June 2008

Now I Know Why People Hate Microsoft

Posted by Chris Berry on June 30, 2008 in Purely Personal, Writing and Blogging

I’ve always defended Bill Gates whenever anyone criticized Microsoft for it’s virtual monopoly in PC operating systems and desktop applications. I remember the days before MS-DOS and Microsoft Office, and the total lack of standards made it virtually impossible to share documents with anyone who wasn’t on the same system. One of the major reasons [...]

Rethinking The Automobile

Posted by Chris Berry on June 26, 2008 in Energy and Environmental Issues

In the 35 years since the Arab oil embargo of 1973, we as a nation have had ample opportunity to adjust to the reality of a world where efficient use of our natural resources is no longer optional, but instead of taking advantage of this opportunity, we have done virtually nothing. In addition to making [...]

Is Introversion An Inherited Trait?

Posted by Chris Berry on June 18, 2008 in Introversion, Purely Personal

Recently I’ve become fascinated observing the way my son interacts with other children. At the age of three, he is developing distinctive personality traits that remind me of myself, and it leaves me wondering whether personality types can be inherited. Thanks to Mr. Mendel and his peas, we have a pretty complete understanding of the [...]

Education Is A Lifelong Process, Not A Birthright

Posted by Chris Berry on June 12, 2008 in Jobs and Careers, Rights and Wrongs

Inventing new rights has always been a favorite pastime of liberal politicians, and Senator Obama recently pulled a new one out of his hat when he declared that a college education was the birthright of every American citizen. This proposition is absurd on so many levels that it is impossible to refute them all. I [...]

Man’s Best And Most Expensive Friends

Posted by Chris Berry on June 10, 2008 in Purely Personal

During all of the years that my wife and I tried unsuccessfully to have a child, we were one of those couples who lavished all their attention on dogs. My sister once told me I wouldn’t love them the same way once we had a “real” child. I refused to believe her at the time, [...]

Help! I’m Becoming A Liberal

Posted by Chris Berry on June 3, 2008 in Elections and Voting, Political Parties

My wife and I have always been at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but when she read my post last week on same-sex marriage, her first reaction was that I was beginning to sound like a progressive. Anyone who knows me well would laugh out loud at the mere suggestion. While I don’t identify [...]