Personal Blog

Here is my personal blog, including trips we have taken and other random thoughts. I also have a more extensive blog covering electric vehicles, sustainable energy, peak oil, global warming and other topics.

Blog: Campaign Contribution Limits

Posted by: Max Dunn on November 4, 2008 07:54:10

While it is a noble cause to try to reform campaign financing so that money doesn't play as big a role, it is also a futile cause. No matter how tightly contributions are restricted, there will always be a way around it. For instance, instead of contributing directly to the candidate, contributions can be made to their party. Or better yet, pick an issue that defines the candidate's stance and contribute a lot of money to that issue. There currently are no limits on this type of contribution and there won't be - because this would be a restriction on free speech.

While this has been rather a theoretical issue in the past, this year it became a reality in California. Proposition 8 is a highly divisive issue and is serving to energize conservative voters to turn out to the polls.  So if someone wanted to do more for conservative candidates and has already maxed out on their direct contributions, they can simply contribute to this proposition. Over $35 million dollars was spent by both sides on this proposition - more than any other proposition and more than spent on most campaigns.

So in the end, trying to limit campaign contributions is a futile cause and we should instead concentrate on making it easier for all politicians to raise money in a way that guarantees transparency, rather than forcing them to go through this type of subterfuge which ultimately serves to hide the source of campaign financing.

 

Blog: Mozy Backup

Posted by: Max Dunn on November 3, 2008 11:50:04

People sometimes ask me what backup system I use. I certainly have used many over the years including tape drive and floppy disks. However, now I prefer to backup my files offsite and use an automated program to do it called Mozy. Mozy works great - it automatically finds most of the files you will want to backup and then just does it automatically. They even have a free service for about to 2Gb. If you want to signup, use the link below and then I will get some extra backup space too!

Mozy Signup

 

Blog: Gocart Racer

Posted by: Max Dunn on October 31, 2008 15:19:36

Ok, I have to brag a little. Today at Gocart Racer, I got a pretty good cart and scored some good times. My buddy Chris did beat me, but I got the second best time of the month!

Top 100 Racers of the Month For October 2008 Track 1(Monza)

Date as of 10/31/2008

Rank	Racer	LapTime	R.P.M.	Date	City
1	Chris Depuy	28.943	3136	10/31/2008	Hillsborough
2	Max Dunn	29.064	2645	10/31/2008	San Jose
3	Matt Robison	29.351	2956	10/31/2008	San Francisco
4	Dan Lassen	29.581	3090	10/17/2008	Santa Rosa
5	Alex Ratcliffe	30.760	1467	10/14/2008	Berryville
6	Michael Cardozo	30.774	2078	10/17/2008	SANTA ROSA
7	Zach Younker	30.874	2229	10/04/2008	Sunnyvale
8	Chris Vannoy	31.018	1421	10/16/2008	Napa
9	Nick Binkley	31.131	1959	10/04/2008	santa clara

 

 

Blog: Buffet Investment Advice

Posted by: Max Dunn on October 23, 2008 10:40:42

In today's volatile market, it is easy to be fearful and want to sell in case the market goes down further. However, Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha,” has often been quoted for his investment philosophy, “Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” Buffett said he’s buying U.S. stocks for his personal portfolio to the extent that they will soon comprise 100 percent of his account. So maybe this is the time to be greedy and hold on in the expectation that stocks will soon rise back up again.

 

Blog-Powering the Future

Posted by: Max Dunn on August 21, 2008 19:00:24

This was the last in the series of outdoor science talks at the Cantor Arts Center (EVT 173). I wasn't able to make it to the others ones - or wasn't interested in the topic. Most of the information was review, but it was interesting to hear about the work Stacey's group is doing with thin-film CZTS technology.

Read more...

 

Blog-Christian Parking Lot

Posted by: Max Dunn on July 21, 2008 14:37:51

A Christian parking lot is one that fills up from the back.

 

Blog-Miata Racing Class

Posted by: Max Dunn on May 28, 2008 10:03:55

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I attended the Skip Barber Miata Racing class at Laguna Seca. What a blast! I wanted to do this class because the last time we did a track day at Laguna Seca, I was terrified going into turn 2 which was at the end of the long straightway and down an incline so you could carry a ton of speed into the corner. The class was great and they started out slow teaching the proper line, gearing and braking and gradually increasing the speed. By the end of the class turn 2 was my favorite and I would blast down into it at full throttle, braking extremely hard at the last moment and barely keeping the car under control around the corner. What could be more fun!

 

 

Blog-Get It Right

Posted by: Max Dunn on May 2, 2008 10:12:54

At the Stanford Energy Crossroads Conference yesterday, I heard a great quote from Michael Shellenberger president of the Breakthrough Institute and author of the essay "Death of Environmentalism". He said:

"The point is not to be right but to have a conversation to make sure we get it right."

We should all ascribe to this principle!

 

Seattle Trip - Day 5

Posted by: Max Dunn on April 23, 2008 07:55:24

Day 5 in our Seattle trip was Saturday and our last day there. It had been raining, snowing and hailing the day before, but we decided to be brave and go to the zoo anyways. We got there early and there was hardly anyone there. Some exhibits were closed because it was off season, but many were still open and while it rained on and off, it didn't bother us. The zoo turned out to be really well done with a lot of interesting displays and animals. Our favorite was the "Night Animal" exhibit in which we got to see a porcupine and armadillo running around, as well as some bats. We also enjoyed the reptile and turtle exhibits, as well as seeing some gorillas and wild dogs up close. Maxie liked seeing the peacock spread its feathers and thought the hippos were cool. Claire liked the gift shop, the tropical rain forest, zebras, pony, panda cows, the bugs, the monkeys, the pudgy gorillas, hippo and porky guy.

 

Seattle Trip - Day 4

Posted by: Max Dunn on April 23, 2008 07:39:42

Day 4 in Seattle, Friday, was a very fun day. We started out by going to the Experience Music Project (EMP). We got there right after it opened and were told it was best to go up to the third floor to the interactive exhibits before the schools arrived. We did that and discovered a room with a whole bunch of instruments and computer instruction on how to play them. The guitar was a little hard because they had lights on the frets to show you where to play, but it was difficult to follow. But the drum exhibit was great and we all learned how to do a basic drum beat. It was good that we went there first because soon a whole bunch of kids came in! We also really enjoyed the guitar history display that showed all the different types of guitars that have been made. That room also had a video running that showed different legendary guitarists playing in different styles which was really cool to see. We then went into a room and pretended to play "Wild Thing" while they took a picture of us. Suzanne realized later that we only knew two lines in this song.

We also went up to the SkyCity Restaurant to have lunch this day. Lunch was surprisingly good, the service was wonderful and of course the view was great. After lunch we went up to the observation deck and found out they have a nice cafe up there and some great exhibits about Seattle and the Sky Needle.

That night back at the hotel room, we paid $12 to watch "27 Dresses" in the room and it had a fuzzy picture and the sound was too low, but we still enjoyed it.

 

 

 

< Previous (2 of 3) Next >