I got a email a while back pointing out the subtle racial tones of this presidential race. I don't recall some of the points made - some very valid ones and as is usually the case some which were such a stretch they undermined the message.
What I remember, for example, is it saying what if Obama stood on a stage with a seventeen year old out of wedlock daughter. Race stereotyping would come to play as we thought yeah, "those" people have no morals! There were better comparisons but I do not recall them, sorry.
The sense of the email was how unfair our attitudes are toward a black running for president. I found it interesting but what it didn't say, if it had been a balanced and fair comment on race, is that if Obama were white it would be very unlikely he would even be in the race.
Think about a white freshmen senator with little experience, far left contacts, very liberal voting record and so on. I doubt he would get a chance to get any where near a primary. His early record would be enough to make people reject as too liberal to support. What if our "white" democratic contender had a extremist pastor that said "God damn America?"
So please, don't bring up that argument, it goes both ways.
Oh, and was really amused to see Sarah Palin on TV questioning Obama's experience. What's the term....hutspah? Well, would Sarah Palin be leading a Republican ticket if she had gone into the race on her own? I doubt it - too inexperienced, very conservative religious views, etc. She is running only as vice-president only because John McCain selected her. Conservative Republicans might have liked her but she would not engender enough support through the party and on a national level to do it on her own. Do you disagree? I think there are similarities here.
I don't think our political process does a good job of selecting the best candidates to lead our country. I think we should ask five year olds! The "Are you smarter then a five year old" show on TV has shown how highly qualified they are!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Magicjack
I heard about this new phone tool Magicjack that allows you to make free local and long distance calls through your computer (in some area codes). It looks like it could be a good deal for some folks but this website, as is the case for many now days, makes it very hard to find out the cost.
I am always irritated when they make it so difficult to find product costs, I guess they want to "sell" me on the product first. Sometimes I end up pretending I am going to buy the product and go through the initial purchase information, and then close the window before completing with the transaction.
It is another case of customer dis-service. Companies, like people are lemmings on concepts. One or a few start moving in a direction and most others do the same just because it is the way they think you achieve results. If some are doing it, then it must be right.
Sure would be nice if companies returned to the days when they made a genuine effort to service the customer. As for Magicjack...how much does it cost? Don't know, didn't want to waste more time finding out.
I am always irritated when they make it so difficult to find product costs, I guess they want to "sell" me on the product first. Sometimes I end up pretending I am going to buy the product and go through the initial purchase information, and then close the window before completing with the transaction.
It is another case of customer dis-service. Companies, like people are lemmings on concepts. One or a few start moving in a direction and most others do the same just because it is the way they think you achieve results. If some are doing it, then it must be right.
Sure would be nice if companies returned to the days when they made a genuine effort to service the customer. As for Magicjack...how much does it cost? Don't know, didn't want to waste more time finding out.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Stock Market is Normal
Stocks dropped significantly today on news that retail sales are down. Duh...what did they think they would hear? Of course the public curbed their spending when Washington was panicking.
I've always viewed the market with bemusement when it responds to the obvious like this. The way I see it, speculators dump stocks, or buy, on the slightest whim and it is they who are causing today's swing. Speculators make lousy barometers of the market's overall health.
To think that the market swings are over or that we are through the worse and it will be a steady upward trend is out of touch with reality. However, I can actually view today's market response with some optimism because it is Wall Street functioning like it normally does...abnormally.
I've always viewed the market with bemusement when it responds to the obvious like this. The way I see it, speculators dump stocks, or buy, on the slightest whim and it is they who are causing today's swing. Speculators make lousy barometers of the market's overall health.
To think that the market swings are over or that we are through the worse and it will be a steady upward trend is out of touch with reality. However, I can actually view today's market response with some optimism because it is Wall Street functioning like it normally does...abnormally.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Economy
Finally couldn't resist making a comment about the plunging economy. Yesterday the Wall Street Journal published graphs showing the stock market during the Great Depression, the recessionary 1970's and the most recent period of 2000 to present. In the first two, unemployment was a major factor that brought the market down. That hasn't been the case in the present period but don't give up hope.
Unemployment is sure to rise drastically and when the stats are announced will likely trigger another Wall Street sell off by frenetic investors. I doubt the sell off will be huge as the market will have pretty much bottomed out by then (I suspect around 7000 on the Dow). Another buying opportunity for the daring or reckless.
As to the Dow low point, I should start a pool. Who wants 8000?
Unemployment is sure to rise drastically and when the stats are announced will likely trigger another Wall Street sell off by frenetic investors. I doubt the sell off will be huge as the market will have pretty much bottomed out by then (I suspect around 7000 on the Dow). Another buying opportunity for the daring or reckless.
As to the Dow low point, I should start a pool. Who wants 8000?
The Lesser of Evils
It always seems to become a choice between the lesser of evils in the presidential race. This time I have to decide whether I want to vote for a man that is, in my estimation, too old to serve two terms (I think that is a requisite) with a running mate that is a hockey mom, inexperienced in world politics; or a man I view as a glib opportunist with little in the way of real credentials or experience. A man that has questionable ties to others and rose in power through the corrupt good old boys stage of Chicago politics.
Hell, maybe our local county sheriff should run for president as soon as he gets out of prison.
Hell, maybe our local county sheriff should run for president as soon as he gets out of prison.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Football on Steroids
The Wall Street Journal had an article yesterday about steroid use in the NFL. Essentially it said that steroids are heavily used, especially by linemen. The reason no one seems to be concerned is those folks are not well known.
Barry Bonds is well known and has had major influence on game results. Thus the investigations, etc. Unless you are a major football buff, you probably cannot name more then one or two linemen...if that. They undoubtedly have impact on game results but not near that of the money boys - quarterbacks and receivers so no one seems to care.
The astounding statistic cited is that NFL linemen are 90 lbs heavier, on average, then 25 years ago. The NFL has thus enacted more rules to protect quarterbacks, etc. from body damage but it seems I see more and more players being carried off the field. Its time to ban steroids from all sports - and be serious about it.
Barry Bonds is well known and has had major influence on game results. Thus the investigations, etc. Unless you are a major football buff, you probably cannot name more then one or two linemen...if that. They undoubtedly have impact on game results but not near that of the money boys - quarterbacks and receivers so no one seems to care.
The astounding statistic cited is that NFL linemen are 90 lbs heavier, on average, then 25 years ago. The NFL has thus enacted more rules to protect quarterbacks, etc. from body damage but it seems I see more and more players being carried off the field. Its time to ban steroids from all sports - and be serious about it.
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