The truest moment in IT...

Initial post edited because some moron disabled embedding on the first clip.

NASCAR ain't got nothin' on F1...

NASCAR, still stuck in the past, using old tech, antiquated ideology, and racing's equivalent of "professional wrestling", needs to get serious and start looking at what their European counterparts are doing.  This is a video about the new cars for the F1 2009 season, showcasing a new tech, KERS (Kenetic Energy Recovery System).  In short, KERS stores waste energy from braking much like production hybrids, then transforms it into a once per lap 6.5 second 85 horsepower boost, courtesy almost any racing video game ever made (except for NASCAR games, that is).  I call that awesome.  

Make no mistake about it, compared to this, the racing we get over here in the states might as well be with a horse and buggy.

Voting and race...

I have written before about why I decided to vote for Barack Obama for President. It was a rational choice, made with patience and careful observation of the facts at hand. I am an independent voter, and will always make as objective decision as I am able regarding my choice to vote. With that said, there is something undeniable about this election, and profound about my voting opportunity today. I talk about race even less than I do politics, but now that I have voted, I do want to share this concept with you.

My great-great-grandfather was a slave. After the Civil War, he and his brother took on my family name, and worked as best we can tell as farm hands the rest of their lives.

My great-grandfather was a farm hand and coal miner. From all accounts a practical and conservative man, he instilled a strong work ethic and understanding of value to his children.

My grandfather was a grocery bagger (among other things). When I was younger, he would tell me stories of segregation, and gaining the right to vote. He told me of working hard, gaining the respect of the people around him that afforded him opportunities to achieve better things for his family. I recall going to vote with him as a young boy, and remember how important that was to him as I would drive him to the polls when I was older. His values are largely responsible for the success of his children, teaching that the only person that can hold you back is you. My grandfather saw changes within his lifetime that allowed him to create the opportunity for his own children to go to college, pursue their dreams, and find success.

My mother's generation in our family broke the remaining barriers. My uncle was the first black baby to be born in a regular wing in our town's hospital. My uncle, mother, and aunt were all in school as segregation ended, and were among the first to attend a mixed race school. My uncle and mother have both earned Master's degrees, and my aunt has found her own success in management through her hard work and dedication.

Thanks to them, I have had it easy. There were no real barriers for me to break, no challenges that I have seen that could not be overcome. My race was never an issue in terms of my own success. If I have wanted a job, I made sure that I was the best candidate and have gone out to get it. Attending college was never a question, option, or an "it would be nice". It was expected. I have been accepted socially most everywhere I have lived, and on the rare occasion that race has played a part in my relationship with someone, it has either been overcome or I did not need to be involved with that person in the first place. To my knowledge, I have never been turned down for a job because I was black, and if I had been, I would not have liked that work environment anyway. Compared to the trials of the generations in my family before me, mine have been nothing.

The most profound thing I have ever done in terms of race in my lifetime was today, voting for a black candidate for President. Again, I have made my points previously on why I think he was the best candidate for President, so do not mistake this entry to mean race was my motivation. However, to look at where my own family came from, what they have lived through, and to think that has culminated not only in race not being an issue to me, but race not being a barrier in a Presidential election; that is huge.

Whether Obama wins or not tonight, he has objectively proven the ability of the black race to succeed and achieve in America. There are those that disagree with me, that see racism and discrimination around every corner, and in every shadow. I argue that it is that very perception, not the reality, that is now the barrier to the achievement of blacks in America. "Yes we can" not only applies to this Presidential race, but to lesser successes, such as going to college, building a solid career, supporting a family, and reducing the proportion of blacks in prison.

I hope this election gives the same conviction to others that I have had my entire life, thanks to my family, that race is no longer a barrier. Were my grandfather alive today, I know that he would be proud and happy about this election.

Had some fun out today...

The Saga of Miss South Carolina, Part 2-The Today Show...

A couple of days ago, I posted a video of a very confused Miss South Carolina attempting to answer a question about the education system in America. She visited The Today Show in the aftermath, and her interview was rather enlightening...

So, as it turns out, she is going to Appalachian State University for graphic design. That's going to place our lovely Miss South Carolina connected right alongside another jewel of the internet; who can forget that "Appalachian is HOT, HOT, HOT!"

Something tells me she is going to be just fine at that school...

I think there are still those that need this instructional video...