Nov 3rd, 2007 by Eric Berna
I recently found this great song. Part of the song is a computer simulation voice (the same voice Stephen Hawking uses), reciting a poem. It starts with the “Footprints in the Sand” poem, and adds a great ending, expressing what has always bothered me about that poem.
The song is called “The God Who Wasn’t There.” Check it out, and download a free MP3.
Apr 2nd, 2007 by Eric Berna
I use iTunes as my podcatcher (the software that manages podcast subscriptions. I listen to lots of podcasts, and I wish the software would handle some things a little differently. Here are some improvements Apple could make to iTunes to make my podcast experience better:
Allow me to see and edit a podcast URL.
There are times that a podcast subscription gets broken for some reason or another. I’d like to be able to at least see the URL for the feed.
Feb 17th, 2007 by Eric Berna
We have a bunch of TVs hanging from the ceiling in front of the exercise machines at our Y. I was on an elliptical machine this morning, and watching the history channel. Glancing around at the other TVs during a commercial, I noticed a headline on the FOX news channel about Anna Nicole Smith’s estate. Apparently her will wasn’t in order, and the IRS will get most of her fortune in inheritance taxes.
In another showing of their distain for middle class America, FOX called this a debacle, as if this windfall for the IRS was a bad thing.
Anna Nicole Smith’s estate going to the IRS sounds good to me, because that is a small dent in the national debt. Now, my children’s tax obligation will be just a little bit smaller. It’s also better for society. Anna Nicole’s child, who should get what’s remaining, will still get enough to be comfortable her whole life. Without the obscene fortune, this child has a chance to be forgotten by the media, and live her own life.
Also, the money will benefit the economy far better if spent by the US government than if hoarded by Anna Nicole’s estate. The money will move through the economy, paying salaries, buying supplies, paying benefits, or paying down the debt. The recipients of the money will then further move the money, fueling the economy. The money will move now, instead of sitting in trust funds waiting for the child to reach age.