The Last Presidential Debate. What Now?

After watching 3 Presidential Debates and 1 Vice Presidential Debate, I am still uncertain who deserves my vote.  I understand Connecticut is deeply a Democrat leaning state, but I still want to at least believe I have an impact on my nation's future.   

Obama has done a lot of good for America. I believe our economy is stronger than when he took office.  Is it directly because of Obama's policies or just the natural roller coaster ride of economics?  I'm not sure. Does having business experience mean Romney can completely fix our economy? Maybe, but no matter what happens, 4 more years will not make America the greatest country on Earth again. That may take a generation, if it's even possible.  

There is one common theme I was able to extract from all the debates. Both candidate hid behind the phrase, "That's not true" without directly combating how such accusations could be made in the first place.  And as the entire nation 'fact checks' after every debate, I think we all come to the conclusion that both candidate are right, and they are also wrong.  

This makes me anxious, to say the least.  I fear I don't know if continuing Obama's plans will strengthen this country or if a complete shift over 4 years will cripple any progress we have made.  I am particularly unnerved by 'Obama-Care.' From what I've gathered, it's a very complicated piece of legislation that might have too many earmarks and fine print to be a truly healthy (pardon the pun) path to healthcare for everyone.  

My family has never had to worry about healthcare because both my parents work for Yale University and their benefits are second to none. In some ways, I don't care about Obama-Care. I am relieved that I can stay on my parents health insurance until I'm 26, but I can not sympathize with anyone who struggles without healthcare (some may say I should be ashamed of myself, but that's a fact, not a personal opinion).  Do I want to vote for Romney to repeal Obama-Care? Maybe. I just don't know.

  

Finally, we keep hearing Obama bash Romney for wanting the auto industry to go bankrupt back in 2008.  Obama was referring, partially at least, to an article Romney wrote in the New York Times. I have assembled to powerful quotes directly from this article:

"Second, management as is must go. New faces should be recruited from unrelated industries — from companies widely respected for excellence in marketing, innovation, creativity and labor relations."

I agree that members of management who perpetuated actions which lead to a near collapse of the industry should be reprimanded and fired, but completely new faces FROM OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY (= NON-EXPERTS)?  Are all American car company leaders ruthless, slimy,  greedy....men?  I think Romney loses a notch in my belt for that quote.

Secondly: 

"The American auto industry is vital to our national interest as an employer and as a hub for manufacturing. A managed bankruptcy may be the only path to the fundamental restructuring the industry needs. It would permit the companies to shed excess labor, pension and real estate costs. The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk.

In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check."

Here's where Obama got it wrong, and got it right.... at the same time, somehow....

Romney, at least in this particular article, did not ask for direct government intervention to help the banks, BUT he did ask the government to make the bankruptcy process easier for the companies.  So Obama was wrong to say Romney wanted the auto industry to crash and burn as the government looked on, which he argued in the final debate (really all of them). But Obama was right that Romney didn't want the government to step in directly.  

In the end, I think Obama will win. Firstly because he is the incumbent and many people will want to give his policies the time they need to be fully implemented. Secondly, humans are afraid of change and Romney represents drastic change in a short amount of time. And finally, both candidates have similar foreign policy agendas, a topic that was highlighted in the final debate. If both promise to keep us safe from terrorists, then does foreign policy have any bearing on who will be a better president?

Last, but certainly not least, I wish the debates went more like this...

OR THIS!

Why the Microsoft Office Monopoly Must, and Can, Fall

First of all, this video is hilarious (at least in my opinion).  It portrays two important issues. Companies bash each other almost as much as Obama and Romney bash each other on national television, blurring the line between business and politics (some would say all politics is business).  Secondly, people are afraid of change, especially when one of the most powerful businesses in the world stands to loose a lot.

Microsoft Office really has a monopoly on the document creating world.  Now there's no arguing that Microsoft Office is AMAZING. You can do almost everything imaginable (in the realm of documents, power-points and spreadsheets at least), and that's precisely the problem.  I would love to see a study that quantifies how many consumers use just 50% of the features of the Office suite.  I would bet money (a few bucks at least) that only about 10 percent of all people who buy Office use more than 50% of the features.  

So why do we all throw away $130 every time we buy a new computer?  It's not because we ourselves  need Microsoft Office to function in our academic and work lives.  It's because schools and businesses relish uniformity and are deathly afraid of change. 

I would say 80-90% of people, students and workers alike, don't need Microsoft Office and all its features.  There are at least 2 great alternatives to Office that range from $0-$60.  I am talking about iWork from Apple and Google Docs. 

My only in depth experience with iWork is Pages for iPad, so I am not the authority on comparing key features and differences between iWork and Office, but I am confident that iWork is just as good for the vast majority of people at half the price.  I really enjoy using Pages on my iPad because it works so intuitively.  A full version of Pages would surely be just as satisfying as Microsoft Word.  The only issue (and it's a big one) is that iWork only works on Apple devices.  

Luckily, Google heard my cries for help and has offered a wonderful solution. Google Docs.  

Google is so confident in the functionality of their web based document creator that it began dishing out the 'Google Chromebook,' a radical design idea where the entire device is just a conduit for web based applications. This makes the device itself inexpensive and slim, but it also makes it less functional than a traditional laptop....or does it?

Let's explore this more.  There were three main issues raised by the comical Microsoft attack on Google.

Lack of software complexity
Trouble with revisions while on the road
Automatic software changes

Those issues may have been troublesome a year ago when Google Docs was making its big push, but today these arguments are weak.  Yes, Google Docs is not as complicated as Microsoft Office, but who wants complicated software?  You can download Google documents for revision on the road and, with the current level of success, there is no fear of dramatic software changes or complete collapse.

Whenever you write an essay in school or submit a document to your boss, they all expect when you were typing, you saw the above screen.  Because of this we all suffer and are forced to dish out $130 for software we could get for free.  Yes, uniformity is important, but there can be standards that do not require the exact spacing and font size of Office.  In the end, I believe font size and spacing uniformity is the only general reason for buying Microsoft Office.  

I fully admit there are exceptions.  Big businesses may not want all their important and confidential documentation on the internet or they may actually need the Office suite for more than just department memos and scheduling.  

Let me write my final essay for the seminar in Google Docs. Let me create a PowerPoint without using PowerPoint. Let me be a productive for free. GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME......choice.  

Let's end this article with a productive look at the Google Chromebook, the device that makes Google Docs truly powerful.

Here are the specs for the new Google Chromebook:

• Display Size: 11.6 inches
• Display 1366 x 768
• Weight 2.43 pounds
• Thickness 0.8 inches
• Battery Life 6.5 hours
• Processor Samsung Exynos 5250
• Memory 2 GB
• Webcam
• 16 GB internal storage with 100 GB online storage
• HDMI port, USB 3 and USB 2 ports

And it costs only $250.

How can you say 'no' to something this sexy?

These specs are almost as impressive as Google Docs itself.  But people will complain there is no compatibility for iTunes, Photoshop, Microsoft's stuff, Skype or Netflix (for now).  And with only 16 GB of internal storage, this will not be a good place to store those home movies and pictures.

WRONG! 100 GB of online storage is actually the safest and most productive place to store all your important media.  It's always accessible wherever you go and there is no worry of loss or destruction of your files.  I do concede, however, that you don't need a Chromebook to use Google Drive to store files. 

I want to play around with the Chromebook, but I probably won't buy one myself. My laptop is still hanging in there and I am too far down the path to the Darkside to make my next computer anything but a Macbook.

My main point, trust Google. It's just as good as Microsoft, but humanity is afraid of healthy change.

The New iPod Nano has a Place

I believe most people today have some form of a music listening device. Gone are the days of cassette and CD players. Music is cool, fun, cheap and digital.  There are hundreds of mp3 players available today to store your digital content. However, the iPod really defined the category just as the iPhone and iPad defined the smartphone and tablet category. 

To that end, Apple announced the newest version of the iPod Nano the same day the iPhone 5 was unveiled.  Gone are the days of a spinning wheel to access music. Touch screens have made cassette players, CD players and even older models of the iPod obsolete.  

The problem is, technology experts are complaining there is no place for the new Nano. If you want something small, they argue for the iPod Shuffle. And for just $50 more that the $150 iPod Nano, you can get the 4th generation iPod Touch and have a camera, internet access, and a heck of a lot more. 

But how can you so 'no' to this sexy thang?

The argument is solid, but.......WRONG

There are several niche markets who are going to absolutely love the new iPod Nano and here's why.  Some people want a bigger screen that the old iPod Nano. While it was very cool to have an mp3 player/wrist watch, the screen was just too small for anything other than listening to music, and you don't need a screen for that.

These same people don't want to carry a full size iPod Touch/iPhone.  Maybe they already have an iPhone or maybe they just want their music stored in a separate and compact space.  

There is also the simplicity.  There are no software updates or issues with maps or dropped calls or...issues with maps.  Everything is built in.  With the new iPod Nano, you can listen to music and FM radio stations and have album artwork, but you also have a screen just big enough to enjoy pictures, video and pod-casts.  This version also has 'Nike +' to help keep you active and more importantly, Bluetooth. Now you can hook up better headphone and speakers without actually hooking them up.  

It's the perfect 'Mini Me' to the iPhone!

The variety of colors also helps in the customization of the device. If only I could get a blue iPhone 5, but alas....

If you don't care about or need the bells and whistles of the 4th generation iPod Touch (or wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you bought an old version of the device but see no reason to blow $300 on a marginal upgrade) and need a screen that isn't the size of a Lego piece, the new iPod Nano is the perfect device and the perfect price. 

If it had a built on clip similar to its predecessor, I think this product would sell REALLY well. Unfortunately, you still need somewhere to stick the Nano when you use it at the gym or at the beach or wherever people with energy do things. That's wear being a woman (one that escaped the Mit Romney 'binder' I guess) comes in handy. Bras are the ultimate storage device. 

What is Happening to Alex Rodriguez?

 I gotta be honest, I didn't see this coming. It was like an earthquake rampaging through New York.

Alex Rodriguez might be traded.

Reports began to circulate yesterday that the Yankee Mega-Slugger might be out the door, and sooner rather than later.  Of course, General Manager Brian Cashman denied any such rumors, particularly of talks with the Florida Marlins.  Keith Olbermann was one of the first to start the rumor mill by reporting that the Yankees were in talks with the Marlins to trade Alex while picking up much of his left over $100,000,000 salary.  Heath Bell might come to New York in the potential deal.

This trade makes sense for a many reasons. In no particular order:

• Alex is OLD and breaking down. He has five years remaining on his contract and I afraid to see what shape he'll be in starting that fifth year.  If anyone is willing to pay ANY of his salary and take him from the Yankees, the discussion has to be there.
• There is now a precedent for dropping big contracts on teams who are desperate or stupid.  With the Red Sox able to trade away three big contracts to the Dodgers, there is now hope for any team who made a long term mistake 8 or so years ago.  This type of trade has happened, can happen, and will happen again, especially with salaries rising higher and higher with each new contract.  Players are increasingly arguing "Why does he make $100 million and I only make $80 million...." Shut up.
• Alex is from the Miami area and would be a boost to a Marlins team that traded away their franchise player Handley Ramirez and Anebal Sanchez (who is kicking butt in the playoffs).  I doubt Alex will be a great player with a change of scenery, but if the Marlins can drop Heath Bell and get a proven slugger for cheap, then why not give it a try?
• Finally, and especially if the season ends today for the Bombers, the complete mess that has been conjured up since Girardi pitch hit Ibanez for Alex.  Alex continuously argues the team is better with him on the field, not in the dugout (where at least he can't strike out against every  right handed pitcher).  This media/fan/manager/ownership/teammate debacle is only heightened by the alleged "Flirtgate" scandal where Alex was seen flirting with a woman in the stands during Game 1 of the ALCS. Typical Alex, but combined with everything else, this may be the final straw.

I'm too cool for this one horse town anyway.

Even with all these points of contention, I was not convinced of the validity of this trade possibility until I considered what happened in Game 2 of the ALCS. In the 9th inning down 2-1, the Yankees allowed Bret Gardner to bat with no one out and no one on base. You could argue his speed and bunting ability were valuable to begin a rally, but considering he was playing hurt and with only a few at bats during the post season, that argument is weak.  And the Yankees were only down 1 run and Alex is paid to hit home runs. How many runs make a home run? Oh that right...1. That's all the Yankees needed to tie and they could have had 3 opportunities if Alex pitch hit.  

There are two explanations. Either Girardi really believed Gardner was the better choice (for whatever possibly delusional reason) or management doesn't want Alex playing.  Sink your teeth into that idea...

In other news, check out my YouTube channel with a video commentary on my post about the Microsoft Surface and the iPad Mini!

The MLB Playoffs have been Amazing... and Unpredictable

Ok, so I'm not perfect. I predicted the Cincinnati Reds would beat the Giants in Game of of their NLDS series and I was mistaken.  Mat Cain showed the world he is truly the ace of their staff. What is remarkable is how they're former ace, Tim Lincecum, was pitching out of the bullpen and they still won.  Does anyone realize Lincecum had the highest ERA this year among eligable pitchers?  Then, the Giants promptly lost Game 1 of the NLCS to the Cardinals...who are hungry to repeat, and then regrouped and won Game 2 (what the Yankees should have done).

Adam Wainwright did not pull a 'Justin Verlander' and shut down the Nationals, but the Cardinal's miraculous 9th inning comeback in Game 5 of the NLDS left Davy Johnson, the Washington manager, contemplating retirement from his nursing home (he's really old).  I always love (and hate) when I go to bed and discover the next morning that 6 run 4th inning lead completely evaporated, and in a series deciding game.  I should not have been surprised however, considering it has already been shown that home field advantage doesn't amount to much this year with the Giants WINNING ALL THREE GAMES ON THE ROAD.

And as for Alex Rodriguez...baseball is a funny sport.  It astounds me how one action can lead to such volatile consequences. Joe Girardi pitch hits for A-Rod in the bottom of the 9th and looks like a genius when Ibanez ties and then wins the game. But he did so at a heavy price. By ending Alex Rodriguez's superhuman status, he invited a swarm of media to drown the Yankees in controversy about benching a $100,000,000,000,000 man (something like that, I just typed a bunch of zeros).

Now, Girardi may be going too far (or has a big ego) with benching Rodriguez against Justin Verlander in Game 3.  A-Rod hit Verlander well this past season and had two good at bats last night, but Joe decided to go with Eric Chavez at third base and bench Swisher as well.  But consider this, if the Yankees can somehow beat Verlander tonight, Sabathia gives them a great chance to win tomorrow and then the series is tied with two of the last three games at Yankee Stadium.

So much can change in one night, from one play, one pitch or one moment.  We are about to find out if the Yankees have any magic left in the tank. If they lose tonight, well....let's just say Girardi might need to call Terry Francona for some advice.

Microsoft Surface and the iPad Mini

The technology world was all a-buzz today with two very important announcements.  Apple will have another press conference next Tuesday, October 23 at 1pm Eastern. The invitation: "We've got a little more to show you." This most certainly means the official announcement of the iPad mini, although we know surprisingly little about the exact specifications (unlike the iPhone 5).  

We know the screen will be about 7.5 inches diagonal, but the screen resolution and thickness are unclear, as is the design of the body.  This will be a new direction for the company.  They have been pushed by competition from Amazon and Google into the 7 inch tablet market, even though Steve Jobs specifically denounced the idea of a smaller screen.  However, there have been reports that Jobs was never actually against the smaller tablet, but he simply wanted to throw off the competition.  In any case, there will be many rumors and predictions over this next week. I personally do not want anything to do with an iPad mini. I love my full size iPad and if I enter the 7 inch tablet market, I will do so with the Google Nexus 7 to get a change of scenery. 

                                                                   

In other news, Microsoft announced today that their own line of tablets, known as the Microsoft Surface, will open to pre-orders today and start at $499 for the base line 32 GB model.  If you want the Touch Cover, a keyboard built into a iPad Cover that doesn't fold into a triangle, the total cost is $599 for the 32 GB model. Finally there is a 64 GB model with the Touch Cover for $699. You can spend an extra $20 for a more colorful Touch Cover (the basic one is black) or an extra $30 for the Type Cover, which has actual keys that press down. 

The main aspect to point out is that the base model is the same price as the base model iPad but with double the internal memory. That might sway some people on the fence about which tablet to purchase. The functionality of Microsoft Windows software and the 'cool new thing' keyboard will also steal some swing voters.  But I (and the tech world) do not want to assume anything about how 'good' or 'bad' the device is until we can go through a full series of tests.  Up to this point, no objective observer has gotten a really good look at this magical device.  We will know how it stacks up to the iPad soon enough. 

For now, here are the comparable technical specifications of each device: 

Device
	Dimensions	Weight	Resolution
Surface (RT)	10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37 in	Less than 1.5 pounds, that's all it says online	1366 x 768
iPad (3rd gen)	9.50 x 7.31 x 0.37 in	1.44 pounds	2048 x 1536
	CPU	Battery
Surface (RT)	NVIDIA T30, 2 GB RAM	Up to 8 hours mixed
iPad (3rd gen)	A5X, 1 GB RAM	Up to 10 hours mixed

The fact that Apple and Microsoft made a major announcement on the same day is no coincidence by any stretch of the imagination.  These days, tech giants love to attack each other and leave us consumers with empty wallets and a touch of doubt.  

The MLB Playoffs....So Far

The Division Series is drawing to a close. Very soon, every team will be in a 'win or die' scenario. The Oakland Athletics have their backs against the wall, as do the San Francisco Giants. The Yankees and Orioles are playing a nail-biter series and the Nationals and Cardinals are keeping me mildly entertained.

Let's go back the the end of the regular season to see how things ended and predict how things will end.

Heading into the last week of the regular baseball season, much still needed to be settled. The advent of a second wild card winner gave several clubs one last gasp of hope heading into their last series'.

Poetically, the two LA teams were both hanging on by the skin of their teeth and eventually fell into the abyss. The Angels, with so much promise heading into the 2012 season, never clicked on all cylinders. They had Jered Weaver lead the league in WHIP (1.02), BAA (.214) and tied for the lead in wins with 20. He was also third in the AL in ERA with 2.81 behind Verlander (2.64) and Price (2.56).

And they had Jesus Christ/Joe DiMaggio himself, Mike Trout.  This kid (and at 19 years old, I consider him a kid) had a ridiculous year.....RIDICULOUS! He had 30 home runs, 83 RBI, .326 AVG (second to Cabrera, 3.99 OBP, 49 stolen bases, and 129 runs scored. And, oh yeah, he had ALBERT PUJOLS in the line up too.  And even with all that, they failed miserably. Somehow, a bunch of no name kids wearing green and gold (the Athletics) played far better than the Halos.

And then there's the LA Dodgers. They came into the season with a chance to be the best in the West. They were not the overall favorite of anybody, but their was potential. Then Matt Kemp decided to go crazy and destroy every pitch that came anywhere close to his body. Then he got hurt.  But what made this season such a disappointment was the acquisition and failure of these guys to launch the Dodgers into the playoffs.

Crawford doesn't count of course. He's basically becoming Jason Bay

When the dust settled and the two LA juggernauts were defeated, there was one other oddity in the final standings. The Texas Rangers were not in first place. And then they lost to Baltimore in the very dangerous one game playoff. Hence this...

When you look at what had to happen for the Rangers to not advance to the Division Series, it's very shocking. They had to get swept by the Athletics in the final series of the season because they were in first place for every day of the regular season until the last day.   Then they had to loose to the Orioles in a one game wild card playoff facing Joe Saunders, who had a record of 9-13 in the regular season. Somehow, Saunders pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing one run and six hits. Pathetic Rangers. Just pathetic.

Finally, the Atlanta Braves fell to the St. Louis Cardinals. I watched this entire game. It was truly a sad way to end Chipper Jones' career.  But he got his millions, so I'm not wasting any tears on him. The game itself was almost as pathetic as the Rangers season...but not quite. Three errors by the Braves and then this...

Granted, the inning wasn't over and the Braves still failed to score any runs. And I'm not going to lie, I like seeing the Braves crash and burn and I enjoy seeing Braves fans being stupid. It makes me feel a little better as a Mets fan. But in the end, I still think the Rangers collapse is the bigger story. They dominated all year and then lost to a fair pitcher at best. Their mega-offense just gave up. At least the Braves and Cardinals were evenly matched. 

Then began the Division Series. Detroit quickly showed that fairy-tale story teams are not untouchable by handcuffing the Athletics in Game 1 of their series.  The moral of the story....nobody messes with Jason Verlander.  But Saturday's most fascinating story was the devastating blow to the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds at the same time.  After 8 pitches, Reds ace Johnny Cueto left the game with back spasms. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. It's a huge blow to loose your ace and 19 game winner, especially in a short series where he can pitch 2 times if necessary. But the Reds showed they have plenty of pitching depth. They beat the Giants in Game 1 by a score of 5-2 where Sam LeCure came in for relief and got the win. And they beat Matt Cain, a Cy Young Award candidate.

THEN the Reds deciding to start burying the Giants with a 9-0 victory in San Francisco the next night.  Bronson Arroyo showed the Giants his dominant stuff going 7 innings allowing no runs and ONE HIT. But the former World Champion Giants weren't quite done just yet. In a do-or-die Game 3 and in extra innings, the Giants capitalized on an error by Scot Rolen and won the game 2-1. I figured, as did many people, the Giants were still going to loose the series, but they were being pesky about it. But tonight, things got more interesting because the Giants beat the Reds Wednesday night 8-3. We got ourselves a Game 5! 

***My prediction: The Reds will still win because they're putting Latos on the mound for Game 5, who dominated in the regular season and pitched well in relief for Game 1.  The Giants will probably counter with Matt Cain for a second start, but the Reds offense will beat him and the Giants will pitch well, but fail with the bat. 

Despite the amazing story of the Oakland Athletics, I believe the fairy tale ends here. Detroit is just too good. They're pitching extremely well and the offense is producing just enough. If Cabrera and Fielder get hot together, the World Series is over before it starts. The A's can not compete on an offensive level and they will not pitch better.  A Tigers-Yankees ALCS is my prediction. Both underdog stories will crash and burn beneath the roaring flames of these two juggernauts. 

Let's talk about those Yankees. First of all, I hate them. Secondly, they're going to win the ALDS. The series might go 5 games. I would not be surprised if the Orioles came back strong tomorrow after loosing a heart-breaker Wednesday night, 3-2 in 12 innings. They had the Yankees on the ropes, so to speak, but that damn right field porch is SO shallow. Raul Ibanez 'will not go quietly into the night.' He's like 100 years old and he PITCH HIT FOR ALEX RODRIGUEZ to tie the game with a home run!  Then he does it again in the 12th inning!  Unfortunately for Yankee haters, I'm sensing some of the magic of the late 1990s when the Yankees would not loose big games and there was a different hero every night. 

So now my final predictions for the Championship Series and the World Series.

Yankees-Tigers = Yankees win in 7

Cardinals-Reds = Reds win in 7

The Cardinals have the postseason experience and the previous World Series victory. They have a very strong lineup of Beltran, Holliday, Craig, Freise and Molina. They have strong pitching in Wainwright, Carpenter (assuming he is fully recovered from surgery), Lance Lynn, and Kyle Lohse. But the Cincinnati Reds can match them player for player. They have a powerhouse lineup of Phillips, Votto, Ludwick, Bruce and Rolen.  Their pitching has surprised a lot of people for some reason.  Latos, Arroyo, Leake and Bailey are just as good as the Cardinal's counterpoints.  And there's the CUBAN MONSTER closing games. Chapman is the real deal. And if Cueto can return for a potenial World Series (he is definitely out for the NLDS and the NLCS), then they might just win this whole thing. 

The Yankees are getting hot and the Tigers are as well. The offensive favorite is probably the Yankees, although the combination of Cabrera and Fielder could be equivalent to A-Rod, Swisher, Cano and Granderson, if those two Tigers are on fire. The pitching match-ups probably favor the Tigers. Verlander, Fister, Sanchez and Scherzer against Sabathia, Pettitte, Kuroda and Hughes. Verlander alone gives the Tigers an edge, but it's only a slight edge.  In the end, I begrudgingly admit that Yankee magic is hard to beat...unless your the 2002 Diamondbacks or the 2004 Red Sox.