On a day when all Americans, and peace-loving people around the world remember the horrors of 9/11, we find that our ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens and three other American officials, were killed in a brutal attack Benghazi.
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Terror Attacks in Benghazi. - Chicago Auto Insurance
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Chicago school strike - Chicago Auto Insurance
As the Chicago teachers' strike goes into its 4th day, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Both sides in the Chicago teachers expressed optimism that a deal can be hammered out today. This would pave the way for classes to resume on Monday.
On a scale of 1-10, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said "I'm a 9" on a deal being reached today.
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Chicago school strike - Chicago Auto Insurance
Both sides in the Chicago teachers expressed optimism that a deal can be hammered out today. This would pave the way for classes to resume on Monday.
On a scale of 1-10, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said "I'm a 9" on a deal being reached today.
Read More
Chicago school strike - Chicago Auto Insurance
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
multi-million dollar “golden Parachutes.”
Richard Schulze Chairman of Best Buy Co Inc. has resigned after an investigation showed that he failed to take action or notify the board concerning the after learning that former Chief Executive Officer Brian Dunn had violated Best Buy’s policy by having "an extremely close personal relationship" with a female employee,
The board of Best Buy confirmed that an investigation by the board concluded that the relationship "negatively impacted the work environment," but involved no misuse of company resources.
OK, so CEO Brian Dunn violates company rules, by sleeping with a female employee; his punishment includes getting a check for $2.85 million
As for the Chairman, who failed to take action; he gets a $6.6 million severance package. Keep in mind this is from a company that is bleeding red ink.
Now this story comes as we are hearing of the $2 Billion dollar loss stemming from reclessly risky trading by sever at JPMorgan Chase. When you figure in the full scopre of the losses, including Account Share Price, some are saying that the losses can reach closer to $20 Billion, Granted, stock prices rise and fall, so that $20 Billion figure is overstated. That said the actual losses are real, unnessearry and massive in scope; so what punishment fell on the people responsible- the top trader Ina Drew would be entitled to the continuation of almost $14.7 million in stock awards in case of resignation.
Think of how many people loose their jobs each year, as a result of no fault of their own, yet if you are smart enough, and or lucky enough to reach the top, it seems the fall is often cushioned by multi-million dollar “golden Parachutes.” I can’t help but recognize how often the same people who will have little sympathy for middle class workers loosing their jobs, will themselves be protected by severance packages 10 times greater than the average worker wil make in their lifetime.
The board of Best Buy confirmed that an investigation by the board concluded that the relationship "negatively impacted the work environment," but involved no misuse of company resources.
OK, so CEO Brian Dunn violates company rules, by sleeping with a female employee; his punishment includes getting a check for $2.85 million
As for the Chairman, who failed to take action; he gets a $6.6 million severance package. Keep in mind this is from a company that is bleeding red ink.
Now this story comes as we are hearing of the $2 Billion dollar loss stemming from reclessly risky trading by sever at JPMorgan Chase. When you figure in the full scopre of the losses, including Account Share Price, some are saying that the losses can reach closer to $20 Billion, Granted, stock prices rise and fall, so that $20 Billion figure is overstated. That said the actual losses are real, unnessearry and massive in scope; so what punishment fell on the people responsible- the top trader Ina Drew would be entitled to the continuation of almost $14.7 million in stock awards in case of resignation.
Think of how many people loose their jobs each year, as a result of no fault of their own, yet if you are smart enough, and or lucky enough to reach the top, it seems the fall is often cushioned by multi-million dollar “golden Parachutes.” I can’t help but recognize how often the same people who will have little sympathy for middle class workers loosing their jobs, will themselves be protected by severance packages 10 times greater than the average worker wil make in their lifetime.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Have Republican primary voters given up on the "Center"
Politico’s Mike Allen states what should be obvious to all but the most radical members of the "Right," the simple truth that 15% of their party is forcing their candidates into positions that alienate the center.The result will cost them an election they might easily have won.
Take a piece of paper, fold it in half horizontally, then fold it again vertically, open the paper up and where the folds intersect is the center. America is not a "Center-right" nation, nor is it "Center-left;" just like the piece of paper, the center is where the lines cross. Yes over time the views held change, evolve, but the center will always be that place where the majority of people are standing. It is clear that a strong force within the Republican party is dragging their candidates to stand by their side, and that is no where near the center.
There is an ever increasing likelihood that Mitt Romney will fail to win Michigan Tuesday,leaving Santorum the front-runner, and will clearly send panic through the power structure of the Republican establishment. Why, because they can "Do-The-Math." When polls show where the majority of voters are on abortion, contraception, raising taxes the top 1%, health care, it is clear that the "Center" is not within walking distance of their candidates. So there is a push to "Find someone new," the problem for the moderate-wing of Republicans is that these fresh-blood candidates will be stuck with the same contaminated needles and contract the same disease,
No one party holds the lock on good ideas, America has benefited from the give and take of our two-party system; but historically the parties have never been so far apart, (At least not in the past 40 years)
Had the republicans ran and nominated a center candidate, they would have a very substantial chance at winning in 2012, but it seems they will end up with a person at the top of the ticket that is out of touch with the center of American public opinion.
Take a piece of paper, fold it in half horizontally, then fold it again vertically, open the paper up and where the folds intersect is the center. America is not a "Center-right" nation, nor is it "Center-left;" just like the piece of paper, the center is where the lines cross. Yes over time the views held change, evolve, but the center will always be that place where the majority of people are standing. It is clear that a strong force within the Republican party is dragging their candidates to stand by their side, and that is no where near the center.
There is an ever increasing likelihood that Mitt Romney will fail to win Michigan Tuesday,leaving Santorum the front-runner, and will clearly send panic through the power structure of the Republican establishment. Why, because they can "Do-The-Math." When polls show where the majority of voters are on abortion, contraception, raising taxes the top 1%, health care, it is clear that the "Center" is not within walking distance of their candidates. So there is a push to "Find someone new," the problem for the moderate-wing of Republicans is that these fresh-blood candidates will be stuck with the same contaminated needles and contract the same disease,
No one party holds the lock on good ideas, America has benefited from the give and take of our two-party system; but historically the parties have never been so far apart, (At least not in the past 40 years)
Had the republicans ran and nominated a center candidate, they would have a very substantial chance at winning in 2012, but it seems they will end up with a person at the top of the ticket that is out of touch with the center of American public opinion.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Super Model, Super Perfection
We live in the age of Photoshop, where companies will pay photographers to take the best, most flattering photo of their product or celebrity, and then go the next step and "Improve" on reality.
Most of the time Photoshop is used to "Fix" the same types of issues that film photographers have dealt with for decades. They can range from removing glare or a reflection of the photo lights on the subject, simplifying a background so as to make the subject stand out. But with the invention of Photoshop, we see companies and celebrities alike demanding that "A bit of work be done" in an attempt for perfection.
Please understand, I would love to have a professional "Work on" any image of me; since I can use all the help I can get. That said, it is a little disconcerting when Super Models find they are not ready for publication without hours of a trained person being spent "Fixing the image. But I am NO SUPER MODEL ! I need all the help I can get.
But the Idea that some one would take a look at her, and say "No I think she needs a bit of work seems a bit hard to believe.
If Kate Upton is not hot enough to appear on the cover of a magazine without Photoshop magic, what chance would the rest of us have?
It becomes easy to understand why so many young woman have eating disorders, and feel bad about the way they look, if even those one out of a thousand winners in the genetics lottery still fall short of the perfection magazines lead us to believe are common place.
So much for perfection, I like the before image better.
Most of the time Photoshop is used to "Fix" the same types of issues that film photographers have dealt with for decades. They can range from removing glare or a reflection of the photo lights on the subject, simplifying a background so as to make the subject stand out. But with the invention of Photoshop, we see companies and celebrities alike demanding that "A bit of work be done" in an attempt for perfection.
Please understand, I would love to have a professional "Work on" any image of me; since I can use all the help I can get. That said, it is a little disconcerting when Super Models find they are not ready for publication without hours of a trained person being spent "Fixing the image. But I am NO SUPER MODEL ! I need all the help I can get.
But the Idea that some one would take a look at her, and say "No I think she needs a bit of work seems a bit hard to believe.
So much for perfection, I like the before image better.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
U.S. Forces Rescue Two Hostages From Somali Pirates
Reading today about how the U.S. Forces pulled of a Rescue of Two Hostages From Somali Pirates, I could not help but feel a small sense of pride. The Seal team travled some 8.000 miles, then under the cover of darkness parachuted down to carry out their mission, It required dozens of members of the Navy Seals, and orders from the president, to rescue an American and Danish aid worker held by pirates in Somali for over 3 months. All of this was unfolding at the same time that President Obama was set to deliver the State of the Union address.
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Good work US Seals!
The military has clearly been serving our interests at home and around the world with a series of successful missions, each worthy of a film script.
It's a mistake to give all of the credit to President Obama, but as Commander in Chief, clearly he deserves some praise. In part because I have no doubt that those dedicated to making him a one-term-president, would blame him for any military mishaps. If memory serves me correctly, those on the "Right" placed the responsibility for the helicopter crash, during the attempted hostage rescue, squarely on the back of President Carter.
Bin Laden, Kadafi, now this daring rescue; all go to show the world the US Military is the best in the world, and we have a President with the judgment and skill to know how to best use their talents.
.
Good work US Seals!
The military has clearly been serving our interests at home and around the world with a series of successful missions, each worthy of a film script.
It's a mistake to give all of the credit to President Obama, but as Commander in Chief, clearly he deserves some praise. In part because I have no doubt that those dedicated to making him a one-term-president, would blame him for any military mishaps. If memory serves me correctly, those on the "Right" placed the responsibility for the helicopter crash, during the attempted hostage rescue, squarely on the back of President Carter.
Bin Laden, Kadafi, now this daring rescue; all go to show the world the US Military is the best in the world, and we have a President with the judgment and skill to know how to best use their talents.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Bain Capital Private Equity
Six months ago, who would have thought that Mitt Romney would have his time at
Bain Capital viewed as a negative in the Republican Primaries .
Yes, we recognized that the Democrats would raise questions about his track-record of taking over companies, dismantling them, selling off the assets while pocketing tens of millions for him self. But to see the charge raised by his fellow Conservatives, is a bit surprising.
As an interesting side note, in a few months, the biggest movie of the year will show up at over 6,000 screens. That film the Dark Knight Rises, is the third of the 3 Batman films down by Nolan. It is also a film that features the super villain "Bane".
This can give a whole new meaning to "I work for Bane."
I'm not sure, but I find it difficult to believe that my son was the only person to connect the two.
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