Posted By RichC on February 18, 2011
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.
Posted By RichC on February 17, 2011
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)
Posted By RichC on February 16, 2011
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)
Posted By RichC on February 15, 2011
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?
Posted By RichC on February 15, 2011
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.
Posted By RichC on February 14, 2011
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?
Posted By RichC on February 14, 2011
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.
Thanks for sending the link Scott.
Posted By RichC on February 13, 2011
I’m thinking my snow skiing brother-in-law might enjoy this kind of freeskiing — (video clip below).
worth watching fullscreen – ^^^ —
Posted By RichC on February 12, 2011
I’m not comfortable quoting the Muslim Brotherhood’s English PR website, but today does seem to be a historic day for pro-democracy seekers in Egypt – “Peaceful Protest and the Reward of Perseverance.” The non-violent tactics in conjunction with social networks, news media and international 
pressure looks to have toppled the dictator Hosni Mubarak’s role as President and his control over the citizens of Egypt. We can all hope that the void being created will not be filled by another dictator or a radical element seeking to institute sharia law under fundamental Islamic leadership.
My reading and study of the Muslim Brotherhood has me concern that the moderate tone being expressed through public channels could be a “wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing,” but for now, having the iron fisted 30-plus year dictator step down and watching free people celebrating and making it happen peacefully is a good thing.
Of concern: If the Muslim Brotherhood gains a political foothold in Egypt, what would their goals be … for Egypt, the middle east, Europe and America?
The Muslim Brotherhood’s goal, as stated by Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna was to reclaim Islam’s manifest destiny, an empire, stretching from Spain to Indonesia
…The general goals and strategic plans of the Muslim Brotherhood are only found in Arabic documents. One for Europe called “The Project” was found in 2001 in Switzerland, another for North America was found in 2005 called the “General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America.” An evaluation of this Memorandum was made for the US-Congress and for the Pentagon. Their influence is fast growing, especially in Europe, but not easy to trace while the active members have to keep their membership secret.
One citation from the document “General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America” makes the objectives of the MB clear: “The process of settlement is a ‘Civilization-Jihadist Process’ with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and “sabotaging” its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.”
As for the radical elements likely to seek power, I’m going to archive what is being said today … we’ll see how it matches up down the road.
What the Muslim Brothers Want – NYT’s article from the MB website
Friday, February 11,2011 13:51
THE Egyptian people have spoken, and we have spoken emphatically. In two weeks of peaceful demonstrations we have persistently demanded liberation and democracy. It was groups of brave, sincere Egyptians who initiated this moment of historical opportunity on Jan. 25, and the Muslim Brotherhood is committed to joining the national effort toward reform and progress.
In more than eight decades of activism, the Muslim Brotherhood has consistently promoted an agenda of gradual reform. Our principles, clearly stated since the inception of the movement in 1928, affirm an unequivocal position against violence. For the past 30 years we have posed, peacefully, the greatest challenge to the ruling National Democratic Party of Hosni Mubarak, while advocating for the disenfranchised classes in resistance to an oppressive regime.
We have repeatedly tried to engage with the political system, yet these efforts have been largely rejected based on the assertion that the Muslim Brotherhood is a banned organization, and has been since 1954. It is seldom mentioned, however, that the Egyptian Administrative Court in June 1992 stated that there was no legal basis for the group’s dissolution.
In the wake of the people’s revolt, we have accepted invitations to participate in talks on a peaceful transition. Along with other representatives of the opposition, we recently took part in exploratory meetings with Vice President Omar Suleiman. In these talks, we made clear that we will not compromise or co-opt the public’s agenda. We come with no special agenda of our own — our agenda is that of the Egyptian people, which has been asserted since the beginning of this uprising.
We aim to achieve reform and rights for all: not just for the Muslim Brotherhood, not just for Muslims, but for all Egyptians. We do not intend to take a dominant role in the forthcoming political transition. We are not putting forward a candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for September.
While we express our openness to dialogue, we also re-assert the public’s demands, which must be met before any serious negotiations leading to a new government. The Mubarak regime has yet to show serious commitment to meeting these demands or to moving toward substantive, guaranteed change.
As our nation heads toward liberty, however, we disagree with the claims that the only options in Egypt are a purely secular, liberal democracy or an authoritarian theocracy. Secular liberal democracy of the American and European variety, with its firm rejection of religion in public life, is not the exclusive model for a legitimate democracy.
In Egypt, religion continues to be an important part of our culture and heritage. Moving forward, we envision the establishment of a democratic, civil state that draws on universal measures of freedom and justice, which are central Islamic values. We embrace democracy not as a foreign concept that must be reconciled with tradition, but as a set of principles and objectives that are inherently compatible with and reinforce Islamic tenets.
The tyranny of autocratic rule must give way to immediate reform: the demonstration of a serious commitment to change, the granting of freedoms to all and the transition toward democracy. The Muslim Brotherhood stands firmly behind the demands of the Egyptian people as a whole.
Steady, gradual reform must begin now, and it must begin on the terms that have been called for by millions of Egyptians over the past weeks. Change does not happen overnight, but the call for change did — and it will lead us to a new beginning rooted in justice and progress.
Essam El-Errian is a member of the guidance council of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Posted By RichC on February 11, 2011
Archiving a scanned graphic from Fortune Magazine entitled “Race to the Bottom: Oil Wells Dive a Mile Under the Gulf.”
Click for full sized version
