Crain's Chicago has confirmed that the negotiations between Groupon and Google have collapsed. It appears the members of Groupon's board was reportedly divided over selling the idea of selling out to to Google. Their oppositions were not based on some “Moral principle,” or a CEO who’s great grand father started the business 100 years ago and can't imagine this company ever leaving their family’s control. No this was based on the simple belief that $6,000,000.00 is not enough money for a company that was started “A WHOLE TWO YEARS AGO.”
It turns out that many of the board members representing some the more-recent investors, are convinced that Groupon will be worth more next year. Word on the street is that Groupon might instead decide to pursue an (IPO) initial public offering next year.
Andrew Mason, Groupon CEO and founder, declined to comment on the news.
Mr. Mason echoed the same words that spokespeople for Google have been repeating all week, "I won't comment on speculation or rumors about the business."
OK. I’m not privy to the financial records of Groupon, I can't say weather $6 Billion dollars is the right price, or is it $7 Billion that is required to “Do the deal”; all I can think of is “How in the hell is a 2 year old company that sells coupons worth $6 Billion dollars?”
What strange economic times we live in today. I can’t find anybody that can explain the business- model behind Twitter, a company that I can’t find any evidence every collected any money for it’s services; yet I'm told by financial experts is worth $10 to $12 Billion dollars. Today you can get a steel mill, that once employed 3,000 people, free with a purchase of a “Happy Meal,” but Linked-in is worth billions.
Andrew Mason, I’m sure you will get the Billions you seek, and I'm jealous of staggering return on investments that will be reaped by those that had the wisdom to recognize that this two year old, Chicago company would find it’s self in a position to turn down multi-billion dollar offers. The Web continues to amaze.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
2011 Porsche Speedster
Maybe I should be filled with an over whelming sense of envy, but I would rather take some comfort in knowing that at least some people in this economy are in a position tobe out shopping for high-priced sports cars.
Maybe it's because I expect that there will always be a long list of people able to purchase toys beyond my reach. .
The new 911 Speedster not only offers a unique design, but also the latest technology. With its Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) and flat-6 engine with Powerkit developing 408 hp, it makes every street a street of dreams.
2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the Jaguar name and 75 years of looking forward, creating and building cars that represent technical innovation, design leadership and sporting success. The exclusive, limited edition of XKR175 is an unmistakable celebration of Jaguar’s 75th anniversary. Utterly unique and desirable, the XKR175 is powered by a supercharged V8 with 510hp and 461 lb.-ft. of torque — a powerful engine that increases top speeds to an awe-inspiring 174 mph. Available in one spectacular color combination, Ultimate Black exterior with Warm Charcoal interior, the XKR175 features an aerodynamic pack with a front splitter and a large rear spoiler, as well as a body-colored rear diffuser and side sill extensions. Dramatic red brake calipers and 20” Kasuga 10-spoke alloy wheels add the finishing touches to the exterior of this ultimate XK.
In the end it is far more upsetting to think that our economy still is at a point when even the RICH cant afford to buy toys, because if they can't; what chance do the rest of us have?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Professor Wichman addresses the Muslim Student Association
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/wichman.asp
Professor Wichman E-mail
Claim: A Michigan professor sent an e-mail telling Muslim students to leave the country.
Status: True.
You can read the letter Professor Wichman sent to the Muslim Student's Association.
The e-mail was in response to the announced student protest of the Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist.
The group had complained the cartoons were 'hate speech.' As you can imagine, people are lining up on both sides, below is my take.
The Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist, were offensive, and I have no problem with the Muslim Student's Association decision to protest. They have every right to complain, and Muslims have the right to demand the cartoonist apologize, and the cartoonist should feel free to tell them “Screw You,” this is my belief and in a free society I can express it, if you don’t like it you can draw your own cartoon.”
Professor Wichman is entitled to his opinion. The examples of intolerance and barbaric behavior, he listed are well documented.
Professor Wichman could and should organize a march of his own.
I do have a problem with him attacking a student union. The students might be misguided, and I fully agree that there are far more pressing moral issues in the Islamic world then a pen and ink drawing, but there is no evidence that “THEY” were guilty of any of the horrors he outlined. Teachers should not go after Students. A school should not defend teachers starting fights with students. A school should, and must, defend a teacher right to hold and express his views.
Had Professor Wichman wrote his views in a blog, published an article or posted a video on YouTube, Great! The school should stand by it’s teacher’s right to express himself, as they also defend the students ability to hold their beliefs. Students pay tuition, the sort of pay his salary. I understand and agree with many of his points, but not the way he handled the situation. I respect a teachers opinion against Gay marriage, but I do not approve of a teacher writing a nasty note to the Gay student’s association.
We need a more uniform code of ethics, one that guarantees Muslim Americans the same rights, and at the same time holds them equally accountable. Muslims should be able to build a Masque where ever they want (Basic zoning laws apply). Muslims must be free to practice their faith. If the choose not to eat pork, fine, just as it is fine for a person to open a “Rib-Shack” and serve “Pulled-Pork.” There is talk about “Drawing a Line,” OK, here is where I draw the line. America should give all people the freedom to follow their faith, but we should have zero tolerance for anyone trying to force their faith on to others.
Professor Wichman E-mail
Claim: A Michigan professor sent an e-mail telling Muslim students to leave the country.
Status: True.
You can read the letter Professor Wichman sent to the Muslim Student's Association.
The e-mail was in response to the announced student protest of the Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist.
The group had complained the cartoons were 'hate speech.' As you can imagine, people are lining up on both sides, below is my take.
The Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist, were offensive, and I have no problem with the Muslim Student's Association decision to protest. They have every right to complain, and Muslims have the right to demand the cartoonist apologize, and the cartoonist should feel free to tell them “Screw You,” this is my belief and in a free society I can express it, if you don’t like it you can draw your own cartoon.”
Professor Wichman is entitled to his opinion. The examples of intolerance and barbaric behavior, he listed are well documented.
Professor Wichman could and should organize a march of his own.
I do have a problem with him attacking a student union. The students might be misguided, and I fully agree that there are far more pressing moral issues in the Islamic world then a pen and ink drawing, but there is no evidence that “THEY” were guilty of any of the horrors he outlined. Teachers should not go after Students. A school should not defend teachers starting fights with students. A school should, and must, defend a teacher right to hold and express his views.
Had Professor Wichman wrote his views in a blog, published an article or posted a video on YouTube, Great! The school should stand by it’s teacher’s right to express himself, as they also defend the students ability to hold their beliefs. Students pay tuition, the sort of pay his salary. I understand and agree with many of his points, but not the way he handled the situation. I respect a teachers opinion against Gay marriage, but I do not approve of a teacher writing a nasty note to the Gay student’s association.
We need a more uniform code of ethics, one that guarantees Muslim Americans the same rights, and at the same time holds them equally accountable. Muslims should be able to build a Masque where ever they want (Basic zoning laws apply). Muslims must be free to practice their faith. If the choose not to eat pork, fine, just as it is fine for a person to open a “Rib-Shack” and serve “Pulled-Pork.” There is talk about “Drawing a Line,” OK, here is where I draw the line. America should give all people the freedom to follow their faith, but we should have zero tolerance for anyone trying to force their faith on to others.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
BP Lobbied for release of Lockerbie Bomber
I understand BP is in the business of finding, Drilling for, then selling oil. I do recognize that there are some inherent dangers surrounding the Oil and Gas industries. I wish I could say that we were at a point where we no longer depended on the use of fossil fuels- the sad truth is the World is still addicted to oil.Stick a solar panel on your SUV and see if your able to drive your children to school. More and more it is becoming clear that the "Easy-to-get-to-oil" has been accounted for, resulting in the need to pull fossil fuels out of ever more challenging locations. So with that in mind I will cut British Petroleum a bit of slack at having the occasional accident.
The question is, with the well know dangers and hazards associated with Deep-Water- drilling did BP take "Reasonable Precautions" and have a workable plan to deal with the after-math of the inevitable spill? The simple answer is NO.
Not only did BP not have a plausible plan of action, they demonstrated that their upper-management was filled with Tone-Def, Yacht owners. With Millions of gallons of oil washing into some of our country's most delicate wet-lands; you would think it would be gars to do anything to further damage your company's reputation- WELL THINK AGAIN........
BP confirmed today that it had lobbied the British government in late 2007 for release of the Lockerbie Bomber. For those handful of people that have forgotten; The terrorist attack on Pan Am's Flight 103 took place on Wednesday 21 December 1988. The plane was on flying from London to New York when it was destroyed by an on-board bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members plus 11 more people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, in total 270 innocent lives were lost.
I understand that at times it can be difficult for large corporations to take political stands on various issues; but being on the "OPPOSIT-SIDE of a mass-murdering-Terrorist should be a rather easy public relations move.
The British Petroleum said it had "Voiced concerns that the slow pace of negotiations risked impeding an offshore drilling deal with Moammar Gadhafi's Libya. Just when I thought BP corporate image could not get any worse; I find that they have dug a Public Relations hole deeper than any off-shore well. And by the way- no "Relief - Well" is going to help cap this disaster.
The question is, with the well know dangers and hazards associated with Deep-Water- drilling did BP take "Reasonable Precautions" and have a workable plan to deal with the after-math of the inevitable spill? The simple answer is NO.
Not only did BP not have a plausible plan of action, they demonstrated that their upper-management was filled with Tone-Def, Yacht owners. With Millions of gallons of oil washing into some of our country's most delicate wet-lands; you would think it would be gars to do anything to further damage your company's reputation- WELL THINK AGAIN........
BP confirmed today that it had lobbied the British government in late 2007 for release of the Lockerbie Bomber. For those handful of people that have forgotten; The terrorist attack on Pan Am's Flight 103 took place on Wednesday 21 December 1988. The plane was on flying from London to New York when it was destroyed by an on-board bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members plus 11 more people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, in total 270 innocent lives were lost.
I understand that at times it can be difficult for large corporations to take political stands on various issues; but being on the "OPPOSIT-SIDE of a mass-murdering-Terrorist should be a rather easy public relations move.
The British Petroleum said it had "Voiced concerns that the slow pace of negotiations risked impeding an offshore drilling deal with Moammar Gadhafi's Libya. Just when I thought BP corporate image could not get any worse; I find that they have dug a Public Relations hole deeper than any off-shore well. And by the way- no "Relief - Well" is going to help cap this disaster.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Chicago Air Show Parking
Much of it stems from the City of Chicago selling-off their rights to street parking to a private company. Once these "Parking Boxes" began popping up all over Chicago- rates began to take-off.
Each time we think prices cant get any higher -are proven wrong.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Student Car Insurance
Urban Auto Insurance has 50 years experience finding car insurance for college students. Our Online “Comparative Rater” saves you the time of filling out 16 separate applications.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
BP Lobbied for release of the Lockerbie Bomber
I understand BP is in the business of finding, Drilling for, then selling oil. I do recognize that there are some inherent dangers surrounding the Oil and Gas industries. I wish I could say that we were at a point where we no longer depended on the use of fossil fuels- the sad truth is the World is still addicted to oil.Stick a solar panel on your SUV and see if your able to drive your children to school. More and more it is becoming clear that the "Easy-to-get-to-oil" has been accounted for, resulting in the need to pull fossil fuels out of ever more challenging locations. So with that in mind I will cut British Petroleum a bit of slack at having the occasional accident.
The question is, with the well know dangers and hazards associated with Deep-Water- drilling did BP take "Reasonable Precautions" and have a workable plan to deal with the after-math of the inevitable spill? The simple answer is NO.
Not only did BP not have a plausible plan of action, they demonstrated that their upper-management was filled with Tone-Def, Yacht owners. With Millions of gallons of oil washing into some of our country's most delicate wet-lands; you would think it would be gars to do anything to further damage your company's reputation- WELL THINK AGAIN........
BP confirmed today that it had lobbied the British government in late 2007 for release of the Lockerbie Bomber. For those handful of people that have forgotten; The terrorist attack on Pan Am's Flight 103 took place on Wednesday 21 December 1988. The plane was on flying from London to New York when it was destroyed by an on-board bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members plus 11 more people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, in total 270 innocent lives were lost.
I understand that at times it can be difficult for large corporations to take political stands on various issues; but being on the "OPPOSIT-SIDE of a mass-murdering-Terrorist should be a rather easy public relations move.
The British Petroleum said it had "Voiced concerns that the slow pace of negotiations risked impeding an offshore drilling deal with Moammar Gadhafi's Libya. Just when I thought BP corporate image could not get any worse; I find that they have dug a Public Relations hole deeper than any off-shore well. And by the way- no "Relief - Well" is going to help cap this disaster.
The question is, with the well know dangers and hazards associated with Deep-Water- drilling did BP take "Reasonable Precautions" and have a workable plan to deal with the after-math of the inevitable spill? The simple answer is NO.
Not only did BP not have a plausible plan of action, they demonstrated that their upper-management was filled with Tone-Def, Yacht owners. With Millions of gallons of oil washing into some of our country's most delicate wet-lands; you would think it would be gars to do anything to further damage your company's reputation- WELL THINK AGAIN........
BP confirmed today that it had lobbied the British government in late 2007 for release of the Lockerbie Bomber. For those handful of people that have forgotten; The terrorist attack on Pan Am's Flight 103 took place on Wednesday 21 December 1988. The plane was on flying from London to New York when it was destroyed by an on-board bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members plus 11 more people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, in total 270 innocent lives were lost.
I understand that at times it can be difficult for large corporations to take political stands on various issues; but being on the "OPPOSIT-SIDE of a mass-murdering-Terrorist should be a rather easy public relations move.
The British Petroleum said it had "Voiced concerns that the slow pace of negotiations risked impeding an offshore drilling deal with Moammar Gadhafi's Libya. Just when I thought BP corporate image could not get any worse; I find that they have dug a Public Relations hole deeper than any off-shore well. And by the way- no "Relief - Well" is going to help cap this disaster.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Transformers in Chicago
A long time ago, and far from Chicago, the planet of Cybertron, was home to a war between the "Autobots" and the Decepticons over control of a talisman called "Allspark." In an attempt to protect "Allspark" from falling into the hands Megatron, leader of the Decepticons; Optimus Prime (leader of the Autobots) hid it here on earth.
From what I can gather the movie has something to do with all these giant transforming robots waging some kind of explosive battle here on Earth, while every male in the audience focused on Megan Fox.
Well, it appears that the battle has come to the "Chicago Loop."
This past weekend, most of the streets of heart of Chicago's financial district had been taken-over by these robots, or at least by DreamWorks SKG. Streets were littered with what looked like massive pieces of falling debris, massive gapping holes, burnt abandoned cars, in other-words- it looked more like the West-Side of Chicago.
In answer to your question; as an Insurance Agent specializing in Car Insurance; Acts of War are not covered under your Auto Insurance policy - while never tested court, I assume that includes war brought to Earth from an other planet.
I'm not sure what plot turns were used to bring the war to the streets of Chicago, but I am sure that the Chicago's budget will benefit from the large checks the movie studio is witting. In fact, I think Mayor Daley would be well advised to steal this "Allspark" Talisman, keep it hidden forcing the battle to continue along with the seven figure checks from DreamWorks.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Mad As Hell
With The War in Afghanistan raging since October 7, 2001, and the Iraq War, ongoing from March 20, 2003, It is easy to understand American's ever increasing feeling we are stuck in an ever deepening and costly quagmire.
While the Bank closings and collapse of the "Sub-Prime" markets never brought us to the depths of the "Depression," there is a sense that the "New-Normal" is dreary at best. Yes, we have improved greatly from the numbers at the end of the Bush administration when we were loosing 400,000 - 750,000 jobs per month- in fact we have seen jobs growth. What we have not seen is any truly bright light at the end of the tunnel.
As a result of years of deregulation, we now wake up each morning to hear about another 50,000 plus barrels of oil pouring into the Gulf, destroying some of American's most delicate wet-lands.
Our Local Governments are broke, Schools are being forced to increase class sizes to 35 despite clear data showing the negative effect such changes will have on our students.Roads have potholes large enough to swallow a dog and many of our bridges seem held up by rust and duck tape.
It is with this in mind that a new Washington Post/ABC News poll finds that 57% of Americans state they have "just some" or no confidence in President Obama ability to make the right decisions for America. Before the opposition "Licks it's chops," they better read that 73 percent had just some or no confidence in congressional Republicans to make the right decisions for the country..
We are Mad as Hell- But we don't have the slightest idea WHO to be mad at!
Fiscal conservatives are angry at what they see as an exploding deficit for which they will lay blame at Obama's feet, while the smartest of them recognize that the previous Republican showed a complete lake of fiscal discipline. Liberals who invested an allegiance in Obama that one often reserves for saints; have found him unable to bring forth the Utopian dreams his cadency promised. And the "Tea-Bag- People" seem somehow irate to find that we are no longer living in the 19th century.
The hard to face truth is that America faces some difficult challenges. While common sense tells us that our greatest hope of setting our country back on tracks is for Democrats and Republicans to work together for a common good; the current political climate makes such self-sacrifice beyond hope.
While the Bank closings and collapse of the "Sub-Prime" markets never brought us to the depths of the "Depression," there is a sense that the "New-Normal" is dreary at best. Yes, we have improved greatly from the numbers at the end of the Bush administration when we were loosing 400,000 - 750,000 jobs per month- in fact we have seen jobs growth. What we have not seen is any truly bright light at the end of the tunnel.
As a result of years of deregulation, we now wake up each morning to hear about another 50,000 plus barrels of oil pouring into the Gulf, destroying some of American's most delicate wet-lands.
Our Local Governments are broke, Schools are being forced to increase class sizes to 35 despite clear data showing the negative effect such changes will have on our students.Roads have potholes large enough to swallow a dog and many of our bridges seem held up by rust and duck tape.
It is with this in mind that a new Washington Post/ABC News poll finds that 57% of Americans state they have "just some" or no confidence in President Obama ability to make the right decisions for America. Before the opposition "Licks it's chops," they better read that 73 percent had just some or no confidence in congressional Republicans to make the right decisions for the country..
We are Mad as Hell- But we don't have the slightest idea WHO to be mad at!
Fiscal conservatives are angry at what they see as an exploding deficit for which they will lay blame at Obama's feet, while the smartest of them recognize that the previous Republican showed a complete lake of fiscal discipline. Liberals who invested an allegiance in Obama that one often reserves for saints; have found him unable to bring forth the Utopian dreams his cadency promised. And the "Tea-Bag- People" seem somehow irate to find that we are no longer living in the 19th century.
The hard to face truth is that America faces some difficult challenges. While common sense tells us that our greatest hope of setting our country back on tracks is for Democrats and Republicans to work together for a common good; the current political climate makes such self-sacrifice beyond hope.
Friday, June 18, 2010
A time to come together
I have many friends and colleagues, for whom I have great respect, that opposed various pieces of legislation to come out of this Congress, based on a number of valid complaints. The problem I have is with those that demonized both the bills and its supporters, and often based on false assumptions.
It is this “Demonizing” of the opposition, the attitude that those on the other side are not just wrong, but are Evil, that is frightening and dangerous. America is at it’s best when it can stand as a monument to reason and tolerance. To quote from a T-Shirt * “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it to my death”
It is this concept that has helped make America great, that has prevented our nation from collapsing into the downward spiral of politically generated division, hatred and violence that one finds in other countries. It is not an accident that in America, neighbors can find them selves on opposite side of any number of issues, yet still remain close friends. This “tolerance” is the direct result of responsible politicians, writers, talk-show hosts, and citizens in general each doing their part to “Turn-down” the rhetoric and actively discourage hate-filled rants, designed to drive a wedge between us.
I must confess that I am frightened by the rising tide of extremism coming from the fringe “Right Wing.” Clearly they do not represent the “Center” or even the “Center- Right” of America; but they do have just enough of a “Populist message” to attract the attention of many Center Right Republicans, and to force the conversation away from civility, and towards an absolute Good VS Evil rhetoric.
No one should act surprised that after 16 months of extreme groups portraying President Obama as the “Anti-Christ”, or a least a “Kenya-born, anti-white socialist” that many would fear him and his administration. It is upsetting to read about Virginia Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell's decission to commemorate the Confederacy without any mention of slavery The U.S. has always had it’s fair share on nuts railing on about how the government “Faked the moon landing”, has little-green-men stashed away under-ground at area 51, or that Fluoride in our water is a communist plot. What is particularly upsetting is, how at this time, mainstream Republicans are using these fringe groups as a way of throwing “Red-Meat” to their base. I will not even suggest that Democrats are above such tactics; I am only pointing out the inherent danger of giving any legitimacy to radical- armed-to-the-teeth groups. The
Michigan Militia group Hutarre is a clear example of on of these groups that all American should fear.
Federal prosecutors who have been watching the Hutarre group for months, say they uncovered the militia members plan to kill a police officer, then days later when hundreds of law enforcement officers came to resulting funeral, they planed to set off homemade bombs killing as many additional officers as possible. It appears their idea was to create some kind of war between the government and the militia groups. A federal prosecutor on Thursday asked U.S. District Magistrate Judge Donald Scheer to lock up eight members of the Hutaree Christian militia group Calling them a “dark hearted” group with evil intentions. During a raid on Wednesday at the home of one of the Hutarre members, agents found 16 long guns, six gas masks, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a barbed-wire plaque that read “Remember Waco.” The irony is that I think we all need to “Remember Waco” and the Oklahoma City bombing as clear examples of the destruction that comes out of extremism, and the role that each American, on the left or right plays in keeping this a country where we can disagree without turning the volume so loud; that we spur on violence. Our politicians need to speak out against hate and violence, must do more than just condemn bricks being thrown threw windows of those in the opposition party, they must take an active role in reducing the rhetoric that leads to such actions.
It is this “Demonizing” of the opposition, the attitude that those on the other side are not just wrong, but are Evil, that is frightening and dangerous. America is at it’s best when it can stand as a monument to reason and tolerance. To quote from a T-Shirt * “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it to my death”
It is this concept that has helped make America great, that has prevented our nation from collapsing into the downward spiral of politically generated division, hatred and violence that one finds in other countries. It is not an accident that in America, neighbors can find them selves on opposite side of any number of issues, yet still remain close friends. This “tolerance” is the direct result of responsible politicians, writers, talk-show hosts, and citizens in general each doing their part to “Turn-down” the rhetoric and actively discourage hate-filled rants, designed to drive a wedge between us.
I must confess that I am frightened by the rising tide of extremism coming from the fringe “Right Wing.” Clearly they do not represent the “Center” or even the “Center- Right” of America; but they do have just enough of a “Populist message” to attract the attention of many Center Right Republicans, and to force the conversation away from civility, and towards an absolute Good VS Evil rhetoric.
No one should act surprised that after 16 months of extreme groups portraying President Obama as the “Anti-Christ”, or a least a “Kenya-born, anti-white socialist” that many would fear him and his administration. It is upsetting to read about Virginia Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell's decission to commemorate the Confederacy without any mention of slavery The U.S. has always had it’s fair share on nuts railing on about how the government “Faked the moon landing”, has little-green-men stashed away under-ground at area 51, or that Fluoride in our water is a communist plot. What is particularly upsetting is, how at this time, mainstream Republicans are using these fringe groups as a way of throwing “Red-Meat” to their base. I will not even suggest that Democrats are above such tactics; I am only pointing out the inherent danger of giving any legitimacy to radical- armed-to-the-teeth groups. The
Michigan Militia group Hutarre is a clear example of on of these groups that all American should fear.
Federal prosecutors who have been watching the Hutarre group for months, say they uncovered the militia members plan to kill a police officer, then days later when hundreds of law enforcement officers came to resulting funeral, they planed to set off homemade bombs killing as many additional officers as possible. It appears their idea was to create some kind of war between the government and the militia groups. A federal prosecutor on Thursday asked U.S. District Magistrate Judge Donald Scheer to lock up eight members of the Hutaree Christian militia group Calling them a “dark hearted” group with evil intentions. During a raid on Wednesday at the home of one of the Hutarre members, agents found 16 long guns, six gas masks, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a barbed-wire plaque that read “Remember Waco.” The irony is that I think we all need to “Remember Waco” and the Oklahoma City bombing as clear examples of the destruction that comes out of extremism, and the role that each American, on the left or right plays in keeping this a country where we can disagree without turning the volume so loud; that we spur on violence. Our politicians need to speak out against hate and violence, must do more than just condemn bricks being thrown threw windows of those in the opposition party, they must take an active role in reducing the rhetoric that leads to such actions.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Palestinian Madness
I was raised in a home where rational thought was seen as a good thing. Taught to recognize the thousand shades of gray, taught to respect opinions different than my own, and of course taught to condemn the slaughter of the innocent.
As a product of a world of "Sanity" it is difficult for me to truly understand the rationality of madness.
Andrea Stone, AOL News, Senior Washington Correspondent; wrote about the controversy surrounding Palestinian's recent choices for the naming of prominent locations. Clearly one would not expect the Palestinians to name a street after Jerry Seinfield, or a school Einstein High School; I would even expect them to select some names that would never find their way to a building in any U.S. city; but I was surprised by the following list of names.
The Dalal Mughrabi Girls' High School, named for a 19-year-old woman who carried out the deadliest terrorist attack in Israeli history.
Yihyeh Ayyash Street, the address of the future Palestinian presidential compound, named for the terrorist dubbed the "engineer" for a series of bombings that includes a bus attack in Tel Aviv that killed 20 people.
The new Fathi Shaqaqi Gymnasium in Gaza, inaugurated two weeks ago in honor of the founder of Islamic Jihad, which has carried out more than 1,000 attacks that have killed and wounded more than 1,000 people.
I fully realize that life for the average Palestinian is hard and devoid of most of the opportunities we take for granted. I also understand that Israel has produced individuals that have killed innocents. There us a major difference; when Allen Goodman, in 1982 went on a shooting rampage on the Temple Mount, Israeli police called him "Deranged," arrested him and after being found guilty sentenced him to life imprisonment. What Israel did not do was name a school after him.
Imagine for a moment if we in America decided to name a park after John Wayne Gacy, or a hospital after Charles Manson. Is there not a Palestinian soccer star, or musician worthy of "Naming rights"?
I would love to believe that there will come a day when the sane, yet silent majority of Palestinians will toss aside these terrorists, and work to build a better life for their own people.
Larry Lubell
As a product of a world of "Sanity" it is difficult for me to truly understand the rationality of madness.
Andrea Stone, AOL News, Senior Washington Correspondent; wrote about the controversy surrounding Palestinian's recent choices for the naming of prominent locations. Clearly one would not expect the Palestinians to name a street after Jerry Seinfield, or a school Einstein High School; I would even expect them to select some names that would never find their way to a building in any U.S. city; but I was surprised by the following list of names.
The Dalal Mughrabi Girls' High School, named for a 19-year-old woman who carried out the deadliest terrorist attack in Israeli history.
Yihyeh Ayyash Street, the address of the future Palestinian presidential compound, named for the terrorist dubbed the "engineer" for a series of bombings that includes a bus attack in Tel Aviv that killed 20 people.
The new Fathi Shaqaqi Gymnasium in Gaza, inaugurated two weeks ago in honor of the founder of Islamic Jihad, which has carried out more than 1,000 attacks that have killed and wounded more than 1,000 people.
I fully realize that life for the average Palestinian is hard and devoid of most of the opportunities we take for granted. I also understand that Israel has produced individuals that have killed innocents. There us a major difference; when Allen Goodman, in 1982 went on a shooting rampage on the Temple Mount, Israeli police called him "Deranged," arrested him and after being found guilty sentenced him to life imprisonment. What Israel did not do was name a school after him.
Imagine for a moment if we in America decided to name a park after John Wayne Gacy, or a hospital after Charles Manson. Is there not a Palestinian soccer star, or musician worthy of "Naming rights"?
I would love to believe that there will come a day when the sane, yet silent majority of Palestinians will toss aside these terrorists, and work to build a better life for their own people.
Larry Lubell
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Political extremism is “Bad for America”
We have just come through a long and divisive fight over “Health Care”; one, which ended with not a single Republican crossing, party lines. As I wrote in “Health Care in America; ‘The US health care system now equals about 17% of the US economy, With that in mind, there is little reason to wonder why so many people feel so passionately about any possible changes.”
There is always a fear of the unknown, and Americans are right to be exceptionally cautious about ever giving more power to the federal government. When Jefferson, Adams, Paine, Madison, and others joined forces to pen the Constitution of the United States, they stated clearly that the resulting government must be one of “Limited Powers.” It was those very limitations, more than anything else that distinguished our government from any that had come before. It was Jefferson that wrote
"the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people,"
Aside from the philosophical concerns, there are also practical reasons to question the government’s ability to run the U.S. health care system. While it is sort of hard to argue that the government is filled with people that are more corrupt or greedy than those in the private sector; one can make the case that government corruption can become more entrenched and difficult to remove. While, Social Security and Medicare have turned-out to be such popular programs, that there is not a single member of Congress that would “Stand on the floor” and suggest ending them; it is true that these entitlements are eating up an ever large piece of the pie. This leads me to conclude that there were real and rational reasons for intelligent people to object to the health reform bill. The problem I have is with those that demonized both the bill and its supporters, and often based on false assumptions.
It is this “Demonizing” of the opposition, the attitude that those on the other side are not just wrong, but are Evil, that is frightening and dangerous. America is at it’s best when it can stand as a monument to reason and tolerance. To quote from a T-Shirt * “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it to my death”
It is this concept that has helped make America great, that has prevented our nation from collapsing into the downward spiral of politically generated division, hatred and violence that one finds in other countries. It is not an accident that in America, neighbors can find them selves on opposite side of any number of issues, yet still remain close friends. This “tolerance” is the direct result of responsible politicians, writers, talk-show hosts, and citizens in general each doing their part to “Turn-down” the rhetoric and actively discourage hate-filled rants, designed to drive a wedge between us.
I must confess that I am frightened by the rising tide of extremism coming from the fringe “Right Wing.” Clearly they do not represent the “Center” or even the “Center- Right” of America; but they do have just enough of a “Populist message” to attract the attention of many Center Right Republicans, and to force the conversation away from civility, and towards an absolute Good VS Evil rhetoric.
No one should act surprised that after 16 months of extreme groups portraying President Obama as the “Anti-Christ”, or a least a “Kenya-born, anti-white socialist” that many would fear him and his administration. The U.S. has always had it’s fair share on nuts railing on about how the government “Faked the moon landing”, has little-green-men stashed away under-ground at area 51, or that Fluoride in our water is a communist plot. What is particularly upsetting is, how at this time, mainstream Republicans are using these fringe groups as a way of throwing “Red-Meat” to their base. I will not even suggest that Democrats are above such tactics; I am only pointing out the inherent danger of giving any legitimacy to radical- armed-to-the-teeth groups. The Michigan Militia group Hutarre is a clear example of on of these groups that all American should fear.
Federal prosecutors who have been watching the Hutarre group for months, say they uncovered the militia members plan to kill a police officer, then days later when hundreds of law enforcement officers came to resulting funeral, they planed to set off homemade bombs killing as many additional officers as possible. It appears their idea was to create some kind of war between the government and the militia groups.
A federal prosecutor on Thursday asked U.S. District Magistrate Judge Donald Scheer to lock up eight members of the Hutaree Christian militia group Calling them a “dark hearted” group with evil intentions.
During a raid on Wednesday at the home of one of the Hutarre members, agents found 16 long guns, six gas masks, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a barbed-wire plaque that read “Remember Waco.”The irony is that I think we all need to “Remember Waco” and the Oklahoma City bombing as clear examples of the destruction that comes out of extremism, and the role that each American, on the left or right plays in keeping this a country where we can disagree without turning the volume so loud; that we spur on violence. Our politicians need to speak out against hate and violence, must do more than just condemn bricks being thrown threw windows of those in the opposition party, they must take an active role in reducing the rhetoric that leads to such actions.
There is always a fear of the unknown, and Americans are right to be exceptionally cautious about ever giving more power to the federal government. When Jefferson, Adams, Paine, Madison, and others joined forces to pen the Constitution of the United States, they stated clearly that the resulting government must be one of “Limited Powers.” It was those very limitations, more than anything else that distinguished our government from any that had come before. It was Jefferson that wrote
"the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people,"
Aside from the philosophical concerns, there are also practical reasons to question the government’s ability to run the U.S. health care system. While it is sort of hard to argue that the government is filled with people that are more corrupt or greedy than those in the private sector; one can make the case that government corruption can become more entrenched and difficult to remove. While, Social Security and Medicare have turned-out to be such popular programs, that there is not a single member of Congress that would “Stand on the floor” and suggest ending them; it is true that these entitlements are eating up an ever large piece of the pie. This leads me to conclude that there were real and rational reasons for intelligent people to object to the health reform bill. The problem I have is with those that demonized both the bill and its supporters, and often based on false assumptions.
It is this “Demonizing” of the opposition, the attitude that those on the other side are not just wrong, but are Evil, that is frightening and dangerous. America is at it’s best when it can stand as a monument to reason and tolerance. To quote from a T-Shirt * “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it to my death”
It is this concept that has helped make America great, that has prevented our nation from collapsing into the downward spiral of politically generated division, hatred and violence that one finds in other countries. It is not an accident that in America, neighbors can find them selves on opposite side of any number of issues, yet still remain close friends. This “tolerance” is the direct result of responsible politicians, writers, talk-show hosts, and citizens in general each doing their part to “Turn-down” the rhetoric and actively discourage hate-filled rants, designed to drive a wedge between us.
I must confess that I am frightened by the rising tide of extremism coming from the fringe “Right Wing.” Clearly they do not represent the “Center” or even the “Center- Right” of America; but they do have just enough of a “Populist message” to attract the attention of many Center Right Republicans, and to force the conversation away from civility, and towards an absolute Good VS Evil rhetoric.
No one should act surprised that after 16 months of extreme groups portraying President Obama as the “Anti-Christ”, or a least a “Kenya-born, anti-white socialist” that many would fear him and his administration. The U.S. has always had it’s fair share on nuts railing on about how the government “Faked the moon landing”, has little-green-men stashed away under-ground at area 51, or that Fluoride in our water is a communist plot. What is particularly upsetting is, how at this time, mainstream Republicans are using these fringe groups as a way of throwing “Red-Meat” to their base. I will not even suggest that Democrats are above such tactics; I am only pointing out the inherent danger of giving any legitimacy to radical- armed-to-the-teeth groups. The Michigan Militia group Hutarre is a clear example of on of these groups that all American should fear.
Federal prosecutors who have been watching the Hutarre group for months, say they uncovered the militia members plan to kill a police officer, then days later when hundreds of law enforcement officers came to resulting funeral, they planed to set off homemade bombs killing as many additional officers as possible. It appears their idea was to create some kind of war between the government and the militia groups.
A federal prosecutor on Thursday asked U.S. District Magistrate Judge Donald Scheer to lock up eight members of the Hutaree Christian militia group Calling them a “dark hearted” group with evil intentions.
During a raid on Wednesday at the home of one of the Hutarre members, agents found 16 long guns, six gas masks, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a barbed-wire plaque that read “Remember Waco.”The irony is that I think we all need to “Remember Waco” and the Oklahoma City bombing as clear examples of the destruction that comes out of extremism, and the role that each American, on the left or right plays in keeping this a country where we can disagree without turning the volume so loud; that we spur on violence. Our politicians need to speak out against hate and violence, must do more than just condemn bricks being thrown threw windows of those in the opposition party, they must take an active role in reducing the rhetoric that leads to such actions.
Friday, March 5, 2010
"Selective enrollment high schools" in Chicago
Sarah Karp in her article titled "Analysis of selective schools data shows poorer students have tougher time gaining admission"; she addressed the issue of creating a system that does not close-the-doors to all but the most advantaged.
In September of 2009, a federal judge lifted the desegregation consent decree that had, among other things, allowed the Chicago Public Schools to base acceptances to their "Selective enrollment high schools" based on race. Under the "Consent decree" admission could be based on a formula of 30% white, 30% Black 30% Hispanic and 10% Asian. The basis for the "Consent decree" was to address the fact that the Chicago school system was deeply divided along racial grounds, and that this separation was working against minorities. For years the CPS faced complaints from "High-scoring" whites and Asian students, stating that they were deigned spots at "Walter Payton School","Northside Prep" and other top "Selective enrollment high schools" based on a "Racial quota". At the same time some in the minority community were complaining that too many of these coveted spots were going to affluent students that had the advantage of having an expensive private school education.
With the desegregation decree gone, the CPS quickly tried to create some system that was in compliance with the law, yet held out a greater number of spots for those students coming from schools in disadvantaged areas of Chicago.
With very limited time to craft a new system; CPS instituted an admissions policy based on 40 percent of the students to be admitted based strictly on the
combined composite scores comprised of 7th Grade standardized test scores, grades and the selective enrollment entrance exam. Each of the three parts carry a maximum of 300 points. The maximum composite score this year was 900. That left 60 percent of the spots to be divided equally between four socio-economic tiers of students. the idea would be that children coming from disadvantaged areas of Chicago, would be competing only against other students in the same tier.
This resulted in a flawed system being replaced with an untested system. This experiment not only removed a "Racial quota", it also eliminated the common practice of balancing classes between boys and girls. The truth was, no one really knew how the numbers would differ from years past. The only thing that everyone could agree upon was that there were going to be "cries of unfairness" coming from all sides.
To no one's surprise, in the aftermath of the acceptance process, complaints were flying from all quarters. The fact that these results arrive at the same time that the CPS has announced massive budget cuts; has only amplified the rhetoric. In response to the growing cries from some minority groups, superintendent Huberman announced that he was adding 25 seats to the freshman classes at Whitney Young, Jones, Walter Payton and Northside Prep and reserving them exclusively for students from the city’s 87 worst performing elementary schools.
There is no question that students coming from privileged backgrounds, have a huge leg-up. These students have access to resources, often including having college-educated parents that place an enormous importance on their child's education. Fairness and compassion demands that society takes steps to bring these poor school, up to a basic standard the guarantees all children a shot at a bright future. It is unacceptable to just "Write-off" the kids as unimportant, but the idea of placing 100 students into positions, at the four most academically challenging schools, that they did not earn nor are they prepared to attend, is folly.
The truth is that there were students that did NOT get in to these schools, despite the fact that they had over 860 Points
It makes no sense to take children that scored under 700, while depriving straight "A" students spots.
In truth, many of these "NEW 100" did not even take the initiative to "Opt-in" to the process.
The CPS created a set of rules, 20,000 + plus students competed for spots in selective schools based on those rules; it is unfair to alter the criteria after the fact. This does an injustice those students that worked so hard but fell a few points short of their goal.
The CPS will not use the words, but the fact is the lion's share of the these 100 students will be African-American. That realization will most greatly impact those African-American that had won spots at these schools by simply out-scoring the vast percentage of applicants. I fear that these impressively qualified minority students will not be respected for their accomplishments, but instead be perceived as only there because of this last-minute political pressure.
It is clear that the CPS does not believe that these "100 Students" will be equipped to compete at these elite schools - it is for that reason they are planing on spending an additional $10,000.00 each student per year to help them deal with the rigorous classes.
I empathize with the motives, but by putting students into a spot they did not earn, nor are prepared for, is unfair to them as well as the students at these schools. It seems better to take the top 400 students from the city’s 87 worst performing elementary schools and put them together into one high school along with the $1,000,000.00 additional funding, instantly creating another selective enrollment school. The resulting high school will then be filled with those children that have demonstrated academic aptitude deserving recognition, yet short of the requirements of the "Top Schools"
In September of 2009, a federal judge lifted the desegregation consent decree that had, among other things, allowed the Chicago Public Schools to base acceptances to their "Selective enrollment high schools" based on race. Under the "Consent decree" admission could be based on a formula of 30% white, 30% Black 30% Hispanic and 10% Asian. The basis for the "Consent decree" was to address the fact that the Chicago school system was deeply divided along racial grounds, and that this separation was working against minorities. For years the CPS faced complaints from "High-scoring" whites and Asian students, stating that they were deigned spots at "Walter Payton School","Northside Prep" and other top "Selective enrollment high schools" based on a "Racial quota". At the same time some in the minority community were complaining that too many of these coveted spots were going to affluent students that had the advantage of having an expensive private school education.
With the desegregation decree gone, the CPS quickly tried to create some system that was in compliance with the law, yet held out a greater number of spots for those students coming from schools in disadvantaged areas of Chicago.
With very limited time to craft a new system; CPS instituted an admissions policy based on 40 percent of the students to be admitted based strictly on the
combined composite scores comprised of 7th Grade standardized test scores, grades and the selective enrollment entrance exam. Each of the three parts carry a maximum of 300 points. The maximum composite score this year was 900. That left 60 percent of the spots to be divided equally between four socio-economic tiers of students. the idea would be that children coming from disadvantaged areas of Chicago, would be competing only against other students in the same tier.This resulted in a flawed system being replaced with an untested system. This experiment not only removed a "Racial quota", it also eliminated the common practice of balancing classes between boys and girls. The truth was, no one really knew how the numbers would differ from years past. The only thing that everyone could agree upon was that there were going to be "cries of unfairness" coming from all sides.
To no one's surprise, in the aftermath of the acceptance process, complaints were flying from all quarters. The fact that these results arrive at the same time that the CPS has announced massive budget cuts; has only amplified the rhetoric. In response to the growing cries from some minority groups, superintendent Huberman announced that he was adding 25 seats to the freshman classes at Whitney Young, Jones, Walter Payton and Northside Prep and reserving them exclusively for students from the city’s 87 worst performing elementary schools.
There is no question that students coming from privileged backgrounds, have a huge leg-up. These students have access to resources, often including having college-educated parents that place an enormous importance on their child's education. Fairness and compassion demands that society takes steps to bring these poor school, up to a basic standard the guarantees all children a shot at a bright future. It is unacceptable to just "Write-off" the kids as unimportant, but the idea of placing 100 students into positions, at the four most academically challenging schools, that they did not earn nor are they prepared to attend, is folly.
The truth is that there were students that did NOT get in to these schools, despite the fact that they had over 860 Points
It makes no sense to take children that scored under 700, while depriving straight "A" students spots.
In truth, many of these "NEW 100" did not even take the initiative to "Opt-in" to the process.
The CPS created a set of rules, 20,000 + plus students competed for spots in selective schools based on those rules; it is unfair to alter the criteria after the fact. This does an injustice those students that worked so hard but fell a few points short of their goal.
The CPS will not use the words, but the fact is the lion's share of the these 100 students will be African-American. That realization will most greatly impact those African-American that had won spots at these schools by simply out-scoring the vast percentage of applicants. I fear that these impressively qualified minority students will not be respected for their accomplishments, but instead be perceived as only there because of this last-minute political pressure.
It is clear that the CPS does not believe that these "100 Students" will be equipped to compete at these elite schools - it is for that reason they are planing on spending an additional $10,000.00 each student per year to help them deal with the rigorous classes.
I empathize with the motives, but by putting students into a spot they did not earn, nor are prepared for, is unfair to them as well as the students at these schools. It seems better to take the top 400 students from the city’s 87 worst performing elementary schools and put them together into one high school along with the $1,000,000.00 additional funding, instantly creating another selective enrollment school. The resulting high school will then be filled with those children that have demonstrated academic aptitude deserving recognition, yet short of the requirements of the "Top Schools"
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Corporate Jets to Congress
Years back, I took a tour of Glessner House/ museum on Prairie Avenue, in Chicago. The house, designed for Glessner, one of the founders of International Harvester, had etchings showing his factory with smoke stack pouring out black smoke. If he were CEO today, he would never fill his study with pictures showing-off the large amount of waste-product his company was generating; but back in 1886, it was a status-symbol.
Times Change.........
JONATHAN BERR wrote about how he thought that
Wall Street Has Many Things to Be Sorry About -- Just Not Corporate Jets
[However, amenities aside, there is a sound business reason for big-shot executives to use corporate jets. Oftentimes, it's the most practical way for CEOs to get from one place to another. The aviation system used by most of the public is not always a suitable alternative for these fliers. It can't get them to the places they need to be in a timely manner. As a taxpayer, I would rather have Dimon and Moynihan show up at an important hearing than be stuck at an airport somewhere.]
Yes, I get the idea that CEOs of major corporations expect lavish perks, I understand the concept that if a corporation want's to compete for the "Best talent" they are going to have to compete against other companies willing to provide the perks. I even understand the argument that if you divide the CEO's seven-figure salary by the 50 hours they work per week, the saving in time more than offsets the cost of the chartered flight. What is being missed is the symbolism.
People are hurting. The economy, while improved from the dooms-day predictions" of a year ago; still has America facing 10% unemployment, and many small business in a "Life VS Death struggle" to survive. People understand the massive burden placed on our nation's future, our children's future, based on the mountain of debt we carry personally, and the government carries on our behalf. The American taxpayer, the American consumer remembers the unprecedented $750 Billion dollars of infusion capital the Bush Administration asked for and received and how that money was handed out to our largest banks and financial institutions.
O.K., If that is what it took to stabilize our economy; then so be it; but if your company was the precipitant of some of that money; DON"T SHOW UP TO CONGRESS IN A FRIGGIN PRIVATE JET.
On “Hannity’s America,” called-out Al Gore for flying on a private jet, while lecturing to all the world about the dangers of Global Climate
"In short, flying in a private jet does more than four times the carbon emission damage to the environment than flying a regular commercial jet. So if you were worried about your quote-unquote "carbon footprint" on the environment, and if you are concerned about carbon neutrality, the last thing that you should be doing is flying on private jets. Sit in coach, you might save a polar bear".
As I wrote in an earlier piece, If you are going to Congress, crying about how you are running out of money- don't go there in a private jet!
I understand compared to the scale of the problem, that Gore's flights have no impact, or that the cost of the private jets had no impact on the financial meltdown. Based on the large salaries these executives are making, it is not unreasonable to expect them to have the savvy to understand that showing up to congress in your Gulf Stream Jet; is like pulling up to work in a new Ferrari on the same day your laying-off 20% of your company’s work force. It is not enough just to make the case that corporations can justify giving their powerful wealthy executives enormous perks, or that they can construct the math in a way to prove the savings in time might justify the expense.
Larry Lubell
Urban News
Times Change.........
JONATHAN BERR wrote about how he thought that
Wall Street Has Many Things to Be Sorry About -- Just Not Corporate Jets
[However, amenities aside, there is a sound business reason for big-shot executives to use corporate jets. Oftentimes, it's the most practical way for CEOs to get from one place to another. The aviation system used by most of the public is not always a suitable alternative for these fliers. It can't get them to the places they need to be in a timely manner. As a taxpayer, I would rather have Dimon and Moynihan show up at an important hearing than be stuck at an airport somewhere.]
Yes, I get the idea that CEOs of major corporations expect lavish perks, I understand the concept that if a corporation want's to compete for the "Best talent" they are going to have to compete against other companies willing to provide the perks. I even understand the argument that if you divide the CEO's seven-figure salary by the 50 hours they work per week, the saving in time more than offsets the cost of the chartered flight. What is being missed is the symbolism.
People are hurting. The economy, while improved from the dooms-day predictions" of a year ago; still has America facing 10% unemployment, and many small business in a "Life VS Death struggle" to survive. People understand the massive burden placed on our nation's future, our children's future, based on the mountain of debt we carry personally, and the government carries on our behalf. The American taxpayer, the American consumer remembers the unprecedented $750 Billion dollars of infusion capital the Bush Administration asked for and received and how that money was handed out to our largest banks and financial institutions.
O.K., If that is what it took to stabilize our economy; then so be it; but if your company was the precipitant of some of that money; DON"T SHOW UP TO CONGRESS IN A FRIGGIN PRIVATE JET.
On “Hannity’s America,” called-out Al Gore for flying on a private jet, while lecturing to all the world about the dangers of Global Climate
"In short, flying in a private jet does more than four times the carbon emission damage to the environment than flying a regular commercial jet. So if you were worried about your quote-unquote "carbon footprint" on the environment, and if you are concerned about carbon neutrality, the last thing that you should be doing is flying on private jets. Sit in coach, you might save a polar bear".
As I wrote in an earlier piece, If you are going to Congress, crying about how you are running out of money- don't go there in a private jet!
I understand compared to the scale of the problem, that Gore's flights have no impact, or that the cost of the private jets had no impact on the financial meltdown. Based on the large salaries these executives are making, it is not unreasonable to expect them to have the savvy to understand that showing up to congress in your Gulf Stream Jet; is like pulling up to work in a new Ferrari on the same day your laying-off 20% of your company’s work force. It is not enough just to make the case that corporations can justify giving their powerful wealthy executives enormous perks, or that they can construct the math in a way to prove the savings in time might justify the expense.
Larry Lubell
Urban News
Help the Earthquake Victims in Haiti
An overnight 7.0 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti- has the pontential to leave more than one hundred thousand people dead- and an untold number of families homeless.
We can all remember back to the death, destruction and general horror that was Katrina. A death-toll so large that it stretched our ability to truly comprehend. Years have passed, yet New Orleans is still wearing the visible scars, and any sense of normalcy, can still be years away.
It is with that in mind, that we read about the devastation that occurred today of the island nation of Haiti. it is truly impossible to grasp what it means to hear of Hundreds of thousands are feared dead in the wake of the 7.0 -magnitude earthquake. Haiti, already the poorest nation in the hemisphere, has few resources to even begin the long task ahead.
Click below for a list of licks to help.
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com/insurance-articles/544/help-the-earthquake-victims-in-haiti.html
Together, we can make a difference.
We can all remember back to the death, destruction and general horror that was Katrina. A death-toll so large that it stretched our ability to truly comprehend. Years have passed, yet New Orleans is still wearing the visible scars, and any sense of normalcy, can still be years away.
It is with that in mind, that we read about the devastation that occurred today of the island nation of Haiti. it is truly impossible to grasp what it means to hear of Hundreds of thousands are feared dead in the wake of the 7.0 -magnitude earthquake. Haiti, already the poorest nation in the hemisphere, has few resources to even begin the long task ahead.
Click below for a list of licks to help.
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com/insurance-articles/544/help-the-earthquake-victims-in-haiti.html
Together, we can make a difference.
When in doubt- Don't Panic
The simple truth is nothing causes panic quicker than being presented with figures that you can't trust.
This is particularly true in challenging financial times and additionally relevant following on the heals of the "Popping of the Housing bubble." We are going through a time when we are all paying closer attention to "The numbers" that companies are posting. We, as a whole, are additionally skeptical of the figures corporations are reporting, and are automatically "Shaving-off" a percentage of the "Good- news" while listening closely to an hint of a possible down-turn.
In this "New-World-Order, none of us want to get caught in the next "Bubble" or invest with the next Madoff. This has heightened our sense that "No News = Bad News." When faced with a company that is seen as holding-back on information, more than ever we will assume the worst. As a result, a company that might be reluctant to admit small financial losses; concerned the information will lower their stock price, will instead be met by a weary public that fears the "Real-Numbers" are far worse.
Insurers’ providing inadequate financial reporting trying to down-play a 10% drop, could hurt them-selves more by stirring uncertainty about their financial condition; and stoke fear that they are the next AIG.
Rating companies, reinsurance companies, investors and the public at large, are smart enough to expect a company to face challenges, especially in difficult times. What is most important in creating confidence, is to convince the public that your figures are solid, real and that you understand, and are willing to do what it takes to return to profitability. If the market can't trust the numbers your reporting, or there is a reporting vacuum, your company will the impact caused by the resulting panic.
This is particularly true in challenging financial times and additionally relevant following on the heals of the "Popping of the Housing bubble." We are going through a time when we are all paying closer attention to "The numbers" that companies are posting. We, as a whole, are additionally skeptical of the figures corporations are reporting, and are automatically "Shaving-off" a percentage of the "Good- news" while listening closely to an hint of a possible down-turn.
In this "New-World-Order, none of us want to get caught in the next "Bubble" or invest with the next Madoff. This has heightened our sense that "No News = Bad News." When faced with a company that is seen as holding-back on information, more than ever we will assume the worst. As a result, a company that might be reluctant to admit small financial losses; concerned the information will lower their stock price, will instead be met by a weary public that fears the "Real-Numbers" are far worse.
Insurers’ providing inadequate financial reporting trying to down-play a 10% drop, could hurt them-selves more by stirring uncertainty about their financial condition; and stoke fear that they are the next AIG.
Rating companies, reinsurance companies, investors and the public at large, are smart enough to expect a company to face challenges, especially in difficult times. What is most important in creating confidence, is to convince the public that your figures are solid, real and that you understand, and are willing to do what it takes to return to profitability. If the market can't trust the numbers your reporting, or there is a reporting vacuum, your company will the impact caused by the resulting panic.
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