Sunday, September 04, 2005

Microsoft Declares War on Google

The AP reports on a tirade by Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer.

The tense words are recounted in a sworn declaration by a former Microsoft engineer, Mark Lucovsky, who said he met with Balmer to discuss his decision to leave the company and join Google.

Michael Liedtke writes:

After learning Lucovsky was leaving to take a job at Google, Ballmer picked up his chair and hurled it across his office, according to the declaration.

Ballmer then pejoratively berated Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Lucovsky recalled.

"I'm going to f------ bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again," the declaration quotes Ballmer. "I'm going to f------ kill Google.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

LA Guard Wanted Equipment Back Last Month

ABC26 reporter Yunji de Nies wrote a story on August 1st on the need for Louisiana National Guard equipment to be in state in the coming months. It is a very prescient article indeed.

WGNO-TV reports of dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers, and generators that are now in Iraq, and "in the event of a major natural disaster that, could be a problem."

Let alone a disaster.

"The National Guard needs that equipment back home to support the homeland security mission," said Lt. Colonel Pete Schneider with the LA National Guard.

It looks like the Gulf coast could have used more Hesco Bastion Inc. concertainers, an erosion and flood control product. A product that, unfortunately, is being used more overseas than for its original purpose.

The Lousiana-based company testified before the Senate Committe on Appropriations on its dual usage last year.

As Justin Raimondo stated: "A more dramatic – and tragic – demonstration of the principle of how war (and State action) diverts resources away from rational uses would be hard to find."

The Spin vs. The Specific

CNN reports on the difference between what the politicians and bureaucrats say and what information eye-witness accounts provide.

Michael Brown, chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff do not come off very well. But, this is no surprise even given the vast scope of this disaster. The truth is just not in their best interest.

The bottom line is that I wouldn't trust any bureaucrat in those circumstances. I am sorry to say it, but wake up kiddies, the government cannot be relied upon. Ol' uncle Sugar cannot handle the responsibility that it has assumed in return for power and your money.