Election Fever

Election Fever is here. The republicans are fighting over each other to find out who is going to oppose President Obama in the 2012 Presidential Elections. There is a debate almost every week. Alas, by the time the primaries roll around to California the issue is most likely to be settled. However, it does make for interesting reading and a lot of speculation and discussions (none of it heated, since they are so far removed from us).

I am writing this from what used to be the bastin of Democratic Support, Cupertino, CA. Alas, the democrats have lost the votes of 30+ families in this pre-dominantly democratic, liberal minded area. Most of the folks are members of the "silent populace", and now feel that the current government is anti-liberal, and anti-immigrants. You see and hear how VP Bidden makes funny jokes about people of Indian origin. But when it impacts you personally, it is no longer funny and all we can assume is that the government in power today is "racist". Why do I say this? Let me go back to March 2011. We have a special class in the local high-school where 30 of the brightest and best are taught all about American Government, and the law of the land. The average IQ of this class is close to 150 (near genius). You have a group of highly talented 17 and 18 year olds, the so called future leaders of America. They were planning a trip to Washington DC and a visit to the Supreme Court and to the Capitol. Thanks to Rep. Mike Honda and Senator Dianne Fienstein, they had a wonderful time in the nation's capital. They also wrote to the White House to see if they can have a tour. After a lot of communications, the White House Security detail denied them access to the White House. The reason? They could not pronounce the names of 29 of the 30 students! These kids are all American citizens and have long memories. They are now spread all over the US from MIT to UPenn to WashU to UC Berkeley to CalTech and UCLA and more. They all remember the saying of President Truman -- The Buck Stops Here. The Buck does stop at President Obama. The word spreads and I think he is in trouble. He has lost the support of the 30 families and while the majority of them won't actively participate in any active political campaigns, they do talk about it over lunches, dinners, christmas, class reunions etc.

The question now is, how will the Republican Party take advantage of this lapse in judgement of the President? President Obama can recover lost ground by at least apologizing to the 30 families, but will he man enough to do it? VP Biden is a lost cause -- he is not only senile (he referred to the 49ers as the Giants before the NFL championship game) but blatantly racist see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM19YOqs7hU.

Only time will tell....

Planning Software on the Mac

Three cheers to Opus Domini Software! I've been searching for a software based approach to Franklin Planner. Since my Mac based laptop goes everywhere, I've been searching for a replacement to the Planner for well over a year. I've tried several note taking apps on the iPad and Android phone. And this morning, I came across Opus from http://www.piso13.com/Piso13/Opus_Domini_for_mac.html. This software has the look and feel of my paper based Franklin Planner but it runs on my Mac. According to their web site, there is an iPad version coming out soon. I can't wait for this version.

First impressions are excellent. I've been able to make notes and set "alerts" for events I am interested in -- the attached screen shot shows an item that I want to follow up on November 13th, 2012. I've also been able to attach pictures, files, charts, tables etc in the notes section.

I can't wait for the iPad version to come out. The $8.99 is well worth the cost of this software.

The calendar is automatically synced with iCal. The tasks can be prioritized based on the Franklin Planner methodology (or you can use your own). They can also be color coded. You can set your Master Tasks, Goals, Missions, and Compass based on Covey's 7 Habits principles. In fact it replaces my paper based planner completely!

The one things I would want here is the ability to link to Mac's Address Book and Mac Mail. I am sure that is something already being planned. For now, I can live without them, but if linked to my address book and email programs, this would be a complete PIM.

For now, I have bid goodbye to my paper based planner and saved myself $25 for this year and lost 2 lbs that I do not have to lug around in my travels.

Great job from PSIO13.