My last post was regarding my adventures trying to commute from the west side of West Valley City to the east side, and from there to Downtown Salt Lake City. Well, as there are no real bike trails going East and West, I thought I would start the ball rolling by contacting my City Councilman regarding the need. Unfortunately, the Mayor doesn't have an email for contact, so I will be writing a snail mail letter to him.
In addition, for any of you who are interested in adding your vote to an open letter, I will be posting mine here in this blog entry:
Open Letter to West Valley City Council
Dear West Valley City Council,
The needs of cyclists within your fair city is indeed dire. In a city that has been dedicated to it's citizenry, the protection of those using alternative transportation has been sadly neglected.
How so? By excluding bike lanes from your roads, or by excluding multi-use trails through the city, cyclists have been forced to risk their lives on roads with little or no safety zones behind white lines. Sharing the road with cars is becoming more hazardous as the city expands with new construction.
Because alternative transportation presents a unique and healthy way to combat greenhouse gases, and can also boost the economy within local areas, I respectfully request that you consider multi-use trails and/or bike lanes within your fair city. Those that cycle to work will be more likely to continue to do so, and those that have been less inclined to cycle will be more likely to do so if safe avenues are provided.
Now, I made two claims regarding the benefits of cycling lanes and multi-use trails. Let me go into more detail regarding those benefits.
Greenhouse Gases and Bike Lanes or Trails
Several cities across the nation have plans to expand their bicycle infrastructure specifically to address the need for reducing greenhouse gases. Their plans and rationale can be found at these links:
Plans from Marin County, California
Missoula, Montana plans
Plans from the City of Seattle, Washington
Plans from the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The list could continue on. As you can see, each of these government entities have recognized the need for expanded, save commutes for cyclists through their cities as an essential part of their commitment to reducing the production of greenhouse gases. My argument is the same. Reduce greenhouse gases by allowing people to safely travel the streets and paths through the city on their own power.
Boost to Local Economy
One thing that most "modern" cities lack is a truly local economy. Many cities, like West Valley, are a collection of suburban lots with a central shopping district that is generally too far of a walk to safely visit without driving. The only alternative would be using a bicycle to increase the range of those suburban dwellers that desire to shop. On the surface, this is an excellent example of why we should be looking to local economies when building bicycle lanes.
Another benefit would be the use of cycling lanes and trails by visitors to the city. West Valley can be the first west-side city to take advantage of regular bicycle tours, and those visiting are definitely going to use their dollars along the trails to be sure those trails remain for future tours.
While West Valley doesn't have scenic avenues going East to West, it is necessary to connect the Jordan River Parkway to the Oquirrh Mountain paths along the old Bacchus Highway, which is a frequented bicycle tour road. An investment of bike lanes within the City would provide an excellent travel opportunity for anyone touring along that road.
For more information on the economic benefits of bike trails and lanes, feel free to check out the following links:
From Darlington, United Kingdom
Greensboro, North Carolina
Study by the National Trails Training organization
There are many more points that I would like to make, but I hope that this at least gives the City some reasons for discussion, and more importantly reasons for action. This project would save thousands of dollars in gas money for the City residents, provide thousands more in increase economic spending by both residents and visitors, and will give West Valley City a place among the cyclists favored spots.
Please consider this much needed expansion.
Yours respectfully,
Jeremy Robb
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
The High Adventures of West to East Cycling
Well, as per the recommendations of a number of people (including levi from a post back in March), I decided to try riding my bike to work again. I figured I would give myself plenty of time and leave at 6:30 AM.
Biking in West Valley City
The ride started off pretty easy, as I chose to go through mostly residential areas this time. I headed through 3100 South from 7200 West to Redwood, which took me about 45 minutes. All the time I was being passed by other cyclists on road bikes. I then realized just how much more suited for this trek a road bike would have been.
The main problem with biking in West Valley City is that the roads are not designed to allow cars and cyclists to share. As such, you either take your chances of getting hit (which I nearly had happen a couple of times), or you ride on the sidewalk, which is then a hazard for pedestrians. Perhaps it's time for a lobby for bike trails through urban West Valley, going East and West... But I digress.
Anyway, I made it to Redwood, and tried to find my way through to the Jordan River. There are some really nice trails going along that way, and I was hoping I would be able to locate a simple way along the Cultural Center. But there wasn't one.
I backtracked (losing about 10 minutes), and found my way through the residential areas east of Redwood Road. I got the distinct feeling that this section was a small town, based on the quiet atmosphere, the established look of the homes, and the beautiful Christian church (not sure which denomination). I turned at the church, and then headed East.
I then road through a very distinctly rural section that I didn't think still existed in West Valley, at least not east of Redwood. And there, at the end of the road, was the Muslim Mosque. Nestled in a quiet field, right at the edge of the Industrial park. It was a very impressive building, with magnificent domes and a nice mixture of rose and yellow stone. They also have started work on an Islamic school, which will be right next to the Mosque. I can't wait to see it, because if it's anything like the Mosque it will be stunning.
The Jordan River
I finally found my way to the Jordan River just South of SR 201. Getting onto the Trail, I headed North, looking for familiar paths that I crossed while going home in March. Well, I didn't find them. Instead, I found my way to a Golf Course. Unaware of the Public Right of Way through the course, I chose instead to take a dirt road that went along the river.
I was lucky the gate was open, and I was able to continue across 1700 South. I then made my way along another dirt road that was fateful. I gathered thorns from this road, which punctured my tires. I didn't realize it because, thankfully, the thorns still held in the air during the ride.
The Breakdown
I finally made my way to California Avenue (1300 South), and 700 West with 10 minutes to get to the 900 South Traxx station, when I finally started losing air in my front tire. I then noticed the thorns I picked up, and marveled that I didn't get a flat rear tire... until I removed a thorn from that tire. I now had two flat tires, riddled with thorns.
Realizing that I wouldn't make the Traxx station on time, I started walking. At this point I discovered something good: I wasn't sore at all from the ride. Apparently I have gotten in better shape since my last ride (thank goodness!). I finally made the Traxx station about 10 minutes later than I had hoped, and made it up to the University campus about 30 minutes later than I had originally scheduled.
So, that was my adventure, both the excitement and the woes of trying to get from East to West in the Salt lake Valley without getting hit by a car.
Biking in West Valley City
The ride started off pretty easy, as I chose to go through mostly residential areas this time. I headed through 3100 South from 7200 West to Redwood, which took me about 45 minutes. All the time I was being passed by other cyclists on road bikes. I then realized just how much more suited for this trek a road bike would have been.
The main problem with biking in West Valley City is that the roads are not designed to allow cars and cyclists to share. As such, you either take your chances of getting hit (which I nearly had happen a couple of times), or you ride on the sidewalk, which is then a hazard for pedestrians. Perhaps it's time for a lobby for bike trails through urban West Valley, going East and West... But I digress.
Anyway, I made it to Redwood, and tried to find my way through to the Jordan River. There are some really nice trails going along that way, and I was hoping I would be able to locate a simple way along the Cultural Center. But there wasn't one.
I backtracked (losing about 10 minutes), and found my way through the residential areas east of Redwood Road. I got the distinct feeling that this section was a small town, based on the quiet atmosphere, the established look of the homes, and the beautiful Christian church (not sure which denomination). I turned at the church, and then headed East.
I then road through a very distinctly rural section that I didn't think still existed in West Valley, at least not east of Redwood. And there, at the end of the road, was the Muslim Mosque. Nestled in a quiet field, right at the edge of the Industrial park. It was a very impressive building, with magnificent domes and a nice mixture of rose and yellow stone. They also have started work on an Islamic school, which will be right next to the Mosque. I can't wait to see it, because if it's anything like the Mosque it will be stunning.
The Jordan River
I finally found my way to the Jordan River just South of SR 201. Getting onto the Trail, I headed North, looking for familiar paths that I crossed while going home in March. Well, I didn't find them. Instead, I found my way to a Golf Course. Unaware of the Public Right of Way through the course, I chose instead to take a dirt road that went along the river.
I was lucky the gate was open, and I was able to continue across 1700 South. I then made my way along another dirt road that was fateful. I gathered thorns from this road, which punctured my tires. I didn't realize it because, thankfully, the thorns still held in the air during the ride.
The Breakdown
I finally made my way to California Avenue (1300 South), and 700 West with 10 minutes to get to the 900 South Traxx station, when I finally started losing air in my front tire. I then noticed the thorns I picked up, and marveled that I didn't get a flat rear tire... until I removed a thorn from that tire. I now had two flat tires, riddled with thorns.
Realizing that I wouldn't make the Traxx station on time, I started walking. At this point I discovered something good: I wasn't sore at all from the ride. Apparently I have gotten in better shape since my last ride (thank goodness!). I finally made the Traxx station about 10 minutes later than I had hoped, and made it up to the University campus about 30 minutes later than I had originally scheduled.
So, that was my adventure, both the excitement and the woes of trying to get from East to West in the Salt lake Valley without getting hit by a car.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Recipe for a Successful Representative Government
Since the apparent success of the American Revolution in the 18th Century, Americans have been trying to spread their ideals of Republicanism and Democracy across the globe. And in almost every instance, those ideals have failed. South America continues to struggle between democracy and totalitarian dictatorial governments. France needed to try for a Republic 4 times before the current system managed to succeed. And Iraq is currently going through the same growing pains that these other countries had gone through.
My question was, why? Why is it that the American Revolution seemed to succeed when others struggled? What makes a country ready for revolution, and what makes the revolution succeed? Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with America, but rather the society that existed at the time of the revolution. Other countries, such as England, Canada, and India, have all managed to reach a democratically lead government as well. It all has to do with the conditions of the society that is seeking independence, and how they go about preparing for the coming storm.
The Tradition
In order for any type of Democracy or Republic to work, you need to have a tradition of self government. the American Colonies were pretty much autonomous in their day to day management, which made moving to a new representative government of the same type possible. It was built around the corporate structure with leadership, with the ability to elect those that were best suited for the job. All this started at the town level, and slowly progressed upward.
The brilliance of this model is that is can be scaled rather easily. A small number of people representing the larger percentage of the group. Generally the person elected would represent the majority consensus on most of the issues, and therefore would be well qualified to handle all government matters and leave the rest of the people to live their lives as usual.
As this model spread up through the towns to regions (counties, parishes, etc.), and eventually to the entire colony, the people became familiar and comfortable with their model of government. So when it came time to cast off from Great Britain, Parliament, and Monarchy, they already had a system of government set up, just waiting for the next tier.
Popular Support
Yes, in order to perform such a dramatic change to the Political system, there needs to be a social and economic support system in place. This is perhaps the most overlooked portion of the search for Democracy. In 1775, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington were all concerned about the possible success of the revolution, because independence was not a concept that was very popular. At least until Common Sense was written.
Once that pamphlet was in circulation, the popular support of independence grew at such a pace it took the Tory support in Congress by surprise. In the 5 months from the publication of Common Sense the nation was impatiently waiting for the Declaration of Independence to be made.
The lesson here is that the populace needs to know what representative government means, and how it will benefit them. They also need to have a general understanding of how it will be a benefit over the previous government. Too many "revolutions" have been quickly stamped out or overtaken by dictators because this all to crucial fact has been neglected.
It also means that those getting their independence would need to apply the concepts to everyone, including those that were previously in power. Yes, even the oppressed can become the oppressors if they are not careful. It's important to realize the dangers of dehumanizing another group to get your political agenda advanced. Everyone needs to be part of the political process, not just a few groups.
Universality of Beliefs
Religious conviction is probably one of the greatest gifts mankind can possess. It's a moral compass in a world where morality becomes marginalized too often. That being said, excluding people based on religious conviction from society leads to oppression, and undermines the basic premise of democracy: That people have inherent rights based on their existence, and not by the grace of the government. Too often are these concepts forgotten in all political circles, and too often are people willing to give up some of these rights in the name of safety.
These rights and liberties that are universal across all cultures should represent the basis of law, and therefore warrant government protection. Once law, or government intervention, begins to eliminate these liberties, the government has become corrupt and needs a reformation. At this point, those rights that were oppressed give the oppressed a rallying point for action toward change.
Once the action has been put into place, the oppressed have a choice to make: Either they become in turn the oppressors, and return the same injustices upon those who were previously the oppressors, or they can opt to include those who were the oppressors into the system, acknowledging their rights as fellow humans. Notice I don't say that agreements need to be made, just that the basic human rights need to be acknowledged.
The Revolution
I love the story of Gandhi. He was truly a brilliant man in his execution of the Indian Revolution against the British Empire. Instead of mobilizing a huge army and getting thousands of people killed, he gained public support by passively resisting the Empire. As such, India became independent, and now the largest Democracy in existence. And, I might add, one of the few true Democracies in the world. The idea of a radical revolution doesn't mean active disobedience, violence in the streets, and open conflict.
Radical revolutions begin at the core, looking at the one issue that ties one to the existing regime and then replacing it with a tie to a new regime. Gandhi did so by calling into question the intents of the British Empire with regard to India. The American Colonies had Common Sense to question the reason for continued ties to the British Crown. That is the real revolution. Once the revolution is over for the population in general, they are then defending their new core beliefs with a united cause.
Even when you look at labor disputes from the 1920's, they were generally diffused by the management conceding to one or two demands instead of all the labor unions demands. Why? Because they were the core issues that the workers really wanted. They got it, so why continue to strike? It took years for Labor Unions to understand this and adapt accordingly.
Liberty, and Justice for All
Yes, that is for all involved, not just one ethnic group, one religious group, one gender, one level of education. It's for everyone. Too often are the oppressed masses put into power, only to become the new oppressors. If we spend more time looking at the universality of liberty, then we can perhaps stop that vicious cycle from continuing.
With these pieces in place, with the work of some very brilliant and caring individuals, it is possible to build a revolution that will lead to a successful representative government. Unfortunately, too many people quest for just that and fail to see the work necessary to bring it about. Perhaps, if we all spent more time studying our History, we would understand how the process works, and how it can succeed.
My question was, why? Why is it that the American Revolution seemed to succeed when others struggled? What makes a country ready for revolution, and what makes the revolution succeed? Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with America, but rather the society that existed at the time of the revolution. Other countries, such as England, Canada, and India, have all managed to reach a democratically lead government as well. It all has to do with the conditions of the society that is seeking independence, and how they go about preparing for the coming storm.
The Tradition
In order for any type of Democracy or Republic to work, you need to have a tradition of self government. the American Colonies were pretty much autonomous in their day to day management, which made moving to a new representative government of the same type possible. It was built around the corporate structure with leadership, with the ability to elect those that were best suited for the job. All this started at the town level, and slowly progressed upward.
The brilliance of this model is that is can be scaled rather easily. A small number of people representing the larger percentage of the group. Generally the person elected would represent the majority consensus on most of the issues, and therefore would be well qualified to handle all government matters and leave the rest of the people to live their lives as usual.
As this model spread up through the towns to regions (counties, parishes, etc.), and eventually to the entire colony, the people became familiar and comfortable with their model of government. So when it came time to cast off from Great Britain, Parliament, and Monarchy, they already had a system of government set up, just waiting for the next tier.
Popular Support
Yes, in order to perform such a dramatic change to the Political system, there needs to be a social and economic support system in place. This is perhaps the most overlooked portion of the search for Democracy. In 1775, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington were all concerned about the possible success of the revolution, because independence was not a concept that was very popular. At least until Common Sense was written.
Once that pamphlet was in circulation, the popular support of independence grew at such a pace it took the Tory support in Congress by surprise. In the 5 months from the publication of Common Sense the nation was impatiently waiting for the Declaration of Independence to be made.
The lesson here is that the populace needs to know what representative government means, and how it will benefit them. They also need to have a general understanding of how it will be a benefit over the previous government. Too many "revolutions" have been quickly stamped out or overtaken by dictators because this all to crucial fact has been neglected.
It also means that those getting their independence would need to apply the concepts to everyone, including those that were previously in power. Yes, even the oppressed can become the oppressors if they are not careful. It's important to realize the dangers of dehumanizing another group to get your political agenda advanced. Everyone needs to be part of the political process, not just a few groups.
Universality of Beliefs
Religious conviction is probably one of the greatest gifts mankind can possess. It's a moral compass in a world where morality becomes marginalized too often. That being said, excluding people based on religious conviction from society leads to oppression, and undermines the basic premise of democracy: That people have inherent rights based on their existence, and not by the grace of the government. Too often are these concepts forgotten in all political circles, and too often are people willing to give up some of these rights in the name of safety.
These rights and liberties that are universal across all cultures should represent the basis of law, and therefore warrant government protection. Once law, or government intervention, begins to eliminate these liberties, the government has become corrupt and needs a reformation. At this point, those rights that were oppressed give the oppressed a rallying point for action toward change.
Once the action has been put into place, the oppressed have a choice to make: Either they become in turn the oppressors, and return the same injustices upon those who were previously the oppressors, or they can opt to include those who were the oppressors into the system, acknowledging their rights as fellow humans. Notice I don't say that agreements need to be made, just that the basic human rights need to be acknowledged.
The Revolution
I love the story of Gandhi. He was truly a brilliant man in his execution of the Indian Revolution against the British Empire. Instead of mobilizing a huge army and getting thousands of people killed, he gained public support by passively resisting the Empire. As such, India became independent, and now the largest Democracy in existence. And, I might add, one of the few true Democracies in the world. The idea of a radical revolution doesn't mean active disobedience, violence in the streets, and open conflict.
Radical revolutions begin at the core, looking at the one issue that ties one to the existing regime and then replacing it with a tie to a new regime. Gandhi did so by calling into question the intents of the British Empire with regard to India. The American Colonies had Common Sense to question the reason for continued ties to the British Crown. That is the real revolution. Once the revolution is over for the population in general, they are then defending their new core beliefs with a united cause.
Even when you look at labor disputes from the 1920's, they were generally diffused by the management conceding to one or two demands instead of all the labor unions demands. Why? Because they were the core issues that the workers really wanted. They got it, so why continue to strike? It took years for Labor Unions to understand this and adapt accordingly.
Liberty, and Justice for All
Yes, that is for all involved, not just one ethnic group, one religious group, one gender, one level of education. It's for everyone. Too often are the oppressed masses put into power, only to become the new oppressors. If we spend more time looking at the universality of liberty, then we can perhaps stop that vicious cycle from continuing.
With these pieces in place, with the work of some very brilliant and caring individuals, it is possible to build a revolution that will lead to a successful representative government. Unfortunately, too many people quest for just that and fail to see the work necessary to bring it about. Perhaps, if we all spent more time studying our History, we would understand how the process works, and how it can succeed.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Jacques Chirac: An Impressive Leader, and Open Letter to Nicolas Sarkozy
Many of you who know me personally know my position on French politics. I have been a critic for a long time, having my opinion reinforced after spending time in Germany. I take issue with many of the policies France has passed in their political career. But that all changed as I started following President Chirac's influence in the recent years.
What really changed my opinion of France and it's politics was President Chirac's insistence that France lead the peacekeeping mission to Lebanon. In a very sensitive situation, France was willing to devote the necessary resources to lead the UN mission. In my mind, this is a breakthrough that should propel France back into the world stage as a leading country to be respected.
From that point, and with the instance Chirac has given to world security, I have a new, growing respect for the country that assisted the United States in their Independence, and then leave the US to handle the rest of the Viet-Nam war.
With the out-going speech of Chirac, I would like to add the following open letter to incoming President Nicholas Sarkozy:
President Sarkozy,
As I am sure you are aware, your country is in a unique position. Your proposed economic reforms are encouraging, and will most likely build up your country into the economic powerhouse it once was. Your reform of welfare systems is brilliant, and could become a powerful labor asset if executed correctly. Based on the policies that I have read about, here are some humble suggestions that you may find encouraging:
Regarding The Economy
Tax cuts are often looked upon by governments as a disaster. But the additional revenue that is then spent within the economy is the best way to bring a country out of a huge economic slump. When this policy was enacted by Ronald Reagan in the United States, the country's economy grew exponentially. I applaud you for the same thinking, and I'm sure your people will as well. Everyone likes having more money to spend.
One thing I would warn you against is encouraging a debtor society. I would recommend educational programs designed to help your countrymen save as well as spend. While the economy may not grow as quickly, it will save your country when the economy eventually takes a down turn (as every economy does eventually). If the people have savings, they are more secure, and therefore less likely to panic during an economic slump.
Regarding Welfare
One of the best benefits and welfare programs in the world is located within the LDS Church's Welfare Square. The program not only encourages people to work for the welfare they receive (hence keeping their self-esteem from plummeting), but it provides educational facilities for worker training. That way the worker is no longer dependent on the welfare system, and instead is encouraged to get out there and work on their own.
Will there be people that will still try to work the system? Of course, you will get that no matter what system is put in place. While I am sure you already have your plans set, I would still like to extend a welcome for you to visit Salt Lake City, Utah to see the LDS Church Welfare system at work. I think you would be quite impressed.
Regarding Crime
Socrates lamented the call of his friend Crito to escape Athens when Athens had sentenced him to death. Socrates then proceeded to question him on various points of morality, eventually coming to the conclusion that should he disobey the will of the State, the State then has every right to deny him the citizenship for which he claimed. As he loved his country and countrymen, he could not accept the possibility of leaving Athens to save his life when they had condemned him to death.
Along that same thought, those that choose to break the laws should be brought to justice. Justice is necessary to keep a society coherent, and thereby keeps the society strong. Once justice becomes perverted by those that use it for their own purposes, the structure of society becomes equally perverted, and begins to break down.
That being said, mercy is always a virtue, and should be considered when evidence points to a truly repentant person. I am not a judge, and as such do not have to make these distinctions, and I am grateful for it. I do not envy your task in Crime reform, but commend you for the effort.
Immigration
This is an issue that the US has yet to come to terms with, as with many other countries across the globe. Because of the Global nature of the economy, more immigration issues have come to the fore-front. As such, I hope that you approach your immigration policies with understanding, compassion, and a desire to strengthen the nation, and not divide it.
One story I heard about migrant workers in Spain focused on the desire to use mothers from various countries, with the expectation that the mothers are more likely to return to their children. I'm sure you have heard of this story, and perhaps have something similar in mind. I commend you for taking on such a pioneering issue.
The Environment
Despite the movement of the US Government, many in the US believe that environmental reform is necessary for the future of our planet. I commend your push for higher taxes on pollution-producing entities. I would also recommend that you encourage domestic development of alternative energy as well. Also, the plan to increase bike riding within Paris is inspired. I hope it is greeted with a great success!
I am sure you have a number of other positions that you wish to bring forward within the next year. My sincere desire is that you look to President Chirac when considering foreign policy. I do not expect anyone to fall in line with the US on international issues, but I do hope that all nations will have a desire to secure a safer, and therefore more prosperous, world for all to live in.
I wish you luck, and best wishes from the United States of America.
What really changed my opinion of France and it's politics was President Chirac's insistence that France lead the peacekeeping mission to Lebanon. In a very sensitive situation, France was willing to devote the necessary resources to lead the UN mission. In my mind, this is a breakthrough that should propel France back into the world stage as a leading country to be respected.
From that point, and with the instance Chirac has given to world security, I have a new, growing respect for the country that assisted the United States in their Independence, and then leave the US to handle the rest of the Viet-Nam war.
With the out-going speech of Chirac, I would like to add the following open letter to incoming President Nicholas Sarkozy:
President Sarkozy,
As I am sure you are aware, your country is in a unique position. Your proposed economic reforms are encouraging, and will most likely build up your country into the economic powerhouse it once was. Your reform of welfare systems is brilliant, and could become a powerful labor asset if executed correctly. Based on the policies that I have read about, here are some humble suggestions that you may find encouraging:
Regarding The Economy
Tax cuts are often looked upon by governments as a disaster. But the additional revenue that is then spent within the economy is the best way to bring a country out of a huge economic slump. When this policy was enacted by Ronald Reagan in the United States, the country's economy grew exponentially. I applaud you for the same thinking, and I'm sure your people will as well. Everyone likes having more money to spend.
One thing I would warn you against is encouraging a debtor society. I would recommend educational programs designed to help your countrymen save as well as spend. While the economy may not grow as quickly, it will save your country when the economy eventually takes a down turn (as every economy does eventually). If the people have savings, they are more secure, and therefore less likely to panic during an economic slump.
Regarding Welfare
One of the best benefits and welfare programs in the world is located within the LDS Church's Welfare Square. The program not only encourages people to work for the welfare they receive (hence keeping their self-esteem from plummeting), but it provides educational facilities for worker training. That way the worker is no longer dependent on the welfare system, and instead is encouraged to get out there and work on their own.
Will there be people that will still try to work the system? Of course, you will get that no matter what system is put in place. While I am sure you already have your plans set, I would still like to extend a welcome for you to visit Salt Lake City, Utah to see the LDS Church Welfare system at work. I think you would be quite impressed.
Regarding Crime
Socrates lamented the call of his friend Crito to escape Athens when Athens had sentenced him to death. Socrates then proceeded to question him on various points of morality, eventually coming to the conclusion that should he disobey the will of the State, the State then has every right to deny him the citizenship for which he claimed. As he loved his country and countrymen, he could not accept the possibility of leaving Athens to save his life when they had condemned him to death.
Along that same thought, those that choose to break the laws should be brought to justice. Justice is necessary to keep a society coherent, and thereby keeps the society strong. Once justice becomes perverted by those that use it for their own purposes, the structure of society becomes equally perverted, and begins to break down.
That being said, mercy is always a virtue, and should be considered when evidence points to a truly repentant person. I am not a judge, and as such do not have to make these distinctions, and I am grateful for it. I do not envy your task in Crime reform, but commend you for the effort.
Immigration
This is an issue that the US has yet to come to terms with, as with many other countries across the globe. Because of the Global nature of the economy, more immigration issues have come to the fore-front. As such, I hope that you approach your immigration policies with understanding, compassion, and a desire to strengthen the nation, and not divide it.
One story I heard about migrant workers in Spain focused on the desire to use mothers from various countries, with the expectation that the mothers are more likely to return to their children. I'm sure you have heard of this story, and perhaps have something similar in mind. I commend you for taking on such a pioneering issue.
The Environment
Despite the movement of the US Government, many in the US believe that environmental reform is necessary for the future of our planet. I commend your push for higher taxes on pollution-producing entities. I would also recommend that you encourage domestic development of alternative energy as well. Also, the plan to increase bike riding within Paris is inspired. I hope it is greeted with a great success!
I am sure you have a number of other positions that you wish to bring forward within the next year. My sincere desire is that you look to President Chirac when considering foreign policy. I do not expect anyone to fall in line with the US on international issues, but I do hope that all nations will have a desire to secure a safer, and therefore more prosperous, world for all to live in.
I wish you luck, and best wishes from the United States of America.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Book Review: 46 Pages: Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Turning Point to Independence
Recently my family has been on a book binge. That is, they spend a lot of time at Barnes and Nobles, picking up random books on varying subjects. One such book was 46 Pages: Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Turning Point to Independence by Scott Liell (ISBN: 1-56731-781-2). This book, as it suggests, is about the writing of Common Sense, and it's effect on the American Independence movement at the time. While my emphasis has always been Ancient Roman, Greek, and Celtic history, I am non the less fascinated with any revolutionary movement and the social impact that led up to it.
Setting the Stage
Perhaps unlike most historical commentary, this book excels at setting the stage. Picture yourself in the shoes of the Colonies and their grievances. They felt, as is natural, that the Administration of the colonies were poor, and were appealing to the one person they felt could properly manage it: the King. Yes, the colonies were not all distrustful of a Monarchy that ruled them, but rather the Parliament that failed to manage them properly. They appealed to the King to intercede on their behalf, and they would stop their little rebellion and return to the British fold.
Being a US Citizen, and having subsequently being educated in the United States, I have been indoctrinated since grade school with the belief that the Revolution was throwing off the King's oppression, and settling for a rule by the people. Perhaps it's because the concept is easy for grade school students to understand (stops all those questions about why we don't have a king). Personally, I think it's because most Americans believe that now. Why do they believe it? Because of Common Sense
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine is a very interesting character. Villafied by the British after the Revolution, he became the sole reason for the American Revolution and the desire for independence. Why? Because he was able to appeal to people at their level, while introducing the common man to political concepts that were previously exclusive to the rich and upper middle class.
He began as a student who hated "Dead Languages", and became an apprentice in his father's Corset shop. He then became an Excise tax collector, and was introduced to political debate as he went to London to secure a cost of living raise for his fellow tax collectors. At this time he was introduced to Benjamin Franklin, George Lewis Scott, and Edward Gibbon (author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire).
From there, he was fired (the second time) from the Excise group, and he felt it was because of his lobbying of Parliament. This time, he gained the support of Benjamin Franklin, and came over to the Americas, specifically to Philadelphia. it was at this time that he began his campaign for Independence, trying to convince the Colonists that anger and frustration with Parliament shouldn't be separated from the Crown.
The Book
Over all, I found the book well written. It was a little difficult to get into, but after the first chapter the book began to read more of a story and less than a lecture. In my opinion, all history books should be organized and published for recreational reading, and not as text books. The great books of History (i.e., Livy's History of Rome, Plutarch's Lives, etc.) were all written in this style.
Scott Liell did a wonderful job in my opinion, as he not only commented on the 46 Pages that changed the Colonies, but also included them in the Appendix. If you ever wanted to know more about this little-known document, I would highly recommend this book.
Setting the Stage
Perhaps unlike most historical commentary, this book excels at setting the stage. Picture yourself in the shoes of the Colonies and their grievances. They felt, as is natural, that the Administration of the colonies were poor, and were appealing to the one person they felt could properly manage it: the King. Yes, the colonies were not all distrustful of a Monarchy that ruled them, but rather the Parliament that failed to manage them properly. They appealed to the King to intercede on their behalf, and they would stop their little rebellion and return to the British fold.
Being a US Citizen, and having subsequently being educated in the United States, I have been indoctrinated since grade school with the belief that the Revolution was throwing off the King's oppression, and settling for a rule by the people. Perhaps it's because the concept is easy for grade school students to understand (stops all those questions about why we don't have a king). Personally, I think it's because most Americans believe that now. Why do they believe it? Because of Common Sense
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine is a very interesting character. Villafied by the British after the Revolution, he became the sole reason for the American Revolution and the desire for independence. Why? Because he was able to appeal to people at their level, while introducing the common man to political concepts that were previously exclusive to the rich and upper middle class.
He began as a student who hated "Dead Languages", and became an apprentice in his father's Corset shop. He then became an Excise tax collector, and was introduced to political debate as he went to London to secure a cost of living raise for his fellow tax collectors. At this time he was introduced to Benjamin Franklin, George Lewis Scott, and Edward Gibbon (author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire).
From there, he was fired (the second time) from the Excise group, and he felt it was because of his lobbying of Parliament. This time, he gained the support of Benjamin Franklin, and came over to the Americas, specifically to Philadelphia. it was at this time that he began his campaign for Independence, trying to convince the Colonists that anger and frustration with Parliament shouldn't be separated from the Crown.
The Book
Over all, I found the book well written. It was a little difficult to get into, but after the first chapter the book began to read more of a story and less than a lecture. In my opinion, all history books should be organized and published for recreational reading, and not as text books. The great books of History (i.e., Livy's History of Rome, Plutarch's Lives, etc.) were all written in this style.
Scott Liell did a wonderful job in my opinion, as he not only commented on the 46 Pages that changed the Colonies, but also included them in the Appendix. If you ever wanted to know more about this little-known document, I would highly recommend this book.
Friday, May 11, 2007
What Social Networking means to the Introvert
My younger brother has finally convinced me to try the one thing I didn't think I would ever do: play World of Warcraft. Yes, I finally gave in and used a 10 day free trial to see what the hype is all about. Keep in mind that in the mean time I have been checking out Eteral Lands, a free MMORPG, and I have been playing around a little bit in Second Life.
Well, 7 days later, and one angry wife feeling neglected, I am ready to report. I finally got bored with it. How's that, you ask? How is it possible that someone could be bored with World of Warcraft when everyone else and their dog seems addicted to it? To answer that, you have to know something about me. I am, by nature, an introvert. That is, I prefer to go things alone, or only with those within my close circle.
The Introvert's Dilemma
I started to think about this, and wondered if there might be others out there like me that are so introverted that they also feel bored or uncomfortable in a social networking environment. So I tried a search on Google. and the results were geared to helping introverts feel comfortable with the networking software, or making fun of their inability to use such software.
Feeling a little insulted, I asked myself the question: Why would I need to use social networking software anyway? What do I get from it, apart from isolating those around me currently, as I spend all my time in the social environment. After all, most of my associates, friends, and even my wife are introverts. If I don't pay attention to them in real life, they wouldn't interact at all (as they don't use social networking software either). So, what's the benefit?
Why Social Networking Works for People
I have to admit, there is a benefit to social networking, in that you can meet new people you wouldn't normally see anywhere else. For instance, while in WoW, I met a fellow from Heidelberg Germany. Nice guy, joined the same Guild that my brother invited me to, and we had a nice chat. That would never have happened anywhere else. Also, today I met a nice fellow and helped him with his quest. It was nice to have another druid that had a lower rating than I did there to help, even though he had been working in WoW for far longer than I had.
So it's all about connections. I constantly have people contacting me on my My Space account I set up for my class (and haven't visited since). These are people I would never have met before, and probably will never meet in the future. It is all because of Social Networking that makes this possible.
Why Social Networking Doesn't work for Introverts (or at least me)
I am, by nature, shy. Those who knew me in high School may not agree with this statement, but I am actually a very shy person. And because I am a shy person, when I go into a social networking world (like WoW or Second Life), I spend all my time doing things on my own. Sometimes I will ignore someone if I don't know who they are, even if they initialize the conversation. That's just how I am.
Now that you understand that concept, you may begin to see why I could get bored of WoW so quickly. The challenges are best tackled by a group, and I don't do groups. I don't go on quests with other people (unless it's my brother), and I don't like to talk to people while I am concentrating on my quest.
So, if you are a big World of Warcraft fan, I hope I didn't insult you. The game is very well done, it's just not something that can keep me interested for long. Also, if you are an introvert with roughly the same problem, I hope that you can feel comfort in the fact that at least one of us out there feels your pain. ^_^
Well, 7 days later, and one angry wife feeling neglected, I am ready to report. I finally got bored with it. How's that, you ask? How is it possible that someone could be bored with World of Warcraft when everyone else and their dog seems addicted to it? To answer that, you have to know something about me. I am, by nature, an introvert. That is, I prefer to go things alone, or only with those within my close circle.
The Introvert's Dilemma
I started to think about this, and wondered if there might be others out there like me that are so introverted that they also feel bored or uncomfortable in a social networking environment. So I tried a search on Google. and the results were geared to helping introverts feel comfortable with the networking software, or making fun of their inability to use such software.
Feeling a little insulted, I asked myself the question: Why would I need to use social networking software anyway? What do I get from it, apart from isolating those around me currently, as I spend all my time in the social environment. After all, most of my associates, friends, and even my wife are introverts. If I don't pay attention to them in real life, they wouldn't interact at all (as they don't use social networking software either). So, what's the benefit?
Why Social Networking Works for People
I have to admit, there is a benefit to social networking, in that you can meet new people you wouldn't normally see anywhere else. For instance, while in WoW, I met a fellow from Heidelberg Germany. Nice guy, joined the same Guild that my brother invited me to, and we had a nice chat. That would never have happened anywhere else. Also, today I met a nice fellow and helped him with his quest. It was nice to have another druid that had a lower rating than I did there to help, even though he had been working in WoW for far longer than I had.
So it's all about connections. I constantly have people contacting me on my My Space account I set up for my class (and haven't visited since). These are people I would never have met before, and probably will never meet in the future. It is all because of Social Networking that makes this possible.
Why Social Networking Doesn't work for Introverts (or at least me)
I am, by nature, shy. Those who knew me in high School may not agree with this statement, but I am actually a very shy person. And because I am a shy person, when I go into a social networking world (like WoW or Second Life), I spend all my time doing things on my own. Sometimes I will ignore someone if I don't know who they are, even if they initialize the conversation. That's just how I am.
Now that you understand that concept, you may begin to see why I could get bored of WoW so quickly. The challenges are best tackled by a group, and I don't do groups. I don't go on quests with other people (unless it's my brother), and I don't like to talk to people while I am concentrating on my quest.
So, if you are a big World of Warcraft fan, I hope I didn't insult you. The game is very well done, it's just not something that can keep me interested for long. Also, if you are an introvert with roughly the same problem, I hope that you can feel comfort in the fact that at least one of us out there feels your pain. ^_^
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Fun with NetBoot: NetInstall Durations
As mentioned in previous postings, I have been working lately with NetBoot for a mobile Macintosh Lab (made of several 17" Mac Book Pro Core 2 Duo machines). The intention is to set up several images that can quickly be deployed for each class with different setup requirements. There are three requirements for this imaging process to work properly:
1. Quick Deployment
2. Mobile Deployment
3. Simple Deployment
The Image Size Factor
Quick deployment depends entirely on the image that is being used, or rather the size of the image. For instance, a minimal Mac OS X install with no additional software (iLife, iWork, etc.) is 3.2 GB in size. This is just the operating system, no additional printer drivers or anything like that. The basic install with all the trappings comes to 10 GB total (for Mac OS X 10.4.7 or higher). This includes all the drivers, software, everything. Some classes, such as Final Cut Pro, has a total file size of 18 GB.
The size of the image can be problematic, as traditional imaging tools (i.e. Disk Utility) has had trouble with the larger disk images. In order to make a viable disk image for deployment it has been necessary to look for an alternative.
The best imaging tool I have been able to find has been NetRestore Helper, which comes with the NetRestore software. It's free and open source, which means you can feel good about using it. The tool let's you create a Master image, or an Install image, depending on what it is you want to accomplish. I have always used the Master Image, because you can create a NetBoot or NetInstall image from the System Image Utility, part of the Mac Server tools (free download from Apple.com, or on your Mac OS X Server install DVD). You can also use the Master Image as part of the NetRestore image system.
Image Options: NetRestore
NetRestore, as mentioned previously, is an open source tool that basically lets one image their machine, similar to Ghost. Basically, you select the master image you want to use, and then NetRestore will start installing that on your Macintosh using the ASR command line utility. It makes the imaging process easier from a single machine perspective (doesn't take nearly as long as Disk Utility), and it can be deployed through any storage media, as long as you have a running version of OS X on the machine.
It can also pull images from file server mount points, so you don't have to have the image files locally on the machine. That's ideal for imaging large numbers of computers at once. If you were in a corporate environment, this could be a solution to look into.
I initially looked at this as being a potential solution for the lab environment I was trying to manage, because it was so simple to operate. The problem is, it's not simple to set up. I have as of yet been unsuccessful in getting NetRestore to image off of a NetBoot image (i.e., you boot to a NetBoot image with NetRestore on, and then image the machine based on a network mount point). As time was running out, I needed to come up with another solution.
Image Options: NetInstall
The alternative was a lot more simple than I could imagine. Why not make NetInstall images, and let the machines do all the work? Well, the process has been used before on this lab, but was slower because of certain settings, which could be thankfully changed.
Instead of setting up a NetInstall image that required a user to authorize the install, I set up an automatic install image with no user input required. The process was simple, and the results were fantastic. There is a caveat to this, though. Should anyone try to boot off of the NetInstall images that shouldn't, their machines will be automatically erased and set up with the selected or default image. So there are some drawbacks to this set up.
Also, if you intend to have a NetBoot or even a NetInstall deployment, you need to make sure you have at least a 100 Base-T switched network (1000 Base-T Network is preferable), and 128 MB RAM for your machines.
The Install Time
I spoke before about deployment time being an issue. It needs to be as short as possible, and allow for as many machines as possible to work at once. Well, That was very easy to do with this setup. Here is how it broke down:
For Basic Install with some software (7.6 GB Image)
1 machine: 7 minutes
5 machines: 10 minutes
10 machines: 18 minutes
For Final Cut Pro Install (18 GB Image)
1 machine: 27 minutes
5 machines: 36 minutes
10 machines: 56 minutes
So you can see the deployment has been well timed, though at about 10 machines the lag became quite a lot for the Mac Pro server that was being used. If you are using an Xserve, then the lag shouldn't be as pronounced.
Mobile Deployment
Now, once this has been tested and proven, it was time to test out a mobile setup. One thing that is nice about the requirements for Mac OS X Server, it can technically include a Mac Book Pro (though not supported by Apple). So, if you need to you can install Mac OS X Server on a laptop, and you have an instant NetBoot server for mobile deployment.
So, in conclusion:
1. NetInstall works fast if you have an auto-install option selected while creating the NetInstall image.
2. Installing Mac OS X Server on a Laptop makes for a really nice mobile deployment solution.
3. NetInstall is easy to set up (select Option-N at boot for default image, or just N at boot for the first indexed image), and can run quickly.
Overall, it looks like this is the best solution. Of course, using NetRestore Helper to create the images from an existing laptop mounted in Target Disk Mode is essential. ^_^
1. Quick Deployment
2. Mobile Deployment
3. Simple Deployment
The Image Size Factor
Quick deployment depends entirely on the image that is being used, or rather the size of the image. For instance, a minimal Mac OS X install with no additional software (iLife, iWork, etc.) is 3.2 GB in size. This is just the operating system, no additional printer drivers or anything like that. The basic install with all the trappings comes to 10 GB total (for Mac OS X 10.4.7 or higher). This includes all the drivers, software, everything. Some classes, such as Final Cut Pro, has a total file size of 18 GB.
The size of the image can be problematic, as traditional imaging tools (i.e. Disk Utility) has had trouble with the larger disk images. In order to make a viable disk image for deployment it has been necessary to look for an alternative.
The best imaging tool I have been able to find has been NetRestore Helper, which comes with the NetRestore software. It's free and open source, which means you can feel good about using it. The tool let's you create a Master image, or an Install image, depending on what it is you want to accomplish. I have always used the Master Image, because you can create a NetBoot or NetInstall image from the System Image Utility, part of the Mac Server tools (free download from Apple.com, or on your Mac OS X Server install DVD). You can also use the Master Image as part of the NetRestore image system.
Image Options: NetRestore
NetRestore, as mentioned previously, is an open source tool that basically lets one image their machine, similar to Ghost. Basically, you select the master image you want to use, and then NetRestore will start installing that on your Macintosh using the ASR command line utility. It makes the imaging process easier from a single machine perspective (doesn't take nearly as long as Disk Utility), and it can be deployed through any storage media, as long as you have a running version of OS X on the machine.
It can also pull images from file server mount points, so you don't have to have the image files locally on the machine. That's ideal for imaging large numbers of computers at once. If you were in a corporate environment, this could be a solution to look into.
I initially looked at this as being a potential solution for the lab environment I was trying to manage, because it was so simple to operate. The problem is, it's not simple to set up. I have as of yet been unsuccessful in getting NetRestore to image off of a NetBoot image (i.e., you boot to a NetBoot image with NetRestore on, and then image the machine based on a network mount point). As time was running out, I needed to come up with another solution.
Image Options: NetInstall
The alternative was a lot more simple than I could imagine. Why not make NetInstall images, and let the machines do all the work? Well, the process has been used before on this lab, but was slower because of certain settings, which could be thankfully changed.
Instead of setting up a NetInstall image that required a user to authorize the install, I set up an automatic install image with no user input required. The process was simple, and the results were fantastic. There is a caveat to this, though. Should anyone try to boot off of the NetInstall images that shouldn't, their machines will be automatically erased and set up with the selected or default image. So there are some drawbacks to this set up.
Also, if you intend to have a NetBoot or even a NetInstall deployment, you need to make sure you have at least a 100 Base-T switched network (1000 Base-T Network is preferable), and 128 MB RAM for your machines.
The Install Time
I spoke before about deployment time being an issue. It needs to be as short as possible, and allow for as many machines as possible to work at once. Well, That was very easy to do with this setup. Here is how it broke down:
For Basic Install with some software (7.6 GB Image)
1 machine: 7 minutes
5 machines: 10 minutes
10 machines: 18 minutes
For Final Cut Pro Install (18 GB Image)
1 machine: 27 minutes
5 machines: 36 minutes
10 machines: 56 minutes
So you can see the deployment has been well timed, though at about 10 machines the lag became quite a lot for the Mac Pro server that was being used. If you are using an Xserve, then the lag shouldn't be as pronounced.
Mobile Deployment
Now, once this has been tested and proven, it was time to test out a mobile setup. One thing that is nice about the requirements for Mac OS X Server, it can technically include a Mac Book Pro (though not supported by Apple). So, if you need to you can install Mac OS X Server on a laptop, and you have an instant NetBoot server for mobile deployment.
So, in conclusion:
1. NetInstall works fast if you have an auto-install option selected while creating the NetInstall image.
2. Installing Mac OS X Server on a Laptop makes for a really nice mobile deployment solution.
3. NetInstall is easy to set up (select Option-N at boot for default image, or just N at boot for the first indexed image), and can run quickly.
Overall, it looks like this is the best solution. Of course, using NetRestore Helper to create the images from an existing laptop mounted in Target Disk Mode is essential. ^_^
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