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?



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.

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.

Chicago Air Show Parking

OK, I think Parking prices are getting a bit insane.

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.

Student Car Insurance

If you are a student in need of car insurance, you probably already have enough on your plate trying to provide a complete, “unified, and consistent description of the fundamental structure of our universe”, or writing a term paper on the long term consequences of the Civil War. As a student, your time is precious, and the last thing you feel like doing is filling out 16 separate Car Insurance applications searching for the lowest insurance rate. But the price you will pay for car insurance will change greatly from one insurance company to the next. That is why Urban Auto Insurance offers insurance Quotes from sixteen different Insurance companies. At Urban Auto Insurance, we will search to find you the lowest rates.

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.

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.

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.