Matthew Rutledge's Blog Space

May Day

mattrutledge — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:04:47 +0000

Just in time for May Day, I have my school work for Spring 09 completed and a whole new look for graduation. All I can do is wait and see what my grades are and hope I have passing grades in all of my classes. It’d be rather silly if I went to graduation and didn’t pass, but I’m optimistic that I did my best and my grades should reflect this.

Anyway, my new look consists of a cut and color.

Well, see for yourself.

IMG_0005

Dick Cheney Denies Nothing

mattrutledge — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:21:13 +0000

Dick Cheney has been mounting an uncharacteristic media interview campaign to defend “enhanced interrogation.” He’s been taking about how these techniques produced “valuable information.” From a file near his former office, he’s requested to CIA reports be released. These documents he feels will prove that these techniques worked. The most secretive man in politics, now wants information released….
Here I have a copy of the actual request he filed, with of course all of the interesting bits blacked out. [download id="1"]
This is interesting enough, but what is more interesting is what he is NOT saying. I’ve yet to hear any claim that these “interrogation techniques” were either legal or not torture. He’s saying he felt they had good results. It’s like he’s trying to say that it’s okay to break the law, as long as it works. Imagine if looters during an earthquake used this defense. “Even if it was illegal, now I can watch the game in Hi Def. Like it or not, these enhanced shopping techniques had good results.”
I don’t see this defense working.

Sean Hannity, Masochist for Hire

mattrutledge — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:27:58 +0000

Sean Hannity recently spoke of waterboarding and in contrast to everything form of logic, he stated that it was NOT torture. That’s right. Waterboarding is not torture(according to Hannity.) He even went as far as to say he would offer to be waterboarded as a fund raiser for the troops. Aside from the insult that is to the troops who fight for freedom, this gave me an Idea. How many people would pay to see Hannity waterboarded?
[poll id="2"]

Tea bag flop

mattrutledge — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:47:53 +0000

I was wondering how much support the Tea Bagging movement had in the country, and today we got an answer…. A few hundred per state. Just about the number of people who think the Flintsones is a documentary. Its quite a shame no-one knows what they are protesting.

Republican April Fools’ Joke

mattrutledge — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:33:02 +0000

After hearing the details on the Republican budget, it’s no surprise they waited until April 1 to announce it. Their solution involves some of the biggest tax cuts in many decades. I’m waiting to be able to look at the entire proposal, but it seems obvious that it is another attempt to grab at their base, and feed more money to the wealthiest. They are still attacking “entitlements,” and working for the wealthy. They are either insane for attempting economic policy that has failed time and time again, or this is their sick idea of an April Fools’ day joke

How to Blog

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 10:18:24 +0000

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I’ve been online since 1992, but I’ve only been building this business since I started Lockergnome in 1996. I’ve evolved since the beginning, and opened up Lockergnome to others to blog and make money for themselves, as well. We invite people who can write well to blog with us… that’s the key, you know. You have to be able to write well. But that’s only one component. I happen to be the Kontera Publisher of the Month this month! They sent me a list of questions, asking me all about how to blog successfully. You can sign up for Kontera for your own site, and start making money today. However, I ask that you sign up under me so that they can see the type of traffic we really get! So, let’s get to these questions!

We’re interested in learning more about Lockergnome. How did it get started, and where did the idea spark come from? – Lockergnome got its start because I really didn’t want to finish my Master’s Degree. I knew that the Internet was going to become increasingly important and pervasive in people’s lives. I already shared tips and tricks with people, so I decided to do so in an “official” capacity, by using my own Website. I still share tips and tricks, but I do so in a variety of ways: through Lockergnome, through email, through Geeks, and many other avenues.
What do you look for in a blogger who is featured on Lockergnome? – Right now, we don’t even accept applications for the most part. For instance, people cannot bother to write well in their application, so why would we accept them to blog for us? I’ve said it before a million times, and I’ll say it again: you have to be able to write well to blog with us on Lockergnome! We’re looking for someone with a good voice, who is full of passion and understanding of the subject they are wanting to cover. Also, you have to be consistent. You need to be able to blog regularly.
Thousands of bloggers set on their online path daily. What’s the most important tip you can give? – There are so many things you need to pay attention to on a daily basis. You can read everything online, and you’ll never get anything done. The chances of you publishing a blog and having it well-read are not incredibly strong. The reason I’ve opened my doors for Lockergnome is because I know I can get you more attention than you would get on your own. We have excellent marketing benefits that we’ve built over the years. We have a lot of promotional vehicles for content that is well-written. If you’re trying to separate yourself from the other noise out there, make people aware of who you are. Visit others, and leave comments for them. How else will people find you?
When you start to monetize Lockergnome, what role does in-text advertising play? – Kontera came to me in the beginning, and I hesitated. Then I started thinking, and realized that people hate seeing ads everywhere. The Kontera underlined words go over so much better than any other type of ads I’ve ever used. People respond well to them. Kontera is a large part of the monetization system. It’s not all of it, since I refuse to rely on any one type of monetization. However, Kontera works very, very well.
What sort of responses have you been getting from Lockergnome users regarding to the types of advertising you employ? – They’re asking for a larger portion of the splits! However, we do have expenses we have to pay to keep the site operational. They’re looking for more options, of course. I am always looking for new ways to implement money-making opportunities to them. The more customizations I can offer them, the better off they will be. I’m excited to see what the future will bring as far as advertising is concerned.
What wise words do you have regarding monetization for bloggers? – Optimize! I realize that’s a general term. I’ve helped a lot of people make a lot of money, without receiving anything in return. I don’t really do that anymore. If you want to pay me to help you, then great! Shoot me an email. But for now, I’ll just be general, and tell you to optimize to the maximum.
We’re very excited to have a blogging expert on the Kontera site. Do you have any words of wisdom for us? – Don’t keep pounding on the table! Seriously, stay true to yourself. If you have a blog that’s all about your company, that’s cool… but it gets long in the tooth. Share interesting and/or personal stories maybe about people that work for the company. If you don’t do that, all people are reading is a series of press releases. That gets pretty boring. As a matter of fact, I doubt many people will read this post, or watch this video in its entirety. If you do, please leave a comment, and use the word pancake somewhere in your comment. I’m serious! Do it! I just want to see out of curiosity how many of you get this far. This is what I mean about adding things outside the normal realm. Talk about something I can’t find anywhere else.
Where do you see Lockergnome going in the future? – As I’ve already said, I want to open it up more. I want to allow more people to participate, turning it into a network of Geeks. People will be able to take advantage of groups and forums, as well. Lockergnome will also continue to grow via the co-brands: Coupons, our Help forums, and a download area is just around the corner!

Thank you to the people at Kontera for this Publisher of the Month honor. It’s very cool, and I definitely recommend others use your service.

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How to Blog

Which Webcam has the Best Audio?

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:36:21 +0000

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When you record videos, you need good audio in addition to good video. Ideally, you want something that will give you a good experience, especially if you’re on the go. I now have two of these little Eyeball webcams, and the audio quality is great!

The video quality is good, but not excellent. For my needs, I have to have high quality video. However, the audio quality is excellent. The Eyeball is perfect for instant messaging, video conferencing and more. The Eyball contains Blue’s famous professional-quality condenser capsule, which gives it better sound than any other webcam you’ll find.

The Eyeball has several different designs, so that you can find one to match your computer or office decor. It has a retractable lens, and even will turn itself off if you forget to. If you’re me, then you never seem to be able to turn off the camera. However, I’d say that most people do want their cameras turned off when they aren’t intentionally using them.

What’s really nice about the Eyeball is that it connects via mini-USB, and it collapses for easier portability. If you have enough light, I think you’ll be very happy with the video quality. Just like with most webcams, it doesn’t do well in low light. However, I’ve yet to find any cam that does!

If you’re looking for a good portable solution, or even something on your desktop, check out the Eyeball by the folks over at Blue Microphones.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

Which Webcam has the Best Audio?

The Middle East: Hillary Clinton’s Aid Breakthrough

Syndicate — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:53:12 +0000

by Melissa Mahfouz
Special to iVoryTowerz

The United States is starting to get it right in the Middle East. The U.S. has pledged $900 million in aid for reconstruction efforts in Gaza, thanks, in a large part, to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This move certainly transcends any political boundaries, but hopefully may be perceived by Palestinians and the Arab world as an effort by the U.S. to mend relations. The $900 million, however, is not pity money, but rather a recognition of the need for an independent Palestinian infrastructure, as well as a recognition for the wrongs directed towards the Palestinian people.

Secretary of State Clinton deserves quite a commendation for her efforts in the region already. (Clinton just concluded her first diplomatic swing through the region.) In the course of a few weeks, and with the reconstruction funds, she has already accomplished what the Bush administration failed to achieve over an eight year tenure. Now, there must be a diligent effort between the Palestinian Authority and Clinton’s crew to ensure that the money goes to the Palestinian people, which is quite a stretch. Internal meddling, corrupt officials, and political middlemen all stand as potential barriers to guaranteeing that each and every penny goes to reconstruction and development efforts. The largest portions of the aid package are to be allocated towards humanitarian aid, economic and public works projects, as well as funding for institution building projects and budget shortfalls within the Palestinian government.

If this aid and construction are successes, then the United States would have fostered a breakthrough not seen in years. Again, the major players we are counting on are Secretary Clinton, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarek, Israel’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, regional public officials, and the voice of the Palestinian people themselves. This is quite an opportunity to forge multilateral relations, and to truly exert a much-needed diplomacy.

(The photo of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meeting in Ramallah with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority earlier this month is an official photo from the U.S. State Department and is in the public domain.)

politics
Middle East
Hillary Clinton
Israel
Gaza
Gaza reconstruction
Mahmoud Abbas
Hosni Mubarek
Tzipi Livni
Palestine
Palestinian Authority
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Apple Bluetooth Mighty Mouse Review

mattrutledge — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:42:48 +0000

The Apple bluetooth mighty mouse is a big step up form the previous bluetooth mouse from apple. It’s appearance is very similar, but right off the bat you see it is lighter, has a scroll wheel of sorts, and they’ve changed the color to a pure white.

This device is quite easy to set up in system preferences after install the batteries and slide the sensor cover/ switch open. The addition of a connection light, and no red light underneath are a nice touch. Most of all the pressure sensitive to shell, gives it a bit of novelty that will make geeks happy.

Pro’s

The design is sleek and comfortable.
The 4 button design has some versatility. (must set up buttons in control panel)
scroll device resembles a track ball, and allows for 360 degree scrolling when set up properly in system preferences
Light
Long battery life(a number of months)
solid construction
instead of Teflon pads that fall off, the smooth gliding surface is formed into a ledge all around the base of the mouse.
bluetooth requires no usb adapter for most Apple computers

Cons

If you try to secondary click while resting your finger on the primary click side, it seems to default to the primary click(slight learning curve)
Rumor has it the scroll device needs to be cleaned every so often( I haven’t had an issue)
“Squeeze” button, side buttons are hard to push and only act as 1 button.
Can’t primary click and secondary click simultaneously(edit: problem with first person shooters)
Price: $69.99 msrp is a bit steep

Conclusion

The Bluetooth Mighty Mouse is a one button mouse with multi-button and scroll capability. Unfortunately Apple gave up quite a bit of usability to keep the one button style. It may not be a big deal to some, but I occasionally play games, and being able to use mouse buttons simultaneously is important. Also the lack of rechargability is somewhat disappointing. Basically it’s a good product, but they could have made some better choices.

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Add the GOP to the Endangered Species List

Syndicate — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:44:06 +0000

by Jeff Siegel

Newspapers aren’t the only cultural institution that is in danger of joining the blacksmith and the turntable as cute relics of someone else’s past. The Republicans are headed that way, as well.

How else to explain two recent GOP imbroglios: Party insiders ripping former presidential candidate John McCain at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and party chairman Michael Steele apologizing for calling Rush Limbaugh “incendiary” in an interview? At CPAC, U.S. Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-TX) said: “I am a recovering McCain surrogate.” In the latter instance, Steele asked the talk show host for forgiveness after Limbaugh criticized Steele for having the temerity to criticize Limbaugh.

Regular visitors here know that I am no fan of the Republican Party, which aided and abetted George Bush’s eight-year misrule. But I can feel sorry for it, and I do — just like I feel sorry for the friend who always goes out with the wrong guys and never learns from her mistakes. It’s really quite sad, but in the end, it’s her own fault.

The GOP is long past denial. It’s living in a universe far, far away, where the collapse of the banking system never happened, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan quickly ended in victory, and the stock market is still setting record highs. It doesn’t understand the immense cultural and socio-economic changes taking place in the U.S. and it doesn’t realize that the country gave President Barack Obama a mandate in November to undo the damage the GOP did under Bush. In the eyes of Burgess, Limbaugh and their fellow travelers, Bill Clinton is still president and nothing has changed since they hoisted Clinton by his petard. Or, as the noted philosopher Paul Simon once noted: “We believe what we want to believe and disregard the rest.”

One day, perhaps, the GOP will realize that voters use iPods and not turntables. If it doesn’t, it will join the Whigs and the Know Nothings and the Federalists in the history books. And it will have no one to blame but itself.

(Political graphic by Frederick; you can see more of Frederick's graphics at the blogs Guys from Area 51 and MCCS1977. This graphic is made available through a Creative Commons License.)

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Rush Limbaugh
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Michael Burgess
Conservative Political Action Conference
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Republicans
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George Bush
Barack Obama
John McCain
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Bush
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