Thompson believes deserve high marks for both design and affordability is the Sansa Fuze. It’s one of dozens of handheld digital music players on sale here.

“It’s about $80, which is much less than it would have cost a year ago, [and] you can watch TV shows. You can watch movies. You can listen to music, and you can look at photographs you can put on it, all your little media files.”

Thompson soon heads straight for the camera aisle, where he unhesitatingly picks up a stylish Sony T700. Unlike most digital cameras, which have smallish viewing screens, the entire back portion of the T700 is designed for viewing photos. He says people often put their photographs online, but relatively few people trouble themselves with viewing.

“But if you have a nice screen on your camera, it makes it a lot easier to share your photos with your friends,” he says.

The T700 digital camera has a screen almost as large as a traditional photograph

Another important feature of the Sony T700 Thompson touts is its Smile Shutter technology, which is able to detect when a person the camera is aimed at smiles. It then shoots the photo without the user having to press a button.

Nearby, shoppers are snapping up a surprisingly small and simple looking video camera called the Flip Ultra.

“Video cameras used to cost $300 to $400,” recalls Thompson. “And for a lot of people, all you want to do is take a little video of your dog and stick it on YouTube. And why pay $300 for that?”

In contrast, at $129, the Ultra is relatively inexpensive. It also has what Thompson considers another virtue: almost no buttons.

“Buttons can sometimes be good, but they can also confuse you. This very simple, very nice present for someone.”

“Next in line, please” is a request this cheerful Best Buy cashier calls out hundreds of time a day

Video games are bigger than ever in 2008. Thompson’s favorite this year is the FIFA 09 virtual football game based on the teams in the World Cup.

“For example, say you want to be the United States, or you want to be Brazil,” explains Thompson, “You actually have the simulation of all the soccer players who play on that national team. And if Brazil plays the United States, Brazil wins!”

When this Voice of America reporter asks him just why Brazil is sure to win, Thompson is quick to laughingly opine, “Brazil is better!” He adds that in the football-oriented video games of the past, the players would all look the same

“… and they would kind of run in the same direction, kick as hard, run as fast as each other. Now everybody is an individual,” he says.

Samsung high-end, flat-screen televisions offer images that can be almost too realistic for comfort

Thompson says hard-core couch potatoes who want excitement from their electronic toys without exercise - even of the virtual kind - will love Samsung’s new top-of-the-line, large-screen flat televisions. The store’s demonstration model uses liquid crystal display technology enhanced with light-emitting diodes as backlights.

“The colors are truer. The blacks are a lot better, and it’s much easier to watch for a long time,” Thompson says. “You actually feel like you are in a movie theater even though are just sitting in your own living room.”

Soon, a chase scene from The Dark Knight, the franchise’s most recent Batman film, begins to play on the television monitor. But Thomson says that virtually zooming through the streets of Gotham City at 250 kilometers per hour in the Batmobile - while sitting in one’s own living room at the same time - is only one of the high-tech thrills in store for gadget lovers during the 2008 holiday season.

Following the content listed in most popular news on Google and Yahoo has been a regular occurence here. At first it was disappointing that so much of what made it to the listing were stories with topics that probably shouldn’t rank as high as they did. But that just seemed to indicate a sad trend that ‘clickers’ at these venues concentrated on items that really do not matter. The tabloid type of content was getting the lion’s share of the most popular ratings by click. Again, sad that important issues were being neglected by whatever the demographic was. If one assumed that the readers were a representative slice of the general public the bulk of what they were reading was an even more dismal trend.

But over the months it seems more public affairs issues are being digested if only for a moment. A snapshot of one of this morning’s lists has been reordered below by this blog’s opinion of what matters most.along with a commentary on each. Links are maintained except for those items designated here as useless stories.

News Analysis Choice of Palin Is Bold Move by McCain, With Risks

The central argument in the NYT piece seems to be that McCain’s VP selection gives ammunition to Obama while diminishing McCain’s criticism that Obama is not ready to lead due to inexperience. Right out of the blocks, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has executive experience and a resume’s considerably more accomplished than Senator Obama’s. No one said you cannot take on the VP slot as it does not lend itself to on the job training. And as for the ability to step in to the Presidency if disaster would strike, how many former VP’s would have been ideal for that contingency? If Palin ends up spending four years as VP she will likely be quite prepared for the Office of President in 2012. Even with the unlikelihood that she would have to take over as President, by then the McCain Adminstration would be in place and the typical resources used by each President would be available to Palin for executing the office. In contrast, nothing about Barack Obama equals that assessment.

Additionally, Mr Hope and Change Obama selected a Washington insider which conflicts with his new everything claims and that McCain is more of the same. It also cnocedes his lack of foreign policy experience which most suggest will be of primary importance to the next President. Like it hasn’t been every year.

Obama campaign buoyed by convention

The report above offers more of the same from the Dems more of the same complaint against McCain/Palin. It also cites a Gallup poll showing an 8 point lead for Obma post-convention. While Obama did a fine job of bolstering his celeb status which has little to do with leading the country, the Rasmussen poll shows the lead to be a mere four points. Just a few days ago it was a dead heat as indicated by just about everyone. It would not be a surprise if the polls reflected dynamic swings over the next few weeks.

Small Change From Obama

David Broder says it for all those suspicious of Barack Obama. From reminding readers that little is known about the freshman Senator to describing his nomination speech as ordinary and focusing on traditional liberal talking points, the change meister (Obama) has squandered his big moment by making a convincing argument for his opponents that an Obama Administration would offer nothing new.

Michelle Obama: Bringing back the brooch

Ah, the significance of Michelle Obama has materialized. She wears a pin. Let the fashion statements begin. So Dems comparing Barack to JFK will lead to comparisons of Michelle to Jackie? Oh, please.

Obama: An American Dream and a Promise for Change

For those who may have missed the opportunity to drink the liberal Kook-Aid, the above link is for you. All of what the Dems would like you to believe is in this. If any of it were likely the Dems might have something but just like the long awaited Obama nomination speech it is a terrible letdown. Nothing to believe in. Nothing to hope for and nothing will change from the liberal realm.

Obama turns to Greek columns for support

The celeb strategy is alive and well in the Obama campaign. Wanting to make a connection and comparison between himself and MLK and JFK rather than Ayers and Rezko, Obama opted for the Greek thing. Just another example of smoke and mirrors that appeal to the far left. Could it be they are attracted to fantasy and fiction more than reality and logic?

Unconventional Ratings: Obama’s Speech Draws Record 38 Million Viewers

Just another example that the Obama celeb thing has the capacity to attract those inspired by fads and bells and whistles. To be fair, there is the possibility that those sincerely seeking change may have paid attention. But as reported by Broder in another item above, Obama missed his opportunity to make the case and instead optted for traditional Dems talking points and the party line.

The other items linked below are secondary in importance. The report on Russia is another reminder that cold war sentiments may resurface. The mention of Gustav and threats to the Gulf Coast remind that NOLA is still the only part of the area that will get the bulk of coverage from the MSM and we haven’t learned the lesson of not putting all our refining capacity or most of it in one vulnerable area.

The IT topics represented by Microsoft, Apple and Comcast represent a trio of standouts all compromising the digital landscape. MS continues its habit of trying to convince users that things are different now. Apple has become as notorious as a techo-gangsta’ as MS with its idiot phone marketing as the latest Comcast episode proving net neutrality is an issue.

The unlinked titles below, of course, represent the least important topics offered on the list of most popular news items. Have a fine Labor Day Weekend and start clicking on the important stuff. Focus on MoreWhat Matters

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia

Gustav strengthens off west Cuba
US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1)

Microsoft: No more Windows Live Mail crashes with IE8 Beta 2
Update: Steve Jobs - Alive And Kicking
Mystery ‘iPhone Girl’ On Her Way To Meme Status
Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads

Duchovny in Rehab
Lindsay Loses Grandfather, Calls for Family Peace
Earwax: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Two films will vie with ‘Tropic Thunder’ for No. 1 at box office
A-Rod abors through traffic to get to Stadium before game
Thai prime minister vows to sit tight despite anti-government protests

The bottom line is MS broke a company record on full year revenue, met the lower end of Wall Street’s expectations and the company’s own guidance or missed it depending on whose version you accept. The stock price dropped 2% on the news and reports vary on analysis. For example, some reports credit Vista for the news while others say it is disappointing or dragging the company down.

A Dow Jones report at CNN, while explaining the numbers well, mentions support contracts resulted in gains that will show up later. But headlining that meeting expectations really isn’t meeting them is either not quite right or nothing new. If you track stocks with any regularity around the quarterly earnings releases, examples abound of surprises whose stock prices do not follow logic after earnings are announced.

XP is contributing more to MS revenue than they are willing to discuss. The opinion here is Vista is a bust. Xbox has caused serious money flowing in the wrong direction for MS on covering warranties to the tune of about 1 billion dollars. The browser wars continue and more difficulty with service pack issues, rumor or fact, and the curse of exploit vulnerabilities from the malicious hacker crowd have not diminished.

The real bottom line is Microsoft still sucks. You might want to read up on the gamer related stories on Peter Moore’s recent departure and the details behind it. This blog limits its coverage of MS news based on a bias against the company and an unwillingness to support it even by sharing the bad news. Is there any good news? Only for the wallets of some including Master of the Dark Side, Bill Gates.

Strong Microsoft results, but Vista sales lackluster
By Benjamin J. Romano
Seattle Times technology reporter
Microsoft’s $3.04 billion in net profit on $13.37 billion in revenue last quarter met Wall Street’s expectations, and the company had full-year revenue of more than $50 billion for the first time in its history.Beyond the big numbers, however, some analysts were underwhelmed by the financial performance of the company’s most important product: the new Windows Vista operating system.

“Vista appears to be disappointing,” said Israel Hernandez, analyst with Lehman Brothers, noting that revenue growth for the Windows Client division was below his expectations and at the low end of Microsoft’s previous guidance.

The article above points to Vista as disappointing while the one below credits the really SOFTware for improved sales. Go figure, even MS talked down the disappointment of Vista, so read a variety of sources to find the facts.

Vista drives sales at Microsoft
Software giant tops $50bn in annual revenue for the first time
Dave Friedlos,
Computing 20 Jul 2007
The strong results have come despite costs stemming from repairs to its Xbox 360 computer console. Microsoft is facing a bill of more than $1bn (£487m) to cover the cost of offering extended warranties to console owners.Sales were driven primarily by consumer purchases of new flagship products Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007, says chief operating officer Kevin Turner.

The article below is the one with reference to MS’s own appraisal of Vista muttered with hand over mouth.

Microsoft grows despite Windows Vista
By Gavin Clarke in San Francisco
Published Friday 20th July 2007 01:03 GMT
Not that you’d know it from Microsoft’s results, or projected revenue, but the giant launched a brand-spanking new version of Windows this year.Not only did Windows Vista - billed by Microsoft as its biggest operating system for 10 years - fail to distinguish Microsoft’s latest fiscal year from previous, non-Windows-Vista years, but Microsoft also missed its own expectations by several million dollars.

With the “wow” clearly failing to materialize in fiscal 2007, Microsoft was left to pronounce itself “broadly happy” - not blown away - with Windows Vista sales.

The reference below is the one claiming surprise on meeting expectations but taking a hit on stock price. A stock move in the opposite direction of earnings reports is not as peculiar as the author from DJ would have you believe.

For Microsoft, Meeting Expectations Apparently Not Enough
Dow Jones
July 19, 2007: 10:20 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO -(Dow Jones)- In the technology sector currently, meeting expectations doesn’t really meet expectations.Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) saw its stock price drop 2% in after-hours trading Thursday, despite posting quarterly earnings exactly in line with expectations and raising guidance for the current year.

“People were expecting personal computers to drive more upside. The whole PC demand picture has looked better,” said Brendan Barnicle, an analyst with Pacific Crest Securities.

Higher PC sales did help Microsoft, too, said Barnicle, though much of the extra revenue wasn’t recognized in the quarter, instead showing up as deferred revenues under renewed support contracts.

Other MS news:

E3 Interview: Peter Moore Talks Xbox One Last Time
By Chris Kohler July 20, 2007
The last in Game|Life’s series of E3 interviews is with Microsoft’s Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the interactive entertainment business. For now, that is. Earlier this week — days after this interview was conducted at E3 — Microsoft announced that Moore would be moving to Electronic Arts, where he will become President of EA Sports.

Microsoft denies Vista SP1 rumour
10:59AM, Friday 20th July 2007
Microsoft has quashed internet rumours that the first service pack for Vista is set for an early arrival.After reports that Microsoft would be delivering the first service pack for Windows Vista as early as this week, the company has issued a statement that firmly closes the door on that possibility.

Mozilla patches Firefox, slams door on IE zero-day bug
We fixed our end, says Mozilla, but IE is still buggy
Gregg Keizer
July 18, 2007 (Computerworld) — Mozilla Corp. late yesterday patched Firefox to fix nine bugs, including the controversial critical vulnerability that involved both the open-source Web browser and Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Explorer (IE).

Cheerfully brought to you by:
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The Darth Vader of information technology has been very active this year. Precisely when the United States is in the midst of a national debate on critical issues, Bill Gates stands as the poster boy for what is wrong with corporate America. While spewing pleasant sounding descriptions on his version of American history mixed with less than subtle promotion of his corporate agenda, Gates again used the influence of his obscene wealth to ‘encourage’ Congress to do as he says. Here is the first excerpt from his testimony before a Senate hearing in March of this year.

Unfortunately, America’s immigration policies are driving away the world’s best and brightest precisely when we need them most. I appreciate the vital national security goals that motivate many of these policies. I am convinced, however, that we can protect our national security in ways that do less damage to our competitiveness and prosperity.

Moreover, the terrible shortfall in our visa supply for the highly skilled stems not from security concerns, but from visa policies that have not been updated in over a decade and a half. We live in a different economy now. Simply put: It makes no sense to tell well-trained, highly skilled individuals – many of whom are educated at our top colleges and
universities – that the United States does not welcome or value them.

Are you convinced that Bill Gates only has our best interests at heart? You will notice he did not mention why he prefers imported labor rather than the home grown variety. This early in the testimony Mr Gates declined to insult Americans about their abilities to compete for jobs in the tech sector. Later he expresses a ‘concern’ that Americans educated in American schools are 2nd rate but has just stated foreign-born individuals taught at the same schools are the best and the brightest. This is the less than subtle promotion Mr. Gates uses to express his desire for cheaper, more obedient and submissive foreign talent over American candidates.

You are encouraged to read the entire testimony at the link provided. Mr Gates lobbies for American business to be able to educate all the world in our schools and immediately allow the rest of the world to live and work here or else, as he warns, American business will continue to sidestep their responsibility by moving jobs offshore. Here is the most recent evidence of his lack of patience and intent to use whatever means necessary to reach his objective.

Toronto Mayor and Microsoft Canada open digital arts and technology skills centre in Jamestown, Rexdale

Rexdale Pro Tech Media Centre to offer community members skills
development through access to technology and education

MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 3 /CNW/ - Together with Toronto Mayor David Miller,
Microsoft Canada today launched the Rexdale Pro Tech Media Centre in Jamestown
- one of 13 priority neighbourhood areas identified by the City of Toronto for
focused support and investment. The Centre will provide free access to
state-of-the-art technology including digital arts and Microsoft curricula to
introduce Jamestown and Rexdale youth to potential careers in new media while
providing computer literacy skills. The Centre was made possible through joint
collaboration with community partners and by a Microsoft Community Technology
Skills (CTS) grant which includes a cash donation, software, hardware and
technical support valued at over $400,000 CDN.

The story above is one of many examples of Bill Gates and Microsoft bribing officials and communities who are quite willing to accept a deal with the devil to achieve their goals, right or wrong. The country where Gates amassed his wealth receives no ‘give back’ sentiment from the world’s wealthiest individual. His apparent true philosophy is what have you done for me lately.

Canada’s cities shortchanged and tapped out

Don Cayo, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, July 06, 2007
If big cities are to fulfil their potential as the principal drivers of Canada’s economy, they must go far beyond their original role as simple providers of property-related services such as street-building and repair, police and fire services, garbage collection, water and sewer services.

They also need to make themselves attractive to the new generation of knowledge-based revenue generators — those highly skilled people who can live anywhere they choose.

Thursday’s announcement that Microsoft’s first Canadian software development centre will be located in Vancouver underlines the importance of civic amenities that tip the balance when a company can locate wherever it wants.

That’s right. Cave to the power and influence of corporate greed. Nothing helps sustain the repeated use of unethical business practices more than public officials willing to abandon principle to achieve short term gains. Engaging in long term alliances that will require continued disregard for proper public policy runs counter to good government.

The latest indication of Microsoft/Bill Gates’ disinterest in the public good is featured in news related to the GPLv3 licensing and the software giant’s entrance into matters of open source. Currently this blog has no opinion on MS’s responsibility under law, if any, on matters of open source. The only point to be made is whether anyone sincerely expected Microsoft to be truly concerned about advancing the promise of open source? Offering the swamp land in Florida or the Brooklyn Bridge for sale to those who believe that is another scam that would succeed with that mentality.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Microsoft tries evading new GPL grasp

By Stephen Shankland
Fri Jul 06, 2007
Microsoft on Thursday took steps to avoid entanglement with a new version of the General Public License, the most widely used license in the free and open-source software domain.

Microsoft: ‘Your Puny GPLv3 Can’t Hold Us!’

By Terrence Russell
July 06, 2007 | 2:00:52 PM
Steve_ballmer Strange things are afoot over in Redmond. With the release of the GPLv3 last week, it’s already been suspiciously quiet over at Microsoft. Even more perplexing was the software giant’s statement yesterday regarding the GPLv3:

Linux official lines up with Microsoft against GPLv3

‘Too many owners of Linux’ to change basis of free software license
By Paul Krill
The new GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3 is not a fit for Linux because switching would require permission from the kernel’s thousands of de-facto owners, a maintainer of the SCSI portion of the kernel said on Thursday.

At the same time Microsoft released a statement that the company has no obligations under GPLv3.

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson’s Website, The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary’s Thoughts, DeMediacratic Nation, Big Dog’s Weblog, Webloggin, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Thoughts, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, third world county, Planck’s Constant, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and Public Eye, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Some iPhone users have activation delays - source

Some iPhone customers put on hold

Consumer group questions iPhone battery replacement

Apple’s iPhone has network activation glitches

Novelty may not be worth price of Apple iPhone

iPhone activation complaints continue; AT & T says situation has …

My unusable iPhone

iPhone activation problems reported

iPhones loved despite flaws

Hackers get access to iPhone firmware

AT&T Says IPhone Activation Improving

iPhone: Poor Compatibility with Web Apps

iPhone Quirk Limits Headphone Choices

The big AT&T iPhone activation screwup: here’s why

Bloops! First Anti-iPhone Rants Rolling In

Glitches follow iPhone glee

20 hours and counting — and still no iPhone activation

The iPhone: Lots to Love, but Flaws Too

The iPhone: 10 Things Apple Did Right, 10 Things That Need Work

iPhone activation complaints continue

How the iPhone Service Plan Measures up

IPhone First Impressions: Not Worth The Money

The ‘i’ in iPhone stands for idiot. Consumers pay too much for everything and then at some point complain that prices are too high. Everything costs too much because you keep buying it at ridiculous prices. The business community doles out technology products and services, as well as others, in tiny incremental phases at bloated prices and minimal or substandard capability, performance, features, quality, etc., etc., and consumers keep flocking to each new marketing ploy. The ‘i’ in iPhone stands for idiot.

The youngest among us are the easiest to fool. Haven’t been on the planet long enough or care about the trends that matter. Gotta have the newest and coolest even if it is a marketing campaign that defines the object. The trend is the business community has long known how to use hype to drive revenue. They not only target the younger demographic due to the extreme discretionary income as compared to other groups but they are keenly aware that they are largely clueless when it comes to intelligent purchasing decisions supported by fact.

As for the older demographic that follows suit, they once were part of the younger demographic that was clueless and no improvement in buying decisions has occurred over time. These two demographics are in large part responsible for the continued promotion of second rate products and services at unreasonable prices.

Why do houses cost so much? Because first time buyers only consider what they want and finding a way to qualify for a price they do not see as inflated. The mortgage industry is only too happy to invent flawed solutions like the subprime industry to accommodate such foolish transactions.

Why do cars cost so much? Why does health care cost so much? Why is the cost of an education higher than most think it should be? Although the details may vary the overall reasons for the cost of goods and services and their associated real value are so dramatically skewed. People convince themselves they need what they are buying and have no patience, discipline or any buyer sophistication adequate to the task. This is followed by subsequent complaints about how bad things are without the consumer accepting any guilt for the outcome. The ‘i’ in iPhone stands for idiot.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson’s Website, The Virtuous Republic, Right Truth, Big Dog’s Weblog, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Pursuing Holiness, CatSynth.com “catback” weekend, The Magical Rose Garden, third world county, Right Celebrity, Wake Up America, Woman Honor Thyself, stikNstein… has no mercy, Pirate’s Cove, Nuke’s news and views, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, Church and State, The Random Yak, A Blog For All, 123beta, DeMediacratic Nation, Jeanette’s Celebrity Corner, Webloggin, Cao’s Blog, , Conservative Cat, , Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Allie Is Wired, Walls of the City, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, High Desert Wanderer, Gone Hollywood, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Google has hopped on the Microsoft anti-trust bandwagon. While near the same time Google is being accused of malpractice when it comes to privacy issues. And as Google just hired someone from the Justice Dept to be their lobbyist in regard to defending its planned purchase of DoubleClick. AT&T and Microsoft are not thrilled with the possibilities of Google buying the internet ad monster.

Sounds like a bunch of spoiled brats fighting over what all of us should oppose. Everyone should be aware of Microsoft’s predatory practices but Google is no saint. After all this time AT&T has overcome the baby bell breakup blues and everything is nearly back to the start. Except we’re all paying too much for second rate services.

Based on these and other reports it may be the fed is cozying up to MS after all the litigation and anti-trust messes of the not too distant past. Could it be the government is enamored again with Bill Gates after his testimony to Congress that visa quotas should be unlimited. Yes, he did that this summer and we’re in an amnesty fiasco now.

With many other reasons to oppose MS, that fact alone would be sufficient. But then it is not like Google, AT&T or many other big deal corporations are concerned about being good corporate citizens or adhering to adequate corporate governance.

Let the behemoth battles begin. (or continue)

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Google Reportedly Says Microsoft Windows Vista Puts Rivals At Disadvantage - Update [GOOG]

http://www.rttnews.com/sp/breakingnews.asp?date=06/10/2007&item=12&vid=0
6/10/2007 11:24:25 PM Sunday, reports indicated Google Inc. (GOOG) complained to antitrust officials that Windows vista operating system software of Microsoft Corp (MSFT) puts rivals at a disadvantage in violation of Microsoft’s antitrust settlement. In a white paper sent to the Justice department and state attorney generals in April, Google said that the Windows operating system hinders consumers from using desktop applications provided by Google and others.

The US Justice Department’s Change Of Heart Over Microsoft

Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007
LAWFUEL - The Law Newswire - After a decade, the US Government has moved from attacking Microsoft to defending it - a sign that the antitrust fight has moved from the desktop to the Internet. The New York Times reports.

Nearly a decade after the government began its landmark effort to break up Microsoft, the Bush administration has sharply changed course by repeatedly defending the company both in the United States and abroad against accusations of anticompetitive conduct, including the recent rejection of a complaint by Google.

Google hires former Department of Justice official

By Jonathan Thaw
Bloomberg News
Published June 1, 2007, 3:28 PM CDT

Google Inc., owner of the world’s most-popular Internet search engine, hired a former U.S. Department of Justice official to advise the company on its $3.1 billion purchase of DoubleClick Inc.

Makan Delrahim served as deputy assistant attorney general for the department’s antitrust unit. The DoubleClick purchase won’t stifle competition in the online advertising industry, he said in an interview today.

There is no shortage of villains in the amnesty fight. If you are tired of the usual suspects in Congress you can get a little change of pace by directing your anger at Microsoft. Not like you don’t have other reasons to hate Microsoft or maybe more appropriately, Bill Gates. Earlier this year Gates gave testimony in a Congressional hearing urging the fine politicians to increase visas up to and including unlimited quotas.

Then he went on the education campaign to add insult to injury. Rather than tell the truth that cheap labor is what drives importing employees, Gates not only asked to import all their employees but that Americans are stupid. ‘We can’t find qualified workers in the US’, Gates complains. What a load of fertilizer. You simply don’t want to pay them enough. Lower wages than Americans can tolerate are pay raises for people from other countries. It has something to do with 200 years of increasing our standard of living. But of course the richest man in the world on paper would not understand that.

So go ahead folks. Send whatever anger you have about amnesty, outsourcing, visas and all the rest in care of Bill Gates at Microsoft.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

U.S. tech sector eyes immigration bill amid worker shortage

2007/6/11
By Rob Lever WASHINGTON, AFP
Even as technology executives including Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer were furiously lobbying in the past week to modify the latest bill to provide more visas for skilled workers, the compromise immigration bill was withdrawn by Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid.

“At Microsoft alone we have 3,000 core technical positions we have not been able to fill in the United States because of the lack of available qualified applicants,” said company spokeswoman Ginny Terzano.

crossposted at
Maggie’s Notebook | Conservative Blog
FaultlineUSA 

The facts surrounding the inability of Congress to agree on a satisfactory solution to the war in Iraq and the problems of illegal immigration include additional delays in solving other national issues. The press release below expresses concern of one issue not being addressed in the latest GOP debate of May 15, not May 16 as indicated in the PR. The issue is the sorry state of education. While the effectiveness of education as well as federal funding are indeed a national issue, the authors of the press release may be barking up the wrong tree.

It is impractical to expect the federal government to solve the education problem in this country. The press release authors could only be addressing NCLB or federal funding, grants and other money related issues as well as any regulations that affect education. And money at the federal level is not what will solve the education problems in this country. At least not the ones about how well educated are children become.

Money alone does not educate children. With the exception of disasters or districts that have been poorly managed or somehow deprived of money for infrastructure, money is not what will solve the problem. Education is the process of teaching children how to function successfully throughout their lives. That requires teachers who can teach. Students who can learn. And a support group including but not limited to, a school district, school board, schools with the necessary amenities as well as parents and/or other adults to guide them successfully through the process.

If the systems, groups and individuals at the state and local level are functioning properly, the federal government has little to do but provide funding and assist in defining universal goals and standards that enhance scholastic achievement and its benefits.

The success or failure of education in this nation lies squarely on the shoulders of the people at the local level. This fact is born out by the uncanny success of home schooled children. The simple fact is some children achieve a good education and others don’t. Educational spending continues to rise and student performance overall continues to fall or remain level. To say that students are unprepared for college is only part of the story. The same Mr Gates who supports this PR maintains American corporations need to import their talent from other countries. This would indicate his analysis changes depending on who he’s talking to or students are also unprepared when leaving institutions of higher learning. The same institutions graduating students from abroad where Mr Gates seeks employees and are claimed to be too expensive for American students.

Parents, teachers, students, local and state governments have primary responsibility for our children’s educational success and no amount of meddling by the federal government will change that. The federal government can assist and enhance the education function but the primary responsibility remains at home. The place where home schooled children find success.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

the press release:

No Room for ED? Insufficient Attention to Education Issues in Tonight’s Debate

WASHINGTON, May 16 /USNewswire/ — The Republican candidates
for president again took to the stage tonight for another nationally
televised debate, again paying virtually no attention to the critical issue
of education reform. This is now the third major-party presidential debate
where the field of candidates failed to acknowledge the public education
crisis in America. The Democratic candidates for president also failed to
discuss education during their first debate last month.
And while the candidates generally fail to address the crisis in our
nation’s schools, the problems get worse and worse. Just today, ACT
released a college readiness report showing that nearly 75 percent of
America’s high schoolers are unprepared to succeed with college-level work
in all core areas (Science, English and Reading, and Math). What’s more, 19
percent are not adequately prepared in any one of these subjects.
“The reality is that two-thirds of tomorrow’s jobs will require a
college education and our children aren’t prepared. It’s time for the
candidates - both Democrats and Republicans - to get with the program, to
continue to acknowledge the education crisis in our public schools, and
offer some real solutions. Because if they aren’t talking about education,
they aren’t talking about the future,” said Governor Roy Romer, Chairman of
Strong American Schools.
“One of our nation’s greatest challenges — our failing schools –
received nowhere near enough attention tonight. When only 54 percent of
South Carolina’s students graduate high school, we simply can’t afford to
let our leaders fail to address this critical issue. Our schools will never
improve until our elected officials show the leadership to fix them,” said
Marc Lampkin, Strong American Schools’ Executive Director.
“Our goal over the next 18 months is to make sure that every candidate
for president offers up real solutions to fix our schools and reform our
education system. We will continue our campaign to encourage all candidates
to address this critical issue in a meaningful way,” said Romer.
The Strong American Schools’ “ED in ‘08″ campaign is funded by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation and The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. The
foundations have committed up to $60 million to support the campaign
through November 2008. Strong American Schools does not support or oppose
any candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.
To join the “ED in ‘08″ campaign, and for more information, log onto:
http://www.EDin08.com.
Strong American Schools, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy
Advisors, is a nonpartisan campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad
Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promoting sound
education policies for all Americans. SAS does not support or oppose any
candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.

SOURCE Strong American Schools

Related links:
# http://www.edin08.com

CAGW Disputes Sen. Dorgan’s Remarks on Net Neutrality

WASHINGTON, April 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Citizens Against
Government Waste (CAGW) today challenged Sen. Byron Dorgan’s (D-N.D.)
comments on the issue of net neutrality and warned against enacting any
type of legislation that would hurt growth and the free market on the
Internet.
Sen. Dorgan held a conference call with reporters on April 26, the
occasion of pro-net neutrality group SavetheInternet.com’s one year
anniversary. Sen. Dorgan said, “The Internet became a robust engine of
economic development by enabling anyone with a good idea to connect to
consumers and compete on a level playing field. The marketplace picked
winners and losers, not some central gatekeeper. That freedom — the very
core of what makes the Internet what it is today — must be preserved.”
“If net neutrality is enacted, Congress itself will become the
gatekeeper by imposing restrictive and unnecessary controls. Any attempt to
regulate the Internet would create an unneeded layer of government
bureaucracy on a technology that has thrived precisely because regulations
have been absent,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.
In January, Sen. Dorgan reintroduced the misnamed Internet Freedom
Preservation Act (S. 215) in the Senate. Net neutrality would mandate that
Internet service providers carry every single piece of content and every
service available, regardless of cost or need. Content providers have
expressed concern that the ISPs would either block content or create
different tiers of online services. Such differential pricing occurs in
virtually all forms of commerce, such as charging more for faster delivery
of packages by UPS or Federal Express. Should net neutrality become law and
traffic on the Internet continue to skyrocket, the delivery of important
content, such as medical information, will receive the same treatment as
spam.
Editorial voices on op-ed pages as diverse as those of the New York
Times and Wall Street Journal have criticized net neutrality as a false
issue. Last June, the Washington Post editorialized, “The weakest aspect of
the neutrality case is that the dangers it alleges are speculative. It
seems unlikely that broadband providers will degrade Web services that
people want and far more likely that they will use non-neutrality to charge
for upgrading services that depend on fast and reliable delivery, such as
streaming high-definition video or relaying data from heart monitors.”
“Net neutrality is nothing but a solution looking for a problem. This
kind of aggressive law-making would violate the principles of both the free
market and common sense. Stepping in now could adversely affect taxpayers
and consumers by stifling the development of the high-speed Internet
services America needs to keep its economy growing and nation competitive,”
concluded Schatz.
Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit
organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and
mismanagement in government.

SOURCE Citizens Against Government Waste