Hi...

Hello there!

Cool Gmail tip

I've tested this a little, and it works. Now I only have to go through the trouble of using different variations for different types of emails. The link is in the header, if you can't find it.

Ron Paul 2008

http://www.ronpaul2008.com


My thanks to James Hubbard for turning me on to Ron Paul. Like most people, (are you one of them? If so, click the link above) I had no clue who this Ron Paul was. First few times I saw his "rEVOLution" banners, I actually thought it was for a rap album. Turns out I agree with this guy on many of the issues that are important to me. I can't think of any candidate for any office that I have ever voted for that I have felt so strongly about. The problem is, he is fighting an uphill battle. So if you don't know about this guy, click the link above and find out about him. If you agree with his thoughts and ideas, tell someone else about him. And you should seriously consider voting in your states primary. It's the only way Ron Paul will win the Republican nomination.

May the revolution be successful.

To be a contractor in Iraq

I've always said that if I wasn't married I would seriously consider going to Iraq as a contractor. The hazard pay is ridiculous. And while I've always known that they get hazard pay for a reason, I didn't know it was quite this bad. 1,001 contractors have died in Iraq in the past 4 years. That is a large number. Makes you think twice about it, no?

China threatens the US dollar

I've been afraid that something along these lines would happen in the near future. If you are unaware, China holds hundreds of billions (almost, or more than , a trillion) dollars in US treasury holdings. They have decided to put those holdings to good use. The US is threatening trade sanctions against China because of all of the products coming into the US that are contaminated. (Toys with lead, food that kills, etc.) This wouldn't be a good thing for China's public relations campaign. Thus their threat to the US dollar. If China decided to liquidate its holdings, it would likely trigger a crash in the US dollar. Needless to say this would not be good. But at the same time, giving in to Chinese threats like this would also set a really bad precedent. So which one would be worse for us? I think that depends on if you are thinking long term or short term. Want to know more? Check this link.

Playset (Part deux)

I obviously didn't post any progress on the playset. However, it is done, and has been for some time now. The kids love it. I will, eventually, post a picture of it. There are 3 swings, one of which is for two people. My oldest likes the rock climbing wall and the swing the most. My youngest loves to go up to the top platform and look through the "periscope" and say "I see you!" even if she doesn't quite understand how to manipulate it to actually see anyone through it yet. All in all, it wasn't nearly as hard to put together as I would have thought. That being said, after a certain point, it became necessary for me to have the set in its final resting place before I could continue putting it together. This was due to the fact that it would probably take 6 men to move the set after it is put together. The best part of the whole process, though, dealt with my daughter helping me put the rock climbing wall together. It marked, in my mind, the first time that she had really and truly helped me do something that I would not have been able to do by myself. It is a memory that I hope stays with me forever.

SCAMPI

I'm in the second week of the Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement for my company. This process, for level 3 maturity, for this company, will take 12 people 9 working days to complete. When it's all said and done, it will have been 3 1/2 weeks since I last worked for any significant time on the project I REALLY would rather be working on. Not that there is anything wrong with this. However, that being said, it can become a somewhat heated atmosphere when we as a team have to come to a consensus on a particular issue. This needs to happen for us to move forward. I've learned much more than I ever wanted to about CMMI. If you ever want to know more about it, I'll give you the book (I want to forget everything I learned as quickly as possible). :)