I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4581871.stm
Just wait, coming to a do-gooding senator or representative near you.... they want our guns, it will be our knives next! Hey, they only want to protect us... right?
These people just have way to much time on their hands folks. It also clearly makes Paul Harvey's point, "Self-government without self-discipline ......."
I really should write something about Oracle, eh?
Robert
Friday, May 27, 2005
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
HTMLDB Rocks
OK, so in a twist of direction, I thought I'd share my thoughts on HTMLDB.
I've been working with it for a couple of months now I guess. I have to tell you that this is a great environment to develop in. I have really enjoyed the experience. It's a solid product, and the Oracle HTMLDB forum is just remarkable. The actually HTMLDB developers are there... often your question has already been asked and answered on the forum, and the answer is from one of the developers themselves!
I won't say that HTMLDB is simple, certainly basic development is easy. Like anything else, complexity and logic requirements can add to the HTMLDB learning curve. Still, I'd say in spite of this, the learning curve is frequently not as steep as it might be with other languages.
My plan is to start learning more java script so I can integrate that into my HTMLDB screens... but for now, I'm covered up with design paperwork.... so maybe in the future I'll be able to get to it.
So, if you are looking at needing to do some web development, look into HTMLDB.
I've been working with it for a couple of months now I guess. I have to tell you that this is a great environment to develop in. I have really enjoyed the experience. It's a solid product, and the Oracle HTMLDB forum is just remarkable. The actually HTMLDB developers are there... often your question has already been asked and answered on the forum, and the answer is from one of the developers themselves!
I won't say that HTMLDB is simple, certainly basic development is easy. Like anything else, complexity and logic requirements can add to the HTMLDB learning curve. Still, I'd say in spite of this, the learning curve is frequently not as steep as it might be with other languages.
My plan is to start learning more java script so I can integrate that into my HTMLDB screens... but for now, I'm covered up with design paperwork.... so maybe in the future I'll be able to get to it.
So, if you are looking at needing to do some web development, look into HTMLDB.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Iraq.... so many miss the point...
Left, right .... what does it mean anyway?
I will say that when I talk about the "left" I don't distinguish between democrat or republican. There are leftist types on both sides of the isle. While I lean more towards the republicans, I don't see them as the white horse ready to save us and in fact I'm very disappointed in them on many fronts. I think freedom is at risk whoever is in office as long as we the people are content to sit back and let them govern us from a distance. I think freedom is at risk when we are so busy bickering and fighting for power (and make no mistake, that is what so much of the current political scene is about) that we lose sight of the real reason we are here on this planet, that being to aide our fellow man. (I'm sure that there are some exceptional people who are really motivated by what's right here)
I have heard those who have stated that Iraq is a bad war. They state this based on their belief that President Bush went to Iraq with intentions that were self-interest motivated. Based on this belief, they say the war is bad. I'm not sure I know one way or the other, who can read a man's mind? There are those who say we went looking for WMD's that were not there. I say, if we thought they were there, then we should have gone, no questions.
Still, I say, so what? The bottom line is that regardless of the reason that we got there, it was a morally correct decision for US to go there, for the same reason it was morally correct for us to be involved in World War Two. Since the reason is ultimately moral and absolutely correct, then we should be there no matter what the motivation of the commander and chief.
What is that reason? To me, the clear reason here is one word, Genocide. That to me is a trump card, don't pass go, don't collect 200 dollars. See:
http://www.hrw.org/reports/1993/iraqanfal/
http://www.gendercide.org/case_anfal.html
Look at the pictures of the DEAD, GASSED children. Tell me this isn't a moral war.
Get beyond your political polar ice cap and thaw a bit. It is a moral and right war, if it stops the genocide. Period. How many human beings were killed by Sadam? How many more would need to be killed before we said enough is enough? When will we stop turning our head away? This isn't about freedom (which is a perfectly good reason in and of itself), this is about something even more basic. This is about the right to simply live.
So, is the fallout worth it? If one has vision, if one looks at the future with hope and *resolve*, then sure it does. Are the American deaths worth it? It's hard to say yes, but I think that we have to stand by our ideals, by our words. We proclaim freedom to the world. It's high time we put our money and our might where our mouth is. It's high time we did this with might and vigor and with a united people who say "This is where it stops. This is where the evil stops. This is the line, and none shall cross it and live to return again."
Also, do we refuse to do the right thing because the consequences of doing the right thing might be bad? Do we refuse to do the right thing because it might make us look imperial, or it might offend a particular group of religious people? The right thing is often the most difficult, gut wrenching thing one can ever do. Doing the right thing can and does cost lives, sometimes in the end, it can cost more lives than it saves. Doing the right thing was never easy, but it is right.
I wonder, do you think the survivors of the holocaust camps ever once wondered if the allied forces were doing the right thing? Do you think they sat and debated over the political merits of the Soviets getting East Germany in the end, or if Monty or Dwight should lead the charge into France? Do you think the Jews being paraded into the execution chambers thought much about the changing political landscape as the US came into World War Two? Do you, REALLY? Do you question the rightness of World War Two? Only a truly heartless person could ever question that the mass death of any group is worthy of the title "evil".
So, should we get out of Afghanistan or Iraq now, I think not. Now is not the time. We must stand firm in our resolve, we must show them that we are right, and that we know that we are right. Let our vision be in terms not of days or weeks or months. Let us be selfless and realize that this is about our children and grandchildren, thus our vision must be in terms of decades and centuries. We must teach, educate and show them we love them. We must be good and consistent examples. It takes time. Years of fostered hate can not be undone in a year, or a decade. It's an investment though that pays centuries of dividends. Do we love our children and do we love our fellow man, to invest that kind of time? I certainly hope so.
There are other places to go, and horrors to stop. Do we have the guts to take those on? Probably not unless there is political motivation. And that is a shame.
I will say that when I talk about the "left" I don't distinguish between democrat or republican. There are leftist types on both sides of the isle. While I lean more towards the republicans, I don't see them as the white horse ready to save us and in fact I'm very disappointed in them on many fronts. I think freedom is at risk whoever is in office as long as we the people are content to sit back and let them govern us from a distance. I think freedom is at risk when we are so busy bickering and fighting for power (and make no mistake, that is what so much of the current political scene is about) that we lose sight of the real reason we are here on this planet, that being to aide our fellow man. (I'm sure that there are some exceptional people who are really motivated by what's right here)
I have heard those who have stated that Iraq is a bad war. They state this based on their belief that President Bush went to Iraq with intentions that were self-interest motivated. Based on this belief, they say the war is bad. I'm not sure I know one way or the other, who can read a man's mind? There are those who say we went looking for WMD's that were not there. I say, if we thought they were there, then we should have gone, no questions.
Still, I say, so what? The bottom line is that regardless of the reason that we got there, it was a morally correct decision for US to go there, for the same reason it was morally correct for us to be involved in World War Two. Since the reason is ultimately moral and absolutely correct, then we should be there no matter what the motivation of the commander and chief.
What is that reason? To me, the clear reason here is one word, Genocide. That to me is a trump card, don't pass go, don't collect 200 dollars. See:
http://www.hrw.org/reports/1993/iraqanfal/
http://www.gendercide.org/case_anfal.html
Look at the pictures of the DEAD, GASSED children. Tell me this isn't a moral war.
Get beyond your political polar ice cap and thaw a bit. It is a moral and right war, if it stops the genocide. Period. How many human beings were killed by Sadam? How many more would need to be killed before we said enough is enough? When will we stop turning our head away? This isn't about freedom (which is a perfectly good reason in and of itself), this is about something even more basic. This is about the right to simply live.
So, is the fallout worth it? If one has vision, if one looks at the future with hope and *resolve*, then sure it does. Are the American deaths worth it? It's hard to say yes, but I think that we have to stand by our ideals, by our words. We proclaim freedom to the world. It's high time we put our money and our might where our mouth is. It's high time we did this with might and vigor and with a united people who say "This is where it stops. This is where the evil stops. This is the line, and none shall cross it and live to return again."
Also, do we refuse to do the right thing because the consequences of doing the right thing might be bad? Do we refuse to do the right thing because it might make us look imperial, or it might offend a particular group of religious people? The right thing is often the most difficult, gut wrenching thing one can ever do. Doing the right thing can and does cost lives, sometimes in the end, it can cost more lives than it saves. Doing the right thing was never easy, but it is right.
I wonder, do you think the survivors of the holocaust camps ever once wondered if the allied forces were doing the right thing? Do you think they sat and debated over the political merits of the Soviets getting East Germany in the end, or if Monty or Dwight should lead the charge into France? Do you think the Jews being paraded into the execution chambers thought much about the changing political landscape as the US came into World War Two? Do you, REALLY? Do you question the rightness of World War Two? Only a truly heartless person could ever question that the mass death of any group is worthy of the title "evil".
So, should we get out of Afghanistan or Iraq now, I think not. Now is not the time. We must stand firm in our resolve, we must show them that we are right, and that we know that we are right. Let our vision be in terms not of days or weeks or months. Let us be selfless and realize that this is about our children and grandchildren, thus our vision must be in terms of decades and centuries. We must teach, educate and show them we love them. We must be good and consistent examples. It takes time. Years of fostered hate can not be undone in a year, or a decade. It's an investment though that pays centuries of dividends. Do we love our children and do we love our fellow man, to invest that kind of time? I certainly hope so.
There are other places to go, and horrors to stop. Do we have the guts to take those on? Probably not unless there is political motivation. And that is a shame.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
IOUG-A is here!!
IOUG-A, it's the big one folks! My goodness, there is so much going on this week! Tomorrow, I have a full day university session to do, and then I have two other sessions to do.
I love meeting people at IOUG-A. I have lots of friends there, lots of great people, and it's always good to see them.
If your following this blog, and you are going to be at IOUG-A, come look me up.
On another note, my wife and I spent the last two days here having a great time. We went to Disney and MGM. Still, I'm already to get home to my kids. It's terrible that they are all growing up, and soon they will all be heading off to be adults. Knowing that my time is short, I don't mind the 5:30am run to take my two oldest to Seminary, then getting others up for school. Funny thing is that even on the weekends when I don't have to be up (or summer) early, I'm still up at 5:30am..... but it's all good and no complaints!
Thats part of the reason I love working from home. I get to be there when they go to school, I get to be there when they get home. It's a grand thing. Thanks to Don and Janet Burleson for that opportunity.
Enjoy IOUG-A!
Robert
I love meeting people at IOUG-A. I have lots of friends there, lots of great people, and it's always good to see them.
If your following this blog, and you are going to be at IOUG-A, come look me up.
On another note, my wife and I spent the last two days here having a great time. We went to Disney and MGM. Still, I'm already to get home to my kids. It's terrible that they are all growing up, and soon they will all be heading off to be adults. Knowing that my time is short, I don't mind the 5:30am run to take my two oldest to Seminary, then getting others up for school. Funny thing is that even on the weekends when I don't have to be up (or summer) early, I'm still up at 5:30am..... but it's all good and no complaints!
Thats part of the reason I love working from home. I get to be there when they go to school, I get to be there when they get home. It's a grand thing. Thanks to Don and Janet Burleson for that opportunity.
Enjoy IOUG-A!
Robert
Friday, April 22, 2005
Evil People
There are evil people in the world. I firmly believe this, and it's evidenced every day. You will notice on my blog that one of these evil people has appeared. How can we tell this person is evil?
1. The posts were anonymous.
2. The posts were unkind and out of context.
3. The posts were presumptuous, at best.
I allow comments on my blog because I would hope for intelligent discourse, not drivel from someone hiding behind the moniker of anonymous. Still, wheat does have chaff, and one has to expect it while harvesting.
I can't delete the comments, blogger doesn't let me. I wouldn't even if I could. They demonstrate the type of person that any of us who dare to try to do some good in public (write a book, post our thoughts, etc...) has to deal with. They hide behind anonymity, puffed up by their own foolish remarks. Such wit! Such insight!
As for the comments:
1. I never said that this blog was about Oracle, or anything else. It's my blog, about my life and I'll put in it whatever I jolly well like. If you don't like it, don't read it.
2. My weight is my own issue, and a struggle. Yet, I'm a second degree black belt who can still get some air and do a butterfly kick, I think I'd surprise you as to my agility. I don't eat that much, and ride my stationary bike all the time. Because of injury and time, I've had to cut back on Karate quite a bit... Still, my BP is a nice 120/70 most of the time, thank you very much. I think I'll be around for a while yet.
3. We all die. The question is, what is waiting for us when we do? I don' t presume to judge anyone else, but I look forward to a pleasant afterlife. If it doesn't happen, well this was a nice life anyway. My kids are nearly grown now, and we are remarkably close. Even if I died tomorrow, I've provided the influence they need for the rest of their lives.
So, instead of telling others how to live their lives, why not do some good with your own. Give something back of value rather than garnish your life, and your memory, with worthlesness.
1. The posts were anonymous.
2. The posts were unkind and out of context.
3. The posts were presumptuous, at best.
I allow comments on my blog because I would hope for intelligent discourse, not drivel from someone hiding behind the moniker of anonymous. Still, wheat does have chaff, and one has to expect it while harvesting.
I can't delete the comments, blogger doesn't let me. I wouldn't even if I could. They demonstrate the type of person that any of us who dare to try to do some good in public (write a book, post our thoughts, etc...) has to deal with. They hide behind anonymity, puffed up by their own foolish remarks. Such wit! Such insight!
As for the comments:
1. I never said that this blog was about Oracle, or anything else. It's my blog, about my life and I'll put in it whatever I jolly well like. If you don't like it, don't read it.
2. My weight is my own issue, and a struggle. Yet, I'm a second degree black belt who can still get some air and do a butterfly kick, I think I'd surprise you as to my agility. I don't eat that much, and ride my stationary bike all the time. Because of injury and time, I've had to cut back on Karate quite a bit... Still, my BP is a nice 120/70 most of the time, thank you very much. I think I'll be around for a while yet.
3. We all die. The question is, what is waiting for us when we do? I don' t presume to judge anyone else, but I look forward to a pleasant afterlife. If it doesn't happen, well this was a nice life anyway. My kids are nearly grown now, and we are remarkably close. Even if I died tomorrow, I've provided the influence they need for the rest of their lives.
So, instead of telling others how to live their lives, why not do some good with your own. Give something back of value rather than garnish your life, and your memory, with worthlesness.
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