Cheap Online File Backup for Mac/PC
Date: March 28th, 2010 Category: Things Tags: mac, online file backup, pc [ 0 ]
I finally decided to signup for an online file backup service today. After an hour or so of research I signed up for Backblaze. I did of course check out Mozy and Carbonite but found Backblaze had better Mac OSX integration than the others (see info below) and some other nice bells and whistles. They’re all bout $5.00 a month for unlimited storage of your personal files and all fairly easy to setup.
Bottom line: Backblaze had the tightest Mac OSX integration (works great for PC/Windows too). It operates as a daemon and continuously backs up files while others were just “backgrounded applications” which backed up files on a schedule. It also seemed much lighter on system resources as well. Finally, I liked how Backblaze tucks everything neatly away in my Macs System Preferences.
For more info on how it all works, check out their “how it works” page.
2010 U.S. Census Form Includes “Negro” Race?!?
Date: March 26th, 2010 Category: People, Things Tags: 2010 census [ 3 ]
It’s 2010 and we have a black president in office for the first time in our nations history. How far we’ve come, right? Well, that’s what I thought until I opened my census form (click thumbnail image for larger view) a couple days ago. As I filled it out I finally got down to the “race section” where I chose “white”. But, as I scanned further down the form I saw “Black, African Am., or Negro”. WTF?!?
I mean, come on people. This is ridiculous. Who created/approved this? Oh, and why wasn’t “white” expanded to include things like “honky” or “cracker” etc.? Only fair…
I guess today the census people apologized for it. Check out the video interview with the U.S. Census Director for more info (haven’t watched it yet).
Healthcare Reform Passes in the USA
Date: March 22nd, 2010 Category: Things Tags: healthcare reform [ 0 ]
Healthcare reform passes here in the USA and I am happy to see that positive changes are coming. I, working for small businesses or as a contractor, have had a tough time affording coverage for myself. Thank God I am not married or have children as it would be impossible at that point to cover everyone. Also, in my current full-time job working for a small business of less than 20 employees our coverage sucks and it’s not cheap. Even for a single 31 year old such as myself! Crazy…
So, I am glad to see we’ve started taking steps to fix a broken healthcare system here in the USA. No more cutting sick people off, no more price hiking/gouging for no reason by insurance companies, no more barring people from coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and it will eventually allow small businesses and contractors such as myself to have affordable/competitive options.
Anyway, here is an email I received from President Obama’s office after the vote:
For the first time in our nation’s history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.
Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:
Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.
Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.
And we’ll finally start reducing the cost of care — creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.
But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.
It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.
It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.
And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.
This is what change looks like.
My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.
This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.
Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.
We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we’ve faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right — and actually create the change we believe in.
Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama