Month: May 2005

Because one of the new expansions of my business involves search-engine optimization for clients’ web sites, I figured I’d do a fun little test to see if I can get hits on this site. I need to pick a word that’s pretty unique, but still something people might search against. So, here’s the word:

chuckletrousers

Here’s what Google has to say about it. Now the question is how long (if ever) this page will appear in those search rankings. And, perhaps more importantly, how many people will visit this page in their quest to find out more about the legendary Mr. Chuckletrousers. Heaven knows there are already some very interesting searches that bring people to this site…

I was using Google Maps to find an Allstate insurance agent, and came up with this one in my search. Although I’m sure the Allstate guys are happy they’re “on the map”, so to speak, I suspect they’re less than thrilled with Google’s choice of web site to link to them…

I suppose it’s a sign of the digital times that we use electronic Post-It notes on our computer screens…

In a complete non-surprise move, the Senate approved the Real ID Act unanimously. Hoo boy.

In what can only be described as a funny coincidence, today I’m wearing my Izze shirt and Rick from SketchUp gave me a nice official SketchUp fleece vest. Now I’m wearing them both, and as Craig said, I’m “fully sponsored”. It makes me feel like I should be on a bike racing team or something…

It only took a few minutes at UnRealID.com to compose the brief message below, which was then faxed to my (Colorado) senators. The Real ID Act will be up for vote on Tuesday, and it’s yet another chapter in the long and sad history that began on September 11, 2001 and continues to erode our rights. I am both saddened and angered by the direction of our government, and the quiet construction of a police state. Though I often gripe and lament about these things here– in my own little private forum– I’ve decided to become more active.

So when I run for President in a few years, remember me on the ballot…

Sens. Allard and Salazar–

As an active member of the Longmont community, as well as a participant in many internet groups and communities, I have grown steadily more concerned with the direction being taken by Congress and the Bush Administration with regard to security and personal privacy. In a continuing effort to curtail “terrorist” activities, law-abiding Americans are being asked– nay, demanded– to give up freedom in exchange for security. As Benjamin Franklin stated in an oft-quoted adage, we must then deserve neither.

The impending vote on the Real ID Act is yet another example of government powers spiraling out of control and usurping rights and freedoms we have enjoyed in this country for centuries. I ask you to read carefully the provisions of the Act (I have) and consider whether they truly serve the greater good. Indeed, consider whether they will actually accomplish the Administration’s much-cited goal of “making America safer”.

I feel this legislation, like so many other bills in the past few years, does very little to either protect our safety or deter terrorist activity. Rather, it adds more layers of complication (and expense) to processes that have worked for decades… and compromises important and valuable personal information.

Please examine the bill and propose debate. Protect our rights.

Sincerely,
Jeff Schroeder

“We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex… but Congress can.”

— Cullen Hightower

Wow, a major victory was won today for consumer rights. The FCC has, for quite some time, mandated that all consumer electronic devices capable of receiving HDTV (digital TV) signals include a “broadcast flag” which would make it impossible to copy the transmission. This rule was to go in effect July 1. Interestingly, the decision was in stark contrast to previous positions by the FCC, as well as a gross violation of copyright law and fair-use rights. And not surprisingly, it had the full backing (and doubtless financial support) of the entertainment industry.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. struck down the FCC’s mandate with some harsh language. To wit:

“The FCC argues that the Commission has discretion to exercise ‘broad authority’ over equipment used in connection with radio and wire transmissions, ‘when the need arises, even
if it has not previously regulated in a particular area.’ This is an extraordinary proposition. The
Commission’s position in this case amounts to the bare suggestion that it possesses plenary authority to act within a given area simply because Congress has endowed it with some
authority to act in that area. We categorically reject that suggestion.”

Nice. That not only slams the door on the broadcast flag, but it sends a clear message to both the FCC and the industry that backed this whole idiotic plan. Back off, guys, because you’re overstepping your bounds.

… So I’m using a new media player on my KDE system, and it’s completely awesome. It’s called AmaroK (open source, naturally) and it does absolutely everything you could imagine a media player doing. In addition to creating every different kind of catalog– by artist, by album, by genre, by associated kinds of music– it includes the ability to store album covers and lyrics.

It gets the album covers, as far as I can tell, by querying the Amazon engine and picking the most likely candidate from their huge collection of CD’s. It does surprisingly well, although now and again it picks a really interesting one (typically on “greatest hits” collections, of which I have a lot, because I assume it finds other greatest-hits CD’s that almost match).

But nothing prepared me for this album cover, which came completely out of the blue. In a sad, sick kind of way I’d like to hear something from this album. Who knows what the “Latin Playerz” have in store…