Actually, no matter which side comes out victorious, we win.
Think about it - we are in the process of successfully destroying Gaddafi's stash of weapons.
The only world-class manufacturing we still do is making and selling weapons.
Whoever wins will want lots more weapons.
Jobs in the USA!!!!!!!!
We are SO smart.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Game Over (Enron)
So, you may recall that I spent about 5 amazing years working for Enron Broadband, ending somewhat abruptly in September 2001.
At the peak of the frenzy, my stock and options were worth about 1.25 million. I, along with many others, watched as that number first shrank, then plummeted.
Since then, I've been receiving a monthly statement from UBS, showing the 'value' of the stock I still held. For the past few years, it's been holding steady at abou $1.32.
The other day, I received this notice, that the stock is (what took so long) officially declared 'worthless'.
I think I can now declare that episode officially ended.
At the peak of the frenzy, my stock and options were worth about 1.25 million. I, along with many others, watched as that number first shrank, then plummeted.
Since then, I've been receiving a monthly statement from UBS, showing the 'value' of the stock I still held. For the past few years, it's been holding steady at abou $1.32.
The other day, I received this notice, that the stock is (what took so long) officially declared 'worthless'.
I think I can now declare that episode officially ended.
understanding Michelle Bachmann
Lawrence O'Donnell has a good summary of the recent gaffe.
To me, there are only three explanations:
1) Her staff really is that stupid and the genesis of the Lexington and Concord screw-up can easily be explained. They knew she was going to New Hampshire, so they did some googling and saw that one of its largest cities is Concord. A quick trip back to Google took them immediately to the Wikipedia page on Concord and the rest is simple plagiarism.
2) Someone on her staff intentionally inserted that statement hoping to intentionally sabotage her. This appears unlikely, since we have not been informed that any staffers need to spend more time with their family.
3) Someone on her staff intentionally inserted that statement on a dare, to prove to fellow staffers that they really can get away with anything, and the 'trusted' media will not make an issue of their humorous little prank.
I guess my vote is still #1. There really are bozos on that bus.
To me, there are only three explanations:
1) Her staff really is that stupid and the genesis of the Lexington and Concord screw-up can easily be explained. They knew she was going to New Hampshire, so they did some googling and saw that one of its largest cities is Concord. A quick trip back to Google took them immediately to the Wikipedia page on Concord and the rest is simple plagiarism.
2) Someone on her staff intentionally inserted that statement hoping to intentionally sabotage her. This appears unlikely, since we have not been informed that any staffers need to spend more time with their family.
3) Someone on her staff intentionally inserted that statement on a dare, to prove to fellow staffers that they really can get away with anything, and the 'trusted' media will not make an issue of their humorous little prank.
I guess my vote is still #1. There really are bozos on that bus.
ominous story of the day
No, not the Japanese nuclear crisis, as bad as that is.
It's Saudi (i.e. Sunnis who dominate a Shi'a minority) troops marching into Bahrain (i.e. Sunnis who dominate a Shi'a minority). This makes Iran very nervous.
Too bad we are still so dependent on Saudi oil. Didn't Jimmy Carter have something to say about this in 1976?
It's Saudi (i.e. Sunnis who dominate a Shi'a minority) troops marching into Bahrain (i.e. Sunnis who dominate a Shi'a minority). This makes Iran very nervous.
Too bad we are still so dependent on Saudi oil. Didn't Jimmy Carter have something to say about this in 1976?
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
The NPR 'scandal'
Makes sense that NPR should bow its head in shame over this. Everybody knows that there has NEVER been even the slightest hint of racism at Tea Party events, right?
Why is it no problem to have Fox Noise repeatedly lying and distorting, year after year, but an NPR executive speaks the truth and heads roll?
Murdoch-world triumphs again. This is very dangerous.
Why is it no problem to have Fox Noise repeatedly lying and distorting, year after year, but an NPR executive speaks the truth and heads roll?
Murdoch-world triumphs again. This is very dangerous.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
photos from Sylvia's 100th Birthday weekend
My mother-in-law's 100th birthday is today. This past weekend, we celebrated at her Pasadena home, with two parties, with family, friends, and neighbors. She was (rightly so) the center of attention, at the Saturday Open House.
Here are Valerie and Don, reading greetings from the President and First Lady (really!). She pronounced the President's name as 'Boruch', which was hysterical, under the circumstances.
Another 'proclamation', this one home-grown.
Sunday night, the family got together at this great restaurant, for a fabulous dinner, with plenty of wine and laughs.
There was this luscious cake, with her name spelled wrong.
Monday morning, before heading to the airport. Karen and Sylvia on the terrace at the house.
It was a quick trip, but how often do you get a chance to spend time with someone with a 100 year perspective? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SYLVIA!
Here are Valerie and Don, reading greetings from the President and First Lady (really!). She pronounced the President's name as 'Boruch', which was hysterical, under the circumstances.
Another 'proclamation', this one home-grown.
Sunday night, the family got together at this great restaurant, for a fabulous dinner, with plenty of wine and laughs.
There was this luscious cake, with her name spelled wrong.
Monday morning, before heading to the airport. Karen and Sylvia on the terrace at the house.
It was a quick trip, but how often do you get a chance to spend time with someone with a 100 year perspective? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SYLVIA!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Ya Who?
While listening to the radio (OPB, of course) this morning, I heard a story that Bing has now overtaken Yahoo (big surprise, right?) as a search provider. Yet another sad step on Yahoo's march to oblivion.
I've had a Yahoo! account for years. At different times I used the email, calendar, and chat functions. One feature that I especially liked was 'Briefcase', which was discontinued a couple of years ago.
Nowadays, the only Yahoo feature I still use is 'Notepad', because that's where, over the years, I stashed various bits of information like website logons, mileage plan account numbers, and other things to which I occasionally need access, from a computer other than my main one.
Just for grins, I googled 'export yahoo notepad', and it took me to this clever site, where following the simple instructions quickly exported all my Yahoo Notepad items into Google Docs. Painless.
Farewell, Yahoo. Oops, that should be 'Yahoo!'
I've had a Yahoo! account for years. At different times I used the email, calendar, and chat functions. One feature that I especially liked was 'Briefcase', which was discontinued a couple of years ago.
Nowadays, the only Yahoo feature I still use is 'Notepad', because that's where, over the years, I stashed various bits of information like website logons, mileage plan account numbers, and other things to which I occasionally need access, from a computer other than my main one.
Just for grins, I googled 'export yahoo notepad', and it took me to this clever site, where following the simple instructions quickly exported all my Yahoo Notepad items into Google Docs. Painless.
Farewell, Yahoo. Oops, that should be 'Yahoo!'
Monday, February 28, 2011
something is happening here
With reports that the Wisconsin police now standing in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of protesters, I see a stirring of the American Labor movement, that has finally had enough of the Class Warfare that the Koch Corporatists have been successfully waging since the days of the Gipper.
Many have now recognized the Enemy, and let us hope that the decades of successfully manipulation of their emotions, that has resulted in so many millions voting against their self interest may be on shaky ground, similar to that of the Middle East despots who we see falling, one by one.
What we need is a national eloquent spokesman, a Joe-the-Plumber from the Left, who, unlike the repulsive Mr. Wurtzleburger, speaks from honest disillusionment. Too much to hope?
Many have now recognized the Enemy, and let us hope that the decades of successfully manipulation of their emotions, that has resulted in so many millions voting against their self interest may be on shaky ground, similar to that of the Middle East despots who we see falling, one by one.
What we need is a national eloquent spokesman, a Joe-the-Plumber from the Left, who, unlike the repulsive Mr. Wurtzleburger, speaks from honest disillusionment. Too much to hope?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Iran, Morocco....
I guess George Bush's vision of 'Democracy on the March' was right. Once the idea of mass assembly to protest dictators takes hold, given the media spotlight, it's hard to put that genie back in the bottle.
By the way, let's not forget that this entire round of events was triggered (not by George Bush - I was kidding) by one Tunisian who reached the point where he was willing to self-immolate, to prove that he was serious. THAT was the spark, not the Iraq invasion (despite what certain pundits will inevitably assert).
Read up on the Revolutions of 1848 - similar in many ways, although the ultimate outcomes are, as always, impossible to predict and sometimes do not lead where one would like them to go. It's a dangerous time, when folks are riled and the death-count climbs.
I keep wondering when the Saudi people will catch the fever, and just imagine what that will do to oil markets? Oh, if we'd only listened to Jimmy Carter, so many years ago...
By the way, let's not forget that this entire round of events was triggered (not by George Bush - I was kidding) by one Tunisian who reached the point where he was willing to self-immolate, to prove that he was serious. THAT was the spark, not the Iraq invasion (despite what certain pundits will inevitably assert).
Read up on the Revolutions of 1848 - similar in many ways, although the ultimate outcomes are, as always, impossible to predict and sometimes do not lead where one would like them to go. It's a dangerous time, when folks are riled and the death-count climbs.
I keep wondering when the Saudi people will catch the fever, and just imagine what that will do to oil markets? Oh, if we'd only listened to Jimmy Carter, so many years ago...
Monday, February 14, 2011
one thing leads to another
So we are going to Europe in late May for two weeks in Belgium and France. The bike-and-barge trip covers the area of Belgium that the Germans entered in the first 2 weeks of WWI, so I had to read up on that.
Mention was made there of France's self-confidence about its technological advances, so I had to go back a few years and read about that. Mention was made there that France wanted to make a big splash at the 1889 Fair, to get beyond the shame of the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, so I had to read about that.
At that point, I expected to have reached the end of my current historical research, but, of course, the Germans were itching for a fight in 1870 over lingering hostility over the territorial ambitions of Louis XIV and Napoleon - does that mean I need to go read about that stuff, too? I don't want to.
Every war seems to be a reaction to bad memories of the prior war, which has bad implications, going forward.
Most interesting factoids that I had not previously known: Both Phil Sheridan and Ambrose Burnside (Union generals in the American Civil War) were in Europe in 1870, 'observing' the Prussian army as it steam-rolled into France. Sheridan had also been in Mexico when it successfully booted out the French, so he already had a bias against the French. He seemed to thing the Prussians were on to something, military-wise.
Wonder what he would have thought about 1914, not to mention 1940.
Mention was made there of France's self-confidence about its technological advances, so I had to go back a few years and read about that. Mention was made there that France wanted to make a big splash at the 1889 Fair, to get beyond the shame of the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, so I had to read about that.
At that point, I expected to have reached the end of my current historical research, but, of course, the Germans were itching for a fight in 1870 over lingering hostility over the territorial ambitions of Louis XIV and Napoleon - does that mean I need to go read about that stuff, too? I don't want to.
Every war seems to be a reaction to bad memories of the prior war, which has bad implications, going forward.
Most interesting factoids that I had not previously known: Both Phil Sheridan and Ambrose Burnside (Union generals in the American Civil War) were in Europe in 1870, 'observing' the Prussian army as it steam-rolled into France. Sheridan had also been in Mexico when it successfully booted out the French, so he already had a bias against the French. He seemed to thing the Prussians were on to something, military-wise.
Wonder what he would have thought about 1914, not to mention 1940.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
1848
That was the year that Revolutionary fervor swept Europe. Read all about it, if your history is hazy.
Once the meme gets going, you can't stuff it back into the bottle.
A big difference today is media coverage - it can only serve to increase the speed in which events develop. I believe we are at the beginning of a global wave - every oppressed community is going to be demanding change.
That is, every oppressed community except for Americans, who are too complacent to worry about the assault on the Middle Class, a hopelessly corrupt judiciary (yes, I'm talking about YOU, Clarence, Sam, John, and Antonin), a national Press corp composed of toadies, divas, and idiots, etc. etc.
Two million Egyptians on the move - it's amazing what can be done once you get mad as hell. And all it took was one Tunisian willing to set himself on fire.
Once the meme gets going, you can't stuff it back into the bottle.
A big difference today is media coverage - it can only serve to increase the speed in which events develop. I believe we are at the beginning of a global wave - every oppressed community is going to be demanding change.
That is, every oppressed community except for Americans, who are too complacent to worry about the assault on the Middle Class, a hopelessly corrupt judiciary (yes, I'm talking about YOU, Clarence, Sam, John, and Antonin), a national Press corp composed of toadies, divas, and idiots, etc. etc.
Two million Egyptians on the move - it's amazing what can be done once you get mad as hell. And all it took was one Tunisian willing to set himself on fire.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Downton Abbey wrap-up
So, I watched last night, oddly absorbed in the twisted lives of these fictional people.
Glad to learn that Bates is as great a guy as I had hoped, from the start. Did we know that he had been married?
Thomas sees service in WWI as his best way to escape from his co-workers, who now hate him. I bet once he gets to the Flanders front, he'll wish he was back stealing wine.
Mary - you blew it, and your sister will never like you (and is secretly brushing up on her Turkish, to maintain that edge during dinner conversations).
I don't get the miscarriage scene - what was going on with the two bars of soap under the tub? Did O'Brien sabotage things? Did I miss some clue? Since she's a smoker (and a friend of Thomas), we know she's capable of ANYTHING.
Happy to see the two cooks collaborating, after their initial frosty relationship. I was afraid that an entire sub-plot of recipe sabotage was about to start, and life is too short for that, with WWI approaching. Maybe it was a metaphor for the upcoming alliance between the English and the French. Just joking - there's no logical explanation for that (after centuries of killing each other).
Daisy - still largely clueless after all these episodes.
Is it anachronistic to see the servants smoking cigarettes? I had thought that it was soldiers returning from WWI that popularized them, and that they were quite uncommon prior to the war. Also, they made a big deal about putting in the first telephone. Is that true for the period, or was it just an opportunity for the head butler to have a comic scene (and why haven't they shown him dancing, reprising his former life as a vaudeville performer)?
Maggie Smith: still the best eyebrows and pursed lips in the business.
Did anyone else recognize the actress who plays Mrs. Crawley as the mother in 'Shaun of the Dead'? I spotted her from the start and still keep confusing those two roles.
Final question: did Hosni Mubarak watch last night, too, to take his mind off other things?
Glad to learn that Bates is as great a guy as I had hoped, from the start. Did we know that he had been married?
Thomas sees service in WWI as his best way to escape from his co-workers, who now hate him. I bet once he gets to the Flanders front, he'll wish he was back stealing wine.
Mary - you blew it, and your sister will never like you (and is secretly brushing up on her Turkish, to maintain that edge during dinner conversations).
I don't get the miscarriage scene - what was going on with the two bars of soap under the tub? Did O'Brien sabotage things? Did I miss some clue? Since she's a smoker (and a friend of Thomas), we know she's capable of ANYTHING.
Happy to see the two cooks collaborating, after their initial frosty relationship. I was afraid that an entire sub-plot of recipe sabotage was about to start, and life is too short for that, with WWI approaching. Maybe it was a metaphor for the upcoming alliance between the English and the French. Just joking - there's no logical explanation for that (after centuries of killing each other).
Daisy - still largely clueless after all these episodes.
Is it anachronistic to see the servants smoking cigarettes? I had thought that it was soldiers returning from WWI that popularized them, and that they were quite uncommon prior to the war. Also, they made a big deal about putting in the first telephone. Is that true for the period, or was it just an opportunity for the head butler to have a comic scene (and why haven't they shown him dancing, reprising his former life as a vaudeville performer)?
Maggie Smith: still the best eyebrows and pursed lips in the business.
Did anyone else recognize the actress who plays Mrs. Crawley as the mother in 'Shaun of the Dead'? I spotted her from the start and still keep confusing those two roles.
Final question: did Hosni Mubarak watch last night, too, to take his mind off other things?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday evening TV
It was a busy day, with my doing a radio show in the morning, Karen going to a friend's funeral in the morning and to her office to work in the afternoon, and both of us going to an evening Shiva at the friends' house, all the while also thinking about the mess of mud and water in the basement, where, overnight, our dependable-until-now drainage system backed up. The guys who installed it a few years ago are coming over to take a look.
But, to digress, last night, when we finally got home, Karen resumed working at the kitchen table, watching TV with me out of the corner of her eyes.
We watched a 'Nature' show about animals in the arctic dealing with life and death issues. I was struck by how much of Nature involves the need for being on a sharp lookout, either for someone smaller to kill and eat, or for something bigger and stronger (or smarter) to suddenly grab and eat you.
Fortunately, humans are largely exempt from the 'at any moment I may be eaten' concern. This is progress, but maybe the lingering memories of those instincts are still lurking in all of us, which explains shows like 'The Bachelor'.
Following 'Nature' was the next episode of the current Masterpiece Theater drama, an 'Upstairs/Downstairs' story of upper-class English actors, and their subservient staff, also composed of articulate English actors.
Several actors reminded me of various animals in the prior show. Fortunately, humans have progressed to the point where (at least in the world of BBC drama), the paid-to-be-meek do have ways of getting leverage to counter the power of the too-much-time-on-their-hands crowd.
Not sure what all this means, but I have to say that Maggie Smith has marvelously expressive eyes. Nobody does haughty disdain better. Love it, and can't wait for next week's installment, when the news gets out about what happened to the Turkish dude.
But, to digress, last night, when we finally got home, Karen resumed working at the kitchen table, watching TV with me out of the corner of her eyes.
We watched a 'Nature' show about animals in the arctic dealing with life and death issues. I was struck by how much of Nature involves the need for being on a sharp lookout, either for someone smaller to kill and eat, or for something bigger and stronger (or smarter) to suddenly grab and eat you.
Fortunately, humans are largely exempt from the 'at any moment I may be eaten' concern. This is progress, but maybe the lingering memories of those instincts are still lurking in all of us, which explains shows like 'The Bachelor'.
Following 'Nature' was the next episode of the current Masterpiece Theater drama, an 'Upstairs/Downstairs' story of upper-class English actors, and their subservient staff, also composed of articulate English actors.
Several actors reminded me of various animals in the prior show. Fortunately, humans have progressed to the point where (at least in the world of BBC drama), the paid-to-be-meek do have ways of getting leverage to counter the power of the too-much-time-on-their-hands crowd.
Not sure what all this means, but I have to say that Maggie Smith has marvelously expressive eyes. Nobody does haughty disdain better. Love it, and can't wait for next week's installment, when the news gets out about what happened to the Turkish dude.
desperately seeking the TRULY gullible
Email received this morning:
They didn't even take the trouble to poach the Visa logo. C'mon, guys.
They didn't even take the trouble to poach the Visa logo. C'mon, guys.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Euro heading down?
$1.29 today. Let's look at recent history:
See the peak, in October 2009? That's when we were in Spain. I tried not not to think too much about those $5 glasses of orange juice (although they were, it must be admitted, very good).
The balance due for our May bike-and-barge trip is to be paid in February, based on the Euro/Dollar rate at that time. If the current trend continues, this will be a good thing. Usually, my economic timing is more in line with the Spain-rate.
See the peak, in October 2009? That's when we were in Spain. I tried not not to think too much about those $5 glasses of orange juice (although they were, it must be admitted, very good).The balance due for our May bike-and-barge trip is to be paid in February, based on the Euro/Dollar rate at that time. If the current trend continues, this will be a good thing. Usually, my economic timing is more in line with the Spain-rate.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
ex-Israeli President convicted of rape
As reprehensible as those acts were, and as good as it is to see him held accountable, let us not forget our own ex-President, who is (admittedly and in his own words) guilty of Crimes against Humanity. Where's the accountability for that?
Oh yes, that goes for Mr. Vice-Prez, too.
Kudos to the State of Israel for following thru, knowing that it stinks. There's courage and principles there, that are sadly lacking here.
Why is that? Is it because (as we are constantly reminded by pious pundits and government figures) "We are the greatest nation in the (history of the) world"?
Oh yes, that goes for Mr. Vice-Prez, too.
Kudos to the State of Israel for following thru, knowing that it stinks. There's courage and principles there, that are sadly lacking here.
Why is that? Is it because (as we are constantly reminded by pious pundits and government figures) "We are the greatest nation in the (history of the) world"?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Peace on Earth!
Sorry, it's never gonna happen, as long as there is Big Money to be made from selling weapons, and the best way to sell weapons is to convince people that they are threatened, and the best way to convince people that they are threatened is to make sure they hate someone.
It's like wishing for a reversal of Gravity. The Fear-and-Hate gene is, sadly, more firmly entrenched in our DNA than the Let's-all-be-Brothers gene.
Still, we need to try. Since there's no way to do a hostile takeover of Bad Media, all we can do is subvert it.
Let's start today.
It's like wishing for a reversal of Gravity. The Fear-and-Hate gene is, sadly, more firmly entrenched in our DNA than the Let's-all-be-Brothers gene.
Still, we need to try. Since there's no way to do a hostile takeover of Bad Media, all we can do is subvert it.
Let's start today.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
safe at home
It was a little odd, stepping off the ship in LA this morning, with a totally empty wallet. If I hadn't had my passport, I would have been totally anonymous.
Will start the quest for a new phone tomorrow. Monday, it's ordering new glasses, replacing my driver's license and ATM card, and resuming normal life. Probably won't replace the digital camera or binoculars any time soon.
The Panama Canal sure was neat. Cartegena sure was hot, and we all got plenty sick from the street ceviche!
Will start the quest for a new phone tomorrow. Monday, it's ordering new glasses, replacing my driver's license and ATM card, and resuming normal life. Probably won't replace the digital camera or binoculars any time soon.
The Panama Canal sure was neat. Cartegena sure was hot, and we all got plenty sick from the street ceviche!
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