Hussein Smithers MINNEAPOLIS

McCain

A perfect storm of bad policies and horrible public speaking.

However, I do understand why Obama is resisting joining McCain in these town hall forums. As Ped states, our "liberal" press is so deep in the bag for McCain, and they are going to set the bar so low, that they will give McCain the victory for just showing up and stringing more than two words together.

Just like Bush versus Gore in 2000.

No need to actually analyze the stated policy. McCain is a maverick, blah blah blah…

Posted by Smithers at 7:56 pm in Politics | Permalink | No Comments »

more Hinault

Not bad for a 54 year old dude!

Posted by Smithers at 1:10 pm in Pro Cycling | Permalink | 4 Comments »

Tour de France analysis

Big winners after today’s short 29.5km time trial:

Stefan Schumacher, holy crap dude.

Cadel Evans, put some time into his rivals. This will be valuable when they attack him and he only follows the wheels.

Denis Menchov, stayed up there and in contention.

Christian Vande Velde, nice job.

Not as good as expected:

Damiano Cunego, lost a minute to Evans.

Andy Schleck, will need to do better in the mountains.

Disappointing:

Alejandro Valverde, did not do himself many favors today.

Frank Schleck, not good enough.

Yaroslav Popovych, uhhhh…maybe he is just riding support for Evans?

Riccardo Riccò, waiting to light it up in the high stuff? I hope?

Bernard Hinault shoves George Hincapie off the Tour de France podium after yesterday’s stage.

Here is the 2008 route in Google Maps with Street View.

Posted by Smithers at 12:50 pm in Pro Cycling | Permalink | 1 Comment »

Broadband penetration, speed and price

Broadband penetration rankings, in 2001:

1. South Korea
2. Canada
3. Sweden
4. United States
5. Belgium
5. Denmark
7. Netherlands
8. Iceland
9. Austria
10. Germany
11. Japan
12. Switzerland
13. Norway
14. Finland
15. Spain

Broadband penetration rankings, in 2007:

1. Denmark
2. Netherlands
3. Iceland
4. Norway
5. Switzerland
6. Finland
7. South Korea
8. Sweden
9. Luxembourg
10. Canada
11. United Kingdom
12. Belgium
13. France
14. Germany
15. United States

Average broadband download speeds (Mbps):

1. Japan 93.7
2. France 44.2
3. South Korea 43.3
4. Sweden 21.4
5. New Zealand 13.6
6. Italy 13.1
7. Finland 13.0
8. Portugal 13.0
9. Australia 12.1
10. Norway 11.8
11. Luxembourg 10.7
12. United Kingdom 10.6
13. Germany 9.2
14. United States 8.9
15. Canada 7.8

The United States ranks 22nd out of 25 countries in terms of the affordability of broadband. The average monthly price of broadband in the States is $53.06. It’s cheaper in Turkey. It’s much cheaper in Japan, where a month of hi-speed runs $34.21. And it’s cheapest in Finland, where it costs $31.18.

We’re falling behind as a country. And because the American economy has transitioned and continues to transition from a manufacturing economy to an information economy, more and more people will be left out of America’s next phases unless consistent and affordable hi-speed comes to rural and urban areas.

Posted by Smithers at 8:50 am in Electronical | Permalink | 55 Comments »