We need to learn quickly to keep up with the massive change around us so we don't get run over. We need to outrun change.
Check out these two articles about Amazon expanding its presence in SoCal as an indicator off what is happening in the on-line sales industry.
6/2 – Daily Bulletin – Amazon hiring for 1,000 full-time positions in Inland Empire – Amazon is adding 1000 new employees, all full-time, to its three fulfillment centers in the inland Empire. I only knew about the one in San Bernardino. There are two more, in Moreno Valley and Redlands.
Continue reading “Amazon increases staffing in Southern California”
Thought about putting on my blogs some cool patriotic visuals to celebrate the 239th anniversary of the greatest country in the world that has provided more political, economic, and religious freedom to more people than any country anywhere anytime. There are lots of nice looking things available on the ‘net.
Also thought about pulling up some photos of flags I’ve taken over the years and creating a visual celebration.
I decided to do something completely different.
Of the large number of freedoms that we humans have because we exist, which are also recognized by the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, I particularly cherish freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
So yesterday (which was the federal holiday), today (the actual anniversary), and tomorrow I exercise those freedoms.
Freedom of speech
This post continues the coverage of worlds far away I’ll never visit.
It is also in the you can’t make this stuff up category.
I previously discussed a federal DEA agent investigating Silk Road who allegedly got $100K from Dread Pirate Roberts for information about the investigation the agent was conducting and allegedly stole $297K from a customer of a bitcoin dealer. He allegedly invested in and was allegedly working for that company as their compliance officer.
Well, we can now drop the alleged and change it to confessed.
Oh, he had a movie deal too.
I will describe a few tidbits from news reports and then go deeper into the plea agreement.
(ten trillion Zimbabwe dollars worth about 4 cents in US currency)
The government of Zimbabwe is converting all Zimbabwe dollars into U.S. dollars. It will then remove all Zim dollars from circulation. The economy has functioned on South African rands and American dollars since 2009.
The reason for getting rid of their currency?
Hyperinflation.
This continues my pondering about the Overnighters program after watching the director’s cut of a documentary by the same name.
Your worldview controls how you view everything in the world
Your worldview filters everything you see and think. It drives how you interpret everything around you.
You take your worldview with you into every conversation.
Mr. Jesse Moss, who created, filmed, and directed the documentary, has stated several times in articles I have read that he is not a Christian. If I understood his comments correctly he is not a follower of any faith tradition. I do not state that to be critical in any way; I merely wish to identify his worldview.
In case it was not previously obvious, I will share with you that I am a Christian. In particular I worship in a denomination that is a part of the Protestant community. I do not hesitate to say that my worldview filters everything I see and how interpret everything around me.
Back to the documentary.
What was the pastor’s motivation?
Continue reading “Thoughts about the Director’s Cut from The Overnighters documentary – part 2”
Did you know raisin growers have to turn over a huge portion of their crop to the federal government? Growers get paid whatever is left over after the feds sell at a discount, giveaway or throw in the trash the reasons they collected.
In one year, a particular farmer got back less than what cost him to raise the raisins. In the following year he got zero. Zip.
Well, the good news is that as of today, that one specific New Deal program comes to an end. At least for raisins.
Bruce Schneier has a series of articles that ponder the risks and rewards of jumping into cloud computing. That is the concept of storing your data and computing power with an on-line service provider.
(This discussion is cross-posted from my other blog, Nonprofit Update, because understanding cloud issues is a major part of keeping up with the massive change around us.)
Some things to consider:
6/10 – Schneier on Security – Should Companies Do Most of Their Computing in the Cloud? (Part 1) – The answer is complicated. The efficiencies and cost savings are real and a major advantage.
On the other hand, there may be legal issues, such as your government creates far higher privacy standards than the country where your data will be stored or another country places severe restrictions on data you store there. Continue reading “Thoughts on jumping into cloud computing”
Update: Federal trial on 11 counts is underway in October 2015. Links to all posts covering the federal trial are at this post.
I just took a quick look at the federal PACER system to check on the status of the case against Keith Graves. As you recall, he was one of the key players in the documentary The Overnighters, which I’ve mentioned a number of times.
Update: Third superseding indictment adds another count for alleged trafficking.
A few items of note:
On June 3, 2015, a second superseding indictment was filed. It now has 10 counts, including the previous obstruction, distribution of methamphetamines, and possession of controlled substance charges. A seventh count of alleged trafficking has been added to the previous six counts. That makes seven adult women he is accused of trafficking.
The docket shows that he requested and has been approved to represent himself. Standby counsel was appointed in mid-May.
Continue reading “Update on the federal charges against Keith Graves”
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) placed UNC-Chapel Hill on one year probation for the systemic 18 year fiasco in which about 3,100 students were given credit for paper classes. Ten of the 15 players on the 2005 championship men’s basketball team majored in the department that was providing those fake classes.
I’ve previously discussed this academic and athletic fraud here, here, and here.
The News & Observer has the best article of several I’ve read: Review agency hits UNC-Chapel Hill with probation.
SASC’s report cites seven areas of violation: Continue reading “Accrediting agency puts UNC Chapel Hill on one year probation”
The NCAA has issued their Notice of Allegation regarding the UNC-Chapel Hill academic and athletic fraud. Recall the university was creating paper classes for athletes.
I’ve been following this mess and have discussed it several times. Get a fresh cup of coffee and walk with me as I learn more about this fiasco.
Allegations
Continue reading “NCAA actually accuses UNC-Chapel Hill of bad behavior the second time around”
(All photos by James Ulvog, shot in May 2015.)
My wife and I took a short vacation to Williston last week, which was mid May. Got out of town before the temperature dropped below freezing after all day rain with snow following.
It seemed there may have been some slowdown in the number of vehicles and general activity as we moved around town. But that could just be confirmation bias? Maybe I saw what I wanted to see.
Two things I know I saw.
First there is a tremendous number of apartments, duplexes, and houses close to done or just recently occupied on the west side of town around 26th Street and 32nd Avenue. We are talking several complexes of several hundred units each. There are a half-dozen streets a few blocks long of duplexes.
Second thing I noticed was a number of signs on apartments advertising units available.
Here is just one such sign: Continue reading “Observation on third trip to Williston”
Back in 2013, I offered An illustration why you should gain control over your name on the ‘net, both through buying domain names and reserving your name at social media sights (oops, meant to say sites!).
To illustrate the concept that you should grab control over your name on the ’net, I pointed out a pro-Second Amendment activist who bought a domain and turned it into a pro-gun website to poke fun at an anti-gun politician.
The domain?
I just checked that address and found out it is a dead link. It used to be an advocacy site. However, the joke (if you are into such things) and the point (which is the reason for this post) stand.
(cross post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update)
In recent weeks, a politician from the opposite side of the aisle got zinged. She is former head of a large technology company. Someone grabbed a domain including her name and put up a one-page site criticizing how many people were laid off during her tenure.
The domain? Continue reading “Get control of every domain that refers to your name, including all extensions”
Got a free reusable shopping bag today from the pharmacy where I shop.
Scan your card to get a handful of coupons and they give you a free reusable bag.
I have described the dangers of reusable bags previously.
This bag came with a warning label. It said: Continue reading “Reusable shopping bags are so dangerous they require a warning label”
We are seeing an increasing number of shame storms in social media. The goal of a shame storm is to severely rebuke and embarrass someone who stepped out of line. Doesn’t matter if the person loses a job and is emotionally destroyed as a result. As long as the instigator and following mob have a good time, they don’t care.
I discussed this issue earlier: Be careful on the ‘net. It is cruel and unforgiving. Draw wrong attention and you get dissected, then shamed.
Here are two more articles on shame storming.
(Cross-post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update, because understanding social media is a large component of coping with the radical change surrounding us.)
4/20 – About Last Night – The shame sharks – Terry Teachout suggests that yes, he does self-censor what he says, or what is called crimestop in the novel 1984. Continue reading “Shame storm. Or 1984’s two minutes hate. Or just another day in social media.”
Previously mentioned the percent of income taxes (excluding payroll taxes) projected to be paid in 2015: A: 48% & 0%. Q: Percent of individual income taxes paid by top 1% of taxpayers and bottom half (projected for 2015).
Here are actual numbers for 2014 for income taxes paid. Again, this is income tax only and excludes payroll taxes and excise taxes. The data is for quintiles of income. Each bracket of 20% of Americans includes about 65 million people. This is not based on tax returns.