Jeff Frederick

Politics

My Delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates is Jeff Frederick. He also happens to be the Chairman of the Republican Party in Virginia. He’s been making so much of the wrong sort of news, that it almost feels redundant to repeat, but at the same time it’s too good not to share.

Last week, Virginia’s Senate Republicans sought to tip their balance away from the Democrat’s narrow 21-19 majority by luring Democrat Ralph Northam to switch sides (in the event of a 20-20 tie, our Republican Lt. Governor would cast tiebreaking votes). Frederick’s Tweet about the looming switch tipped the Democrats off the the scheme and allowed them to thwart it.

On the heels of that, Frederick offered this bizarre slam against Charles Darwin on the floor of the House of Delegates…

The next day, Frederick announced that he will not be seeking re-election to the House of Delegates, and has offered up his wife Amy as “just that person to continue the work I started”. Jeff has shown he’ll be a hard act to follow. Best of luck to Amy, but I’d be happy to see Jeff’s work come to an end.

for further reading…

After Resigning Seat as Failure, Frederick Denounces Darwin
NBC News, Washington, DC 2/13/2009

Va. GOP Chair Out … Wife May Be In?
MSNBC, 2/14/2009

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Happy Darwin Day!

Science

darwin_fish.jpgToday is the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, and hence the occasion to celebrate Darwin Day! Seeking some appropriate reading material for the occasion, I’ve begun a book that’s been sitting unread on my shelf for a long time, The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. In the first paragraph of his book, Dawkins writes;

Living organisms had existed on earth, without ever knowing why, for over three thousand million years before the truth finally dawned on one of them. His name was Charles Darwin.

I am among the ‘layman’ readers that Dawkins says he had in mind when he wrote the book 33 years ago, and I predict I won’t always quickly grasp that my body as well as those of every other living thing on the planet are in fact ‘survival machines’, designed solely to protect the genes that we carry within us. Science wasn’t a strong subject for me. But I’m gonna try. I was glad to see the Washington Post put an article on Darwin and advances in the study of evolution on the front page of the paper today, well placed.

for further reading…

On Darwin’s Birthday, Only 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution
Gallup Poll

7 Major “Missing Links” Since Darwin
National Geographic Magazine

Feb. 12, 1809: Darwin — Adapted There, Evolved That
Wired Magazine

And not to overlook today’s other notable 200th, Happy Birthday also to Abe!

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An Apple Store in DC?

Rants, Technology

An interesting story in the Washington Post today describes how the prigs on the ‘Old Georgetown Board‘ have thrice rejected Apple’s proposed design for their planned retail store in Georgetown. Tonight Apple will take a fourth swing with a design that’s pretty similar to their first one.

In tough economic times, you would think a shopping community such as Georgetown is would eagerly embrace a new Apple store. Personally I’d rather see an Apple store downtown, closer to my office. Georgetown is not a convenient place to get to. So please Georgetown Board, reject Apple yet again. And hopefully they’ll find a more welcoming place in DC to open up a store.

Apple Tries, Tries Again To Open in Georgetown
The Washington Post, 2/6/09

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Happy 25th Birthday Mac!

Guide to Life, Technology

mac128k320.jpgI love my computer and I’m not ashamed to admit that. Twenty-five years ago today, Apple introduced the original Macintosh computer, the birth announced by a now famous, once shown, Super Bowl commercial called 1984.

It was some time during that year, after my freshman year of college, that my mom brought home one of these original Macs from the software company she was working for, FirstByte. The company had developed an artificial speech synthesizer product called SmoothTalker, which was unique from previous efforts at producing artificial speech in that it required no additional hardware, it was entirely software based. Mom was thoughtful, or foolish enough to let her kids mess with the computer, and a lifelong love affair began. One of my early memorable Mac moments, was to successfully use MacPaint to forge a passable report card for a friend whose poor grades from the local Junior College put him at risk of parental eviction. You’re welcome Doug (who has gone on to be a life-long Mac-lover himself).

Over these 25 years, I figure I’ve probably almost a dozen different Macs, and I’m sure there are many more in my future. Thanks Mom, it was a life-changing bit of technology you introduced me to 25 years ago, and I know you’re proud to know that the torch has been well passed in our home.

Update: I completely forgot that among my current DVDs from Netflix waiting to be viewed is the documentary ‘Welcome to Macintosh‘, a documentary about Macs that came out in 2008, and the perfect way to celebrate the Mac’s bday.

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Two…

Bush's Last Day

PEACEAmazing. Just two days to go! I’m watching the Lincoln Memorial concert right now, while also house cleaning and preparing to go shop for party supplies for our major ‘Bush’s Last Day!’ party tomorrow.

There’s a small twinge of regret for having decided not to fight the crowds to participate in any inaugural events up close, but it’s a very small twinge. Last year’s Election was a family affair here at the Casey’s, and it will be great fun taking it all in together, warmer and with a better view on TV.

Count it down… 2!

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