Conclusions I've reached

Over the past several years, I've reached a few conclusions. Some of these you might not like, but here they are:

• Stephen King was a better writer when he was an active junkie - there's something about chemical addiction -- the desperation, the frenetic pace, the inner self-destruction, that makes for good entertainment. I don't like this conclusion, but after watching all sorts of successful creative talents, including John Belushi and others , that's my call. People think of entertainers as basically a form of circus clown. Junkies make good clowns.
• We should have had more troops going into Iraq - Iraq was a totalitarian dictatorship and was ruled by brute force at every level. We had to keep that fear of the government in place for the mission to work. We didn't. We need to adjust our national strategy accordingly. I supported the war and still support the war, but our national command structure failed the American people.
• The culture of the Pentagon failed us - You can and should blame the Republicans and Bush, but the pentagon did not plan for, nor will they completely participate in this type of warfare. I could argue this all day long, but suffice it to ask -- why haven't we stationed a Marine Division semi-permanently in Iraq? A heavy army division? Because the mission is viewed as expeditionary, not a geopolitical change. Even after Vietnam, the national command structure was not prepared for the another insurgency. Somebody should ask why. If we're buying F-22 fighters at the same time everybody is agreeing that Iraq is in trouble, we've got something deeply wrong somewhere.
• American politics always gets crazy in October - We're just one week into October, but we're already got tell-all books, pedophiles, and bribery scandals. Somehow this time of year reminds me of being in a huge dysfunctional family where everybody is yelling and screaming at each other. My suggestion: vote for who you think is best. Don't join the fray, just do the right thing in your heart. At this point, I would almost even give up trying to have a reasoned discussion with folks who disagree with you -- emotions are running high. Both parties are doing their best to keep their folks angry and emotional. The media will help out, as they love a good fight more than anything.
• Notebook computers should be water-proof and shock-proof - Three times in the last five years I've spilled liquids on my notebook computer. Twice they came back, but this most recent time, I spilled a drink on my notebook on Friday and it looks dead. why can't they make notebook computers spill-proof? How much could that cost, anyway? Ten bucks? I'm not talking about going deep-sea diving with my notebook, but a little neoprene couldn't hurt, guys.
• Software companies are not the friends of software developers - Software development is about managing complexity. Software sales is about making things look easy. You can't make a complex thing completely easy. Yes, tool companies and compiler vendors will tell you they work for you, but they don't. They work to make sales, not to solve problems. If they can give a demo that makes you and your boss say "cool!" and write a check, their job is done. If I had a nickel for every software developer I know who was lost and/or disappointed after buying a new miracle tool I'd have a couple of bucks. Don't go to conferences and watch demos. Read some technical articles and compare notes of people on the ground using the tools. Be skeptical, not enthusiastic. It's never as easy as the commercial.
• It's always the end of the world - Ever since I can remember, people have been saying that due to the actions of mankind, the end of the world is coming. When I look back in history, they said it back then, too. Perhaps this time they are right. Perhaps not. Somehow I feel that 50 years from now they'll be saying the same thing. I guess once the world is finally destroyed somebody, somewhere will be able to say, "See! I told you so."