David Cearlock's Blog

Thinking about he world.

2008-11-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

I think we always knew that things were going to get worse before they got better. One only needs to listen to the news or pickup their local paper to see that things are certainly getting worse. The threat posed by terrorism is alive and well as shown by the horrible attacks in India. CNN's coverage of the attacks However, not all threats come in the form of terrorism. Our environment is rapidly changing and soon we will be unable to ignore it. CNN's coverage of the Antarctic ice shelf

However, those things are happening so far away. We are safe here. Are we?

Robbery attempt, threats reported to Urbana police

Investigation into two Danville shootings continues

Our own inaction will either come to an end or put and end to us.

Did you know?

2008-11-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

This is GREAT!!!

2008-10-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

What does Obama's VP think about John McCain???

2008-08-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Quotes

2008-08-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

"The Bible is not my book, and Christianity is not my religion. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

Abraham Lincoln

"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."

Thomas Jefferson

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."

Napoleon Bonaparte

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

Albert Einstein

"Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet."

Napoleon Bonaparte

Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.

-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

If we did a good act merely from love of God and a belief that it is pleasing to Him, whence arises the morality of the Atheist? ...Their virtue, then, must have had some other foundation than the love of God.

-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Thomas Law, June 13, 1814

Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him [Jesus] by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being.

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Short, April 13, 1820

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it, as I detest everything that is cruel."

-- Thomas Paine.

The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.

-- Thomas Jefferson, 1823

Kissing Hank's Ass

2008-08-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

All praise be to Hank!!

VOIP Service

2008-08-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Check out -

http://www.projectedvoice.com

and

http://www.voipserviceforbusiness.com

SIP Trunking, VOIP Termination, Wholesale VOIP and Virtual PBX

Update – School and CCNP/CCIE

2008-08-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

I have paid my tuition and purchased books for the fall semester. I am going to be taking an accounting class, a math class and an economics class. I am looking forward to getting started. I have also decided to renew my CCNP and that the same time continue my study for the CCIE Routing and Switching. I have already renewed my CCNA. I had let both my CCNP and CCNA expire by mistake. I took and passed the CCIE RS written exam a month too late for it to renew my other certifications. However, it should be fun to study for and take the new tests. I am going to focus on the below topics first.

1. Frame-Relay
2. BGP
3. OSPF
4. EIGRP
5. IS-IS
6. Multicasting
7. IPv6
8. IOS Features

These should take me through the BSCI exam and go a long way toward CCIE preparation. I have purchased the new CCNP books and I also have purchased Internetwork Expert’s End-to-End CCIE program for the Routing and Switching Exam.

What is David reading?

1. The Brain That Changes Itself: Personal Triumphs from the Frontiers of Brain Science

2. Microtrends

3. Basic Economics

4. Economic Facts and Fallacies

5. The BGP and Frame-relay portions of several Cisco Press books.

6. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Vol. I

7. Cisco.com

What has David Been Doing?

2008-07-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I have had a bad sore throat have been very very tired for about three weeks. The doctor thought I may have to have my tonsils out. However, they gave me some antibiotics before they took that drastic measure. I am happy to report that as of Friday I am feeling much better. I have stayed home all weekend and I am feeling well rested.

I find this is nearly impossible for me to read one book at a time. I have to have several started and jump between them. Otherwise I loose interest and never finish them. I wonder is that is a common problem? I guess it might be my ADD showing.

What is David reading?

1. The Brain That Changes Itself: Personal Triumphs from the Frontiers of Brain Science

2. Microtrends

3. Basic Economics

4. Economic Facts and Fallacies

5. John Quincy Adams

6. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Vol. I

Summer Semester is Underway

2008-06-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

I am taking nine credit hours over the summer while working full time. One of my classes is online and I think I may have to drop it and take it in the fall. It isn't too much work I just think I may need the in class time to keep my 4.0. My math class is going well 100% on all quizzes and homework so far.

I still have my eye on renewing my CCNP, taking the Microsoft Server 2008 exams and renewing my quest for the CCIE Routing and Switching. However, for now I am focusing my energy on projects at work and completing my degree.

I am going to be taking more programming/computer science classes for the next few semesters. I will be focusing on C++ and Java. I am very interested in http://www.topcoder.com. I don't think I would every win anything but it looks very fun.

I went to see the new Hulk movie with Casey and I thought it was great!!

I purchased Big Brain Academy for the Wii. I really like it so far!

Well back to Visual Basic Homework.

The Spring Semester is Finally Over!!!

2008-05-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

I am so glad this semester is over. I am even happier that I was able to maintain my 4.0 GPA. I am taking another math class this summer. I am also taking a class is Visual Basic.

In other news I am trying to keep up on my Cisco Systems certifications. I am thinking about renewing my CCNP. I also need to get the new Microsoft Server 2008 certs one of these days.

I am closing on another rental property in two weeks. I hope to get it rented ASAP.

Iron Man!!!

2008-05-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

I went to see Iron Man last night and I really liked it. Iron Man as always been my favorite super hero and I am glad that its transition to the big screen is complete. I really enjoyed the movie! When the Iron Man DVD comes out, I will probably have to break down and upgrade to a HDTV.

Tony Stark for President!!

Delusions of Effectiveness

2008-03-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Fortunately my boss is very open to new ideas but the natural resistance to change that everyone has makes me feel like this on a daily basis.

IT + DR = Heartburn

2008-03-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Ever since I began working on redesigning my employer’s disaster recovery plan I have noticed that I have been going though my antacid much faster. I am enjoying the work and getting things done but it certainly isn't easy.

I think this might be faster and healthier.

Honda FCX Clarity

2008-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

As many of you know my wife and I purchased new 2007 Honda's this year. I got a Civic and she got a Fit. I normally keep cars 6 to 7 years. At that point I am really hoping cars like the Honda FCX Clarity are more widespread. For those of you who don't know the FCX is a hydrogen fuel cell car that is powered completely by hydrogen and emits only water vapor as exhaust. I have included a link below to Honda so you can read more about it.

Apparently the future is now!!!

http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/

Ron Paul - The Turning Point

2007-12-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow 12/16/2007 isn't only the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party but it is a turning point not only for the Ron Paul campaign but for the entire country. Watch this video and then give as much as you can tomorrow!

Jack Cafferty: More Ron Paul

2007-12-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

Ron Paul - Tea Party 2007!!

2007-12-08T08:59:00.000-08:00

God Bless Ron Paul and God Bless the USA!!

Tea Party 2007 - Ron Paul!!!

2007-11-11T05:24:00.000-08:00

Ron Paul On CNN!!!

2007-11-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

God Bless Ron Paul!!!

My Future Car

2007-10-08T07:44:00.001-07:00

As some of you may know I recently purchased a new Honda Civic (not a hybrid) but I am already looking for my next car. I plan on my Civic having a life time of 8 - 10 years after which I will be trading it in on a car that will most likely look a lot like Honda's FCX concept car. - http://automobiles.honda.com/future-cars/fcx-concept.aspx - The FCX is powered by hydrogen fuel cell. Honda is realising a production model car based on the FCX that does contain a hydrogen fuel cell in 2008. However, currently the only hydrogen refuelling stations in Illinois are in the greater Chicago area. - http://www.h2stations.org - I will be keeping a close eye on the release of Honda's new hydrogen fuel cell car and the development of hydrogen fueling stations in Illinois. Hopefully, by the time I am ready to trade in my current car both hydrogen cars and fueling stations will be common place.

However, Honda has already thought of the lack of fueling stations and developed a way to fuel your hydrogen car using the natural gas line coming to your home.

http://world.honda.com/FuelCell/FCX/station/

Hydrogen is the way of the future! Ethanol's days are numbered.

http://automobiles.honda.com/images/future-cars/AutoWeekArticle.pdf

Toys Gone Bad

2007-10-04T06:41:00.001-07:00

First it was lead and now it is ecstasy. How low will our children's toys go?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299263,00.html

I gave to Ron Paul's Campaign and I hope you will too.

2007-09-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

God Bless Jackie Mason!!

2007-09-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

US Financial and Monetary Policies

2007-09-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

There can be little doubt that we Americans love money. Unfortunately we love spending it more than we love having it. This has caused a ¨culture of debt¨. Very few of us actually save any money and spend much more than we earn every year. I encourage everyone to read http://www.tomorrowsmoney.org/youngpeople/section.cfm/386 and to think carefully about your financial goals.

I believe it is fair to say that the average American is careless and wasteful with his or her money. It is said that our elected officials are but a reflection of ourselves r so what do you think that makes them? Our elected officials are just as careless and wasteful when it comes to our tax money as the average American is with their paycheck. Billions in foreign aid, billions to maintain our military, billions to build better weapons, billion is advertising and these numbers are increasing every year. We simply do not have unlimited resources and printing more money is the worst thing we could do. Is it really that hard to spend less money? We Americans like not doing things maybe we should try not spending as much money.

When our country was founded some if not all states had their own individual currencies and when they ran out of money they simply printed more. This caused run away inflation and basically defrauded their creditors. This outraged many of our founding fathers who then pushed for a single asset based national currency which we had for many years. Now the only asset that our currency is based on is the ¨Faith and Goodwill of the United States Government¨. How much faith or goodwill do you think the government keeps in stock? I would judge by the state of our affairs they don´t have much if any left. Also, when we are confronted with a deficit what do we do? We print more money just as the states did all those years ago. I am sure our founding fathers would be just as outraged now as they were then.

Go Ron Paul!!

Ron Paul´s stance on monetary and financial policy

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/debt-and-taxes/

Further Reading

http://www.amazon.com/Federalist-Papers-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140444955

http://www.frbsf.org/publications/federalreserve/monetary/index.html

-David