RedJen's Rearview Mirror

Get this, President Putin of Russia has stated that since the United States intends to implement an anti-missile defense system, Russia is being forced to aim its missiles at Europe.

So if the United States intends to defend itself from missiles that have already been fired, Russia will aim the missiles at Europe instead of the United States. Now I'm not saying that I want Russia to shoot at any of the European countries, but it sounds like the missile defense system is already working...

My favorite time of the summer is here. Since I can't afford another long vacation this year, I'm going to work 4 day weeks while she's here so we can do something every weekend.

Doctor Urges AMA to Recognize Game Addiction As a Disorder
By Susan Arendt June 14, 2007 | 11:20:47 AM | Categories: Culture | Found at http://blog.wired.com/games/

A new report urges the American Medical Association to, among other things, formally recognize game addiction as a genuine diagnosed disorder. According to Spong, the report in question is "Report Of The Council On Science And Public Health: Emotional and Behavioral Effects, Including Addictive Potential, of Video Games" chaired by Mohamed K. Khan, MD, Phd. Included in the report is the proposed medical definition of "gamer." Keep reading to find out if you qualify or not.

A gamer is a term used to describe a person who plays games. Historically, a gamer was someone who played role-playing games or war games, but more recently the term has come to include computer and video game players. Although the term technically includes those who do not necessarily consider themselves gamers (ie, casual gamers), it is a commonly used colloquial term to identify persons who spend as much of their leisure time as possible playing or reading about games.

Sounds awfully non-specific, but I didn't go to medical school. The report goes on to urge the AMA to take certain actions, like providing families with education on the "appropriate use of video games," determining the recommended amount of time per day someone should be allowed to play games (1 to 2 hours), and supporting increasing awareness that parents need to monitor their children's game and Internet activity. Most everything in the report smacks of common sense, but so does eating right and exercising, and doctors need to tell people to do that, too.

NEW YORK, NY - Attention gamers: Want to get ahead in your career? According to new IBM research (NYSE: IBM), online videogames can help you become a better corporate leader by fostering skills related to collaboration, self-organization, risk-taking, openness, influence, and communications. These competencies are increasingly being sought by businesses as they compete in the global economy.

IBM's Gaming and Leadership Report

IBM's Global Innovation Outlook

Replacing smoke breaks with MMORP breaks sounds like a good plan to me...

http://www.1-click.jp/

In listening to a pod-cast on Hillary Clinton, I heard an interesting turn of phase to describe her approach to the truth. Hillary saying in 2003 that she had no intention of running for President is referred to as her being “economical with the truth”. Her continued insistence on presenting a fairy tale image of her life isn’t rewriting the truth, but being “economical with the truth”.

While George W has a poor track record of presenting an unvarnished view on what is going on in the world at large, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with someone who has a continued history of being “economical with the truth” is the person to put in as his successor.

When did it become okay for the restaurant staff to be unable to make change using cash? I took my sister to Outback last night for dinner and my faith in the youth of the world took another hit.

Our total came out to $46 and change. I put three $20 dollar bills in with the receipt to cover the cost of our meal and gave it to the waiter. Here is where my faith took the hit. He came back and told me he couldn’t make change from the cash I gave him. Then he preceded to hand me two $20 dollar bills, two $5 dollar bills and ten $1 dollar bills. Huh?

I gave him $60 dollars for our dinner and he gave me back $60 dollars? Turns out he wants me to make the change for him. Assuming that he didn’t have coins to break the last dollar, I’d have expected him to just give me back $14 dollars. It makes me wonder if he has any idea what range the tips he earns should be based on the overall cost of the meals he his serving. If he can’t do basic subtraction, I have doubts on whether he can handle percentages…

I’m beginning to wonder when I’ll be getting a bill from the utility company for my oxygen consumption. Every time I turn around, someone is trying to sell me on the idea that their standard service is something special. The electric company wants me to believe that unless I pay them protection money, they are going to let the electricity spike into my house. Think I’m kidding?

Now you can safeguard your major appliances and sensitive electronics with surge protection from Progress Energy – one of the best surge protection packages available. For only $5.95 plus tax per month, and a one-time installation fee of $44.95, you'll receive a meter-based surge protector installed by a Progress Energy-approved electrician. Progress Energy will also inspect the outdoor electrical grounding system and make necessary repairs at no additional cost. You can also purchase premium plug-in protectors ($24.95 - $85 plus tax each), which are up to six times stronger than some found in retail stores, to protect your sensitive electronics such as computers and entertainment systems.

Check it out on Progress Energy’s site.

Of course that isn’t the whole story, my insurance company ratted me out to the electric company. I found a letter in my mail from the insurance company saying that while they do not endorse any one type of surge protection device, Progress Energy offers an SPD (Surge Protection Device) that may suit my needs.

What strikes me about this is that the letter also lists common causes of dangerous electrical surges. These electrical surges are from lightning strikes, outages due to the elements (wind), utility switching, animals and improper wiring & grounding.

My homeowner’s insurance covers lose of perishable foods due to natural disaster like lightning strikes and wind damage. It makes me wonder if they are hoping that I’ll get this SPD service from the electric company so that they won’t have to pay this type of claim, while I continue to pay them for Refrigerated Property Coverage.

Call me crazy, but I’m not going to pay two different companies to insure the food in my refrigerator/freezer in the event of a power outage.