Sunday, April 30, 2006

Is Jeff Fisher the next Titan to go?

With the latest word that Steve McNair is going to be traded or released, one has to wonder what is going on over at the Titan's---on the administration side.

Clearly, Coach Fisher and Norm Chow preferred Matt Lienart over Vince Young. Almost every post draft interview indicated that the decision was split. Here are a couple of quotes:


Reese acknowledged the decision wasn't unanimous in the draft room, but he said everyone was in agreement that Young has a chance to be special.



"I know Coach Chow and Coach Fisher did everything they could to get me, but obviously there were some differences in that organization,'' Leinart told reporters in Arizona. "They went with who they thought was best.''


And, now, the word is that Fisher said that the McNair trade or release is "unlikely". Remember when McNair was asked to leave the training camp when Fisher was out of town visiting potential draft prospects?

All of this reeks of something going amuck. Fisher will never come out and say anything, but all indications are that he has a short leash---I'd say this year to at least have a winning season or to show some definite improvements.

My thoughts are that Fisher backed McNair way too long and was his outspoken supporter despite the obvious. Bud Adams and Floyd Rees are running this team and Fisher will be the next to go if the Titan's don't turn the ship around this upcoming season.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Pre-Draft First Round Pick for the Titans

I cannot remember an NFL draft causing so much interest for even the most casual fan of the Tennessee Titans.

My gut tells me Vince Young is the pick. His style is more like the Titans, even with his unusual side arm motion. He's big, physical and is a playmaker who lives on the edge, just the way McNair did in his prime.

Having said that, I can see the Titans picking Lienart as well, just because of the Norm Chow connection. But Norm may not be around forever.

We'll know this time tomorrow. Surely Reggie Bush won't be around for the 3rd pick.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Bleet, plus, Tennessean RSS Feed UPDATE

I'm coining a new term, BLEET, to describe the Blog Elite, formerly known as the blogleet. This is a term that describes, as you might imagine, the biggest and bestest bloggers.

Rex Hammock of Rexblog fame is certainly a charter member of the BLEET, a place that maybe one day in the far distant future I might ascend. Rex took the time to inform me that only one particular RSS Feed from the Tennessean is bad, and of course, it's the one I was using. So, I stand corrected and extend my apologies to the TNSN.. Here is what Rex says below:


The tennessean RSS feeds work for me -- I subscribe to the news
headlines and the sports one. however, the "headlines" thing suc**.
I'll post something tomorrow.

rex


here's the URL to the "top news" feed that works for me:

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=RSS05&mime=xml


Thanks Rex and thanks for the plug the other day for my half marathon run for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. We have raised over $5000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the cure for Parkinson's.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Welcome to Carbon Leaf's Official Website

Welcome to Carbon Leaf's Official Website


This is a most amazing band. Sharon (my better half) and I went to see them at the Exit/In the other night. We had not been there in 20 years. Someone called Sharon "maam" as we wondered through the crowd. We laughed. We were so entertained. This band mixes so many different forms of music from rock to bluegrass to fusion. Highly recommended.

Tennessean RSS Feed is Terrible

SEC names new football officials coordinator - Nashville, Tennessee - Thursday, 04/20/06 - Tennessean.com

It's now Thursday, April 27th (or almost). The most recent posting on the Tennessean's RSS feed is from Thurdsay, April 20th. 7 days ago. That is pitiful. I have noticed for some time that of all the major media, the Tennessean has the worst and most inconsistent RSS feed of any media I follow. I don't follow that many feeds, maybe 50. Compare that to the BlogLeet (blog elite) people who probably follow 200 or more daily feeds--they have the same problem. The Tennessean continues to be challenged with updating their RSS feeds. What is even more annoying is that they don't summarize what is in the corresponding post. If you have an RSS reader, you know what I mean, if you don't, you should get one. Thanks to Rex Hammock for briefly telling me one day that I needed one, and then backing that up on his blog a few times. He has helped many bloggers. Maybe he can use his media contacts to get to the TNSN RSS person to get them off their duffs.

Bush Blizzard?

Tony Snow named White House Press Secretary From USA Today Blogs

Tony Snow joins John Snow (Treasury Secretary) in the Bush White House. But, according to multiple sources, John Snow is probably on his way out.

I can "dig" it. That's pretty bad. Sorry.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Parkinson's fight is motivation for one runner

Parkinson's fight is motivation for one runner - Tennessean.com


This runner happens to be me!

Bonds hints Aaron's record might be out of reach

Bonds hints Aaron's record might be out of reach

From ESPN..

All I can say is --LET'S HOPE SO! And I hope Bud Selig steps in and puts an asterik by his name when he breaks Babe Ruth's record.

There is going to be a major media frenzy as Bonds approaches the Babe's record in just a few short days/weeks. Bonds is at 709 now, and 715 will probably fall before Memorial Day if not sooner.

Let's face it, Bonds cheated. There were no such drugs around when the Babe hit all of his 714 home runs. Ditto Roger Maris when he hit 61 or 62 (can't remember which) in one season back in the 60's.

Like everyone else, I was mesmerized when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire battled it out that year to overcome Maris and to set a single season record.

Looking back, it does not take a rocket scientist to realize both of those guys were human freaks--all juiced up and bulked up like Popeye on spinach. Would that it were a simple organic substance like a vegetable that those guys took.

Why is the baseball management being so coy over Bonds, McGuire and Sosa? Why does it take a congressional investigation and free lance writers to dig up the dirt?

Is it just me, or what? When Babe Ruth's record goes down, it will be a crying shame for Major League Baseball, and for the honor and tradition the sport once held for all Americans.

Let's hope Barry Bonds means it below when he says below that his body won't allow him to break Aaron's record of 755. And in the mean time, where is Bud Selig on all of this?



"As long as I'm healthy, I want to give it a try,' Bonds has said.

Now, the man who stands only five homers from Babe Ruth's career 714 and 46 from Aaron's record 755 believes his body will not allow him to catch the home run king.

'Heck no,' Bonds told MLB.com when asked if he still had a chance to catch Aaron.


"

Sunday, April 23, 2006

The Importance of Ophelia Ford's Ouster

Inside Baseball

This is a new column by Matthew White from the Tennessee Political Blog called Inside Baseball (for reasons unknown to me). In any event, it's the first thing I've read from a credible source of the real implications of the Senate vote last week to void the election of Ophelia Ford.

Basically, the state legislature has to stand up to the Federal Courts, and for this reason alone, the precedence has been set now that our state elected leaders have a true separation of powers as opposed to the court system intervening when there is a dispute amongst the political factions.

Very interesting reading, and I have quoted below for your convenience so you really don't have link to the article by White. However, if you do, he also handicaps the 23rd Senate District race (Jim Bryson's seat). Oh yes, I agree with White also on the fact that Ophelia Ford has gained so much publicity over her challenge, that she is a shoe-in if she would just shut up and get back to Memphis and plan for the next election.





"The State Senate finally voided Ophelia Ford's election to that body in a convincing bipartisan vote. This is an important moment in Tennessee political history and not for the reasons you might think, namely the Ford family finally getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

A federal judge blocked a similar vote in January despite the Senate's explicit constitutional authority to overturn the election. It is important for the Tennessee Legislature to stand up to federal courts that have been governing the state by fiat. It has happened with prisons, education, healthcare, children's services and election law, among others. There are few agencies of state government that aren't under some form of federal court order. If federal courts want to stand in the way of the legislature's legitimate constitutional functions, then let them enforce the order.

More important than that is the dilution of votes that are attendant to voter fraud. People who go to the trouble to cast an informed ballot deserve to have their full vote counted. When an illegal vote is cast, by a living person or otherwise, every other vote is cheapened. If we are to have 'one man/woman, one vote' as we should, only living, breathing residents of the district should have their votes counted.

Ophelia Ford has not seen the last of the State Senate. If she's smart, she'll drop this charade and win her election - honestly - in November and continue on in the family business.

Friday, April 21, 2006

A Tour of Microsoft's Mac Lab

David Weiss: A Tour of Microsoft's Mac Lab

Thanks to Rex Hammock, of Rexblog fame, Nashville's best and most prolific blogger, for this reference and post.

The link is a tour of Microsoft's Mac Lab from David Weiss. It's a most interesting and reassuring web tour. Reassuring because one can see the reverence that our oft-times nemesis, the windows geeks, have for our beloved Mac. Or at least this section of the company--(albeit miniscule section of Microsoft land).

A nice tour down memory lane plus a whole bunch of Mac Mini's --and the feeling that there are some really solid solid Mac folks up there in Washington State.

Ahhh...just think back to the days when there was no such thing as an IPOD, and it was us against the world......those times were nice weren't they--in a way? Now that Apple (the company) is hot, you kind of relish the complete underdog role we used to enjoy. I'm not really sure I really like having Apple on top of the digital music world to tell you the truth.

Anyway, this link sort of softens my opinion of the Seattle guys a great deal--these folks in the MBU as they call it--the Mac Business Unit at Microsoft.

Thanks Rex (and thanks Julia, whoever you are).

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Favre: McNair 'doesn't deserve' treatment he's getting

Favre: McNair 'doesn't deserve' treatment he's getting

It's pretty much a universal thought and one that I agree with as well---that whoever made this decision to bar McNair from the Titans complex, (and we all know who it was)---made a terrible PR goof. We were warned that Bud Adams could be an SOB, and certainly look no further than the Houston TX media to find countless examples of such during his tenure as the Oilers' owner.

If you look back as to the timing of this event, it was obvious that the decision came from the top. Fisher and Reese were on the West Coast during the USC "Pro Day" taking a look at Reggie Bush and Co. Or, should I say Matt Lienart and Co. Anyway, the lowly trainer was the one that delivered the news to McNair to take a hike. What class.

At least I think Reese and Fisher have a little more than that. Maybe not much more, but you could tell that they were uncomfortable with the decision overall upon their return. Now the fall out continues with this quote and article (ESPN.com gets the credit)

"All of the things he has done for that team,' the Packers QB said Thursday. 'He really has been the face of that team for the last 10 or 11 years, the one bright spot really. To be treated that way I think is really unfair. He doesn't deserve it ... It is not right.'

Which reminds me, did you see the City Paper article (I'm starting to like this hard hitting little print paper much more lately) yesterday? Sorry, I'm too lazy right now to link to it, but the essence of the article was that both Lienart and Vince Young got the impression that if either were selected by the Titans, that they would be playing this fall. Makes me think that the Titans are going to go with Billy Volek as starter, then work in whichever one we get by mid October or so. My money is on the bet that McNair has seen his last days as a Titan. I know it's a business, but it could have been handled so much more wisely. Favre has been given so much latitude up in Packers' country. They have handled his situation so much more sagaciously (wow, great word, no?)

The Return of Lance Armstrong

Armstrong plans to run N.Y. Marathon in November

Lance Armstrong told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he plans to compete in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 5.

This guy is a beast!

From Espn.com

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Thelma Harper

...has become what she probably never meant to be---the consummate politician that puts ego before common sense. No politico that I've ever watched intends for this to happen--but they get caught up in the "system" and the "process". She is probably right now trying to decide how best to defend herself and how to justify the nay vote on the Jack Daniel's Musuem in downtown Nashville . It's probably time for her to take a hard look in the mirror. Just read these quotes below from the City Paper:


Harper said she was upset that she wasn’t asked to be the first sponsor of the bill before it was introduced. Instead, Brown-Forman asked Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), whose district contains the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, to sponsor the bill.

“When you deal with people who have no respect for where you are, you know, it makes it difficult,” Harper said. “But the main thing is [Brown-Forman has] no respect for our position.

“You can have a museum and all of those other things, and I can sponsor it, but we don’t need someone from Shelbyville sponsoring the bill that’s here,” she added. “It’s proper protocol … when they come into my business district, I should be allowed to represent my businesses. That’s what I’ve done all along.”



Have you ever read a more ridiculous "inside" quote of how legislation gets done and how these people perceive themselves? Thelma Harper thinks downtown Nashville is "her" business district--the whole thing, the whole area that is---and that---(chest protruding, chest beating) nothing gets done without her front and center approval. You know, at one time in my life, I thought about politics. Then I realized one day how absolutely low life these people are and how super big their egos are. Oh yes, they can talk real well, and they can smile and they can wear big hats, but when it comes right down to it--it's ego plain and simple. And if they are elected, particularly into the city council and into the state rep positions, they become so absorbed in their titles and the process, that they lose site of the big picture.

Still think I'm being too hard on Thelma? Okay, then read this:


Tracy said lobbyists from Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, of which Brown-Forman is a client, asked Harper to co-sponsor the bill with Tracy. But Harper said she did not want to play “second fiddle.”

Pretty much proves how big her ego has become.


Th
elma puts off a great Easter Egg Hunt every year, but that's about it. She has ridden the wave of popularity to the point of being too big for her own britches as the old cliche goes.

Just think how she could have co-sponsored this bill and how she could have been out front and positive about bringing new alternatives to downtown Nashville tourism and how she could have enamored the pro business and pro tourism people. These people would have possibly thought about sending her donations and thought about her upward movement into higher political positions. But no, her ego got hurt, and she voted against the bill because she was not the sponsor---Who cares how good the museum would have been for the city and our tourists. It's all about Thelma.

The Jack Daniel's Museum in downtown Nashville would be a great addition to our city and would add a great deal of diversity to our tourism offerings. How this can be defeated (as currently proposed) by a dentally challenged state senator who must have a hat closet bigger than my garage is just a sad commentary on her power.

Buried Deep in the Wall Street Jounal on Monday..

....I would link to the site but it's paid and I'm not even a member either.

But there was this article on Monday, April 17th in the print edition which I'm just getting around to posting about, that was entitled "Rumseld's Tight Grip on U. S. Military Appears to be Weakening". It was a front page piece that chronicles the fact that the military brass is definitely up to their necks with the leadership style of Rummy.

In any event, the article continued off the front page and onto page A-10. About 2 paragraphs down, this morsel of information appears, and I'm quoting:

Despite the administration's oft-stated pledge to democratize the Middle East, the military's U. S. Central Command, which oversees troops in the region, has a somewhat different emphasis. It's top priority is to help existing governments in the region beef up their security to provide a "protective shield" against Al Quaeda, officers say. In most cases, that means increasing intelligence-sharing with non-democratic regimes, providing more counter terrorism training and participating in exercises with their militaries. The hope is that once the regimes become more secure, power will slowy devolve to their people.

Also in the Pacific, senior military officers are pushing for more exchanges with the Chinese military, despite contrary urges from Mr. Rumsfeld. Such exchanges were reduced in teh early days of the administration, as Mr. Rumsfeld came into office--as he was determined to pare military to military engagement and to get tough with China.


So, there you have it folks. We have the top military generals working behind the administration's back, and if you believe Tim Russert, we have in effect, a military coup taking shape amongst the leadership. Perhaps he is being overly dramatic. But, I'm telling you the policies of Rummy and I guess ultimately George Bush 43 are not working in the military's eye in terms of "nation building". We cannot build a democratic government in Iraq any more than we can will away Fidel Castro from Cuba. Let the people live the way they want to live, and let the people have a freaking dictator if they want to. But, we can work with most governments, and we can show them ways that they can be secure and ways they can thwart Al Quaeda. We can topple governments if we want to, but we better make damn sure that we know what to do after we topple governments. Saber rattling is good to an extent, but overthowing governments and trying to instill a U. S. type democracy in under 2-3 years or even 10 years is ludicrous.

And the military brass agrees.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Dear Mr. President

Dear President Bush:

I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family,and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.

I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way we do here.

So, would you mind telling President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. All government forms need to be printed in English.

4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.

5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.

7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from President Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.

11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don't enforce any labor laws or tax laws.

13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.

I know this is an easy request because we already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that President Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.

Thank you so much for your kind help.


(NOTE---this was taken from a general e mail I received ---author unknown, but for clarification purposes, I did not write this, but agree with the satire premise)

Thursday, April 13, 2006

The Latest on the (Opry) Mills Corp.

Chron.com | Mills Corp. Gets Default Waivers

From the Houston Chronicle (for some reason).

Looks like the Mills Corp. is working through it's issues, but it seems more and more likely that a sale of the company will be the most probable outcome. The Fidelity Corp. dumped 11 million shares on the market this week, and has completely exited this company from it's mutual funds portfolios.

"Real estate investment trust Mills Corp. said Wednesday its banks agreed to waive defaults through the end of this year, and the company has refinanced the mortgage on one of its outlet malls.

Mills said it is also working to get additional default waivers under construction loans for outlet malls in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Georgia.

The announcement comes as Mills explores a possible sale of the company and faces an investigation into its accounting practices. Mills is also restating several years of earnings."

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Retired US Iraq general (plus this blogger) demands Rumsfeld resign

Retired US Iraq general demands Rumsfeld resign

This article is from Reuter's (above)

I totally agree with the comments below and with the article referenced. We need a fresh start in the Pentagon, and we cannot wait until the next Presidential cycle in 2008. Rumsfeld needs to go. He has failed since the "end of the war" declaration.

He succeeded in toppling Sadam, but after that, he has been a complete failure, as have any and all policies coming out of the Pentagon with respect to rebuilding IRAQ.

We need new leadership, fresh ideas, and a strategy that wins the support of all of the factions in IRAQ, as well as the American people. What is going on now is a farce, because we take 2 steps forward and then 3 steps back. Read this article and these quotes about which, I totally and completely agree.


"He defined success in the war as 'setting the Iraqi people up for self-reliance with their form of representative government that takes into account tribal, ethnic and religious differences that have always defined Iraqi society.'

'Iraqis, frankly, in my experience, do not understand democracy. Nor do they understand their responsibilities for a free society,' Batiste said.

This (above) is the essence of the problem. These people in IRAQ have been exposed to tribal thinking and tribal conflicts for centuries. For a democracy to work, there has to be a common bond, a common ground from which to rise up and to succeed in building a new life together, from which goods and services are produced, then sold, and from which a general respect for one another is acheived.
This is not inherent in the make up of IRAQ society in general. It takes many many years to achieve this, not 2 or 3, but 25-50 or 100 years.

We have to start all over. Rumsfeld did his duty, but it is time for him to go.

Electric Cars coming back

Autopia
(actually, I never knew there were "in" )
Electric Cars on Comeback Trail
Now Playing: Electric Light Orchestra
Topic: Electric Vehicles

A Canadian startup will begin selling electric vehicles in the North America this summer. The FeelGoodCars ZENN is an urban vehicle with a 25 mph maximum speed and range of 30 miles.

The base model of the ZENN will cost under $10K, and is expected to be available in dealerships in many states, according to FeelGoodCars CEO Ian Clifford.
bes.

If Rod Stewart can have a successful comeback, why not EVs? As gas prices continue their inevitable upward churn, plugging in a vehicle with cheap electricity becomes more and more attractive.

Paul Griffin--One of the greatest guys who hates publicity

An iNiche Market FROM TN BUSINESS


"Paul Griffin might have a reason or two to be quiet about his business. Fourteen years ago, the inventor and electrical engineer founded a company in Nashville that made adapters for Apple Macintosh computers, making them work with PC monitors. Since then, the mom-and-pop business, which at some point employed only a handful of people at its Elm Hill Pike warehouse, grew to one of the world’s largest makers of peripheral products for all things Mac.

So why is Paul Griffin shying away from publicity? First off, his business is closely held and sales appear to be going through the roof (to the tune of some $80 million last year, according to people familiar with the company). If the numbers are good, who needs publicity?

Take iPod. Since the portable players were introduced in 2001, Apple Computer has sold 42.2 million of them, barely keeping up with surging demand. Last year alone, iPods accounted for one-third of Apple’s sales. If digital players are hot, their accessories proved to be at least equally attractive to gadget lovers. But Apple makes few accessories on its own, and leaves much of the job to third-party manufacturers and vendors. That’s where Griffin comes in. Some of Griffin’s most popular products, such as AirBase, iTrip and radio Shark, retail in the range of $39.99 and $69.99.

And competition is fierce. In 2004, Griffin sued its former vice president of marketing Andrew Green after he took a job at DLO in a similar role. Green had worked for Griffin between 2002 and 2004, and participated in the design of iTrip, one of Griffin’s most successful products. DLO’s parent Netalog later sued Griffin for patent infringement.

But legal maneuvering is not the only reason Griffin might be disinclined to talk. Independent makers of Apple’s peripheral paraphernalia seem ripe for consolidation, and Paul Griffin and his brain trust at Griffin may just want to fly under the radar, at least for the time being. One Apple analyst, Shaw Wu of California-based American Technology Research, says it’s about time somebody got bought.

With its slick products and robust growth, Griffin Technology certainly presents a tempting target.

(NOTE FROM MO---Paul Griffin still wears jeans to the office, drives an average car, and lives in an average neighborhood. In short, he has not lost his identity in the face of what is- quite staggering success. Paul may be a bit over protective about his success, but he is easily in my book the most succesful business person in Nashville--and could quite literally be a Nashville business celebrity if he so chose to do so. He is a genius and a great guy at the same time. Now, we just need to get him to get interested in philanthropic or big time marketing activities---Perhaps the Griffin Entertainment Center (we could still call it the GEC), or maybe Paul will be solicited now for charitable donations for worthy causes he finds interesting. Whatever happens, it's great to have a new super successful business person in Nashville.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

I hope a Tennessee Fan did not kill Logan Young

Logan Young found dead in his home


This is a bizarre ending to Mr. Young's life. He was the Alabama booster that apparently went to extreme circumstances to help out his alma mater in the recruiting game.

This article is from the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Friday, April 07, 2006

The Rise of the Islamist Axis

Jerusalem Post

"While Western defense establishments have had tepid responses to Iran's show of force, the regime built on its provocations Wednesday when the supreme commander of its Revolutionary Guards, Maj.-Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, issued a thinly veiled threat to close the Straits of Hormuz - the narrow waterway through which 40 percent of the world's oil passes.

Iran's recent financial maneuverings also indicate general preparations for global war. The Swiss newspaper Der Bund reported the Iranian regime recently withdrew $31 billion of its gold reserves and foreign exchange from European financial institutions. Additionally, this week Iran renewed its gasoline rationing for the general public."


There is a great deal of action going on in the Middle East which does not get much coverage in the Main Street Press in America. The fact is that Iran is preparing for war, and they could pretty easily block the Straits of Hormuz--and cut off our oil supply. Gasoline would double in price overnight. Gold would eclipse $1000 per ounce. This is not pie in the sky doomsday talk here---all signals point to a major new confrontation with IRAN in the near term, probably within the next 12-24 months.

About the only thing the media did cover over here was that missle test that IRAN conducted that could sense torpedos and then turn around and blow up ships. But the media did not connect the dots. The reason naval resources are so important for IRAN is precisely because they want to interrupt the flow of oil to America and by doing so, create internal economic chaos. That's just one reason why the Straits of Hormuz are so important, and just one reason why Condi Rice is flying back and forth to the Middle East right now---trying to avert further problems.

Read this article for a sobering view of what the Israeli's think is going on (as if these quotes aren't sobering enough).

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Windows or Mac? Apple Says Both- It's happening--We're going to be forced to use Windows one day

Windows or Mac? Apple Says Both - New York Times

Last year Mr. Jobs stunned the computer world by announcing that he would break away from his alliance with I.B.M. and recreate the Macintosh based on Intel microprocessors. It was the switch to Intel chips, long the standard in the Windows world, that opened the door to Mac-Windows harmony.

Through all of these moves, Mr. Jobs has managed to maintain his loyal base of customers. In fact the Macintosh religion can still be palpably felt among those who have remained loyal to the user-friendly computer even as its market share dipped below 3 percent.

"I love the Mac platform, I just hope I won't have to boot Windows even for Photoshop in a few years," Alexandros Roussos, a student at the University of Paris who is founder and editor of the MacCulture network, a group of Web sites for Macintosh enthusiasts.

Wednesday's move also won an important endorsement from Apple's other co-founder, Stephen G. Wozniak, who long ago left the company but remains a vocal Macintosh user and is idolized by the Mac faithful.

"It's a great thing for Apple," he told a reporter by e-mail. "I don't see the earth being rocked, but I can now recommend Apple hardware to a lot more people. One pitch is that if Windows gets too frustrating and unbearable and unsafe, then they can easily switch."

Okay, maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's a good thing. But I see a train a comin', and the Mac folks seem to have gone Hollywood with the IPOD...They can easily slip into selling hardware for Macs and using the Windows software, and cease development and support of the Mac OS.

Colorado State releases Hurricane Predictions for this summer

2006 Hurricane Season Prediction



"Today's 2006 hurricane forecast from the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University is unchanged from the forecast made in December. Today's report states that 'information obtained through March 2006 continues to indicate that the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season will be much more active than the average 1950-2000 season.'

The project team predicts that 17 named tropical storms and hurricanes will form this upcoming season, which lasts from June through December. In an average year, about 10 storms form in the Atlantic basin; in 2005's record-breaking season, 27 named storms (of which 15 were hurricanes) developed. "

Looks like an active year, but not as bad as last year in basic terms.

Is (Opry) Mills in Trouble?

Mills Cuts 70 Jobs, Trims Building Projects


This story has been developing for several weeks but gets very little press here in Nashville. (I refuse to pay for Nashville Post anymore--something has probably been on that site, but I think their rates are way too high)

The parent company of Opry Mills, the Mills Corp, is under formal investigation by the SEC and that usually means that more announcements and possible setbacks are ahead.

Here's a quote from the Washington Post article:

The cuts, disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing yesterday, bring to more than 160 the number of jobs eliminated since January, when Mills halted work on 10 development projects and admitted accounting errors that will lead it to restate its results for the past five years. Since then, the SEC has launched a formal investigation of the company and Mills has lost billions in market value as doubts have grown about the quality of its accounting.


We've had enough drama out there in the Opryland area in the last 10 years. Let's hope this is nothing but a debits and credits issue and that the company is just in a little bit of a pothole right now.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Couric says she's leaving 'Today' - Television - MSNBC.com

Couric says she's leaving 'Today' Show after 15 years

You can say what you want about Katie Couric, but I've always liked her presence on this show, even though I've never liked her politics. That's probably why she is going to CBS---her true colors are coming out--CBS is a pretty well known haven for those left of left types. None the less, she will add a bit of sparkle to a news cast that no one watches anymore. My other guess is that she is going over there because of the plum assignments she will get to cover, and because she won't have to wake up at 3 am anymore.

I think the quote below is priceless and very true:


"“Sometimes I think change is a good thing,” Couric said. “Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it’s also very exciting to start a new chapter in your life.”

Sunday, April 02, 2006

I don't like Wal Mart

Super Wal Mart that is....As a small indepdendent business person, I see no reason for a store to be this big, or to offer so many different goods or departments under one rooftop. If the idea is to be the cheapest purveyor of goods, all types of goods, from soup to shirts, then I guess they win the battle. I like the idea of fair competition, but these guys take competition to the next level by ordering their vendors over to Bentonville, and whipping them into shape by dictating the costs and the quantities Walton and company is willing to pay. Granted, such vendors don't have to give in or take the business, but they usually do. Suffice to say that this is a degree of capitalism that I don't think the likes of Adam Smith (father of capitalism) envisioned. I am not for intervention or any type of handcuffing of the Wal Mart folks of any type. I understand and realize what Super Wal Mart has become--which is, a totally legal and well within their rights entity that is supported by millions and millions of people. I personally will just not ever buy any Wal Mart stock, will not shop there, and will choose to develop retail relationships that do not involve any of their (store) brands. That's all.

Aviation's future -- pilotless planes - from CNN

CNN.com - Aviation's future -- pilotless planes

Check out this quote from this article----

"They can't see and avoid other aircraft, and they can't respond to air traffic controllers' instructions, Cebula said."

Well, I'll be damned!

Macs Most Rabid Fans

Wired News: Apple Fans Gallery

Another story from "Wired News" I could not pass up. Glad to know that I am just an average Mac fan, and not a "rabid fan". These people put Apple/Mac tatoos all over their bodies (ahem, in decent places you pervert).

Digital TV for Cell Phones in Japan

Wired News: Japan: Digital TV for Cell Phones

So, what's next-- High Definition TV for your cell phone, or how about a nice half inch by half inch plasma screen for your trusty hand held?

It's hard to believe that the Japanese people are watching television shows and movies on their cell phones. A video Ipod is one thing, and I know several people who love these little gadgets, but I just can't get there, or just can't understand how someone could watch an entire show on such a diminutive screen.

There is a real dichotomy right now in the hardware space for entertainment. The big plasma screens or LCD screens have settled down around the 42 inch or even the 60 inch size. Now, there is this news from Japan (plus the video Ipod) that people enjoy watching stuff on these screens about half the size of a business card. I hate to pull out this cliche out right now, but it seems as if size really does not matter after all--something I've been telling my wife for years!