TSA wants to restrict batteries on planes (satire)

The TSA, in response to statistically insignificant mishaps, has concluded that lithium batteries is the cause of all evil and will now be restricting their existence in your checked or carry-on luggage by 8 grams or 25 grams in special cases. How do we measure how many grams in each battery? We really have no clue and neither does the TSA, but we will just guess.

Nice...

While I understand the inherent problems these devices might cause if they explode, there are riskier issues out there that can cause more damage, like humans. Yes, humans...they are a danger to airplanes. It seems like the majority of plane mishaps are due to humans. If you ban humans from planes, it would probably reduce plane crashes.

That's going to be the next TSA rule. (Joking.)

Huckabee and McCain, leading in SC polls, avoid negative politics

Tale of Two Gentlemen

This is about the strangest thing anyone has ever seen in South Carolina politics. The two leading contenders in the state for the Republican presidential nomination are not fighting. While the two leaders contend they have differences between them, they do not even attempt to highlight them in public.

This type of 'gentle' politics is historical -- dirty, vulgar politics date back to the founding of our nation (you should see what they said about Lincoln back in the day). What I find here is encouraging, something very different. Two people respecting each other, with different points of views, and debating where it counts: at a debate forum.

I applaud these two for being brave and showing true observance of the Christian. They are brave enough to back off from attacking each other and brave enough to form a friendship despite being competitors.

McCain and Huckabee ticket?

Who knows, perhaps if one wins the nomination, the other becomes vice president? Now that would be a very viable ticket in the general election. The ticket pleases all sides of the Republican spectrum and enough will power to bring in independent voters in a general election.

Gov. Huckabee on the Daily Show

What happens when a Christian man wants to make a difference in the world of politics? Something might actually get done.

In this video, Gov. Huckabee is warmly welcomed at the very liberal Daily Show. Clearly explaining his biblical faith of being prolife, he gets applause rather than scorn. God teaches us to take care of the weak and the poor in the Bible and Gov. Huckabee clearly believes in this, making him a true social conservative.

This is not the 'political' conservative where someone steps in a room and divisions are made.

My Letter to My Health Insurance Company: Celtic

Every year, health insurance companies raise their premiums. On the first year, they have these "teaser" rates -- very affordable and very attractive. But on the second year, they raise the prices. Mine went up close to 15% in premiums.

So they sent me a letter, either I go with the new insurance rates or go with a cheaper option but carry a $2,500 deductible or $5,000 deductible -- which is crazy. So I wrote them a letter.

Dear Celtic Management:

You sent me a letter that you were raising my insurance premiums starting 02/01/2008. Please do NOT renew my health insurance with your company. Your other options are NOT acceptable. I regret that you are doing this as you made money on last year’s premiums.

Secondly, aside from doctor checkups, we have had no claims against our insurance. In short, we feel like we are paying more because we are healthy: we do not smoke, we do not drink alcohol, and we have healthy diets. We feel as if we are paying more each year because people are choosing lifestyles that hurt their health. This is simply unfair.

If in the future, you create an affordable health plan for people that are not overweight, do not smoke, and do not drink alcohol so that the premiums do not go up every year, please give me a call.

Thank you,

Don Sausa

Our health system in America is broken because people choose to be unhealthy.
Politicians like Clinton, Obama, Edwards, and others want to overhaul the health care system. But what many fail to realize or fail to emphasize is that America's health system is broken because the health of Americans is broken. Around 25% of Americans smoke, 60% are overweight, and 80% drink alcohol.

It's a no brainer that smoking kills you, being overweight kills you, and drinking alcohol kills you (healthy heart good news: wine helps your heart, kills your liver and causes cancer -- that's a bad trade off).

How to fix America's health care system? Teach people to eat good food (avoid pork and other red meats), avoid smoking, avoid drinking alcohol, rest on a weekend once a week with no work in mind (ie: Saturday), and get sleep everyday.

Two Iraqi soldiers tackle suicide bomber to protect others

A heart breaking story was posted today on cnn.com. For years Iraqi troops have been criticized for lacking in courage. I think the actions of these two Iraqi soldiers is a sign that things are changing in Iraq. The Iraqi people are willing to fight against foreign invaders (mainly other Arabs trying to blow themselves up).

In the end, my hope for Iraq is for their people to be able to stand on their own and we have no more troops there. If we get more courageous
Iraqi troops like this, my hope could turn into reality soon.

MagicJack Product Review - Is Dan Borislow trying to kill telecom?

On the wee hours of the morning I saw a commercial about MagicJack, a softphone / USB device that 'allegedly' allows you to make unlimited calls to the U.S. from any Internet connected computer in the world for $19.95/year. I was intrigued.

A few Google searches later, many people have reported that it does work overseas. Since I tend to travel often, I'm now officially going to try this out. I would have loved to test this while I was on Holland America's cruise ships (which blocks Skype). But I didn't know about it! Definitely a case study for infomercial marketing.

OUTLINE:

01/06/2008: I just ordered it off their web site at www.magicjack.com. Shipping for priority mail costs $13.90. They are already making a profit off me on shipping alone! Mr. Borislow, work on this -- this does not make a first good impression. Build it into the price rather than jacking the shipping.

More updates later...

01/03/2009: First I appreciate everyone's opinion on MagicJack. I seem to have attracted a lot of lovers and haters of this product.

After almost a full year's worth of use from Tokyo to Manila to all parts of the world, here are my final comments:

1. It has saved me a lot of money. I have attended conference calls and calls to friends and family through MagicJack and having the capability to do that without much cost has been great. At one point I was in one of Tokyo's airport lounge using a cheap old telephone hooked up to my computer...and everyone just gave that strange look. I could imagine them asking, "Is he really talking on the phone or is he nuts?"

2. From a rating standpoint, from 1 to 10, I would give it a passing 8. The extension cable broke the first month, plus there were some annoying upgrades and outages that seemed to span hours and I had to use Skype. About 1 out of 10 calls seem choppy while my Internet connection/CPU usage is fine. But overall, I am relatively happy with my MagicJack because I use it a lot and will be definitely renewing it for another year.

What's surprised me though is that the popularity of MagicJack seemed to have boomed, with more and more people talking about it as the year passed. I heard it from a guy traveling with me to Manila. In the past, when I mentioned it in passing, they would simply say..MAGIC WHA? This is good news for me, I hope that means the company is healthy and they will continue to save me money.

P.S. Thanks for fixing your shipping charge. I now see it dropped to $6.95.

-Don

Two outsiders win Iowa

Huckabee (R) and Obama (D) won the Iowa caucus today for their respective parties. Both candidates have trumped their competitors and changed the political landscape in the 2008 presidential run.

Huckabee, outmanned and outgunned by Romney, was suppose to lose. Huckabee, spent roughly $300,000-$400,000 in Iowa while Romney spent $20 million. Obama was a nobody in Iowa compared to the well known Clinton machine. He is also the first African American to win an Iowa nomination, a miracle in itself since only 2% of Iowans are black.

While there's still many more races to go, this win for the Huckabee and Obama camp is significant. Romney and Clinton no longer look invinsible as they did before.

[On a side note, I personally think Huckabee and Clinton should fight in 2008. They are still the best representatives of liberalism and social conservatism in America.]

Huckabee jams on Leno's Tonight Show

Very similar to another former Arkansas governor...(Clinton). But this was a very solid and short interview. People got to see him personally, outside of the political machinery in Iowa. Relaxed and poised, he clearly explained his position about the current tax reform needs of America and the issues he has with his underfunded campaign.

I'm in total agreement -- we should encourage people to work hard and be successful, not go on welfare.