Brain Dumps Blog

Yes, that’s right, I’m not seeking any nomination for any political office.

But I would like your vote!

I am NOT a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, and I’ve never been a law professor.  I was NOT born in Hawaii, and I’ve NEVER been to Indonesia. But if you vote for me, I will make you laugh, and I won’t make any promises I can’t keep!

I enjoy the internet, I am passionate about technology, and helping YOU to understand it!

For the fun of the competition, and who knows I may even learn something in the process, I’m playing the game of a different kind.  Check it out.   If you enjoy reading our articles, have some fun, vote for me!

It can get confusing with all the acronyms flying around out there.  I’ve written numerous articles to try to take a lot of the geek speak and political spin and explain it in simple terms.

I have also used social bookmarking site Delicious to create a  “stack of links” on internet regulation.  Delicious is pretty cool for creating collections of links  like  this comprehensive list of internet legislation articles.

On one of the link stacks on Delicious someone has created a stack with the label “Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) News.”   You may feel like the folks on Capitol Hill want to take away your privacy, but SOPA is an acronym for Stop Online Piracy Act.  The well meaning folks in Washington want to stop piracy, not privacy. Internet pirates are folks who take intellectual property that they do not own like music and movies, and give it away or sell it on websites.

Over the years I’ve used many analogies in teaching and public speaking to get people to put technology into the proper perspective, The internet is just a mirror, a reflection. If you don’t like what you see, what do you do?  Some people break the mirror, others change what’s being reflected.

The internet doesn’t take sides, it gives birth to both good and evil. The internet is our collective mind, it is our collective soul. It is a reflection of all of us, and together we have the responsbiility to focus and form that reflection.

Yes, online piracy is a crime, and it should be punished.  But we should not break the internet, and punish the law abiding users of the internet in order to stop the pirates.

Technoloy has been my profession for 35 years, I get fired up  and I am passionate about the need for the internet, the technology itself to stay free of regulation.

I have been covering the proposed legislation on various internet topics.  I know all the acronyms, geek speak, and political double talk can be confusing, so  I have written two articles in hopes of sorting through all the acronyms and geek speak of the current SOPA and PIPA battle going on.

I’m a bit fired up over this because politicians don’t understand the technology. They should keep their fingers off of it!

You are using the internet right now to read this. As someone who uses the internet you should care about the governments desires to regulate it.  It is your internet too! Give a damn! Understand!

PLEASE, take a moment to read the following articles.

We attempt to explain the geek speak in simple terms,  PIPA, SOPA, and the battle for the internet: Understanding the technology.

Hope this helps you to understand what we are fighting for,  PIPA, SOPA, and the battle for the internet: Understanding the politics

The argument I use here is a lot like an analogy I use to put the internet into perspective.  The internet is not evil.  But evil people use the internet.

The internet is like a mirror, it simply reflects what it sees.  If you don’t like what you see in the mirror, you don’t break the mirror, you change the reflection!

Don’t let Congress break the internet! 

To stay informed follow me  @Gu42 on Twitter or Guru42 on Facebook.

If you missed any of the recent news click on this link to a comprehensive list of internet legislation articles.

The line, “We learn from failure, not from success!” sounds like pretty sound advice.

You may find it interesting to know they are the words of Professor Abraham Van Helsing to Dr. John Seward in the Novel “Dracula” by Bram Stoker…

“Nothing is too small. I counsel you, put down in record even your doubts and surmises. Hereafter it may be of interest to you to see how true you guess. We learn from failure, not from success!”

The website SmartTechnology.Info is about using technology smarter to make your life easier. These thoughts are based on my many interactions over the years with a wide variety of technology users.

The section on Power and Responsibility is based on some business writing and workshops that I have done over the years.

I taught for at the community college level for many years.  While most of the courses I taught were technology courses, not everyone taking the classes was there to be a technician or engineer. Some folks were taking the classes to better appreciate the topics covered so they could better understand, and communicate more effectively with the technology folks they had to deal with in their roles as business professionals or managers.

SmartTechnology.Info aims to educate the folks in their roles as business professionals or managers. Our companion site  ComputerGuru is more from the perspective of the technology professional.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been tweaking the Drupal code and fine tuning my websites. Little by little I’ll focus on promoting each one as I give them an overhaul.

Take a look at SmartTechnology.Info, tell me what you think.  Something you like?  Something you would like to see further developed, or a similar topic cover?

Share your thoughts on the Guru 42 Facebook page, or drop me a message directly.

Wow, is it Wednesday already!

I’ve been so wrapped up in overhauling my websites the last few days that I just realized I had not been on Facebook or checked my email since Sunday!   I have really been focusing on Drupal and site building the last few weeks.  Looking forward to having some of these sites take off in 2012!

While I have a bunch of new websites in the works, I have been focusing on over the weekend and the last few days on getting some of my existing websites “cleaned up.”

If you have not stopped by any of these sites lately, please stop by, check them out and tell me what you think.

PhilosophyGuru – Adding a bunch of content there on rock music history.  Also have a bunch of notes on movies.   Movies and music are topics that are very popular in searches.  Trying to put come content here and see what kind of traffic I can drive to it.

Smart Technology Info — Technology website trying to focus from the small business owner and business manager perspective.

ComputerGuru  — From my old links and lessons on learning from my teaching days. Reworking old material trying to make it friendly for those learning technology searching for info.

Please feel free to check out our sponsors! Look over the ads and click a few links!  Look over our websites, kick the tires on them.  Let me know what you like, don’t like.

Stay tuned!  There’s more to come from the Guru 42 Universe in 2012!

As the new year starts  we often reflect.  Spending many years in technology, I often reflect on how we all did things BC. (before computers).    Here are a few words that I was thinking about.

Remember when…  If somebody asked you if knew about Bing, you thought they were talking about some old guy singing Christmas songs…

Remember when… If somebody asked you if knew about Yahoo, you thought they were talking about the crazy guy down the street…

Remember when… If somebody asked you if knew about Google, you thought they were talking about Scope or Listerine…

Remember when…  Everyone didn’t have a blog. If this blog post makes perfect sense to you, I guess you are an old fart like me?

Best Wishes for a prosperous New Year from the Guru 42 Universe

I remember when you could tell everyone you know Merry Christmas!  … and you didn’t have to worry about who you offended.

I have many friends, who believe in many things, and respect them for their beliefs and convictions.  It has nothing to with political correctness. It has to do with being a friend.

Merry Christmas

I want to wish a Merry Christmas to all my friends and the fans of the Guru 42 Universe and the Tao of Questy.

I Believe in Santa Claus! Please take a moment to read Believe in Santa Claus and allow me to share my Christmas thoughts with you.

Happy New Year

We look forward to your friendship and support in 2012.

Follow the the Guru 42 Universe for technology news and features, and the Tao of Questy, to share ideas on our crazy world and being a little bit crazy in order to stay sane.

May your new year be filled with Peace, Love, and Happiness.

I am as mad as hell, and you should be too.  For months congress has been promising to create laws to regulate the internet.

Regardless of where you stand on the issues, hopefully you give a damn about them, and will take a minute to understand the issues.

Take a moment to read, SOPA Marathon session in Congress produces nothing.

This really burns me up. This is crazy and childish. Congress needs to take this seriously!

If you have not been following this, please catch on in these articles as well.

Google starts war of words over online piracy bill

Online protests aim to kill SOPA and Protect IP legislation

Technology companies ask lawmakers to scrap online piracy legislation

Protect IP Act aims to block internet pirates

Tweet this one up with #DontBreakTheInternet

It is your internet too!  Give a damn!  Understand!

The phrase “Mistake by The Lake” is often used as a negative way to describe the city of Cleveland, Ohio.

I am not here to knock the city of Cleveland, however, the phrase “Mistake by The Lake” is certainly appropriate in describing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is located located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Every year The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces its new inductees, and I look at the list and get mad.  There’s at least one or two on the list that have me scratching my head.  But what has me mad are the many great artists that never make the list.

If you are a baby boomer, and love classic rock as much as I do, are you shocked to realize the notable acts not in the Rock Hall of Fame: Rush, Kiss. Styx, Journey, Foreigner, the Moody Blues, Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull, Chicago, BTO, ELO, Steve Miller Band, Jefferson Starship.

I will have more on this topic in the days ahead.  I just wanted to get that rant out here today!

Peace.  Rock on!

Check out this link to see who is in the class of 2012: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces 2012 inductees

Internet Monopoly could be a board game you play on the coffee table, with cards, a cardboard game board, play money, and dice.

But we are talking about Internet Monopoly as game played in a corporate board room, with American dollars, and every roll of the dice is worth millions.

That’s this weeks technology news, where it seems to be centered on the big players of the internet, Google and Facebook, and what small companies they are buying.

Check out these articles:

Facebook buys location sharing service Gowalla

What’s next for the King of the internet…

Google takes on Amazon in online retail

Google purchase of online display advertising company Admeld moving forward

Yes, it can be a mixed bag at times, but there is no doubt this communications system we call the Internet has changed the world.

The well meaning folks in Washington that run the government think that the Internet can be used as a tool to control good and evil.  It is a pretty scary thought.

If you have not read them, please take a moment to read some of recent articles on pending legislation that threatens your use of the internet:

Online protests aim to kill SOPA and Protect IP legislation

Technology companies ask lawmakers to scrap online piracy legislation

Don’t Break The Internet with SOPA and Protect IP!

I have spent a lot of time this weekend updating and rebuilding websites.

Getting the Tao of Questy back in shape so the Santa Claus pages are online for the Christmas season. Had the old Questy site down until I had some time to rebuild it in Drupal. Check out: The Legend of Santa Claus

Leave your comments on the new Questy site at the Tao of Questy Facebook page.

We have done a lot of updating and building of Drupal sites, hopefully will have the time to add a bunch of content now that things are cleaned up.

Check out   Geek History 

We are working on a Geek News Portal that will be a companion site to Geek History.  This is in Drupal version 7.

Take a look at it. http://GeekNewsPortal.com/

Leave your comments on the Geek History site or the Geek News Portal at  the GeekHistory Facebook page.

Also, for anyone interested in my Drupal notes from site building. I will be adding those to an online location so perhaps someone can gain something from my lessons learned.

Cleaning up ton’s of old files over the weekend , when I stumbled upon this.  Seems appropriate for the moment…

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.
That myth is more potent than history.
That dreams are more powerful than facts.
That hope always triumphs over experience.
That laughter is the only cure for grief.
And I believe that love is stronger than death.”

…the Storyteller’s Creed,
from “All I Really Need to Know …”
by Robert Fulghum, 1986, Ballantine Books

And don’t forget this valuable advice by Fulghum,

“When you go out into the world,
watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”

“The only constant is change,” is the concept taught by Heraclitus, who lived in ancient Greece around 500 BC.

Heraclitus was known for his doctrine of change being central to the universe.

The man should have worked in IT. He was about 2500 years before his time.

Understanding “Big Brother” An argument on the topic of technology versus privacy moves to US Supreme Court this week.

This should be an easy case for the courts, don’t you think? Should anyone be able to monitor your movements using GPS without a warrant? Check out this article, leave your comments on the Guru42 wall.

Check out the article: Technology versus privacy: GPS tracking case moves to US Supreme Court

Another “stack of links” from Delicious. As I was writing on Technology versus Privacy today, thought that this is one thread of ideas I want to keep together.

The theme of Technology versus Privacy is an important one, and not one that is going away anytime soon. I’ve grouped my articles on this topic using a Delicious link stack. Take a look, catch up on the news on this important topic.

Check out the link stack:  Technology versus Privacy by philosophyguru

Interested in Online Poker and Internet Gambling News?

Link stacks are a cool tool from Delicious.com check out this link stack I created on online poker stories.

I was a fan of Delicious from way back, now that the YouTube boys, Steve Chen and Chad Hurley, have bought Delicious and relaunched it, I have high hopes for the site.  The “stacks” were one of the first things they started after the relaunch.

About 25% of Facebook users said they were “very concerned” about privacy.

The other 75% aren’t using their real names and are just making shit up.

And for more on the topic truth on the internet, check out this article …

The internet doesn’t lie? What do you mean Facebook is still free?

I am a full time computer guy, part time writer, part time philosopher.

I write a lot about the internet, because I’ve spent an awful lot of time there over the years.  I  try to share some of my lessons learned from time to time, or at the very least, get folks to think about things from time to time.

Blogs give me a vehicle to put a little personal spin on my article and reflect on them a bit. Typically I check in to this blog about once a week to recap some articles I written during the week, package them up in some sort of theme, and hope you’ll take a moment to read them.

I’ll be back, probably tomorrow since it is a holiday to do my usual recapping of the weeks events, but right now, I want to side track a bit.

Here’s a small bit of wisdom, thinking takes a little bit of effort.  Understanding takes just a little bit more effort.

Folks post links on articles on blogs, and on Twitter, and on Facebook, to share a little bit of wisdom.  Take a minute or two to read the articles before you comment on them.  OK?

Remember, understanding takes just a little bit more effort. Someone took the time to post a link, take a minute to read the link before you comment. OK?  Cool.

Now if you want to call me an idiot, or a jackass, I know it was an informed decision.

Don’t you feel better now?   I do!

Peace to all my writer brothers and sisters.  WRITE ON!

As I drive to work each morning thinking about the world’s problems, I’ve come up with a way to balance the budget, impose an idiot tax.  I’m not talking about describing the tax as being idiotic, not even talking about all those well meaning law makers in Washington.  Nope.  I am talking about imposing a tax on folks for doing idiotic things.

For you politically correct folks out there, I’m not talking about anyone with medically diagnosed mental or physical impairments.  What I am talking about is when someone of sound mind and body does something idiotic simply because of arrogance, ignorance, apathy, or any other type of bad attitude.

Here’s a perfect example.  As I am driving to work I am in the left lane as I have just passed a few cars moving kind of slow. All of a sudden there’s this guy who is hooking and bobbing through traffic, coming up on my rear end at about 80 miles a hour, before I have a chance to react to him, he passes me on the right and cuts me off to get in the left lane one car length ahead of me.

Did I mention the traffic light ahead of me had already turned red about 15 seconds ago and I was beginning to slow down as I saw the intersection ahead?  So the driver in the car that passed me exhibited some very dangerous precision driving skills for the privileged of sitting one car length ahead of me for the next two minutes.  Awesome don’t ya think?

There are times that I’d like to walk out of my car and smash in the turn signals of the car in front of mine at the next red light.  Kind of the way the sheriff smashed out the headlights in the movie Walking Tall.  I’d love to do that sometime and have the person yell out of the car, “Hey why did you do that,”  just so I could scream back, “thought I’d get rid of these turn signals for you, it’s obvious you’re never going to use them.”

Yea, that would be cool.  But not very productive.

An idiot tax would be much more productive.  I figure we could come up with high tech assessment technology, kind of works like GPS.  Since everyone has a cell phone, perhaps  it could be tied to your personal cell phone.  If the police saw someone doing something idiotic, they could point their idiot assessment device at you, and BAM, add a few extra idiot points to your total. It would even save the police having to stop a lot of folks on the highway.  At the end of the day you would receive a text message telling you how many idiot points you’ve been assessed for the day.

More than just the police, think about all the areas in society where we could have idiot assessment agents.  At the grocery store, you could have the store manager assigned as an idiotic assessment agent.  If a check out clerk saw someone in the express lane with 30 items, they could buzz the store manager, and BAM, he could zap that fool with idiot assessment points.

How about at the convenience store as well.  You know that guy in line that is counting out every last coin he found in the cushions of his couch to buy that pack of cigarettes that is holding up the line.  He is an idiot.  BAM, zap him with some idiot assessment points.

Can you think of all the times in your life, driving to work, standing in line at the lunch counter, where you have thought, man that fool is an idiot.  If we could assess that fool for being an idiot, and then have a tax based on idiot points, think about how much we could raise a lot of cash, and balance the budget!

The system would really work. Think about all those high paid actors and athletes, they are some of the biggest idiots on the planet, and they don’t seem to care about throwing their money away.

There’s no need to worry about folks cleaning up their act.  As Albert Einstein once said, “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”