Between The Blogs

We’ve decided to roll our Conversations over Dinner blogs (both Him and Her) into one. In addition, we are incorporating Between the Blogs into this new, single blog, titled simply “Conversations over Dinner.”

Basically we’ve done this because we’d rather have one blog online, frequently updated, than three blogs, each not being given our full attention. We think that in the long run you will agree.

So please join us at Conversations over Dinner.

Thanks,
Jake & Mandy

In today’s Washington Post — Business Section — there is an article titled Every Click You Make. For those of use who use the Internet, regardless of your interests and/or online pursuits, this is one scary read. It seems that certain Internet Service Providers are, on a contractual basis, monitoring every single keystroke you make each time you sit down to use your computer. Your clicks are then analyzed, sanitized, and sold to companies who use the information to target YOU for certain online ads that it has determined, from your online endeavors, would most interest you.

The companies, ISPs, etc. bury their disclosures of this practice in multi-page documents filled with legal jargon that you agree to when you sign up for your internet account. Worse, they don’t actually state what it is they’re doing. They will, instead, acknowledge that they work with 3rd party advertising providers to collect certain information. Innocent enough, right? Sometimes — but in this case — no, it’s not.

While we’ve all sadly, and to our discredit, gotten used to a certain lack of individual privacy in today’s world, it is reprehensible that these companies should be permitted to mine this kind of detailed information all for the benefit of the few who seek to market their trinkets to you when all you’re trying to do is read Aunt Bertha’s blog about her trip to Hawaii.

I’d call for the government to get involved in outlawing this type of practice by ISPs, but truthfully, I have absolutely no faith in their ability to do so. And that’s sad too.

Technorati Tags: America, fear, society

I received an email from Tim Kerr, Campaign Director at SaveTheInternet.com, this morning. In it he makes some very disturbing allegations against Comcast, one of the world’s largest internet providers. It seems there are hearings taking place at the FCC in Boston right now and that Comcast has actually paid people to take up seats so that others who are truly interested in the outcome of the hearings are kept out of the room. Many of these paid seat squatters don’t even know or understand the purpose of the hearings.

Here in the US we take for granted the availability of the Internet and our ability to use it unhampered. We consider it a right of sorts. Well, if Comcast and some of the other Internet giants have their way, this will stop. The Internet will become, like much of the US, a place where money talks. The rest of you will get the leftover crumbs.

I’m proud of my wife, Mandy. Not more than six months ago, we started our blogs at Conversations over Dinner with the hope that we would find it a pleasant hobby that we could enjoy and that would help bring us even closer than we already were. That part has worked out just fine and, if you have any sort of writing ability whatsoever, I heartily recommend the exercise as a relationship-aide.

So, back to Mandy. A month or so ago she was approached by Health Central to write as an expert blogger on the section of their website devoted to Multiple Sclerosis; Mandy being afflicted with that disease and, in fact, penning posts in her own blog, MS Maze, devoted to its trials and tribulations. Well, Mandy accepted the challenge and, as I expected would happen, has become a much-read blogger on their site.

Now Mandy has stretched her wings once more. Two days ago she uploaded her first post to a west coast blog published by a team of women called In The Trenches Productions.  I believe Mandy mentioned the site here back on November 2nd. The blog itself is titled Women Over 40 Rock. Mandy fits the bill and felt that she has a few things she’d like to say about being a woman, being over 40, and the possibilities that are available to women today vs. days of recent past.

So do yourself a favor. Take a moment to read Mandy’s new post on Women Over 40 Rock titled Our Time is Now. With all that women are continuing to accomplish in our world these days, I believe she may be right.

Technorati Tags: freelance, Hillary, society

Mandy told me something interesting tonight. Strange that I didn’t hear about it, but then again I was kind of involved in some web design projects today. Anyway, she told me that Karl Rove, Bush’s brain (so he’s been called,) stated in an interview that the reason Bush jumped the gun invading Iraq was because CONGRESS pushed him into it.

Huh?

I’m now convinced, more than ever before, that our government leaders consider us all to be complete and unequivocal idiots. Unfortunately, I have to include Rove in that bunch purely by virtue of his proximity to the President and his well-publicized ability to bend Bush’s ear and, hence, mold his brain. If we question our own eyes and ears and, in doing so, lend even a smidgen of credence to Mr. Rove’s delusions, then those government leaders are 100% correct and we, much as lambs being led to slaughter, deserve our fates.

Technorati Tags: Bush, terrorism, war

Did you know that “most of the nearly two–billion children in the developing world are inadequately educated, or receive no education at all. One in three does not complete the fifth grade.”

Those are sobering statistics. One group, called ‘One Laptop Per Child’ has set out to do something about this situation. Led by their founder and chairman, Nicholas Negroponte, OLPC has a mission, and it’s pretty much just what it’s name states. They want to give a laptop computer to each and every one of those children. Sounds crazy, huh? Well, it’s not.

OLPC has developed an absolutely incredible laptop that, if you could buy one, would sell at a fraction of what you would expect. Ruggedly built, incorporating software specifically tailored to help a child learn, to expand their minds beyond their immediate situation, this laptop… this company… has begun their mission.

The holidays are here and One Laptop Per Child needs your help. They’re making you an incredible LIMITED TIME OFFER.

Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During this time, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution.

Go to LaptopGiving.org to learn more. What a great gift to give the world.

Technorati Tags: kids, society

Disability is not an easy subject to tackle when job-hunting.

If you have a disability and are searching for employment, make JobEnable.com the next stop in your internet travels. It is the brainchild of Matt Lawrence, who saw the need through personal experience, along with the NetworkIP team. It is Matt’s vision to provide a place for disabled job seekers to connect with employers interested in hiring them.

Like many such sites, job seekers can post resumes and search the database for jobs posted by employers. In this case, however, the employers are fully aware that the applicants have some type of disability. The service is free for applicants, while employers pay a reasonable fee.

Those of us who are disabled, but still willing and able to contribute in the workplace, appreciate the efforts behind this worthwhile venture. Employers would be wise to seek out this very motivated sector of the workforce.

Mark Klein is a hero. Mr. Klein, whose photo is on the first page of today’s Business section of the Washington Post, is in Washington to lobby Congress to not grant legal immunity to telecommunications firms that helped the government in its anti-terrorism efforts. It seems that the Bush administration has endorsed an immunity provision that would eliminate the lawsuits that have been filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation that charges 38 carriers with illegally collaborating with the NSA.

Mr. Klein, who is a former AT&T employee that was assigned to a secret internet room built on AT&T property in San Francisco, claims to have proof that the room was designed to effectively collect, vacuum-style, all internet data traffic and then analyze that traffic for only God knows what. Well, God knows — but we can guess. I’m not — not even in the least — a conspiracy junkie, but I am a realist. There’s a difference.

You can make your own judgement call here. Me? I take a hands-off view on the internet. Yes, the companies that own/run the pipes must work behind the scenes to make sure that their lines are not vulnerable to attack, that they are working properly, etc., BUT we must not fall victim to the political rants that would have us believe there is a terrorist behind every keyboard and behind every smile. Because if that’s true, then we’ve already lost and if that’s not true, but we choose to act as if it is, then, again, we’ve lost.

Technorati Tags: Bush, fear, terrorism

If you work in an office… or, like myself, a home office, you’ve undoubtedly had times when you’ve wanted to pound your stapler with a hammer, bury it and then dance on its grave.

Till now.

While at Wal-Mart (yes, that’s right.. Wal-Mart) today, I picked up an Accentra PaperPro Stapler (Item: 1532.) I thought they were kidding when they said ‘one finger’ stapling, but they weren’t. After unboxing and testing it, I brought it to Mandy, who was in the kitchen. I handed her a piece of cardboard and the stapler. “Go ahead, staple it.” She did, and the look on her face was confirmation that this was the greatest non-power staple we had ever seen.

Thank you, PaperPro.

Note: This is NOT a paid ad. This company doesn’t know I’m alive and I’m not even going to bother telling them.

If, after I’ve lived with this thing for awhile, it doesn’t live up to its claims, or my praise, believe me… I’ll let you know.