Pseudorandom Bits

A backwater in the vast ocean of thought

  • Pseudorandom?

    The Web is made of bits. Here are some of my bits, added to those other bits. Bits of information, bits of my thoughts, bits of others' thoughts. Maybe they seem a bit random, but, who knows?

    "There must be some bits here somewhere."

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  • About blogging

    "If you have a computer and can fog a mirror, you can post anything on the Internet." - Lars Mahinske

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  • You should know

    Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6 (NASB)

  • But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NASB)

  • "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36

Archive for February 12th, 2008

Electronic Voting Machines: Iowa says “No!”

Posted by Mike on February 12, 2008

Earlier I wrote against electronic voting machines.

Then this past Saturday, I read that Chet Culver, Iowa’s governor, has agreed to go with paper ballots and have the state stop using electronic voting machines. The heading says that Mr. Culver is “willing” to do this, but it isn’t his first choice.

Part of this has to do with Iowa law which requires a voter-verified paper trail . Paper ballots clearly satisfy that requirement.

Now the discussion will be how to furnish every Iowa voting location with the same voting equipment. These would no doubt be fill-in-the-oval optical scanning machines. And money will be an issue, too.

Touch-screen machines are “not the best options, and I’d like to try to avoid it if we can,” Culver said.

Posted in Elections | Leave a Comment »

Habits “R” Us

Posted by Mike on February 12, 2008

Quite some time ago, I had a thought for a business. It would be a shop that sold, say, candy (especially chocolate stuff), crackers of various kinds, soda pop, energy drinks, miscellaneous common food items, magazines, newspapers, car oil, and so on. It would also sell cigarettes (“lowest allowed state prices”), beer (“coldest allowed by state regulations”), lottery tickets, ice, fish bait, etc. There would be aspirin, ibuprophen, energy pills, and cute trinkets on the check-out counter. Oh, and gasoline. All the items in the store would be hot sellers because of our various habits for things that aren’t so good for us. OK, some of the things would be good for you (e.g. newspapers) when taken in appropriate amounts, just to make you feel better about the other stuff you bought. Almost everything would have a price sticker (“highest prices supply and demand allows, for your shopping convenience”).

The store would be called “Habits ‘R’ Us” (where the ‘R’ would be backwards, you know). It would become a chain in no time flat.

Then I realized that I had been beaten to the job. Over the years, gas stations had become “Convenience” stores, with all the stuff (and more) I’ve named.

There goes that idea, beaten to the punch.

What does all this tell about us? Nothing that the Bible hasn’t already said.

“My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” Proverb 1:10 (NKJV) Many other passages warn us about our actions.

We all have habits. Would my store fit your needs?

Posted in Musings | 1 Comment »