The first graphic I'm going to show is from a video of a small aircraft that violated a NASA no-fly zone. Notice the button under the picture of shuttle. Talk about giving your readers some real power!

The second headline is actually two headlines from unrelated stories. But... it just says it all:

As they say, "And that's all of the news fit to print!"

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Just under 6 years ago, we were attacked by commuter jets smashing into buildings in New York City, collapsing our symbols of financial power and our feelings of security, alike. The political Left immediately started on the warpath, slamming our administration for failing to "connect the dots" with the intelligence they had to work with. To avoid future mistakes, the administration put into place various methods of gathering intelligence so it would be easier to connect those dots, to avoid future attacks. Now, the administration is being slammed for invading the privacy of the American citizens.

Sorry, but there seems to be a double-standard, here. Do we gather intelligence to avoid these attacks, or do we sit on our thumbs and pretend that there aren't any plans being made within the borders of our country as I sit here and type this?

To me, it seems to be a case of damned-if-we-do-damned-if -we-don't syndrome. Myself, I believe we should do everything we can to ensure our safety... even if it means giving up certain amounts of freedom. At least I can rest assured that my family and I can live in safety.

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In other news, Microsoft is on the rampage, again. This time, claiming that Free and Open Source software infringes on over 200 patents owned by the software giant. Interestingly enough, Microsoft failed to give even a single example of exactly WHICH patents have been violated and how so. To me, it looks like more smoke and mirrors to give themselves the advantage. Afterall, if anything even comes close to threatening their monopoly status, what recourse do they have but to litigate? Of course, they claim that they would rather LICENSE the patents to the open source community, rather than litigate, but looking at their past record would tell you otherwise. They are rather lawsuit happy.

Well, with a full tank of gas and a laptop full of Ubuntu Linux - the best of Open Source - it is off to the races for me. Enjoy your Tuesday.

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Ubuntu is also a distribution of Linux. A very good one, at that. It brings a sense of Ubuntu to Linux, you may say. The support community that surrounds this distribution is better than many closed-source software package.

Ubuntu Linux is an easy to use operating system that ships with so many software extras that it becomes a complete solution. These packages include graphics editing software that gives Photoshop a run for its money, a complete office package that has high compatibility with Microsoft Office, and a customizable interface that can change with your mood.

This release is so powerful and easy to use that I have ditched Windows Vista in favor for Ubuntu. The incredible thing is, I don't miss Windows, at all. In fact, remember how much I hated my new laptop when I got it? I actually enjoy it now that it is not running Vista. This is actually an enjoyable computing experience!

You can check it out, yourself, at Ubuntu's Website

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First off, oil companies have assets ranging in the hundreds of billions of dollars, if not more. Why would a day's losses of not even a billion dollars hurt them. That is just a drop in the bucket in the overall view of things. They would miss that about as much as a person would miss the quarter that fell out of their jeans pocket and into the couch cushion.

Not to mention the millions of people who commute to work on a daily basis. How understanding do you think your boss would be if you called one day of work with the excuse of, "Sorry, I couldn't fill my tank today. I'm boycotting the oil giants." Something tells me your job would be the only thing being lost, that day.

Boycotting the gas tanks simply isn't enough. Most of our home's energy comes from petroleum-based sources. That would mean that we would also have to turn off our electricity for the day, as well. Not to mention cooking... gas or electric, there is most likely oil involved in there, somewhere.

How about the use of everyday materials? Plastics are oil-based. A lot of the bathroom products we use are oil-based. Just about everything we put our fingers on would be non-existent if oil was not used somewhere in the manufacturing process. You know those plastic keys your fingers are resting on attached to your computer keyboard? Oil-based.

If you really want to stick it to big oil, what we need is an alternative. Alternative energy. Alternative manufacturing materials. As of right now, though... face it. We are under their spell. It is time the developed world wakes up and starts putting some major resources into finding ALTERNATIVE resources. Only then can we put the drain on the oil companies.

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