Speed, speed and more speed...

 

 

"Our cable company advertises 300MB of speed. Another up to 1GB. It makes me dizzy thinking about it..."

Yesterday we had a major upgrade performed on our cable system. All I have to say about today's technology is this - "We have come a long way, baby!" When the cable tech was here (and he was here for most of the day), I told him what TV was like when I was a boy. We had three channels and one crumby black and white TV. The big news when I was almost in Junior High School was a fourth channel broadcast was added! Party on! For most of my growing up years, my folks had one black and white TV (with rabbit ears) and four channels.

Flash forward to today. Our house (like most) has more than one TV. Many if not all, are flat screen and HD capable. We have cable. These days if you don't have cable or a dish, good luck. The broadcast signals are meant to be transmitted via cable or satellite for maximum reception and maximum channels. The speed (even at the lower end like we have) is blazing fast. And as for channel selection, it is a classic example of Alvin Toffler's premise of "over selection".

All the providers are gearing up for the "big dance". And what is that? Wireless. Everything wireless. A house will get signal coming in from either a cable or dish, it will run through the modem and then wireless router. Live TV and internet will be available on TV, PC, tablet, smart phone or whatever. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, it is changing everything. We are going from tethered to untethered and free as a bird.

So when will all this happen? Very soon. Another internet and TV provider has just asked Minneapolis for permission to compete with the existing cable company. If permission is granted, it will start early next year. The lines from this new cable company will all be fiber optic and the signal provided will be wireless. They advertise it will allow you to watch live TV on any device. Seems that the "big dance" might be right around the corner.

When the cable tech was here, I asked him if he understood the mechanics of networking. He looked at me and said it was black magic to him. How a signal came come into a house through a skinny cable, go into a modem and then become wireless through a router, goes into a TV, and then produces a high definition movie complete with surround sound. He and I were in total agreement - this is all black magic. This technology is so far over my head it is boggling.

The upgrade is now done, and all there is left to do is the "syncing" of some devices. Everything is working fine, so the Bird is able to do his daily rants on his blog. As more and more (and bigger) fiber optic "pipe" gets put into the IT infrastructure, the sky will become the limit for home entertainment. The only fly in this ointment is this - there are many times when I have gone through over a hundred channels and not found nothing worth watching. Jaded, I may have become...

A fractured nation...

 

 

"It seems our founding concept of E Pluribus Unum might soon go the way of the dinosaurs. Rather than a melting pot, we have become a fractured pot"

I never thought it could get this bad.  It started in Washington. With Democrats and Republicans hating each other. Then it was one part of the country pitted against another part. Then gay vs. straight. Black vs. white. One religion vs. another religion. Rich vs. poor. People killing police. American people just hating other American people.

What happened in the New York City this weekend, besides being horrific and sad, was a jaw dropper. A new low was reached. Assassinating innocent cops for doing absolutely nothing wrong. Robbing two families of loved ones right before the Christmas holiday. And to what end? The hate speech coming out of elected officials and race baiters seemed to have done its job. Nicely played Mr. Mayor.

In 2008, this country was hoodwinked into electing a man who promised us a "post racial America". Like lemmings, many of us fell for it. The promise of being healed as a nation, was just too good. We had been sliding down the slippery slope to becoming a fractured nation for way too long. We finally had a "healer" in the White House. Someone who understands us. Maybe even a modern day Martin Luther King. We were so wrong.

His true colors started to show just a few months after he was sworn in. It was July 16, 2009. The now famous incident which led up to the "Beer Summit" took place. There was a run in between a black professor named Henry Louis Gates and the local police. The situation became misinterpreted, unfortunate words were spoken, and then things got out of hand. Soon Professor Gates was under arrest. Once the true facts were known, he was released and all charges dropped. When our new President got wind of this, without knowing any of the facts, he said the police acted "stupidly". Rather than keep out of it until the facts were known, or siding with law enforcement, he took the wrong side. The "Beer Summit" was supposed to be the great healing experience for all. It was not.

Flash forward to today. With the unfortunate deaths of two black men in two different cities, the police are being blamed. By many leaders in Washington. By our Justice Department. By some race baiting "Reverends". Facts have nothing to do with reality, except for one. If these two men had obeyed police commands, they would still be alive today. Instead they are not alive and we now have police looking over their shoulders to see if someone is hunting them down.

Recently one of the news channels ran a poll which showed the nation has never been so divided. Ironic, is it not? The great "uniter" we elected six years ago now has us looking like a fractured nation. Rather than a melting pot, a fractured pot.  Maybe our next leader will be better. Maybe next time we will get a "uniter". Or not.   

  

The dead of winter...

 

 

 

"And why do I still live here? Please, please, don't ask me now. Ask me in six months or so..."

Winter Solstice is upon us. What does that mean? We are now living in the dead of winter. I would like to start out by saying something positive about where we are right now in the meteorological calendar.............There - I am done. That is right. I have nothing good to say about this time of year as far as weather is concerned.

As I have aged, I now look at winter as a necessary evil we must endure to get us to spring and summer. I know, I know. On our annual trip around the sun, we must have the ying along with the yang. We must allow our brothers and sister in the southern hemisphere their turn with sun and warmth. I have been in Australia in December. It is like July in Minnesota.

This morning I was watching the news and then the weather. The weather geek was trying to put some lipstick on the 10 day forecast. He said, "More darkness, more clouds, some snow, colder, maybe a big storm the day after Christmas, and then really, really cold." There was no bright spot, no glimmer of hope. Just the "big three" coming up right after Christmas and New Year's Eve. The "big three" as defined as January, February and March. Three months of darkness, cold and hassle.

Yesterday I added to my wood supply and ran by snow removal equipment for a while. This is the calm before the storm. The other day we received a Christmas card from friends who now winter just north of Miami Beach. They sent a picture of them standing on the beach in summer togs this time of year. I almost "unfriended" them! Living part of the year where one can actually get outside and do stuff is sounding more and more alluring all the time. A friend I worked with years ago who transferred here from San Francisco was so frustrated after her second winter she said, "The only thing you can grow in Minnesota is older, colder and fatter."

So enough complaining about the weather. Every once in a while I just need to vent. We will go to church this morning, come home and watch football. We are ready for Christmas, and as usual, it will be a wonderful time of year. As for the weather, the final word the weather geek said this morning was, "This is Minnesota, we all know the drill." Yes Mr. Weatherperson, we do know the drill. However, it just does not make it any easier this time of year. 

Ready? Or NOT!

 

"Hello? Can you hear me? Is help coming, or am I all alone?

This coming year will mark the 10 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. A storm which not only brought the City of New Orleans to it's knees, but also changed some of the landscape within the city. It was a storm which redefined how much (or how little), the United States Government, the State of Louisiana Government or the City of New Orleans Government can actually do in the event of a major disaster. What have we learned since then? Precious little, I am afraid.

In late October of 2012, which is just over two years ago, a Hurricane (or super storm) named Sandy came roaring up the East Coast. It hit the shores of New Jersey with a vengeance. The damage to New Jersey and somewhat to New York City was extensive and expensive. One would have thought after the debacle of Hurricane Katrina, we were wired tight to cope with a disaster of this magnitude. We were not. Unrepaired damage to infrastructure still remains from this powerful storm.

There was just an article in the paper today where the government admits they are at least 5 to 10 years away from being totally prepared to cope with disasters like Katrina or Sandy. I am skeptical of those findings. We might never be totally ready to deal with city sized catastrophes. And then I wonder what is meant by any measure of "ready"? During Katrina, bodies started to stack up for a multitude of reasons. And we knew in advance this storm was coming. We had time to prepare. One woman who was rescued days after the storm, almost died of thirst. In her own house, in the middle of a major United States city. Almost died of thirst!

I read an article not too long ago about the tenuous water situation in Los Angles. Not only is water in short supply, but it is now felt that a serious earthquake could rupture the main water pipes. Then what? If the transportation system comes to a standstill, and the water supply is disrupted due to the failure of water pipes, people in a major United States city almost dying of thirst can happen all over again . How long does it take with not having water going from inconvenience to life threatening? Less than a week for most.

Here is my take on where we are right now, going into 2015. There have been some improvements made in FEMA, and some lessons learned. However for the most part, they are ill-equipped to handle a city or region sized disaster. Think of what could happen of all which has not yet happened. A dirty bomb. A small suitcase sized nuke. A Category 8 or higher earthquake (The great San Francisco quake was 7.8, and destroyed the city). A failure of the electrical grid (either natural or otherwise) in a major region of the country. This list could go on and on.

My belief is each and every family in this country needs to assume in the event of a disaster two things: 1) help will come, but 2) help may take a painfully long time. Depending on the disaster, help could take days, weeks, or maybe even months. Think ahead. Do you have enough water for every person in the household to live on for at least a week? If not, you should do so. A better margin would be to have enough food and water for a month. It is not that expensive, yet in a shortage, both food and water will be more valuable than gold. 

The time to plan is now. Going into the New Year, make this a must item. Just like car insurance, house insurance, health insurance and life insurance are there to protect us, we also need some kind of food (and water) insurance. And that kind of insurance you can provide yourself. In an emergency, it will be the best insurance. 

Classic Fail: Minneapolis Schools

 

 

"It has either one of the highest or the highest achievement gaps in the country - and nobody can seem to fix it..."

And the beat goes on. Another superintendent was tried out, had great expectations, and then abruptly leaves. In the end, even the school board was expressing reservations about her performance. She had all the right tickets to success in this position. She was black, a female, and vivacious. And yet in the eyes of many, she failed as the "needle" did not move.

What happened? What went wrong? News flash. Not even Mother Theresa can fix the unfixable Minneapolis School District. That is, until the real problem is addressed. (Hint: it is not about money, or is it about Pre-K.)

This coming session, the Governor (as well as the DFL), will be screaming for more money. Not just more money for education in general, but more dollars for Pre-K education. Here is the brutal truth. The Minneapolis system is flawed, it is broken. The problem with the district lies even deeper than Common Core.

Education has always done the best when it is looked upon a three legged stool. Parents, students and teachers, all working together so learning can take place. Without engaged parents, the stool only has two legs, sometimes only one.

At the heart of the beast lies poverty. Plain and simple. Until poverty is addressed as a HUGE issue in the achievement gap, the needle will have trouble moving. The bedfellows of poverty are crime, drugs and teenage pregnancy. All of which are significant impediments to learning. If learning can't take place, it is not totally the teacher's fault, not totally the Principal's fault, and not totally the Superintendent's fault. It is not even the fault of a "racist" discipline system in the district.

So the district will go into a search for another Superintendent, write a big contract, and have high expectations. And if the poverty issue is not resolved, in two or three years we will be on the merry-go-round all over again.

I grieve for the many of the kids in the Minneapolis School District. Some of the schools in wealthier neighborhoods are doing fine. Test scores look good and many of the students learn. In the poorer neighborhoods, it is just the opposite. Test scores are sub-optimal and many kids do not learn. They fail and drop out. They become throw away kids. And the difference between the poverty schools and the non-poverty schools is a huge chasm now referred to as the Achievement Gap.

Here is the kicker. Kids of poverty, kids of color, can learn as well as white, non-poverty kids. It has been proven over and over again. And they can learn for a fraction of the $20+K (per pupil) that Minneapolis annually spends on students. The best thing we can do for kids trapped in these schools (that few know how to fix), is offer the parent(s) vouchers so the child can attend a school that works. School choice is one way to beat the poverty trap set in failing schools. If we can't fix the poverty that plagues parts of Minneapolis, if we can't fix the ruinous formula the school district is using, let us at least give these kids a way out through school choice. Not tomorrow, but now. School choice now!  

The coming cyber wars...

 

 

"If it is war they want, it is war they will get. They only problem is everyone will lose..."

Some think the North Koreans have fired the first shot in a cyber war. That what happened to Sony was the first battle on a new front. Sorry, it was not. Cyber "probing" has been going on for quite a while now. Probing is testing systems, looking for vulnerabilities, and maybe even planting a dormant virus which given the right command, could be very destructive.

What we are seeing now is the new battle arena. It is everywhere and will affect just about everything. Very few things or services will be immune. The effects of a cyber attack can range from nuisance, to financial chaos, to life threatening. The sophistication of today's code is absolutely mind boggling. It is measures, counter measures, counter-counter measures and on and on. In many cases, it is computers against computers. This new battle zone is looking more like the future portrayed in War Games or the Terminator series. It is where the computers take over, and life gets very, very tough.

Are we vulnerable? Absolutely. Are we trying to install the correct counter measures? Constantly. Can we launch a vicious attack or counter attack? You bet. The problem with an all out cyber war is simply this - everyone will lose. Think for a minute if some country was able to infuse a destructive code in some or all of our antiquated electrical grid. Suppose it was January, and took a month to restore service to everyone. The death toll would be staggering. All because of implanted code somewhere in the data stream.

Imagine waking up in the morning and finding out you have zero dollars in your bank account. Not just you, but everyone who is customer at that bank. The code not only infected the main data stream, but also got through the firewall and infected the mirror sites as well as the cloud. Everything is gone. Think of the mess it would create in the financial market. The stock market would tank. It would be a financial chaos of the highest order.

Am I concerned over this? Yes. This should be a concern for everybody. I don't know what safeguards Sony has on their data, but a Third World country like North Korea just came in and stripped them naked. Everything was exposed. E-mails, contracts, unreleased movies, everything. It was mind numbing to see the extent of the intrusion.

I hope this country is prepared for the future of data and potential data breaches. As bad as we all think this could become, I am afraid an all out war will be much worse. It will be a war nobody will win and all would lose. 

A new threat...

 

 

"Did we just flinch at a head fake, or is this the real deal?"

 


Yesterday, we entered a new dimension which we have not seen before. No, not a new dimension of time and space like Rod Serling would talk about in a prologue to a Twilight Zone episode. Rather it is a new dimension of terror. And this one has teeth. It has already worked. What is that? The threat to unleash holy hell on any movie theater which shows the movie The Interview, by Sony Productions.

Whether this treat is real or a hoax, it has opened up a whole new front on the Terror War. This threat has caused some theaters to already cancel the showing of this film. If one theater succumbs to this threat by pulling the movie, it is already victory for terror. The irony of this issue is this - the advance screenings show this film to be yet another Hollywood "bomb". It is not that good, and chances are would not do well at the box office.

So what is the new threat with terror. Actually, it is more than one threat. Catching up the other day with recent episodes of On the Record (from Blaze TV), I saw an episode on the vast amounts of bio weapons the Russians have made in the past. Tons on them. Bio weapons that could make their way into the black market for nefarious use by terrorists. Weapons that would be a source of cash to a cashed strapped Russian due to the bottoming out of the oil market.

As if we needed another example of the bloodthirsty nature of the terrorists, what happened in Pakistan yesterday shocked even the most stoic. Whether the threats come in from a renegade regime like North Korea, or a stateless source like ISIL, they are all the same. The threats are real and growing. Our way of life is a target. The West is a target. If we cannot get a handle on these threats and take them seriously, soon just going to a movie, a sporting event, or even to church, might be a target of opportunity for any terrorist in any neighborhood.

One thing I have learned in my past is this - what is disclosed in the press for the public to see, and what is disclosed in daily intelligence briefings for the President, are not the same. My supposition is this - if we knew the true nature of the threat(s), the same information the President is briefed on, none of us would be able to sleep much.

Having our borders as open as they are makes as much sense as the Titanic speeding along the North Atlantic in an ice flow. Both are risks that most likely will not end well. Just as the good people of Sydney are shocked and angry today this could happen in their peaceful city, so shall we be. As said in the movie The Matrix - "Welcome to the real world." And this real world is fraught with danger from a growing menace.