I've assembled several quotes from articles in recent days about the escalation of radical islam in the Middle East and in Europe. As I have opined in recent days, the emergence of Hamas in Palestine, the election of the radical islamist in Iran, plus the situation in Syria and other middle East countries, combined with the incredible outpouring of contemptable behavior over the caricatures of Mohammed in the Danish newspapers----have left people over here wondering about a situation far more serious than our administration realizes...Remember when the Bush administration said that we would be "welcomed with open arms" in Baghdad? More and more, we are witnessing a clash of cultures, a clash of religions too. Plus, we are seen as favoring Israel despite the facts of democratic elections in Palestine, and we are knocking on the door for another war in Iran. How can these developments be justified by a general cry of a "War on Terrorism?" Read on...
From Gene Inger
This is more, as we see it; a clash between modernity in Islam and fundamentalism; as contrasted to a 'clash of cultures' between East and West. It may become that if all the fanatics like the Ayatollahs, and their quislings in Syria and even Iraq have their way. It's already almost impossible to stand-up for what is right, decent or tolerant in so many Islamic countries (by civilized standards); so governments kowtow basically to the mob, and you hear things like Pakistan refusing to allow doctors or hospitals to buy pharmaceuticals from any country where the cartoons were reprinted. Nonsense. They hurt themselves, and deprive their people; largely not the big drug companies.
We'll not have much more to say on this for now; other than the overtones of a world war emerging are there; that's what the Islamic extremists actually want, we're fairly convinced. It's going to be tough, but only the Islamic world can defuse this situation. The rhetoric from the Islamists won't allow the rest of the world to calm the issue very much; because they don't want it calmed, no matter what they may say to the media. They are agitators.
From Tom Porteous
Worse, Bush's State of the Union address marked a clear broadening of the war on terror. No longer does the U.S. government limit itself to speaking of a narrow war against terrorists, or a struggle against an "evil ideology" of Islamic extremism.
According to Bush, the West's opponent in a new global conflict that has replaced the Cold War is now "radical Islam"—the very political ideology to which increasingly large numbers of Muslims are committed, if the successes of radical Islamists in recent democratic elections in Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and Iran are any evidence.
As the furor over the cartoons shows, the further we go down this road, the more the "war on terror" will infect cultural outlooks and popular attitudes both in the West and in the Muslim world, poisoning relations between them. We must not allow a military and intelligence battle between a coalition of governments and a bunch of extremists and desperados to develop into a real conflict between cultures and peoples.
From Rhami Khouri
I nearly fell out of my car window Monday morning while traveling around several of the fine universities in North Carolina, when I read U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's statement on the Hamas election victory in Palestine. She stated: "I've asked why nobody saw it coming. It does say something about us not having a good enough pulse."
Good grief, Condoleezza, this is not about having or not having a good enough pulse. It's about the consequences of the last decade of Israeli and American policies toward the Palestinians in general, and the Islamist resistance movements in particular. This is not a time to persist in simplistic, counterproductive policies that will only further strengthen the forces of military resistance against the Israeli occupation, and wider Arab-Islamic political resistance against America 's blatantly pro-Israeli position.
To add a new dose of American perplexity and wonderment now to several existing layers of mistaken policies on Arab-Israeli peacemaking will be of no help to anyone. If Washington 's initial reaction is bewilderment at why it did not see this coming, and a reaffirmation of its policy of placing Israeli security above Palestinian security, then we are all in far more serious trouble than we can imagine. What is required now is a combination of honesty, independent analysis and composure that have long been missing in Washington's policies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Thanks to my brotherly sources for sending me these articles from which to quote-
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
On To Marcia Trimble and Tabitha Tudors
I know he is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but I think Perry March is toast.
Torry Johnson is going to have to seriously think about going for the death penalty.
Now, I don't have time to look up the links, but it's time to find the killers of Marcia Trimble and Tabitha Tudors.
Torry Johnson is going to have to seriously think about going for the death penalty.
Now, I don't have time to look up the links, but it's time to find the killers of Marcia Trimble and Tabitha Tudors.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Bonaroo 2006--Woodstock Grown Up
Have you ever noticed the impact of Bonaroo on the local economy, or otherwise, have you ever thought about attending this most magnificent concert event just down the road from Nashville? I'm talking to the probable readers of this site--you know--the well adjusted, 30's/40's/50's something crowd that normally has sworn off large concert events...like me??? Too many people our age think this event is what Woodstock used to be--but I think Bonaroo has grown up and ultimately achieved what Woodstock could never become---the ultimate repetitive outdoor concert event.
Of course, the major local media always seems to concentrate on the drug intake aspect of the (very minor portion of the) attendees, or, in the same vein (no pun intended) of the News of the Weird of how some people die at the event. The media will never give credit where credit is due. You've read it here on this site--Bonaroo is a cultural and economic phenomena--and I officially salute it's creators and management.
We were sitting in a restaurant in SteamBoat Springs, Colorado about 3 years ago and we were chatting up the server. She about flipped when she realized we lived about 60 miles from the Bonaroo event location. She had purchased her tickets on line (Which by the way, is the ONLY way to buy tickets--NO TICKETMASTER ALLOWED--which is another subject, but which it totally and completely a great idea)---but anyway, it's totally amazing what Bonaroo has accomplished in such a short amount of time.
It has become THE concert event for most 20's/30/s something (concert-going) people. It continues to draw as many people as they allow tickets to be sold.
Just last summer, we were at the airport a few days before the event, and there were tons of people picking up their back packs and their gear at the baggage claim area, obviously, not heading to local hotels. They were totally phsyched about heading down towards Manchester (we overheard these conversations), and they were renting cars, stopping by local restaurants, basically going by grocery stores, and doing most of their prep work here in Nashville. Quite an impact here locally.
Also last summer (pre-blogging), Sharon and I took our daughter, Rachel, to camp in Mentone, Alabama. We happened to be traveling around the second week of June. We stopped in Monteagle on the way back, and noticed a bunch of people at a local restaurant taking a break from Bonaroo. The interstate was packed and so was the town. Bonaroo impact is well known south of here.
All in all, it was a slow news day, and just thought I'd share these thought with you. If you want to look at who is playing this year, or if you would like to get up a group of people and go, here is where you need to click to read about Bonaroo.
Of course, the major local media always seems to concentrate on the drug intake aspect of the (very minor portion of the) attendees, or, in the same vein (no pun intended) of the News of the Weird of how some people die at the event. The media will never give credit where credit is due. You've read it here on this site--Bonaroo is a cultural and economic phenomena--and I officially salute it's creators and management.
We were sitting in a restaurant in SteamBoat Springs, Colorado about 3 years ago and we were chatting up the server. She about flipped when she realized we lived about 60 miles from the Bonaroo event location. She had purchased her tickets on line (Which by the way, is the ONLY way to buy tickets--NO TICKETMASTER ALLOWED--which is another subject, but which it totally and completely a great idea)---but anyway, it's totally amazing what Bonaroo has accomplished in such a short amount of time.
It has become THE concert event for most 20's/30/s something (concert-going) people. It continues to draw as many people as they allow tickets to be sold.
Just last summer, we were at the airport a few days before the event, and there were tons of people picking up their back packs and their gear at the baggage claim area, obviously, not heading to local hotels. They were totally phsyched about heading down towards Manchester (we overheard these conversations), and they were renting cars, stopping by local restaurants, basically going by grocery stores, and doing most of their prep work here in Nashville. Quite an impact here locally.
Also last summer (pre-blogging), Sharon and I took our daughter, Rachel, to camp in Mentone, Alabama. We happened to be traveling around the second week of June. We stopped in Monteagle on the way back, and noticed a bunch of people at a local restaurant taking a break from Bonaroo. The interstate was packed and so was the town. Bonaroo impact is well known south of here.
All in all, it was a slow news day, and just thought I'd share these thought with you. If you want to look at who is playing this year, or if you would like to get up a group of people and go, here is where you need to click to read about Bonaroo.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Super Bore Overview
Sierra Mist was by far the best commercial so far (this was written at half time). This was the commerical with the guy at the airport security point--who gladly gave up his Sierra Mist as opposed to getting a more detailed screening shall we say from the security folks. Who cares about Pittsburgh and Seattle?---the game that is. I have no allegience or interest in either team. So, it has become the Super Bore Game at our house. The interest is in the commercials, and the entertainment factor, as it is with many other homes in this area I assume. Have you ever heard so much hype for the Rolling Stones? Mick is the fossilized star of stars, is he not, and most assuredly, will put a new twist on rock till ya drop. And how about Bud Light? Their commercials were not so humorous this year. Definitely an off year for the Budweiser creative ad agency folks. However, the streaker commerical (the lamb without any fur) who ran through the football game between the Clydesdales was by far the best.
Okay, I went off line for a few minutes to watch Mick and the Boys. My most favorite recent memory of a Super Bowl half time show was Bono's and U-2's tribute to America in 2002. Paul McCartney last year was pretty good. And now, ranked third in recent history....is the Stones. I do think they need to finally give it up. Start Me Up was never a great song, who knows what the second song was, and Satisfaction, was too long, too stale, and too redundant. The stage was cool with the tongue and the people in the middle. Ron Wood looked okay, and so did Charlie Watts. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger weren't necessarily over the hill as much as trying too hard to be actively entertaining. At one time in my life, I enjoyed these guys. True enough, I had the volume cranked this year and was hoping to be inspired, but I kept thinking--these guys were so good about 20 plus years ago---We were in college when the classic, classic album, Some Girls, was released. We played that album (and cassette) incessantly. Here we are 27 years later, and they are headlining America's Favorite Football Party. I'm just glad there was not a material malfunction, and I was just wondering--why couldn't we have Stevie Wonder at half time and Mick at the Pre Game Show? Stevie and company (despite microphone issues ) was superbly excellent before the game--the Stones were just not that good, sorry folks...Give them an "A" for persevering and for performing through the ages, but enough is enough. If you want to listen to a band that sounds just as great now as they did in the 1960-s, look no further than the MOODY BLUES !!!!!! Justin Hayward gets my vote for the rock star of the ages----and now, yes, the football game has been completed, no new memorable commercials were premiered in the second half, and the Steelers won the game.
Okay, I went off line for a few minutes to watch Mick and the Boys. My most favorite recent memory of a Super Bowl half time show was Bono's and U-2's tribute to America in 2002. Paul McCartney last year was pretty good. And now, ranked third in recent history....is the Stones. I do think they need to finally give it up. Start Me Up was never a great song, who knows what the second song was, and Satisfaction, was too long, too stale, and too redundant. The stage was cool with the tongue and the people in the middle. Ron Wood looked okay, and so did Charlie Watts. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger weren't necessarily over the hill as much as trying too hard to be actively entertaining. At one time in my life, I enjoyed these guys. True enough, I had the volume cranked this year and was hoping to be inspired, but I kept thinking--these guys were so good about 20 plus years ago---We were in college when the classic, classic album, Some Girls, was released. We played that album (and cassette) incessantly. Here we are 27 years later, and they are headlining America's Favorite Football Party. I'm just glad there was not a material malfunction, and I was just wondering--why couldn't we have Stevie Wonder at half time and Mick at the Pre Game Show? Stevie and company (despite microphone issues ) was superbly excellent before the game--the Stones were just not that good, sorry folks...Give them an "A" for persevering and for performing through the ages, but enough is enough. If you want to listen to a band that sounds just as great now as they did in the 1960-s, look no further than the MOODY BLUES !!!!!! Justin Hayward gets my vote for the rock star of the ages----and now, yes, the football game has been completed, no new memorable commercials were premiered in the second half, and the Steelers won the game.
After a front page article on Saturday....
About Perry March's dad possibly pleading guilty ....Plus the article hinted that the authorities were close to finding out details of Janet Levine's whereabouts.....
You'd think the Tennessean would have had a follow up article on Sunday--somewhere, anywhere in the local, or front section. Again, not that I read the TNSN as much as I used to--- but this case sells papers. The Tennessean continues to baffle me.
You'd think the Tennessean would have had a follow up article on Sunday--somewhere, anywhere in the local, or front section. Again, not that I read the TNSN as much as I used to--- but this case sells papers. The Tennessean continues to baffle me.
Vol Men's Basketball--How Good Are They?
..Looks like we'll find out these next 2 weeks as the Vols go on the Road. Read these comments from John Penningon-
Another week, another couple of wins for Bruce Pearl's Band of Believers. Ho-hum.
At 16-3, there's no question that this team is now in the NCAA Tournament (probably a 3 or 4 seed) barring a total collapse.
But at their current pace, a total collapse doesn't even seem like a remote possibility. This team, which has already maximized its potential, seems to be getting better as the season goes along.
The short bench, which had the potential for being a weakness, has proven to be just the opposite.
The fact that UT does not have a consistent scoring threat aside from CJ Watson and Chris Lofton has not hurt because a different player seems to step up in each game... when needed.
The fact that 6'4" Dane Bradshaw is the team's leading rebounder hasn't hurt, either. Don't get me wrong, the Vols' losses have come when they've shot poorly in games against tough post-dominated teams, but so far... there have only been 3 such games.
Now, after a heart-to-heart with Bruce Pearl, even Major Wingate, who had been a bit of a disappointment on the year, has begun to assert himself.
The 13th ranked Vols now face a tough stretch in their schedule. Four of their next five games will be played away from Thompson-Boling Arena:
At Kentucky
At Georgia
Auburn (and one-time UT coaching candidate Jeff Lebo)
At Alabama
At Florida
Another week, another couple of wins for Bruce Pearl's Band of Believers. Ho-hum.
At 16-3, there's no question that this team is now in the NCAA Tournament (probably a 3 or 4 seed) barring a total collapse.
But at their current pace, a total collapse doesn't even seem like a remote possibility. This team, which has already maximized its potential, seems to be getting better as the season goes along.
The short bench, which had the potential for being a weakness, has proven to be just the opposite.
The fact that UT does not have a consistent scoring threat aside from CJ Watson and Chris Lofton has not hurt because a different player seems to step up in each game... when needed.
The fact that 6'4" Dane Bradshaw is the team's leading rebounder hasn't hurt, either. Don't get me wrong, the Vols' losses have come when they've shot poorly in games against tough post-dominated teams, but so far... there have only been 3 such games.
Now, after a heart-to-heart with Bruce Pearl, even Major Wingate, who had been a bit of a disappointment on the year, has begun to assert himself.
The 13th ranked Vols now face a tough stretch in their schedule. Four of their next five games will be played away from Thompson-Boling Arena:
At Kentucky
At Georgia
Auburn (and one-time UT coaching candidate Jeff Lebo)
At Alabama
At Florida
Friday, February 03, 2006
New Twist on a "REALITY" Show
Have you heard about the live Cirque De Soleil: Delirium event upcoming to the GEC on May 9th? This is taken verbatim from the press release:
Driven by an urban tribal beat and awe-inspiring visuals, musicians, singers and dancers transform the arena into joyous frenzy .DELIRIUM is the quest for balance in a world that is increasingly out of sync with REALITY.
Joyous frenzy? Can you imagine you and your best 18,000 friends in a joyous frenzy together? Okay, Okay, who, exactly, is out of synch with reality? What has this marketing person been smoking?
Driven by an urban tribal beat and awe-inspiring visuals, musicians, singers and dancers transform the arena into joyous frenzy .DELIRIUM is the quest for balance in a world that is increasingly out of sync with REALITY.
Joyous frenzy? Can you imagine you and your best 18,000 friends in a joyous frenzy together? Okay, Okay, who, exactly, is out of synch with reality? What has this marketing person been smoking?
Local Apple Guru Says New Intel Based Macs Released Too Soon
Michael Petruna, a local Mac expert, and I'm proud to say, an exemplary employee of U. S. Hospitality Publishers,Inc. , points to this posting on SlashDot's website that says Adobe is not ready to support the new intel based Macs. As most of you know, Adobe is THE DADDY of mac software for graphics--and if they're not on board yet, then no one will be buying these macs until they are ready--at least no one in the graphics industry...
Best Chance of Snow this winter--Next 7 days
From the National Weather Service "forecast discussion" group:
WRAP AROUND CIRCULATION IS STRONGER AND WILL PULL DOWN MUCH COLDERAIR INTO NORTHWEST MIDDLE TENNESSEE AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND SPEEDS WILLINCREASE. TEMPERATURES PROFILES ARE COLD ENOUGH FOR CHANGE TO SNOWACROSS MOST OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE BY 04/12Z. THERE COULD BE SOME LIGHTSNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN NORTHWEST MIDDLE TENNESSEE TONIGHT...POSSIBLY
GETTING INTO THE NORTH/WEST METRO NASHVILLE AREA TOO.
00Z GFS80 AND 06Z NAM12 IN BETTER AGREEMENT WITH -8 TO -10 C H8 AIR
MOVING OVER MIDDLE TENNESSEE ON SATURDAY...WITH MORE MOISTURE
HANGING BACK NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER INTO THE AFTERNOON. SNOW
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE DAY...MAINLY NORTH
AND EAST MIDDLE TENNESSEE. THE NORTHERN CUMBERLAND PLATEAU COULDRECEIVE UP TO THREE INCHES OF SNOWFALL INTO SATURDAY NIGHT.
.LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...COLD PATTERN CONTINUES AS ADVERTISED. THE NEXT CHANCE OFPRECIPITATION COMES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. MODELS SHOW LARGE
DIFFERENCES WITH TRACK OF SURFACE LOW ASSOCIATED WITH CLIPPER
SYSTEM...AND WILL CONTINUE CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW MOST AREAS. THENANOTHER SYSTEM WITH REINFORCING COLD AIR MAY BRING ANOTHER CHANCE OFSNOW TO THE REGION AT MIDWEEK.
WRAP AROUND CIRCULATION IS STRONGER AND WILL PULL DOWN MUCH COLDERAIR INTO NORTHWEST MIDDLE TENNESSEE AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND SPEEDS WILLINCREASE. TEMPERATURES PROFILES ARE COLD ENOUGH FOR CHANGE TO SNOWACROSS MOST OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE BY 04/12Z. THERE COULD BE SOME LIGHTSNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN NORTHWEST MIDDLE TENNESSEE TONIGHT...POSSIBLY
GETTING INTO THE NORTH/WEST METRO NASHVILLE AREA TOO.
00Z GFS80 AND 06Z NAM12 IN BETTER AGREEMENT WITH -8 TO -10 C H8 AIR
MOVING OVER MIDDLE TENNESSEE ON SATURDAY...WITH MORE MOISTURE
HANGING BACK NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER INTO THE AFTERNOON. SNOW
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE DAY...MAINLY NORTH
AND EAST MIDDLE TENNESSEE. THE NORTHERN CUMBERLAND PLATEAU COULDRECEIVE UP TO THREE INCHES OF SNOWFALL INTO SATURDAY NIGHT.
.LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...COLD PATTERN CONTINUES AS ADVERTISED. THE NEXT CHANCE OFPRECIPITATION COMES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. MODELS SHOW LARGE
DIFFERENCES WITH TRACK OF SURFACE LOW ASSOCIATED WITH CLIPPER
SYSTEM...AND WILL CONTINUE CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW MOST AREAS. THENANOTHER SYSTEM WITH REINFORCING COLD AIR MAY BRING ANOTHER CHANCE OFSNOW TO THE REGION AT MIDWEEK.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Fall Out from the Big Speech
These are comments from Gene Inger, a thoughtfully long winded, but mostly accurate analyst. Thanks to my brother Dortch for these comments, cut and pasted from Inger's newsletter.
There is a significant 'flap' developing with OPEC, as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries today warned that President Bush’s proposal to reduce much US dependence on Middle Eastern oil could badly jeopardize needed investment in Gulf oil production and refining capacity. Gee, well they should have been accommodative to the needs of the United States in many aspects over recent years and appreciative of the sacrifices the U.S. made for them not only in the region, but in the Balkans too.
There is a significant 'flap' developing with OPEC, as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries today warned that President Bush’s proposal to reduce much US dependence on Middle Eastern oil could badly jeopardize needed investment in Gulf oil production and refining capacity. Gee, well they should have been accommodative to the needs of the United States in many aspects over recent years and appreciative of the sacrifices the U.S. made for them not only in the region, but in the Balkans too.
Tennessee Tops Vandy Moves to 11-0 at Home. Pearl Wears Orange Jacket A-LA Mears
Yes, some great news out of Knoxville for a change. Tennessee Beats Vandy. Read it and weep Commodore fans.
And, read the article too--Bruce Pearl actually went to see legendary coach Ray Mears, and asked his permission to bring back the Orange Sports Coat against Vanderbilt and Kentucky! How cool is that!!??
(note to all non UT Fans--Ray Mears used to wear an orange jacket to every Kentucky and Vanderbilt basketball games in the 60's and 70's, which would absolutely perturb those fans)!!
And, read the article too--Bruce Pearl actually went to see legendary coach Ray Mears, and asked his permission to bring back the Orange Sports Coat against Vanderbilt and Kentucky! How cool is that!!??
(note to all non UT Fans--Ray Mears used to wear an orange jacket to every Kentucky and Vanderbilt basketball games in the 60's and 70's, which would absolutely perturb those fans)!!
Do you think Fulmer can coach his way out of this one?
The Vols finish the 2006 recruiting season with a class ranked anywhere from No. 15 to the mid-20s by various national services. Scout.com ranked Tennessee 24th in the nation and seventh in the SEC.
Fulmer declined to talk about specific players that spurned the Vols but spoke to the overall recruiting landscape at a press conference Wednesday evening.
"There's guys that just lie to you - flat lie to you," Fulmer said. "That goes back to upbringing."
The bad news for UT continued into the afternoon when Aleric Mullins from East Lake High in Wendell, N.C., signed with North Carolina. A source close to UT's program said Mullins told UT's coaches that he was committed to being a Vol during his Jan. 13 official visit.
"We certainly fought through some ups and downs as we fought the recruiting battles from a different position than we've been in since I've been a football coach," Fulmer said. "That's after a sub-par season, so that presented some challenges."
Sub par? How about disastrous?
Guess who was ranked number one this year--Our old nemesis--Florida!
Fulmer declined to talk about specific players that spurned the Vols but spoke to the overall recruiting landscape at a press conference Wednesday evening.
"There's guys that just lie to you - flat lie to you," Fulmer said. "That goes back to upbringing."
The bad news for UT continued into the afternoon when Aleric Mullins from East Lake High in Wendell, N.C., signed with North Carolina. A source close to UT's program said Mullins told UT's coaches that he was committed to being a Vol during his Jan. 13 official visit.
"We certainly fought through some ups and downs as we fought the recruiting battles from a different position than we've been in since I've been a football coach," Fulmer said. "That's after a sub-par season, so that presented some challenges."
Sub par? How about disastrous?
Guess who was ranked number one this year--Our old nemesis--Florida!
Who Reads Newspapers Any More?
Read this article
about how advertising revenue continues to decline at the Tribune company's print newspapers. I'm sure they are scratching their heads wondering what to do. Look at your own habits. Do you read newspapers as much as you did, say, one, five, or ten years ago? I still subscribe to the Tennessean and the Wall Street Journal. Half the time one or both papers goes into the recycle bin having gone unread that day. The Sports section of the Tennessean is the only section worth reading anyway.
Here is one nugget from this article: Online revenue climbed 40% to $46 million, largely due to the improvement in classified help-wanted ads.. Times, they are a changin'.
about how advertising revenue continues to decline at the Tribune company's print newspapers. I'm sure they are scratching their heads wondering what to do. Look at your own habits. Do you read newspapers as much as you did, say, one, five, or ten years ago? I still subscribe to the Tennessean and the Wall Street Journal. Half the time one or both papers goes into the recycle bin having gone unread that day. The Sports section of the Tennessean is the only section worth reading anyway.
Here is one nugget from this article: Online revenue climbed 40% to $46 million, largely due to the improvement in classified help-wanted ads.. Times, they are a changin'.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Trying not to get drawn into the State of the Union
Why? Beacause you just can't get away from it today, and everbody is blogging about it, and I'm being sucked in like a piece of lint into a vacuum cleaner.
Well, I think this is the best article about the whole speech, even though it was a post interview on his plane ride down to Nashville for this speech today at the Grand Ole Opry.
Let me tell you it was a fabulous State of the Union speech. I'll just comment on the energy section, and won't get sucked into the Hoover or Oreck section of Iraq, etc. Why in the world would anyone expect any type of governmental action on the price of oil? Is Exxon, or BP, or anyone for that matter taking advantage of the situation? Absolutely not! These guys are running their businesses, and they are having a hard time meeting supply with the demand. I have no problem with Exxon or any oil company making a bunch of money right now. Thank God they are in business and have the resources to get gasoline to the market. Put that in your pipe and smoke it !
What I loved about the President last night, and what I think hit a major home run in the State of the Union Speech was the comment on developing an alternative energy source to oil in "W"'s lifetime, and maybe even in the next 10 years or less. That would be awesomely cool if we could get away from depending on the rogue nations to supply our nation with oil--plus we would not have to deal with their own insecurities. We have to look beyond oil, and not short sighted goals such as drilling for oil in the Alaska or------raising the fuel efficiencies aka MPG's of cars. What good would all that do? We need to find another source of energy (as I opined in a previous post BEFORE the State of the Union speech). It's not rocket science....Oil gets us into trouble, because we are addicted to it---like a junkie on heroin.
In conclusion, I'm always proud to be an American, but I was especially proud of President Bush on Monday night. Yes, it's old news and I'm sorry for this late post, but he hit on all cylinders....ahem, one criticism...the $14 billion in program cuts last year was micro BS---in a trillion dollar budget, he should have cut $150 billion or more....George Bush likes big government to the point of it being his achilles heel.
As for the up and down on separate sections of the "isle". How could the Democrats applaud and make noise about NOT doing something about Social Security ? It was like, naaa naaa naaa naaaa naaa naaa (sung to hey, hey, hey, good bye)....How could they be proud of putting off inevitably more than likely, the plain and simple fact that social security is going broke, and has been going broke?
What original, unique idea have the Democrats come up with lately? Name one.
Well, I think this is the best article about the whole speech, even though it was a post interview on his plane ride down to Nashville for this speech today at the Grand Ole Opry.
Let me tell you it was a fabulous State of the Union speech. I'll just comment on the energy section, and won't get sucked into the Hoover or Oreck section of Iraq, etc. Why in the world would anyone expect any type of governmental action on the price of oil? Is Exxon, or BP, or anyone for that matter taking advantage of the situation? Absolutely not! These guys are running their businesses, and they are having a hard time meeting supply with the demand. I have no problem with Exxon or any oil company making a bunch of money right now. Thank God they are in business and have the resources to get gasoline to the market. Put that in your pipe and smoke it !
What I loved about the President last night, and what I think hit a major home run in the State of the Union Speech was the comment on developing an alternative energy source to oil in "W"'s lifetime, and maybe even in the next 10 years or less. That would be awesomely cool if we could get away from depending on the rogue nations to supply our nation with oil--plus we would not have to deal with their own insecurities. We have to look beyond oil, and not short sighted goals such as drilling for oil in the Alaska or------raising the fuel efficiencies aka MPG's of cars. What good would all that do? We need to find another source of energy (as I opined in a previous post BEFORE the State of the Union speech). It's not rocket science....Oil gets us into trouble, because we are addicted to it---like a junkie on heroin.
In conclusion, I'm always proud to be an American, but I was especially proud of President Bush on Monday night. Yes, it's old news and I'm sorry for this late post, but he hit on all cylinders....ahem, one criticism...the $14 billion in program cuts last year was micro BS---in a trillion dollar budget, he should have cut $150 billion or more....George Bush likes big government to the point of it being his achilles heel.
As for the up and down on separate sections of the "isle". How could the Democrats applaud and make noise about NOT doing something about Social Security ? It was like, naaa naaa naaa naaaa naaa naaa (sung to hey, hey, hey, good bye)....How could they be proud of putting off inevitably more than likely, the plain and simple fact that social security is going broke, and has been going broke?
What original, unique idea have the Democrats come up with lately? Name one.
Yes, I turned down Tix to see "W"
President Bush is speaking today at the Grand Ole Opry House and I could have been there. But, I would have had to been there by 10Am, gone into lock down mode around 11 am, hope that he was on time, and speaking around 12:10 pm, and then waited for the "all clear" from the Secret Service after his speech around 12:45 pm or so, and probably been back in the office by 1:30 pm. That is just too much hassle for me. I did see him the last time he spoke at Vanderbilt Medical Center, and I went through all of the above. I have to admit, it was very very cool when he came out on stage, and "Hail to the Chief" was played and the Secret Service was all over the place. Plus, seeing the Blackhawk helicopters buzzing around West End and Hillsboro Rd area--before, during and after his speech. I guess I'm just not a political junkie the way I used to be. Seriously, there are people today who are so pumped up to see "W" that they can hardly contain themselves. This is what they live for--a Presidential visit and speech. This is what keeps them motivated--seeing their man in person. That used to be me. I used to think about running for office and playing the 'ole political game, but somewhere along the way, other priorities, and other interests surfaced. The only way I got tix to the event today was by financially supporting Bob Corker for Senate, so I guess I'm still a little involved in the whole thing. Suffice to say, it's good to know your Congressman, Senator, or Governor! And let's hope good men and women out there still want to serve the public. God knows we need them, whoever and wherever they are!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Google Wierdness on Wall Street
You are probably hearing how google got wallopped in the stock market after hours on Tuesday. Now, I'm not a fan of Google if you are a regular reader, you know how I feel about their increasing, shall we say, hegemony, but their earnings were up 82% from the previous year in the same quarter. That is absolutely balls to the wall, incredbile. Now, Wall Street is rewarding them with a huge shellacking. I'm involved with several small businesses. If any of my businesses had earning up 82% over the previous year, same quarter, I'd be high fiving the entire office, and probably dishing out bonuses to boot, along with buying a keg of beer on a Friday afternoon, if not 2 kegs. Wall Street is just a strange, strange world of pushing the envelope of 'figgers, and never being satisfied with tangible results that are "below" expectations of some numbers crunching MBA-grad 20 something pencil pusher.
More Google--From Rexblog.com
Do know evil: John Battelle asked the following two questions to Google and in both cases they told him, the answer is "yes":
"1) "Given a list of search terms, can Google produce a list of people who searched for that term, identified by IP address and/or Google cookie value?" 2) "Given an IP address or Google cookie value, can Google produce a list of the terms searched by the user of that IP address or cookie value?"
My comment--It's true--Google is the second coming of Big Brother.
"1) "Given a list of search terms, can Google produce a list of people who searched for that term, identified by IP address and/or Google cookie value?" 2) "Given an IP address or Google cookie value, can Google produce a list of the terms searched by the user of that IP address or cookie value?"
My comment--It's true--Google is the second coming of Big Brother.
OIL Issues
I don't have a problem with Exxon making $10 Billion last quarter--did you see that their profit margin was around 8% ? As a comparison, Proctor and Gamble had a profit margin of 13% last quarter. Maybe we should get mad at P&G for making so much money off of soap and TP? I don't find myself in the windfall profit tax area of the debate.
Exxon is making a fair profit on the product they are producing, distributing, and selling. That's how an economy based on capitalism is supposed to work.
I do find myself concerned, however, that Exxon is not re-investing enough funds to look for new sources of energy--That is what we desperately need. A new source of energy that can be rapidly turned into an inexpensive source of fuel. I don't think Hydrogen is it. It is too expensive to convert to energy (although water is the only needed ingredient besides hydrogen). Hybrid fuel cells have promise--but they depend too much on oil still. I'm going to keep posting on this challenge.
Read these thoughts from Steven Leeb, a leading analyst and stock guru-
OUR DEPENDENCY ON THE KINDNESS OF ROGUES
The danger we must be ever on the lookout for is an oil spike. Today, oil prices are being driven higher by 1) a long-term gap between supply and demand and 2) the political problems within the world’s largest oil producers.
Last Thursday – to pick the most recent example – Iran’s president threatened to put an embargo on oil exports from his country if the IAEA refers the issue of Iran’s nuclear program to the UN Security Council. Eoin O’Callaghan, an oil analyst for BNP Paribas, warned that such a move could push oil prices over $90 a barrel – exactly the type of spike we have been fearing, because it would mean we need to switch to a more defensive investment posture.
We have said several times that America’s dependence on rogue nations for our oil supply is our biggest liability. From Iran to Nigeria, Venezuela, Iraq, Saudi Arabia – all the big oil exporters are either undeveloped, unstable, or renegade economies. The reason for this is simple. All the stable, developed, friendly countries that have oil are already using all the oil they produce and, like us, are looking to buy more.
In a recent article by Fortune Magazine writer Nelson Schwartz, billionaire investor George Soros is quoted as being “very worried about the supply-demand balance” in oil. What’s more, Soros comments, “Iran is on a collision course and I have a difficulty seeing how such a collision can be avoided.”
If that isn’t enough, the article also quotes Hermitage Capital’s Bill Browder who thinks oil could reach $262 a barrel.
My new book, The Coming Economic Collapse (which was finished last October, and will be released next month), makes a similar prediction.
So where does that leave us for the near term? Right now, stocks are still enjoying seasonal strength, having recovered a little last week. And this strength may continue for the next two weeks or so. However, our Master Key is still close to neutral, so after then all bets are off.
Again, I must stress: keep an eye on oil. If it does experience a spike above $90, that could create weakness in all stocks, even energy stocks, as it would imply the start of a recession.
Back to my thoughts----I don't have a problem with Exxon making $10 Billion last quarter--did you see that their profit margin was around 8% ? As a comparison, Proctor and Gamble had a profit margin of 13% last quarter. Maybe we should get mad at P&G for making so much money off of soap and TP? I don't find myself in the windfall profit tax area of the debate.
Exxon is making a fair profit on the product they are producing, distributing, and selling. That's how a capitality economy works.
I do find myself concerned that Exxon is not re-investing enough funds to look for new sources of energy--That is what we desperately need. A new source of energy that can be rapidly turned into an inexpensive source of fuel. I don't think Hydrogen is it.It is too expensive to convert to energy (although water is the only needed ingredient besides hydrogen). Hybrid fuel cells have promise--but they depend too much on oil still. I'm going to keep posting on this challenge.
Exxon is making a fair profit on the product they are producing, distributing, and selling. That's how an economy based on capitalism is supposed to work.
I do find myself concerned, however, that Exxon is not re-investing enough funds to look for new sources of energy--That is what we desperately need. A new source of energy that can be rapidly turned into an inexpensive source of fuel. I don't think Hydrogen is it. It is too expensive to convert to energy (although water is the only needed ingredient besides hydrogen). Hybrid fuel cells have promise--but they depend too much on oil still. I'm going to keep posting on this challenge.
Read these thoughts from Steven Leeb, a leading analyst and stock guru-
OUR DEPENDENCY ON THE KINDNESS OF ROGUES
The danger we must be ever on the lookout for is an oil spike. Today, oil prices are being driven higher by 1) a long-term gap between supply and demand and 2) the political problems within the world’s largest oil producers.
Last Thursday – to pick the most recent example – Iran’s president threatened to put an embargo on oil exports from his country if the IAEA refers the issue of Iran’s nuclear program to the UN Security Council. Eoin O’Callaghan, an oil analyst for BNP Paribas, warned that such a move could push oil prices over $90 a barrel – exactly the type of spike we have been fearing, because it would mean we need to switch to a more defensive investment posture.
We have said several times that America’s dependence on rogue nations for our oil supply is our biggest liability. From Iran to Nigeria, Venezuela, Iraq, Saudi Arabia – all the big oil exporters are either undeveloped, unstable, or renegade economies. The reason for this is simple. All the stable, developed, friendly countries that have oil are already using all the oil they produce and, like us, are looking to buy more.
In a recent article by Fortune Magazine writer Nelson Schwartz, billionaire investor George Soros is quoted as being “very worried about the supply-demand balance” in oil. What’s more, Soros comments, “Iran is on a collision course and I have a difficulty seeing how such a collision can be avoided.”
If that isn’t enough, the article also quotes Hermitage Capital’s Bill Browder who thinks oil could reach $262 a barrel.
My new book, The Coming Economic Collapse (which was finished last October, and will be released next month), makes a similar prediction.
So where does that leave us for the near term? Right now, stocks are still enjoying seasonal strength, having recovered a little last week. And this strength may continue for the next two weeks or so. However, our Master Key is still close to neutral, so after then all bets are off.
Again, I must stress: keep an eye on oil. If it does experience a spike above $90, that could create weakness in all stocks, even energy stocks, as it would imply the start of a recession.
Back to my thoughts----I don't have a problem with Exxon making $10 Billion last quarter--did you see that their profit margin was around 8% ? As a comparison, Proctor and Gamble had a profit margin of 13% last quarter. Maybe we should get mad at P&G for making so much money off of soap and TP? I don't find myself in the windfall profit tax area of the debate.
Exxon is making a fair profit on the product they are producing, distributing, and selling. That's how a capitality economy works.
I do find myself concerned that Exxon is not re-investing enough funds to look for new sources of energy--That is what we desperately need. A new source of energy that can be rapidly turned into an inexpensive source of fuel. I don't think Hydrogen is it.It is too expensive to convert to energy (although water is the only needed ingredient besides hydrogen). Hybrid fuel cells have promise--but they depend too much on oil still. I'm going to keep posting on this challenge.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Things were getting just a wee bit too serious
In an attempt to lighten up just a tad, I came across this today, and thought it was just too good to pass up. Thanks to bloggerblaster.com.
Public Service Announcement
The Bloggerblaster Guide to Women's Personals Ads:
40-ish ........................ 49.
Adventurous .............. Slept with everyone.
Athletic ...................... No breasts
Average looking .......... Moooo.
Beautiful .................... Pathological liar.
Emotionally Secure ... On medication.
Feminist .................... Fat
Free spirit .................. Junkie
Friendship first .......... Former slut.
New-Age ................... Body hair in the wrong places.
Old-Fashioned ........... No BJs.
Open-minded ............. Desperate
Outgoing ................... Loud and Embarrassing.
Professional .............. Bitch
Voluptuous ................ Very Fat
Large frame ............... Hugely Fat
Wants soul mate ....... Stalker
Not really having any idea what personal ads are all about, this sort of sums it all up, does it not? Marketing in the 21st century for a date has come a long way from the bar scene in the 70's!
Public Service Announcement
The Bloggerblaster Guide to Women's Personals Ads:
40-ish ........................ 49.
Adventurous .............. Slept with everyone.
Athletic ...................... No breasts
Average looking .......... Moooo.
Beautiful .................... Pathological liar.
Emotionally Secure ... On medication.
Feminist .................... Fat
Free spirit .................. Junkie
Friendship first .......... Former slut.
New-Age ................... Body hair in the wrong places.
Old-Fashioned ........... No BJs.
Open-minded ............. Desperate
Outgoing ................... Loud and Embarrassing.
Professional .............. Bitch
Voluptuous ................ Very Fat
Large frame ............... Hugely Fat
Wants soul mate ....... Stalker
Not really having any idea what personal ads are all about, this sort of sums it all up, does it not? Marketing in the 21st century for a date has come a long way from the bar scene in the 70's!
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