I have mulled over the direction & future of this blog and have given it some serious thought & consideration for quite some time now. As a result, I have made some very important & significant decisions. They are as follows:

1. The most important (but not the biggest) change is that this blog is moving to http://KraniumlyKrafty.livejournal.com. I did this mainly for consistency. (You’ll see what I mean as you continue to read.)

2. Wrestling Paradise Unleashed will be shortened to “WPU” in the blog subjects and will become more interactive. There will be more material, polls, quizzes, and, starting March 2010, contests (yes, with prizes). Bullet Blitz will also be expanding. Anything to do with Linda McMahon’s, or any other former/current wrestling personality’s political career will be exclusively posted here from now on as well.

3. PoliticalPotluck will be shorted to “PP” in the blog subjects and its content will go back to being a hybrid of news and “kommentary” even though I will not state it as “kommentary.” I find that this makes the reading more enjoyable and I get far better interaction as a result. Let’s face it, making politics interesting for some is no easy feat and sometimes even I miss the mark.

4. FinancialFrenzy will be shortened to “FF” in the blog subjects and, because you asked for more of it, will now be posted every other Friday instead of twice a month. I am also changing its font to improve ease of readability.

5. KryptoniteKurator will be dropping the “The” from its title and be shortened to “KK” in the blog subjects. In addition, there is both good & bad news regarding the blog itself. The bad news is that it will now be shortened. The good news is that I will be posting it every other Saturday instead of only once a month. This will enable me to get important news & updates to you in a timelier manner.

6. The biggest (and most surprising) change is that TechTrooper will be taking a sabbatical from the Kraniumly Krafty line-up, even though TechTrooper is my 2nd most popular blog. The reason is because, due to my hard work & journalistic reputation, I have been recently nominated to be one of the chief posters of tech-related content over at the LongLiveTechTV Yahoo Group, and since I can reach a far wider & a more focused audience over there, the move was an easy decision for me to make. I post much more frequently too (usually 5 days a week!) It is truly a terrific group and I guarantee you will learn much about computers & technology and not get bored in the process! Please check it out and I hope you join! (My handle is “Kraniumly_Krafty.”) I am looking into bringing TechTrooper in a different format at some point in the future for this blog, but I do not know when, or even if, I am going to do that.

7. MegaMix will also be dropped from the line-up. Because of this, Political Points & The Bottom Dollar will both be improving & expanding. You may occasionally see some things in both of either Political Points & The Bottom Dollar and over at the LongLiveTechTV Yahoo Group.

8. I have opened up a Twitter account that will be used to inform my readers of whenever I post a blog and of other important news & updates. You can find me at KraniumlyKrafty. This is also linked to my Facebook account (http://facebook.com/Kraniumly.Krafty).

9. This is in the early stages of development, but I am going to be opening up a store to help promote my Kraniumly Krafty blog. Details to follow.

It’s Time to Go “Around the Grounds” Again!

It has been a while since I have done an “around the grounds” style column on the world of Superman across the various mediums, so here we go…

Movies

Nothing new on the big screen front for Superman fans. Last I heard, Warner Bros./DC Entertainment had no plan in place for a new Superman movie. Nothing new since that announcement.

On the animated movie front, the recently released Superman/Batman: Public Enemies did pretty well, so much so that Warner Premiere is seriously considering a follow-up film. It is speculated that they may once again draw upon the comicbook stories from the Superman/Batman title.

Before that, however, we have Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths to look forward to. While it is supposedly a new story, it is expected to draw upon previous comicbook stories featuring the Crime Syndicate (involving Ultraman, Owlman, and Superwoman). Look for this DVD to be released in early 2010.

Television

Smallville: Season 9 continues to power forward, with some highly anticipated episodes coming up. Chief amongst these is the Geoff Johns penned “Society and Legends” double episode featuring members of the Justice Society of America: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, and Stargirl. Another episode, entitled “Idol,” which just aired last Thursday, featured those wacky Wonder Twins, Zan & Jayna (too bad we didn’t get to see Gleek). Look for more DC Comics characters to show up in future episodes, with Metallo, Speedy, Toyman, and Cat Grant all having appeared this season already. Martian Manhunter and Zatanna are expected to make returns as well.

DVD

There are plenty of Superman DVDs to look forward to before the end of the year, some of which are out already. Primarily, there is the long awaited release of the 1988 Ruby-Spears Superman cartoons that was released on November 3.

On November 10, Justice League: The Complete Series was released. This DVD box set collects both seasons of Justice League and both seasons of Justice League Unlimited in one nicely packaged box.

On November 24, look for Superman: The Complete Animated Series box-set DVD collection, which collects all 4 seasons of Superman: The Animated Series.

Comicbooks

The New Krypton saga continues across the Superman and Supergirl books. World of New Krypton sees Superman (sorry, Kal-El) currently in charge of New Krypton armed forces, while Zod recovers from the attempt on his life. Supergirl, Thara, and Chris Kent struggle to clear their names, with all of Earth thinking that they killed Mon-El. Lana’s ill; Lois is trying to dig out the truth about her father, General Sam Lane; and you just know the Luthor/Brainiac threat is looming too.

My Pointless Rant on Superman Fans

Have you noticed on the internet, in comment boards, and in forums, that it is okay to praise something without citation, but if you criticize something, people demand you explain yourself?

In the Superman world that is just as true as it is for any other topic. Fans openly praise Smallville with comments like, “Season 9 is the best season so far!” or “I love Smallville!” and nobody bats an eyelid. They just accept that person’s opinion without question.

However, if you write something like, “Season 9 is the worst season so far!” or “I hate Smallville!” you’re likely to get a handful of people jumping down your throat, wanting to know how you can dare say that or why you think such a thing.

You will note that the comments I have used as examples are identical except for that fact that one is positive and one is negative.

Now, let’s be honest, you can’t love absolutely everything about anything. Nothing in life ever fully lives up to our expectations. Whether it is a book we are reading, dinner we are eating, a person in our life, a pet, a music CD, a TV series, or a movie. Whatever it may be, no matter how much you love it, it is never 100% perfect.

So when someone says, “I love Smallville,” I highly doubt that they love everything about it. By the same measure, if someone says, “I hate Smallville,” I also doubt they hate everything about it. There is likely to be some aspects of it that they like or at least do not dislike. It may be an actor, the setting, the music, etc. It makes sense that there is some part of the TV show they do not hate.

So, what is my point? I do not know that I really have one, except to point out that, as human beings, we tend to exaggerate our opinions when putting them across to people. Just because someone says, “I hate this” or “I love this,” it does not mean that he/she hates/loves everything about it.

So the next time you see someone make the comment, “I hate Smallville,” do not automatically presume to reply with the unthinking, “If you hate it, then stop watching it” response. You can still be a Superman fan and not like Smallville, just as you can still be a Superman fan and not like Superman Returns or Superman IV.

You do not have to love everything about Superman that was ever made to call yourself a Superman fan.

Top News

The Tragic Anniversary of Eddie Guerrero’s Death

November 13 marked the four-year anniversary of the passing of Eddie Guerrero. That day is easy for me to remember because it also happens to be my Golden Retriever’s, Buster’s, birthday. (He turned 11 this year.) I was working at Toys “R” Us in Chattanooga, TN at the time when my then-girlfriend, Paula, called me to tell me the sad news. Like many people, I was in total shock & disbelief. I will never forget that day… While he may be gone, he will never be forgotten by his many fans.

WWE

Ultimate Warrior

It appears WWE & Vince McMahon may have come to terms to induct Jim Hellwig into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, which, if it happens, is a sign of the end of the world, so forget about 2012. Does he belong in the HoF? One has to say he does and can't argue the fact that he was the next in line when Hogan left WWE and was the most popular star to come along during the Hogan days that fans decided to root for against Hogan. He was not an incredible in ring performer, but he did not have to be and he was just about as huge as Goldberg was when Goldberg took WCW by storm, only Hogan squashed his rise to the top and his politics behind the scenes did not help him either.

It is a shame that Sting is with TNA, because if anyone was going to do the inductions for Hellwig, it should be Sting. I am not sure who they will get to do it for him since there does not seem to be any memorable names that stick out (outside of Hogan and he is not going to do it) that could talk Hellwig up. McMahon maybe?

Speaking of the HoF, I think Jake Roberts & Randy Savage are on my short list for this year and think all three (Warrior, Roberts, & Savage) belong in the HoF.

News

401(k) Holdings Recover

Many 401(k) portfolios have fully recovered to where they were before the market crashed.

Vanguard has released a revealing report about what has happened with the typical person’s 401(k) – from the peak of the market to the bottom in March and now factoring in the recent run-up.

Those who bailed for “safe” choices in their portfolio when the going got tough missed the recovery. However, those who stayed put in their holdings ended up making a full round-trip, according to the Vanguard Center for Retirement Research.

In fact, 60% of people are now even or up from where they were two years ago.

This just highlights (yet again) the wisdom of dollar cost averaging, where you invest in small amounts every pay period as you would with a traditional 401(k). When you dollar cost average, each dollars buys more when stocks are on fire-sale prices and less when they’re overpriced during a recovery.

Of course, so much has to do with your age. I believe that those who are under 40 are on the cusp of great opportunity for fantastic wealth. For those people aged 40-55, the volatility of the past two years has been more of a wash. Those over 55 who were heavily invested in stocks have suffered the most.

Look to international mutual & index fund choices for a meaningful position of your money going forward. This gives you a hedge against the weakening dollar and a chance to grow your portfolio based on what is going on beyond just here in the United States. Remember, the bulk of capitalist growth takes place outside America.

Finally, one stock you never want to have is your employer’s stock in a 401(k) plan. So many people miss this message and later regret it. If your employer’s fortunes falter, so too does your prospect of retirement.

Advice

Tips for Selling Your Gold

We’ve all seen those ads that promise to turn your unloved gold jewelry into cash. Here’s new info to help you get the most for your gold.

We have all seen the ads running constantly on late-night TV that promise to turn your unloved gold jewelry into cash. However, is it really worth it?

Consumer Reports’ Money Adviser weighs in with some tips & pointers to help you get the most for your gold.

The reality is that most of those ads only pay about a dime on a dollar, up to about 20% of the daily market value for your gold. Talk about a terrible deal for you!

There is an easy way to figure out the real intrinsic value of gold in your jewelry. Start by looking for the carat, which will be stamped directly on the gold. Then use a kitchen scale to weigh the jewelry and an online calculator to convert the weight based on the carat to determine the value at today’s market price.

Now, no one will pay you full retail market price because he/she has to make a profit. Nevertheless, this will help you avoid being ripped off. “The TV buyers are a joke,” according to Money Adviser.

Go with jewelry stores & pawnshops instead, but do not deal with those who will not tell you how much they are paying for gold over the phone. Chances are they want to lure you in to lowball you.

Finally, remember that jewelry’s greatest value is for the design & sentimental value, not the value of the gold contained therein.

Auto Insurance Ad Hype

Reshopping your auto insurance? Don’t be fooled by ads promising the cheapest premiums. Look beyond the hype!

Geico, Progressive, and Allstate are just a few of the auto insurers with ads on TV promising that they can save you hundreds over the competition, but how can they all be the cheapest?!

There are actually huge differences between insurers based on an individual driver’s circumstances. Each insurer uses its own criteria to assess your level of risk and price your policy accordingly. That is how each insurer can claim to be the cheapest in its ads; they are all assessing different motorists and presenting the results as typical.

Consumer Reports put Progressive’s claims to the test. Flo, the Progressive Girl’s, “name your own price” promise is really more of a “name your coverage” come-on…and it is not necessarily the cheapest. In fact, Consumer Reports found that Progressive could be twice as expensive for certain motorists.

This means that you have to be diligent in shopping over the phone and on the web to find the best deals. Get out your coverage statement and compare it apples-to-apples with other insurers’ offerings. I recommend shopping for insurance every three years or three years after an accident or ticket.

The only time I would not recommend jumping ship to chase a lower premium is if you are with either Amica Mutual or USAA. Their quality is so much better than the typical auto insurer that you are wiser to stay put. Sometimes cheap is not necessarily the right thing and it is better to be with the very best.

Short Sales a Viable Option

Stuck in your house and need to get out? Try a short sale! Not sure what a short sale is? Take a crash course!

Short sales are gaining traction among lenders because of a new federal incentive. In essence, the government has agreed to absorb a part of the loss that a bank sustains whenever they do a short sale.

“In May, the Treasury Department said it would offer a streamlined framework for short sales & incentive payments of $1,500 to homeowners, $1,000 to loan servicers, and $1,000 to second-lien holders,” The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Just 18 months ago, the term “short sale” was not widely known. Today, it is gaining some currency as increasingly more short sales are done. However, it is still a misunderstood concept.

Short sales are an option when you need to get out of a house and you get the lender to agree to take market value on the sale – instead of what you actually owe on it. You will take a hit of about 120-130 points on your credit score for doing one.

Are banks doing this as a charity effort? No. It is cheaper for them to do a short sale versus a foreclosure. Some of the biggest lenders now have “war rooms” with specialists to process short sales. Certain lenders even take requests for short sales electronically nowadays.

Get Ready To Roth

Are you among the half of working Americans without access to a 401(k) plan on the job? Save for the future with a Roth account! You can open one with as little as $50/month!

The world of retirement savings highlights the stark contrast between the “haves” and the “have nots” on the employment front.

Somewhere around half of us work for employers that offer a 401(k) plan, while the other half of us don’t have any retirement plan options through work.

Employers that are large enough to offer a 401(k) plan often mandate that employees contribute to it. In addition, they may even periodically bump up the level of your contributions. I am in favor of this heavy-handed approach, because it forces at least half of us to save for retirement.

Yet, the danger is that people tend to go to one extreme or the other when they have a 401(k) at work. Either they put all their money into their employer’s stock (a “no-no” in my book) or else they go into ultra “safe” holdings that will not keep pace with inflation.

Those of us who do not work for an employer that offers a 401(k) plan have to be more diligent about saving for the future. The responsibility is ours entirely.

You can open a Roth account with as little as $100 through Charles Schwab or absolutely nothing at all if you commit to regular contributions of $50 every pay period through T. Rowe Price.

Remember, if you do not have that employer forcing you into a 401(k), you might never do it. Do what it takes to be the master of your own destiny!

Analysis

Dollar Store Hits & Misses

Ever wondered what’s really a deal (and what’s not) at your favorite dollar store? I give you the scoop on hits & misses!

Consumer Reports has taken a close look at dollar stores in their Money Adviser publication and revealed what’s a deal & what’s not.

Products including cotton rounds, gift-wrap, birthday candles, paper bags, composition notebooks, plastic cups, security envelopes, napkins, foam plates, and tissue paper are among the best deals.

Money Adviser advises against buying jewelry (too much lead content), electrical products (possibly fake UL labels), medication (expired products), and vitamins (not from reputable sellers) at dollar stores.

I have done some research and have routinely found that medication like ibuprofen at dollar stores not to be past the expiration date. Now, you could get a better deal on ibuprofen at a warehouse club, but unless you are in constant pain, who can use all those 12 million pills before they expire?!

Meanwhile, financially minded couple, The Dolans, have recently identified some product categories that they believe are not deals at warehouse clubs. These include produce & jewelry. I disagree completely with the latter, but feel that if your produce goes bad before you can finish it, then it is no deal indeed.

The Bottom Dollar

• Bloomberg.com Mulls Paid Content: Financial site, Bloomberg.com is jumping on the paid content bandwagon. It may charge up to $1,000 yearly for access to some sections of the site. The site is currently free.

Top Story

Space Elevator Competition Heats Up, Closer To Reality

You have probably heard of the concept of a space elevator: Climbing a 22,000-mile-long cable attached to a satellite in geostationary orbit over the Earth’s equator. Sounds crazy, but the concept is edging ever closer toward reality.

NASA is offering a first prize of $1.1 million to anyone who can create a space elevator that climbs a kilometer at an average rate of 5 meters per second. No one has done that yet, but the second-place prize of $900,000 was just won by a company called LaserMotive, whose climber shimmied up a kilometer-long cable at 2 meters per second. It is powered by a stationary laser on the ground, pointing up to a target on the craft, providing enough power for lift.

There is still a long way to go though. LaserMotive and two other teams – the Kansas City Space Pirates & the University of Saskatchewan Space Design Team – are all making progress toward winning first prize. Eventually, though, somebody has to figure out how to make a cable light & strong enough to span that 22,000-mile distance. ~Insert miracle here.~ LaserMotive’s climber did even better the second time around. Follow the link to read about its top speed and watch a video.

Update from New Scientist

The climber reached the top in just over 4 minutes, for an average speed of 3.7 meters per second. The team’s climber repeated the feat at a slightly higher speed of 3.9 meters per second on Thursday of last week.

Last Friday, two other teams failed in their final attempted climbs. That means LaserMotive will receive the entire $900,000 NASA set aside for climbers that could make the climb faster than 2 meters per second.

The remaining $1.1 million in NASA prize money was reserved for climbs faster than 5 meters per second, which none of the competitors were able to achieve.

Security

Error Exposes MySpace, Facebook Data

A developer has found coding errors in MySpace and Facebook. The flaws could expose users’ private data. The sites have apparently fixed the flaws.

Worm Targets Jailbroken iPhones

A worm that targets the iPhone has been discovered in Australia. It only affects phones that have been jailbroken. The worm is relatively harmless. It changes the wallpaper to a photo of Rick Astley.

Viruses Could Put Child Porn on Your PC

It sounds farfetched, but computer viruses can put child porn on your computer. A pedophile may use your computer for storage to avoid arrest or a prankster could try to frame you. This is yet another reason why computer security is important. Protect your machine now!

Nokia Recalls 14 Million Chargers

Nokia is recalling 14 million AC chargers. They are used with phones, Bluetooth headsets, and an internet tablet. The chargers pose a shock risk. Nokia is offering free replacements.

Squatters Take Brand Names on Twitter

A number of major companies do not own their own Twitter handles. Rather, the brand names are being used by unknown squatters and the companies may not be able to get control of their names. Online impersonators are becoming increasingly common.

Group Hijacks 100s of Facebook Groups

Control Your Info has hijacked almost 300 Facebook Groups. The group says that it was exposing a Facebook weakness. Anyone can take over administration duties when a group administrator steps down.

Microsoft Releases Monthly Patches

Microsoft has issued 6 security patches for November. In all, the patches fix 15 vulnerabilities. Of the patches, 3 are rated “critical.” The remaining patches are rated “important.” They affect Windows and Office. Installing monthly patches is paramount.

News/Views

Report Cards Going Digital

Some students are not getting paper report cards. Instead, parents are being directed to the web. Some schools in Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado put report cards online.

Men & Women Handle Gadget Woes Differently

A tech-support company says that men and women handle gadget problems differently. For example, women are more likely to read instructions and support staff usually prefers to help women.

Apple Censors “Doo Wop”

Apple has censored doo wop songs in the iTunes music store. “Doo wop” was replace with “doo w*p” in titles. Apple censors ethnic slurs in the store, but its software can’t distinguish a word’s context.

Are Phones Too Complicated?

Cell phones have become too complicated. That is according to Martin Cooper, who led the development of cell phones. He sees a future where gadgets are dedicated to a single function. Most people (including myself) would disagree with Cooper. After all, smartphones are very popular.

Fox Makes DVDs More Interactive

Fox will promote new interactive features on its DVDs. FoxPop runs on a computer and listens as the movie plays. It will show trivia and comment from viewers’ friends.

News Corp. May Remove Content From Google

News Corp. Chairman, Rupert Murdoch, is a big proponent of paid news content and he says that News Corp. may remove its content from Google. He says that visitors that arrive via search sites do not become loyal readers.

LinkedIn, Twitter Pair Up

Twitter and LinkedIn are teaming up. Users can have their tweets show up on the LinkedIn page and some LinkedIn data can be sent to Twitter. The partnership is designed to help professional tweeters. LinkedIn is necessary for job seekers.

Tagged Settles Investigations

Tagged has settled with Texas and New York for $750,000. The social-networking site was under investigation for accessing members’ e-mails. It will now get explicit consent before e-mailing invitations to contacts.

Google to Launch Caffeine

Google is preparing to launch Caffeine, its new search engine. Google says that most users will not notice a change, but power users should. Searching should be faster and there will be more social media listings.

American Airlines Fires Designer over Web Post

Dustin Curtis wrote a blog post, criticizing American Airlines’ website. A Web Designer for the airline responded, saying that the site was being improved. American fired the designer for violating a nondisclosure agreement.

Whatever Happened to iPhone Tethering?

AT&T has promised laptop tethering for the iPhone. A year after the announcement, AT&T says that tethering will still come to the iPhone, but it still has not set a firm date for the feature. You are better off with a cellular broadband card for your laptop.

Google Tests Skippable Video Ads

Yesterday, Google began testing new preroll ads with YouTube videos. The new ads are skippable, which could lead to a new advertising model. The test will help Google see what kind of ads work.

Schools: “Kindle Bad for Visually Impaired”

Two universities are refusing to give students Amazon Kindles. They say it discriminates against the blind. Its text-to-speech tool is almost impossible to turn on without sight. Amazon is working on a fix.

Brain-Powered Prosthetics Help Man Drive

An Austrian man has received prosthetic arms that respond to thought. He is the first to drive a car with thought-powered prosthetics. The car was modified to work with the arms.

Programs/Products/Plug-ins

Rumors of Dual-Mode iPhone Surface

Apple is rumored to be working on a “worldmode” iPhone. It would feature a smaller screen and work on CDMA & GSM networks. Rumors have Verizon getting it, but Verizon is attacking Apple with its Droid commercials.

iPhone & iPod Touch Get HD Radio

iBiquity has launched the Gigaware HD Radio Receiver. It is the first HD Radio receiver for the iPhone and iPod touch. The receiver will run $80 at The Shack.

Google Launches Dashboard

Google Dashboard shows what services are associated with a Google account. Account holders can also adjust privacy settings and delete content. Online response has been mixed.

Fun

Google Marks Sesame Street Anniversary

You may have noticed Cookie Monster (or The Count) on Google’s search site. The image marks the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. Ironically, Cookie Monster sang about Google almost 30 years ago.

Gaming

Xbox Live Blocks Modified Consoles

Microsoft confirms that it has booted some users from Xbox Live. Players with consoles modified to play pirated games were disconnected. By some reports, 600,000 players were banned.

Storm8 Sued for Collecting iPhone Numbers

Customers are suing game developer Storm8. They allege that it collects phone numbers from iPhones running its games. Storm8 says that this was a bug and that the problem is fixed.

Virtual Reality Game Helps Smokers Quit

A virtual reality computer game may help smokers kick the habit. In a recent test, players crushed cigarettes in a game. After six months, 39% had not smoked in the previous week.

Quick Bytes

• Microsoft to Deliver More In-Game Ads, but in New Places: Shopaholics beware! New ad placements promise to test your willpower.
• “We Should Let Robots Take over the World,” Expert says: Why not let machines do all the work?
• More Evidence of Smaller iPhone on Verizon?: There’s hope yet for those AT&T-phobics among us who secretly want an iPhone.
• 4 Reasons Why V’s Motherships Don’t Make Sense: Find out why aliens would never travel in city-sized flying saucers.
• Forget 3D! Toshiba’s Cell Regza Is the Future of TV: Viewers don’t want more dimensions on their screens. They want easy web video.
• Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge Is a Remarkable Sight: Check out the awe-inspiring pics of this huge construction project.

The reason why I did not post Wrestling Paradise Unleashed yesterday is a simple one.  I forgot.  Therefore, to make it up, I have added this Sunday’s TNA Turning Point predictions.

Kevin

Top News

Kurt Angle’s Legal Troubles Are Over

This has been a very good week for Kurt Angle.  Last Monday, he had an order of protection filed against him dropped and yesterday, Kurt Angle was cleared of assault charges.

Trenesha Biggers, better known to wrestling fans as “Rhaka Khan,” voluntarily withdrew her order of protection against Kurt Angle.  The two have agreed to stay away from each other.

The situation began in August when Kurt was served with the restraining order and was later arrested on several charges.  In September, Kurt was found not guilty of most of the charges filed against him.

Kurt was supposed to go on trial for that last month, but Trenesha Biggers did not show up at the hearing.  That hearing was rescheduled for yesterday, but obviously did not happen.

Because of all this, all of the charges filed against Kurt have been dealt with and Kurt has been cleared of all the alleged wrongdoing of which he was accused.

WWE

WWE “Isn’t a Family Business,” According To Vince (Shot at Shane?)

During an investor conference call, Vince made it clear that all the employees of WWE are evaluated on their merits and that WWE is not a family business, suggesting that his children are treated as simple employees and not “special” due to their heritage.  Vince downplayed Shane’s exit, said that their management team is the strongest, and that whether your name is McMahon or not, decisions are always made on your abilities, in terms of what position you hold now or will in the future.  (The main thing was that Shane believed he should be running WWE and that was simply never going to be the case because it was determined that he didn’t have the abilities to do so & keep WWE viable.  A lot has to be said about the strength & kahonas that Jr. has to do that to his son.  Understand, Jr. loves his son, but if he really thought that the business wouldn’t be viable with Shane in charge, but thought that it would be with Stephanie in charge, then, from a strict business standpoint, he had to make the tough decision to skip Shane and go to Stephanie.  The one pitfall that has killed off most family-run pro wrestling empires is that the father doesn’t see the reality of the truth regarding one of his kids and rams him down the marketplace’s throat, which kills business.  In this case, that happened behind the scenes and it would’ve been easy to fall in that trap, but Jr. didn’t.  Some read that since Jr. did that to Shane, they think he’s a monster.  Those same people relish in the thought that Shane left WWE & is going to compete against WWE in some capacity.  However, the shortcomings of Shane McMahon when it comes to realizing his dream to run an empire like WWE will be evident if he fails, and if he doesn’t fail, then he will be able to make his mark on his own merits.  However, the thing that everyone has to understand is that the consensus feeling within WWE [amongst the non-McMahon’s] is that the right decision was made, because the business will be better off in the collective hands of Shane’s sister, Stephanie, and her husband, Paul Levesque [Triple H]).

WWE 3rd Quarter Results

The big news is that they made more of a profit this time than during the same period last year, but the PPV numbers were down quite a bit.  I do not think that the theme of the PPV is the problem, nor do I think that it is the creative end either.  It is that they are too expensive and that there are too many of them.  Nevertheless, Vince will not budge on reducing the overall number of PPV shows they run in a given year.  Live attendance was up, which just proves my point.  If fans go to the live events and do not order the PPVs, then, obviously, the value is not there as a consumer and that likely is the hefty price tag.  WWE is looking to grow 15-20 percent over 2009 through 2012.

Chris Jericho Upsets TMZ, GLAD

TMZ slammed Jericho for using the word “fag” during a recent appearance at the Sacramento Horror Festival.  What happened was that Jericho was being a heel and, joking around, he used some colorful language.  Jericho issued an apology already and GLAD is already on his case.  Yeah, I am rolling my eyes because people are way too sensitive.

Jamie Noble “Retires”

According to WWE.com, Jamie Noble has “retired” from pro wrestling due to the back injuries he suffered at the hands of Sheamus.  (Yes, this is an angle.)  Noble has been working as a Road Agent, there might be a chance that he is done in the ring for good, and they will use his move to be a full time Road Agent to push Sheamus.

TNA

Turning Point 2009 Preview

This Sunday night, TNA presents Turning Point.  As seems to be the case over the past few months, the behind-the scenes action is more intriguing that what is happening onscreen.  Now that the fallout from the Jeff Jarrett-Kurt Angle-Karen Angle love triangle has finally ended, the foundation of TNA has been rocked again with the announcement that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are coming to the company.

My guess is that they will not be involved with this show at all.  Both men should be focused on the upcoming Hulkamania tour they put together that will be invading Australia in a few weeks.

As is always the case, feel free to let me know what you think will be happening on Sunday night by clicking on the comments link below.  I just request that you keep this blog nonspoiler and not mention anything that will be happening on Impact this week until after the show concludes tonight.

Knockouts & Knockouts Tag Championships:  Beautiful People (p/t-Tag) v. ODB (c-Knockout) and Sarita & Taylor Wilde (c-Knockouts Tag)

Even with the addition of Lacey Von Erich, the Beautiful People have lost a lot of steam since Angelina Love left the company due to her visa issue.  The group needs a win here to get some type of momentum going for themselves.  I can’t see any of them pinning ODB to walk out of this match with the Knockouts Championship.  However, a pin over Sarita or Taylor Wilde to win the tag team titles is more realistic.

X-Division Championship:  Amazing Red (c/p/t) v. Homicide

I never thought I would say this, but I miss Don West as one of the voices of the company.  I am happy that he is back on TV as the promoter of Amazing Red.  I am taking Red to win this match and then having to be on the lookout from one of the winners of the Feast or Fired match next month.  I am making this pick a month early, but I can see Homicide winning the X-Division Title shot next month in that match and then stalking Red & Don West.

TNA Tag Championship:  British Invasion (c/p/t) v. Motor City Machineguns

I am shocked to finally see The Guns get a title shot.  Despite being popular with the crowd for quite some time, they always seem to be a part of the multi-man X-Division matches every month instead of being a legitimate threat to the Tag Team Titles.  The good news for the team is that they are on the poster for next month’s PPV event.  The bad news is that the poster is promoting the Feast or Fired match.  While posters are not always a good indicator of what will be happening at a future event, I am going to have to agree with the poster this time.  I can easily see the Guns going back to being random people in one of TNA’s almost monthly multi-man stipulation matches.

6 Sides of Steel:  Awesome Kong (p) v. Tara

I am still scratching my head about the triple threat these two were involved in last month.  The company went through the trouble of bringing in Kim Couture for that match and even had her interfere in it.  However, the cameras did a poor job in capturing that action, the announcers never mentioned it was Kim Couture, and the incident has not been mentioned on TV since.  If the company is still working with Kim Couture, then her interference in this match would make some sense.

Scott Steiner v. Bobby Lashley (p)

I think I should just copy & paste my predictions about Lashley matches every month.  As long as Lashley is undefeated in the world of MMA, then he will remain so in TNA.

Kurt Angle v. Desmond Wolfe (p)

I am most looking forward to this match.  I was a huge fan of Desmond’s work in Ring of Honor, where he went by the name of “Nigel McGuinness.”  There is also a lot of intrigue about this match because of AJ’s title reign.  With Matt Morgan, Mick Foley, & Kurt Angle recently turning face, and the apparent split of the Main Event Mafia, with the exception of Samoa Joe, there are no main event caliber heels on the roster.  A win by Desmond here makes him the #1 heel for the company.  On the other hand, Kurt looks to be in line for a title shot based upon having a time limit draw with AJ where it appeared that AJ was just about to tap to the Ankle Lock.

Triple Threat TNA Championship:  AJ Styles (c/p/t) v. Samoa Joe v. Daniels

Daniels has to be the most inconsistently booked wrestler over the past few months.  Is he a main event star or a random X-Division guy that opens each PPV?  Last month, he was a random X-Division guy; this month he is a main event star.  I think that next month, he will be a random guy in the Feast or Fired match.  I hope that he learned his lesson over the past two years and will avoid trying to grab a briefcase.  The wild card in this match is the identity of the man that has been attacking AJ.  After last week, it is shown that he is working with Joe.  If I had to guess, I am picking Tomko as the mystery man, although I would not be shocked if the mystery man was Kevin Nash.  For those that do not know, Kevin was recently suspended by the company for making some disparaging remarks about the company while on the microphone to address the situation involving a bad bump that Chris Sabin took.  Those comments were edited from the broadcast.  The length of that suspension has never been made public.  Regardless of who the mystery man is, I am still picking AJ to overcome the odds.

KJ’s Kommentary:  My Opinion on the Hulk Hogan-TNA Saga

First, Hulk Hogan needs the money so he had to strike a deal with either Vince McMahon or TNA.  He was not going to get a lot of interest in WWE with his health issues (he hardly can walk, barely can do the leg drop these days die to hip replacement, and isn’t getting any younger), so he went to TNA.  He has been making the rounds, telling people that he “taught” Vince McMahon everything about the wrestling business and that when he went to then-WWF during Vince’s national expansion, Vince had no idea about weightlifting or promoting pro wrestling and Hogan paved his road with gold.  (That’s somewhat hilarious, since VKM came up in the wrestling business, being groomed by his father, Vince Sr., who no doubt taught him about the pro wrestling world, only Jr. didn’t agree with that ideal, and changed it drastically.)  Hogan has also been making the rounds, saying that he is “running TNA.”  Whether that be the case or not has yet to be determined, but earlier indicators are that Hogan does have creative control over everything & everyone within TNA.  Hogan was going to (may still be) bring in Kevin Sullivan to lead the charge as the main idea man/booker and that is not terrible news if it happens, since Sullivan has incredible ideas and is a great booker.  The only problem is that Hogan’s deal with TNA and having so much power means that he is going to bring in his crew to work in the company, with the idea being that they will give the company name recognition & talent depth.  (This is hilarious because, in most cases, the depth of talents will be stricken with nonquality workers top-to-bottom and that isn’t what you want.)

The Nasty Boys likely will get a job with TNA, which means that we could see them as an active tag team in 2009 and they were horrible the last time they had their WCW run.  Ed Leslie (Brutus Beefcake) is certain to surface at some point, as is Bruce Prichard (Brother Love), and even some old names from WCW you did not expect could be heading in.  Then there are the “big names free agents” that are likely to be brought in and I mentioned some of their names.  Goldberg would do it if the money was right & Russo was not involved and it appears increasingly more that Russo’s days are numbered inside TNA.  Ric Flair is already inked to a three-year deal with Bischoff & Hogan.  However, he has not wanted to do anything to upset HBK or VKM and, no doubt, wrestling for TNA would fit that bill, so it is going to be interesting to see if Flair tries to get out of the contract or just goes with the flow and joins TNA.  The real question here is not if “Hogan v. Flair” has name recognition or value left in the 2009 market place because, on some levels, it does, and on others, it falls short on every level.  However, the real question here has to be, “Why does TNA think that ‘Hogan v. Flair’ is going to appeal to its fan base that has bought every one of their shows from day one?”  It won’t.

Furthermore, why does Dixie Carter think that Hulk Hogan working in TNA and turning TNA into WCW in 2009 with the same people in charge that murdered it is going to appeal to its current fan base?  It isn’t.  So now, you have to ask yourself why this deal was struck by Carter and it is obvious.  Hulk Hogan, like him or hate him, is the one acquisition that Carter could make that makes it appear as if TNA has hit a major home run and is on the map in pro wrestling simply based on Hogan’s name.  Then when getting him nets you others like Ric Flair or, potentially, Bill Goldberg, then the signing of Hogan was looked on as a must and a godsend deal.  However, what is not being mentioned or talked about is the current age of all of those stars and the fact that this is not going to be the top stars coming into TNA to put them on the map, but rather the “has-beens” that were sent packing by WWE who are signed by the nearly 60-year-old former multi-time world champion to try to recreate something magical that happened nearly 15 years ago.

What does Hogan actually mean to TNA?  I can tell you right now what it means:  TNA has a guy that does not know reality.  Tells lies to everyone that listens to him speak, has been more in the news over the last few years because of his personal life dissolving due to the reality of who he actually is, and a guy that has no reason to care about establishing anyone in TNA but himself.  Hogan knows that this is his last hurrah in the business and he has set himself up as the main attraction on his own tour – that tells you his mentality.  He could have brought up some young talents on his tour and used his status to put them over, but instead, he wanted to prove that “Hulkamania is still alive brutha!”  Therefore, in the end, Hogan brings TNA name value for sure, but the value of the name is not the same as it once was and, no doubt, business is not going to spiral upwards based around this acquisition.  Now, business could move up if they bring in the right people with Hogan, but if he just brings in his crew from WCW, then TNA is in major trouble.

(c) = Champion(s) before match.

(p) = My pick.

(t) = Whom I predict title(s) will end with.

KJ’s Kommentaries

Canada’s Healthcare Disaster

After more than a decade of public healthcare with mandatory coverage, so many Canadian doctors have left the practice and so many young people have entered other fields that Canada ranks 26th of 28 developed nations in its ratio of physicians to population.  Once, Canada ranked among the leaders in the number of physicians, but that was before government healthcare drove doctors out of the practice in droves.

The fundamental fact is that we can not cover 36 million new patients without more doctors & nurses, much less with the declining census of medical professionals the Canadian experience indicates.  A recent survey of doctors by the Pew Institute found that 45% of all practicing doctors would consider retiring or closing their practices if the Obama healthcare bill passes.  This scarcity of medical personnel heightens the likelihood of draconian rationing, lengthy waiting lists, and lower-quality medical care for all of us, particularly the elderly.

This physician shortage leads to massive & never-ending waiting lists.  In 1993, for example, there was an average wait of 9.3 weeks from the time a patient got a referral from a general practitioner to the time he/she could see a specialist.  By 1997, the wait was up to 11.7 weeks.  Now, it is 17.3 weeks – over four months just to see a specialist!

In Canada, unions control the entire healthcare process.  In Manitoba, for example, there is an eight-month wait for colonoscopies, yet the unions do not permit weekend or evening procedures, thereby extending the waiting lists.  The unions are doing to healthcare in Canada what they have done to education in America:  Stifling creativity, reinforcing bureaucracy, and extending waiting times.

Because of these long waits for colonoscopies, there is now a 25% higher incidence of colon cancer in Canada than in the United States.  In addition, because the leading drugs that we routinely use to treat the malady in the U.S. are banned in Canada because of its high cost, 41% of Canadians who get the cancer die of it, compared to only 32% in the United States.  Overall, the cancer death rate in Canada runs 16% higher than in the United States.  Cancer does not wait for waiting lists to clear.

The potential of healthcare changes to shrink the doctor population – exacerbating scarcity and extending waits – is even worse now that it is apparent that we have overestimated the number of doctors in the U.S.  Where we once thought there were 840,000 doctors, the total is now estimated to be only 760,000.

The proposed $400 billion cut in Medicare raises the probability that increasingly more of those doctors whom do practice will refuse to accept Medicare patients, aggravating the doctor shortage among the elderly…the population that needs them the most.

As Obama’s program moves through Congress, despite the fierce opposition of a majority of American voters in virtually all the polls, it becomes clear that those moderates who vote for it will face harsh retribution at the polls from their outraged constituents.  A kind of suicide-pact mentality is gripping the Democratic majorities in Congress, akin to that which came over it when Congress passed President Bill Clinton’s tax package in 1993.  This disregard for the will of the marginal voter may make sense for those who come from safe districts, but it makes none for those who come from swing districts.  For them, suicidal conduct leads to political demise.

Obamacare Endorsements:  What the Bribe Was

As the suicidal Democratic congressional representatives proceed to rubber-stamp the Obama healthcare reform despite the drubbing their party took in the 2009 elections, the President trotted out the endorsements of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the AARP to stimulate support.  However, these – and the other endorsements – his package has received are all bought & paid for.

Here are the deals:

• The AMA was facing a 21% cut in physicians’ reimbursements under the current law.  Obama promised to kill the cut if they backed his bill.  The cuts are the fruit of a law requiring annual 5-6 percent reductions in doctor reimbursements for treating Medicare patients.  Bravely, each year Congress has rolled the cuts over, suspending them, but not repealing them.  Therefore, each year, the accumulated cuts threaten doctors.  By now, they’ve risen to 21%.  With this blackmail advantage, Obama compelled the AMA to support his bill…or else!
• The AARP got a financial windfall in return for its support of the healthcare bill.  Over the past decade, the AARP has morphed from an advocacy group to an insurance company (through its subsidiary company).  It’s one of the main suppliers of Medi-gap insurance, a high-cost, privately purchased coverage that picks up where Medicare leaves off.  However, President Bush #43 passed the Medicare Advantage program, which offered a subsidized, lower-cost alternative to Medi-gap.  Under Medicare Advantage, the elderly get all the extra coverage they need and coordinated, well-managed care, usually by the same physician.  Therefore, more than 10 million seniors went with Medicare Advantage, cutting into AARP Medi-gap revenues.
• Presto!  Obama solved their problem.  He eliminates subsidies for Medicare Advantage.  The elderly will have to pay more for coverage under Medi-gap, but the AARP – which supposedly represents them – will make more money.  (If this galls you, join the American Seniors Association, the alternative group; contact SBarton@AmericanSeniors.org.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots.  You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
• The drug industry backed Obamacare and, in return, got a 10-year limit of $80 billion on cuts in prescription drug costs.  (A drop in the bucket of their almost $3 trillion projected cost over the next decade.)  They also got administration assurances that it’ll continue to bar lower-cost Canadian drugs from coming into the U.S.  All it had to do was put its formidable advertising budget at the disposal of the administration.
• Insurance companies got access to 40 million potential new customers.  However, when the Senate Finance Committee lowered the fine that would be imposed on those who don’t buy insurance from $3,500 to $1,500, the insurance companies jumped ship and now oppose the bill, albeit for the worst of motives.

The only industry that refused to knuckle under was the medical device makers.  They stood for principle and would not go along with Obama’s blackmail.  So the Senate Finance Committee retaliated by imposing a tax on medical devices, such as automated wheelchairs, pacemakers, arterial stents, prosthetic limbs, artificial knees, hips, and other necessary accoutrements of healthcare.

Therefore, these endorsements are not freely given, but bought & paid for by an administration that is intent on passing its program at any cost.

Ft. Hood Attack Was Terrorism

In his nationally televised remarks following the horrendous killings at Ft. Hood, President Obama never mentioned the T-word.  The attack was an act “of violence.”  No mention of terrorism.

In fact, the Ft. Hood shooting is the first terror attack on American soil since 9-11.  However, Obama, reluctant to take the rap for inadequate protections against such attacks, is doing everything he can to make it look like an adult version of the Columbine school shootings.  We are treated to stories about the killer’s dread of being sent back to Afghanistan and his deformed personality.

Nevertheless, the fact is that Major Nidal Malik Hasan jumped on a table, yelled “Alah Hu Akhbar!” and began the shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 more.

Ilana Freedman, CEO & Senior Analyst for the Gerard Group International, which provides intelligence analysis for business & homeland security, describes Hasan as a “lone wolf terrorist” who acts without apparent coordination with any other person or organization…but that does not make him any less of a terrorist.

            The dividing line, of course, between a terrorist and a psychopathic killer is “political motivation.”  His statements right before opening fire would indicate that Hasan was motivated by fanaticism and a commitment to Islamic fascism, even though President Obama bends over backwards to avoid saying so.

Obama’s refusal to call the attack terrorism, and to heed the warning signs about the porous nature of our security system that allowed it to happen on a military base, recalls President Clinton’s deliberate decision to downplay the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center.  He did not visit the site of the attack and treated it as a crime, promising to find those guilty & punish them, rather than to attack the international groups that funded & enabled them.

There may be no groups behind Major Hasan’s attack, but the fact that he was an officer in the Army, with full access to a military base and its arsenal of weapons, while holding the views he did, is the first indication of a laxity in security under President Obama.  This attack did not take place in a shopping mall or school, where security procedures, understandably, are relaxed.  It happened on the highest security place of all:  A military base!  The fact that the military failed to spot the possibility of an attack and had no measures in place to prevent it must be laid at the feet of the Commander-in-Chief of that military:  President Barack Obama.

Many commentators have warned that the diminution of security and the weakening of our anti-terrorist protections would leave us vulnerable to be hit again.  Now it has happened.  …And the President is doing everything he can to blur the distinction between murder and terrorism.

His failure to understand the difference between an act of war & a crime undermined President Clinton’s administration’s anti-terror efforts and led directly to 9/11.  It would appear that President Obama is going down the same road of denial and minimization of political harm.  There may be casualties at Ft. Hood, but Obama is determined that his popularity will not be among them.  How selfish and sickening.

The Supreme Salmagundi

TT/PP:  Hey NASA!  Skip The Moon!  Send Humans To Asteroids!

As NASA readies the Ares 1-X test rocket, a commission of experts appointed by the President says, "Hold everything!"  "NASA should forget about going to the moon [for now] and land humans on a nearby asteroid or comet, or one of the two moons of Mars," says the Augustine panel.  The reason?  It will take a whole lot less fuel to get humans back from such low-gravity destinations.

It makes sense.  The moon?  Been there, done that.  Let's get some big honking rockets, maybe even bigger than the Saturn V, and head out into deep space.  Meanwhile, the Augustine panel recommends extending the life of the shuttle for another year — until 2011 instead of putting it in mothballs on October 1, 2010 — and keeping the International Space Station aloft until 2020 instead of crashing it into the ocean in 2015.

Too bad this commission did not exist when George W. Bush decided back in 2003 that our goal was to set up a base on the moon, and then head to Mars.  Among the eight options presented by the commission, a moon landing would only be a training mission, a stepping-stone to destinations beyond.  A Mars mission would only happen in the distant future.

These new plans could work.  Well, until another politician decides to change them.

The Melting Pot

TT/FF:  Verizon Bundles Cellular with Home Services

Verizon will bundle cell service with its home packages.  Packages start at $115 and include television, broadband, cell service, and a landline.  Savings can be as high as $180, yearly.

TT/FF:  Men to Be Tried for Economic Espionage

Two men will stand trial for economic espionage.  They are accused of stealing computer chip blueprints.  They allegedly asked China to fund a startup to produce the chips.

TT/PP:  FCC Takes another Step toward Net Neutrality

The FCC will begin writing net neutrality rules.  They will bar internet providers from giving preferential treatment to certain traffic.  The FCC should vote on the finalized rules by next summer.

TT/PP:  GAO:  "DHS Needs Web Backup Plan"

A pandemic could strain internet traffic…and the Department of Homeland Security has done little planning for this.  That is according to the General Accountability Office (GAO).  The Department of Homeland Security says the GAO has unrealistic expectations.

TT/PP:  Blogger Claims To Have Breached Obama's Site

An anonymous blogger allegedly used a SQL injection attack on President Obama's site.  The hacker was able to access the site's administrator's passwords.  The Democratic National Committee denies the claim.

TT/PP:  Arizona:  Public Record Laws Apply to Metadata

(Don't ask me why the above title has a black background.  It was certainly not my intent.)  Under Arizona's public records law, metadata in public records must be disclosed.  That is according to a new state Supreme Court ruling.  Metadata is data about data, like when a document was created.

TT/PP:  Privacy Law Approved By Senate Committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2009.  Companies and government agencies would have specific rules for protecting sensitive data.

TT/FF:  Get Ready For a DVD Price War

It is shaping up to be a good holiday season for movie fans.  Walmart, Target, and Amazon are in a DVD price war.  Online prices of some new releases have been lowered to $10.

Top Feature

Antigravity Emdrive Could Change Everything

Inventor Roger Shawyer’s antigravity drive could bring George Jetson’s flying car into reality.  Shawyer says that he is working on a version of his superconductor-packing Emdrive that can generate 300 pounds of thrust using a 6kW input.  The idea is to silently lift vehicles, spacecraft, or missiles with the Emdrive and then propel those projectiles using other means, such as rocket or jet engines.

Is this mad scientist and his antigravity drive for real?  See for yourself in this video.  Scientists all over the world are squabbling over whether it is possible to use the Emdrive’s high-power microwaves inside a closed system to create thrust from electrical power.  Chinese scientists have plans to test such a drive by the end of this year and the British National Space Centre is investigating the tech…but an Australian researcher calls the inventor a “crackpot” and a “charlatan.”

Undaunted, Shawyer is moving forward with his plan to build an unmanned demonstration vehicle.  Shawyer says the 1000-pound vehicle, once aloft, will be propelled forward with jet engines, reaching a speed of 230 knots (≈264.68 mph).  This tech could also have scary military implications, allowing weapons to be launched with no exhaust plume, making them virtually undetectable.

Security

Sony Recalls Power Adapters over Shock Risk

Sony is recalling AC power adapters for certain VAIO computers & docking stations.  They may short-circuit, causing a shock hazard.  Check Sony’s site to see if yours is being recalled.

South Korea:  “Pyongyang Engineered July Attacks”

North Korea was behind web outages in the United States and South Korea.  That is according to South Korea’s spy agency.  The July attacks were not complex.

Malicious Links Abound On Twitter

According to Kaspersky, 1 in 500 links posted to Twitter lead to malicious sites.  Shortened URLs make it easy for criminals to spread malicious links.  Twitter checks links shortened through Bit.ly.

Criminals Target Gamers

Criminals are targeting online gamers.  They use malware to steal login credentials, and then steal virtual items to sell on underground marketplaces.  Make sure you are protected from these threats!

Scareware, Worms Top Security Threats

Microsoft has released its Security Intelligence Report.  It finds that worm infections doubled in the first six months of 2009.  Scareware is also a top security concern.  However, the threat is waning.

Here’s a Game to Avoid

Lose/Lose is a new “game” for the Mac.  A file is deleted from your hard drive for every ship hit in the game.  Symantec classifies the game as a Trojan.  The game is clear about its actions.

News/Views

Esquire Comes to Life with Webcam

Esquire’s November issue uses augmented reality.  Codes in the magazine can be held up to a webcam.  Three-dimensional animations pop up on your computer screen.  Due to its cost, it will not be a regular feature.

Amazon Launches PayPhrase

Amazon has launched PayPhrase.  The service lets users pay with a single passphrase and PIN on multiple sites.  That way, sensitive payment information is only stored on one site.

Researchers Develop Companion Robot for Cars

Researchers at MIT have developed a robotic driving companion.  It can provide traffic information, other real-time data, can keep a driver awake, and even talk a driver out of a bad mood.

DIY Health Information, Products Abound Online

It is easy to find health products & information online.  However, the information can be bad or the products may be dangerous, which can have serious consequences.

Chrysler to Offer Mobile TV Service

Chrysler will begin offering a new mobile TV service in December.  It will be available in 100 major markets and on some interstates.  About 20 channels will be available.

Twitter Begins Lists Rollout

Twitter has begun rolling out its new Lists feature.  Users can organize other users into groups.  This makes it easier to get the information you want.  Others can subscribe to your lists.

Windows 7 Upgrade Hack May Break Law

Some sites are explaining how to install Windows 7 upgrades on clean PCs.  However, Microsoft is warning that this may be illegal.  An earlier version of Windows is required to install an upgrade legally.

New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty To Internet Scam

The owner of GoInternet has pleaded guilty to tax evasion & mail fraud.  He tricked small businesses into paying for internet services without consent.  He faces up to 46 years in jail.

Lawmakers Could Ban Computers in Airplane Cockpits

Lawmakers want to ban computers & personal electronics in airplane cockpits.  This comes after an airplane overshot its destination by 150 miles.  Pilots were using laptops at the time.

Cable Modem Hacker Indicted

A San Diego man has been indicted for computer intrusion.  Ryan Harris allegedly sold products for hacking cable modems.  The products provided free broadband access.  Harris faces 20 years in prison.

Microsoft Cuts Online Software Prices

Microsoft has slashed the price of its cloud services.  Its Business Productivity Online Suite has been cut $5 to $10 monthly.  Microsoft recently lost a major account to Google’s cloud services.  Cloud computing is a hot trend.

Internet Running Out of Addresses

A new report says that the internet will run out of addresses next year.  That will make it difficult or impossible to connect new gadgets.  Problems can be averted if more adopt the “IPv6” addressing technique.

Google Maps Shows Nonexistent Town

A mysterious town has appeared on Google Maps.  Argleton is shown in Western England.  However, it is not a real town.  Some say it is a trap to catch people who violate the map’s copyright.  Online maps are really something.  They can help you find low gas prices, avoid crime and more.

Internet, Cell Phone Use Not Tied to Isolation

Social isolation is not linked to cell phone & internet use, according to a new study.  In fact, social-networking sites, blogs, and e-mail can lead to larger social networks.

Your Family May Access Your E-Mail After You Die

When you die, your family members may gain access to your e-mail.  Some webmail will provide families with passwords.  Certain social-networking sites may also turn over passwords as well.

Danish Students Get Web Access during Exams

Some Danish schools allow students to use the internet during final exams.  Students are not allowed to communicate with others.  The program is currently in a pilot phase.

Programs/Products/Plug-ins

Office Accounting To Be Discontinued

Microsoft will discontinue its Office Accounting software.  Customers can continue to use the software and receive support for five years, but some features expire Dec. 15.

Snow Leopard Update Blocks Intel Atom

Mac OS X Leopard 10.6.2 will break your hackintosh.  The forthcoming OS update will not run on the Intel Atom processor, a rather petty move from Apple, which, if true, will break many netbooks that have been hacked to run as more than passable Macs.

Virgin Launches iPhone Ap

Virgin Atlantic Airways has launched the Flying without Fear application.  The iPhone application is designed to help people overcome their fear of flying.  It includes relaxation & breathing exercises.

Apple Offers 100,000 Aps

Apple has announced that its Ap Store offers 100,000 applications.  The store launched less than two years ago.  Two billion applications have been downloaded for the iPhone & iPod Touch.  That’s a lot of aps!

Tips

Windows 7 Shortcuts

Windows 7 adds loads of great shortcuts for switching between applications, moving windows around your screen, moving them to another monitor altogether, and much more.  Click above for a quick-reference master list of the best new Windows 7 shortcuts.

Clean Install Windows 7 from Upgrade Media

This solution from Paul Thurrott’s WinSuperSite may be the answer to that activation problem found in Windows 7 upgrade edition.

Gaming

Video Game Features Terrorist Attack

Footage of Call of Duty:  Modern Warfare 2 has leaked.  At one point, the player takes the role of a terrorist…and innocent civilians can be shot.  The developer says the scene was made to evoke terrorism’s atrocities.

Dreaming Improves Gaming Scores

Dreaming about playing video games improves your score.  That is according to new research.  Dreaming only helps up to a certain point, however.  Dreaming too much about gaming can hinder scores.

Quick Bytes

• Is Google Navigation The Death Of Garmin, Magellan, & Tomtom?:  Free GPS on any Android phone could be the end of dedicated navigators.
• Gavari Violin Fast-Forwards Instrument Design By 300 Years:  …But how does it sound?
• Net Neutrality Illustrated:  So That’s What It Means!:  You’d better like your internet à la carte.
• Will Touchscreen PCs Catch On?:  Finger smudges, welcome.
• Axel Enthoven’s “Opera”:  Marvel at this mini Sydney Opera House on wheels.

This is posted late this week because I wanted to wait until a couple of days after the elections.

Kevin

KJ’s Kommentaries

A Deathblow to Obamacare

Chris Christie’s gutsy win in New Jersey puts the arrogant big spender, Jon Corzine, in his place.  However, it is the election in Virginia that probably has more to say to marginal Democratic congressional representatives considering how to vote on healthcare reform.

Obviously, Christie’s victory is a body blow to Obama after Corzine outspent the Republican three-to-one and the President put on a serious push for the incumbent.  Corzine’s defeat sends a loud message that the nation is moving sharply against Obama.

However, Virginia results are the most important.  More than 80 Democratic congressional representatives & 20 senators come from states that John McCain carried in 2008.  For them, the sudden switch in Virginia, a swing state that Obama actually carried, heralds tough political times ahead.

New Jersey is the quintessential blue state.  If it goes Republican, blue state congressional representatives need not worry.  Their districts are likely still safe.  However, when a Republican in Virginia wins by 20 points, it sends a loud message to red-state Democratic congressional representatives to take cover.

Polls indicate a declining level of popular approval of the Obama policies (Rasmussen shows his job approval at 46%), but to see actual Democrats losing or barely squeaking out victories in solidly blue states sends a far clearer message to the Democrats in Congress.

Until last Tuesday night, Democratic moderates, the so-called blue dogs, could bask in the light of their candidate’s success in 2008, but now, they must hear hoof beats behind them.  The party discipline on which Obama depends to pass a healthcare program that Americans reject by 42% for, 55% against (Rasmussen again) will only work if beleaguered Democratic incumbents can wrap themselves in Obama’s cloak and tough out the popular criticism.  However, the limits of Obama’s drawing power are readily apparent in the Republicans’ 20-point victory in Virginia and the race in New Jersey.

In the coming weeks, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi & Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid will be asking their troops to cast potentially career-ending votes for healthcare changes, Medicare cuts, higher taxes, and fines on the uninsured.  Whether they take that risk depends on their faith in Obama’s drawing power.

However, the votes in Virginia, in particular, show the limits of Obama’s appeal.  The winner, Bob McDonnell, won the attorney general’s race in the last election by a few tenths of a percent over the same opponent.  The fact that he coasted to so huge a victory in the swing state of Virginia now has to send this loud message to red-state Democratic congressional representatives:  “Obama may be able to survive in the deep water into which he is leading his party, but you can’t.”

1993 Redux Confronts Dems

As Santayana said, “Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.”  Congressional Democrats: Take note!

Are the elections of 2009 precursors of the same kind of massive partisan upheaval in Congress that we experienced in 1994?  The historical data says, “Yes, they are.”

In Virginia, the outcomes in 1993 & 2009 were almost identical.  In 1993, after the Democratic incumbent, Doug Wilder, could not seek reelection, the governor’s race pitted Republican George Allen against Democrat Mary Sue Terry.  Allen won handily, 58-41 – virtually the same margin by which McDonnell defeated Deeds this week.

In New Jersey, the parallels between 1993 & 2009 are equally striking.  Democrat Jim Florio, then the governor, was seeking his second term against Republican Christie Todd Whitman.  Just as in 2009, Chris Christie beat Jon Corzine, so in 1993 Whitman edged out Florio by 49-48.  Chris Christie’s margin was bigger, but his vote share was almost identical to Whitman’s.

So, if New Jersey & Virginia both behaved the same in 2009 as they did in 1993, will 2010 bring the same kind of sweeping Republican victory that 1994 did?

…And will the Democratic defeats in these two states presage trouble for President Barack Obama’s healthcare proposals in Congress?

Will history repeat itself?  It depends on the depth & half-life of Democratic arrogance.  If Democratic incumbents from red states start to take account of their own self-interest, then the political environment for healthcare legislation in the House & Senate will change dramatically.  Democrats like Sens. Byron Dorgan (ND), Kent Conrad (ND), Mark Pryor (AK), Blanche Lincoln (AK), Mary Landrieu (LA), Evan Bayh (IN), Kay Hagan (NC), and Ben Nelson (NB) will have to rethink their support for a bill that is dragging their party down.

It is clear that healthcare legislation & rising unemployment are exacting a toll on Democratic legislators and that it cost Corzine & perhaps Deeds the governors’ mansions.

Will Democrats get the message?

If Democratic congressional representatives & senators continue to believe that they can be saved by Obama or by massive campaign budgets, they have only to look to New Jersey to understand how little either factor counted.  Corzine outspent Christie three-to-one and Obama campaigned actively in the bluest of blue states for the Democratic governor.

Of course, the 1993-1994 political calendar was a time of improving economic news.  The recession had ended in 1992 and unemployment was dropping.

The budget deficit was declining.  Therefore, the worsening job picture so far in 2009 and the dire warnings of a jobless recovery in 2010 make this cycle even more perilous for Democratic incumbents.  The message is clear and the handwriting is on the wall, but can Democrats read it?

The recent indication that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is considering a vote on healthcare reform this coming Saturday, blithely continuing as if the New Jersey & Virginia elections had not turned out the way they did, is evidence that she, at least, can not read the writing on the wall.

For the House to pass Obama’s healthcare bill five days after so huge a repudiation of the Democratic Party and its program is breathtaking in its arrogance.  Voters all over America will get the point:  The congressional Democrats do not give a damn what the voters think!

Flu Shot Shortage Shows Govt. Incompetence

How can the government pretend that it can manage, overhaul, streamline, and reform the healthcare system in the United States when it can’t even deliver enough flu shots to prevent a pandemic?

We have seen the H1N1 virus coming for over a year.  It is no surprise that much of America needs vaccination.  It was no secret that the flu season was approaching.  However, now that it is upon us, we find ourselves pathetically short of shots.

One year ago, the government told us that we would have hundreds of millions of vaccinations available.  Then, over the summer, the prediction was that 40 million would be on hand by the end of October.

Last month, the estimate was scaled back to 28 million and, as of late last week, only 11.5 million had been delivered, leaving tens of millions vulnerable and, tragically, likely leading to hundreds of preventable deaths.  Given the tendency of the virus to strike the young, many of those deaths will be among children.

It should be a simple task to produce & distribute a vaccine – as we do with regular flu shots each & every year.  However, it was apparently beyond the capacity of the Obama Administration to manage such a routine feat.

If it can’t run the epidemiological equivalent of a two-car funeral, how can Obama promise that the government will do an adequate job of managing the nation’s healthcare system?  (To say nothing of 2 car companies, a trove of banks, and insurance firms.)

In the debate over healthcare, the implicit assumption has been that the government can act with competence & timeliness.  The discussion has largely centered on what powers to give the government, not on whether it had the ability to wield this new authority.  The bill, making its way through Congress, empowers the federal government to decide on protocols of healthcare, penalize excessive costs, and moderate reimbursement fees.  These are all difficult & delicate tasks and involve decision that must be made promptly & wisely for the system to have a chance of working.  Otherwise, endless delays, bottlenecks, and messes can eventuate…and these failures can have drastic consequences for the health of all Americans.

Do we really have confidence in our government’s ability to make these decisions?  Does its manifest inability to protect us from the swine flu do anything to inspire such confidence?

Not so far!

Reid’s Bait-And-Switch Tactics

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had two problems:

1.      How would he get the healthcare bill out of the Senate Finance Committee without revealing the glaring potential fissures in his party over the public option on healthcare?

2.      How could he lend a veneer of bipartisanship to a one-party bill?

He could not allow a vote on final passage out of the committee with a public option in the bill because he knew that he would lose Democrats and would have no GOP support.  However, real compromise was always out of the question.  He wanted his public option.  Therefore, he evolved a strategy where the only bill that would be voted on in committee would be one that did not have a public option, all the while planning for the final product to have one.

Therefore, he used the bait of a bill with no public option to hook moderate Democrats like Blanche Lincoln (AK) and the gullible Republican, Olympia Snowe (ME).

When the bill emerged from Finance, by a lopsided 15-9 vote, it restored to healthcare reform the momentum that had stalled due to the public outrage so evident during the August recess.

Then, the dexterous Reid capitalized on that momentum to put the public option back into the bill, reversing the commitment to compromise that allowed the bill to clear the committee in the first place.

This tactic of bait-and-switch offers a foretaste of what Reid will attempt on the Senate floor.  He obviously hopes to replicate these tactics in getting the bill through the Senate.

As he did in the Finance Committee, Reid has opened his gambit on the Senate floor by embracing a public option.  He does this for two reasons:

1.      He wants to send a signal to the House & Senate militants that he is well intentioned and that the final bill will probably have a public option.

2.      He needs to have room to compromise so that the final Senate version attracts the moderates he needs.  First, he veers left in order to then swing right.

His next move is predictable.  As he awaits House action, he stands firm in backing the public option…and as he nears the point of a Senate floor vote, he will pretend to modify that option in order to attract moderates and perhaps a few stray Republicans.  As he & Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) did in committee, he will truncate or even abandon the public option to win unanimous Democratic support (and perhaps 1 or 2 Republicans).

Then, in conference with the House, he will pull the old “bait-and-switch” tactic again, jettisoning the Senate bill and embracing a full-throated public option in the final version that will return to the Senate.

At that point, he hopes to use the momentum of House passage & the imprimatur of the conference committee to try to persuade senators (and the public) that it is this bill or no bill and that only a proposal with a robust public option can pass.

The point of this strategy is never to ask moderates to vote for a public option until the final vote after the conference committee.  Let them build a record of having opposed the public option to sell back home.  Let Reid show that he tried to compromise and only put the final test to the moderate senators at the very last minute, when all the momentum is on the side of final passage.

If he succeeds, Reid gets a bill with his public option.  However, even if he fails and has to delete the public option at the last minute to get Senate support, he will still have gotten the healthcare bill through.

By making such a fuss over the public option, with the connivance of the liberals, he keeps the spotlight away from the Medicare cuts, the end of Medicare Advantage, the inevitable rationing of healthcare, the taxes on the uninsured & sick, and the cuts in medical reimbursement.  A bill with all these provisions – even without a public option – is pernicious enough!

…And these tactics can still produce a bill with a public option.

Will this tactic work?  It all depends on the political environment outside Washington.  If the bill is only marginally unpopular (currently 40-55), it will probably pass.

However, if public opinion moves another five or so points (to, say, 35-60 against), then the moderates will probably refuse to cave in.