Getting Ready to Move

Got the job offer at the Reagan Library and Presidential Museum (which I accepted), so I'm busy getting ready to move. Rachel and I worked a deal out with her brother's landlord to take over the rental of the house he's currently moving out of, so that's progressing nicely.

It's a 3 BR/2.5 BA, 2-story house in a gated community in Camarillo. Nice house, nice neighborhood, nice landlord, so that's working out nicely.

Trying to tie things up at work and get Anjel up to speed, which should be interesting, since we've been inundated trying to resolve a big problem caused by Navy ERP. We only have this week left, as Friday is my last day, so it should be a fun few days.

Got most of the house packed up, with the exception of the little stuff in my office. We'll be selling a lot of furniture, then Rachel will be doing the cleaning.

Set up my own domain name, so eventually I'll port all this over to the new domain - erikrader.com (don't know when I'm going to design the site, but it will have at least two sections - the blog and then a section for all my 1/6 figures). Set up the domain so I can have the e-mail address and start changing everything for all the online communities I'm a member of.

Well, it's off to work, then another fun evening of packing things up and moving furniture around in preparation for the moving sale.

What I've Been Doing

Let's see, quite a bit has happened since I last posted. Actually, not really. I'm still in the running for that job at the Reagan Library, I applied on two positions at Edwards AFB (one as a Budget Analyst and one as a Supervisory Accounting Technician) and one at DCMA Santa Ana (as a Management Analyst). So we'll see what happens with that.

Been watching a lot of hockey, excited that the Kings are doing as well as they are. With the trade of Jason LaBarbera to the Canucks, the goaltending seems to have solidified, so it's not unrealistic for them to make the playoffs (the Kings are currently in 12th place with 38 points, but the 8th place team has 40 points).

Watched a few movies since I last posted, and suprisingly, all of them were pretty good. "Wanted" with Angelina Jolie turned out to have a couple of good plot twists, and the action was good. "Hancock" with Will Smith and Charlize Theron had an awesome plot twist and I really enjoyed that movie. "The Outpost" with Ray Stephenson was a cool little paranormal thriller/action movie. "Get Smart" with Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway and The Rock was awesome, and as someone who really enjoyed the original series, was pleasantly surprised at the job Steve Carrell did.

Actually went to see two movies. Saw "Bedtime Stories" with Adam Sandler, which was a good little movie, something that I would definitely have taken my kids to see. Also saw "Punisher: War Zone", which totally kicked butt!! Ray Stephenson was awesome, and this movie really went back to the dark roots of the Punisher character, and showed him for the very violent person he is.

Had a good Christmas, got all the stuff on my list, which was mostly video games. Got NHL 09, Left 4 Dead (a really awesome first-person shooter where you have to escape a city while being chased by zombies), Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (I've had every Rainbow Six game since the beginning in 1996, and Vegas/Vegas 2 are definitely the best in the series), Call of Duty: World at War (not really that impressed with this so far, but that's because of a couple of glitches that Activision hasn't released a patch for yet). Also got World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, so I'm playing that quite a bit.

Other than that, not much going on. I did give myself a dorkhawk last week (that's a mohawk when it's on a dork like me), but I'm going to cut it off today. I'll take a couple of pictures and post them later today or tomorrow.

Rockin' the 'stache!!

Finally downloaded a bunch of pics from my camera, thought I'd share some of them.

May 2008

Sept 2008 - Trying for a full Fu-Manchu

November 2008 - Trimmed it up a bit

(just have to add "Just for Men")

November 2008 - Me & Gypsy

November 2008 - Rachel

November 2008 - Being my normal dorky self

November 2008 - Me, Rusty & Gypsy

October 2008 - Me & Rachel at Calico

October 2008 - Me and my best friend Andy at Calico

October 2008 - Andy showing just how much he's enjoying Calico

(we'd only been there 20 minutes)

The Trinity Site

I had an opportunity back in April to visit one of the most significant sites in human history. During my visit with my parents, we went to the Trinity Site, the location of the world's first atomic explosion. Here are a few of the 200+ pictures I took there:

Scenic Marker located just outside White Sands Missile Range entrance

Sign detailing radiation exposure at Trinity Site
Picture of Jumbo, the first A-Bomb

The remnants of Jumbo's casing

The lava obelisk at Ground Zero

Plaque on the obelisk

Lower plaque on the obelisk

This shelter protects the actual crater at Ground Zero

Unfortunately, the sand has shifted so the original crater floor is no longer visible

A photograph of the explosion at .006 seconds

An aerial photo of Ground Zero one day later

The plaque at McDonald Ranch House

McDonald Ranch house, where the bomb was assembled

The plutonium assembly room

Replica of Fat-Man, the bomb dropped on Nagasaki

Information sheet about the Fat Man bomb casing

Time capsule location marker

Just a few pictures that made me laugh

Thought I'd share some pictures that made me laugh, hope you enjoy! I don't remember where I got all these from, but if you are the creator/owner and would like them removed, please e-mail me.

Obama Won - Now What?

WARNING - POTENTIALLY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE IN THIS POST

OK, so Obama won, and on this, the morning after the election, I'm feeling a lot of anger, but surprising to many of you, it's not because he won. I'm actually OK with his victory, and I'll explain why in a minute. My anger is because I really think the majority of voters in California are morons.

Regarding the Presidential election, I told many people that I didn't think Obama would win, and cited three factors that I considered critical when analyzing the campaign. I don't know if I was wrong on all three, and honestly, right now I am burned out on politics so I won't be doing any research just yet.

The first critical factor (and it's apparent I was wrong about this) was just how energized he made the 18-24 year olds. As a voting-bloc, they traditionally don't mean spit on election day, and from what I've seen so far, they turned out in far greater numbers than could be expected given historical precedent over the last few elections.

The second critical factor (and I'm not sure how wrong I was about this) was the Bradley effect. I think for the first time in an election, even with all the charges of racism thrown at those who weren't willing to vote for Obama, polls were actually fairly accurate and the Bradley effect wasn't a factor. As an additional piece of this factor, I think a lot of polling data turned out to be inaccurate because of the large shift from land-lines to cell phones.

The last factor was I over-estimated just how much Republicans were willing to swallow their distaste for McCain. I really figured that as much as they bitched about him as a candidate, they'd swallow their pride and be the straight ticket-voting nimrods that they usually are. Initial evidence shows a lot more voted third party (American Independent or Libertarian) than were expected, and from anecdotal evidence here locally, a lot of people went the route I chose, and just didn't vote for anybody on the ballot.

So, I'd like to offer President-elect Obama my congratulations. He did an excellent job of motivating his base (but then again, it's not hard to do when you're running at the end of 8 years of President Bush), ran a well-organized campaign (aided by the massive amount of ball-gargling that the traditional media gave him) and had a veritable butt-load of money available to him (no doubt in part because of all the questionable donations that I highlighted in my previous post).

And now that he's been elected President, we all have to ask ourselves "What does this mean for ME?"

The answer to that question is actually really simple. For 95% of America, there really won't be a change. Some people will pay higher taxes, and some people will benefit from greater government largesse, and most of us won't fall into either of those categories.

What everyone needs to understand is that Obama is constrained by the same limitations as every President - they need to work with Congress. I know that many on the right are gnashing their teeth, beating their breasts and wailing about how the Democrats picked up so many seats in the Senate and Congress, but seriously, grow a pair and think about this rationally.

Every single person in Congress, whether (D), (R) or (I) is riding a gigantic corporate and special interest gravy train right now, and you're retarded if you think they're going to do anything to jeopardize that. There's not a single person in Congress that isn't profiting handsomely from their status as a Congressperson, and I could probably count on one hand the number of members of Congress who would actually have the principle to give up the personal profits in order to do what is truly right.

So, bottom line, not much is really going to change. We're all going to wake up on January 18, get dressed, feed the kids and shlep on off to work. And that's the same thing we're going to be doing for however long Obama is President.

With all that said, let's focus for a minute on the results of a couple of the California Propositions.

For the 52.3% that voted Yes on Prop. 1A, you do realize that it will cost the state almost $20 BILLION to repay these bonds, don't you? Probably not, because every bond measure's proponents say the same things - "This doesn't affect your taxes". Well, it's obvious you need a remedial lesson in how the government pays for things. This $20B will be repaid out of the state's General Fund, and guess how the General Fund is funded - that's right, with your tax dollars!!!! So now, there's $20B that's not available for other, more worthy programs, so eventually, our taxes are going to be raised.

And why the cognitive dissonance on Prop. 4? A school can't give a kid an aspirin without parents shitting themselves, but it's OK for a doctor to suck a fetus out of that same kid and the parents don't care? WTF?!!!

Regarding Props. 2, 3, 9, 11 and 12, I'm not suprised at the results.

Prop. 5, I'm a bit surprised, because we really do have a bunch of bleeding hearts when it comes to drug offenders here in California, and most people don't actually take the time to read up on the actual issues and just vote for whoever had the most memorable ad campaign.

Prop. 6, I'm not surprised, but I am a bit torqued at. Why shouldn't we have a guaranteed level of funding for police and public safety? That's the primary duty of every government, and while I count myself among those who think law enforcement personnel have been given too much power over the last 15 years, I still believe that the state should spend less on bullshit projects and more on the important issues. Crime in California sucks, and while more police and jails isn't the only solution, it should be part of the overall solution.

Props. 7 & 10, I'm really surprised. I fully expected people to just read the title and just vote in a knee-jerk fashion, but it appears that people are actually making an effort to learn more about the proposed laws (or, the anti people had a better ad campaign). I'm trying not to be cynical about my fellow voters, but seriously, they haven't given me much reason not to be.

Prop. 8, I'm actually not surprised. I don't think the results are indicative of how most people feel about homosexuals (I think most people have a "live & let live" attitude), but I do think it's proof positive that there's only so much bullshit about "tolerance" and "acceptance" that you can try and shove down our throats, and we're only willing to put up with a certain amount of certain special interests trying to achieve their goals through less than transparent methods.

Regarding Ridgecrest's Measure N, I'm really disappointed. This was an opportunity for us a community to not only fix our roads, but show ourselves, Kern County and California that we were willing to do what it takes to be self-reliant. Unfortunately, I think this measure was a victim of the current economic climate more than anything.

Election 2008

I haven't posted much lately, but this is a pretty important election, so I thought I'd share my analysis of the candidates and the issues facing us, and hopefully, I'll do my part to make my fellow voters more informed.

I'll be discussing my Presidential choice in depth, and then I'll discuss the various California Propositions and lastly I'll make my recommendations for Kern County candidates and measures.


President - None.

While I could probably tolerate a McCain presidency (I'll discuss my issues with him as a candidate in a minute), the thought of an Obama presidency truly disturbs me. Let's just start with some of the basic things that paint him in a bad light:

• His association with people and organizations I find reprehensible - Tony Rezko, Bill Ayers (I believe it's been established that he didn't have a close relationship with Ayers, but he still knew about Ayers' background. A man of principle would refuse to associate with Ayers, and the simple fact that Obama chose to associate with him at all shows he condones Ayers' violent past and isn't bothered by the fact that Ayers is unrepentant about this actions, as evidenced by his comments in September 2001.), Khalid al-Mansour (including video of Obama toasting al-Mansour, which the LA Times refuses to release. Obama is quoted as saying that he'd like to continue his conversations with al-Mansour), ACORN (an organization that is consistently engaged in shady voter-registration efforts (not to be confused with voter fraud, they're two different situations), not to mention they are a major contributor to the mortgage mess that's going on, and to top it all off, the Obama campaign recently gave an ACORN-affiliated company $800K and initially lied about what it was for).
• Obama's belief that American voters are stupid, as evidenced by his claim that he attended Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years but never really knew what the man stood for.
• Obama's membership in the New Party, a socialist party to the far-left of the political spectrum, his comments about wealth redistribution, his statement that it's selfish to want lower taxes, Biden's attempt to smear those who want lower taxes as unpatriotic (as an aside, I've served my country Senator Biden, and since you haven't, who are you to question my patriotism?)
• Obama's website disabled their card-security validation feature, enabling fraudulent donations, which he has yet to return, let alone discuss.
• His "cap & trade" plans for carbon emissions, including his foreknowledge that it would cause energy prices to skyrocket and would drive an entire industry out of business.
• His desire to create a Civilian National Security Force , which would be as well funded as the current national security apparatus.

No, all those things aside, the reason I don't want Obama in the White House rests on one word - EXPERIENCE. He has 2 terms in the Illinois State Senate, and less than a term in the U.S. Senate He's authored no major bills, and he's only had 3 (of 121) bills that he sponsored enacted (more facts here, here and here). In my eyes, he's just not the person that America needs right now. He's got some good ideas, some terrible ideas and some "meh" ideas, but I just don't feel that he's the right person for the job that the next President faces.

On top of all that, he picked a liar for a Vice-President, considering Biden consistently claims that a drunk-driver killed his first wife, yet no historical evidence exists to prove his claim (to the contrary, all the evidence, including many statements by Biden, show the driver wasn't drunk).

And I won't be voting for McCain/Palin, either. Even though McCain and I strongly disagree on the issue of illegal immigration, he had my vote until he flip-flopped and pandered to the religious right (who, in my opinion, are neither religious nor right). And I still was willing to vote for him, until he voted for that ridiculous bailout plan. A giant circle-jerk of greed got us in this mess, and all the bailout does is reward the most greedy. People, companies and the government overextended themselves, and the market needs a major correction. All his shortsighted efforts have done is delayed and made worse the inevitable correction. And for someone who consistently accuses Obama of being a socialist, I have but one thing to say - Hello, pot, this is kettle - you're black. Intervening in the market is an incredibly socialist move.

US Representative, 22nd District: Kevin McCarthy. Although running unopposed, Representative McCarthy has done a fairly good job in Washington representing Kern County. While I would prefer someone who took less money from corporations and special interests, he's still earned my vote.

State Assembly, 13th District: Jean Fuller. Assemblywoman Fuller has earned my vote by faithfully representing her consituents' desires in Sacramento.

Superior Court Judge, Office 30: Holly Mitchell. Her experience as a prosecutor gives her the edge over Chip Brehmer in my book.

Sierra Sands Unified School District Trustee, Area 2: Pam Lochead, Tom Martin, Michael Scott. I'm a firm believer in rewarding my elected officials for their performance. I have a very high opinion of the schools here in Ridgecrest, so I feel the three incumbents should be re-elected.

Ridgecrest City Council: Jason Patin, Jerry D. Taylor and Mark Millis. I'm not real pleased with our the incumbents running for reelection, and think these three will do a fine job. There are other decent candidates, but they appear confused about what the Constitution means at the local level vice federal level.

Indian Wells Airport District Director: Russ Bates. Who better to sit on an aiport district than a pilot/aerospace engineer?

Indian Wells Valley Water District: Leroy Corlett and Don Cortichiato. The incumbents have done an excellent job in my opinion, and deserve reelection. I am not endorsing a 3rd person, as I do not know enough about the other candidates to make an informed decision.

Proposition 1A: NO. This bond measure requires payback from the General Fund, which impacts our state budget, and eventually, our tax rates.

Proposition 2: YES. Call me a hippy if you want, but I believe that just because these animals are bred to die, it doesn't mean they should be treated the way they currently are during their lives.

Proposition 3: NO. While an admirable reason for wanting a bond, the current financial situation in California makes any bond measure requiring payback from the General Fund a no-go for me.

Proposition 4: YES. I just don't believe that an abortion is something that a minor should be allowed to keep hidden from a parent. It's not the responsibility of the state or the doctor to counsel the minor, it's the responsibility of the parent. Additionally, if kids know they won't be able to get an abortion on demand, maybe they'll think twice before having sex.

Proposition 5: NO. While I think the drug laws in the U.S. are stupid, and for the most part we shouldn't be imprisoning non-violent offenders, this bill isn't the solution.

Proposition 6: YES. The first duty of federal, state and local governments is to provide for the safety of their citizens. While California has a long way to go in that regard, this is a good first step.

Proposition 7: NO. As much as I think we need to move towards alternative and renewable energy, this bill isn't the right way for us to go. Plus, when the California League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Union of Concerned Scientists (all groups who have championed alternative and renewable energy sources) are against a bill that would supposedly move us in the right direction, you know something is wrong with the proposition.

Proposition 8: UNDECIDED. This is a difficult issue for me. I am very proud to be an American and want everyone the world over to share in the liberties I enjoy. More importantly, I'm proud that I'm trying to follow the teachings of Christ. This issue requires me to decide which Bible direction I'm supposed to follow. If I "Give unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's", my interpretation of the Bible requires me to live within the laws of my land, which says equal rights for all. But the Bible also tells me that homosexuality is an abomination. With that in mind, to vote for gay marriage would be condoning abominable behavior. So, I still haven't decided how to vote on this, and I'll be doing a lot of soul-searching and praying tonight.

Proposition 9: YES. While not a perfect solution, I believe that victim's rights should be more important, and this proposition will help achieve a balance of fairness when it comes to victim's rights.

Proposition 10: NO. As much as I think this is a great measure, it's a bond that requires payback from the General Fund. Perhaps if they shifted the payback from the taxpayers to the benefitting companies, I'd be more inclined to support it.

Proposition 11: NO. The current redistricting process sucks, as it's left in the hands of the people who benefit the most from gerrymandering. However, switching to the methodology proposed in this proposition is just as ridiculous. Instead of a state-appointed commission comprised of partisan members, the electorate should vote for all 11 members of the commission, and they should be forbidden by law from being a member of either party. That would truly ensure fair redistricting.

Proposition 12: YES. Unlike all the other bond measures on the ballot, I am wholeheartedly endorsing this one. And no, it's not because it deals with veterans (of which I, my sister, my father, my step-father and all my friends are). No, it's because unlike the other bond measures, this one would be paid back by the veteran's as their loan payments, rather than by the taxpayers.

Measure N: YES. Ridgecrest roads suck, and rather than try and play games with the books to afford this, or rely on state or federal funds that may never arrive, we have a responsibility to ourselves and our community to make a firm decision - we either want the roads enough to pay extra for them, or we don't. Cutting the city's budget (and I agree that it could be trimmed) won't pay for all the road work.

The Reagan Library

I'm posting this for two reasons - first, because it's been longer than I expected since my last post, and second, because I've highlighted several times on this blog that internet postings can come back to bite you on the butt.

I recently applied for a position at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley (my official employer would be the National Archives and Records Administration), and I understand I have some posts on here that my be considered controversial.

I've decided I won't be removing any of the posts from this blog, as I have no problem standing behind what I say. For those posts where I may have matured or discovered new information or just had a change of heart, well, I've always been proud of the fact that I readily accept the consequences of my actions.

So, if you're a prospective employer from the Reagan Library who's doing a Google search on me, should you have any questions about my current views on any subject, please don't hesitate to ask. Some of my opinions have changed over the last two to three years, primarily because I've gone through some life experiences that have made me see certain things from a different perspective. Some of my opinions have stayed exactly where they were. I don't have the time at this point to review everything I've ever written on here and summarize whether my views have changed or not, but I'm more than happy to answer any questions anyone may have.