Birthday #3 and Disney World 2008.

We were actually at Disney World this year on his birthday, and this kid is spoiled.

A cool thing about Disney is that, almost to the last employee, they are all in the "We are Disney experts and love doing our jobs" school... or at least they act like it well enough to pull it off.  Will wore a little "It's my birthday!" button, and almost every employee we passed stopped to wish him well.  It was nice, if a slight bit tedious, at the end of the day.  But still, repetitive enthusiasm trumps surliness with a big old right bower (does anyone get that reference?).

I've already told most of my Disney stories in the Disney Thread, but two things to take away from looking at all of these pictures:  someone help me convince my wife that those big yellow dates in the corner completely ruin well-composed pictures, and that my kid got a lot of sugar from the princesses.  And they didn't even seem to care that I had a birthday that last summer... no sugar for daddy.  But they were all, to a woman, all over my kid.

Snow White started it all.  Her kiss caught us by surprise, but we recorded the aftermath.

And then there was the time we caught three Princesses all together.  Belle, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.

And then during the Halloween Party we found Alice... and by now he knew what was up and was ready to give a little sugar of his own.

I don't remember my parents getting me kisses from princesses when I was a kid.  This kid has it too good.

But he also met Mike Wazowski, from Monsters, Inc.  That's "Mike" spelled with one "i."  Their joke, not mine.

And his faves, the Toy Story gang.

And we went to the speeder bike, again... this is becoming a tradition.

Me in 2003:

Will in 2007:

And Will in 2008:

He met about five times as many characters, and we got the pics, but there are just too many to put, here.  Those in the know can see them on my wife's Myspace.  We were there for 10 days and that was probably two or three days too long, but all in all it was a great trip.

Lots more anecdotes in the Forum Thread.  If you want to participate in the discussion and aren't registered, email me and I'll sign you up.  We had to close registration due to spammers flooding us.

The Day After, a Post in Two Parts.

Part 1:

Congratulations to President Obama.  You ran and won on little more than a "hope and change" platform, and I while I hope you end up being a great President, I hope the "change" part doesn't end up with me being homeless, or something, since that would be some serious change.  I've not been as active on dtman.com as I've been in past elections, due to a number of reasons, lack of motivation being the main one.  New parenthood does that to a person.  Obama isn't the guy I voted for, but I did vote, the majority has spoken, and I am proud to have participated in one of the most amazing occasions in human history: a bloodless turnover of the most powerful office on the planet.  Citizens of this country, for reasons public and private, voted and the law will be served.  And it happens every four years.  We take it for granted, but it really is amazing, given human nature.

So consider this a toast to President Obama, and with all honesty I say that I hope he ends up being one of history's great Presidents.  I personally am concerned about the effects of a lot of his election "promises" and philosophies, but there is a vast gulf between being a candidate and actually being in office where there are consequences to the things you say and do.  We don't know which way the winds are going to blow.  I'll reserve judgment after I see what kind of executive he actually is, since no one really knows.  But here's best wishes.  My country, my president.

Part 2:

And this is a big one.  For the last eight years I have heard whining and complaining of the most unseemly sort.    Media always finding the bad in the good.  Liberals of all stripes crying to everyone who can hear, whether they want to hear or not, "He's not my President!"

Chimpy McHalliburton.

This is not respectful, it is not mature, it lacks class, and it shows complete disdain of a country I served with pride.  It really has been tiresome listening to the "republicans are evil/Bush is hitler" bullshit for so long.  There is a difference between disagreeing with a president's domestic policy, and saying he is bad because you think he looks like a chimp.  This is 3rd grade stuff, here.  So I am going to show all of you how a grownup handles an election where his personal favorite candidate did not win:

Even though I didn't vote for him, and think he is far from being the best man for the job, democracy has been served and I will respect the man as my President, and if called would still defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic, just like I did last time.  I'm looking forward to a stillness of all the weeping and flapping gums and sleights I've had to endure.  I honestly hope he can live up to even half of the greatness to which you've all built him up in your minds.

Time Warner Cable is Starting to Piss Me Off.

It is one thing to offer better packages at different tiers of services, but it is quite another to remove features and functionality one is used to receiving for free and making it available at a higher pricing tier for more money.

First and foremost on my mind is their "Channel Guide."  It used to look finished and professional, and all of a sudden... on my non-digital cable box (my main box is digital), it looks like they're using Commodore 64 graphics.  Also, you can no longer hold down the "down" arrow and quickly scan through what is currently showing... now if one holds the button for more than 3 seconds, the channels flash by too quickly to read.  Boo.  You just added less functionality and visual appeal.  Nice job.

Secondly, one day the "Universal HD Channel" appeared in the block of channels dedicated to HD broadcasts.  I was impressed that more HD channels were being added to what was available to me.  I scanned it weekly for more shows to add to the DVR... I discovered the excellent series "Jericho," this way.  Then, after a couple months, that channel was only available as part of a new subscription service... it would cost me to continue watching it.  What do you think you are selling, Time Warner, crack?

And thirdly, I don't know if this is a result of poor infrastructure in this part of Ohio, or what (the northwest corner of Ohio is famous for not receiving much attention/infrastructure money from the state capital), but some channels, at peak viewing times, are staticy to the point of becoming unwatchable.  Some mornings when my kid is trying to watch Playhouse Disney on the Disney Channel, the reception will go in and out completely every 3 seconds, or so.  When a new Battlestar Galactica is showing on the SciFi Channel, it is so full of static I feel like I am 9 again trying to tune in the UHF channel to that station in Detroit on a Saturday afternoon so I can watch 4 hours of Creature Feature... usually, Godzilla movies.  But anyway... come on... I'm paying $150 per month for digital cable, and I am getting channels with static?  Seriously?  (And everyone under the age of 25 is saying, 'What's UHF?')

And speaking of the SciFi Channel, where my SciFi HD?  I know it exists.  The only reason I would have to get it is until Battlestar ends... so it is now or never, Time Warner.  That window is closing.

Interestingly enough, I have access to a cable TV competitor in this area, Buckeye Cable, and I may be looking in to their offerings.  I also have access to the Dish Network, which I hear has a lot of HD channel offerings.  I have been a fan of Time Warner TV for a while, but not since 2003 in Memphis have I had such a poor experience with them... and then they just had customer service issues... the product itself was better than this.  Hell, one day in North Carolina they sent me a letter saying they improved infrastructure and they were increasing my available cable modem bandwidth by 50%, and Merry Christmas.  I was impressed.  But unless you get your shit together you're going to lose me, Time Warner Cable in Ohio.

"Hey Gordo, your shit's broke."

Thanks for the text message Vince, and I'll see you in hell.

But yes, the forum has been down all week, and I've been too busy to take the time to fix it.  I suspect my host moved the SQL server without telling me, and now settings are all wrong... but every time I try to call them I am on hold with tech support for 30 minutes.... and that is getting old.

I'm currently considering changing hosts right now, and will unless the current host amazes me by getting my shit fixed TODAY.

Catt or any other forum regulars who want to give a shot fixing the forum contact me at my gordon2 dtman email address with your phone numbers, and I will get you as much login info as I can to the hosts SQL admin pages, and the "security question" for tech support and pretend you are me.  If I change hosts, the last forum backup I made was about 3 weeks ago... not so bad considering right now it's been down about a week since the forum worked.  Additionally there will be about 3 days downtime while the new domain IP propagates across the net.

Robbing America to Pay No One

    In the face of recent economic weakness, President Bush has proposed a $150 Billion stimulus package to keep the economy going. Democratic contenders Clinton and Obama have proposed $70 Billion and $120 Billion plans, respectively. The details differ, but the impact will be the same. More deficits.

    Pre-9/11, America enjoyed a record $250 billion budget surplus. Let's set aside arguments of whether it was truly a surplus based on accrual accounting methods instead of cash accounting. Since that time, the government has not come close. Bush, emboldended by the surplus and eager to be aggressive in the face of terrorism, approved $1.5 trillion in tax cuts and boosted military spending. By 2004, any memory of a surplus had been erased as the government ran a $450 Billion deficit. For 2007, the deficit has been trimmed to roughly $200 billion, propped up by the recent economic expansion.

    Today, the CBO announced that 2008 would be worse. The deficit is projected to grow to $250 billion, and without accounting for any costs of any potential economic stimulus plan. The 2008 fiscal year ends October 1st, and no doubt some portion of any stimulus plan would further worsen the 2008 deficit.

    Yesterday, in a move to calm nervous markets and spur economic activity, the Fed cut rates .75 basis points. The markets still fell, but the impact was seen. Housing related stocks sky-rocketed. Bond re-insurers, mortgage companies, and home supply companies had large gains ranging from 10-40%. Why? Because the fed's action will do more to help the current situation than any economic stimulus package could.

    One of the current issues in the economy is the resetting of many adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). Mortgages are generally tied to either LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) or 10 year government treasuries. The 1-year LIBOR has dropped 200 basis points over the past year, and the 10-year treasury has dropped to 3.30%. 30-year mortgages, which hit a peak of 6.5% last summer are now at 5.375%, a level not seen in nearly 5 years.

    As these rates fall, the impact of mortgages adjustments drops dramatically. As can be seen here, nearly $1.5 trillion of ARMs are set to reset over the coming 4 years. As teaser rates expire, market rates will be charged. With falling rates, fewer homeowners will default, and the housing market could rebound, even cascading into a wealth effect as people feel more wealthy given the rising values of their homes, and have equity to tap for future spending.

    The fed's action was dramatic, and proper. Instead of waiting until a recession has clearly begun, the fed acted swiftly to bring a large amount of help to the markets. Looser credit can help companies that need to borrow to grow, as well as homeowners facing mortgage difficulties. Both will have far more positive impact on the economy, while minimizing the impact on the budget deficit. The politicians need to focus on a small, targeted, short-term stimulus package, or possibly none at all. The fed has already done more for the long term than any politician could hope to do.

Procreation.

Look at that; almost two months since my last post, and a new year to boot.  Truly this webpage keeps peeps checking in several times a day looking for new updates.  I ought to install advertising to get my share of that crazy internet money.

That being said, I've been trying hard to find something new I care about enough to write about.  I don't really care a lot about the following subject, but I've always felt it was important to inform the general public when a meme has gone out of style, or, as the teens say, "is played out."

A number of years ago it became fashionable to proclaim one's distaste for children, for those who had them, and the concept of them in general.  Various witticisms came about from this, labeling people who procreated "breeders" (this one was popular in homosexual circles as a derogatory term for heterosexuals), referring to children themselves as "crotch droppings" or "crotchfruit," and generally being outraged when confronted by a human less than 18 years old in public, followed by a flurry of angry typing on their favorite internet forum whine board.

Allow me to be the one to inform everyone that this kind of outrage is played out.  Irony has kicked in, and ranting about "omg I heard a baby in a restaurant last night i hate people" is no longer "edgy" and "dark," but just whiny.

No, this decision is not based on my own, updated parental status.  I still feel there should be "child free" days at zoos, restaurants, etc for people who wish to have a break from herds of children... grown-ups like the zoo, too.  I think kids under 3 should be physically barred from any movie, at any time, that isn't rated G... unless it is a designated "child showing" and kids are expected to be there.  And you know why I feel that way in spite of being a parent?  Because I'd take advantage of these things, too.  There is a thing called a "babysitter" for when Daddy needs some grown-up time, and Daddy does occasionally like a break from kids.  Daddy gets upset when he gets a babysitter and goes to a movie and there is another person there with a crying infant who chose to not get a babysitter.

But raging about people who have kids with various excuses, such as the "the world is already overpopulated and I am so enlightened that I am not going to add to the problem," is just stupid.  If nothing else, just contemplate who is going to wipe your ass for you when you are 70 years old and cold and alone if other people aren't busy raising the next generation that will be taking care of you.  And while you are giving your "here's why I won't ever have kids" excuses, just remembered that other people are just assuming that you're full of shit and are just unable to find another human willing to breed with you, possibly because you're ugly or are unschooled in the mysteries of personal hygiene.