Oh what a day it was yesterday. First the Fed raised interest rates. This is an important event that basically affects everyone in the world. The interest rates in the United States were way too low. The US Dollar fell 27% against the Euro and 18% against the Japanese Yen since January 2002 and a mortgage boom was created in the USA. The US was in danger to experience inflation and an overheating economy. Countries like China that have their currency pegged to the US Dollar were starting to experience inflation. Other central banks like Canada may follow suit. But not Europe. They can’t raise rates, the Euro zone is only expected to grow around 1.8% this year compared to the estimates for 4.5% for the US Economy.
What does this have to do with anything important you ask? For starters my buddy Clemens Vasters can finally shut the fuck up! Every time I see him he tells me how strong the Euro is and how it is a real currency and that the dollar is nothing and on its way down. And proof that the US is on its way down as world leader is show by the declining dollar. Soon all world transactions will be done in Euro, including oil. Well crazy talk ends today, thank you Alan Greenspan. The only reason why the Euro was so strong was that in the USA interest rates were effectively zero, with the US raising rates and a stronger economy and the Euro zone keeping rates the same, the US currency begins a years long resurgence against the Euro. (But I will still love you my humbled German friend)
Next Spider Man 2 opened and trounced the anti-Bush propaganda film Fahrenheit 9/11. Spider Man made more in its first 15 minutes than Fahrenheit 9/11 did in its first weekend. Ok cool, I am not one of those crazies who think that the film should not be shown, but as long as we all know that Moore cherry picked the issues, used sensationalism, and out of context clips to help enhance his point. No big deal, I am just glad to see Spidey back on the big screen and left wing propaganda defeated by computerized special effects. (Maybe I will make my own movie called bad men flew planes into buildings that I worked in and I am now pissed off.) *This section of today’s blog sponsored by Progressive Systems Consulting. Just kidding Andrew.. :)
NASA also flew a satellite into Saturn’s rings, which apparently sent back photos showing sharp edges and ripples of energy in the rings. As a kid I thought I could ride my bike on those rings, I guess I am mistaken.
Yesterday also saw Mono released! So now we have .NET for Linux. This is so cool. Also it is proof that Microsoft is Borg.
Microsoft launched a new search engine to compete with Google today. Most importantly, they spent a year improving the algorithms used to search the web doing super cool stuff like Google and preview the technology here. This is quite important, there has not been any new innovation in the search technology since Google came on the scene a number of years ago. Google and Yahoo will compete, and this is good. I don’t personally like it since if you search the new MSN for me, the first site to come up is some other crackhead named Stephen Forte, not me! Google brings me up and only me for like 20 pages. Fix that Bill! I will do a comparison one day and blog it here.
Ok and the big news of the day. Speaking of Microsoft, the DOJ case is finally over! An appeals court threw out the states last appeal against the company. Basically yesterday’s ruling struck down Massachusetts' appeal of a 2001 settlement between Microsoft. and the DOJ. Massachusetts was seeking stronger remedies against MS. Ok now they get nothing. Good. I went to DC a few times to testify, lobby and complain in the late 90s on this trial. Ok, so now they have to deal with the EU and Media Player, but let’s saver this one. It is the final nail in the anti-trust coffin here in the United States. So I am happy. Microsoft's (and other companies') right to decide the design and engineering of their products was upheld - which bodes well for all industry companies. Meaning the frigging government won’t decide how I write my next piece of software. How 1984 is that?
Ok so it was a good day yesterday. I guess someone will break into my house today. :)