Microsoft is attempting to counter Apple’s "Mac vs. PC" ads.  They decided to hire Jerry Seinfeld as their new spokesperson for these ads.  The first ad of the new campaign is now airing (see the YouTube copy below).  Bill Gates has decided to come back and help in this ad campaign too.  The whole ad doesn’t say much about computers until the end, which also happens to be the funniest part.

Unfortunately, Apple still has the advantage to geeky coolness in their ads.  Sorry Bill. 

Sam and Evan in the backyard playing.

If anyone has met my side of the family, you would quickly see that they meander onto the right side of the political pathway.  Now I know Holly will disagree (even flat out call me a liar), when I state that I too follow that same path.  But as I’ve watched this year’s election (both presidential and more local campaigns), I can see why Holly would have her doubts about my affiliation.  And I don’t think it’s because my beliefs or core values have significantly changed, but the political party that I supported once I gained the right to vote has lost it’s way. 

I still remember (or at least most of it) the most politically informative conversation I have EVER had in my life.  I was probably 12 or 13 at the time and it was about 11pm at night at our kitchen table.  It was me, my Dad, and Howard Miller.  We had a 45 minute discussion on the ideals and policies of Republicans vs. Democrats.  This conversation went back and forth on questions to Howard, answers back, answers with opposing questions, and a real dialog on the ideals of how does someone think our country should be run.  It’s the exact conversation I believe that doesn’t take place with most our country’s citizens, especially in our high schools for students just about to vote for the first time. 

The identity problem that I now have with today’s version of the Republican party is that the ideals and values Howard spoke to me about are now gone.  He spoke to me of a vision where government would let the market and businesses run their course, good or bad, and have only minor oversight in guiding their activities.  That the role of government was to guide industries and citizens on solving any problems or difficulties at a local level, this would be accomplished by making the federal government as unobtrusive as possible.  And where are these ideals today?

Today, the Republican party has stepped up the belief that we need a larger and larger government to keep us safe.  The FDIC is about to take over the two largest mortgage companies in the US.  Shouldn’t these companies be left to fail?  The free market concept has always been that weaker companies will die and stronger ones will thrive.  All I’ve seen in the last 9 months are steps to prevent the financial fallout needed to correct our current market conditions.  And why?  So McCain doesn’t have to deal with the political backlash his party would have to manage while trying to get another Republican elected President.  If the markets were allowed to adjust like they should, every other candidate for a political office could ask why vote for another Republican after they’ve made such a mess the last 8 years?  That’s the exact question the Republicans don’t want posed to all the undecided voters in America come November.  Better to massage the markets than deal with the political fallout of having to admit the current administration screwed up. 

Ultimately, maybe it’s time for a 3rd party to step up and take the torch.  A group that really does believe in a smaller federal government, that the rights of our country’s citizens outweigh any possible threat, that government needs to run on a balanced budget just like everyone else, and recognize the three most important agenda items for the next 10 years is not war on terror and our contries defense.  It’s a sound energy policy (i.e. starting building nuclear plants NOW), it’s an agricultural program that finally recognizes we live in a global economy, and that the education of our children needs to include programs for careers that will lead our country (engineers, scientists, doctors) but also those who will keep those companies running (automation technicians, mechanics, trades people).

Besides, who wouldn’t want to hear them announce someday, "Please welcome, President Ventura".  It could happen. 

To Sam’s grandparents, the news that Sam doesn’t go to bed very easily may not be a big surprise, but the way he gets out of going to bed is becoming more and more clever.  Tonight Holly read Sam a couple of stories, tucked him in, and said goodnight.  About 20 minutes later, Sam came out and had to go to the bathroom.  He proceeds to take care of business and Holly checks in to see what’s going on.  Sam looks up at her and says he had to go potty and was going to go back to bed.  Sam stopped at the door and waited to go in.  Holly asked if something was wrong.  Sam replied, "Yeah, I just can’t go to sleep in a room that’s so messy."

Holly giggled and promised Sam that they would clean his room up tomorrow morning after he got some sleep.  He said ok and went back to bed. 

I’m in the final stages of unpacking the last of my boxes.  Yes… I’ve said that before, but I have really brought in the last of the boxes from the garage this evening.  With a little tweaking and organizing, both vehicles will be able to be parked in the garage tomorrow night.  The one thing that I’m still trying to get my head around is the fact that Holly works from home – I mean full office, fax machine… the works.  She moves over to the new house with 4 boxes marked, "Office".  I moved into our new home with approximately 15 boxes marked office.  Now some of these boxes were books I had in my office (about 7 boxes worth). 

But the fact that I still have twice as many boxes has now engaged me to go through the boxes and whittle down my "keeper" items to what can fit into four boxes.  I’m in for a long night. 

Happy Annivesary Mom & Dad!