I’m going to try something new if it isn’t too offensive by listing an item for sale in my sidebar. After ordering a few LED hat lights for a customers’ embroidered caps as promotional items, I found that everyone like them as much as I did — previous post — so … I might as well sell the extra lights on my blog. For now, I’ll pin the Paypal Buy Now button in my sidebar. (By the way, shipping will be a flat $5.20 no matter how many lights you order)
The 5 white LED bulbs with a built-in provide a 15º angle tilt. Weighing less than an ounce, the top mount design does not obstruct vision. Features 5 white LED bulbs with a built-in 15 degree angle tilt, weighs less than an ounce and top mount design does not obstruct line of vision. Includes 2 CR-2016 lithium batteries. CYC-MHC-W
On the heels of the Arizona shooting and the liberal media blasting their favorite “target” Sarah Palin, as well as blaming other rightwing conservatives for using incendiary speech … I wonder why they remain silent as union protestors put crosshairs on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker? Could it be there is a bias … I find that hard to believe? [sarcasm]
It also has me wondering what rock the union members who are holding up such images were living under when President Obama and others preached civility in how we communicate with each other. I’d like to think that “if” those who are protesting are teachers and other taxpayer supported employees that they are paying attention to what others on the left suggestmay have pushed an unstable individual to shoot an elected representative (which some immediately blamed without evidence, mind you).
That aside, the protests in Wisconsin are probably just the first in what we can expect to see as states try to come up with ways to balance their budgets (Ohio could be next, so let’s handle the negotiations carefully Gov. Kasich).
After the November election, and seeing that the majority of people in our country are struggling to make ends meet in this recession, the writing is on the wall: Those elected need to cut spending. People are not willing to have their taxes increased in order to cover government’s continued mismanagement, poor negotiations (pushing problems into the future) or keep public employee’s pay and benefits increasing or at current levels; cuts are immediately necessary. An agreement needs to be made that reduces government spending … be it federal, state or local AND the salaries, pensions and healthcare benefits that the taxpayers are funding for public employees; this needs to be on the table for discussion — or chopping block depending on your perspective (see Greta Van Susteren’sbest interview with Rep. Paul Ryan in a previous post – we need more Paul Ryans).
If you are a privately employed (or unemployed), self-employed or a retiree, take a look at what changes you have had to make when it comes to your benefits this past decade compared to what your taxes are funding for the public sector.
Is ‘your’ employer providing and paying for your pension?
Do you put income aside for a retirement program … or is it 99.8% paid by your employer?
What do you pay per year for health insurance … I’m betting it has been a long time since you’re employer has paid 95% of it, not to mention stiff deductibles and co-pays?
Something needs to change and public employees need to be reasonable when it comes to what they expect from their struggling fellow citizens being asked to fund their salaries, work hours, vacation time, benefits, pensions and healthcare. Although those debating from the union perspective who are looking at wages and benefits will argue that there is still equality between public and private lifetime compensation (debatable), the reality is that the states and federal government cannot continue to expand the public employee roles and support the public sector through more borrowing and higher taxes without impacting the economy. Reform needs to be made … and soon.
If there is one politician that gives me hope that we can get our government fiscal house in order, it is Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan. Greta Van Susteren had one of her best interviews (probably because I liked what I heard) with Rep. Ryan on Thursday night … it is well worth listening to if you need some encouragement that there are a few who seem to know what they are doing.
On the days that I am connected to the Internet during Wall Street’s market close, I often stream a tiny Slingplayer window of CBNC’s Closing Bell. Today I chuckled at someone on the trading desk holding up a “Hi Mom” sign (left).
Also changes in technology has helped investors and traders in recent years by making it easier to fill positions in after hours trading than in years past. The more active “after 4PM” markets, and routing software offered by many online brokerage firms, gives better electronic fills than even just a decade ago. For example, an uptick that continued after market hours helped me hold AAPL after the closing bell enabling me to exit with a few more dollars profit without holding stock overnight in my trading account —making for a better nights sleep, especially with CEO Steve Jobs health news and all the political unrest in the middle east in recent weeks.
(AAPL was up .80 in after hours trading with fills at $359.00)
Now that President Obama has delivered his 2012 budget, many conclude (even the President’s own Fiscal Commission), that there is a lack of leadership coming from the Whitehouse in dealing with America’s compounding debt. Obviously the problem isn’t going to go away without some control over how much money the US government spends and borrows, and the longer we wait, the more challenging the problem becomes for all of us.
The President must provide the leadership to create an environment in which it is possible to begin serious negotiations about the tough but fiscally responsible choices that will be necessary.
Ultimately only the President can provide the necessary leadership to get something done, and it will be up to elected officials to make the tough choices to reach an agreement …
— Erskine Bowles, President Obama’s Fiscal Commission co-chair
The President’s “punting” the ball to congress doesn’t give me all much confidence either, despite the strong words coming from a few fiscally conservative hawks. Although I’m heartened to hear Rep. Paul Ryan speak boldly, I’m concerned when it comes to cutting popular programs that many will attempt to push the growing issues to the next congress. Unless public pressure grows and demands balancing the federal budget, I’m doubtful we’ll see the real entitlement changes made … at least cuts deep enough (or taxes raised enough) to address budget deficits. One can only imagine how difficult it will be to unite individual senators and house representative members in order to address their pet-projects and those benefiting even the out of favor targets such as Planned Parenthood, NPR, PBS, the billions of foreign aid, the IRS and the EPA … let alone eliminating programs and jobs entirely — such as postal employees and the billions of taxpayer dollars to provide healthcare for federal workers and their double-dipped pensions.
Those cuts will be easy compared to those needed to be made in defense and the entitlements as baby-boomers tap into Social Security and Medicare. As for leadership from the President, we’re seeing exactly the opposite. More spending for quirky projects that may not even be profitable – high speed rail – and his pet project Obamacare, the entirely new unfunded Healthcare Law. Call me Mr. Negativity, but unless the President leads the overhaul and stops growing government, it is going to be near impossible for members of congress to agree on how to make these hard choices. Maybe a government shutdown is in order until some hard choices are made? (including some video with Rep Paul Ryan 2/15/2011 below)
The demo model of the newly announced HP-Palm webOS TouchPad(links 1, 2 and 3) seems to me to be a bit sluggish during a first look video over at PreCentral. I’m liking the Pre like features, but concerned if the device doesn’t get full performance from the 1.2 Ghz dual core processor. Perhaps by summer release a few of these early quirks will get worked out?
Most people I know openly or ‘secretly’ admire Apple‘s iPhone. For many it would be a costly luxury, while for others it is more phone than they really need. The answer from Apple might be right around the corner: How about a lighter duty iPhone – call it the ‘N97’ – with a lower price? According to a WSJ article, a new iPhone is in the works that will be half the price of the main iPhone and allow carriers (those who work a deal with Apple I suspect — currently AT&T and Verizon) to better subsidized the cost to better compete with other smartphones.
I’m had a problem with my speed/log and particularly depth sounding Navman instruments on the boat this last trip and I brought back both the instrument ‘heads’ (transducers are in the hull) and the teak mounting pod from above the companionway. Although I’m not sure what is wrong with the instruments, I’m running them in simulation mode for a few days – no problem so far.
I’ve also started stripping the many coats of varnish off the teak and glued up a couple of the splits (left in photo above – click for larger). After some weekend sanding and a little pre-varnish clear sanding sealer, I’ve started the 4 coat varnishing process. This is one of the few pieces of teak that I will end up varnishing – it is something I enjoy doing.
Queston: A couple of the stainless steel screw mounting holes have been countersunk a bit to far, is there any repair other than a wood filler or JB Weld epoxy that can be used to correct these?
According to Car and Driver, a few new Mercedes Benz diesel powered cars are planned for North America. Although the S class is probably a bit of a stretch, I’m anxious to see the 4 cylinder GLK and C-class vehicles.
…we’re told, U.S. Benz dealers will also begin selling a diesel GLK. Likely wearing GLK250 BlueTec badging, the little crossover will receive the firm’s well-regarded 2.1-liter turbo-diesel four, which makes 204 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque in the European GLK250—those numbers, as well as the ones on the car’s badge, could change slightly in the Americanization process. Still, the prospect of a GLK that could return fuel mileage in the high 30s on the highway while still ripping off a mid-seven-second 0-to-60-mph time is enticing.
We’ll also be seeing a lightly face-lifted 2012 Mercedes C-class at dealers in September, but it will be at least another year until shoppers can opt for an oil-burning powerplant underhood. The diesel sedan would arrive sooner, but Mercedes is still trying to keep up with strong worldwide demand for its four-cylinder diesels in markets where those engines are an absolute necessity for sales. When it does hit our shores, we suspect it’ll do quite well. Although sales of BMW’s oil-burning 335d have been slow as a result of its high sticker price, modest fuel economy, and superfluous torque, the four-cylinder diesel in the C-class should steer clear of most, if not all, of those issues.
I’m going to try something new if it isn’t too offensive by listing an item for sale in my sidebar. After ordering a few LED hat lights for a customers’ embroidered caps as promotional items, I found that everyone like them as much as I did — previous post — so … I might as well sell the extra lights on my blog. For now, I’ll pin the Paypal Buy Now button in my sidebar. (By the way, shipping will be a flat $5.20 no matter how many lights you order)
