I will, occasionally, write about my political point of view, but I try to stay away from inflammatory political rhetoric – after all, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I like to think of myself as a left leaning moderate, though I find the current state of affairs paints me as more of a solid liberal.
This is never more true than when the topic of science comes up. The ability of the GOP to attack, what I believe to be, solid, sound research and empirical evidence frustrates me to no end. Not because they’re good at it, which they are, but because of the potential consequences of their actions.
Global Warming is obviously a hot button topic, and the Right has slowly been adopting their argument from outright denial of the phenomenon to now using specific (i.e. cherry-picked) science to point out that the planet goes through some natural climate change on it’s own. This is actually not a bad thing, in the sense that they’re actually turning to science to support their view, unlike some other theory questioning. (Note – using the word ‘science’ doesn’t make it science)
But what is truly appalling is when the strategy is to deny all science, especially in the education process. Recently some documents from the Heartland Institute, a strong opponent of Global Warming, where leaked on line. One of these documents, titled 2012 Heartland Climate Strategy, has a paragraph about developing a “Global Warming Curriculum for K-12 Classrooms.” Here is what appalls me (emphasis mine):
…effort will focus on providing curriculum that shows that the topic of climate change is controversial and uncertain – two key points that are effective at dissuading teachers from teaching science.
Really? That’s your strategy? To intimidate teachers into not teaching? This is the strategy that is best for the future of America?
For the record, the Heartland Institute is claiming that some of these documents are forged, which may or may not be true, and I certainly have no way to verify the validity of these documents. But remember, for the record, this group worked with the tobacco companies in the 90’s to question the science linking smoking to health risks.
I constantly receive unsolicited invitations by people I have never met asking me to join their Linked In network. Usually these are from people in the same field of work as me who are looking to expand their network, or they work in sales for some company that I may or may not do business with.
✧ ✧ MidWestMyers ✧ ✧ 
Apple Predictions
I stay away from Apple predictions, because I find that I’m usually wrong, but often surprised (in a good way) by the company, and I enjoy that.
Which makes this impending iPhone announcement a little less exciting for me as all of the leaked photos of the phone’s components have pretty much revealed most everything new about the phone. While we won’t know anything until they actually announce it, here’s what is expected:
This may also lend credence to the rumor that Apple will announce it’s new 7″ iPad at a separate event in October. This is not certain, but certainly seems likely. I was bit disappointed when I first heard speculation that the smaller, rumored iPad would not be announced at the same time as the new phone, because I like an Apple keynote that is full of goodies. But I understand the arguments, and it’s better now that that news is out of the bag instead of a boatload of investors driving the stock down after they’re disappointed that the smaller iPad isn’t announced along with the new phone. (Imagine the stock price if they announce it now anyway!)
The problem I have with a keynote devoted entirely to the iPhone is the repetition we’re sure to endure. If Apple stays true to their template of last year, once they get through updating their sales and share numbers (always fun), reveal the new phone and discuss the hardware, then we will move into the software. Last year this section of the keynote from Scott Forstall was almost identical to the software presentations he gave during the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) only a few months before. I am wondering if we will see the same thing at this year’s keynote to fill the time if they intend to focus primarily on the iPhone. I understand that the WWDC is aimed at developers, and that this iPhone keynote is aimed at consumers, but the reality is that most people and journalists who are going to watch this keynote online already geeked out to the WWDC iOS 6 keynote, so they will be covering old ground here.
Other items in the rumor mill for imminent announcements over the next couple of months are new iMacs, which might be entirely possible, a new retina MacBook Air, which I doubt as the current model is still too new, and I’m not sure the battery is there yet to support the processing needed to drive all of the additional pixels. New iPods are a possibility, and the 7″ iPad seems almost assured, although it seems we will have to wait until October for that.
Since I have veered into the prediction arena a bit here, I do have one prediction for the new iPhone which I have not seen anybody else write about. I predict the new iPhone will support faster syncing over USB 3.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got.
Posted by larvamoose on September 5, 2012 in Comments, Computer
Tags: Apple, iPad, iPhone