Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt Joins Apple’s Board of Directors
I hope this can be looked upon as a shot over the bow to Microsoft. For a company that spends over $5 billion a year in research and development, Microsoft seems only to be able to come out with products that copy google and apple. I hope this appointment rekindles the old wars between apple and gates and co, oops, ballamer and co.
If Google and Apple can start working together on some serious stuff, and this Board appointment is a long way off from doing any of that, but, if they develop some strong relationships down the road, this could be very interesting indeed.
I'm tired of hearing and reading about the rumors concerning Apple turning their hardware into PC clones with the new Intel chips and working towards powering up the Microsoft OS only on future Macs. Gosh, that would be awful.
I like reading and thinking about this kind of stuff where Jobs still might have a chip on his shoulder for Microsoft, and so, he is aligning himself and the company with people like Schmidt and Google for further anti-MS wars down the road. Let the rumors begin! Luke Skywalker (Apple) will ultimately prevail over Darthvader (Microsoft) !
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Rumsfeld: Terrorist Groups 'Actively Manipulating' U.S. Media
FOXNews.com - Rumsfeld: Terrorist Groups 'Actively Manipulating' the US
In past posts, I have been critical of Rumsfeld, particularly in regards to sending too little troops in the beginning of the Iraq War, and then not having a plan once they got to Baghdad. Additionally, he grossly underestimated the costs associated with the war, once openly marketing the idea that the war would pay for itself through increased oil production from Iraq, and that the people of Baghdad would openly welcome and embrace the U. S. soldiers upon arrival. None of these things have happened, and here we are $500 billion, yes billion later. However, as much as Rumsfeld is a polarizing figure, he is correct in these statement below. The American media is being manipulated day and night by the thugs over there. I became really convinced after Reuter's ran doctored photos of the lebanese dead children supposedly after a bombing raid from Israel. It never happened (haifa). Total manipulation, particularly in the "Drive By" media.
"'The enemy lies constantly — almost totally without consequence,' he told the veterans group, which was presenting him with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award. 'They portray our cause as a war on Islam when in fact the overwhelming majority of victims of their terrorism have been thousands and thousands of innocent Muslims — men, women and children — they have killed.'
In his prepared remarks at Reno he also said, 'While some argue for tossing in the towel, the enemy is waiting and hoping for us to do just that.'
Rumsfeld often complains about what he calls the terrorists' success in persuading Westerners that the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are part of a crusade against Islam. In his remarks at Fallon he did not offer any new examples of media manipulation; he put unusual emphasis, however, on the negative impact it is having on Americans in an era of 24-hour news.
'The enemy is so much better at communicating,' he added. 'I wish we were better at countering that because the constant drumbeat of things they say — all of which are not true — is harmful. It's cumulative. And it does weaken people's will and lessen their determination, and raise questions in their minds as to whether the cost of the war is worth it."
In past posts, I have been critical of Rumsfeld, particularly in regards to sending too little troops in the beginning of the Iraq War, and then not having a plan once they got to Baghdad. Additionally, he grossly underestimated the costs associated with the war, once openly marketing the idea that the war would pay for itself through increased oil production from Iraq, and that the people of Baghdad would openly welcome and embrace the U. S. soldiers upon arrival. None of these things have happened, and here we are $500 billion, yes billion later. However, as much as Rumsfeld is a polarizing figure, he is correct in these statement below. The American media is being manipulated day and night by the thugs over there. I became really convinced after Reuter's ran doctored photos of the lebanese dead children supposedly after a bombing raid from Israel. It never happened (haifa). Total manipulation, particularly in the "Drive By" media.
"'The enemy lies constantly — almost totally without consequence,' he told the veterans group, which was presenting him with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award. 'They portray our cause as a war on Islam when in fact the overwhelming majority of victims of their terrorism have been thousands and thousands of innocent Muslims — men, women and children — they have killed.'
In his prepared remarks at Reno he also said, 'While some argue for tossing in the towel, the enemy is waiting and hoping for us to do just that.'
Rumsfeld often complains about what he calls the terrorists' success in persuading Westerners that the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are part of a crusade against Islam. In his remarks at Fallon he did not offer any new examples of media manipulation; he put unusual emphasis, however, on the negative impact it is having on Americans in an era of 24-hour news.
'The enemy is so much better at communicating,' he added. 'I wish we were better at countering that because the constant drumbeat of things they say — all of which are not true — is harmful. It's cumulative. And it does weaken people's will and lessen their determination, and raise questions in their minds as to whether the cost of the war is worth it."
Monday, August 28, 2006
Hitchens Gives the Finger to Maher's Audience for 'Frivolous' Jeering of Bush | NewsBusters.org
Hitchens Gives the Finger to Maher's Audience for 'Frivolous' Jeering of Bush | NewsBusters.org
I just happened to be channel surfing last night and came upon Bill Maher's first show of the year. Chris Hitchens put it right back in Mr. Smart Arse's face and it was beautiful. A sight to behold. I may not agree with President Bush some of the time, but I certainly cannot stand the acerbic, whiney host of this show. Chris Hitchens has been given a lot of grief for his drunken outbursts in the past, but he was totally right on during the Maher show last night, much to my amusesment. It definitely caught Maher off gaurd. This paritcular episode will be repeated a great deal the next few weeks, so try to catch it. Click the link below or read the text below:
"Writer/author Christopher Hitchens on Friday night gave the finger to the Los Angeles studio audience of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. As he laid out the case for how it's Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who wants World War Three, not George W. Bush, Hitchens cited how Ahmadinejad “says the Messiah is about to come back.”
Maher quipped: "So does George Bush, by the way.” That caused a loud eruption of audience applause and cheering, which led Maher to clarify: “That's not facetious.” The crowd continued to applaud as Hitchens remarked, about those in attendance who had earlier cheered and laughed as Maher called Bush an “idiot” repeatedly: "That's not facetious. Your audience, which will clap at apparently anything, is frivolous.” Loud oohs and groans emanated from the audience, prompting Hitchens to give them the finger as he castigated them, “Fuck you, fuck you,” while the groans continued. (Transcript follows)
Video clip (41 seconds, includes vulgarity): Real (1.2 MB) or Windows Media (1.4 MB), plus MP3 audio (250 KB)
Joining Hitchens (Wikipedia profile, a list of his articles) on the panel, Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival, and former Democratic Senator Max Cleland.
Transcript of the relevant portion of the discussion about Iran on the August 25 season premiere of the weekly HBO show aired live Friday nights at 11pm EDT/10pm CDT:
Christopher Hitchens: “Who wants a Third Word War? The Iranian President says that one member state of the United Nations should be wiped physically from the map with all its people. He says the United States is a Satanic power. Members of his government, named members of his government have been caught sponsoring deaths squads. He's lied, he's lied to the European Union about his nuclear program-”
Bill Maher: “But you know that a lot-”
Hitchens: “He says the Messiah is about to come back. Who's looking for a war here?”
Maher: “So does George Bush, by the way [audience applause]. That's not facetious [audience applause continues].”
Hitchens: “That's not facetious. Your audience, which will clap at apparently anything, is frivolous. [oohs and groans from audience, Hitchens gives them the finger] Fuck you, fuck you. [groans continue]”
Maher: “I was just saying what the President of Iran and the President of America have in common is that they both are a little too comfortable with the idea of the world coming to an end.”
Hitchens: “Cheer yourself up like that. The President has said, quite a great contrast before the podium of the Senate, I think applauded by most present, in his State of the Union address, that we support the democratic movement of the Iranian people to be free of theocracy -- not that we will impose ourselves on them, but that if they fight for it we're on their side. That seems to be the right position to take, jeer all you like.”
UPDATE: This edition of Maher's hour-long show will re-air (schedule page for the program) Sunday at 7pm EDT on HBO 2 East/7pm PDT on HBO 2 West; at 1:05am EDT Sunday night/Monday morning on HBO East/1:05am PDT on HBO West; and at 8pm EDT Monday night on HBO East/8pm PDT on HBO West.
I just happened to be channel surfing last night and came upon Bill Maher's first show of the year. Chris Hitchens put it right back in Mr. Smart Arse's face and it was beautiful. A sight to behold. I may not agree with President Bush some of the time, but I certainly cannot stand the acerbic, whiney host of this show. Chris Hitchens has been given a lot of grief for his drunken outbursts in the past, but he was totally right on during the Maher show last night, much to my amusesment. It definitely caught Maher off gaurd. This paritcular episode will be repeated a great deal the next few weeks, so try to catch it. Click the link below or read the text below:
"Writer/author Christopher Hitchens on Friday night gave the finger to the Los Angeles studio audience of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. As he laid out the case for how it's Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who wants World War Three, not George W. Bush, Hitchens cited how Ahmadinejad “says the Messiah is about to come back.”
Maher quipped: "So does George Bush, by the way.” That caused a loud eruption of audience applause and cheering, which led Maher to clarify: “That's not facetious.” The crowd continued to applaud as Hitchens remarked, about those in attendance who had earlier cheered and laughed as Maher called Bush an “idiot” repeatedly: "That's not facetious. Your audience, which will clap at apparently anything, is frivolous.” Loud oohs and groans emanated from the audience, prompting Hitchens to give them the finger as he castigated them, “Fuck you, fuck you,” while the groans continued. (Transcript follows)
Video clip (41 seconds, includes vulgarity): Real (1.2 MB) or Windows Media (1.4 MB), plus MP3 audio (250 KB)
Joining Hitchens (Wikipedia profile, a list of his articles) on the panel, Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival, and former Democratic Senator Max Cleland.
Transcript of the relevant portion of the discussion about Iran on the August 25 season premiere of the weekly HBO show aired live Friday nights at 11pm EDT/10pm CDT:
Christopher Hitchens: “Who wants a Third Word War? The Iranian President says that one member state of the United Nations should be wiped physically from the map with all its people. He says the United States is a Satanic power. Members of his government, named members of his government have been caught sponsoring deaths squads. He's lied, he's lied to the European Union about his nuclear program-”
Bill Maher: “But you know that a lot-”
Hitchens: “He says the Messiah is about to come back. Who's looking for a war here?”
Maher: “So does George Bush, by the way [audience applause]. That's not facetious [audience applause continues].”
Hitchens: “That's not facetious. Your audience, which will clap at apparently anything, is frivolous. [oohs and groans from audience, Hitchens gives them the finger] Fuck you, fuck you. [groans continue]”
Maher: “I was just saying what the President of Iran and the President of America have in common is that they both are a little too comfortable with the idea of the world coming to an end.”
Hitchens: “Cheer yourself up like that. The President has said, quite a great contrast before the podium of the Senate, I think applauded by most present, in his State of the Union address, that we support the democratic movement of the Iranian people to be free of theocracy -- not that we will impose ourselves on them, but that if they fight for it we're on their side. That seems to be the right position to take, jeer all you like.”
UPDATE: This edition of Maher's hour-long show will re-air (schedule page for the program) Sunday at 7pm EDT on HBO 2 East/7pm PDT on HBO 2 West; at 1:05am EDT Sunday night/Monday morning on HBO East/1:05am PDT on HBO West; and at 8pm EDT Monday night on HBO East/8pm PDT on HBO West.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs
The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs
This is parody and satire at it's best. No one knows the author of this blog, but obviously, it's someone with Apple and Silicon Valley connections. Scott McNealy and Larry Ellison are the targets of the latest posts as well.
I got the link from Rich Karlgard of Digital Rules.
This is parody and satire at it's best. No one knows the author of this blog, but obviously, it's someone with Apple and Silicon Valley connections. Scott McNealy and Larry Ellison are the targets of the latest posts as well.
I got the link from Rich Karlgard of Digital Rules.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Rex Hammock's Weblog From New Orleans
rexblog.com: Rex Hammock's Weblog
This is one of the most compelling, rational, and totally
level headed introspective overviews of post Katrina New Orleans that I have ever read. My hat is off to Rex Hammock. This post could easily be picked up by any national "op-ed" page. Kudos to Rex and his son for this most special post.
"Lamenting and celebrating in New Orleans: I'm in New Orleans with my son today. On Sunday, we spent several hours with a life-long resident of New Orleans visiting the areas of this city that were devastated by the floods of Katrina one year ago. Nothing will capture what we saw. No words. No pictures. No video. No documentaries. Nothing can communicate what has happened to New Orleans. I'll post a few photos and some video and write a few paragraphs, but, frankly, there's little I can do to add to the comprehension of what Katrina did one year ago -- and what has taken place since.
Like I wrote in March after my son and I spent a couple of days doing volunteer construction work on the Mississippi gulf coast, the scale of the devastation is incomprehensible. The statistics of relief efforts and volunteer support are enormous -- perhaps unprecedented -- but when viewed in the context of the devastation and need, all that has been done seems like a spit in the ocean compared to all that remaining to be done.
In New Orleans, lamenting and celebrating have always been paired. Even in the Where magazine sitting in my Hotel Room, New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis, who is leading a part of the recovery efforts, has this quote about why the ironic word 'celebration' is being used to describe many of the one-year anniversary events taking place over the comng days: "In New Orleans, lamenting is a form of celebrating. With our funerals we lament, and then celebrate. Many times when you get stripped down, you get a chance to see just who you really are. And in the most painful times, that's when it's time to celebrate and rise up even stronger.
I'm in New Orleans as a guest of a magazine publisher, Romney Richard, who I did not know this time last year. But, for several months throughout the fall and winter, my colleagues and I at Hammock Publishing pitched in to help Romney and her small staff publish their magazine, Louisiana Cookin'. Romney and her staff lived close to one another, but after the flood, they found themselves in five states. Their homes were flooded and their lives turned upside down. I couldn't begin to imagine what they were going through, but I knew that the folks who work with me at Hammock Publishing could help them coordinate putting out a magazine -- it's what we do. When I talked with Romney the first time, it was a couple of weeks after Katrina and she and her husband were living in an RV at a relative's home in Baton Rouge. She was in shock and dealing with so many issues, her magazine seemed the least of her problems. But I could only think of was another small publisher (like us) with a few employees who needed a little back-up -- frankly, they were all eager to do their jobs: writing, designing, holding together a means for their advertisers -- the great restaurants in this region of great restaurants -- to continue reaching readers who love the various cuisines of Louisiana. We enjoyed helping them out on some technical, administrative and marketing ideas.
Tonight (Monday), my son and I -- along with Hammock Publishing's John Lavey and his wife -- are Romney's guests at an annual benefit dinner Louisiana Cookin' sponsors to honor five up-and-coming regional chefs and to benefit a wonderful restaurant and training program for future New Orleans chefs, Cafe Reconcile. It is a celebration of the chefs who have returned to New Orleans, as well. For the local, chef-owned restaurants have been the first to display their commitment to rebuilding their businesses and their lives and the life of this community.
Yesterday, Romney drove us around New Orleans -- through all of those communities and neighborhoods we've heard about this past year. There is no way one can drive around this city without being angry. Or stunned. Or inspired. Or confused. In the end, it's overwhelming to drive the breadth of the area flooded and to see the extreme nature of the destruction.
A lot of the debris has been cleared -- the one thing FEMA gets praised for -- so in some ways, the scene is moving away from one appearing like the aftermath of a nuclear bomb and more like one from the aftermath of neutron bomb, where all the buildings are left standing (or leaning) and the people are gone. And while I have gotten the impression from TV coverage that the devastation was mainly concentrated in inner-city low-lying areas, a three-hour drive around town convinced me that "poverty" and "low-lying" may be synonymous but in New Orleans, "middle-class" and "low-lying" are also synonymous and "upper-class" and "low-lying" are also synonymous. Katrina was a an equal-opportunity disaster that wiped out massive neighborhoods of all races and economic stratas.
Lamenting and celebrating are part of the same in New Orleans. I was in a restaurant last night with my son, one of my favorite restaurants in this city of world-class restaurants. The restaurant is one of those favored by characters out of Faulkner wearing seersucker suits and discussing how many cigars in a box one should expect to draw well (that actual conversation was taking place at the table next to me). It was a Sunday night at six p.m. but the restaurant was filled with different groups of celebrants. I say celebrants, because they were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and reunions of one sort or another.
I overhead enough of the conversations around me, however, to realize that a lot of lamenting was going on, as well, as people were discussing their living in temporary quarters, or they had traveled back to New Orleans from some place they had been for months. But for this evening, they were smiling in this one-hundred-year-old restaurant with waiters they recognized and food that is familiar.
I am but a visitor to New Orleans. It is a foreign land to me, so I do not know enough to comprehend whether the pervasive celebratory nature of the place -- the charm and aura of the place -- has always been based on denial or innocence: Denial that one day it would all be under water; or the innocence that comes from believing some power, divine or governmental, would keep the water out.
It's hard to be here for more than a few minutes and not feel like some individual or divinity needs to be blamed. The locals I’ve talked with most universally blame the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Government. I'm happy to join in with the chorus of those who blame the ineptitude of leaders at all levels of government, from George Bush down. Or the mayor or dogcatcher, for that matter. However, at the end of the day, when all guilty parties are blamed, all punishment has been parceled out, what will be left? Innocence? The belief that a city built below sea level will not flood again? Denial? Acceptance? In the end, everything related to Katrina will be up for debate by historians centuries from now.
I can't begin to comprehend what I see now.
I do know this: I will look for any opportunity to travel to New Orleans and to do business or to have fun here and in the gulf-coast area. I love the people, the culture, the food, the spirit. I want to support the economy. I want to do my very little part by sticking one little finger in the dike.
But this is a place where lamenting will continue for a long, long time.
This is one of the most compelling, rational, and totally
level headed introspective overviews of post Katrina New Orleans that I have ever read. My hat is off to Rex Hammock. This post could easily be picked up by any national "op-ed" page. Kudos to Rex and his son for this most special post.
"Lamenting and celebrating in New Orleans: I'm in New Orleans with my son today. On Sunday, we spent several hours with a life-long resident of New Orleans visiting the areas of this city that were devastated by the floods of Katrina one year ago. Nothing will capture what we saw. No words. No pictures. No video. No documentaries. Nothing can communicate what has happened to New Orleans. I'll post a few photos and some video and write a few paragraphs, but, frankly, there's little I can do to add to the comprehension of what Katrina did one year ago -- and what has taken place since.
Like I wrote in March after my son and I spent a couple of days doing volunteer construction work on the Mississippi gulf coast, the scale of the devastation is incomprehensible. The statistics of relief efforts and volunteer support are enormous -- perhaps unprecedented -- but when viewed in the context of the devastation and need, all that has been done seems like a spit in the ocean compared to all that remaining to be done.
In New Orleans, lamenting and celebrating have always been paired. Even in the Where magazine sitting in my Hotel Room, New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis, who is leading a part of the recovery efforts, has this quote about why the ironic word 'celebration' is being used to describe many of the one-year anniversary events taking place over the comng days: "In New Orleans, lamenting is a form of celebrating. With our funerals we lament, and then celebrate. Many times when you get stripped down, you get a chance to see just who you really are. And in the most painful times, that's when it's time to celebrate and rise up even stronger.
I'm in New Orleans as a guest of a magazine publisher, Romney Richard, who I did not know this time last year. But, for several months throughout the fall and winter, my colleagues and I at Hammock Publishing pitched in to help Romney and her small staff publish their magazine, Louisiana Cookin'. Romney and her staff lived close to one another, but after the flood, they found themselves in five states. Their homes were flooded and their lives turned upside down. I couldn't begin to imagine what they were going through, but I knew that the folks who work with me at Hammock Publishing could help them coordinate putting out a magazine -- it's what we do. When I talked with Romney the first time, it was a couple of weeks after Katrina and she and her husband were living in an RV at a relative's home in Baton Rouge. She was in shock and dealing with so many issues, her magazine seemed the least of her problems. But I could only think of was another small publisher (like us) with a few employees who needed a little back-up -- frankly, they were all eager to do their jobs: writing, designing, holding together a means for their advertisers -- the great restaurants in this region of great restaurants -- to continue reaching readers who love the various cuisines of Louisiana. We enjoyed helping them out on some technical, administrative and marketing ideas.
Tonight (Monday), my son and I -- along with Hammock Publishing's John Lavey and his wife -- are Romney's guests at an annual benefit dinner Louisiana Cookin' sponsors to honor five up-and-coming regional chefs and to benefit a wonderful restaurant and training program for future New Orleans chefs, Cafe Reconcile. It is a celebration of the chefs who have returned to New Orleans, as well. For the local, chef-owned restaurants have been the first to display their commitment to rebuilding their businesses and their lives and the life of this community.
Yesterday, Romney drove us around New Orleans -- through all of those communities and neighborhoods we've heard about this past year. There is no way one can drive around this city without being angry. Or stunned. Or inspired. Or confused. In the end, it's overwhelming to drive the breadth of the area flooded and to see the extreme nature of the destruction.
A lot of the debris has been cleared -- the one thing FEMA gets praised for -- so in some ways, the scene is moving away from one appearing like the aftermath of a nuclear bomb and more like one from the aftermath of neutron bomb, where all the buildings are left standing (or leaning) and the people are gone. And while I have gotten the impression from TV coverage that the devastation was mainly concentrated in inner-city low-lying areas, a three-hour drive around town convinced me that "poverty" and "low-lying" may be synonymous but in New Orleans, "middle-class" and "low-lying" are also synonymous and "upper-class" and "low-lying" are also synonymous. Katrina was a an equal-opportunity disaster that wiped out massive neighborhoods of all races and economic stratas.
Lamenting and celebrating are part of the same in New Orleans. I was in a restaurant last night with my son, one of my favorite restaurants in this city of world-class restaurants. The restaurant is one of those favored by characters out of Faulkner wearing seersucker suits and discussing how many cigars in a box one should expect to draw well (that actual conversation was taking place at the table next to me). It was a Sunday night at six p.m. but the restaurant was filled with different groups of celebrants. I say celebrants, because they were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and reunions of one sort or another.
I overhead enough of the conversations around me, however, to realize that a lot of lamenting was going on, as well, as people were discussing their living in temporary quarters, or they had traveled back to New Orleans from some place they had been for months. But for this evening, they were smiling in this one-hundred-year-old restaurant with waiters they recognized and food that is familiar.
I am but a visitor to New Orleans. It is a foreign land to me, so I do not know enough to comprehend whether the pervasive celebratory nature of the place -- the charm and aura of the place -- has always been based on denial or innocence: Denial that one day it would all be under water; or the innocence that comes from believing some power, divine or governmental, would keep the water out.
It's hard to be here for more than a few minutes and not feel like some individual or divinity needs to be blamed. The locals I’ve talked with most universally blame the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Government. I'm happy to join in with the chorus of those who blame the ineptitude of leaders at all levels of government, from George Bush down. Or the mayor or dogcatcher, for that matter. However, at the end of the day, when all guilty parties are blamed, all punishment has been parceled out, what will be left? Innocence? The belief that a city built below sea level will not flood again? Denial? Acceptance? In the end, everything related to Katrina will be up for debate by historians centuries from now.
I can't begin to comprehend what I see now.
I do know this: I will look for any opportunity to travel to New Orleans and to do business or to have fun here and in the gulf-coast area. I love the people, the culture, the food, the spirit. I want to support the economy. I want to do my very little part by sticking one little finger in the dike.
But this is a place where lamenting will continue for a long, long time.
I bought a Hybrid Car
Those few of you who check this blog from time to time know that I post fairly often about the energy crisis and my long held belief belief that high oil prices are here to stay (nothing too far fetched now that August 2006 is here), and that our country is in a transition when it comes to efficient transportation of people, goods, and services.
There are hundreds of start up ventures raising millions of dollars in "grain-fed" states that are convinced that corn, grain, and grass are the next big thing when it comes to powering our need for motorized vehicles. Personally, I believe they are correct, but I don't have any idea which entity will succeed. President Bush is content on letting the private markets figure it out, but it sure would be nice if the federal government dumped billions of dollars into alternative energy development instead of billions of dollars into regime changes. But that is another topic altogether since the headline for this post is "I bought a Hybrid".
So, I bought a Hybrid. Why? Because, it is going to take 10-25 years for whatever the capitalists (whom I applaud) are working on now--to get their products to market. The best technology now is to buy a Hybrid car from the foreigners, not the domestic auto makers. The domestic hybrids are a joke. They are first generation hybrid cars, they are slow, and they are based upon 20 year old technology.
My new 2007 Lexus GS 450 H is a 4th generation hybrid and combines the efficiency of a 4 cylinder engine with the power of an 8 cylinder engine. It is awesomely cool. Completely the coolest car I have ever had in my life. Plus, it's on the cutting edge. Usually, I wait for cutting edge stuff to wean itself into being more mainstream, but this time, I couldn't wait. Not meaning to sound overly pompous, but this car gets 30 MPGs, and can go from 0-60 in about 5 seconds. Plus, it surpasses the California standards for minimal air pollution, and as the brochure says, my car gives more to the driver, and takes less from the world.
And forget about plugging in the electric motors into receptacles to "recharge". It recharges itself through recycling the energy created from braking, along with a 3rd electric motor that continually recycles energy from the hybrid motors and the gas engine. This car completely blows me away.
Okay, a little bit of negative stuff just to keep this post "balanced". Because of the 6 hybrid batteries (oh yeah, they have a 100K mile warranty top to bottom), they have to go somwhere. They go behind the back seat, which, accordingly, takes away from the trunk space fairly dramatically. I can barely get a set of golf clubs in my trunk. We won't be taking this car on any family vacations. Plus there is no "ski" pass through from the back seat, which is where I would normally stash my umbrella or related paraphalia so as not to junk up the back seat.
Minor inconveniences for such a fast, fuel efficient and cool car. Forgot to mention this--under 20 miles per hour, the engine never comes on--the car is powered by the hybrids and the electric motors--it's like driving a very cushy golf cart in traffic and down the road----you can't even hear the gasoline engine when it effortlessly turns on and off to support the hybrids and the electric motor, depending on the situation....all in an effort to be as efficient as possible and to use as LITTLE gasoline as possible.
I heartily recommend any hybrid car from Lexus OR Toyota. No wonder this company will soon be the biggest and best car manufacturer in the world. I'm all for American companies, but our Detroit guys have had their fingers in their ears way too long in the name of short term profits, pension plans, and union bull hockey.
There are hundreds of start up ventures raising millions of dollars in "grain-fed" states that are convinced that corn, grain, and grass are the next big thing when it comes to powering our need for motorized vehicles. Personally, I believe they are correct, but I don't have any idea which entity will succeed. President Bush is content on letting the private markets figure it out, but it sure would be nice if the federal government dumped billions of dollars into alternative energy development instead of billions of dollars into regime changes. But that is another topic altogether since the headline for this post is "I bought a Hybrid".
So, I bought a Hybrid. Why? Because, it is going to take 10-25 years for whatever the capitalists (whom I applaud) are working on now--to get their products to market. The best technology now is to buy a Hybrid car from the foreigners, not the domestic auto makers. The domestic hybrids are a joke. They are first generation hybrid cars, they are slow, and they are based upon 20 year old technology.
My new 2007 Lexus GS 450 H is a 4th generation hybrid and combines the efficiency of a 4 cylinder engine with the power of an 8 cylinder engine. It is awesomely cool. Completely the coolest car I have ever had in my life. Plus, it's on the cutting edge. Usually, I wait for cutting edge stuff to wean itself into being more mainstream, but this time, I couldn't wait. Not meaning to sound overly pompous, but this car gets 30 MPGs, and can go from 0-60 in about 5 seconds. Plus, it surpasses the California standards for minimal air pollution, and as the brochure says, my car gives more to the driver, and takes less from the world.
And forget about plugging in the electric motors into receptacles to "recharge". It recharges itself through recycling the energy created from braking, along with a 3rd electric motor that continually recycles energy from the hybrid motors and the gas engine. This car completely blows me away.
Okay, a little bit of negative stuff just to keep this post "balanced". Because of the 6 hybrid batteries (oh yeah, they have a 100K mile warranty top to bottom), they have to go somwhere. They go behind the back seat, which, accordingly, takes away from the trunk space fairly dramatically. I can barely get a set of golf clubs in my trunk. We won't be taking this car on any family vacations. Plus there is no "ski" pass through from the back seat, which is where I would normally stash my umbrella or related paraphalia so as not to junk up the back seat.
Minor inconveniences for such a fast, fuel efficient and cool car. Forgot to mention this--under 20 miles per hour, the engine never comes on--the car is powered by the hybrids and the electric motors--it's like driving a very cushy golf cart in traffic and down the road----you can't even hear the gasoline engine when it effortlessly turns on and off to support the hybrids and the electric motor, depending on the situation....all in an effort to be as efficient as possible and to use as LITTLE gasoline as possible.
I heartily recommend any hybrid car from Lexus OR Toyota. No wonder this company will soon be the biggest and best car manufacturer in the world. I'm all for American companies, but our Detroit guys have had their fingers in their ears way too long in the name of short term profits, pension plans, and union bull hockey.
Ten reasons we're past the tipping point on economic disaster - MarketWatch
Ten reasons we're past the tipping point on economic disaster - Paul Farrell on Marketwatch.com
I like this columnist a great deal (Paul Farrell), but he quotes a guy named Gary Shilling, who is a long term columnist for Forbes Magazine, a pub of which I've been a subscriber for over 20 years. Shilling is always a negative twerp, always cautioning, always signaling the latest pothole or the latest "threat" that he sees. On the other hand, Paul Farrell is usually pretty pragmatic, and has the ability of cutting through the crap and giving his opinion without a great deal of complexity. In any event, if Farrell is quoting Shilling, as he does in the referenced article (and I'll quote the 10 reasons below) Farrell must likewise be concerned about a major slowdown in the economy.
I particularly agree with number 10 below, in which, the Federal deficit is grossly understated. I don't know what has happened to Bush and Co, and why he is spending, spending, spending, but I can tell you this--the 2006 Congress is LIGHT YEARS away from the 1994 Congress that was elected on the concepts of spending control and balanced budgets. The Republicans have sold out to the politics of being re-elected and that is so sad.
"My filing cabinets are bulging with all kinds of early-warning signals screaming that we've passed the tipping point. A few are deafening: One by the CEO of Countrywide Mortgage. Another by the CEO of Toll Bros. Then hedge fund losses drove us to pull together a total of 10 warnings that signal the popping of the bubble and the start of a recession and a bear market.
1. Mortgage lender: 'Never seen a soft landing'
When a CEO like Countrywide's Angelo Mozilo speaks, his message is far more important than all the happy talk coming out of Washington and Wall Street: "I've never seen a soft-landing in 53 years, so we have a ways to go before this levels out. I have to prepare the company for the worst that can happen." Investors better prepare too.
2. Housing warns of sustained downturn
Robert Toll, CEO of luxury home builder Toll Brothers reports dramatically declining sales and revenue. Toll says the slowdown "will last for at least six months more, it may last for two years more. We don't know." Reminds us of the 2000-2002 recession.
3. Hedge fund losers the past two months
Hedge funds have been in the news a lot since topping the $1 trillion mark in assets. This unregulated industry is a loose cannon. They've become the new dot-coms now that most retail markets are so volatile and flat, forcing portfolio managers and investors to look for alternatives to the $9 trillion mutual fund market. As a result, hedge funds are chasing anything that hints of higher returns.
For example, the main data tracker, the Hennessey Group, just announced that hedge funds have underperformed the S&P 500 for the second straight month. Other warnings have all been reported in the news lately, screaming risk, risk, risk! Flashing like neon signs on the Vegas Strip:
* Congress is giving hedge funds more access to pension fund money.
* In spite of underfunding due to past errors, corporate and state pension funds are now betting more on riskier hedge-fund deals to increase returns.
* The success of Yale and Harvard has inspired small-college endowment funds to start betting on similar risky hedging games.
* The lure of huge, fast profits for hedge-fund managers has young inexperienced college grads jumping into the business and getting backers.
* Retail mutual funds are asking shareholders for permission to engage in more aggressive hedging strategies, like short-selling and derivative trading.
* Like hedge funds, private-equity funds are now signaling a top; too much new capital is forcing them to chases fewer, riskier deals.
* After a record year, IPOs, a hedge fund competitor for new capital, are also topping as many deals are falling below issue prices.
And get this, hedge funds have been making big bets on Hollywood movies, using sophisticated programs to pick winners. This sounds like a sequel to the 1998 LTCM disaster; call it "Déjà vu Dot-coms!
"
4. Rentals squeezing ARM borrowers
The cost of renting in Los Angeles is up 88% the past decade according to Realfacts. Santa Monica is up 279%. Potential buyers can't buy so they rent. And owners can't sell to recoup the high costs they paid in the recent bubble, so they're renting out. But they can't make enough to make their mortgage payments.
USA Today estimates that nationwide median mortgage payments are $1,687 while rents are only $868. So now all the cheap money that sucked buyers into ARMs is putting the big squeeze on everybody, owners, renters and lenders, further driving inflation.
5. Inflation hits pickup truck sales
As new construction falls and gas prices skyrocket, pickup truck sales have been falling dramatically. So now, as Americans buy fuel-efficient Asian imports, the Big Three is paying a heavy price for relying too much on profits from gas-guzzlers. No wonder Toyota is now bigger than Ford, may soon pass GM.
6. Corrosive domestic oil policies
Free market? Or surreal? Since 2000 America's energy policies have been made in secret. Last year oil executives didn't have to testify in Congress under oath. This year as gasoline prices skyrocket, so do oil company profits and their executives compensation. So when we recently saw the Alaskan oil fields shut down because pipelines are physically corroded, the symbolism was obvious; America's energy policy is as corroded and corrupt as the oil companies poorly maintained pipes and their executives thinking.
7. Markets 'unfazed' by terror threats
The day after the recent bomb threat against 10 commercial aircraft traveling from Britain to the U.S., headlines read: "Markets unfazed!" Read that "oblivious." Yes, we all know that historically markets are resilient after major crises. But this lack of response reminds me of the happy talk during the 2000-2002 period when delusional bulls grabbed any excuse to deny America's long and painful freefall into a bear recession.
8. Main Street investor sentiment dropping
The gap between the top and bottom of America's economic classes is rapidly widening. Our "ownership society," a small group of investors that control over two-thirds of the stock market may be "unfazed." But the truth is, the incomes of America's middle class have been level, while inflation has been eating away at the incomes of minimum-wage workers. Most Americans aren't party to the drama played at the Wall Street casino, while insiders, corporate CEOs and Congress have all enjoyed substantial increases in personal income the past decade.
9. War costs accelerating
In spite of all the hype about controlling the insurgency, violence is increasing. Iraq can't stand up, so we can't stand down. We're trapped in a no-win, no-exit conflict, policing a civil war. And unfortunately America's domestic partisan politics is creating inflexible strategies that are draining huge resources: The Iraq and Afghan wars are now estimated to top $1.27 trillion amid mounting Middle East tensions and rising domestic terror threats, while a depleted military is unprepared for another major war.
10. Federal deficits grossly understated
Our government spending is totally out of control, no fiscal restraint, no legislative oversight and Enron-style accounting that disguises how bad things are. USA Today says federal deficits reported as $318 billion would actually be $760 billion if standard corporate accounting rules were used. And if we were honest and accounted for Social Security and Medicare costs, the deficit would be $3.5 trillion, 10 times what we're led to believe. Lay and Skilling were rank amateurs.
Bottom line: All these signals tell us the tipping point was crossed, the bubble has popped and we are heading into another bear market and recession.
I like this columnist a great deal (Paul Farrell), but he quotes a guy named Gary Shilling, who is a long term columnist for Forbes Magazine, a pub of which I've been a subscriber for over 20 years. Shilling is always a negative twerp, always cautioning, always signaling the latest pothole or the latest "threat" that he sees. On the other hand, Paul Farrell is usually pretty pragmatic, and has the ability of cutting through the crap and giving his opinion without a great deal of complexity. In any event, if Farrell is quoting Shilling, as he does in the referenced article (and I'll quote the 10 reasons below) Farrell must likewise be concerned about a major slowdown in the economy.
I particularly agree with number 10 below, in which, the Federal deficit is grossly understated. I don't know what has happened to Bush and Co, and why he is spending, spending, spending, but I can tell you this--the 2006 Congress is LIGHT YEARS away from the 1994 Congress that was elected on the concepts of spending control and balanced budgets. The Republicans have sold out to the politics of being re-elected and that is so sad.
"My filing cabinets are bulging with all kinds of early-warning signals screaming that we've passed the tipping point. A few are deafening: One by the CEO of Countrywide Mortgage. Another by the CEO of Toll Bros. Then hedge fund losses drove us to pull together a total of 10 warnings that signal the popping of the bubble and the start of a recession and a bear market.
1. Mortgage lender: 'Never seen a soft landing'
When a CEO like Countrywide's Angelo Mozilo speaks, his message is far more important than all the happy talk coming out of Washington and Wall Street: "I've never seen a soft-landing in 53 years, so we have a ways to go before this levels out. I have to prepare the company for the worst that can happen." Investors better prepare too.
2. Housing warns of sustained downturn
Robert Toll, CEO of luxury home builder Toll Brothers reports dramatically declining sales and revenue. Toll says the slowdown "will last for at least six months more, it may last for two years more. We don't know." Reminds us of the 2000-2002 recession.
3. Hedge fund losers the past two months
Hedge funds have been in the news a lot since topping the $1 trillion mark in assets. This unregulated industry is a loose cannon. They've become the new dot-coms now that most retail markets are so volatile and flat, forcing portfolio managers and investors to look for alternatives to the $9 trillion mutual fund market. As a result, hedge funds are chasing anything that hints of higher returns.
For example, the main data tracker, the Hennessey Group, just announced that hedge funds have underperformed the S&P 500 for the second straight month. Other warnings have all been reported in the news lately, screaming risk, risk, risk! Flashing like neon signs on the Vegas Strip:
* Congress is giving hedge funds more access to pension fund money.
* In spite of underfunding due to past errors, corporate and state pension funds are now betting more on riskier hedge-fund deals to increase returns.
* The success of Yale and Harvard has inspired small-college endowment funds to start betting on similar risky hedging games.
* The lure of huge, fast profits for hedge-fund managers has young inexperienced college grads jumping into the business and getting backers.
* Retail mutual funds are asking shareholders for permission to engage in more aggressive hedging strategies, like short-selling and derivative trading.
* Like hedge funds, private-equity funds are now signaling a top; too much new capital is forcing them to chases fewer, riskier deals.
* After a record year, IPOs, a hedge fund competitor for new capital, are also topping as many deals are falling below issue prices.
And get this, hedge funds have been making big bets on Hollywood movies, using sophisticated programs to pick winners. This sounds like a sequel to the 1998 LTCM disaster; call it "Déjà vu Dot-coms!
"
4. Rentals squeezing ARM borrowers
The cost of renting in Los Angeles is up 88% the past decade according to Realfacts. Santa Monica is up 279%. Potential buyers can't buy so they rent. And owners can't sell to recoup the high costs they paid in the recent bubble, so they're renting out. But they can't make enough to make their mortgage payments.
USA Today estimates that nationwide median mortgage payments are $1,687 while rents are only $868. So now all the cheap money that sucked buyers into ARMs is putting the big squeeze on everybody, owners, renters and lenders, further driving inflation.
5. Inflation hits pickup truck sales
As new construction falls and gas prices skyrocket, pickup truck sales have been falling dramatically. So now, as Americans buy fuel-efficient Asian imports, the Big Three is paying a heavy price for relying too much on profits from gas-guzzlers. No wonder Toyota is now bigger than Ford, may soon pass GM.
6. Corrosive domestic oil policies
Free market? Or surreal? Since 2000 America's energy policies have been made in secret. Last year oil executives didn't have to testify in Congress under oath. This year as gasoline prices skyrocket, so do oil company profits and their executives compensation. So when we recently saw the Alaskan oil fields shut down because pipelines are physically corroded, the symbolism was obvious; America's energy policy is as corroded and corrupt as the oil companies poorly maintained pipes and their executives thinking.
7. Markets 'unfazed' by terror threats
The day after the recent bomb threat against 10 commercial aircraft traveling from Britain to the U.S., headlines read: "Markets unfazed!" Read that "oblivious." Yes, we all know that historically markets are resilient after major crises. But this lack of response reminds me of the happy talk during the 2000-2002 period when delusional bulls grabbed any excuse to deny America's long and painful freefall into a bear recession.
8. Main Street investor sentiment dropping
The gap between the top and bottom of America's economic classes is rapidly widening. Our "ownership society," a small group of investors that control over two-thirds of the stock market may be "unfazed." But the truth is, the incomes of America's middle class have been level, while inflation has been eating away at the incomes of minimum-wage workers. Most Americans aren't party to the drama played at the Wall Street casino, while insiders, corporate CEOs and Congress have all enjoyed substantial increases in personal income the past decade.
9. War costs accelerating
In spite of all the hype about controlling the insurgency, violence is increasing. Iraq can't stand up, so we can't stand down. We're trapped in a no-win, no-exit conflict, policing a civil war. And unfortunately America's domestic partisan politics is creating inflexible strategies that are draining huge resources: The Iraq and Afghan wars are now estimated to top $1.27 trillion amid mounting Middle East tensions and rising domestic terror threats, while a depleted military is unprepared for another major war.
10. Federal deficits grossly understated
Our government spending is totally out of control, no fiscal restraint, no legislative oversight and Enron-style accounting that disguises how bad things are. USA Today says federal deficits reported as $318 billion would actually be $760 billion if standard corporate accounting rules were used. And if we were honest and accounted for Social Security and Medicare costs, the deficit would be $3.5 trillion, 10 times what we're led to believe. Lay and Skilling were rank amateurs.
Bottom line: All these signals tell us the tipping point was crossed, the bubble has popped and we are heading into another bear market and recession.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Optmism Vanishes In K-Town
John Pennington on the Vols From GoVols.com
John Pennington finally posts his reviews from the scrimmage last Saturday night in Knoxville. You've probably read some of this already, so this post is kind of late, but it's still worth reading.
Here are the highlights after Pennington watched the entire scrimmage on tape:
"1. Inconsistent play from the quarterback (one minute, Erik Ainge would throw a perfect dart... the next he would float a spinning duck).
2. Shaky decision-making from the quarterback (tell me if you've seen this one before, Ainge is pressured deep in his own end of the field and throws up a duck that SHOULD have been easily picked off at the 10 yard line).
3. Failure to take care of the football (on back-to-back runs David Yancey and Arian Foster negated good runs with fumbles... also, the quarterbacks behind Ainge bobbled at least 5 snaps).
4. Not knowing what to do (the Vols had practiced for a week, they had put in the 'new' offense, their quarterback now understood the offense, so when they step to the line to run the very first play of the scrimmage they... call time-out. And then they call another one just a couple of plays later).
These aren't the 'defense being ahead of the offense' problems that are to be expected at this time of the year. These are the same problems that plagued last year's offense. They're the bad decisions and 'failure to protect the ball' issues that turned possible victories over Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama into defeats.
Hey, 8-3 would have looked better than 5-6 wouldn't it?
All of this isn't to say that the Vols are a wreck. They have plenty of time to fix things. But, going into the CAl game, things could get pretty tense".
John Pennington finally posts his reviews from the scrimmage last Saturday night in Knoxville. You've probably read some of this already, so this post is kind of late, but it's still worth reading.
Here are the highlights after Pennington watched the entire scrimmage on tape:
"1. Inconsistent play from the quarterback (one minute, Erik Ainge would throw a perfect dart... the next he would float a spinning duck).
2. Shaky decision-making from the quarterback (tell me if you've seen this one before, Ainge is pressured deep in his own end of the field and throws up a duck that SHOULD have been easily picked off at the 10 yard line).
3. Failure to take care of the football (on back-to-back runs David Yancey and Arian Foster negated good runs with fumbles... also, the quarterbacks behind Ainge bobbled at least 5 snaps).
4. Not knowing what to do (the Vols had practiced for a week, they had put in the 'new' offense, their quarterback now understood the offense, so when they step to the line to run the very first play of the scrimmage they... call time-out. And then they call another one just a couple of plays later).
These aren't the 'defense being ahead of the offense' problems that are to be expected at this time of the year. These are the same problems that plagued last year's offense. They're the bad decisions and 'failure to protect the ball' issues that turned possible victories over Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama into defeats.
Hey, 8-3 would have looked better than 5-6 wouldn't it?
All of this isn't to say that the Vols are a wreck. They have plenty of time to fix things. But, going into the CAl game, things could get pretty tense".
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Healing Iraq ( an Iraqi blog)
Healing Iraq
This is from a decent Iraqi Blogger, Zeyad. The name of his blog is Healing Iraq. As most affluent Iraqi's have done, Zeyad has fled to Amman to wait out the war and the constant infighting or insurgent fighting in Baghdad. He offers his comments on the state of blogging in general, and if you are a regular reader of this blog, as am I, you get the feeling that he in enjoying his stay in Amman, although he cannot get a permanent Visa yet. He talks about the intolerable conditions in Baghdad in previous posts.
"Dave Sifry, CEO and founder of Technorati (the ultimate weblog tracking portal), offers another timely report on the present state of the blogosphere. Key findings: Technorati tracked its 50th millionth blog two weeks ago; the blogosphere is steadily doubling in size every 6 m"onths or so; and the blogosphere is more than 100 times larger than it was 3 years ago.
Blogs never fail to fascinate me.
I was telling the Iraqi bloggers in Amman yesterday that a majority of Internet users (an estimated billion people) would soon have blogs, just as it’s given now that they all own personal email accounts.
We also discussed where the Iraqi blogosphere stands in the midst of these developments. Iraq Blog Count lately counted its 212th Iraqi blog, which can be somewhat impressive, given that there were only 4 Iraqi blogs before October 2003, just before the launch of the second wave of Iraqi bloggers, which added exponentially to the growth of the Iraqi blogosphere.
But still, looking at Sifry’s data, one cannot help but wonder: is that all we can offer to the blogosphere? 212 Iraqi blogs?
More on this later.
This is from a decent Iraqi Blogger, Zeyad. The name of his blog is Healing Iraq. As most affluent Iraqi's have done, Zeyad has fled to Amman to wait out the war and the constant infighting or insurgent fighting in Baghdad. He offers his comments on the state of blogging in general, and if you are a regular reader of this blog, as am I, you get the feeling that he in enjoying his stay in Amman, although he cannot get a permanent Visa yet. He talks about the intolerable conditions in Baghdad in previous posts.
"Dave Sifry, CEO and founder of Technorati (the ultimate weblog tracking portal), offers another timely report on the present state of the blogosphere. Key findings: Technorati tracked its 50th millionth blog two weeks ago; the blogosphere is steadily doubling in size every 6 m"onths or so; and the blogosphere is more than 100 times larger than it was 3 years ago.
Blogs never fail to fascinate me.
I was telling the Iraqi bloggers in Amman yesterday that a majority of Internet users (an estimated billion people) would soon have blogs, just as it’s given now that they all own personal email accounts.
We also discussed where the Iraqi blogosphere stands in the midst of these developments. Iraq Blog Count lately counted its 212th Iraqi blog, which can be somewhat impressive, given that there were only 4 Iraqi blogs before October 2003, just before the launch of the second wave of Iraqi bloggers, which added exponentially to the growth of the Iraqi blogosphere.
But still, looking at Sifry’s data, one cannot help but wonder: is that all we can offer to the blogosphere? 212 Iraqi blogs?
Mills Corp. To Divest Its Foreign Mall Stakes
Mills Corp. To Divest Its Foreign Mall Stakes
Again, from the Washington Post. Upon further reflection, the articles on Mills probably ranks low on the TNSN's radar as well as that of the Nashville Post, only because Mills HQ is not in this area. If this were about a hotel on the brink that Gaylord operated out of state, I'm sure both would be all over such a developing story, as it would impact the parent company which is locally based. Wow, there was probably an easier way to say that. Opry Mills is just a part of huge number of malls operated and partially owned by Mills Corp, which is based in the DC area, hence, covered aggressively by the Washington Post. There I go again.
For some reason,this story is still very interesting to me. I never dreamed that a
retail developer in these boom times of the 21st century as big as Mills Corp might go under.
Chevy Chase-based mall developer Mills Corp. yesterday announced plans to sell its stakes in three foreign malls to a Canadian firm, as the struggling company tries to stay afloat.
The deal is expected to net $500 million for Mills and would go toward paying off about $2 billion in debt. After a series of inquiries about its accounting practices, the company is under a year-end deadline to find a buyer or face a possible loan default.
.
"The deal is expected to net $500 million for Mills and would go toward paying off about $2 billion in debt. After a series of inquiries about its accounting practices, the company is under a year-end deadline to find a buyer or face a possible loan default.
The three malls, which were sold to Montreal developer Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc., are Vaughan Mills in Ontario; St. Enoch Centre in Glasgow, Scotland; and Madrid Xanadu. Ivanhoe Cambridge already has a 50 percent interest in Vaughan Mills and St. Enoch Centre.
Mills has been plagued by financial troubles in the past year: a series of layoffs, ballooning construction costs at its massive Xanadu project at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, and a more than 50 percent reduction in the profits recorded from 2003 to 2005.
Again, from the Washington Post. Upon further reflection, the articles on Mills probably ranks low on the TNSN's radar as well as that of the Nashville Post, only because Mills HQ is not in this area. If this were about a hotel on the brink that Gaylord operated out of state, I'm sure both would be all over such a developing story, as it would impact the parent company which is locally based. Wow, there was probably an easier way to say that. Opry Mills is just a part of huge number of malls operated and partially owned by Mills Corp, which is based in the DC area, hence, covered aggressively by the Washington Post. There I go again.
For some reason,this story is still very interesting to me. I never dreamed that a
retail developer in these boom times of the 21st century as big as Mills Corp might go under.
Chevy Chase-based mall developer Mills Corp. yesterday announced plans to sell its stakes in three foreign malls to a Canadian firm, as the struggling company tries to stay afloat.
The deal is expected to net $500 million for Mills and would go toward paying off about $2 billion in debt. After a series of inquiries about its accounting practices, the company is under a year-end deadline to find a buyer or face a possible loan default.
.
"The deal is expected to net $500 million for Mills and would go toward paying off about $2 billion in debt. After a series of inquiries about its accounting practices, the company is under a year-end deadline to find a buyer or face a possible loan default.
The three malls, which were sold to Montreal developer Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc., are Vaughan Mills in Ontario; St. Enoch Centre in Glasgow, Scotland; and Madrid Xanadu. Ivanhoe Cambridge already has a 50 percent interest in Vaughan Mills and St. Enoch Centre.
Mills has been plagued by financial troubles in the past year: a series of layoffs, ballooning construction costs at its massive Xanadu project at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, and a more than 50 percent reduction in the profits recorded from 2003 to 2005.
Monday, August 14, 2006
(Opry) Mills Corp. In Jeopardy Due to Debt, Accounting
Mills Corp. In Jeopardy Due to Debt, Accounting
Despite an earlier post this Spring about the Mills Corp being out of financial trouble, financial auditors are now saying that the grim reaper is making another appearance.
Lost in the details of the huge round of financing that Mills received last Spring was a requirement that the company find a buyer by 12/31/06, or pay a huge fee to continue the financing (which it cannot afford and of which, no buyer has been found).
What does this mean for Opry Mills here in Nashville? Probably business as usual as the financial geeks figure out a way to restructure the company or to find multiple owners piece meal for all the parts in all the malls across the country.
Since Gaylord exercised their option to buy a larger interest in Opry Mills earlier this year, they may be interested in taking over the whole enchilada.
It's nice to have a partner with more money than you---one caveat of business that is true in both small and large operations--!!!!
My main question is this--why isn't the Tennessean covering this evolving story, or, at least, the Nashville Post, supposedly Nashville's source for business information??
Despite an earlier post this Spring about the Mills Corp being out of financial trouble, financial auditors are now saying that the grim reaper is making another appearance.
Lost in the details of the huge round of financing that Mills received last Spring was a requirement that the company find a buyer by 12/31/06, or pay a huge fee to continue the financing (which it cannot afford and of which, no buyer has been found).
What does this mean for Opry Mills here in Nashville? Probably business as usual as the financial geeks figure out a way to restructure the company or to find multiple owners piece meal for all the parts in all the malls across the country.
Since Gaylord exercised their option to buy a larger interest in Opry Mills earlier this year, they may be interested in taking over the whole enchilada.
It's nice to have a partner with more money than you---one caveat of business that is true in both small and large operations--!!!!
My main question is this--why isn't the Tennessean covering this evolving story, or, at least, the Nashville Post, supposedly Nashville's source for business information??
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Apple receives delisting letter from Nasdaq - MarketWatch
Apple receives delisting letter from Nasdaq
Fat chance of anything happening here in terms of a delisting, but Apple has not cleared up the back dating of options for it's executives, some thing that most public companies took care of in past years when the rules were changed.
I guess they were too busy cranking out IPODS and revolutionizing the digital music world to realize that they definitely dropped the ball on the new accounting regulations.
If the stock gets hit tomorrow based upon these headlines, it may be a good time to buy AAPL.
Even though MAC heads continue not to like the INTEL chips because the software makers for MAC have not caught up yet, I think AAPL has a very bright future, and the best is yet to come for this company.
Fat chance of anything happening here in terms of a delisting, but Apple has not cleared up the back dating of options for it's executives, some thing that most public companies took care of in past years when the rules were changed.
I guess they were too busy cranking out IPODS and revolutionizing the digital music world to realize that they definitely dropped the ball on the new accounting regulations.
If the stock gets hit tomorrow based upon these headlines, it may be a good time to buy AAPL.
Even though MAC heads continue not to like the INTEL chips because the software makers for MAC have not caught up yet, I think AAPL has a very bright future, and the best is yet to come for this company.
Pennington on the Vols-Optimism Rising
Go Vols Xtra Pennington's Big Orange Business Vol Fever... Catch It
These comments are from my favorite UT blogger, John Pennington, who hosts a TV show in Knoxville about everything VOLS, but is pretty level headed about the boys wearing orange, and does not usually buy into a whole lot of hooey, although he did predict the Vols would go 10-2 last year, and what, the Vols ended up 5-6! This was written before the scrimmage on Saturday where Ainge threw 2 interceptions!
I can tell you that the dog days of Summer are here and with them has come the low rumble that... maybe, just maybe... the Vols will be better than most folks think.
A month ago, everyone in the media (and some folks close to the program) didn't see blue skies on UT's horizon. The outlook was 8-4, 9-3 at best. Some even said 7-5.
But as the stories emerge from Fall practice, it seems that a lot of people are saying the right things. Ainge now understands the offense, which he didn't last year. Special teams are getting more attention and looking better. There's not a rotation of injured backs who didn't play this Spring... there's a FLEET of high-quality game-breakers.
And all that talk is starting to sink in. Fans, 90% of them anyway, always want to believe the positive. Take a look over the last few weeks at how many people have said, 'we'll kick Cal's butt' (my word, not theirs). Those same folks probably typed the same thing before last Fall's games with Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Vandy, etc, etc.
That's the nature of fandom.
What I find interesting is that jaded members of the media and press... people who are paid to be unbiased, to have a keen eye, to have seen all of this stuff before... are now starting to buy into" the excitement. Just a little.
After my TV show on Sunday, some of the guys I spoke with said, "I'm hearing the right things." Some are wondering if they should have gone with 8-4 instead of 7-5, with 9-3 instead of 8-4, or with 10-2 instead of 9-3.
"Remember," I said to one of them, "Phillip Fulmer is at his best when you least expect it. It's when expectations are high that he can't reach them. Right now, they're low." I was gigging the guy a little... but he had a look in his eye that said, "you're right!"
I said 9-3 back in January. After the Spring, watching the offensive line, I dropped it to 8-4. I'm going to sit on that prediction for now.
Last year, when I predicted 10-2 (due to the Vols' tough schedule), the "they're going to the Rose Bowl" crowd almost led me to change my pick to 11-1. But I held to my guns, and was right (well, "righter" than the folks who said Rose Bowl).
So I'll stick with 8-4. But there's a rising tide of optimism in Knoxville, without question. I reserve the right to switch to 9-3 before the Cal game.
These comments are from my favorite UT blogger, John Pennington, who hosts a TV show in Knoxville about everything VOLS, but is pretty level headed about the boys wearing orange, and does not usually buy into a whole lot of hooey, although he did predict the Vols would go 10-2 last year, and what, the Vols ended up 5-6! This was written before the scrimmage on Saturday where Ainge threw 2 interceptions!
I can tell you that the dog days of Summer are here and with them has come the low rumble that... maybe, just maybe... the Vols will be better than most folks think.
A month ago, everyone in the media (and some folks close to the program) didn't see blue skies on UT's horizon. The outlook was 8-4, 9-3 at best. Some even said 7-5.
But as the stories emerge from Fall practice, it seems that a lot of people are saying the right things. Ainge now understands the offense, which he didn't last year. Special teams are getting more attention and looking better. There's not a rotation of injured backs who didn't play this Spring... there's a FLEET of high-quality game-breakers.
And all that talk is starting to sink in. Fans, 90% of them anyway, always want to believe the positive. Take a look over the last few weeks at how many people have said, 'we'll kick Cal's butt' (my word, not theirs). Those same folks probably typed the same thing before last Fall's games with Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Vandy, etc, etc.
That's the nature of fandom.
What I find interesting is that jaded members of the media and press... people who are paid to be unbiased, to have a keen eye, to have seen all of this stuff before... are now starting to buy into" the excitement. Just a little.
After my TV show on Sunday, some of the guys I spoke with said, "I'm hearing the right things." Some are wondering if they should have gone with 8-4 instead of 7-5, with 9-3 instead of 8-4, or with 10-2 instead of 9-3.
"Remember," I said to one of them, "Phillip Fulmer is at his best when you least expect it. It's when expectations are high that he can't reach them. Right now, they're low." I was gigging the guy a little... but he had a look in his eye that said, "you're right!"
I said 9-3 back in January. After the Spring, watching the offensive line, I dropped it to 8-4. I'm going to sit on that prediction for now.
Last year, when I predicted 10-2 (due to the Vols' tough schedule), the "they're going to the Rose Bowl" crowd almost led me to change my pick to 11-1. But I held to my guns, and was right (well, "righter" than the folks who said Rose Bowl).
So I'll stick with 8-4. But there's a rising tide of optimism in Knoxville, without question. I reserve the right to switch to 9-3 before the Cal game.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Smith: McNair brings confidence to Ravens
One thing the Ravens are forgetting about is this--McNair will get injured. I predict he will not last through September before missing an entire game for some reason. He will play well amongst the lower tier teams. When Pittsburg or Indianapolis comes to town, all bets are off.
In the mean time, Michael Smith from ESPN writes the following:
"Twas the night before training camp, and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was playing for his players a highlight reel from last season. You know, get them amped up for the camp grind. He showed them the things you'd expect: big hits, picks, recoveries, returns for touchdowns. Then, toward the end of the presentation, Steve McNair appears on the screen, speaking at his press conference following the offseason trade from Tennessee to Baltimore. From that point on it was the Air McNair show, complete with completions from McNair to (teammate then and now) Derrick Mason.
If you're familiar with the Ravens' offensive history, particularly the franchise's quarterback lineage, then Ryan's point in including the McNair clips was fairly obvious.
'I wanted those guys to realize the type of quarterback that we have now,' Ryan explains. 'There are no excuses why this football team can't win and win big. There's no more, 'We don't have this.' Sometimes guys would get caught up in other teams having this and that QB. Well, now we've got one".
Bring it on.
In the mean time, Michael Smith from ESPN writes the following:
"Twas the night before training camp, and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was playing for his players a highlight reel from last season. You know, get them amped up for the camp grind. He showed them the things you'd expect: big hits, picks, recoveries, returns for touchdowns. Then, toward the end of the presentation, Steve McNair appears on the screen, speaking at his press conference following the offseason trade from Tennessee to Baltimore. From that point on it was the Air McNair show, complete with completions from McNair to (teammate then and now) Derrick Mason.
If you're familiar with the Ravens' offensive history, particularly the franchise's quarterback lineage, then Ryan's point in including the McNair clips was fairly obvious.
'I wanted those guys to realize the type of quarterback that we have now,' Ryan explains. 'There are no excuses why this football team can't win and win big. There's no more, 'We don't have this.' Sometimes guys would get caught up in other teams having this and that QB. Well, now we've got one".
Bring it on.
Latest on U.K. Airline Plot
This report is from the Power Line Blog
"The names of the plotters have been released; all are described as British Muslims. The London Times confirms that the plan was uncovered after two Britons were taken into custody in Pakistan last week. (Don't worry, though; I'm sure the Pakistani authorities just asked them if they would pretty-please reveal whatever they knew about terrorist schemes.) The Times reports:
Reports from Pakistani intelligence, suggesting the direct involvement of senior Kashmiri militants linked to al-Qaeda, convinced British intelligence that the plot had to be taken seriously. Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist branch was brought in to the operation last December.
It is unclear from the reports so far how much the authorities knew, or whether any of these individuals had been identified, prior to the last few days. It is being reported that the terrorists were planning their attack for August 16 (not August 22 as some have speculated), so it is fair to assume that they were identified in the nick of time.
The Sun has details of the terrorists' plans:
It was believed the gang intended to use a liquid, peroxide-based explosive which could be mixed mid-flight to bring down the aircraft in three waves of three.
The deadly fluid components would have been hidden inside drink bottles and even baby milk.
The method would have foiled airport security."
"The names of the plotters have been released; all are described as British Muslims. The London Times confirms that the plan was uncovered after two Britons were taken into custody in Pakistan last week. (Don't worry, though; I'm sure the Pakistani authorities just asked them if they would pretty-please reveal whatever they knew about terrorist schemes.) The Times reports:
Reports from Pakistani intelligence, suggesting the direct involvement of senior Kashmiri militants linked to al-Qaeda, convinced British intelligence that the plot had to be taken seriously. Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist branch was brought in to the operation last December.
It is unclear from the reports so far how much the authorities knew, or whether any of these individuals had been identified, prior to the last few days. It is being reported that the terrorists were planning their attack for August 16 (not August 22 as some have speculated), so it is fair to assume that they were identified in the nick of time.
The Sun has details of the terrorists' plans:
It was believed the gang intended to use a liquid, peroxide-based explosive which could be mixed mid-flight to bring down the aircraft in three waves of three.
The deadly fluid components would have been hidden inside drink bottles and even baby milk.
The method would have foiled airport security."
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Reuters Photo Fraud
Reuters Photo Fraud:
The below is a quote from ZombieTime.com (a blog that I read occasionally):
"The recent discovery that the Reuters news agency released a digitally manipulated photograph as an authentic image of the bombing in Beirut has drawn attention to the important topic of bias in the media. But lost in the frenzy over one particular image is an even more devastating fact: that over the last week Reuters has been caught red-handed in an astonishing variety of journalistic frauds in the photo coverage of the war in Lebanon.
This page (linked above) serves as an overview of the various types of hoaxes, lies and other deceptions perpetrated by Reuters in recent days, since the details of the scandal are getting overwhelmed by a torrent of shallow mainstream media coverage that can easily confuse or mislead the viewer. Almost all of the investigative work has been done by cutting-edge blogs, but the proliferation of exposés might overwhelm the casual Web-surfer, who might be getting the various related scandals mixed up. "
Basically, the murder of innocent children by Israel so heavily covered by the media in July in Qana, Lebanon could very well have been manipulated by Hez. and carried across the world by Reuters.
The below is a quote from ZombieTime.com (a blog that I read occasionally):
"The recent discovery that the Reuters news agency released a digitally manipulated photograph as an authentic image of the bombing in Beirut has drawn attention to the important topic of bias in the media. But lost in the frenzy over one particular image is an even more devastating fact: that over the last week Reuters has been caught red-handed in an astonishing variety of journalistic frauds in the photo coverage of the war in Lebanon.
This page (linked above) serves as an overview of the various types of hoaxes, lies and other deceptions perpetrated by Reuters in recent days, since the details of the scandal are getting overwhelmed by a torrent of shallow mainstream media coverage that can easily confuse or mislead the viewer. Almost all of the investigative work has been done by cutting-edge blogs, but the proliferation of exposés might overwhelm the casual Web-surfer, who might be getting the various related scandals mixed up. "
Basically, the murder of innocent children by Israel so heavily covered by the media in July in Qana, Lebanon could very well have been manipulated by Hez. and carried across the world by Reuters.
Just use the word "Muslim" and not "Community Activists"
Power Line: " the eagle-eyed William Katz writes:
We are at war with extremist Muslims, plain and simple. We need to forget about political correctness and go after these bastards--from PowerlineBlog below
" I happened to be up in the middle of the night - common for a writer - and caught the first bulletins on the UK terror plot. We're now about six hours into the coverage, and the MSM is going through major self-abuse to avoid the 'M' word. But here it is, finally, in one of the most tortured quotes I've seen about terrorism. This is from the London Times website: Meanwhile police chiefs and John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, have spoken to community leaders to keep them in touch with the investigation.
Mindful of the outrage amongst the Muslim community when Met anti-terror officers raided a house in Forest Gate last month, Mr Stephenson was careful to stress that Muslims were not being targeted by the police.
'This is not about communities: it is about criminals, murderers, people who want to commit mass murder. This is about people who might masquerade in the community, hiding behind certain faiths, but who want to commit acts that no right-minder person would want to applaud,' he said.
Meanwhile, back at the BBC – just blasted by the Israeli government
for its blatantly biased war coverage – they haven't quite gotten
to 'M.' This is as far as they go on their website:
According to BBC sources the 'principal characters' suspected of being involved ". No mention of the "M" word, Muslims, but that is exactly who is in custody.
We are at war with extremist Muslims, plain and simple. We need to forget about political correctness and go after these bastards--from PowerlineBlog below
" I happened to be up in the middle of the night - common for a writer - and caught the first bulletins on the UK terror plot. We're now about six hours into the coverage, and the MSM is going through major self-abuse to avoid the 'M' word. But here it is, finally, in one of the most tortured quotes I've seen about terrorism. This is from the London Times website: Meanwhile police chiefs and John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, have spoken to community leaders to keep them in touch with the investigation.
Mindful of the outrage amongst the Muslim community when Met anti-terror officers raided a house in Forest Gate last month, Mr Stephenson was careful to stress that Muslims were not being targeted by the police.
'This is not about communities: it is about criminals, murderers, people who want to commit mass murder. This is about people who might masquerade in the community, hiding behind certain faiths, but who want to commit acts that no right-minder person would want to applaud,' he said.
Meanwhile, back at the BBC – just blasted by the Israeli government
for its blatantly biased war coverage – they haven't quite gotten
to 'M.' This is as far as they go on their website:
According to BBC sources the 'principal characters' suspected of being involved ". No mention of the "M" word, Muslims, but that is exactly who is in custody.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Dennis Miller on the Middle East
Thanks to my brother, Dortch, for passing these quotes to me
Comments from Comedian Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller on the Middle East
For those who don't know, Dennis Miller is
a comedian who has a show called Dennis Miller
Live on HBO.
He is not Jewish.
He recently said the following about the Mideast
situation:
"A brief overview of the situation is always
valuable, so as a service to all Americans who
still don't get it, I now offer you the story
of the Middle East in just a few paragraphs,which
is all you really need.
Here we go:
The Palestinians want their own country.
There's just one thing about that...........
There are no Palestinians.
It's a made up word. Israel was called Palestine
for two thousand years.
Like "Wiccan," "Palestinian" sounds ancient
but is really a modern invention
Before the Israelis won the land in the 1967 war,
Gaza was owned by Egypt, the West Bank was owned by Jordan,
and there were no "Palestinians."
As soon as the Jews took over and started growing
oranges as big as basketballs, what do you know,
say hello to the............"Palestinians,"
weeping for their deep bond with their lost.....
"land" and "nation."
So for the sake of honesty, let's not use the
word "Pal estinian" anymore to describe these
delightful folks, who dance for joy at our deaths,
until someone points out they're being taped.
Instead, let's call them what they are:
"Other Arabs Who Can't Accomplish Anything In Life
And Would Rather Wrap Themselves In The Seductive
Melodrama Of Eternal Struggle And Death."
I know that's a bit unwieldy to expect to see on CNN.
How about this, ! then: "Adjacent Jew-Haters."
Okay, so the Adjacent Jew-Haters want their own country.
Oops, just one more thing. No, they don't.
They could've had their own country any time in
the last thirty years, especially two years ago at..
Camp David but if you have your own country, you have to
have traffic lights and garbage trucks and Chambers
of Commerce, and, worse, you actually have to figure
out some way to make a living.
That's no fun. No, they want what all the other
Jew-Haters in the region want: Israel. They also want
a big pile of dead Jews, of course -- that's where
the real fun is -- but mostly they want..... Israel.
Why? For one thing, trying to destroy Israel - or
"The Zionist Entity" as their textbooks call it --
for the last fifty years has allowed the rulers of
Arab countries to divert the attention of their
own people away from the fact that they're the
blue-ribbon most illiterate,poorest, and tribally
backward on God's Earth,and if you've ever been
around God's Earth . . . you know that's really
saying something.
It makes me roll my eyes every time one of our
pundits waxes poetic about the great history and
culture of the Muslim Midleast.
Unless I'm missing something, the Arabs haven't
given anything to the world since Algebra, and,
by the way, thanks a hell of a lot for that one.
Chew this around & spit it out: 500 million Arabs;
5 million Jews.
Think of all the Arab countries as a football field,
and Israel as a pack of matches sitting in the middle of it.
And now these same folks swear that, if Israel gives them
half of that pack of matches, everyone will be pals..
Really? Wow, what neat news. Hey, but what about
the string of wars to obliterate the tiny country
and the constant din of rabid blood oaths to drive
every Jew into the sea?
Oh, that? We were just kidding.
My friend Kevin Rooney made a gorgeous point the
other day:
Just reverse the Numbers. Imagine 500 million Jews
and 5 million Arabs. I was stunned at the simple
brilliance of it.
Can anyone picture the Jews strapping belts of
razor blades and dynamite to themselves?.......
Of course not.
Or marshaling every fiber and force at their
disposal for generations to drive a tiny Arab State
into the sea? Nonsense.
Or dancing for joy at the murder of innocents?....
Impossible.
Or spreading and believing horrible lies about
the Arabs baking their bread with the blood of
children? ......Disgusting.
No, as you know, left to themselves in a world
of peace,the worst Jews would ever do to people
is debate them to death.
However, in any big-picture strategy, there's
always a danger of losing moral weight. We've
already lost some. I didn't know some of that..........!
Comments from Comedian Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller on the Middle East
For those who don't know, Dennis Miller is
a comedian who has a show called Dennis Miller
Live on HBO.
He is not Jewish.
He recently said the following about the Mideast
situation:
"A brief overview of the situation is always
valuable, so as a service to all Americans who
still don't get it, I now offer you the story
of the Middle East in just a few paragraphs,which
is all you really need.
Here we go:
The Palestinians want their own country.
There's just one thing about that...........
There are no Palestinians.
It's a made up word. Israel was called Palestine
for two thousand years.
Like "Wiccan," "Palestinian" sounds ancient
but is really a modern invention
Before the Israelis won the land in the 1967 war,
Gaza was owned by Egypt, the West Bank was owned by Jordan,
and there were no "Palestinians."
As soon as the Jews took over and started growing
oranges as big as basketballs, what do you know,
say hello to the............"Palestinians,"
weeping for their deep bond with their lost.....
"land" and "nation."
So for the sake of honesty, let's not use the
word "Pal estinian" anymore to describe these
delightful folks, who dance for joy at our deaths,
until someone points out they're being taped.
Instead, let's call them what they are:
"Other Arabs Who Can't Accomplish Anything In Life
And Would Rather Wrap Themselves In The Seductive
Melodrama Of Eternal Struggle And Death."
I know that's a bit unwieldy to expect to see on CNN.
How about this, ! then: "Adjacent Jew-Haters."
Okay, so the Adjacent Jew-Haters want their own country.
Oops, just one more thing. No, they don't.
They could've had their own country any time in
the last thirty years, especially two years ago at..
Camp David but if you have your own country, you have to
have traffic lights and garbage trucks and Chambers
of Commerce, and, worse, you actually have to figure
out some way to make a living.
That's no fun. No, they want what all the other
Jew-Haters in the region want: Israel. They also want
a big pile of dead Jews, of course -- that's where
the real fun is -- but mostly they want..... Israel.
Why? For one thing, trying to destroy Israel - or
"The Zionist Entity" as their textbooks call it --
for the last fifty years has allowed the rulers of
Arab countries to divert the attention of their
own people away from the fact that they're the
blue-ribbon most illiterate,poorest, and tribally
backward on God's Earth,and if you've ever been
around God's Earth . . . you know that's really
saying something.
It makes me roll my eyes every time one of our
pundits waxes poetic about the great history and
culture of the Muslim Midleast.
Unless I'm missing something, the Arabs haven't
given anything to the world since Algebra, and,
by the way, thanks a hell of a lot for that one.
Chew this around & spit it out: 500 million Arabs;
5 million Jews.
Think of all the Arab countries as a football field,
and Israel as a pack of matches sitting in the middle of it.
And now these same folks swear that, if Israel gives them
half of that pack of matches, everyone will be pals..
Really? Wow, what neat news. Hey, but what about
the string of wars to obliterate the tiny country
and the constant din of rabid blood oaths to drive
every Jew into the sea?
Oh, that? We were just kidding.
My friend Kevin Rooney made a gorgeous point the
other day:
Just reverse the Numbers. Imagine 500 million Jews
and 5 million Arabs. I was stunned at the simple
brilliance of it.
Can anyone picture the Jews strapping belts of
razor blades and dynamite to themselves?.......
Of course not.
Or marshaling every fiber and force at their
disposal for generations to drive a tiny Arab State
into the sea? Nonsense.
Or dancing for joy at the murder of innocents?....
Impossible.
Or spreading and believing horrible lies about
the Arabs baking their bread with the blood of
children? ......Disgusting.
No, as you know, left to themselves in a world
of peace,the worst Jews would ever do to people
is debate them to death.
However, in any big-picture strategy, there's
always a danger of losing moral weight. We've
already lost some. I didn't know some of that..........!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
ON VACATION
Hey, Blog Fans. Sorry to say that other things are happening, and that blogging is taking a major back seat. In the meantime, please visit
Rex Hammock's ultimately famous RexBlog for your best look at great info and postings for business, personal, and general info.
I shall return soon!!
Cheers and thanks for your patronage!!!
Rex Hammock's ultimately famous RexBlog for your best look at great info and postings for business, personal, and general info.
I shall return soon!!
Cheers and thanks for your patronage!!!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Heads are Gonna Roll--Regions Financial, AmSouth to Combine
Regions Financial, AmSouth to Combine
from Yahoo Finance
"Regions and AmSouth have 230 branches within a mile of each other, Jordan said."
This is very huge news for us here in Nashville. I have banked with Amsouth and Amsouth's predecessor, First American Bank, for 25 plus years. My dad was an original founding board member of First American. We go way, way back with this bank.
Honestly, this merger is kind of strange because the "banking footprints" do not compliment one another. In fact, they overlap quite significantly.
Just down the road here in Belle Meade, there is a Regions branch just 100 yards from an Amsouth Branch. Commercial Real Estate people are probably salivating at the possibilities. There would be no sense in keeping both branches open. I think AmSouth has signed on to build a brand new branch in the new Tony Girantanna building where the old Belle Meade theatre used to be.
What about all of the commercial banking people around here (not to mention Birmingham, Knoxville, Memphis, etc) that call on the same businesses as former competitors, that is, Regions banking folks versus AmSouth banking folks. No reason to keep two full contingencies of bankers serving the exact same market. Well, maybe an extra one or two, but not double.
Yes, people are probably shaking in their boots at both banks wondering who is going to stay and who is going to go. Such is the life of corporate business and corporate take overs.
But this one is a little strange--the only way they can make this work is by cutting ALOT of overhead, namely people and branches.
We'll be watching with interest. But, as for me, Pinnacle bank sure looks like a good play here. Small business people hate this continuous upheaval of bankers, mergers, and new faces.
from Yahoo Finance
"Regions and AmSouth have 230 branches within a mile of each other, Jordan said."
This is very huge news for us here in Nashville. I have banked with Amsouth and Amsouth's predecessor, First American Bank, for 25 plus years. My dad was an original founding board member of First American. We go way, way back with this bank.
Honestly, this merger is kind of strange because the "banking footprints" do not compliment one another. In fact, they overlap quite significantly.
Just down the road here in Belle Meade, there is a Regions branch just 100 yards from an Amsouth Branch. Commercial Real Estate people are probably salivating at the possibilities. There would be no sense in keeping both branches open. I think AmSouth has signed on to build a brand new branch in the new Tony Girantanna building where the old Belle Meade theatre used to be.
What about all of the commercial banking people around here (not to mention Birmingham, Knoxville, Memphis, etc) that call on the same businesses as former competitors, that is, Regions banking folks versus AmSouth banking folks. No reason to keep two full contingencies of bankers serving the exact same market. Well, maybe an extra one or two, but not double.
Yes, people are probably shaking in their boots at both banks wondering who is going to stay and who is going to go. Such is the life of corporate business and corporate take overs.
But this one is a little strange--the only way they can make this work is by cutting ALOT of overhead, namely people and branches.
We'll be watching with interest. But, as for me, Pinnacle bank sure looks like a good play here. Small business people hate this continuous upheaval of bankers, mergers, and new faces.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Thousands of Iowa's Corn Farmers See the Future in Fuel
Thousands of Iowa's Corn Farmers See the Future in Fuel
"Iowa, the top corn-producing state, is the nation's ethanol leader, generating 25 percent of U.S. ethanol in towns such as Coon Rapids and Steamboat Rock. In addition to 22 ethanol refineries in operation, the state has seven under construction and at least 20 are being planned.
The boom here has largely been a grass-roots phenomenon, fueled by clusters of growers, bankers and small-town professionals. Aspiring biofuel plant owners have been barnstorming the state, delivering investment pitches in firehouses, schools and community centers.
Six thousand farmers have bought in.
'There's quite a bit of exuberance for the ethanol plants. They're paying real good dividends,' said Rockwell City farmer Keith Sexton, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and an investor in four biofuel refineries. 'It's coming on board almost faster than a person can keep up, unless that's your day job."
"Iowa, the top corn-producing state, is the nation's ethanol leader, generating 25 percent of U.S. ethanol in towns such as Coon Rapids and Steamboat Rock. In addition to 22 ethanol refineries in operation, the state has seven under construction and at least 20 are being planned.
The boom here has largely been a grass-roots phenomenon, fueled by clusters of growers, bankers and small-town professionals. Aspiring biofuel plant owners have been barnstorming the state, delivering investment pitches in firehouses, schools and community centers.
Six thousand farmers have bought in.
'There's quite a bit of exuberance for the ethanol plants. They're paying real good dividends,' said Rockwell City farmer Keith Sexton, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and an investor in four biofuel refineries. 'It's coming on board almost faster than a person can keep up, unless that's your day job."
Monday, May 15, 2006
A New Twist for the Moonshiner: Ethanol - Energy
FOXNews.com - A New Twist for the Moonshiner: Ethanol - Energy
This is a great way to promote the fact that Ethanol is the fuel of the future.
I remember when people used to scoff at gas stations that used to "cut" their gas with ethanol. In fact, it was those cut rate gas stations of the past like Pilot and Scott that used to frequently "cut" their gas with ethanol to keep their pump prices low. And what did most consumers do? Go to other "pure" gas stations. How stupid. I was one of those that used to avoid ethanol/gas mixtures.
Now, I am a complete and total advocate of E85/ethanol plus gas mixtures. Anything to reduce our dependence on oil, rather foreign or domestic. Scroll down to read where E-85 is available in Nashville NOW. Don't buy a new car without ethanol capabilities--read this article linked above too!
"An upstart Tennessee business is marketing stills that can be set up as private distilleries making ethanol — 190 proof grain alcohol — out of fermented starchy crops such as corn, apples or sugar cane. The company claims the still's output can reduce fuel costs by nearly a third from the pump price of gasoline."
This is a great way to promote the fact that Ethanol is the fuel of the future.
I remember when people used to scoff at gas stations that used to "cut" their gas with ethanol. In fact, it was those cut rate gas stations of the past like Pilot and Scott that used to frequently "cut" their gas with ethanol to keep their pump prices low. And what did most consumers do? Go to other "pure" gas stations. How stupid. I was one of those that used to avoid ethanol/gas mixtures.
Now, I am a complete and total advocate of E85/ethanol plus gas mixtures. Anything to reduce our dependence on oil, rather foreign or domestic. Scroll down to read where E-85 is available in Nashville NOW. Don't buy a new car without ethanol capabilities--read this article linked above too!
"An upstart Tennessee business is marketing stills that can be set up as private distilleries making ethanol — 190 proof grain alcohol — out of fermented starchy crops such as corn, apples or sugar cane. The company claims the still's output can reduce fuel costs by nearly a third from the pump price of gasoline."
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Men's National Team--Soccer
ussoccer.com - Men's National Team
If you haven't already heard, the World Cup is this summer in Germany. The World Cup is to soccer fans what the Super Bowl is to football fans. The only difference being is that it's held every 4 years, and there is truly a World Champion unlike the incredibly arrogant claim of the Super Bowl winner being a world champion. How can the Super Bowl winner be a world champion when it's a game only between U. S. football teams??
The World Cup is truly an international spectacle that promises to be great sports televion this June. Budweiser is spending more on advertising with the World Cup than they did with this past Super Bowl. This sport might actually finally be catching on in America. It's truly great soccer at the international level!
In any event, YOU, yes, YOU have the opportunity to see our team, called the U. S. National Team play against Morrocco here in Nashville, TN, this May 23rd at 6 pm at the Coliseum. Pretty cool. It's called the "Send Off Series" and it's a "friendly" match to help prepare our team for the grueling World Cup. Our first World Cup match is on June 11th. More later.
Tickets are reasonably priced (unlike most professional sports). There are good seats for $25 and $35.
Hope to see you there. Click the link above for ticket info if you don't want to call TicketHassle at 255-9600.
If you haven't already heard, the World Cup is this summer in Germany. The World Cup is to soccer fans what the Super Bowl is to football fans. The only difference being is that it's held every 4 years, and there is truly a World Champion unlike the incredibly arrogant claim of the Super Bowl winner being a world champion. How can the Super Bowl winner be a world champion when it's a game only between U. S. football teams??
The World Cup is truly an international spectacle that promises to be great sports televion this June. Budweiser is spending more on advertising with the World Cup than they did with this past Super Bowl. This sport might actually finally be catching on in America. It's truly great soccer at the international level!
In any event, YOU, yes, YOU have the opportunity to see our team, called the U. S. National Team play against Morrocco here in Nashville, TN, this May 23rd at 6 pm at the Coliseum. Pretty cool. It's called the "Send Off Series" and it's a "friendly" match to help prepare our team for the grueling World Cup. Our first World Cup match is on June 11th. More later.
Tickets are reasonably priced (unlike most professional sports). There are good seats for $25 and $35.
Hope to see you there. Click the link above for ticket info if you don't want to call TicketHassle at 255-9600.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Best advice for Pacman is to grow up
Best advice for Pacman is to grow up By David Climer in the Tennessean
Thanks to Rex Hammock of RexBlog fame for pointing to this article in his own blog, and for making the point that the best writing in the Tennessean happens to reside in the Sports section.
I could not agree more. The Sports section of the Tennessean is also well rounded, very well delegated with different beat writers to handle multiple sports, and although I may not agree with the aggressively negative nature of David Climer or the mindless chatter of Joe Biddle, the Sports section generally rocks. Plenty of coverage on professional, collegiate, and high school sports for the market place. Not too much Nascar, but just enough. And don't forget about fishin' and huntin'. The Sports sections is just a good read.
Editorially speaking, all we have is David Climer and occasionally Joe Biddle. Climer does hit a home run with this column on PacMan. This guy (PacMan) is just not ready for Prime Time.
Thanks to Rex Hammock of RexBlog fame for pointing to this article in his own blog, and for making the point that the best writing in the Tennessean happens to reside in the Sports section.
I could not agree more. The Sports section of the Tennessean is also well rounded, very well delegated with different beat writers to handle multiple sports, and although I may not agree with the aggressively negative nature of David Climer or the mindless chatter of Joe Biddle, the Sports section generally rocks. Plenty of coverage on professional, collegiate, and high school sports for the market place. Not too much Nascar, but just enough. And don't forget about fishin' and huntin'. The Sports sections is just a good read.
Editorially speaking, all we have is David Climer and occasionally Joe Biddle. Climer does hit a home run with this column on PacMan. This guy (PacMan) is just not ready for Prime Time.
Poll Gives Bush His Worst Marks Yet - New York Times
Poll Gives Bush His Worst Marks Yet - New York Times
Okay, you all have read and heard about these polls now for the past few weeks. Seems like when the polls are bad about Bush, someone does another one, and so the latest poll numbers seem to be on a self perpetuating cycle. The media just loves it when the numbers are this bad for Bush. So, they do another poll....This one just happens to have been conducted by the New York Times, one of the libs favorite print media pubs.
I have posted many times about my unease and unrest over the IRAQ war, particularly as it relates to the obvious inability for the IRAQI's to get their shit together in the most basic sense. Too many factions. Too many tribes. Too much 15th century thinking. How in the world are we going to change that? We toppled Sadam. Great job! But, building a democracy in IRAQ? Doubtful. So maybe I see why so many people blame Bush for this over zealous goal of his.
And, okay, so Bush is on the wrong side of the immigration issue. We need to seal up our borders and only let in legal immigrants. I have no problem with Mexicans coming to our country, and neither do most Americans. They just need to have the proper visas. Why is that so hard and why is there so much debate? Just come in legally, seal up the borders, and everything will be fine. No one is talking about cutting off trade or prohibiting legal immigration.
Okay, so I can see why so many people blame Bush for being led down this path, actually, being pushed, pulled, and drug down this legal immigration path.
And then there are the gasoline prices..Bush said in the State of the Union address that we were addicted to oil. He's right. Now, lead us out of this mess. Propose to retrofit every gas station in America with Ethanol pumps. The U. S. government should pick up the tab. Spend mega billions on ethanol production, not the paltry $150 million on various alternative energy initiatives. E85 is the answer, I am convinced. It will take 5 years if we start now on an aggressive campaign to roll out ethanol. Each year we wait, our dependence on foreign oil continues. Think of the international political ramifications if we could produce enough ethanol to reduce and possibly eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. My bet is that the Middle East would cool off, and not be the political hot potatoe that it is. Easy for me to see.
Bush is just not leading us right now. He is in a quagmire. He just does not seem to be the same leader as he once was.
But, here's the rest of the story. The economy is rocking and rolling. Unemployment is at or below 5% nationally. That is awesome. Tax cuts got extended. Inflation is tame. I cannot remember a more robust time--economically speaking. It is almost economic nirvanna out there.
But, Bush gets no credit for this. He is getting pummelled for Iraq, immigagration, and not necessarily gas prices---but just not LEADING us, the country, out of the gasoline addiction.
I hope this does not make me a Democrat to say these things!
"Americans have a bleaker view of the country's direction than at any time in more than two decades, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. Sharp disapproval of President Bush's handling of gasoline prices has combined with intensified unhappiness about Iraq to create a grim political environment for the White House and Congressional Republicans.
Mr. Bush's approval ratings for his management of foreign policy, Iraq and the economy have fallen to the lowest levels of his presidency. He drew poor marks on the issues that have been at the top of the national agenda in recent months, in particular immigration and gasoline prices."
Okay, you all have read and heard about these polls now for the past few weeks. Seems like when the polls are bad about Bush, someone does another one, and so the latest poll numbers seem to be on a self perpetuating cycle. The media just loves it when the numbers are this bad for Bush. So, they do another poll....This one just happens to have been conducted by the New York Times, one of the libs favorite print media pubs.
I have posted many times about my unease and unrest over the IRAQ war, particularly as it relates to the obvious inability for the IRAQI's to get their shit together in the most basic sense. Too many factions. Too many tribes. Too much 15th century thinking. How in the world are we going to change that? We toppled Sadam. Great job! But, building a democracy in IRAQ? Doubtful. So maybe I see why so many people blame Bush for this over zealous goal of his.
And, okay, so Bush is on the wrong side of the immigration issue. We need to seal up our borders and only let in legal immigrants. I have no problem with Mexicans coming to our country, and neither do most Americans. They just need to have the proper visas. Why is that so hard and why is there so much debate? Just come in legally, seal up the borders, and everything will be fine. No one is talking about cutting off trade or prohibiting legal immigration.
Okay, so I can see why so many people blame Bush for being led down this path, actually, being pushed, pulled, and drug down this legal immigration path.
And then there are the gasoline prices..Bush said in the State of the Union address that we were addicted to oil. He's right. Now, lead us out of this mess. Propose to retrofit every gas station in America with Ethanol pumps. The U. S. government should pick up the tab. Spend mega billions on ethanol production, not the paltry $150 million on various alternative energy initiatives. E85 is the answer, I am convinced. It will take 5 years if we start now on an aggressive campaign to roll out ethanol. Each year we wait, our dependence on foreign oil continues. Think of the international political ramifications if we could produce enough ethanol to reduce and possibly eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. My bet is that the Middle East would cool off, and not be the political hot potatoe that it is. Easy for me to see.
Bush is just not leading us right now. He is in a quagmire. He just does not seem to be the same leader as he once was.
But, here's the rest of the story. The economy is rocking and rolling. Unemployment is at or below 5% nationally. That is awesome. Tax cuts got extended. Inflation is tame. I cannot remember a more robust time--economically speaking. It is almost economic nirvanna out there.
But, Bush gets no credit for this. He is getting pummelled for Iraq, immigagration, and not necessarily gas prices---but just not LEADING us, the country, out of the gasoline addiction.
I hope this does not make me a Democrat to say these things!
"Americans have a bleaker view of the country's direction than at any time in more than two decades, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. Sharp disapproval of President Bush's handling of gasoline prices has combined with intensified unhappiness about Iraq to create a grim political environment for the White House and Congressional Republicans.
Mr. Bush's approval ratings for his management of foreign policy, Iraq and the economy have fallen to the lowest levels of his presidency. He drew poor marks on the issues that have been at the top of the national agenda in recent months, in particular immigration and gasoline prices."
Monday, May 08, 2006
E85 (ETHANOL) Available in Nashville
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) and E85
HEY ATTENTION--
YOU CAN BUY E-85 HERE IN NASHVILLE at the FOLLOWING LOCATION: (note to the people raising their eyebrows--E-85 is the commercial name for ethanol fuel. It is made from agricultural products such as corn and other products. It does not come from the middle east or from way under the ground, any ground, no matter what the geography, for that matter. It does not cause pollution. IT IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. THE FUTURE IS NOW.
Citgo
500 N Main
Nashville, TN 37206
615-244-3828
So, here is what you need to do to have ZERO dependence on foreign oil, help the environment, and be ahead of the curve:
1. You will be surprised how many cars run on Ethanol RIGHT NOW! Click this link to see what I'm talking about
2. Buy one of these cars in the above link, or, if you have one, go to the station above and start buying 100% ethanol
3. Go to the ethanol station for your energy needs as often as you can, preferably every tank if possible
4. You will be a hero.
5. I am not a hero yet, but I'm working on it.
HEY ATTENTION--
YOU CAN BUY E-85 HERE IN NASHVILLE at the FOLLOWING LOCATION: (note to the people raising their eyebrows--E-85 is the commercial name for ethanol fuel. It is made from agricultural products such as corn and other products. It does not come from the middle east or from way under the ground, any ground, no matter what the geography, for that matter. It does not cause pollution. IT IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. THE FUTURE IS NOW.
Citgo
500 N Main
Nashville, TN 37206
615-244-3828
So, here is what you need to do to have ZERO dependence on foreign oil, help the environment, and be ahead of the curve:
1. You will be surprised how many cars run on Ethanol RIGHT NOW! Click this link to see what I'm talking about
2. Buy one of these cars in the above link, or, if you have one, go to the station above and start buying 100% ethanol
3. Go to the ethanol station for your energy needs as often as you can, preferably every tank if possible
4. You will be a hero.
5. I am not a hero yet, but I'm working on it.
#1 Nashville, Tenn.
#1 Nashville, Tenn
"What we loved: Hillsboro Village, for the acoustic guitars at Cotten Music, kitchenware at Davis Cookware and the triple chocolate mousse at Provence Breads & Café."
You've probably heard by now about how Nashville, our great city, was picked as the Number One place to live by the editors of Kiplinger Magazine. Pretty heady stuff for our fair city, no? But, does the quote above hit a chord with you? Kitchenware and Chocolate Mousse?? Does that sound like Nashville to you??? Here's what I would have written-
What we loved: Hillsboro Village for the coffee at Bongo Java with the Jones Pet Store vintage signage, the ultra cool Belcourt Theatre plus the hip and original local restaurants. All just a few stone's throw away from the classicly modern statue of Musica on the Round about separating Downtown from Music Row.
"What we loved: Hillsboro Village, for the acoustic guitars at Cotten Music, kitchenware at Davis Cookware and the triple chocolate mousse at Provence Breads & Café."
You've probably heard by now about how Nashville, our great city, was picked as the Number One place to live by the editors of Kiplinger Magazine. Pretty heady stuff for our fair city, no? But, does the quote above hit a chord with you? Kitchenware and Chocolate Mousse?? Does that sound like Nashville to you??? Here's what I would have written-
What we loved: Hillsboro Village for the coffee at Bongo Java with the Jones Pet Store vintage signage, the ultra cool Belcourt Theatre plus the hip and original local restaurants. All just a few stone's throw away from the classicly modern statue of Musica on the Round about separating Downtown from Music Row.
(Opry) Mills pulls through-- gets $2.23B in financing
Mills gets $2.23B in financing - Pittsburgh Business Times
Excellent news! This should see the company through the recent rough patch. Here is an overview from the article;
Mega-mall developer Mills Corp., which is considering putting itself up for sale, says it has received a commitment from Goldman Sachs for up to $2.23 billion in financing.
The loan, subject to a number of contingencies, would be used to repay debt and to finance continuing operations.
Arlington, Va.-based Mills, which owns more than 40 retail properties and operates the Pittsburgh Mills, hired Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase earlier this year to explore the sale of the company or other options.
Excellent news! This should see the company through the recent rough patch. Here is an overview from the article;
Mega-mall developer Mills Corp., which is considering putting itself up for sale, says it has received a commitment from Goldman Sachs for up to $2.23 billion in financing.
The loan, subject to a number of contingencies, would be used to repay debt and to finance continuing operations.
Arlington, Va.-based Mills, which owns more than 40 retail properties and operates the Pittsburgh Mills, hired Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase earlier this year to explore the sale of the company or other options.
AHA! I Knew it!! Lesbians' brains respond like straight men
Lesbians' brains respond like straight men
Sorry for the unexplained absence. Thought I'd catch your eyes with this latest research from some university in Canada.
Ever wonder why straight guys sort of find it interesting when 2 women "get together" ...Seems as if our brains are on the same wavelength so to speak.
Ever wonder why hetero women get along with gay men so well? Same theory.
Heterosexual women and gay men found the male pheromones pleasant, while straight men and lesbians liked the female pheromone more than the male one. Men and lesbians also found the male hormone more irritating than the female one, while straight women were more likely to be irritated by the female hormone than the male one.
From CNN HEALTH
Sorry for the unexplained absence. Thought I'd catch your eyes with this latest research from some university in Canada.
Ever wonder why straight guys sort of find it interesting when 2 women "get together" ...Seems as if our brains are on the same wavelength so to speak.
Ever wonder why hetero women get along with gay men so well? Same theory.
Heterosexual women and gay men found the male pheromones pleasant, while straight men and lesbians liked the female pheromone more than the male one. Men and lesbians also found the male hormone more irritating than the female one, while straight women were more likely to be irritated by the female hormone than the male one.
From CNN HEALTH
Monday, May 01, 2006
Viruses catch up to the Mac
Viruses catch up to the Mac This is from CNN.com
"Ferris said he warned Apple of the vulnerabilities in January and February and that the company has yet to patch the holes, prompting him to compare the Cupertino-based computer maker to Microsoft three years ago, when the world's largest software company was criticized for being slow to respond to weaknesses in its products.
'They didn't know how to deal with security, and I think Apple is in the same situation now,' said Ferris, himself a Mac user."
"Ferris said he warned Apple of the vulnerabilities in January and February and that the company has yet to patch the holes, prompting him to compare the Cupertino-based computer maker to Microsoft three years ago, when the world's largest software company was criticized for being slow to respond to weaknesses in its products.
'They didn't know how to deal with security, and I think Apple is in the same situation now,' said Ferris, himself a Mac user."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
"
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.
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).
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?)
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
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.
Thelma 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.
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.
Thelma 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.
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)
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."
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.
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.
(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.
"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.
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).
"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).
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