Saturday, June 23, 2012 - 1 comments

A "New" Economy?

In a recent interview with MSNBC, Obama's top political strategist, David Axelrod, stated,  "There are specific instances that speak to an economic theory that isn't the right theory for the country."

There it is. This is precisely how the Extreme Left---Obama, Axelrod, everyone else in this leftwing, ultra-liberal administration views the free market. Economic liberty is merely a "theory." And one that hasn't worked. As Obama himself has said, "It hasn't worked. It's never worked." What?

To the Extreme Left, economic freedom is a failed theory that needs to be tossed out and replaced with their vision of government-enforced redistributionism.

Later in the same day, Obama gave a press conference, and said: "This is part of the debate that we're going to be having in this election campaign about how we can create an economy where everybody, from top to bottom, folks on Wall Street and folks on Main street have a shot at success."

Pay very close attention to his phrase: "how we CREATE an economy . . ." That is the key to everything he has done. He doesn't believe in the free market, or in individuals pursuing their economic interests and their dreams. He believes in a redistributive socialist state enforced through government coercion. That is the kind of economy he is trying to CREATE. Pay close attention to what he says because he's "telling us exactly what he's doing" and where he's "taking the country", if only our ears and eyes are open enough to hear and see it.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - 2 comments

Salaries Gone Wild

Have you seen the latest offer by the St. Louis Cardinals to keep Albert Pujols?

$220,000,000 - over 10 years

OK, let's do that math on this paltry wage . . .

Major League Baseball season = 166 games equaling 1,660 games over 10 years

So he will make . . .
$132,530 per game or

$14,725 per inning or

$53,000 per hour (2.5 hours per game average)

Have we lost our minds? I submit to you that perhaps we have.

Friday, November 25, 2011 - 0 comments

Black Friday

I'm trying to decide how I really feel about Black Friday. Don't get me wrong, I like a good deal as much as anyone. To me, my concern is more about the spirit behind Black Friday. Frantic, Hyper-Consumerism. Something's not right when people start camping out on the sidewalks of big-box stores 2 or 3 days ahead of time in order to get a shot at a big screen TV or laptop for 50% off. The thing is, after all the waiting, these froth-mouthed shoppers may not even get the prize.

I've participated several times in the 4 AM 'running of the bulls'. We've actually had very specific strategic approaches pay off rather nicely. But over the years as competition among retailers continue to raise the stakes and aggressive shoppers reach all-time lows in greedy tactics, I've decided to distance myself from this scene. The spirit of Black Friday is encapsulated and in full view when a California shopper actually pepper-sprays 20 c0-shoppers in order to get the jump on a good deal, or a shopper fires gun shots in a South Carolina mall just to thin out the crowd.

Don't we have enough? What is it that's on sale and at what price to motivate hundreds of thousands of shoppers to rush store entrances and many to act dangerously foolish? Happiness based on materialistic wealth is a scary pursuit. Eric Hoffer said, "There's never enough to reach a state of happiness, because the basis of this mentality is to always have more."
Monday, November 21, 2011 - 2 comments

Missing Steve . . .

To most people, especially Apple aficionados, Steve Jobs will be remembered for breaking through the ceiling and overcoming the inherent challenges of technological design, competitive markets and worldwide cultures. Example? iPod and iTunes. The music industry has changed forever, and for the better. Millions of people across the globe now have access to and listen to music like never before with a commanding 73% market share. His spirit of fearless determination and innovation turned a multi-billion dollar industry on it's head.

It only took a few more years to reach similar impact in the cell phone industry. As expected, competition was lurking in the shadows as the iPhone made its jaw dropping entrance. Once again, an entire industry was shaken and changed beyond recognition. Advances like we've just witnessed with iPhone 4S will continue to keep pressure on the competition to create even better products.

A couple of years later . . . BOOM . . . iPad explodes onto the scene! Not designed to compete head-to-head with laptops, but a new technology paradigm with incredibly interactive, elegant and never before seen user-interfaces. The birth of iPad caused an industry to frantically release cheaper, sub-par products. Most falling way short with minimal life-expectancy while newer models have begun giving consumers options but have a tough road ahead as Apple owns 78% of the tablet market.

Like Thomas Edison and others before him, his lifes work has altered the human experience forever. How we communicate and interact with each other has made the world a much smaller place and has all but eliminated any time lapse in our ability to reach out to someone. Near or far. Steve was an absolute perfectionist who has made our lives simpler and more enjoyable and will forever be a constant reminder that one driven person can impact the world.


Sunday, November 20, 2011 - 0 comments

NCAA College Football

OK, how many more crazy upset filled weekends do we have to have to stop the madness. C'mon man! Implement a playoff structure. Right now the top 3 teams are in the SEC (west) but if the season ends this way, in the BCS, they could never play each other for a National Championship. (This is why I have a love/hate relationship with college football.) If this isn't the kind of tangled up mess that finally produces a true playoff structure, I don't know what it would be. Good luck with this one big bad BCS!
Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 1 comments

Hear me out . . .

I've started this new blog as a way to express my thoughts and feelings on any number of topics. Not necessarily right or wrong, just the way I see it. Politics, religion, love, marriage, social issues, sports, etc. They're just my opinions so don't get all worked up. I'd love to hear yours!