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NSA Watching Your Computer

NSA Spying Program Is Watching Us Through Our Computers

A story came out of the New York Times a few months ago and basically went into a concept that the National Security Agency (NSA) is using to get access to computers if they ever felt the need. I must admit I was pretty impressed after hearing it because it’s pure genius. In short, they have the capabilities to access and alter your computer without it even being connected to the Internet. The program was created to solve one the biggest challenges the agency faced of getting into computers that the “bad guys” are using. There is very limited information about the “how it’s done” but the NSA document mentioned radio frequencies and secret software that is installed when accessing a network. It also mentions the use of other methods but they are not described.

It’s a pretty amazing and just confirms how deep the government can get into our lives if needed. With cell phones, computers, cars, ect there is no privacy anymore. Think about this for a minute. We know the government is in bed with the phone and cable companies. They are required to keep records, logs, phone call recordings and all that info should it ever be request it’s pretty common knowledge but what if the government was able to get in bed with the hardware creators. What if they were able to install a piece of hardware or software at the source where these are created. They could essentially access any computer, anywhere, offline or online at anytime. They could add a chip in the refrigerator or your TV. It’s not a far reach considering the topic of this article. Think about it with other countries as well like spying on North Korea or Iran. It’s the perfect setup to monitor everything and everyone without even being there.

Mark Hurd 30 Years of Tech: The Story

Mark Hurd

In the business world, the name Mark Hurd has become well known over the last 30 years. Mark Hurd’s continued successes ever since he began as a field salesman for NCR Corp in 1980 have shown his dedication to hard work and self improvement. There are countless field salesman and low level marketing employees in the world of business. Many of them rise over time. Few, however, have risen to such great heights as Mark Hurd.

Part of what has made Mark Hurd so successful is his dedication to excellence and his ambition. The business world is a hard school to learn in, and technology business, in particular, is even harder. Success necessitates quick decision making and forward thinking to keep up with the fast moving and ever changing world of technology.

This post is about the co-CEO of Oracle. We have gather all the great information about him and his career from the Internet and wrote a well organized article.

Working with NCR Corp

Mark Hurd climbed the ladder at NCR Corp, rising from field salesman to positions of ever increasing responsibility and management. NCR Corp, formerly known as the National Cash Register, has been a US-based company specializing in computer hardware, software, and electronics. For a young man interested in business and technology, it was a perfect place to start.

By 1994, Mark Hurd had worked his way up to Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Americas Professional Services Division for NCR Corp, a position which he held for 4 years. In 1998, Mark Hurd was promoted to Senior Vice President of Teradata Solutions Group. After 2 years he was named Executive Vice President of NCR Corp, and from 2000 on, Mark Hurd wore several different hats as one of the top managers of the corporation.

While serving as Executive VP, Mark Hurd was also the Chief Operating Officer of the Teradata Division and Global Leader in such fields as enterprise data warehousing, data warehousing services, and analytic applications. In 2001, he was named the president of NCR Corp, a position which he held until his departure in 2005.

In 2002, Mark Hurd began serving as COO of NCR Corp, with the responsibility of driving its business performance. This included performance in retail store automation, payment and imaging, financial self service, worldwide customer services, Systemedia and Teradata data warehousing. Mark Hurd was instrumental during this time in planning and carrying out strategies that maximized the operating efficiency and profits of NCR Corp.

Hewlett-Packard Career

From 2003 until his departure, Mark was named Chief Executive Officer, and he served as president and CEO for 2 years, completing a total of 25 years of service at NCR Corp. After leaving NCR Corp, Mark Hurd continued his success as CEO and president of Hewlett-Packard. After only one year at HP, he was named chairman of the board after the resignation of former chairman Pat Dunn.

Under Mark Hurd’s direction, HP increased its profits for 22 straight quarters, meeting Wall Street expectations for all but one of those quarters. The company rose to first in laptop computer sales in 2006 and first in desktop computer sales in 2007, a position which it held throughout his tenure. Mark Hurd also led the company to a 63% increase in revenue and a doubling of stock prices.

One of the most impressive feats that Mark Hurd accomplished while at HP was in the success of a merger that had begun before he even arrived on the scene. In 2002, HP negotiated a merger with computer company, Compaq, in a move heavily criticized by experts at the time. Carly Fiorina, the chairwoman and CEO before Mark Hurd, was unable to turn the combined company into a smoothly operating and profiting business.

When Mark Hurd arrived and took over the company, he managed to pull off what the New York Times called “one of the great rescue missions in American corporate history, refocusing the strife-ridden company and leading it to five years of revenue gains and a stock that soared 130 percent.” Even during the middle of the recession, when Hurd himself prophesied a 5% drop in sales for 2009, company profit increased by 6%.

Joins the Oracle Corporation

Mark Hurd was recognized many times for his successes as a manager and business leader throughout his time at HP by such groups as Fortune 500, Business 2.0, and Forbes. In 2010, Mark left HP to become the president and member of the board of the Oracle Corporation. As a leader at the Oracle Corporation, Mark Hurd is responsible for Oracle’s global field operations, focusing primarily on strategy, innovation, leadership, and customers. There is no doubt that Oracle Corporation will be successful in the years to come, with Mark Hurd at the helm. The reality is that when Hurd speaks the World listens. He has a proven record of increasing companies growth and revenue for over 30 years.

OpenWorld Events:
Mr. Hurd is a regular speaker at OpenWorld. This year, 2015, he is speaking about the future of cloud and forecasting its predictions. According to Diginomica, Hurd declared victory in the Cloud computing niche.

UPDATE: Mark Hurd continues with his success at Oracle in 2016. The company stock and cloud revenue is on the rise each quarters as he as done in the past with other companies. If you want to really get to know him I recommend this article by USAToday called “Meet the new co-CEOs of Oracle: Mark Hurd and Safra Catz.” Be sure to check that out on Google.

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Mark Hurd: A Forbes Business Success Story

Mark Hurd Photo

Mark Hurd’s Inclusion in Forbes Magazine has been the mark of success among businessman in the world of technology, trade, and finance almost since the publication’s conception in 1917. Like its competitors, Fortune Magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes often includes lists of the most successful or influential corporations and individuals. To be featured on such a list almost guarantees you a place in the upper echelons of the American business world.

Mark V Hurd, current President of the Oracle Corporation, has been featured in one list or another on multiple occasions. In 2007, he was named one of Fortune Magazine’s “25 Most Powerful People in Business.” He was included multiple times by lists in the Business 2.0 magazine and by Barron’s “Best CEOs” list, and in 2008, he was named the “CEO of the Year” by the San Francisco Chronicle. In 2009, Mark Hurd was recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of Forbes’ Market’s Best Managers.

Mr. Hurd had reached the top of the business game, and he was getting recognized for it. But, that success was not handed to him on a silver platter of privilege. No, Mark Hurd worked for 30 years in the field of business and technology before attaining the success that he deserved.

The first 25 years of Mark Hurd’s career were spent at NCR Corp, a US computer company based in Dayton, Ohio (the company has since moved headquarters to outside of Atlanta, Georgia). Mark began as a field salesman in 1980, fresh out of college with his Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University. He sold computer hardware, software, and electronics and slowly moved through the ranks of administration and management.

In 1994, after 14 years of salesmanship and middle management positions, Mark Hurd was a division vice president for NCR Corp. He rose to Executive Vice president of the company, and eventually president and Chief Operations Officer. In 2003, Mark Hurd was the president and CEO of NCR Corp, a position which he held for two years. At the end of those two years, marking 25 years with NCR, Mark Hurd moved on to take the reins at Hewlett-Packard.

As president and CEO of HP, and a year later as Chairman of the Board, Mark Hurd was in the perfect position to make a name for himself and his company. HP stocks doubled in the time that Mark was in charge, and revenues increased by 63%. Mark Hurd knew how to cut costs and turn a profit, and that is exactly what he did.

The success of the company did not go unnoticed, and it was at HP that Mark Hurd’s accolades began to flood in. His inclusion in Fortune Magazine coincided with HP’s success in sales; the company was number one in laptop and desktop computer sales, and they were number one every year while Mark Hurd headed the business. In 2008, market share for HP in inkjet and laser printers both increased – to 46 percent for inkjet printers and 50.5 percent for laser printers.

Mark enjoyed 4 years of success at HP, righting the struggling company in the wake of its merger with Compaq and turning a profit for 21 successful quarters. There was only one quarter during Mark Hurd’s tenure in which HP did not meet the expectations of Wall Street. In 2010, Mark Hurd took a position as the president of the Oracle Corporation, seeking to bring the same success to this company as he had to his previous companies.

The Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer company based out of Redwood City, California, specializing in hardware and enterprise software programs. Oracle is the second highest producer of software after Microsoft. In hiring Mark Hurd as President, CEO Larry Ellison sought to use Mark’s focus on customers, innovation, and efficient operations, and execution to bring his company success.

As Mark Hurd’s experience and inclusion in some of the most exclusive magazine lists in the world has shown us, he knows about success. He knows the struggle it takes to be successful as an individual and the direction and leadership that is needed for an individual to bring that success to his company. As Oracle continues to move forward, it can only be assumed that Mark Hurd’s direction and leadership will bring the company as much success as they might wish for.

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Long Term Travel: Get a Little Dirty While Working

When I left the USA (Seattle, Washington) bound for the Southern Hemisphere in late 2014, my goal was to develop a greater understanding of where things come from; especially food.  Most of my life had been spent in the suburbs of Seattle either working in an office or building houses/home remodels.  It troubled me that I had spent my life eating food (grains, meats and veggies/fruits) that had come from a place that I knew nothing about.  I feel deeply insecure about being so reliant on something that I have no control over. If I’m honest, I had next to no understanding of the processes needed to produce food!  I needed to learn more about the world in order to understand my role, I needed to get dirty.

So I flew to Australia and got a harvest job out in the orchards around Stanthorpe, Australia.  My first gig was cutting broccoli from the ground and placing it on a tractor that carried a conveyor belt which hung out over the enormous veggie patches.  I would awake at 5:30 with the rising sun and work until late in the evening, bending over and cutting broccoli all… day… long…  It was backbreaking work.  We worked barefoot because it was simply the best way.  After about 2 weeks I was exhausted, my feet were rotting from from the moisture and the repetitive work.

Picking Fruit In Australia

Luckily, for the first time in my life, I was fired. Apparently, I wasn’t harvesting fast enough. Honestly, I think it’s because my heart wasn’t in it. Vegetable harvesting is brutal.

My next job was harvesting apples.  This was far less harrowing than the broccoli but it was none-the-less very demanding physically and even more taxing mentally.  The repetitious nature of picking thousands of apples a day, day after day, 5-6 days a week was very challenging.  The skin on my fingers split, I got blisters on my feet, my sweat drenched shirts would fall to pieces visibly every day.  I couldn’t buy sacrificial shirts fast enough to keep up with the degradation.

I learned a good amount about vegetables and fruit, I took a vacation and went about understanding where meat comes from.  My friend and I found station hand jobs at a super isolated cattle station in the middle of Outback Australia.  Just like the fruit picking and the vegetable harvesting, we’d awake with the rising sun and work until the sunset.  There was lots of filthy diesel engine work, welding, fence repair and horse work involved.  I learned so much, and each day I’d come back to the ranch house a filthy mess.  Showers never felt so good.

The value of all this experience is incalculable.  Not only did I learn about how food is produced, I gained a fundamental respect for farmers.  I learned to weld, build fences, harvest vast areas and I got the fundamentals for what it takes to provide enough food for hundreds of people.  The world would be a better place if everyone had a more fundamental understanding of what it takes to provide for their subsistence.  I recommend you do something to produce your own food.  Everyone should get a little dirty.

9 Steps to getting your financial working life in order while in Australia:

Touch down in Australia with a decent sum of money.

  • I landed in Australia with about $6,000 AUD. This small sum dried up really quickly. Everything costs an arm and a leg. From the taxis, to the phone calls, to the cheapest kebab places; everything hemorrhages your money in Australia. Though I could have gotten by with $4,000 AUD, it would have been a challenge and I recommend $5,000 AUD or more.

Buy a Camper-van or a Station-wagon you can sleep comfortably in.

  • This might sound like homeless living to anyone who hasn’t lived in Australia, but living on the road is part of the Australian way. There are plenty of free spots to park and sleep along the road. Some provide showers, fresh water and often a push button electric BBQ.  You will be at home in your camper van with other travelers doing the same as you, as well as wit the “grey nomads.”  These are the retired Australians traveling around the country in their camper-vans.
  • Take good care of your vehicle and sell it at the end of your trip for the same you bought it for.  Spending more on your home on wheels isn’t a bad idea.

Get an Australian Bank Account

  • Many jobs will want to direct deposit money for you. This is ideal for you anyways because it allows you to stay mobile.
  • Westpac is the biggest bank in Australia. You can start a no fee checking account:
    • Bring your passport and 2 other forms of ID
    • Bring proof of address – Either that or just get a receipt from a hostel with your name, the hostels address and the date (make sure it is the date you are in the bank getting the account).  You can make a fake proof of address easily, just type something up with that information.
    • Westpac you can pull your money out for free if you bank with Westpac partners.

Get your Australian Tax File Number (TFN)

  • Do this as soon as possible so you can get your taxes figured out – https://www.ato.gov.au/
  • YOU ARE AN AUSTRALIAN RESIDENT FOR TAX PURPOSES – Remember this when filling out paperwork for employers.

Set up a Superannuation Fund

  • A Superannuation Fund is the government mandated savings system for Australians. Your employer is responsible for paying you wages plus 9% to your superannuation fund. The benefit is that you get this money back when you leave Australia. I got $1,000 back 3 months after I landed in Hawaii. That cash was really helpful for the transition to my new home!

Get a phone. I recommend prepaid cell phone sim card and a functional cell phone

  • Being able to make calls and send texts will be important while you move around Australia. Remember: “your network is your net worth”. Be good to everyone you meet, Australia is a huge country yet a small community. Lots of people know each other. While looking for cattle station work, we met some Irish friends in Mt. Isa, QLD. We separated ways for 8 months and met again in Perth, WA. This Irish friend helped my friend get a job as a diesel mechanic making $36 an hour (and my friend had no experience as a diesel mechanic).  Knowing people will get you a job far faster than any other attribute.
  • I prefer prepaid cards because I hardly used my phone for a month when I got heavy into the fruit picking. Often times the orchards are far from town and your phone doesn’t work anyways.
  • As a rule: Vodafone is crap.  Optus for life on the coast.  Telstra for the outback.

Avoid drinking and smoking until you get a job and good income.

  • It’s all too common that backpackers arrive in Australia and spend all their money immediately on booze and smoke. Then the fools have to struggle to get back on their feet. Australian booze is super expensive. Expect to pay $14 for a 6 pack of beer or $46 dollars for a bottle of whiskey. Pouches of tobacco cost nearly $20. Wine is less expensive but is still a waste of resources.
  • Heed this advice: Australia is a great place to quit drinking and smoking

While looking for work, do something that is free and exciting.

  • Surfing, kayaking, fishing, horse riding, free diving, hiking are all options that will save your ass. Plus you might get lucky and meet someone that can help you get a good gig.

Set a goal and stick to it

  • When I landed in Australia in February I set the goal to save $8,000 before I departed for South Africa in May. Even though I didn’t quite get there (spent a bit to much time surfing), the goal really helped me through some of the more miserable days of fruit picking.

Get these chores behind you and you will be ready to be employed in Australia.  I struggled with working and doing all these things for months. Hopefully these tips are useful to you!  Yehaw!

Australian Working Holiday Visa Overview – Only For Australian Residents

A working holiday visa (WHV) is a great way to see the world while saving money to see more of the world.  The strength of the Australian dollar and high wages make it possible to travel long after your year is complete.  With Asia right next door, you can travel for two to three times the amount of time you spend working.  If you plan to see the world, it is a great idea to work/travel Australia, save money and continue traveling afterwards.

It’s also a great way to learn skills that you never even anticipated learning. While in OZ I learned to weld, surf, ride horses, build fences, muster cattle, live at sea, service diesel engines, fix all sorts of things and work farms.  I took the outback approach but you can do anything you wish.  For example: A friend of mine lived in Sydney.  We visited the Sydney Ballet and he was deeply inspired by the performance.  He earned a rigging certificate (rope work for theaters), became deeply involved in the theater scene and now he is a ballroom dancing coach.  He also learned excellent Batista skills (Australia has excellent coffee shops).

Other friends of mine learned to be bartenders, fishermen, bakers, chefs among others!  This is a great opportunity to find yourself.

While picking apples I was able to make $900 + a week.  They were long hard hours (7:00 – 17:00).  For one weeks wages I was able to live in Bali w/ my girlfriend for an entire month.  In Bali we had a rented scooter, a room overlooking an excellent surf spot (Padang Padang in Bali), surfboard rental, ate out 2-4 times a day and generally did whatever we wanted.

Steel Creek Tacoma – Poor Experience

What I find most amazing about companies is how stupid their managers in charge appear to be. With most companies I’ve seen they are hired with just a college education. They really haven’t worked their way up from the bottom or know anything about working with teams/employees. It’s unfortunate the business World is setup this way. The employees on the bottom do all the work and know how to really run the company – while the idiots above are book smart but have no real experience.

With that being said, I visited Steel Creek Whiskey in Tacoma Friday evening. I’ve been there a few times. The menu is pretty small but the food is good. They certainly are not cheap with steaks starting at $20 and their lowest items running about $13. I’m always on a mission to find a good steak. This place is up there on my list of good places but you do pay for it. The Steel Creek Whisky in Tacoma is a very nice establishment. It’s not your typical bar serving bar food and French fries you pay a higher amount for a good meal here. Here is a photo of the inside and as you can tell it’s a nice restaurant and bar that honestly most probably couldn’t afford to go to considering the economy and what the bill would be if you brought the family.

Steel Creek Tacoma

This is just a small section of the bar venue. It’s actually 12,000 sq ft so it’s really big and high quality through out. In fact, they claim it’s the largest in the South Sound.

I walk in and sit in my typical location – at the bar. I’m running solo tonight and just ordered a red bull (non alcoholic) and Cajun chicken. I’m not drinking tonight as I have to drive back later. As I mentioned the Steak is great here if you got the cash but tonight I was going to try something new. The place was busy but not to a point where the bartenders were hustling too much. By the way the bartenders here are great as well, attractive, friendly, and all the good things that a bar should have. We shared just some small talk but I felt welcomed. I can respect a bar manager who knows how to hire people with all those qualities. Most bartenders are your typical dudes with no personalities. Just hiring someone who can only sling drinks is what makes or breaks most bars with me.

I sit at the far side of the bar towards the end, order my red bull, and a few minutes later my Cajun chicken. As I wait enjoying the venue and anticipation of my meal, I’m interrupted by a security guy in a red shirt asking if I have a bracelet yet. I don’t so I show him my ID and he applies it to my left wrist as specifically instructed. You see restaurants and bars these days allow families and underage into the establishment (if sectioned off) and there is a point in the night where they have to leave I guess. Here comes the first “stupid” of the night. You see I was already in the bar section and drinking. Legally, you already violated your liquor license if I was underage in the bar section. The bracelet is pointless for people already in the bar section. Good job on that.

So I finish up my big meal which was great I might add, lean back relaxing in my chair – but I’m interrupted again. It’s about 9:45 at this point and another in a red shirt informs they have to take the chairs at the bar. You’d think a customer who would be willing to drop a $20 plus $5 bucks a drink could actually get to relax after a meal? The security guy was respectable, said it in a professional tone, but does that still make it right? I give up the chair in dis-belief a company would be so stupid to ask such a rude request. It was so unprofessional. I left at this point. To bad really I was considering buying more but after the interrupts and chair removal – it was time to go.

As I mentioned the security gentleman was nice and just doing a his job. With security, however, the best security is when they are there but not in the action. They should have a presence on the walls if you look around but they have no other function unless requested by a bartender (drunks), for arguments, or a customer has requested their assistance. They check Id’s at the door and assign bracelets at the door / bar area. Having your fat security guards walking around isles isn’t the way it should be done. From one young guy who has seen it done right to another who hasn’t – you obviously need some work in this area. On the same point, yelling at customer outside with another security guy that he was about to “break his nose” (while I was leaving) probably isn’t the best impression either. Being a fighter in my younger days I beg people to punch me these days. Not only do I get to beat the crap out of them legally – I get to sue them and you for your bar. Again, they are your muscle only if needed and other than that they should be your wall flowers.

There are a couple lessons we can learn about this review and Steel Creek Tacoma. First, be careful who you’re talking to and think about your actions. We live in a digital world and I’ll be the first to call you out on it. This review will cost you 10x what I paid that night. Don’t bother people spending money and certainly don’t take their chairs when they’re sitting having a good time. It’s people like you that would be stupid enough to tell Rosa Parks to sit at the back of bus. If you don’t know what you’re doing and the policies you’re telling others to do, you shouldn’t be in the business.

Mark Hurd Explains Seattle Business Inefficiencies

Mark Hurd is a seasoned leader who became President of NCR Corporation in 2001, before joining Hewlett-Packard in 2005. Under Mark Hurd’s leadership, both companies began turning profits after he improved efficiency, built stronger business leaders, and eliminated waste. He was named one of Fortune Magazine’s 25 Most Powerful People in Business in 2007.

As an individual, he is well-known for his cost-cutting capabilities and ability to shore up inefficiencies, all while embracing innovation and modernization. Before Mark Hurd designed alternative business methods, he first had to identify what about was inefficient about current processes.

Businesses aim to run flawlessly with no wasted opportunities. The symptoms of an inefficient business include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Complaints from customers about poor service or poor product quality
  • Frustration and negativity within the work environment
  • Work being neglected or duplicated
  • Work bottlenecks
  • Increased business cost and/or wasted resources

Mark Hurd provides these tips for replacing some of Seattle’s biggest business inefficiencies:

  1. Document the current processes and analyze it to understand the purpose it was designed to serve.
  2. Design several new process alternatives, evaluating each one for continued improvements.
  3. Develop the case for how the alternative is better and develop plan for its approval and implementation.
  4. Continue to look at alternative processes and remain receptive to the innovative ideas of others.

As a CEO, Mark Hurd appreciates analytical data. Identifying inefficiencies are difficult when processes are not properly documented. This is a greater problem when work is complex and has remained the same for long periods of time. However, Mark Hurd believes this is one of the largest mistakes companies can make because there is no way to quantify the process’s efficiency. Additionally, if businesses do not follow the documented processes then data is unreliable and possibly outdated. This can be very wasteful explains Mark Hurd, because there may be unseen redundancies in a business.

When redesigning processes to increase efficiency, eliminate waste, and cut costs, it helps to speak to people directly involved in the process. Mark Hurd believes it is important to incorporate their ideas and insights into new process designs. After brainstorming and hearing from personal insight, analysis into risks, costs, and effects can be examined.

In the end, resolving inefficiencies may mean cutting labor, changing the roles of management, incorporating technology, or eliminating entire processes completely. Mark Hurd stresses the importance of continued monitoring. The process may take a while to adapt to and further changes may still be necessary.

Fixing Seattle Businesses With Mark Hurd

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Big Bertha and the Highway 99 Tunnel Project

Big Bertha Drill Seattle

The transportation department is crying for more funds. There is not enough funds in the World to keep them going. They have great plans (dreams) but never any that actually works or gets a job done on time or on budget. It looks like a bunch of key stone cops running around where Big Berta should be digging. First of all to even think of digging a tunnel right along Elliot Bay, thru soil that is very unstable because it was filled in was stupid. I hate to say I TOLD YOU SO, but it’s sure true. I wrote an article when they were deciding whether to shore up the viaduct, tear it down and let traffic find its way, or make a shallow cut and cover, then of course those would not make World headlines or create publicity, and lots and lots of jobs so without the people agreeing that they wanted a tunnel, the powers to be decided to build a tunnel. McGinn ran his campaign on the promise that he would STOP the tunnel. Yeah right!!!! They started the dig July 30. This is Jan 23. 200 days later they can’t agree on how far they have even gone but give them the benefit of 1000 feet. The public has been spun a tail of mistruths from day one if we are to believe what Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson said last week. She said that the state had serious doubts about the drills “operations and critical systems” since the first day it started back in July. Wouldn’t that have been the time to speak up? One excuse after another has been given on the progress until lately the headlines in the Times and on the news have started sending up red flags. let me List a few headlines.

Dec 21, 2013  Bailing Bertha: Water rushes in. More wells needed to drain the digger face. More wells needed. 90,000 gallons could be behind it. etc etc. Well I got news for you that any idiot (or idiots) who thought they could dig a hole 110 feet deep right beside Elliot Bay at sea level of below and not run into water problems should definitely be on disability for mental problems not running this project. Then Dec 31,2013, headline was, Much poking but no clues on what’s blocking Bertha. Workers are burrowing holes to find what obstruction Bertha has ran into. They mentioned exotic things maybe from huge glaciers, maybe a locomotive or ship was buried there when it was filled in centuries ago, but the poking found nothing. Turns out that the mystery blockage was 119 ft of steel well pipe put there in 2000 by the Highway 99 projects own research crew. Then comes the blame game. I do not believe the tunnel project’s Director was told about the 8 inch thick pipe. Big Bertha uprooted 55 feet of the pipe on Dec 3, 2013. Right now the headlines have all changed. The headline of the Times Jan 17, 2014 was: “99 tunnel project’s director irked at state casting blame”. the article says that Seattle Partners project director Chris Dickson was surprised that the state blames them for the difficulties on the highway 99 tunnel project. Well who exactly would you blame if it is not the project director of the outfit hired to dig the tunnel?

There is a big opportunity for a lot of lawyers to make a bundle here. The whole mess can get stalled as it winds through the courts. The workers will all be paid to stand around or “do other small jobs” like they say they have been doing since the digging has stopped. Now it appears to be coming to a real expensive blockage of who told who what and when or why. One thing for sure the taxpayers are going to really get the shaft on this one. It was doomed from day one. All through the stoppage and non digging we have been told Bertha is working fine. Problems are always encountered on projects like these. That all studies have been done to guarantee this project will work just fine. The have discovered that the viaduct has settled 1/2 inch since the digging. How many 1/2 inches can the dirt settle around this project as it digs (if it ever does) under the historic buildings. The way this key stone cops project is going the hole they have dug may be filled in with the beautiful buildings they are going to dig under. I suggest it’s time to state the truth. Just tell us “this ain’t gonna work, no way, no how” and start a flat surface road or a shallow cut and cover. We can all stand to get screwed over, but we are all sick of being lied to. Such as another little headline. Disturbing Seawall news. There could be a 30 million overrun on this project. City transportation staff say there may be more troubles ahead due to the projects complexity.  What is even worse than that news is the fact those facts were known before the primary in the mayoral race but kept from the public or the Seattle City Council. Former Mayor Mike McGinn says the news was not buried. lol  Taxpayers can stand bad news, they can’t stand being flat out lied to. I hope when asked for a gas tax hike or anything else the legislature demands the STP and WSDT to lay out ALL THE FACTS, all the expenses. You cannot get our trust back very easy now. Our Washington is almost as bad as the other Washington. Please don’t say, “what difference does it make”. We know the difference between a liar and a spin doctor. You can’t send Susan Rice out to lie for you, so who will you send?

Lilly Marek

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Seattle Ride Sharing Rules Coming Soon

Seattle Ride Share Sevices

December 13, 2012 the City of Seattle Council held a public meeting regarding ride share services. These new services are popping up everywhere now and the taxi drivers are getting mad because they are offering a lower, faster, CHEAPER, and in reality better service.  They are saying they can’t compete and they are not safe ect.  Some of these new services include Sidecar, Lyft and Uber for example. However, city taxis of course are regulated by the city and they want the new ride share services to be also. I certainly can understand that frustration if I was an owner.  The city is holding them back.

As I’ve mentioned several times now on the Emerald Journal when an opportunity presents itself for more tax revenue the Council with certainly take you up on that opportunity. Here is another example of how these services are deemed “illegal” and we need to come up with a “fair” solution to regulate and tax them appropriately.

Seattle talks a big game about wanting riders to share, use buses, bikes, ect but when something new and innovated comes around and provides a real service of doing just that – they are quick to knock it down.  These services are really innovated and have the business down not like the old taxi systems in place.  These companies use apps on their phones, easy to use, and much cheaper.  It’s sad but the reality is that it’s all smoke and mirrors with the City of Seattle Council to make the public opinion positive about them and what they do for the city.

The City is proposing an annual license fee of $50,000 for these companies. Well that sounds “fair” to me (not). That sure is horrible for these companies and obvious sign the City Council is all about regulation, control, and revenue. It’s not about better air, less traffic, or anything like that – it’s about revenue first.  This effort pretty much puts them out of business and/or makes it extremely difficult to do business here in Seattle.  I thought the goal was to increase transportation and encourage great ideas to solve the traffic, parking, air, car issues in Seattle.  This move in licensing just kills that effort.

If they really wanted to solve this problem they would simply lower the regulations on Taxi owners and let them all compete evenly. The best service will win over the public. That would just be to easy, however, and would limit the cash flow and regulations which the city would never agree to. Sad but true. Take note just another case of grabbing more cash and not really caring to come up with innovated solutions which are available right now.

Next time you vote to support those businesses or public transportation just remember the City killed these cheap innovated companies so they can continue to control and regulate this area.

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Smoking Marijuana In Public – $27 Fine

Seattle Marijuana Smoking Fines

In and effort to keep control over the industry and increase revenue if necessary the Seattle Council passed a law which would fine for smoking in public.  Sure it’s not much but still a behavior by the City of Seattle that really wasn’t necessary.  It just proves when there is an opportunity to make a few more dollars they will take that opportunity to make a fine/tax out of it.  At his point, what is the big difference between cigarette smoking in public and marijuana smoking in public – absolutely nothing.

A law (unlike smoking) voted on by the people and all the City Council can do is come up with new laws and regulations to fine this cash cow as much as possible.

When Nick Licata (Council member) told the public this is now going to be the law (passed by the Council), he also mentioned that the police would be “giving warnings”.  Isn’t that a great line to calm the public so there is no uproar.  I would love to see how many warnings they give out compared to how much revenue they bring in from this great news.

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Thirsty in Seattle’s Beer Hall of Fame

Welcome to Thirsty in Seattle’s Beer Hall of Fame! This is a continually-updated list of what I think are top examples of various styles at this moment in time. It’s based on my palate and experiences; you may not agree with all the selections. However, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the beers below.

As always, your feedback is welcome. Do you have any favorites that are missing and belong in the Hall of Fame?

English and American Styles

*American Amber / Red Ale
Hopworks Urban Brewery Abominable Winter Ale
Maritime Pacific Red Ale
Oskar Blues G’Knight

*American Barley Wine
Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws
Firestone Abacus 2011
Anderson Valley Horn of the Beer 2009
Avery Samael’s 2008
HUB Noggin Floggin 2010
Deschutes Mirror Mirror 08
Hair of the Dog Fred

*American Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Brau Brothers The Ringneck Brown Ale

*American IPA
Pelican India Pelican Ale
New Belgium Ranger IPA
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
Black Raven Trickster
Minneapolis Town Hall Masala Mama
Surly Furious
Stone Ruination IPA
Georgetown Lucille IPA
Laurelwood Workhorse IPA
Snoqualmie Falls Plant 1 Powerhouse IPA

*American Porter
Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Anchor Porter

*American Stout
Deschutes Obsidian Stout
Elliott Bay Organic Alder Smoked Coffee Stout
Rogue Chocolate Stout

*American Strong Ale
Stone Double Bastard Ale
Firestone Walker 13th Anniversary Ale
Firestone Walker 14th Anniversary Ale
Black Raven Splinters
Lagunitas Fusion4
Fremont Kentucky Dark Star Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout (cask)
Fremont Totonac Bbomb Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Ale (cask

*Baltic Porter
Alaskan Baltic Porter
Cascadian Dark Ale
Hopworks Secession Cascadian Dark Ale
Big Al Hop Villain Black IPA (cask)

*Cream Stout
Hale’s Cream Stout

*English Porter
Samuel Smith Taddy Porter

*Fruit Beer
Samuel Smith Strawberry Ale

*Herbed / Spiced Beer
Midnight Sun Treat

*Imperial IPA
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA
Black Raven Wisdom Seeker
Avery Maharaja
Odell Myrcenary Double IPA (cask)
Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA
HUB Ace of Spades
Firestone Walker Double Jack
Diamond Knot Industrial IPA

*Imperial Stout
Founders Breakfast Stout
Deschutes The Abyss
Iron Horse Quilter’s Irish Death
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
Midnight Sun Berserker
Great Divide Bourbon Barrel-Aged Yeti
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti

*Oatmeal Stout
Snoqualmie Black Frog Nitro

*Pale Ale
21st Amendment Bitter American
Caldera Pale Ale
Mt. Hood Cascadian Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
Deschutes Red Chair NWPA
Georgetown Manny’s Pale Ale
Sweetwater 420

*Strong Scotch Ale
Oskar Blues Old Chub
Silver City Fat Woody Bourbon Oak Aged Scotch Ale (cask)
Black Raven Second Sight Strong Scotch Ale
Boundary Bay Scotch Ale

Belgian Styles

*Belgian Dubbel
Sierra Nevada Ovila Dubbel
St. Bernardus Prior 8
St. Bernardus Pater 6
Goose Island Pere Jacques
Pike Tandem

*Belgian Quadruple
St. Bernardus Abt 12
Westvleteren 12
Boulevard The Sixth Glass

*Belgian Saison
Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont
Pelican Saison Du Pelican
Black Raven Saison (cask)
Lift Bridge Farm Girl Saison

*Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Chimay Grande Reserve
Russian River Salvation
Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw
Trappistes Rochefort 6
Pelican Grand Cru De Pelican
Unibroue Terrible
Unibroue Trois Pistoles
Birra Tenute Collesi Imper Ale Rossa
Scuttlebutt Belgian Winter Ale-Belgian Strong Ale (cask)

*Belgian Strong Golden Ale
Duvel
Scaldis Bush Ambree
La Chouffe
Delirium Tremens
Goose Island Matilda
Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Wild

*Belgian Tripel
Tripel Karmeliet
Unibroue La Fin du Monde
De Garre Tripel

*Val-Dieu Tripel
Issaquah Brewhouse Menage A Frog

*Belgian Witbier
St. Bernardus Witbier
The Bruery Bottleworks XII
Issaquah Brewhouse White Frog Ale
Allagash White

*Flanders Oud Bruin
Petrus Aged Ale

*Flanders Red Ale
Duchesse de Bourgogne
Monk’s Café Flemish Sour Ale

*Fruit Lambic
Lindemans Framboise

German Styles

*Doppelbock
Ayinger Celebrator
Samuel Adams Double Bock
Spaten Optimator
Weihenstephaner Korbinian

*Dunkelweizen
Ayinger Ur-Weiss
Northern Lights Chocolate Dunkel

*Eisbock
Kulmbacher Eisbock

*German Pilsener
Victory Prima Pils

*Hefeweizen
Schneider Hopfen Weiss
Schneider Weiss
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen

*Munich Dunkel Lager
Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

*Weizenbock
Schneider Aventinus
Ayinger Weizen-Bock
Weihenstephaner Vitus

About Dan:
I love beer.  Seriously.  There is no better beverage on the planet (although coffee is a close second).  I order beer anywhere I go – even in wine bars, martini bars, 5-star restaurants – you name it.

I began drinking beer in high school (quick learner) and continued that trend throughout college, drinking as much Busch Light as possible for $3 until the keg fried.  I then graduated and moved on up to Newcastle (hey, I was pulling in 30K).  There was a brief cider period in there somewhere, but let’s not talk about that.

Probably the biggest influence on my love of beer was studying-abroad and taking several trips to Europe, including the world-class beer countries of Belgium, Germany, England, Ireland and the Czech Republic.

While I still drink a ton of European classics, what is most exciting to me now is the growing number of stellar craft breweries throughout the U.S.  I’ve gotten even more into the craft beer scene living the last 5 years in Seattle, with frequent trips to nearby Portland (aka Beervana).

I created this beer section to justify the ever-increasing amount of money that I spend on great beer (over 700 beers in the last 2 years).  And that is where you, dear reader, come in.  I hope I can provide you with some valuable beer insights, and I hope you do the same through your comments.

So crack open a beer (don’t forget the proper glassware) and enjoy the Beer!
Cheers!
Dan S.

My Beer FAQ’s
I’ve never actually received a question.  But in the event some guy has a question, and then a bunch of other people simultaneously have more questions, I thought I should be prepared for this onslaught of inquiries.

Where’s the best place to go for a beer in Seattle?
I haven’t been to every place in town, so this list is incomplete, but you can’t go wrong with any of these highly-regarded establishments:

Brouwer’s Café – Out of towners: Get thyself to Brouwer’s
Beveridge Place Pub – 25 taps, sports, game room, no table service, dog-friendly
The Pine Box – Tap list will impress beer geeks, conveniently located at base of Capitol Hill
Uber Tavern – Tiny tavern with an incredible tap and bottle list
Stumbling Monk – Unpretentious hole in the wall, amazingly cheap prices
Noble Fir – New beer mecca in Ballard, Diverse rotating tap list
Brave Horse Tavern – Enjoy 20 oz. beers and hot pretzels at Tom Douglas spot in South Lake Union
Collins Pub – Amazing beer, great Hawks/Sounders/Mariners pre/post-game spot
Naked City Brewery & Taphouse – 24 incredible taps from all over including Naked City beers
Quinn’s – Gastropub with ridiculous food, La Trappe ales and others on tap

What’s the best Seattle area brewery?
See my Seattle Brewery Guide

Are you qualified to write a beer blog?
Not really.

Does the World need yet another beer article?
No, but thanks for asking you unappreciative bastard.

Do you have the latest beer news?
No, I leave that to the professionals such as Kendall at the Washington Beer Blog and Geoff over at Seattle Beer News.  I have a job and 2 kids, and am already pushing my luck with the Mrs. with this beer blog thing.

What’s your favorite beer style?
It varies with the changing seasons, but here are some of my favorites:

  • Belgian Quadruple
  • Belgian Strong Dark Ale
  • Belgian Tripel
  • Doppelbock
  • Weizenbock
  • American Strong Ale
  • Imperial IPA
  • IPA
  • American Pale Ale
  • Russian Imperial Stout
  • Barley Wine
  • Belgian Strong Golden Ale
  • Belgian Saison
  • Cascadian Dark Ale
  • Hefeweizen
  • Brown Ale

Ok, I pretty much love all beer and have a lot of favorites.

What is a beer douche?
The beer douche, while possessing similar knowledge as the beer geek, is elitist and believes he has a superior palate.  The beer douche has tasted the best and rarest beers in the world and, if you disagree, you are clearly wrong and shall be ridiculed.  The beer douche scares off craft beer newcomers, rather than welcoming them.  Please, don’t be a douche.

Why are your beer reviews short?
Because I am unable to taste 45 flavors in a single beer and describe them using whimsical poetry, but apparently some people can.  See beer douche.

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