I've seen so many techies bashing the stylus on the Samsung ad during the Superbowl.

I miss using a phone with a stylus in many ways. My HTC Tilt2 had one -- and a slide out QWERTY -- and a touch screen -- with fully functional keyboard, as well. It was a very versatile phone. I can't do many of the things on my very capable Android that I could do on that phone with a stylus. I used to draw diagrams and write VERY quick notes with that device. It takes me twice as long to type quick notes or to even document impromptu meetings on the Android than it did on that phone. I could draw rough sketches to text to someone else. I could upload algorithms to my Evernote... all much faster than I can now on my current Android phone or tablet.

And... iPhone/iPad... okay, whatever. Same difference. I'm an Apple fan, as well (my laptop is a MBP). I would rather run Apple OS than Windoze any day. But... I do miss my stylus.

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I've censored the following, in protest of a bill that gives any corporation and the US government the power to censor the internet--a bill that could pass THIS WEEK. To see the uncensored text, and to stop internet censorship, visit: http://americancensorship.org/posts/15251/uncensor

I was █████ to ████ you █████ a █████ new ████ I ███████, but I █████ my ███████ may ████ be ███████.

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This bill could affect jobs and productivity. It will stifle the creative efforts of musicians, podcasters, artists, photographers, online merchants, media creators and more. It will enable people with a simple grudge to block legitimate agencies, businesses and persons from their livelihood.

PROTECT IP Act Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

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It is no secret that I'm a card carrying member of the Libertarian party. I have openly stated my disapproval of the current bipartisan rule in America and have stated that I feel many people don't vote for what they truly believe in, they vote for what appears to be popular. They vote for the elephants or the donkeys because they don't think they have a choice or that their vote will matter (?!) otherwise.

Regardless of political stance, I have truly been perplexed by the Occupy Wall Street meme that has been sweeping this country -- and apparently the world. In my opinion (flamers don't have to debate my opinion -- it is mine to have) I think that many people on this kick are only doing it because it is the "popular thing to do."

I don't always agree with some of what is shared by Bill Whittle on his PJTV programs -- and I definitely don't have an interest in most of what the so-called Tea Party is doing -- but I do agree with him on this one. [video follows]

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It really saddens me that some issues have become "democrat vs. republican". Some things are simply bad legislation. They are written poorly. When "both sides" lie it is a sad state of desperation and becomes a we vs. them issue.

Being a Libertarian, I sometimes shake my head in wonder at the see-saw mentalities. I see people saying "I don't like that, I'm going donkey; I don't like that I'm going back to elephant." Sad. So sad.

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I come from a lower middle-class family.

My grandfather was a blacksmith. He taught his grandkids that honest, hard work would keep a roof over your head, shoes on your feet, food in your belly.

My parents divorced when I was 13. I started working at age 15 in a tax-paying job to offset expenses and ease the burdens on my single mother, who was raising three boys -- one of which is mentally disabled.

I waited a year after high school to start college so that I could earn money to get started. I have paid all my student loans.

While in college, I worked. I worked hard, I worked often. I sometimes slept an hour a day so that I could both earn an income and still attend classes. And, yes, it took me ten years to get my degree. It was hard, but I worked for it.

I am 48 years old, working a fantastic job for which I am absolutely grateful to have. My income is better now than it has ever been, but I don't forget the years of debt and struggle. I continue to learn new things that help me be more productive for my family and for society in general.

I don't want the government to hand me anything. I don't want big government solving problems for me.

I don't blame others for the struggles I have been through, I made my decisions, I lived through my choices.

I am the 53%.

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See... here's the thing:

No one else has the right to tell you that you can't have ideas. No one else has the right to tell you that you can't share your ideas. No one else has the right to tell you that an idea is anything more than -- an idea.

All they can do is approve or reject the idea as something they will join with you to create as reality.

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via community.fireengineering.com

http://community.fireengineering.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1219672%3ABlogPost...

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From the Libertarian Party of Ohio. Emphasis below is my own.

LPO FILES INJUNCTION IN CASE AGAINST SEC OF STATE HUSTED

18 August 2011

For immediate release:

Earlier this month, The Libertarian Party of Ohio (LPO) sued Ohio Secretary of State Husted in response to the passage of H.B. 194 that goes into effect on September 1, 2011. That bill puts unconstitutional barriers between non-Republican or Democrat candidates and ballot access. In support of that lawsuit, today the LPO has filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Expedited Proceedings and a Memorandum in Support. The motion itself asks that the court allow LPO candidates be allowed on the ballot and that the LPO remain a legal political party in order to protect the its First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to freedom of political speech and equal protection under the law. This lawsuit and today's motion demonstrate how H.B. 194 contains language already deemed by the Ohio Supreme Court to be unconstitutional based on its rulings in similar cases over the past few years.

“Limiting ballot access is something that we would expect from Third World dictators and despots, not freely elected officials in the State of Ohio,” said LPO Vice Chair Michael Johnston. “The LPO is certainly not as large as the Republican or Democrat parties, and they want to keep it that way by rigging the game. It's one thing to disagree with us on the issues—that's part of politics—but restricting ballot access through unconstitutional laws is not the American way.”

The main issue is what constitutes reasonable ballot access. The LPO believes that Ohio should use reasonable, attainable standards to determine who can and cannot be on a ballot. While there should be some minimal threshold to get a candidate on the ballot, we should err on the side of easier access rather than limiting it to a well funded and well connected few. Without fair and open access to the ballot, a few, powerful elites will control the means to get elected. We are already close to that point, which is what so much of the Tea Party movement is all about, and the disconnect between elected officials and the general public that people of all political persuasions are upset about.

The Memorandum supporting the Injunction, co-authored by attorneys Gary Sinawski and Mark R. Brown, concludes, "For the foregoing reasons, Defendant should be preliminarily enjoined from enforcing H.B. 194's changes to O.R.C. §§ 3501.01(E) and 3517.01(A)(1), and the LPO should remain qualified for Ohio's 2011 and 2012 election ballots. Defendant should be preliminarily ordered to take all necessary steps to insure that the LPO and its candidates have access to all relevant 2011 elections in Ohio, and have access to all relevant primary and general elections in 2012."

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. In November of 2010, the Libertarian Party of Ohio fielded more than 45 candidates for office, including the first full slate of candidates for statewide executive office by any alternative party since the Great Depression.

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This is [one of] my favorite quotes from Og Mandino. I tend it to read it every day lately.

To do anything truly worth doing, I must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in with gusto and scramble through as well as I can.

He's no longer with us, but his wisdom has carried on, thanks to a generous amount of writings and recordings.

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Here's Ike Pigott presenting at the Alabama Social Media Association. Ike is the CEO of Positive Position. He says,

In the new age of instant and always-on information, reputation management takes on a real-time component. With limited resources, you must prioritize by concentrating on those threats with the greatest potential to go "viral.

The following is a guide for how to sift through the noise:

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The "-isms" may have changed names, but this doesn't seem too far off base, even today. Make mine freedom. I don't care what the donkeys and elephants are thinking. Just make mine freedom.

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See the written story by Brooks Boliek of Politico.com at FireRescue1.

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See the full gallery on Posterous

This is my new friend, Pogo. He took me for a nice ride today in the Bushkill area of eastern Pennsylvania. I've also included a picture of the kids with my son's mount, Pepper.

riding_pogo.3gp Watch on Posterous

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We saw this little guy having some lunch in our trash containers at the condo. We were coming back from the grocery and saw him as we were pulling up to our building. He ran off and watched us for a few minutes. When we didn't move the car or get out he meandered back, tried to grab a trash bag and run, but dropped it. Then the condo security showed up to run him off.

I guess we should look both ways when we walk out the door this week. This morning I scared a small deer when I walked out onto the back porch. I love this place.

VIDEO0001.3gp Watch on Posterous

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She's just off to Charley Belcher's left shoulder when the view goes full screen to the studio (in the white waist band). This is the Next Generation ballet intensive at Patel Conservatory with Peter Stark. Nice job!

Cool kids, Cool Camp: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

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