The Weasel

The Weasel

 

Corporate America has weaseled it's way into every aspect of our lives. Almost everything we do directly or indirectly profits corporate America. Here are a few examples: To get "both" good programming and a good high definition image on your television, you have to pay a Fortune 500 company be it cable, DSL, satellite or the dish. Look in your refrigerator, there are at least 20 - 30 corporations that supply those items (milk, bread, butter, eggs, etc...) and they all have their logos. To go from point A to point B, you're paying some billion dollar oil company if you're not walking. If you are a smoker, chances are you use a BIC lighter (the same corporation that makes the ink pens to write articles with, "TOOT TOOT") to light your cigarettes. We talk on cellular phones more than we talk face to face, some high end cellular phones cost $500 and up, not to mention the monthly bill. When you go to the bathroom, the soap and toilet paper are both made by corporations. When you think about it, there's hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on a lot of things and conveniences that should or could cost next to nothing or be absolutely free. To complete the picture, most of these products and services are used or needed continuously. That makes for recurring payments, month after month after month. Those payments are steadily increasing, and the paychecks from work aren't keeping up. If this continues, the average American family will have to put in 24 work hours a day just to do ordinary things like eat, go to the bathroom and watch TV. Everybody in the household would need the equivalent income of 2 full time jobs in order for the family to get by.

Compare and contrast the life of the original (Native) American to the modern day (so called) American. When the Indian needed travel he'd go catch a Mustang horse. A little hay and grass and you were good to go. Today it's the horse power in a "Ford" Mustang, and it drinks gasoline. A lot of corporations under one name there. To eat they grew their own vegetables and hunted for their meats and fish. Today it's a big icebox made by the Kenmore corporation filled with dozens of corporate logos and labels. For entertainment they told amazing stories. Today we have flat screen entertainment systems by Sony along with cable or Dish subscriptions. To clothe themselves they used skins and pelts of animals. Nike, Levi, Arrow and Haines are but a few of the corporations that clothe us today. There were no big corporations adding pressure for the common working man to compete with the common working man. Truth is that today's technology is advanced enough to eliminate at least 60% - 80% of the jobs we have today. However, if that technology is used, there would be no need to pay so many  people, and therefore not many to make those recurring payments to the corporations. There was no huge elaborate government. The government is/acts just like a corporation in disguise. Today's government does nothing more than play ball with the corporations to maintain the status quo. If a community leader convinced 40 or 50 people to skip a payment on their cell phone bills and buy seed to plant gardens on their properties, it wouldn't be long before the government steps in to end it. Supermarkets (corporations) would lose money and would go to their their political cronies to enact new laws or use current laws to make it illegal to plant those gardens if they became too widespread. The government is building new prisons to help enforce these laws and many others that seem to give corporate profits value above citizens rights. We already imprison more of our citizens than any other industrialized country on the planet.

America ... The land of the free. Seems to be a bit lofty when we are all slaves to corporate debt and we can barely speak without it costing something ... one way or another. If I had written this document as a scathing expose of a corporate CEO or government official/department and unknowing to me some of the things written were not true ... I would not be free for long.

I Have Returned

Greetings all, I have returned. I've had plenty of rest and am ready to forge ahead. My mom is as well as to be expected and I've structured a regiment where I can keep tabs and provide the assistance she needs on a regular basis. The first order of business is to clean up the worthless time consuming projects and focus more on the projects that are earning for me. This includes Fiverr and ASN. Obviously I've spread myself too thin. Additionally, there are a couple of projects that have completed that have to be addressed. Thought these projects earned little if anything at all, they were valuable teaching tools and experiences that revealed the work involved and the difficulties that have to be addressed for an ongoing campaign. When you think things are going smoothly, the bumps in the road are just ahead. There is always the possibility that some of the projects may be revisited with new marketing strategies.

Future Posts Postponed

I NEED A BREAK, VACATION, AND A REST!!!

Due to my mother's struggle with diabetes, her aging, and seemingly continuous need for my assistance ... Future posts will be postponed for an indefinite period of time. Fortunately she lives right next door in the neighboring apartment and it's no problem for me to check on her 4 or 5 times a day. In addition to the other errands I must run for her however, it is beginning to take it's toll on me in regards to the energy that I have reserved for my personal endeavors and health concerns. Until next time ...

Hopefully not too long.
P E A C E

Android Devices And TV Unite

MOTOROLA RZ100 BLUETOOTH SMART CONTROLLER

 

Control the action from the comfort of your couch. Connect your Android powered devices to an HDTV. When your phone or tablet is connected to an HDTV or monitor, the wireless Smart Controller lets you navigate through your phone's screens, select your apps, play movies, and share photos remotely. With the controller's integrated multi-touchpad, you have full gesture control over your content. Use two fingers to scroll through your screens or within web pages or apps. When looking at pictures or maps, you can pinch, zoom, and rotate your content just like a touchscreen.

No more running for the phone when your phone is docked across the room, the Smart Controller lets you make and take calls remotely from Android devices that support the Bluetooth HSP (headset profile) or HFP (handsfree profile). When a call comes in, just hit the call button on the back of the remote to answer it. To make calls, navigate to the dialer screen of your phone, or click on a number in your contacts, or on the web.

With voice commands through the controller, you can use your voice to perform a variety of actions on your phone or tablet. Send texts and emails, search for destinations, show maps, or play music all with the sound of your voice. For the best voice recognition performance, download Vlingo, a free app in the Android Marketplace to your phone or tablet.

Dedicated Android keys make navigating through your phone or tablet's content a snap. Menu, Home, Back and Search buttons get you where you need to go right away. With this and a standard HD dock (one that has HDMI ports) you are ready to do everything that you do on your phone or pad directly from your TV screen.

Tell Grandma To Save That Old Aluminum Christmas Tree

THOSE OLD TIN FOIL TREES

 

 

Remember those tacky old aluminum Christmas trees from the late 50's and early 60's? Some of us even make jokes about them to this very day. Each branch had enough aluminum on it to wrap a couple of sandwiches ... LOL. They are no laughing matter today. They are considered Art Deco and can fetch hundreds of dollars. A six foot tree in excellent condition with all the trimmings (like the one above) can fetch as much as $600.00 now a days. The 7 foot specialty tree (like the one below in green aluminum) is going for big bucks at nearly $1,400.00. These trees can still be found online at sites like eBay at a selling price between $50.00 to 1,500.00. There's no guarantee that any will resell for hundreds of dollars. However, paying attention to certain details almost make a high resell value a definite possibility. Those details are: Original package in excellent condition, Very little signs of wear (removing and inserting of branches in sleeves), Original matching tree stand, Accessories such as genuine glass bulbs, etc... The most wonderful thing of all regarding these older artificial trees is, most of them were made right here in America whereas almost all of the newer artificial trees today are made in China.

Travel Around The World ... Kinda Sorta

Microsoft Flight Simulator X

 

One of the greatest PC Gaming values there ever was and arguably still is ... remains to be the classic Microsoft Flight Simulator. Version X (10) in 2006 is where unfortunately it's popularity began to decline. It is now discontinued but by the grace of "The Gamer GODS" it is still widely available. You can find it almost anywhere online and even at many software stores. You can find many forums online with group discussions regarding this challenging game of skill and precision. Coming in at an average whopping $20 complete and the highest level of "Gamer's Punmanship" I can contrive: You can't beat that with a stick!

There is an accelerator expansion pack. Many other plugins can be found online. These plugins include things such as: Famous Airports, Worldwide Attractions, NASA Aircraft, War Aircraft, and a plethora of special missions. There are a host of beginner, intermediate, and expert flying lessons. The cockpit and scenery can be fine tuned to a HD format giving a very realistic appearance. Though not required it is best to use a joystick with this software. The model that I use is the Microsoft Sidewinder Joystick.

Cockpit Dash

City Of London

Visit places like Cairo Egypt, JFK Airport, or fly helicopters and passenger aircraft such as 747 and 757 jumbo jets. I could go on and on about the aircraft and designated arrival locations but let me assure you that there are plenty and they are quite varied. Additionally there are skill levels where you are required to complete increasingly more difficult flight patterns/missions. The difficulties include anything from turbulent weather to poor visibility. Unlike games that require speed and agility, this game requires patience and a steady hand. It will definitely bring out the "COOL" in you. You can adjust to several different views while flying. As you take the flying lessons to increase your skill level, awards, metals, and wings are earned. 3rd party hardware accessories such as a flight yoke, 3 lever throttle, and flight rudder pedals are available to give an even more realistic feel to the game. One of the best things about this game is, you don't need a $3500.00 computer to get the best out of it. It will run absolutely fine on a simple dual core machine with a plain vanilla graphics card right out of the box.

My final twisted thought, you should have known it was coming ... HA! A good friend of mine asked me if Flight Simulator is a "GAME"? My opinion of that straddles the fence. There has been a recent national news broadcast, and a few in the past years regarding terrorist using this "GAME" to learn how to fly aircraft and to learn specific flight patterns/maneuvers (it is quite accurate). This is indicative to me of raising the bar a little bit above "just a game".

Bitcoin - The Currency Of The Future

New Money = Bitcoin

What is Bitcoin? If I had to describe it in one word that word would be, "eCurrency." There has been a lot said about it, good and bad. Bitcoin is a new "electronic" financial instrument (medium of exchange) if you will, that can be bought, sold, traded, and in some areas used just as hard currency is used today. It has only been around a few years, since 2008, and already it has taken off. Since it's creation it has increased in value about 900% and growing. What is the potential power of Bitcoin? How about buying a house or a business with bitcoin? If you think it is not possible, it already has been done. There's a guy that says he even pays rent with Bitcoin. I've posted a couple videos on how the government and The Federal Reserve plays around with the value of money (see WATCH THIS !!! label). With Bitcoin there is no central entity (like the central bank) that governs the rules of play when it comes to value. That being said, the so called currency is not trouble free. Conversely, it cannot be easily manipulated by a handful of super wealthy individuals as in areas of our current financial system can. Remember this ... Whenever there is talk about a new money system, high stakes master swindlers are not far behind. What could possibly be more masterful than stealing something that has an "imaginary" value, getting rich while doing it, and having no legal backlash to even think about? Don't feel bad, I can't think of anything else either.

Another Bitcoin company bites the dust ~~> http://www.cnbc.com/id/101463888

WATCH THIS !!!

 

 

Future Applications Of 3D Printing

3D PRINTING - PRINT ANYTHING ???

 

When I first heard about 3D printing I said, "I can print a new coffee mug, how cool is that." That was a few years ago (about 5 or 6). Though the technology is still in it's infancy and not yet affordable to the average consumer some interesting things have developed. Not only with the technology itself but also in how the things that can be created will be accepted from a legal and political standpoint. These printers can be used in the manufacturing, surgical implant, weaponry, and many other industries. You can literally print anything you want in the privacy of your own home. Imagine being able to print a human kidney or an AK-47 assault rifle in your home. The political and legal ramifications for doing such are huge. Now ... Imagine a 14 year old doing it. A 14 year old probably couldn't afford it but, this child may have access to the parents home office when they are at work or away. It is a very interesting and promising technology however, I think there are still a lot of things that have to be worked out from the consumer's position. Might the government allow or enact the monitoring of Printer IP addresses to ensure American citizens a sense of security over possible terrorist use of this technology, for example? The reason this technology is so revolutionary is because it will literally allow for the manufacturing of products in the home.

WATCH THIS !!!

 

 

Empire 598II Troubadore

A TREASURE FOUND IN A PILE OF GIVEAWAYS

 

In it's day this turntable was touted to be the best thing dollar for dollar to play vinyl recordings (albums) on. I first saw this in a magazine with catered to stereo enthusiasts called "Stereo Review". That was back around 1975 and the magazine has long since been defunct. The magazine was not specifically geared to the high end enthusiast or audiophile but more towards the discerning listener for sure. However, many audiophiles relish this turntable. I was about 16 or 17 years old then, and this baby cost a cool $500.00. Hell, I was a teenager and did not have the means to afford such a machine, but I loved what I saw and fully understood the specs. I was hoping that I could find one on the cheap one day. However, over the years I noticed that it has retained it's full value.

I love to frequent thrift stores, so many discarded treasures can be found at these places. I actually lived a couple blocks from one called AMVETS, short for American Veterans. It was much like a Goodwill store but, the prices were much better. I'd visit this store at least once a week. Some folks even went there to buy things for resale, a lot of the items were new also. It actually helped me become the best dressed man in my neighborhood ... on the cheap. Example: Genuine alligator shoes for $7.49. They looked like they may have been worn about 6 times, good enough for me (smiles). Another: A half length genuine shearling coat for $35.00. It was a little soiled when purchased and it cost me more to get it cleaned than I paid for it. I've been told that it looks new now. They can be found at high end fashion stores for around $500.00+. Additionally, the place worked much like the Goodwill, exclusively by donations. Sometimes people would leave things out for the store when it was closed. I would go by and look what was out, and found old busted computers. I'd collect a couple and breathe life back into them. It's actually how I began to learn how to rebuild computers. Later of course, I took a much more professional approach and downloaded service manuals and rebuilt them by the book (wink).

While visiting one day ... Low and behold I saw the Empire. I knew what it was right away. I could not believe my eyes. It was nearly mint and it had a cartridge. I looked over my shoulder to see if anyone else had noticed, apparently not. Since the advent of CD players, many don't see the value (except DJ's) in turntables. I did not waste any time inspecting it because of the condition and price. I quickly took it to the cashier to purchase it. Total cost: $29.96 plus tax.

One caveat, when I got it home and took the time to inspect it, I found that there was a missing part. It has a head shell mount that attaches the cartridge (needle) to the tonearm head which was missing. It took me over a year to find it on eBay. The head shell mount cost as much as I paid for the turntable, maybe more I forgot exactly how much. It is now complete.

UNDERSTANDING THE PURCHASE

The machine itself is a timeless design of art. If I am not mistaken it has been featured in The American Institute Of Art, designed and manufactured here in the great state of New York hence Empire (The Empire State). It has a genuine rosewood frame. It's counterbalance and other mechanisms are meticulously designed to flawless production. There is a cult following of collectors that can be found in many places on the web. There are even artisans that fabricate custom parts for this machine. Replacing the plexiglass dust cover with real glass for example. It has a 20 pound belt driven platter to ensure a stable speed and eliminate wow and flutter (technical terms for feedback and distortion). You can replace the tonearm with any tone arm you desire. Many don't like it's design and assume it's bulky appearance effects the sound, but that is merely an opinion and has not been scientifically proven through engineering benchmarks. It is still a wonderful machine and a thing of sheer beauty in operation. I believe if not considered to be an antique it is on the edge of being classified as such because it's value is now increasing. Mine is possibly 40 years old and in nearly mint condition.

Below you will find photos (click to enlarge) of my actual machine purchased nearly 7 years ago with the actual price in grease pencil (currently removed). The photo in the header (with the chipped corner on the dust cover's rosewood frame is not mine, but a web photo). I have also included links to three eBay auctions giving you an idea of current value. I could only find 3, 2 for $800.00 and another for $1,500.00. Am I considering selling? HELL NO !!! Well ... Not right now anyway :)

 

LINKS:

1) http://www.ebay.com/itm/EMPIRE-598-Turntable-best-for-MC-cartridge-Denon-103-Ortofon-Thorens-/151214159683?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item233510f743

2) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Empire-598-iii-Turntable-in-GREAT-Condition-/281230785262?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item417aa93aee

3) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Empire-Turntable-598-Upgraded-Near-Mint-/261398664659?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3cdc9315d3

 

There are 3 different 598 models ... 598, 598 II & 598 III along with other models (298, 398, 498 and 698). They are basically of similar design with minor differences in specs and or placement of mechanisms to give better performance or for esthetic purposes.

Empire History ~~> http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=278075

Announcing A New Category

Hidden Treasures

 

It is often said that: One man's trash is another man's treasure. These treasures can be found in many places. From your neighbors trash, to the bargain bin at a discount store, to a yard sale. There is no telling what this treasure might be. You have to have a good eye for it and make informed decisions based on your knowledge of specific items. It is best to study popularity of items that fit into a specific group. For personal use however, the choice to acquire depends solely on your specific wants, needs, and desires. Under most circumstances the average individual will not see the value or use in such things. This new category "Hidden Treasures" will explore such things and attempt to get you to understand the esoteric nature of such ventures.