DOMA - why?

I thrive and greatly appreciate logic. This whole DOMA - Defense of Marriage Act - thing has been bouncing around inside my head for a few days now. Why did it take me a few days to come to this realization?

What's the non-religious reason for DOMA? I'm missing that "logic" point. I can't resolve the dichotomy of "separation of church and state" and DOMA. I also don't fathom why marriage needs to be "defended" by the Federal government and why we're expending Federal resources on that "defense".

I have some very religious friends who I respect and deeply appreciate and don't mean to offend, but I just don't get it.

More Blackberry hilarity - those guys never disappoint

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/19/blackberry-software-not-safe-enough-government-work

BlackBerry software ruled not safe enough for essential government work

CESG rejects BB10 software in new Z10 handset, dealing blow to Canadian firm in key market

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• Charles Arthur
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 19 March 2013 14.13 EDT
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The BB10 software in the new BlackBerry Z10 handset has been rejected as not secure enough for essential government work. Photograph: Mast Irham/EPA

BlackBerry's new BB10 software has been rejected by the British government as not secure enough for essential work, the Guardian can reveal.

The news is a blow to hopes that the new operating system, released on the Z10 handset in January, would spark a rapid revival in the company's fortunes after a torrid year of losses.

The previous BlackBerry version, 7.1, was cleared by the UK's Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG) in December 2012 for classifications up to "Restricted" – two levels below "Secret".

But the Guardian understands that tests on BB10 and the BlackBerry Balance software, intended to separate work and personal accounts and prevent any copying of data between them, have shown that it fails the same security requirements. BlackBerry has confirmed that BB10 has not been passed yet by CESG, but could not offer a date when revised software would be submitted.

That is a blow because the Z10 and its upcoming keyboard-based version, the Q10, are high-priced devices intended to win back corporate customers who have begun to migrate to Apple's iPhone or to Android devices, or to replace older BlackBerry 7 phones. Nor has the company offered a clear date when it will fix the weakness.

Missing out on government business could cost BlackBerry millions in lost revenues, even if rivals are unable to fill the same security space: the government and NHS are two of its biggest clients in the UK, with tens of thousands of users.

Analyst reports also suggest that sales in the UK of the touchscreen Z10 handset, the first to run BB10, are slowing after an initial spurt among consumers when they went on sale in January, leaving sellers with surplus stock.

The Z10 goes on sale in the US on Friday, with the company seeking to rebuild its share of the smartphone market there, which has plummeted from a high of 22% in September 2010 with 21m users to just 5.9% and 7.6m users in January according to ComScore.

But James Faucette at the stockbrokers Pacific Crest, who has a "sell" rating on BlackBerry, said in a research note looking at sales in the UK and Canada that "sell-through run-rates for the Z10 have declined meaningfully in the weeks following launch. We believe carriers and third-party retailers in the UK are well above typically targeted inventory levels" and that retailers Carphone Warhouse and Phones4U have begun discounting the handsets. "We are concerned that … may ultimately push the Z10 downmarket" and hit profit margins, he told clients.

He added that he thinks Canadian stores and carriers are also approaching the same point

BlackBerry said in a statement: "We have a long-established relationship with CESG and we remain the only mobile solution approved for use at 'Restricted' when configured in accordance with CESG guidelines. This level of approval only comes following a process which is rigorous and absolutely necessary given the highly confidential nature of the communications being transmitted.

"The current restructuring of this approval process, due to the Government Protective Marking Scheme review and the new CESG Commercial Product Assurance scheme has an impact on the timeline for BlackBerry 10 to receive a similar level of approval. The US government's FIPS 140-2 certification of BlackBerry 10 and the selection of BlackBerry 10 by the German Procurement Office and Federal Office for Information Security underline how our new platform continues to set the standard for government communications.

"We are continuing to work closely with CESG on the approval of BlackBerry 10 and we're confident that BlackBerry 10 will only strengthen our position as the mobile solution of choice for the UK government."

• Canada's industry minister has declined to say whether he would block any attempted takeover of BlackBerry by the Chinese PC and smartphone maker Lenovo. Christian Paradis told Reuters "I hope BlackBerry will continue to be a Canadian champion in the world, that it grows organically." But, he added, "we don't know what might happen. The market is very aggressive. When you talk about the telecoms sector … this is a very, very aggressive sector."

Asked whether he would block a bid from Lenovo, mooted last week in an interview with that company, Paradis said "As the industry minister, I don't want to send a signal and I don't want it to look like I prejudged a deal or not."

The Canadian government could block the deal on national security grounds. Last year, the Chinese state-owned oil company CNOOC bought Canadian energy firm Nexen, but it provoked a storm. Analysts believe the US and UK governments might block a similar Chinese bid for BlackBerry because of its importance to secure email.

Updated: corrected expansion of CESG.

I love it when GOP leadership makes a fool of itself

Even though I'm extremely liberal (and an independent, not a Democrat), I honestly wish they could figure out a way to appeal to "the masses".  If they could, we might all be better off for it.  But I still can't help laughing at another GOP insert-foot-in-mouth incident.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/03/15/how-not-to-sound-racist-the-most-awkward-cpac-panel-ever/

Makes me feel for my writer friends.....

Interesting article - How my Amazon Best Seller Made Me Nothing

Thorsten Heins, you make me laugh - thank you!!

I love reading quotes from Blackberry's CEO, because he makes me laugh!  While I can't argue that Apple's iPhone is short on recent innovation, I think he misses the point that Apple will sell as many iPhones in a month as Blackberry will probably sell of it's new phones in an entire year - if they're even able to do that.  I think you missed the "meeting customer demand" boat a long time ago Thorsten.  In a dictionary of phrases, you'll see his picture next to the definition of "sticking your head in the sand."

Blackberry CEO once again makes me laugh, calling the Apple iPhone "outdated".  Good one Thorsten!  I can't wait to hear your description of your antique Blackberry phones.

http://gizmodo.com/5991065/blackberrys-ceo-says-the-iphone-is-outdated?post=58362205

A Blackberry employee hard at work using his company phone:

Jumbotron massive FAIL!

As a techie, I couldn't help but snicker at this.  Last night at an Indiana Pacers game in the Bankers Life Fieldhouse their Jumbotron experienced a Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD) during a game.  Hilarious!  Not only is that facility a craphole (ever watched a Pacers home game on TV??), their technology blows too.

Speaking of Val's Halla Records.....

I discovered this very interesting video on the store's website.  It's a 30-minute documentary about independent record stores in the Chicago area, with some segments shot at Val's.

Here's the trailer:

And here's the complete video:

Charlie Burton - Rock Disciple

Some college buddies of mine did a road trip to Lincoln, Nebraska in the mid-80s, and, in a fit of divine providence (ok, I don't believe in that, but go with it...) ended up seeing Charlie Burton and the Cutouts play.    That turned out to be a life-changing, serendipitous event, because they came back and turned me and some others into massive Charlie Burton fans.  We scoured the used record stores in Liincoln Avenue on the northside of Chicago and at Val's Halla Records at its old location in Oak Park, IL for anything Charlie.  The findings were few and far between, but all of them were great.

Here's a video of one of their better songs, "Breathe For Me Presley".  According to the details, it was made by Brad Pribil, who was involved with the band in their early years as, essentially, a videographer.  Great stuff.

If you are a Charlie fan as well, you can join our group on Facebook.  Several members are people who personally knew and currently know Charlie and there are some great anecdotes, links to other videos, etc.  Just ask to join, and one of the group admins will add you.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/charlieburtonlincolnthing/

Here's Charlie's website.  A bit outdated, but still some good info, some song MP3s, etc.

http://www.charlieburton.net/

Val's can use your business if you're in the Chicago area.  Probably the best used record store in all Chicagoland.  And Val's been around for over 40 years!  Help her keep it going.

http://valshallarecords.com/