06/10/08

Clicking Madness in Opera

I usually use the Opera browser for administrative purposes as part of my work. Firefox and Internet Explorer are relugated to their status as test browsers.

Anyhow, while madly clicking away on the Opera window, I noticed the pages would jump back and forth. Turns out that holding down the right button while clicking the left button will go back one page and vice versa for holding down the left button while clicking the right button.

Improvements upon the user interface continue to make large strides forward!

06/9/08

Book Review: Halo – The Fall of Reach

After a little prodding from an anonymous commentator, Wutaku seems to be on a crusade to improve his writing skills which have fallen pretty far from his college days.

One of the best ways to expand ones vocabulary and improve on grammar is to read books, newspapers, and listen to NPR. But seeing as how journalists are getting lazier in proofreading their work and the topics on NPR are just so dry, reading books is the way to go.

Personally, I have not read a book in over a decade; textbooks notwithstanding.
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06/4/08

No Surprises in Election Results

Tonight’s election results had absolutely no surprises; the turnout for the election was decent for a summer deal.

California Propositions

Prop. 98: Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property. Constitutional Amendment. failed with 2,091,890 (61%) NO votes to the 1,342,655 (39%) YES votes. Rent control remains intact.

Prop. 99: Eminent Domain. Acquisition of Owner-Occupied Residence. Constitutional Amendment. passed with 2,129,247 (62%) YES votes compared with 1,282,763 (38%) NO votes making things a little bit more difficult for the government to take homes using eminent domain.
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06/3/08

Movie Review: Jumper

JumperJumper is a sci-fi fantasy film about a boy who can jump (teleport) around, from place to place. We soon find out that he is not the only Jumper, and that Jumpers have existed for hundreds of years. Then we learn that there is a group of people known as Paladins that hunt and kill Jumpers.

The film stars Hayden Christenson (who played Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars 2 and 3) as David Rice, the Jumper and main character of the story. He is hunted down by Rolen, a Paladin played by Samuel L. Jackson. Rachel Bilson plays the girlfriend. Diane Lane plays the part of David’s mother.

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06/2/08

Summer Election Predictions

I was 8 for 10 in my last election predictions, so I am feeling pretty good about my predictions for the coming June 3, 2008 election.

California Propositions

Prop. 98: Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property. Constitutional Amendment.
Proposition 98 will make it tougher for the government to take property under eminent domain and phase out rent control.
Vote: No
Prediction: No

Prop. 99: Eminent Domain. Acquisition of Owner-Occupied Residence. Constitutional Amendment.
Proposition 99 would restrict the government from taking residential homes under the eminent domain flag.
Vote: Yes
Prediction: Yes

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06/1/08

CA: Prop 99 – Eminent Domain. Acquisition of Owner-Occupied Residence. Constitutional Amendment.

Why must the government be so confusing? Proposition 98 and 99 are related on the subject matter yet have slight differences. If proposition 99 passes, proposition 98 would not take into effect and vice versa.

Proposition 99 is less confusing than 98 and does not have the added issue of rent control. Proposition 99 would prohibit the government from taking a single-family home or condominium through eminent domain and transferring the property to another private owner.

Of course there are some caveats.
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06/1/08

CA: Prop 98 – Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property. Constitutional Amendment.

Along with the propositions proposed by cities across the state of California, there are actual California propositions on the ballot which could effect anyone living in said state.

Proposition 98 proposes two amendment changes.

The first change has to do with how eminent domain is handled. The amendment states that property can only be used for a stated public use. If the government changes its mind and wants to use the taken property for a different purpose then they would first have to offer the original property owners a chance to purchase the property.
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05/31/08

SF: Prop H – Prohibiting Elected Officials, Candidates, or Committees They Control from Soliciting or Accepting Contributions from Certain City Contractors

Shall it be unlawful for City elected officials, candidates or political committees they control to solicit or accept campaign contributions from contractors who are prohibited from making contributions to these elected officials, candidates and political committees because the contractor has a pending contract or a recently approved contract before the official or the Board on which the official or an appointee of the official sits?

Proposition H is a pretty open and shut case.
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05/30/08

Movie Review: Street Kings

Street KingsStreet Kings is a movie about how city cops operate. The cops own the streets and can do anything they want. All of it gets covered up by the police department before the media and the public get hold of it. But when something goes wrong and fingers start pointing, the structure and loyalty starts to fade.

This movie stars Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, and a few hip hop / rap artists like Common and The Game. Keanu Reeves sucks as an actor. He can only play two types of characters: non-human characters or dead people. Unfortunately, his role in Street Kings is neither Tree #3 nor dead.

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05/27/08

SF: Prop G – Mixed-Use Development Project for Candlestick Point and Hunters Point Shipyard

Shall it be City policy to encourage timely development of a mixed-use project in the Bayview on Candlestick Point and Hunters Point Shipyard, including a new 49ers stadium or a non-stadium alternative; shall the City be authorized to transfer park land in Candlestick Point for non-recreational use if the land is replaced with new public parks or open spaces of at least equal size and the transfer meets the measure’s policy objectives; and shall Propositions D and F, approved by the voters in June 1997, be repealed?

Proposition G lays out guidelines the developer must follow to meet the conditions to develop the Candlestick Point and Bayview Hunters Point area. The proposition is asking for the public’s approval to move forward on completing the agreement with the developer funding the ballot measure, Lennar Corp.
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