Steamd

Earlier this week, I listened to the following little bit from Glenn Beck’s radio show:

The lady that Glenn Beck ends up yelling at made some very, very valid points. Yes, you can go into any hospital and receive care but be prepared to pay for it afterwords. Glenn Beck claims that we have the best health care in the world. And yet that still does not explain why there are still so many people in this country who do not have health insurance. It doesn’t explain why so many people have to file bankruptcy due to their insurance companies refusing to pay for certain treatments.

The problem I have with this is that it’s obvious that Glenn Beck is unwilling to listen to any opposing opinion even if the opposition is right. In fact, Glenn Beck doesn’t listen period. Instead, Glenn Beck sticks to his ideology and talking points and refuses to use any logic and reason. Glenn claims to use logic and reason and yet he still avoids the most obvious facts. Guess it’s easier for him to simply yell at anyone who doesn’t agree with his version of logic and reason.

The topper came this morning though when I saw this on the TV:

Holy shit, is that ever a complete and total lack of logic and reason! President Obama is a racist?  Umm…right.  Obama is as much a racist as I am a Nazi. If this doesn’t mark the end of Glenn Beck’s career then I don’t know what does. What an idiot.

Earlier this week, Vanity Fair has a little fun with Palin’s resignation speech. Well, the fun just keeps coming! Enter William Shatner!

Oh man, looks like Vanity Fair just dissed Palin in a whole new way! I’m only into the second page of their version of Palin’s resignation speech and I’m laughing my ass off. Poorly written speech indeed!

Read more…

Macworld just published a post on their site about Microsoft opening retail stores near Apple stores. My initial thought was, “Huh?” I mean, I’m a little flummoxed by this. Who’s bright idea was this? I mean, there’s the old adage that if you can’t beat them, join them but this is ridiculous.

There are a couple of reason why I think Microsoft is going to fail in this venture.

First of all, how does Microsoft expect to compete with Apple’s stores? I mean, it’s not like they’re gonna be selling HP, Dell, Compaq, Sony, or any other brand of computer in their stores. I suppose its safe to assume that Microsoft will be focusing on their software as well as other items like the Xbox, Zune, and other stuff like that.

Unlike Apple, Microsoft has to rely on third-party vendors to provide a complete computing solution. So how do they plan on connecting customers to a complete solution if they’re not even selling computers? I fail to see the logic in how they think this is going to help Windows in any meaningful way.

Most people don’t buy Windows off the shelf. If it’s not pre-installed on the computer they are buying then they are not likely to fork over $100+ or more for a Windows upgrade. I guess Microsoft is hoping that the existence of exclusive Microsoft stores will attract a greater number of people who might be willing to pay for a Windows upgrade. Personally, I think Microsoft is going to have quite an uphill climb in getting a greater number of people to purchase Windows upgrades.

Lastly, opening stores in close proximity to an Apple store is futile. Opening one near an Apple store is bad enough, but opening a Microsoft store right next door to an Apple store?  That’s suicide!  The reason is that by allowing customers to draw a direct A-B comparison with your competitor you run the risk of further alienating yourself with the competition.

I’m willing to bet that you’ll have a lot of customers who will first enter the Microsoft store only to end up in the Apple store just so they can see what all the fuss is about with Apple. Some customers will leave and go back to the Microsoft store unconvinced that an Apple computer is right for them.  But a good number of them will likely consider switching after being exposed to both due to the short proximity of experience.

So, is the news of Microsoft stores opening up good for Microsoft or Apple?  Likely, it’ll be good for both. But I honestly think that it’s much better for Apple. Competition is a good thing and it’ll be interesting to see just how Microsoft plans to compete with Apple in their own territory. I say to Microsoft: “Bring it on!”

I couldn’t help but laugh my ass off when Steve Ballmer showed up as the third worst person in the world on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Keith had this to say about a recent quip from Ballmer:

“Never mind a computer that figures out what I meant to do. How about one that does what I asked it to do?”

By now you’ve probably heard that Sarah Palin has chosen to resign as Alaska governor. She has stated many reasons for why this decision was made and, while they are likely all highly legitimate reasons, the main question that still has not been answered is this: Does this mean you’re out of politics?

Right out of the gate, even before the crux of this announcement has been reached, Republican pundits are already defending her decision to resign as governor. Now, I don’t know if there are other circumstances surrounding her resignation because it’s too early to tell. Regardless, why others within her party would be so quick to defend her is rather perplexing. Seems a little hypocritical to me because, let’s face it, if any Democratic governor decided to do the very same thing you can be sure they would be criticized to the hilt by Republican pundits.

Aside from any reason for the resignation, the fact of the matter is that Sarah Palin has proved that she can’t finish what she started. As an elected official, unless there are extenuating circumstances, you have an obligation to do your job and finish your term. By failing that obligation, Palin is breaking her promise to the Alaskan citizens who voted for her. Any way you slice it, there is no positive spin to this resignation. It’s a bad decision through and through.

What makes this decision so bad is that it makes it difficult to see her realistically run for President in 2012. If she does plan on running for President then she has a lot of explaining to do. How can anyone expect her to run the country as President when she can’t even finish the job as Governor of Alaska? As far as I’m concerned, this is the death of Palin’s political career. Yet another grand example of how the Republican party is retreating into insanity.