http://www.bryanellis.com I'm Bryan Ellis, and I really don't know very much about anything. But for some reason, people continue to offer me tidy sums of money for my advice on internet marketing, real estate investing and public speaking/sales strategies. Go figure. Welcome to Bryan Ellis' Idea Lab! Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:40:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Ok, I just heard about this service called Amazon RDS which is Amazon's way of providing MySQL database services in a way that's conceptually similar to their S3 file service. What I really want to know is if it's going to be possible to use RDS as the back end for Wordpress blogs. So for you techies who see this post:  Have you yet figured out how to even create a mySQL DB under RDS?  I've not yet figured it out.  I use S3 all of the time, but I use the firefox plugin that makes it S3 somewhat FTP-like. But I've not yet found such a tool for RDS. I guess I really have 3 questions: How do you create an RDS database in the first place? How do you transfer an existing mySQL DB into an RDS mySQL? Will RDS mySQL work as the data storage mechanism for wordpress blogs? If you know the answer to any or all of these, *please* let me know! Thanks a million. http://www.bryanellis.com/169/amazon-rds-connecting-up-wordpress-blogs/ As I write this, the nation is in the middle of a huge health care battle.  On one side is the most liberal wing of the Democrat party (including Barrack Obama) and on the other side is the vast majority of the U.S. population. There isn't a poll anywhere that suggests a majority of the public supports Obama's proposed takeover of the health care system by the U.S. government.  The resistance to these ideas is overwhelming and obvious to any reasonable observer. Yet as always, the famously arrogant Obama thinks it's all about him. Here's how he explained the fact that there's widespread and overwhelming opposition to his proposal (as stated on the Michael Smerconish radio show): I think early on, a decision was made by the Republican leadership that said, 'Look, let's not give him a victory, maybe we can have a replay of 1993, '94, when Clinton came in, he failed on health care and then we won in the mid-term elections and we got the majority. And I think there are some folks who are taking a page out that playbook Yet again, we see Obama focusing on himself.  He doesn't even give consideration to the possibility that maybe his idea is not only a bad idea, but a very unpopular one among a strong majority of the citizens of the United States.  In presuming a role as the "Chosen One", Obama chooses to contrive a "vast right-wing conspiracy" just like Hillary Clinton in the early 90's. Have you noticed how this man-child loves to "take responsibility" because he's "the President of the United States" - but is always quick to point out the problems he has "inherited" and for which he can't be blamed?  You can't have it both ways, Obama. And that's not the end of the evidence of this guy's arrogance.  He recently told a group of Jewish rabbis:  "We are God's partners in matters of life and death."  This crosses the line to pure evil. By what authority does Barrack Obama claim such a partnership?  It certainly isn't Constitutional.  It certainly isn't Biblical.  It's simply a false construction in the mind of this man who apparently thinks himself a god. In fact, Obama loves to misquote the Bible by saying "I am my brother's keeper" as justification for his aggressive support of socialized government health care.  This is curious for two reasons:  (1) At least one of Obama's own brothers lives in a hut with a dirt floor, having received no clear assistance from this President who claims such compassion; and (2) The actual quote in the Bible was from Cain after he murdered his brother Abel.  When God inquired of Cain as to Abel's whereabouts, Cain replied with a question:  "Am I my brother's keeper?"  Note - God didn't confirm that Cain was Abel's "keeper" ... instead, God pointed out that the blood of Cain's dead brother was "crying out from the soil".  It's the words of the murderer Cain that Obama chooses to stand on as justification for his health plans... very interesting, don't you think? Grow up, Obama.  I understand that you have no experience in the private sector and that your extremely short political career has left you with a very limited and self-centered frame of reference.  But still, it seems that you could man up and give favor to the interests of the United States above the opposing interests espoused by you and your political party. I implore people of all political and social persuasions to carefully consider whether this man should be in the Oval Office after his first term.  Whether you choose a Republican or another Democrat to replace him, it's becoming ever more clear that Obama's "god complex" drowns out the voice of the American people and will even put us in physical danger if he is successful in passing legislation for the government health care takeover. There's an inverse correlation between arrogance and wisdom.  Think about it. http://www.bryanellis.com/162/we-are-gods-partners-in-matters-of-life-and-death-more-dangerous-arrogance-from-barrack-obama/ Many months ago, I hired Bruce McFarland of Smith, Welch and Brittain.  This particular law firm (Smith, Welch and Brittain) is the largest law firm in Henry County and among the largest on the south side of Atlanta. Since I was facing a significant legal challenge concerning a divorce in Henry county, and having had some very positive results when working with other attorneys from Smith, Welch and Brittain in the past (most notably Gil Maxwell), I decided to look into hiring them to represent me in my divorce issue. The first attorney with whom I was placed was almost immediately thereafter released from her employment with Smith, Welch and Brittain and my case was reassigned to Bruce McFarland, who is a partner at this firm. I was encouraged by having the services of such a senior attorney at this firm, and I expected that Mr. McFarland's involvement in the case would be positive for me. In some ways, Bruce McFarland has been helpful.  He suggested that we pursue a lawsuit against my ex-wife for change of custody.  This appeared to be a good strategy, based on the facts of the case, so we pursued it. More in a little while... http://www.bryanellis.com/152/bruce-mcfarland-of-smith-welch-and-brittain/ Tom Daschle, who was nominated by rookie President Barack Obama to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has withdrawn his nomination due to tax problems. This isn't really about Tom Daschle or about tax problems. It's about the fact that Barack Obama is the single most arrogant President ever, and thinks that he can nominate the people who are absolute scum of the earth to high positions - and Obama believes he can do so with impunity. Nevermind that Daschle has absolutely zero background in health or human services.  He's spent most of his career as a politician and has no clue about those subject matters. The real issue is that Obama appears to be getting his first dose of reality.  Maybe he's not the Messiah after all. Obama, your charisma can only take you so far.  You've got the votes to pass your idiotic stimulus bill in the Senate without any Republican support.  If you're a man, you'll go ahead and do it.  We'll see. http://www.bryanellis.com/147/tom-daschle-is-out-its-about-time/ With all due respect to my liberal friends in the press, you need to get clear about one simple fact: Tax Cuts are not an "expense" to the government, they are an expense reduction (aka STIMULANT) to tax payers. I felt compelled to point this out - yet again - since today's news is that the cost of the "stimulus" (ahem) plan might "grow in cost" due to some tax cuts being proposed on the Senate side of the bill. The problem with defining tax cuts as an expense to the government is that doing so ignores the fact that the money is not the government's to begin with.  Taxes are confiscated from citizens at the threat of incarceration and other penalties.  Without the economic activity of the citizenry, that money wouldn't exist to begin with. So, do yourself a favor, my friend:  Any time you see a news story defining something as "costing" the government money, find out whether it's because the government is spending more money (which is a cost) or whether it's because the government is taking less of your money (which is not their cost). Remember:  The money is yours.  Don't let the government redefine it in any other way. Thanks for reading BryanEllis.com! http://www.bryanellis.com/144/tax-cuts-are-not-an-expense-to-the-government/ Saxby Chambliss won his runoff election for U.S. Senate versus Jim Martin on Tuesday.  The implications of this victory are huge:  It's now effectively impossible for the Democrats to acquire a fillibuster-proof majority of 60 Senate seats. It also means it's less likely that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will attempt to use the power of the Senate to change the results of the pending election recount in Minnesota between Norm Coleman and comedian Al Franken.  Such a fight would require significant political capital, and with the 60-seat super majority no longer in play, I suspect Reid will choose to retain that capital for other purposes. What's really curious is how many democrats and liberals chose to vote for Chambliss.  Apparently, there was quite a bit of fear involved in the notion of Democrats having absolute power - and that fear seemed to pervade the liberal side as evidenced by the huge margin of victory that Chambliss experienced over Martin. http://www.bryanellis.com/141/significant-saxy-chambliss-victory-in-georgia/ The sun is shining again! After a 7-year drought against the Georgia Bulldogs, my beloved Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have emerged victorious over the Clarke County Correctional Squad. Here's what makes this so sweet: Exactly ZERO people would have predicted Tech could beat Georgia this year (except for maybe Coach Paul Johnson) Virtually NOBODY predicted Georgia Tech would win more than 5 or 6 games - and certainly not end the regular season with a 9-3 record and prospects for a major bowl game The triple option - the new offense installed by 1st year head coach (and GENIUS) Paul Johnson - was criticized as being a "high school offensive scheme that would never work in major college football" - yet we averaged 41.5 points per game against SEC opponents - supposedly the toughest conference in football Our team is VERY young - if my stats are right, only 4 of our defensive starters are seniors.  Virtually the entire offensive unit are freshmen or sophomores. The incredibly arrogant Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno had 94 yards of rushing and one touchdown - yet he was only the 3rd most productive back on the field today, despite his showboating.  Georgia Tech's Roddy Jones had 214 yards and 2 touchdowns and Tech's Jonathan Dwyer ran for 144 yards and two scores. Lest I be criticized for being a poor sport like the Clark County Correctional Squad, allow me to say for the record:  Well done on the offensive side of the ball, bulldogs. But let's all be clear about something:  There's a new day dawning where Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football is concerned.  It's all about Coach Paul Johnson, and the attitude that he's put into this team. And he's done it in his FIRST YEAR as a head coach at Georgia Tech!  The thing that's so special and so unique about this team is that they just won't quit! That's not the style that former coach Chan Gailey pursued.  That guy didn't give a damn about winning.  He was clearly happy with 7 win seasons, because that's all he ever got with the exception of one year.  And our teams under him were not FIGHTERS... ...Not so with Coach Johnson.  This guy has put the heart of a fighter in our team.  Remember Rocky III and the song "The Eye of the Tiger"?  It's as if Coach Johnson has created the football version of "The Eye of the Tiger" in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Wow. Congratulations Yellow Jackets.  Congratulations Coach Johnson.  Very good things to come. http://www.bryanellis.com/138/georgia-tech-kicks-georgias-ass/ With one game remaining before the end of the regular season, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are 8-3.  Next week's game - the biggest of the season - against our archrival Georgia Bulldogs is going to be a tough game, but unlike past years, there's no less than a 50/50 chance of victory of an opponent perceived to be far stronger than us. This has been a fairy tale season for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets though in an unconventional sense.  We're certainly not going to a national championship and have only an outside chance at reaching the ACC championship game. But just consider: We have a brand new coach - a mastermind, no less - in Paul Johnson Johnson has installed a completely new offense - the triple option - and has made it work instantly It was widely HOPED at the beginning of the season that we'd win 6 or 7 games, but expected to win only 3 or 4 We have one of the youngest teams in all of college football Two of our 3 losses were very close, and the one remainder came as a result of a wide array of injuries leaving us with mostly 2nd and 3rd string players on the field for most of the game There is much to be thankful for and excited about in Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football. http://www.bryanellis.com/136/fairy-tale-season-for-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets/ I love Savannah, Georgia.  Not in the way that would make me want to live there, but in the way that makes me thankful that I live only a few hours away. My Fantasy Goddess (aka "wife") Carole and I visited Savannah over the weekend on business but took some of our spare moments to enjoy some of the local flavor. And what flavor there is in Savannah! My two recommendations from this visit are: Huey's - this is a really great seafood restaurant on River Street.  The shrimp and grits and the seafood omelet are both to die for! Savannah Smiles - this is a dueling piano bar on Williamson near River Street.  Carole and I went there to watch the Georgia Bulldogs get DESTROYED by the Alabama Crimson Tide (which thrilled me and made Carole very unhappy) and got to enjoy a really great show and lively atmosphere. The only disappointment was that we didn't have time to do a "pub crawl" like we did once before.  If you've never done it, you really must.  The way it works in Savannah is like this:  You join an organized group at some restaurant, and you then follow that group (who has a specific leader familiar with the area) from pub to pub at which two things happen: The leader tells a ghost story about the history of the particular building you're visiting (since Savannah is of course the "most haunted city in America") and You get a drink at each pub As you can imagine, as the evening wears on, the quality of the ghost stories become less and less important, and the social environment among fellow pub crawlers grows ever more cordial. All in all, a really good trip.  I'm thankful to be married to Carole. http://www.bryanellis.com/124/a-nice-visit-to-savannah-plus-two-strong-recommendations/ The financial markets are nearing crisis mode - or so I think.  Who really knows - very few of us remember the great depression when there was genuine financial crisis, and even if one does recall it, the nature of what is happening now is fundamentally different. Regardless, the news today is that the government is seriously considering forming a new Resolution Trust Corporation [1], ala the Savings & Loan Crisis of the 1980's. The small remainders of free market capitalism in America are dead. [1] http://www.freerealestatetraining.com/480/resolution-trust-corporation/ http://www.bryanellis.com/106/bryan-ellis-comments-on-resolution-trust-corporation-henry-paulson-market-in-crisis/