John Swanagon's Blog

End the Experiment

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:35:06 +0000

I believe the time has come. Scratch that. I believe it has been long overdue. America's experiment of all experiments, public education, needs to come to an end. From start to finish, it has been an utter failure. Don't believe me? Witness the result. Our children consistently fall far behind their worldwide peers in math, science, and reading. Parents are charged a menu of exorbitant fees over and above the massive taxes they and others pay. Across the nation, inequality and segregation are rampant. Dropout rates are staggering. Class sizes are of epic proportions. I could go on and on. Quite honestly, if we can't compete with the Czech Republic, we've got issues. And, it isn't because our children are stupid. Continue Reading »

Election ’10

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:10:25 +0000

The mid-term elections are nearly upon us. I'm not excited, nor am I hopeful. Why? Because nothing will change. It is guaranteed that there will be more Republicans in the next Congress. I could care less. I can't stand the Democrats, nor can I stand the Republicans. Both parties are all about big -- no, gigantic -- government. One wants to create a myriad of government entitlements and regulations while the other wants to do away with the U.S. Constitution (except for the second amendment), feed greed, turn corporations into full-fledged citizens, and pass tax cuts until the cows come home (which will be never, by the way). So it doesn't matter who wins. Spending will go up, taxes will go down (only for the wealthiest of Americans), deficits will increase, and our country will go bankrupt. That is why I am not excited, nor am I hopeful. In my eyes, "R or D -- whatevah!" Continue Reading »

Regret

vern.swanagon@hotmail.com (Vernetta Swanagon) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:47:22 +0000

Regret is a hard word. Continue Reading »

Living a Nightmare

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:12:15 +0000

Are there days where you feel like you are living a nightmare? I feel this way often. Honestly, who'd have ever thought -- a decade ago -- that our country would be deep in debt, in the beginnings of a second Great Depression, engaged in two unnecessary wars, and well on the way toward imploding? Who'd have thought it? After all, we were at peace, we had a balanced budget, jobs were available to those that wanted them, and America was leading the world in a high-tech revolution. Now look at us. Continue Reading »

Reviewed: Precision M6500

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:44:24 +0000

On Wednesday, my new baby arrived; the Dell Precision M6500. After just two days with it, I can only describe it as "superb". This new system replaces my three year old unit, the Dell Precision M6300. Dell's Precision Mobile Workstations are designed for professionals who need the power of a high-end workstation in a mobile package. Since its inception, Precision Mobile Workstations have enabled architects, designers, artists, and developers to accomplish, on-the-go, what they used to have to do in a single place. As a Software Architect, it gives me the ability to be anywhere, anytime. Continue Reading »

Christians Abandoning God

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 01:11:29 +0000

I don't know when it started. The cynic in me likes to think it started with George W. Bush's Coup d'état in 2000. However, I know it started well before then. What I am referring to, of course, is the slow and steady abandonment of God, by a growing number of Christians. As an individual who loves God and his Son, Jesus Christ, I am dismayed. Continue Reading »

What Would You Do?

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:05:32 +0000

Suppose someone, someone you really care about, comes to you with a problem. They confide in you and, at some point, ask you to help them with it. On the surface, their request is simple enough. However, as with most things in life, it is complicated. On one hand, you really care about this person and want to help them while on the other, what they want you to do comes with a hefty price tag. And, to be clear, it is not the kind of price tag that involves money. Instead, it is one of significant personal sacrifice and risk. What would you do? Would you say no or would you say yes? Continue Reading »

Hate, Exclusionism in Faith

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:40:25 +0000

In recent weeks, I have been contemplating how hate and exclusionism exist in and around faith. I don't understand how people, who claim to love God and walk with Jesus, can say God "hates" someone they don't know while pointing a Bible at them. Furthermore, I refuse to understand how anyone could ever say a family isn't a 'good fit' to hear God's message at their church. (True story. I overheard it at a Christian Bookstore no less.) That deeply disturbs me. At best, it is ignorant; at worst, it is an explicit distortion of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Continue Reading »

Where are the Statesmen?!

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:18:34 +0000

Where have the Statesmen gone? What happened to leaders such as Truman and Churchill who put country above all else? Why have we become a country where our leaders consistently put country last, if at all? And, when did we become one nation under greed instead of one nation under God? Continue Reading »

Malone Out to Lunch

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:35:58 +0000

In today's edition of the Denver Post, it was reported that John Malone, Chairman of Liberty Media, is considering a "move out of Colorado" because "the U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate in the world". To be frank, I am livid. First and foremost, Mr. Malone is grossly incorrect if not borderline naive. U.S. Corporations rarely, if ever, pay anything close to the tax rate he is referring to. Second, is this what we have become? Have we become nothing more than a country that says it is okay for companies to move overseas so they can avoid our taxes and avoid hiring our people while continuing to sell their products and services to us?! Is that what we fight -- and sacrifice -- for? Furthermore, it begs the question; how can Mr. Malone's company legitimately call itself "Liberty Media" if it were to be based out of China?! Answer me that. Continue Reading »

Trim the Fat

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:23:55 +0000

I absolutely love what I do. In my opinion, there is nothing better than designing, creating, and building world-class software. (Actually, creating anything is pure joy for me.) I especially love how the software I work on or design plug-ins for, is used and relied upon by millions of people all over the world. There is a reason for that. (And for the record, I don't do it alone.) Communications software can't be subject to jitter, delay, malfunctions, or "I have to reboot now" events. No, it has to be very nearly 100% reliable. As a result, I have become accustomed to building software that is small, nimble, portable, and extremely fault tolerant. To accomplish those objectives means the fewest lines of code to accomplish the mission and extreme efficiency in those lines of code. Hey, not only does it make the software easier to test, but it makes it more reliable, easier to change, and faster for a computer to run it. Continue Reading »

If By Car…

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:08:48 +0000

Cross country road trips are unlike any other travel experience. Unlike blasting past everyone and everything in a jet plane, road trips are all about taking in the scenery, bonding, meeting people, stopping at unique places, hosting "American Idol on Wheels", and occasionally worrying about finding the nearest rest stop or gas station. Continue Reading »

Tour de Oregon

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:25:06 +0000

After months of incessant pestering from my buddy, I relented and took a trip to Oregon. Instead of flying over the state, I decided to drive; I thought it would give me an opportunity to really appreciate the State and drive my Jeep. Despite it taking two days and 1,300 miles, I was right. In just a few short days, I felt, so to speak, like I was in God's backyard. Continue Reading »

Mr. President, May I Suggest…

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:15:18 +0000

In an interview with NBC's "Today" show, scheduled to air on June 8th, President Obama said he wanted to know "whose ass to kick" with regards to the oil spill in the gulf. Mr. President, if I may be of assistance, kick your own ass. Take a cue from President Truman, who so famously made "the buck stops here" the standing policy of his administration. The fact is, you are the President of the United States and are responsible for the actions (or inaction) of the federal government. Whether our government fails or succeeds, it is your responsibility. That is unfair, to a certain extent, but it is the responsibility you fought so hard for and willingly accepted. Continue Reading »

Memorial Day

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:34:30 +0000

Since May 5, 1866, Memorial Day, or "Decoration Day" as it was originally known by, has been a day where we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country. And honor is the operative word isn't it? What greater sacrifice could someone make then to give their life in service to their country or give their life to protect our freedom? The answer is there isn't a greater sacrifice. None. That is why I am saddened, upset, and angry over how many people treat the day. Continue Reading »

I Want My Money Back

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:44:21 +0000

This is a copy of a letter I sent directly to the White House. Continue Reading »

We are in Trouble

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:35:35 +0000

I love my country. I always have and I always will. However, the country that I love so much is in trouble, grave trouble. As a nation, we have lost our moral compass, developed severe apathy toward our fellow citizens, mortgaged ourselves to the hilt, and become a society of "me first, you last" or, in some cases, "you not at all". It is a sad state of affairs and the ball, so to speak, is about to circle back on us. Almost daily, I worry if our country will survive; I wonder if we will endure. Continue Reading »

My Blog Turns 1!

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:33:04 +0000

It's official, John Swanagon's Blog has turned one. One year and four days ago, I created my blog with Wordpress. In the beginning, I wanted to build my online brand. After a year and over sixty articles, it worked. Today, my blog is indexed by Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask/Jeeves, and Baidu to name a few. Not only do searches for me yield more results than a year ago, my articles are appearing in a wide variety of other searches too. According to Google Insights, my articles appear in the first through third pages on topics that include politics, sociology, and technology. Words cannot describe my excitement. Continue Reading »

Blame it on the GOP

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:29:26 +0000

Deregulate, deregulate, deregulate. This has been the battle cry of the Grand Old Party for years. Republicans, with the help of their big business friends and lobbyists, have consistently worked to remove any and all governmental regulations designed to protect our financial system, our environment, consumers, and more. And, since the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, they have succeeded. Each and every time, they've done it under the banner of small government and freedom. Continue Reading »

Off the Deep End

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:43:08 +0000

It's official. The Republican Party has gone off the deep end. It started with the birthers, graduated to the Tea Party, escalated to Arizona's birther bill, and soared to Arizona SB 1070. I believe it derives from a party in severe denial. This has been the case with the Republican Party for some time. They can't win at the ballot box, so they abuse their power and wage attack campaigns to override the voters of America. In 1998, the Republican-lead Congress impeached William J. Clinton in order to try to sway voters in 2000. In 2000, the Supreme Court overrode the American people and installed George W. Bush as President in a clear abuse of power. Now, ten years later, they are at it again. Continue Reading »

Financial Reform DOA

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:56:24 +0000

After a year and nearly four months, the Obama Administration has finally begun the march toward reforming our broken financial system. All I can say is that it is about time. For far too long, we have let the inmates run the asylum. I am referring, of course, to the thugs on Wall Street. These folks, aided by their GOP allies, have worked tirelessly since the 1980's to decimate the regulatory components of our financial system in an effort to create the world's greatest casino. Methodically and quietly, they repealed regulation after regulation designed to prevent a second Great Depression. This led to ridiculous investment instruments and schemes that led to the biggest bailouts in history, bankrupted the nation's housing sector, created twenty percent unemployment, and nearly deprived America of its domestic automotive manufacturers. Oh yes, it is more than about time. Continue Reading »

We Need NASA

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:03:14 +0000

America is swimming in a sea of debt. We are engaged in two wars, are in the midst of a deep recession, and have an over trillion dollar deficit. Yeah, that's with a "T". Compounding it all is a national unemployment rate of nearly ten percent, likely to continue for the foreseeable future. As a result, strong leadership is needed to balance our budget, reinvest in America, and reduce unemployment. So, why then, are we cutting or perhaps gutting NASA? Continue Reading »

Going Rogue

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:47:51 +0000

The Republican Party has officially gone rogue. Over the past year, the GOP has acted like a group of spoiled children whose lollipops were taken away. If our country weren't in so much trouble, it might be somewhat humorous. However, our country is in trouble and we need all hands on deck to tackle our sizable problems. Yet, over the past year, the GOP has taken a position of "No" to just about everything, even in circumstances where common ground could be found. Just today, Sarah Palin said the GOP was not the party of "No", but the party of "Hell No". To make matters worse, members of the GOP have taken to shouting irrationally on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, requiring a super majority in the U.S. Senate for almost everything, and most recently, the incitement of violence. Continue Reading »

Selecting a Taekwondo School

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:51:30 +0000

Taekwondo is a great art and sport. It can help one get in great physical and mental condition. It can deliver a strong moral compass, unyielding self-confidence, and a solid foundation of self-discipline. These benefits, ultimately, have a profound impact on one's life, both in and outside of Taekwondo. It is for these reasons that Taekwondo has generally earned a reputation for molding people into honorable human beings. Continue Reading »

God Loves You

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:01:35 +0000

Have you ever felt the hand of God? What about His love and comfort? Have you ever seen or felt one of his Angels? If you have faith and are a good person, you have. It may sound crazy, but ask yourself; have you ever had a stranger help you when you needed it the most? Have you ever felt engulfed by what feels like warm air? Have you ever experienced good luck at a critical moment? Have you ever felt like you weren't alone in your darkest hour? Continue Reading »

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:00:58 +0000

Hopefully ye be wearin' green today! It is 17 March or Saint Patrick's day. Did ye know that the color originally associated with Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognized patron saints of Ireland, was blue? Blasphemy ye say? Although blue may be me favorite color, I agree! Green be Irish!! Today, I be celebrating me Irish heritage. Oh alright, half me heritage. In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, here be some Irish quotes for ye: Continue Reading »

Capitalism: A Love Story

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:26:45 +0000

Last night, I watched Michael Moore's latest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story. For me, the film was extraordinary. I felt Moore brilliantly assembled and told a story that was moving, shocking, depressing, alarming, uplifting, and hopeful all at the same time. Best of all, I thought he did it without a political agenda. In fact, it was clear that the story was an American one, not a Republican or a Democratic one. Continue Reading »

I Don't Understand

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:55:01 +0000

Today, another anti-gay Republican came out of the closet. That's right, another supposed conservative who dedicated himself to raging against gay people is, himself, gay. What's up with that? How can someone deny who they are while, at the same time, doing everything they can to destroy others like them? Talk about a severe case of denial. Is it that these people rage against gays in an effort to try to force themselves out of being gay? Continue Reading »

Environmental Drift

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:38:06 +0000

So the shiny new version of your service-based software just passed QA and you're ready to "go live". It is an exciting time as those countless market studies, requirements meetings, user stories, design discussions, development hours, and bug-fix cycles are about to pay off. Oh yeah, customers can't wait to get their hands on the new features and the executive team can't wait to see a return on their investment. At this point, all you need to do is copy and modify a few binaries, configuration files, and tables right? Continue Reading »

Hornet Wrangler

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:42:36 +0000

I love my Wrangler. I'm using the word love here. heh. (That's a riff from a line used by Jack Nicholson in "As Good As It Gets"). Anyway, I bought my Jeep last August and have made a number of changes to it. I tinted the glass, upgraded the engine intake, tweaked the ECM, installed a gas tank door, installed a locking gas cap, installed billet pedals, installed a heavy-duty hood lock, installed wheel locks, covered my spare with "Life is Good", installed an alarm system, installed Lo/Jack, and applied custom decals just above the "Wrangler" logo. The decals were the best addition; I designed them myself using Adobe Illustrator, had them printed by a company specializing in vehicle decals out of Brooklyn, NY, and applied them myself. Overall, I have had a blast upgrading the Jeep and doing the work myself. There are some things I haven't been able to do like Lo/Jack or the alarm system, but hey... there are some things best left to the pros. No matter what though, it's a total high!! (And for all you cool teenagers... it's a natural one.) Continue Reading »

No Good Deed…

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:00:38 +0000

It is really interesting how this world works. In my lifetime, I have endeavored to help people and make a difference without expectation of anything in return. On the whole, I have succeeded more than I have failed. That makes me really proud. Yet, I am fascinated with what I receive, most of the time, for my efforts. Almost without exception, the people I help use me as much as possible and subsequently throw me away when I can no longer be of use to them. Metaphorically speaking, it is like helping someone off the mat only to be kicked in return. What has this world come to? Are human beings nothing more than users? Is stepping on one another to rise to the top at any cost all that we have become? Continue Reading »

Jettison the Filibuster

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:23:15 +0000

The U.S. Government is broken. A recent poll, conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corp., backs that up; 86% of the respondents agreed. I think that sentiment is a direct result of the U.S. Senate in deadlock. Over the past year, I have watched as the Republicans in the U.S. Senate have consistently blocked bill after bill using the filibuster as a threat. Although I find the Democratic Party cowardly for not making them follow through, the consistent obstructionism has been disgusting to watch. How is it possible, in a democracy, that majority rules do not apply?! How is it possible that the minority can exert so much influence that nothing gets done? While I believe the minority should always be heard and should exert some influence on the majority, it should not be able to hold the majority hostage. Continue Reading »

The Lost Art of Taekwondo

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:46:31 +0000

I have been studying and practicing the Korean martial art of Taekwondo for twenty two years; twenty three this April. One of my teachers, Master Lee Cutright, once told me for one to become "good" at any one thing, one had to study it, perfect it, and apply it for a minimum of ten years. He couldn't have been more right, especially about the "minimum" part. After all, I still believe I have much to learn. Yet, after more than reaching that ten-year pinnacle, I have found myself disappointed at what Taekwondo has become. Continue Reading »

A New Perspective

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:49:01 +0000

"Las Vegas is spiritually bankrupt". I remember uttering those words when my brother wanted to move, and ultimately moved there, in 2007. He didn't agree, nor did he understand how a single visit could lead me to that conclusion. Even after more than two years there, he still said it was an okay place. In a twist only the good Lord can provide, both of us ended up seeing the other's perspective. Continue Reading »

State of the Union

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:36:53 +0000

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of Barack Obama. I have watched as he has consistently failed to lead, made decisions that ran counter to his campaign promises, and failed to help the very people who elected him President of the United States. I believe my fellow Americans, friend or foe alike, would agree. However, last night's State of the Union address gave me pause. Instead of seeing the Obama of old, I saw a new, changed Obama. He wasn't the same man that took the oath of office last year. Continue Reading »

Outrageous Aetna

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:32:36 +0000

I have had Aetna health insurance for ten years. In 2000, my annual cost was $0, co-pays were $10, and prescriptions were $10. Throughout my ten years of patronage, and yes I am a customer, my use of the insurance has been minimal. Fast forward to today. My policy is exactly the same; however, I pay $1,200 annually, co-pays are $15 or $25 depending on the doctor, and prescriptions costs are determined by claim activity. That's right. Just today, I found out that the monthly cost for my miracle allergy medication just doubled. The exact same medication with the exact same cost is $100 instead of $49. Is that not the very definition of highway robbery? Get someone dependent on a miracle drug and then raise the price. Wow. Continue Reading »

Supreme Disgust

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:51:41 +0000

The United States Supreme Court has ruled in the case of Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission. In a 5-4 decision along ideological lines, the court eased the long standing restrictions on corporate campaign spending with the net effect being unlimited campaign advertising by big companies. Continue Reading »

Rain

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:27:26 +0000

Have you ever woken up to a song playing in your head? This happens to me quite often. Sometimes, the song is so clear, it feels like the musicians are right in front of me. What is interesting about this is where the songs come from: heaven. Without exception, the music has significance to someone or something in my life. Sometimes it is a reminder that God is with me. Other times it is a call to action. Most of the time, I figure it out. However, for the last several days, I have woken up to the same song and it's meaning has left me somewhat perplexed. Then, today, I got the urge to post it to my blog. So, here it is, Rain by Creed: Continue Reading »

Brown v. Coakley

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:43:54 +0000

The special election for the Massachusetts Senate seat previously held by Edward Kennedy is heating up. According to the latest polls posted on RealClearPolitics, the race is now a tossup. Democrat Martha Coakley is, as of the latest poll on Monday, just two points ahead of GOP rival Scott Brown. Just a few months ago, she was thirty points ahead. What happened? Continue Reading »

Decade of One

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:09:17 +0000

It's official, the decade of zero has ended and the "decade of one" has begun. And no, I'm not talking about the decade of "me first". We've been there, done that, and got the shirt. Instead, it will be the decade of one community, one town, one city, one state, and one nation. This will be the decade that people come together. Continue Reading »

Height of Arrogance

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:11:20 +0000

This morning, I watched footage of General David Petraeus meeting with Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but General Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, was in his fatigues. Am I the only one who sees that as disrespectful? Why wasn't he wearing his Class A's? The man was meeting with a head of state! He wouldn't have done that to our President, the British Prime Minister, or a simple Congressman for that matter. That leads me to conclude that we, the United States, think we are better than everyone in the middle east and thus don't need to be respectful. Is that it? Continue Reading »

Goodbye 2000's

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:19:09 +0000

The 2000's were the decade from hell. It was a decade that witnessed the terror of 9/11, endured the evil of George W. Bush, weathered the effects of one recession and one depression, coped with massive losses of life, and lost all the innovative momentum that came out of the 1990's. It was also a decade that delivered us the Patriot Act, backdoor drafts, massive budget deficits, Wall Street thugs, and corruption in government and business. In fact, to call the 2000's the decade from hell is an understatement. Continue Reading »

Banks Declare War

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:39:47 +0000

War has been declared. The banks have declared their own customers the enemy and have launched an all-out assault to extort the most amount of money from them. You read me right. I said extort. Congress passed CARD or the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act in order to reduce or, at best, eliminate predatory lending practices. However, CARD backfired. Banks simply found a way around the law while, at the same time, finding a way to make even more money than before. It makes me wonder, is America still America or has the America we loved died? Think about it. We bailout these renegade institutions deemed too-big-to-fail and their gratitude comes in the form of taking more and more of our hard earned money. Continue Reading »

My Christmas Wish

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:36:10 +0000

Most people go through life living day-to-day; they don't think about the future nor do they don't think about the contributions they could make to the world around them unless those contributions are selfish in nature. Not so with me. I have known since I was a boy that God sent me here for a reason. That reason, though somewhat vague, has been the driving force in my life. It has guided my choices and is why I have consistently done things differently than my peers. Of course, that is not to say I haven't made my share of mistakes; but so is the way of life, right? Continue Reading »

Poll: Worst Person of the Decade

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:12:04 +0000

Our country and really, our world did not fare well in the 2000's. There was pain and conflict, one recession and one depression, two major wars, genocide in Darfur, theft by big business against the middle class, loss of faith, and no forward progress in innovation. Given all that, who could the 2000's have done without? In other words, which person's absence would have contributed to making the 2000's better?

Healthcare Reform KO

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:38:42 +0000

The latest salvo in healthcare reform has pushed me over the edge. I have never, in my lifetime, seen a President and a political party act so cowardly. President Obama has bet the farm on passing healthcare reform. Yes, he is fighting for his political life. As a result, he is willing to sacrifice anything and everything to get something, anything around healthcare passed. As it stands now, healthcare reform will not include a public option nor will it expand medicare. It does, however, put more people onto the rolls of insurance companies. Isn't that wonderful? Welfare for insurance companies, warfare for the people. Continue Reading »

Cut, Cut, Cut

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:13:49 +0000

The United States budget is a joke and an embarrassing one at that. This morning, I read a number of articles regarding the latest spending bills. What struck me the most is the across-the-board increases in spending. With high unemployment continuing to persist, our government can expect less revenue. Yet, we are increasing spending while decreasing revenue. If that isn't the very definition of insane, I don't know what is. Continue Reading »

Cold Hearted

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:10:39 +0000

Frigid temperatures have swept across the United States in recent days. The arctic weather, in some areas, has been pushing negative temperatures. It is weather like this that reminds me just how blessed I am to have a home, a job, and my family. Yet, at the same time, I am reminded of those who do not. Continue Reading »

Hypocrite of the Year

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:48:01 +0000

Hypocrites. I can't stand them. There is just something about a person saying one thing and doing another that makes my blood boil. In that vein, I have decided to create the "Hypocrite of the Year" award. Every December, I will name a person, in a leadership position within our federal government, who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. Each recipient will join the "Unbelievable Hall of Shame" so as to create a record for all the world to see and, hopefully, learn from. Continue Reading »

It's a Jeep Thing

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:54:24 +0000

I bought and took delivery of my new Jeep Wrangler (JK) about three months ago. When I picked it up, it was a stock '09 Detonator Yellow Rubicon with a hard top and a 6-speed manual transmission. Since delivery, I have put over 2,000 miles on it, been on a couple of trails, and begun the process of upgrading it inside and out. I think I'm beginning to understand what "It's a Jeep Thing" is all about. I knew I would be able to upgrade my Wrangler, but I had no idea just how "upgrade ready" one of these things were out of the gate. So far, I have upgraded the air intake, reprogrammed the engine for maximum performance, and installed billet pedals, grab handles, various security components, and a number of visual upgrades. I know others have done way more than me, but I am just getting started. My wish list currently includes KMC XD Series Black Wheels, an AEV Front Bumper, a WARN Winch, and a Borla exhaust system upgrade to name a few. Continue Reading »

What about Main Street?

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:22:50 +0000

If one were to look at Wall Street, you'd think the the economic boom of 90s was underway. The Dow is above 10,000, the NASDAQ is above 2,000, and the S&P 500 is above 1,000. All great news, if you are part of the investor class. But what if you aren't? For everyone else, unemployment is at 10.2% and rising, gas is nearing $3/gallon, home values have plummeted to the point where many homeowners are underwater, healthcare costs are skyrocketing, and the costs for basic necessities keeps going up. Wall Street may be doing well, but for everyone else, the ship is sinking. Put another way, the majority of America is hurting. Continue Reading »

Just do it

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:22:38 +0000

Nothing is more provocative or action oriented than those three simple words -- "just do it". Yes, the good folks on Nike's marketing team came up with a brilliant tag line; but it is much more than that. In just three short words, one describes what is required to overcome adversity, to let go of one's fears and worries, and to move forward with strong conviction. Just do it, put simply, is to gather up every bit of inner courage and try. Seriously... what is the worst thing that can happen? Continue Reading »

If they're gonna… I'm gonna…

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:35:39 +0000

My phone number is unpublished and is listed on the national "Do-Not-Call" list. I have anonymous (and blocked) call rejection turned on.With all that, you'd think it would keep unwanted callers from bothering me, but no. To some people and some companies, they don't care. They'll call and call, harass and harass. Some go as far as to fake a caller ID and call repeatedly until you buy what they are selling. Seriously, in today's day and age, what is up with that? Continue Reading »

The Majority Syndrome

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:08:57 +0000

The majority syndrome has been infecting our government for decades. It is the leading cause of massive deficits, a national debt out of control, unnecessary wars, and a government in deadlock. What is majority syndrome? It is a type of "cancer" characterized by a political party so obsessed with their majority status that they accomplish nothing for those who elected them and eventually abandon their ideals and principles to simply stay "in the majority". Symptoms include severe pandering, electioneering, broken promises, corruption, an inability to accomplish anything of significance, on-going debate to prevent legislation from passing, and constant blaming of the minority party as a reason for nothing getting done. Sound familiar? Continue Reading »

Having Faith

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:29:58 +0000

Faith is extremely powerful. It can move the unmovable, it can stop the unstoppable, it can penetrate the impenetrable, it can shake the unshakable, and cure the incurable. Even so, faith is difficult for it cannot be seen nor can it be heard. There are many who don't believe in it and even more that say they have it only to abandon it the minute it is tested. Yet, I have seen faith beat cancer, let people walk again, bring people together, and do things I never imagined possible. Continue Reading »

It was a stunt

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:23:08 +0000

Balloon boy -- can anyone say the most unbelievable stunt of the year?! Never before have I seen something so outrageous; and, never before have I been embarrassed to be from Colorado. Yet, there it was on Thursday and before the world to see, one of the biggest frauds perpetrated on the general public in a while. The Heene family wanted a show and they used their kids to try and get it. They staged a scene that created panic for a state, a nation, and a world. People from all over worried for the safety of a 6-year old boy who, had he been in the balloon, could have faced grave peril. The "staged" scene involved multiple law enforcement agencies and even mobilized the Colorado National Guard. Can anyone say irresponsible? Can anyone say reprehensible? Continue Reading »

Puh-leeze

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:23:06 +0000

I tried to hold myself back, I really did. Unfortunately I just can't, in good conscience, not object to Barack Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I find him receiving the award deplorable. According to Alfred Nobel, the prize should be awarded to a person who "during the preceding year... shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses". Please, for all that is good in the world, tell me where Barack Obama did any of those things? Continue Reading »

It's Called Leadership

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:54:28 +0000

Barack Obama was elected to lead America into a new era of restored integrity, honor, prosperity, transparency, and justice. Since taking office in January, he has done everything but lead. To be honest, I don't believe it is because he doesn't want change. Rather, I believe he does. However, I don't think he is capable of leading the change he promised. Let me explain why. Continue Reading »

Jeepin' in Arapaho

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:45:01 +0000

Today, I went with my folks to the Arapaho National Forest in Georgetown, Colo. to do a little Jeepin' with my new Wrangler. We entered the forest by way of Guanella Pass and traversed Argentine Pass. The views were spectacular, almost majestic if you will. I've lived in Colorado most of my life, yet I'm constantly amazed at how beautiful it is. Even in Highlands Ranch, I get amazed; especially on clear days. Continue Reading »

Microsoft Losing Ground

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:07:19 +0000

Microsoft was founded in 1975, but it wasn't until 1994, with the launch of Windows 95, that Microsoft became the great giant. Almost overnight, Microsoft's Windows became a worldwide sensation. I still remember attending the launch party at Microsoft and getting my very own copy of Windows 95. The excitement in the air was electric. (Hey, not only did it beat standing in line for hours upon end, I got it before everyone else.) After Windows 95, Microsoft got on a roll. They released hit after hit such as Office, Internet Explorer, SQL Server, Visual Studio, Exchange, and subsequent releases of Windows. Microsoft was unstoppable. Competitors were either bought or put out of business, or they became partners. Heck, even a monopoly charge by the Justice Department would not stop Microsoft. Their domination of the desktop market was impenetrable. Yet, today, Microsoft is slowly crumbling; all the excitement and innovation is gone, replaced by nothing more than just another "giant" business. My favorite, most admired company is falling apart. What happened? Continue Reading »

Dealing with Backstabbers

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:03:43 +0000

I loathe backstabbers. There is just something about a person with no real backbone, a person who is false in every sense of the word, a person with no courage, and a person that uses that drives me over the edge. Think about it. At some point in our lives, we've all had at least one person, metaphorically speaking, stab us in the back rather than come at us head on. It doesn't matter whether it is work, school, or sports. It just seems to be one of life's universal characteristics. Although every fathom of my being tells me it is part of the balance of the universe, I don't like it. In fact, I would rather throw balance to the four winds just to stay "bah-bye" to the art of backstabbing. Continue Reading »

Cheney Has No One To Blame But Himself

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:40:16 +0000

It isn't often that I get to express my first amendment right to tell a former Vice President that not only was he wrong and I was right, but that it works both ways. Today, I get to do just that and I believe it all comes down something called precedent. Maybe you have heard of it? In case you haven't, it basically means establishing a principle or a rule for making future decisions. Still don't understand? Let me break it down even further. Let's call it "cause and effect". The cause is firing Federal Prosecutors for not pushing partisan prosecutions coupled with selectively hiring career positions based on political affiliation at the Justice Department. The effect is the politicization of the Justice Department or, better yet, the politicization of justice itself. Continue Reading »

Ten Questions I Can't Answer

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:25:08 +0000

Like George Carlin used to say, ten just sounds official. I mean, how could I have nine questions I can't answer? LOL. Well, I really do have ten questions I can't answer. I admit, to a certain degree, I can answer some of these; but I guess I just cannot accept my answers in the grand scheme of things. I don't know, but perhaps others will be able to shed their insight into these questions... hey, maybe you have asked one of these before? So, without further ado... Continue Reading »

Grading Cash for Clunkers

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:39:28 +0000

Now that the government's Cash for Clunkers program has officially ended, it is time examine the program and see whether it was a success or a failure. I believe that doing so can provide valuable insight into whether or not the healthcare reform under consideration will succeed or fail. Continue Reading »

Yellow Jeep

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:39:53 +0000

Yesterday, I picked up my new Jeep Wrangler from Go Chrysler Jeep in Denver, Colo. I have been wanting to get a Wrangler for a while now, but it wasn't until yesterday that I was able to get one. For the past several months, I have been actively looking for 2-door Yellow Rubicon Wrangler with a manual transmission. Although I had previously located a few, none were manuals and almost all of them were fully loaded. However, this past weekend, Go found one. It was located at their West store in Golden, Colo and was the right price with a manual transmission. It was wild as it literally just showed up. Out of the middle of nowhere, the Jeep I wanted showed up. Funny how that works. Actually, it is not so funny as I know why. Continue Reading »

It's Obama's War Now

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:14:28 +0000

Just as President Obama prepares to close the war in Iraq, he is escalating the war in Afghanistan. He is increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan to, in effect, "stabilize" the country. Although not the primary topic of this article, it is worth asking why we haven't charged our 43rd President with dereliction of duty, negligence, and murder. However, just as Iraq will be George W. Bush's sinful and everlasting legacy, Afghanistan will become Obama's. President Barack Obama is now, well, President. He holds the reins and these wars are now "his". Continue Reading »

Town Hall Madness

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:41:04 +0000

The recent outbursts and rage occurring at town hall meetings across the country is deeply troubling. Upon first learning of the ruckus, I thought it was an organized effort to derail President Obama's healthcare initiative and the related legislation currently being considered by Congress. Then it hit me. While there may be some organized effort going on, the underlying reason is that people are mad and they are using these town hall meetings as an outlet to vent. To be clear, healthcare isn't the reason, or at least, it isn't the primary reason. Since January of 2001, middle class Americans have watched a massive amount of wealth be transferred to the richest one percent, a balanced budget turn into a budget deficit, a double down of our national debt, two very brutal and poorly executed wars, a massive loss in jobs, and the largest bailout of the wealthiest Americans who gambled our futures and lost. A cost has been paid and it is well above our tolerance level. People have finally had enough. Put another way, America's middle class, the majority, has had enough. Continue Reading »

This isn't a Recession, it's a Depression

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:50:33 +0000

I don't know anyone who hasn't been affected by George W. Bush's economic legacy. This weekend, another family held a "sell all" garage sale in my neighborhood. I found out it was because they are being evicted due to foreclosure. This is the second family in my neighborhood to lose their home this year and the second time that this particular house has been foreclosed upon. Last year, three families lost their homes, all in a neighborhood with only 83 homes. It is like a nightmare and reading the Highlands Ranch Herald doesn't help either as the Public Notices section takes up most of what was once a great read. Continue Reading »

Obama Wrong on Healthcare

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:52:58 +0000

I admire President Obama's tenacity on healthcare, but the plan he is putting forth and the methods he is using to make it law scare me. There are three key problems I have with President Obama's healthcare plan. The first is that this plan will not be deficit neutral. In reality, this plan is likely to add billions if not trillions more to our already sizable deficit. The second is that this plan gives insurance companies a huge windfall without addressing the underlying problems. The third is the speed at which the President is moving. Something this big and this bold should not be passed in a matter of months. There needs to be due consideration and careful planning. We need to make sure that there is a reasonable expectation of the plan succeeding before Congress passes it. Continue Reading »

40 Years Later and…?

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:35:14 +0000

Many would say the human spirit is about exploration and the infinite pursuit of knowledge. Forty years ago today, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed -- and walked -- on the moon. It was a feat equal only to our audacity to reach for the stars. On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy said "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth". On July 20, 1969, we did just that. Our trips to the moon showed a nation -- and a world -- the infinite possibilities that await when we put our collective minds together. Continue Reading »

Are there any good people left?!

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:17 +0000

It seems like the world is spinning out of control. Lately, more than ever before in recent memory, people seem to be more mean, cruel, nasty, evil, and mean spirited. Furthermore, there seem to be no consequences to this kind of behavior. For instance, a President can abandon his campaign promises, a neighbor can defraud another neighbor's insurance company, a teenager can kill a bicyclist while texting, elites can lie to Congress, and more. Of course, I am not naive enough to think we have ever lived in a utopic society, but there used to be consequences to one's actions and people used to be more kind. How is it that a teenager, while driving and texting at the same time, can essentially murder a cyclist behind my home and walk away with a slap on the wrist? How can a Vice President allegedly violate the U.S. Constitution and not get so much as an investigation? How can a neighbor defraud an insurance company and get away with it? And finally, how can a CEO layoff thousands of workers and then take a nearly $1M raise? Continue Reading »

Why do we still code like this?

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:05:06 +0000

When the first human being decided to write something down, he -- or indeed she -- created the first record. As we recorded more, we began to understand that our records have a degree of privacy to them. In other words, we don't want to share everything we write down. Before the advent of electronic databases, we stored our records in filing cabinets and secured them with locks. Although crude, the locks provided a degree of privacy for our records. When electronic databases arrived, the filing cabinets were jettisoned and instead of "locking" our records up, we secured them with digital safeguards such as "permissions". Despite all the safeguards available to software engineers today, software continues to be developed with a classic vulnerability that leads to data corruption, privilege elevation, unintended disclosure of records, and more. Given how digital our lives have become, the notion of hackable software is scary. Where are the safeguards protecting our medical records, credit reports, bank records, and more? And, why don't programming languages enforce these safeguards rather than allowing them to be circumvented? Continue Reading »

They Don't Care About Us

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:58:30 +0000

Today is Independence Day in America. Two hundred and thirty three years ago, the United States was born and a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" was created. Founders like John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson laid the groundwork for what would become, to the world, the very definition of freedom, democracy, and justice. Yet today, on America's birthday, the very fabric of our country is unraveling, its foundation crumbling. Our government has become tyrannical, indifferent to its people, and too large. Our elected representatives no longer represent the people, they represent parties and the parties represent titans of industry like AIG, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs. In a phrase, they don't care about us. Continue Reading »

Guarding Against E-mail Scams

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:30:21 +0000

E-mail is one of, if not the, most unsecured technologies in use on the Internet today. Notwithstanding the employment of a Public Key Infrastructure or PKI, anyone can steal, copy, or manipulate e-mail while in transit. To make matters worse, e-mail can easily be spoofed to hide a sender's true identity as well as the true origination point. In total, there is more privacy and security in sending a letter via the U.S. Postal Service than sending an e-mail over the Internet. A sad statement, given that the technology needed to guarantee privacy, sender identification, and origination point is readily available. Continue Reading »

Mark Sanford: Tender Your Resignation

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:37:32 +0000

Governor Sanford, your resignation is required and it should tendered immediately. Your actions of the past several days have been reckless, irresponsible, and dishonorable. It is reckless to leave your state without a clear chain of command, irresponsible to disappear without informing your Lt. Governor, staff, and key members of the state legislature as to your whereabouts and contact data, and dishonorable to not only have an extramarital affair, but to lie and try to cover it up, thus harming the citizens of your state in the process. Continue Reading »

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:10:47 +0000

President Obama has been in office just over 120 days and has already begun the process of unraveling, sidestepping, and reversing his campaign promises and positions. Mr. Obama built his Presidential campaign around two simple premises, hope and change. During the primary and the general election campaigns, he called his rivals out on issues like Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, torture, transparency, fiscal policy, healthcare, the economy, and more. He said that if elected, he would alter America's course and bring hope and the promise of a brighter future to the American people. He has done everything but since he took office. Continue Reading »

Easy Money: Weak Security Makes It Too Easy

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:59:01 +0000

In today's advanced technological age, there is no legitimate excuse as to why we still have credit and bank card victims everyday in the United States. Anyone who holds a debit or credit card should be worried and the reason for the lack of security should be frightening. In today's day and age, we have the capability of securely "tunneling" data between endpoints, or in other words, ensuring data integrity and privacy between Point A (the consumer) and Point D (the bank). This tunneling can ensure that no one between Point B and Point D can steal or alter the data being exchanged. (Think of Point B as the Merchant and Point C as the Credit Card Processor.) However, today's banking network is completely unsecure, essentially allowing what is known as "Man in the Middle" attacks. To pull this off, all one needs is an open system, exactly what we have today. When a consumer swipes their card at the grocery store, the data is shared with the merchant, which is then handed off to a credit card processor and subsequently handed off to the consumer's bank and back. Although the data is encrypted along the pipeline, the data is unencrypted at the merchant. That means that merchant knows your account information and can save it to a database. That is exactly what thieves did at the Hannaford Bros. grocery store in Vermont. Once thieves have the account numbers, they can then exploit it, leading to billions in losses for banks as well as months of recovery time for the victims. Continue Reading »

North Korea Out of Control

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:44:25 +0000

The Korean peninsula is on the brink of war and it is Kim Jung Il's communist government that is behind it. One can only think that the "Dear Leader" has lost it or perhaps the inmates are running the asylum. In recent weeks and months, North Korea has gone rogue. The North has threatened to shoot down civilian aircraft flying near their airspace. They have test fired short, medium, and long range missiles that are capable of carrying tactical nuclear payloads while, at the same time, conducting underground nuclear tests. And, to add insult to injury and escalate an already intense situation, they announced the end of the 1953 armistice this week; the very armistice that ended the Korean War and created the DMZ. Continue Reading »

Former V.P. Cheney: Please Go Away

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:55:06 +0000

Mr. Cheney, you presided over America's darkest hours, abused our Armed Forces, desecrated our Constitution, and lead the charge to de-regulate our financial markets which created the worst economic mess since the Great Depression. To watch you on Thursday attempt to defend your record, defend your policies on torture, and claim that your policies made America safer was disgusting. In fact, you have made our country weaker in every way. You have alienated long standing allies, decimated our economy, and contributed to the deaths of thousands of Americans at home and overseas in the name of making money. You claim to be a conservative, yet you spent money like a liberal. Under your leadership, it took only six months to go from a balanced budget and surplus to a budget deficit. It was also, under your watch, that the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history occurred in which you had the actionable intelligence and blatantly ignored it. Continue Reading »

President Obama: No one is above the law

aeroschwany@hotmail.com (John Swanagon) — Sun, 10 May 2009 03:21:44 +0000

Mr. President, no one is above the law. There is a reason lady justice has a blindfold on. Based on what we have all been reading and hearing about, it is clear that the law had no force and effect during President George W. Bush's two terms. Through your own admission, the United States violated the Geneva Conventions; a set of treaties to which the United States is a consignatory. If this is the case, why do you refuse to appoint a special prosecutor to go after anyone, regardless of rank or position, that participated in the act of torture? After all, torture is torture and ignorance of the law is not a defense. Continue Reading »