May 24, 2005
The New York Times > Technology > Take That, Google: Bill Gates Struts Microsoft's New Search Stuff
One must always remember that Bill Gates likes nothing more than a high stakes poker game. Google offers just such an opportunity for him to strut Microsoft's stuff.
May 21, 2005
Abruzzo, Italy Food
We attended a parnada during our recent vacation in Italy!!
"The local cooks are expert at cooking tender lamb that has been fed on the juicy mountain grasses, usually over a scented wood fire. They have wonderful cheeses and fantastic cured meats to see them through the winter. All the skills and traditions that these mountain people link to eating and drinking come together in the panarda, a traditional banquet, where the courses never number less than thirty. It is absolutely forbidden to stop eating if you are a guest at a panarda. It is your duty to see it through until the end."
We saw it through to the end, a 50th birthday party for a friend's brother in a little mountain restaurant high in the mountains of Abruzzo above Campo diGiove near the San Leonardo Pass in the Maiellas. The panarda lasted from 1:00 pm to midnight with a Mass at 6:00 pm!
"The local cooks are expert at cooking tender lamb that has been fed on the juicy mountain grasses, usually over a scented wood fire. They have wonderful cheeses and fantastic cured meats to see them through the winter. All the skills and traditions that these mountain people link to eating and drinking come together in the panarda, a traditional banquet, where the courses never number less than thirty. It is absolutely forbidden to stop eating if you are a guest at a panarda. It is your duty to see it through until the end."
We saw it through to the end, a 50th birthday party for a friend's brother in a little mountain restaurant high in the mountains of Abruzzo above Campo diGiove near the San Leonardo Pass in the Maiellas. The panarda lasted from 1:00 pm to midnight with a Mass at 6:00 pm!
May 20, 2005
The grand convergence in 2010 | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
An intriguing piece by Dan Farber on where internet, telecom and database technologies are headed in the next 10 years, based on a Gartner Group paper.
The grand convergence in 2010 by ZDNet's Dan Farber -- Gartner predicts that by 2010 three major trends -- ubiquitous access, ambient intelligence and semantic connectivity -- will converge to create disruptions and opportunities as significant as the Web. It's not far fetched, but it will happen in ongoing spurts rather than as a big bang culminating at the end of the decade...
The New York Times > Technology > Internet Phone Services Told to Offer 911 Emergency Calls
The right decision for a terribly important issue that had to be addressed for VoIP to prosper. The FCC is the right place for jurisdiction on Internet issues. The states would make a hodge-podge of it.
May 18, 2005
May 15, 2005
A Tale of Two Trust Funds - New York Times
Tierney has it right. Congress has no fiscal discipline. For that matter, neither does the White House. At least the Republicans are trying to find a way to keep the SS Trust/Slush fund from the clutches of Congress.
We are headed for a huge financial train wreck just at the time when our economy will be eviscerated by the Chinese.
We are headed for a huge financial train wreck just at the time when our economy will be eviscerated by the Chinese.
Meet the Poor Republicans - New York Times
A fascinating analysis by David Brooks of a recent study by Pew.
"These working-class folk like the G.O.P.'s social and foreign policies, but the big difference between poor Republicans and poor Democrats is that the former believe that individuals can make it on their own with hard work and good character.
According to the Pew study, 76 percent of poor Republicans believe most people can get ahead with hard work. Only 14 percent of poor Democrats believe that. Poor Republicans haven't made it yet, but they embrace what they take to be the Republican economic vision - that it is in their power to do so. Poor Democrats are more likely to believe they are in the grip of forces beyond their control.
The G.O.P. succeeds because it is seen as the party of optimistic individualism."
"These working-class folk like the G.O.P.'s social and foreign policies, but the big difference between poor Republicans and poor Democrats is that the former believe that individuals can make it on their own with hard work and good character.
According to the Pew study, 76 percent of poor Republicans believe most people can get ahead with hard work. Only 14 percent of poor Democrats believe that. Poor Republicans haven't made it yet, but they embrace what they take to be the Republican economic vision - that it is in their power to do so. Poor Democrats are more likely to believe they are in the grip of forces beyond their control.
The G.O.P. succeeds because it is seen as the party of optimistic individualism."
Old Foes Soften to New Reactors - New York Times
Finally, the nuclear discussion may have a chance at becoming rational. The article states that 20% of America's electricity is generated by nuclear plants. It's time we moved ahead to reduce our dependency on petroleum and gas for electricity by producing even more via nuclear energy. All the wind, solar and biomass proposals would produce a tiny fraction of our needs.
"Several of the nation's most prominent environmentalists have gone public with the message that nuclear power, long taboo among environmental advocates, should be reconsidered as a remedy for global warming."
"Several of the nation's most prominent environmentalists have gone public with the message that nuclear power, long taboo among environmental advocates, should be reconsidered as a remedy for global warming."
May 13, 2005
Back from Vacation
Carol and I returned on May 11 from vacation with another couple in Italy. Postings will resume as soon as I get organized with my mind and luggage unpacked. Great to be home and we had a fabulous trip.
Carol and Gayle spent a week in language school in Lucca brushing up on their Italian skills while David and I toured the town in the mornings. In the afternoons we traveled to various spots near Lucca including Carrara and Colonatta, Viareggio, Vinci, and Pisa.
We then separated for a week. Gayle and David remained in Tuscany while Carol and I traveled to Abruzzo spending time with Carol's family in Campo diGiove (including a 10-hour feast) and Sulmona. We also visited L'Aquila, Pescara, Orsogna, Pescocostanzo, Capestrano and Pettorano
Joining up again in Arezzo, we then stayed with our friends in Garlate(Lecco) touring Bellagio, Bergamo, the mountains and lakes including their mountain summer home accessible via an access road with 54 hairpin turns (Carol counted them). We visited Bergamo, then on to Stresa (Lago Maggiore) for a couple of days.
Next we visited Gayle's relatives in Cuorgne' and Locana for a few days, including an afternoon watching the annual 'battle of the cows.' Traveling south through the Maritime Alps, we finished up with a day in Nice and a visit to the 'old city.'
We had a wonderful trip, fantastic food, personal tour guides with family and friends.
Now, to process the digital pix and video!!
Carol and Gayle spent a week in language school in Lucca brushing up on their Italian skills while David and I toured the town in the mornings. In the afternoons we traveled to various spots near Lucca including Carrara and Colonatta, Viareggio, Vinci, and Pisa.
We then separated for a week. Gayle and David remained in Tuscany while Carol and I traveled to Abruzzo spending time with Carol's family in Campo diGiove (including a 10-hour feast) and Sulmona. We also visited L'Aquila, Pescara, Orsogna, Pescocostanzo, Capestrano and Pettorano
Joining up again in Arezzo, we then stayed with our friends in Garlate(Lecco) touring Bellagio, Bergamo, the mountains and lakes including their mountain summer home accessible via an access road with 54 hairpin turns (Carol counted them). We visited Bergamo, then on to Stresa (Lago Maggiore) for a couple of days.
Next we visited Gayle's relatives in Cuorgne' and Locana for a few days, including an afternoon watching the annual 'battle of the cows.' Traveling south through the Maritime Alps, we finished up with a day in Nice and a visit to the 'old city.'
We had a wonderful trip, fantastic food, personal tour guides with family and friends.
Now, to process the digital pix and video!!
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