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Saturday, July 31, 2010
Polling data
During one of my forays into higher education, I took a few classes on media research methods.  They leaned more towards finding out what kind of TV shows the lowest common denominator of America wanted to watch, but still, it makes me think about how research groups and polls are conducted.

Polling for the sake of politics is a different beast, I will admit.  But I still wonder about how people can tout a result to a survey question when the survey taker is given an either/or result.

Consider the following question:
Which option do you consider better for undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S.?
  • Require them to return to their country
  • Allow those with jobs, no criminal records to stay
  • Don't know
Now consider the article that's got me thinking about this:
While most Arizonans support Senate Bill 1070, even more of them support allowing working illegal immigrants with no criminal records to remain here, an Arizona Republic poll indicates.

Sixty-two percent of those polled by WestGroup Research support such an option, often derided as "amnesty" by its opponents. By comparison, 31 percent of respondents feel illegal immigrants should be required to return to their native country.
I can't help but wonder what the results would have been if the following questions had been asked:
Which option do you consider better for undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S.?
  • Make it so uncomfortable here in Arizona that they self-deport to states that don't think illegal immigration is a problem
  • Allow those with jobs, no criminal records to stay
  • Don't know
Or to actually get down to the real issue:
Do you support allowing those undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. with jobs, no criminal records to stay?
  • Yes
  • No
But really, what I want to know is this:
If you support allowing undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. with jobs and no criminal records to stay in the U.S., do you wonder how they got jobs in Arizona being that employers must verify their immigration status with e-Verify before hiring:
  • Yes
  • No
Do you consider identity theft (in this case, using someone else's social security number to gain employment or other benefits) to be a crime:
  • Yes
  • No
If you answered no to the previous question, have you ever been the victim of theft of any kind:
  • Yes
  • No
And this:
If you support allowing undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. with jobs and no criminal records to stay in the U.S., do you think they should be eligible for unemployment benefits after being granted "amnesty" if their employer decides to fire them because it's much cheaper for the employer to hire another undocumented immigrant who didn't take up said offer for amnesty, rather than pay for all the benefits that a U.S. citizen earns?
  • Yes
  • No
I think the results might be quite interesting.

~~Code Monkey

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Monday, July 26, 2010
I don't think they understand what "Life" means.
The word for the day is Kakistocracy.

I totally get the UK is weak on crime. Any country that can be duped into believing that restricting access to hand-held weapons will make a population safe has serious issues with logical thinking. I don't know if it's the lack of decently prepared red meat, a diet consisting mainly of fish and chips, jellied eels, and spotted dick, or living in a country where the sun is only seen 1 day a year, for an hour, at sunrise. The UK has weird laws and even weirder judges to interpret those laws. They are, quite simply, weak on terrorism.

On our side of the pond, I'd like to think we'd do better. Failure to secure the United States, or seek Justice for those murdered, after trying to seek justice and failing is ineptitude; but for failing to act at all, is willful neglect of responsibilities. Given the hand full of aces we currently hold with the UK, in terms of their need to ameliorate the relationship with the US after Deepwater Horizon, one would think a little diplomacy could have resulted in transfer of the terrorist to a US prison, where he would receive adequate healthcare, greater than he could imagine in his home country. Instead, while the US holds four aces, it seems the State Department is assuming the UK, or Libya, has drawn a royal flush, on a four-card draw. (The odds of that happening are approximately 649,739 : 1.)

It does make one wonder if it is ineptitude, or malicious intent.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Amazon is being wonky
I think amazon hates me.

The widget is broken (says it's empty when it's not) and Code Monkey is in full-on meth-laced banana mode trying to fix it.

In the mean time, here is a link to the wishlist (which should display the items when clicked) and if you still have issues, send an email to me and I will give you my address and any other help you may need. Accordingly, if you can find the same product elsewhere (either from a different seller on amazon or the web) that's fine, just let me know and I'll pull the item off the list so it's up to date when it's fixed.

Thanks again,

--Chuck

Update from the Code Monkey - It hates both of us.  The widget is gone and there's a nice Wish List button now.  If the widget decides it wants to stop running with scissors and will play nice with others, I'll let it back on the blog.  But the new button seems to have no underlying issues and/or a desire to act out.  It can stay.
Reason #247 why I love Arizona
Tempe Town Lake is a lake in a desert. They walled off some of the Salt River with big rubber bladders and made a lake. It was pretty and they made a park next to it and built some condos and all that. The lake is neat and I've been to some cool events at the park. I don't know if I would think, "Hey, let's build a lake in the desert" and call it a good idea, but it seems to have worked out well for Tempe. At least until recently.

A few nights ago, one of those bladders went boom and all the water in Tempe Town Lake went down the Salt River. Well, Tempe Town Lake was stocked with fish. Some were put in there intentionally, but I'm sure more than a few goldfish were liberated there at the end of a semester at ASU.

Either way, these fish are now homeless in a very, very bad way. A lack of water tends to be bad for a fish's health.

Other cities would probably be looking to rescue the fish. Trying to find them foster homes in abandoned backyard pools (which wouldn't entirely suck as they'd eat the mosquito larvae and we'd have less West Nile.) There would be activists with nets and buckets and pleas for generous donors to allow the carp and rainbow trout to use a spare bathtub for a while.

Nope, not here. Not Arizona. We're bringing in the alligators.

Ok, not really. They're not setting alligators loose in the mud that was once Tempe Town Lake. It's a shame because I'd pay money to watch that. But they are collecting the fish and donating them to the Phoenix Herpetological Society.

Circle of life, baby.

The alligator was unavailable for comment.


(Photo by KTAR/Kevin Tripp)

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Friday, July 23, 2010
In case I have not told Ya'll
I am going back to Iraq in November for 13 months. I will be in Baghdad for that time, on the "turn out the lights and lock up when you leave" tour. Essentially, we will be the last ones in Iraq.

Although it pains me to leave Paradise, my family, and my beloved country, (especially for over a year) I see this trip as another step in my recovery... getting back on the horse, as it were. Living in the (still active) war zone that took so much from me last time, but also gave me so much in return.

Being wounded has definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things, and shown me in specific relief what is really important in life. It has opened up an entirely different world than the one I was saw before, and this new world is focused on others, instead of centered on myself. Before being wounded, I never really thought about the problems faced by those who were wounded, I never really did much charity work beyond an occasional relay for life or Combined Federal Campaign donation. I never knew the joy, the satisfaction, or the warmth of truly helping someone else.

So, because of the world I now see, I am thankful for being wounded. The blast physically made me less of a man, but also made me a better human being.

I have also updated my Amazon wish list with items not supplied by the military that I either had on my last deployment or wished I'd had. Unfortunately, the items I had either became part of the shrapnel still in my arms, face, and legs, were vaporized, or were stole my some Fobbit/REMF who took them from my room when I was medevaced. I know some of these items are expensive, (hence, the "wish.") If you would like to help, but cannot purchase them outright, just hit the ol' (empty) tip jar over on the left (under the "Show Chuck some love.")
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Pelican Cases for the wounded--Very Cool.
Dear Warriors,
Free Pelican case for OIF/OEF amputees!

Pelican is offering a Protector Case to the men and women who have sacrificed greatly while protecting the freedoms we hold dear. Perhaps you have seen our cases on the battlefield and are familiar with their durability and protective capabilities. The Protector Case is designed to protect and transport your valuable prosthetics, and to serve as a small gesture of our tremendous gratitude and deepest respect.

To receive your free case through the Pelican for Patriots program, please complete the form included and fax it to your nearest Pelican-Hardigg Case Center, or order online at www.pelican.com/PFP.

Check out WWP Connect, an exclusive social network for warriors and caregivers!
connect.woundedwarriorproject.org

Ed: WWP is a very cool project, which has been helping troops since OIF kicked off. They were one of the lead agencies in championing the Traumatic Serviceman's Group Life Insurance, as well as helping Wounded Warriors navigate through the Military and VA bureaucracies.


--Chuck
Friday, July 16, 2010
Stolen Valor Act Overturned
I'm just going to link to other peoples' posts about the Stolen Valor act being overturned today because they're all a lot smarter than me when it comes to this and apparently my computer really, really wants to reboot (or be taken out to the desert to be a skeet shooting target) as nothing I'm doing is working out all that well:

Stolen Valor Act facing legal challenges and Jonathon Turley is a jackass - EagleSpeak

BREAKING: STOLEN VALOR ACT RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL - Mr Wolf @ Blackfive.net

Stolen Valor act ruled unconstitutional - CRD Salamander

Stolen Valor Act suffers in Strandlof case - Jonn Lilyea @ This Ain't Hell...

Court Overturns "Stolen Valor Act", Lets Lying Bastard Off The Hook DrewM @ Ace

Stolen Valor Act Held Unconstitutional - The Volokh Conspiracy

Federal court says Stolen Valor Act violates First Amendment - Allahpundit @ Hotair

Feel free to add other relevant links in the comments.  Except if they're from Code Pink.  Then I'll just ban you.

Or feed you to the javalinas.

~~Code Monkey
I have a plan
I want to design a new ATM.  Mine will be designed so if someone tries to use a credit/debit/ATM card that's been reported (and verified) stolen, the "card holder" will be shot with a Taser.  The camera(s) will record the video and upload to the internet and the cops will be notified immediately so they're on the scene to scoop up the perpetrator as soon as they stop twitching.

I suppose a paramedic should be called as well.

So far every time I've run this idea past someone in the banking industry, they think it's brilliant.

If the Tasers don't work out, I'll settle for a pack of live, rabid, hungry javalinas.

~~Code Monkey
Thursday, July 15, 2010
UPDATE: Guilty & caught
John Rodriguez has been caught in California.  "He was stopped on suspicion of DUI and that's when officers realized he was a fugitive from justice out of Arizona."

Have fun in jail, John.

___

It's one thing to pretend you're a Marine.

It's another to collect benefits and perks because you made people think you were a Marine.

But skipping out on your court date? Dude, that's priceless. Well, it is for me anyway. I'm laughing at how you are the complete antithesis of everything the Marines (and the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard) stand for.

For you, I'm guessing it's anything but priceless. You're probably cowering in a dark corner somewhere hoping that no one finds you and holds you accountable for being a fake, a liar, and too cowardly to even face the music once you got busted.

I hope they hand you over to Sheriff Joe for a nice long hot stay in Tent City once they find your lame, worthless self.

If you see John Rodriguez, there's a bench warrant for his arrest:







~~Code Monkey
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Just curious...
I was wondering if anyone else had gotten a letter from their health insurance provider warning of "significant" increases in your cost next year. (Open enrollment has been pushed back as well.) Mind you, I'm a civilian, so this may just apply to non-military. Or not. I don't know. That's why I'm asking.

I'm wondering if this is what everyone's seeing or if my coworkers and I are going to see such an epic increase that we're just special...

~~Code Monkey

PS Add in a report on the news this morning about the cost of groceries going up because the cost of energy is going up and I'm feeling all kinds of hope and change.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Troubles in Paradise
If you've noticed, I have not posted much (other than pictures) for a couple weeks.  Here's an update:


We arrived in Hawaii on the 29th, and spend two days relaxing at the Hale Koa in Waikiki.  Times were good.
Then I had to sign in to Schofield Barracks, officially ending my leave, and begin staying in the Schofield Inn (think Motel 6, without the amenities.)   The four of us are sharing a room roughly the same size as my bedroom in my house at Fort Leavenworth.  Two double beds, a TV, a shower, a microwave and fridge, and two kids who go from bouncing off the walls to bickering.  
On the 6th, the housing office dropped a BIG bomb on us:  although there are units available, the interiors are being renovated, and we can expect to not have anything ready for move in for at least 60 days.  The Inn is unable to even provide us with a connecting room so me and the Mrs. can get a nights' rest, and not have to wake up to iCarly or whatever Nickelodeon happens to be showing at 6 A.M.
So we are house hunting, while I am in-processing.  Unfortunately, we need the following:  1750+ square feet, 2 bathrooms, 3 (or more) bedrooms, must allow pets, and not be on the other side of the island.  (Gas is currently $3.44 a gallon.)  Finally, it needs to be less than $3200/month, near good schools (Hawaii public schools generally SUCK--see domestic and foreign policy of current occupant, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, alumnus of Hawaii education system; best schools in the state are still in the worst state system) and not a shanty.
To recap, a two month wait for on-post housing, a dearth of suitable, available, and financially feasible off-post housing, school starts first week of August, and I deploy in November to Iraq for 13 months (it's the "turn out the lights and lock up when you leave" tour.)
We (me and the Mrs.) are stressed, the kids have cabin fever and are unsettled, we have no "home."
Anyone got a house they aren't using on Oahu that they would like to lend to a cripple, his nice family, their pets?

--Chuck
Something is not quite right
Like setting aside a place for people to exercise a specific, enumerated right.

Picture taken @ the foot of the trail at Diamond head.

Dinner
If I made decisions about what to have for dinner like the federal government decides how to deal with America's bigger issues, it might go something like this:
Hmm. Chinese food sounds good. What's that one dish I like at that place I go for lunch?

(Spend a whole ton of money to get someone to look the restaurant up on the 'net and show me the menu.)

Oh, moo goo gai pan. Yum. I'll bet I could make that myself.

(Spend another whole ton of moneyto get someone else to look the recipe up on the 'net.)

I wonder if anyone has chicken on sale.

(Put out a Request for Proposals so local stores can tell me why I should buy chicken from them.Decide to buy chicken from the local farm [BUY LOCAL!] that is run by union employees where the chickens are imported from China because they can't afford chicken feed after paying all the union employee salaries.)

Discover PETA protesting outside my front door because I'm buying animal meat for dinner.

(Seriously? Put some clothes on. The HOA is going to fine me for your lettuce bikini!)

Consider stir fry tofu.

Realize that stir fry tofu is not going to make my moo goo gai pan craving go away, and declare the problem can't be solved (without angering the chicken "raising" labor unions, Chinese chicken importers, and PETA.)

Spend a whole truckload of money on a 50 cent pack of chicken flavored ramen noodles and say, "Well, it was better than doing nothing."
~~Code Monkey
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Random thought
Over at the Phoenix Fox News web site, they have this headline: New Law Allows Sunday Morning Boozing

Eh, drinking on Sunday mornings wasn't illegal before this law. You just had to plan (and shop) ahead of time...

~~Code Monkey
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Happy Birthday America
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Okay, since Swan songs are the last sng of the silent swans before they die, the title is way off.  No one is silent, and Lindy Kyzercertainly has not been silent--indeed, shes been the lead in dragging the five-sided puzzle palace, and other Army Commands, kicking and screaming into the new world of social media.  Lindy is one of the good guys (gals) who truly gets it.  She is departing the Pentagon, for reasons that are her own, and the Pentagon's social media efforts are  going to take a big hit.  Personally, I'd take all the money being thrown at programs that nobody wants (JSF alternate engine ferinstance) and offer her a bonus to stay on.

Anyway, below is  her final message on Army Live, the Official Army Blog that she started.

Well, folks, this is it – my last day as the Army’s social media manager. Boy, has it been a fun ride, and I’m proud to say that for a long time I had the best job in the Army.
My Army career has been pretty short. But I feel as though in the relatively brief amount of time I’ve been here I’ve packed in a lot of experiences, and made a number of great friendships and connections. It’s true of most people who leave the service, whether civilian or military – when you reflect on your time it will be the people who have made a difference.
My travels have given me the unique opportunity of meeting hundreds of amazing Soldiers stationed at military installations from coast to coast. I’ve met even more senior leaders who have a hand in forming policy decisions for our military. And many of those people have touched my life and helped to shape my professional vision, and my understanding of both social media and defense issues.
I’ve always said that milblogs were my first loves in the social media world. And that’s why starting this blog was a key goal when I first got the job of helping to steer the Army on course when it comes to social media. When I think of some of the greatest relationships I’ve formed and some of the most amazing people I’ve encountered in my time, many of them will be milbloggers.
That’s why as I write my final blog post for Army Live, I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you five things I learned from milbloggers – that I think would be good advice for just about anyone.  Read the rest here.

I'll miss you, Lindy.

--Chuck