The Media's Hallmark Holiday

Tomorrow is a "Hallmark Holiday" for most of the media. It's Day 100 in the President's 4 year term - an arbitrary date in which to evaluate how well our new President is doing. One network even has a countdown clock to 100 Days.

How ridiculous is this?

Imagine that this is a football game.

It's the equivalent of evaluating your team's performance at the 4 minute, 7 second mark of the first quarter of the game.

I've watched a lot of football in my time and not once has any network paused at the 4 minute mark to give each team a report card.

Why?

Because it's stupid and provides no insight whatsoever in how the balance of the game will play out. Perhaps the time for reflection is best left until after the game is over. Only then will be have the proper perspective for analysis.

77 Wins

I do love our Milwaukee Brewers. My bride bought me a 4 pack ticket package for Christmas and I'm looking forward to attending each one.

My joy for the upcoming season however is somewhat tempered by reality. Unfortunately to win in the major league, your team needs a solid, injury free, highly talented starting rotation.

We don't have that.

And as much as I want to see our Brewers succeed, it ain't gonna happen.

I love our team pride and our team ownership. But we don't have (and shouldn't spend) the amount of money required to be really competitive.

My prediction for this year? 77 wins. No playoff appearance.

Go Brewers!

Media Prediction

Here's my Media Prediction.

Within six months, David Gregory will frequently be "on assignment", allowing NBC to audition his Meet The Press successor.

These days MTP is almost unwatchable. It should only take the network another 180 days or so to figure that out.

March Madness

It's that time of year again! Spring is in the air. Our March Madness Hoops brackets are all completed.

It's the annual reminder of how stupid the NCAA college football playoff system is.

Track Changes

With all the wrangling going on in the Federal Government these days about who added or deleted legislation in the TARP legislation, I thought it was my civic duty as an I.T. professional to point out to members of Congress, that the United States has the technology to solve that problem.

It's called Track Changes.

Perhaps they should consider using it the next time they write any legislation.

I'm just saying.

Cholesterol Week is Here!

In less than 24 hours, I'll be winging my way to Florida to join in the annual ritual I call Cholesterol Week. I consider it my version of Festivus - the fictional holiday made famous by Jerry Seinfeld.

Cholesterol Week does NOT feature feats of strength, unless you consider hacking our way around the local golf courses, feats of strength.

Each November, my Dad, brother and family friend (Greg) rendez-vous in Pompano Beach Fla for a week of fun and frivolity. Red meat (almost raw) is consumed, along with copious amounts of (preferably cheap) red wine and scotch. Occasionally vegetables make a cameo appearance.

Yes - we go bohemian - at least for a few days.

And while this temporary lifestyle may not be great for our physical health, it is absolutely essential for our mental health!

Made possible by understanding spouses who are likely celebrating the peace and quiet in their own way!

See you in a week!

How to Relate to Joe Sixpack

I just had to share this video I found surfing the web. It's how Political advertising SHOULD BE done.

Enjoy.

Bitter irony

In a bit of unintended irony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online posted the headline at the right.

While the article forewarns of an early closing of the Janesville GM plant, the embedded ad is for Mazda cars.

This action is part of a massive effort by GM to save itself from bankrupcy. Losing $1B per MONTH, GM is caught between a rock and a hard place. Even with a handout from the U.S. government, GM has to rectify decades of bad (long term) decisions. They need to build fuel efficient vehicles, alternate energy vehicles, retool their brand and somehow pull this miracle off within the next 18 months (when their bailout gift and their line of credit expire) - without the option of extending credit to potential buyers.

The one thing going in GM's favor? The price of gas has dropped from extremely outrageous to just outrageous.

And now, there's talk of a merger between G.M. and Chrysler.

The notion that you can create one great car company from two troubled companies only looks viable when you have no other options. And GM is out of options.

Prediction: Whether or not this merger happens, without a second bailout, neither company survives past 2011.

I guess we'll still be able to buy a Mazda.

Huh?

Most of you probably don't know this, but in Ontario if you want to buy liquor, you have ONE choice - the LCBO (also known as the Liquor Control Board of Ontario). They are government run retail outlets that offer everything.

And they're the only game in town.

You can't buy wine at grocery stores. There are no independent liquor stores. Just the LCBO.

Which makes one wonder about their marketing.

Because when you purchase your wine and spirits at the LCBO, they have a "rewards program" that helps you accumulate airmiles - airmiles that help you travel to places (like here) where you can buy booze anywhere (and for less money! Oh the irony.

Can you imagine the braintrust that came up with the idea? How can we increase sales? I know! Let's offer airmiles!

PEOPLE! YOU'RE THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN!!!!!! You have no competition. Why spend a cent on marketing or advertising!

And then the answer became evident.

They're run by the government.

The Real Value of Talking Points

During political "silly season" we are overwhelmed with each party's "talking points". Talking points are carefully crafted to form opinions, to reinforce party values or to intentionally obfuscate the rival candidates views, performance or capabilities.

Just the assertions - no data, please. And repeat. And repeat. And repeat. Collective brainwashing.

For the most part I ignore them. I find them silly, innocuous. They're a distraction. They're designed for the LIV (low information voter) or for those who always vote along party lines, despite their candidate or their party's record of performance.

But they work.

I heard them coming out of a friend's mouth just yesterday.

The topic was Obama's statement that "knowing what you know now, would you vote for "the surge." To my friend, his answer was reprehensible. I wondered how, as a nation, the topic of whether a military tactic worked or not, had much to do with who should be the next president. Violence in Iraq is down. Violence in Afghanistan is up. The Iraqi government is no closer to reconciliation and self-government than they were 7 years ago.

Did "the surge" work?

I guess it did, because it has otherwise intelligent people talking about this tactic in a war that should never have been waged, during a time of economic and climate crisis, during a period of time where the government's best efforts can't even identify the source of a tainted food supply, let alone Osama Bin Laden. And let's not forget the large financial institutions that are collapsing or the $4 gas.

If I were a Republican, I'd throw all the bums out of office because they have completely forsaken my conservative values. And if I were on the other side, I'd throw Democrats out of office for letting our constitution get hijacked, for delegating war powers to the President and for not prosecuting high crimes and misdemeanors by the Oil companies, Financial institutions and the current administration.

So who's left?

Let me check my talking points......

Oh, the Irony

Today I decided to unsubscribe to all the Amazon spam I was receiving.

And they informed me they were going to send me ANOTHER email confirming my choice NOT to receive emails...

(Sigh)

My Favorite Broadcaster Died Yesterday....

As everyone in the world probably knows by now, Tim Russert of NBC News passed away suddenly at work on Friday. I am among millions of viewers who will miss him greatly.

Likely, you are too.

Tim was older than me, but not by too much.

As all the accolades and personal recollections wafted across the TV screen yesterday (and this weekend) it stuck me that he left us a gift.

His legacy.

Aside from his journalistic skills, his strong work ethic and his leadership skills as recounted by all his co-workers, perhaps his greatest attribute was his authenticity.

He never forgot his roots. He displayed reverence for his Dad in writing a couple of very popular books. He loved (and never forgot) his hometown of Buffalo, NY. He was a Buffalo Bills fan to the end. He wasn't a boss to those who reported to him. He was an advocate - a coach and a cheerleader. He was perpetually enthusiastic. He had a passion for his job.

He never looked comfortable in a suit. I always expected his shirt to be untucked under his suit jacket.

He was the guy you'd love to have a beer with. And he was the smartest man in the room. He didn't show it off. You just knew.

I have to give a talk to an MBA class on Monday night about leadership.

I suspect we'll talk about Tim Russert.

Goodbye Tim. I'll miss you.

The Price of Gas

It was with some interest this week, that I participated in a discussion at work about the current price of gas. It seems like the volume is being turned up on the debate to allow more domestic oil drilling, in an attempt to increase supply of gasoline and thereby reduce the price of gas for us all.

Seems logical, more supply, less demand, lower prices. Economics 101.

The major oil companies hope to convince enough consumers that expanded drilling rights is the cure to $4 gas. C'mon, Alaska would look great with those oil derricks scattered across it's vista. How about drilling off the eastern and western U.S. coastline... The chances for an environmental disaster aren't that big, are they? What could possibly go wrong with that plan? Those pesky National Parks are hiding the key to cheap gas. Why go camping when you could go drilling?

The ONLY thing holding us back from $2 per gallon gas is expanded drilling rights.

Except that's not the way it works.

We forget that oil is bought and sold in a world market. Even if we produce more gasoline domestically, does anyone really believe that Exxon Mobil, will sell it to us for a reduced price when they can get $4 (or $5 or $6) in the World market? Major markets like China and India are becoming major oil consumers. They're adding to the demand far faster than anyone can supply.

Lobbying by the oil companies is distorting the truth. They know it won't drive prices down. But it will grant them access to additional supply upon which they can generate more profits. Because the name of the game is not to serve its customers, its to serve shareholders.

And they have done THAT, very well.

Want proof?

The U.S. gets most of its oil from ,,,,wait for it......Canada. Not Saudi Arabia, Iraq or Iran. Canada.

If you apply the same reasoning the US Oil giants are pitching, where greater supply equals lower prices, then you also need to explain why Canadians are paying MORE for gasoline than we do HERE! They EXPORT oil, for heavens sake!

Aside from a couple of examples of dictatorships, in whose countries gas is artificially kept inexpensive as a means to staying in power, free market economics are in effect.

The bad news is that gas will never return to 2005 prices. Ever.

The good news is that if we seize the opportunity, perhaps we can rid ourselves of this dependency over the next thirty years.

In the meantime, get ready for higher prices.

I Want an Elitist President.

I'm confused by all the "elitist" criticism of the Presidential candidates. Isn't it time we voted for an "elitist"? Don't we deserve an elitist?

The person I want leading this country is definitely NOT one of the friends I hung around with in college. Don't get me wrong. They were great. It's just that I wouldn't trust them to lead a country. And I'm sure they'd feel the same way about me.

I want a President who is thinking six steps ahead of his rival in Foreign Policy matters. I want a President who connects the dots with respect to cause and effect. Someone who has the vision (unpopular or not) to make longer term decisions and to effectively communicate why we're heading in that direction.

I want a meticulous planner, a brilliant strategist, a uniter, a Mensa level scholar, a brilliant communicator and motivator, a historian, a psychologist. The challenges facing us right now demand that we bring to bear the best and brightest minds in the country. These people aren't everyday, average citizens.

They operate in the intellectual stratosphere. The are among the "elite".

Dictionary.com describes "elite" as "the choice or best of anything, considered collectively".

Those who argue that we should write off any candidate who is considered "elite" are advocating for mediocrity. Perhaps it's because the best candidate from the accusatory group is just average. Perhaps they don't understand the meaning of the word "elite".

Maybe some of us aren't comfortable around smart people.

Get over it.

Would you take advice (or a prescription) from a physician with an Internet "degree", who was working out of his car and who couldn't put a sentence together? Or would you prefer being attended to by an articulate, compassionate doctor with several degrees from a prestigious medical school, operating from a meticulous office?

I like "elite". I trust "elite".

I want to vote for someone I'd like to have a beer with. BUT, I would expect that same person would never be caught dead having a beer with me. They'd have more important things to do.

Pay Up Sucka!

On May 1st I gave my brother a call. He's a CPA and a partner in an accounting firm in Ontario, Canada.

I called him on May 1st, because April 30th is when Canadian income tax is due and his firm processes a LOT of returns.

And so, I waited until the seasonal crush of work subsided before calling him. it wasn't long before our conversation turned to tax rates.

With all the local talk in the US of making income tax cuts permanent and with several of the Presidential candidates talking about gas tax holidays over the summer months, bailing out failing financial institutions, bailing out homeowners affected by raising mortgage rates, lowering corporate income tax rates and somehow paying for universal healthcare, Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid against a backdrop of a declining US dollar, a slower economy and an ongoing expensive war, I thought it was time to inject a dose of reality into the discussion.

In Canada, they have universal healthcare, Social Security and are NOT fighting an expensive war.

My brother reminded me that in Canada, the highest personal tax rate is 46.4% and that it applies to all incomes over $120,000. In Canada, mortgage interest is NOT deductible. And remember too, that Canada has a consumption tax of 15% (Provincial Sales Tax and a Federal Goods and Services tax) on stuff you buy with your after tax dollars! Oh, and gas is currently (the US equivalent) of about $4.25 a gallon.

The Canadian economy is about 10% the size of the US economy and yes, they have a National debt.

The big difference between the approach that the two countries take is that in Canada, they attempt to "pay as you go" for services. In the U.S. we tend to try to keep taxes low, count on a growing economy to make up the shortfall and put the difference on the charge card (increase the national debt).

It allows us all to live "the American dream".

Question is: Which of the Presidential candidates will have the courage to wake us?

Missing in Action

My apologies to loyal readers who have patiently waited for a blog post for the past couple of weeks. I've been spending most of my time consulting at a terrific local company, helping them with I.T. support and development projects.

Unfortunately, that has allowed me precious little time to sit down at my laptop and reflect, think, observe and bitch!

More soon! (And thanks for reading.)

The Story of Stuff

Thanks to the Presentation Zen blog, I discovered this tremendous video about environental sustainability and over consumption.

Sounds boring.

Sounds complicated.

This presentation disproves both assumptions. Annie Leonard may have just won a place on my "Hero Wall".

How Many Countries?

If you had just landed in the U.S. with a mission to understand the political geography of the planet, could you determine how many countries exist in the world?

Not by reading the news.

Based upon mention in mainstream U.S. media, after Iraq, Iran, North Korea and China, it would seem that few other countries exist.

As we debate who has the best foreign policy credentials in the run up to the presidential election, perhaps we should ask our candidates a basic question: "How many countries are there in the world?"

I wonder how many would know the answer.

I didn't. I had to look it up.

There are 195.

When you consider how much focus we invest on Iraq, it seems we have precious time left for any other country (including our own). It also strikes me as odd, that all the bad guys would hole up in one or two countries - when they have a choice of 195.

It's a big world out there. Perhaps its time we recognized that fact.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

It's that time of year again. The temperatures are beginning to rise. Daylight is coming earlier and staying later. Birds are busy building nests around my downspouts.

But there is no more mistakable sign of Spring that the roar of gas engines, that permeate the neighbourhood.

And I'm not taking about lawn mowers. I'm talking about snow blowers.

That's right, snow blowers.

As anyone can tell you, it's not a great idea to store gas powered tools with the gas still in them.

And so the passage into Spring is announced (in my neighborhood, anyway) with a chorus of idling snow blowers, burning off the remaining gas.

I'm becoming a little more environmentally conscious as I get a little older. I never struck me as environmentally responsible running the gas tanks dry of all my yard tools, before putting them away. I have enough guilt using gas powered equipment in the first place. But running gas tanks dry is adding insult to (environmental) injury.

And so, with my new found treehugger conscience (and with gas approaching $4 a gallon), this year I decided to try something different.

No, I'm not going to leave the gas in the tank. That would be engine suicide.

This year I invested in a fluid pump. For a few bucks, FleetFarm provided me with a way to transfer my snow blower gas and avoid adding to the engine choir each Spring.

Too bad it took a city boy thirty years to figure out what every farmer already knows.

Why aren't these things on sale each Spring and Fall? It makes great environmental sense and trust me, there are a LOT of people (at least on my block) who don't know they exist!

It's White Out There.

As I write this, our local Channel 12 "Weather Center" has wall to wall coverage of snow falling in Wisconsin in March.

Not exactly an unusual event.

Now I'm certain that some small segment of their viewership are really appreciative of Channel 12 telling them that driving will be more difficut than normal, or that there may be some delays on major highways and at the airport or that we should all bundle up because of the weather.

I have a name for this segment of their viewership.

Idiots.

Note to Channel 12: Just scroll event closing information at the bottom of the screen and show us the expected snowfall amounts. And broadcast regular programming.

You're embarrasing yourselves.

We don't need to see the classic TV image of the junior reporter standing in a field, with a ruler, measuring the snowfall. These people went to college for this? It strikes me that meteorologists don't specilize in Weather forecasting. Their true skill is taking the maximum amount of time to tell you the least amount of information. And getting as much "face time" on local TV as possible.

There is far more important television that they could be broadcasting.

Like Regis and Kelly.