Posted By RichC on May 22, 2006
My buddy the automotive journalist that I best know as “Cranky Frank,” aka … Frank Giovinazzi, had a chance to review the Volkswagen GTI this past weekend; what a lucky scoundrel! I’d love to pick apart his review, but all I can do is just drool. Instead of reviewing the review … just click over to CarBuyersNotebook.com and read his 2006 VW GTI review. Well done Frank … even if it isn’t a diesel.
🙂
Posted By RichC on May 21, 2006
I suspect there is too much be written about Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code (published in 2003), and the ‘just released’ movie. Maybe though, there are many are like me who are just curious enough to want to discuss the book and movie from the social cultural perspective after having read the book and seen the movie? If you are tired of the overwhelming number of reviews, opinions, the ‘what you should think’ controversy and the dollars ‘we’ pour into fictional stories and Hollywood movies … then just pass on reading this post. For those wanting a little more, I’ll try to keep ‘my thoughts’ concise.
My wife and I both read the ‘work of fiction,’ The Da Vinci Code,’ by the best selling author Dan Brown a couple of years ago. We enjoyed the book and discussed it quite a bit when it was first published. We both found it an intriguing story that blended tidbits of factual history with a creative story of secrecy and cover up into an interesting plot. I’ve always enjoyed books of ‘factual fiction’ and have read most of the novels by Tom Clancy, Stephen Coonts, Clive Cussler among others. (guy books) In keeping with the ‘factual fiction’ writing style, Dan Brown uniquely merges fact and weakly or unsupported conclusions into the entertaining storyline of the Da Vinci Code. After having a couple good debates with family members and listening to a perspective or two from scholars and pastors, we decided to see the movie for ourselves.
I don’t intend to tell the story or grind the details since it is better done by professional book and movie reviewers or the many scholars of church history attempting to differentiate the ‘work of fiction’ account from ‘real history.’ What I will conclude is that both the book and movie are well done from the standpoint of entertainment. My fear is that there is a generation of young people learning history through movies without the ability to separate real events in history from the movie-maker’s perspective. This is particularly disturbing when the movies are “fictional accounts of true events.”
As movies based on books go, Ron Howard did an outstanding job of presenting the story told in Dan Brown’s novel — in the least offensive way as possible. What I’m referring to is the blasphemous way the novel deals with Christianity. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard about the offensive claims posed by Dan Brown against Biblical accounts. Brown’s single line preceding the novel claims “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” Maybe that statement leaves wiggle room from the author’s perspective as to what is surmised and what is fact … but may Christ followers find the conclusion and position that the book is based on ‘fact’ offensive.
Howard (and perhaps Hanks) chose to soften the character of Robert Langdon and made him a bit more sensitive to Christian history. He modifies Brown’s more secular Langdon and gives the character a few lines that refute some of the conclusions the “Grail Seeker,” Lee Teabing, proposes. Facial expression from Tom Hanks from my perspective also offered addition doubt to Teabing’s blasphemous statements when talking to Sophie. In a small way Ron Howard ‘softens’ the film version of the novel in its portrayal of Christian history.
Brown used his two primary characters, the American Harvard professor Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks) and Sophie Neveu (played by Audrey Tautou) to unroll his story that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and bore a child AND that the Holy Grail was not a chalice as history knows it, but the offspring of Christ … the “royal bloodline.” The novel weaves in symbols and history in a 2000 year cover up of this through secret societies that continue to this day. As a ‘fictional story’ it is intriguing, as a Christian it is also blasphemous, especially if it is being sold as “accurate” from the standpoint of history. Imagine any other religion, nationality or race being written about in this way? If their history was questioned, comments critical to the core divinity of their belief written and filmed or events questioned as true or accurate … what would the press and public say? I surmise that if this were an anti-Jewish, Islam, African American or critical of homosexuals that the book and movie would be talked about and covered differently. I know from an incident just a few months ago what would happen in the religion of Islam. In other words, there is a reason why this ‘fictional story’ is a sensitive issue to most devoted Christians and why some are angry about its popularity and positive treatment. One off our pastors (Dan Dunlop) made the comment when he watched the movie with one of his Catholic neighbors that he felt as “if his best friend was being assaulted.” There is an interesting unity happening between different ‘faiths’ of Christianity.
As a Christian, I’m forcing myself to look at this movie from a positive perspective … what God would want me to do with all the attention being placed on Christ? Just as Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” stimulated many to delve in The Word, I believe “The Da Vinci Code” will do the same. It will no doubt shake the faith of many struggling Christians, but will strengthen those seeking the true and open opportunities of evangelism where doors have been close. Perhaps the book and the movie will make stronger Christians of those of us wanting to share the Good News Jesus offers?
Posted By RichC on May 20, 2006
I don’t own a DirecTV system, nor am I a shareholder … but I do appreciate their new advertising campaign. I posted a comment about a DirecTV commericial (Ferris Bueller) a couple of days ago, but just spotted another pretty funny one tonight while watching a news program. Maybe its not quite as good as the first, but it caught my attention too … but then that’s the hook in a good commercial, right?
Posted By RichC on May 19, 2006
The Nasdaq tracking index CLEN debuted on May 18th and is a tracking index similar to the QQQ only for Clean Energy companies. It contains companies who are producing renewable fuels, advanced storage devices, energy efficiency and advanced materials. The second step will be to build trading vehicles around this clean energy index. John Jacobs, Nasdaq Global Fund CEO, was interviews on Friday morning on CNBC and explained the selection of the 45 companies (35 from the Nasdaq/10 from the NYSE) currently being tracked in the index and the likelyhood that there will be an ETF (Exchanged Traded Fund) based on this index much like the QQQ.
As a pure play index, any kind of investment vehicle will most likely be a higher than average risk investment as the companies currently in the index are primarily small cap. The minimum 150 million market cap was set for companies to be considered for CLEN but it provides a trackable start for those of us seeing clean energy and related companies having future growth potential. Many ‘green’ oriented investors will jump at the chance to own a ETF based on this index as a way to diversify their holdings in clean-energy focused companies.
Posted By RichC on May 19, 2006
Micron Technology Inc. has built a thumbnail-sized digital sensor for pocket cameras and cell phones that will enable ‘bursts’ of up to 10 images per second at 8 megapixels according to a company press release. This is substantially higher than current sensors and according to the company will be produced next year in its facilities in Idaho and Italy.
According to a MSN article, “devices using the new chip should reach consumers by late 2007 and will feature high-speed, high-megapixel digital photography capabilities normally found in more expensive, single-lens reflex cameras.”
Currently most high end ‘picture-taking’ cell phones are capable of taking photos in the 1.2 megapixel range while still cameras are capable of capturing many more pixels … as long as its one photo. Micron’s new sensor includes a faster processor that eliminates usual point-and-shoot delays between taking pictures. That means users can shoot up to 10 images per second at 8-megapixel resolution or 30 frames per second at a resolution of 2-megapixels.
According to MSN, “The new sensor is a type of chip known as a “complementary metal-oxide semiconductor,” or CMOS. Analysts say the technology, which is also used in memory chips and microprocessors, will challenge the dominance of traditional light-sensing charge-coupled devices, or CCDs.”
Images are starting to become more common place, especially with younger consumers. The “mobile video” users will find that they will soon be able to shoot very high quality photos and video without having a dedicated camera or video camera. Cell phone may very well replace the point and shoot camera for a whole generation … and HD 30 frame video on a mobile device is not far behind.
Posted By RichC on May 18, 2006
Does this seem odd to you? The US is economically concerned over the price of fuel, yet the State of Texas prepares to increase highways speed from 75 to 80 MPH. Maybe its just me, but I recall the last time we were sweating about oil price and imports … we reduced, not increased, speed limits? Before the comments start, I drive above the current highway speeds and prefer it that way. I can’t imagine having slow to a 55MPH limit again … but that’s not the point. The point is the timing; why would any state increase the speedlimit when as a nation we want to reduce our demand for fuel?
As a nation we’re looking for ways to stretch petroleum and reduce dependance on foriegn oil by combining trips, inflating tires, tuning engines and selecting ‘right sized’ automobiles. The car companies are required to increase efficiency in building cars and tax incentives are put in place to implement alternative fuels sources and hybrids. We’re trying to reduce our consumption and use energy more efficiently so why would someone ‘now’ propose a higher speed limit knowing that every vehicle on the road would use more fuel at higher speeds?
Currently, the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming have 75 MPH speed limits.
Posted By RichC on May 18, 2006
Mobility Today video taped a first look at the Treo 700p as they somehow got there hands on a new PDA smartphone. If you are at all interesting in a Treo device and what it can do, check out the the video clip that David Ciccone put together. It is mirrored at several locations so I’ve included it below as well. Interesting first look, although besides the impressive browsing speed of Blazer, it was about what I expected.
Be sure to check out MobilityToday.com and leave a comment if you appreciate their video podcast.
Posted By RichC on May 17, 2006
Twenty years after its debute, DirecTV has capitalized on the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with a with a commercial sure to make a few of us grin. Who can forget Ben Stein as the dull … I mean dull … teacher taking attendance — “Bueller, Bueller …” Kudos to DirecTV’s ad agency for nabbing a clip from this 1986 Paramount Picture release, even if Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller) isn’t in it. (here’s the original audio in MP3)
Posted By RichC on May 16, 2006
Under the Freedom of Information Act, the complete video taken by two video security cameras was release on May 16. The images show a hijacked airliner slamming into the Pentagon that were used in an ongoing investigation involving Zacarias Moussaoui. The government refused to release the video until after the trial.
The still images from these cameras were leaked in 2002.
Posted By RichC on May 16, 2006
My daily interest in stock trading and investing occasionally turns up ‘timing’ opportunity (beware this is risky). I often trade for daily moves but have a philosophy of building long term positions in companies that are leaders in their industry. This strategy short term often looks ugly, but long term generally outpaces the market and allows one to sleep at night since purchases of solid companies are made when the share prices have been beaten down. One stock in particular has been taken down by investors because of product liability: Bausch & Lomb (BOL).
This past month the news has all been negative and confidence in both the company and management has been low. Management does deserve a couple black eyes in how they handled the news that ‘one’ of their products ‘might’ have contributed to a fungus that appeared in contact lens wearers. The frightening news in a country of lawsuits is that this product could cause infection and in sever cases blindness. According to a report just released yesterday, a number of outside items needed to come together to cause this to happen. I is believed that subtropical conditions grow a fungus found in some sink drains and this in combination with the use of Bausch & Lomb’s ReNu “with MoistureLoc” which is not the same as their more widely used Multiplus brand of contact lense cleaner is associated with the infections. “The company stressed that the recall is limited to MoistureLoc and does not involve other solutions in its ReNu line, including the older and more widely used MultiPlus brand that some victims reported using.”
My point is that Bausch & Lomb’s stock has been beaten heavily and may have found a bottom and is beginning to understand the extent and causes of the infections. Considering they are the leading eyecare company and have ownership through all aspects of eyecare, and that only 122 cases are reported of the more than 30 million Americans who wear contact lenses …. this might be right to purchase a well pummeled BOL. Consider that about about 2.3 million users use MoistureLoc (with 122 reporting problems tied to this infections), and 11 million using the MultiPlus ReNu products … the impact fiscally is not that heavy. The company has sales over 100 million dollar and the stock dipped last week to about half the price it was earlier this year. ($87.89 in July 2005)
I’m a buyer of the stock under $50 and believe there is short term money for those wanting out in a short period of time. The long term investment prospects look even better is you compare this ‘blip’ on a company that has been around since the 1800s. I see a slow recovery and continued grow in eye care from Bausch & Lomb and believe it is a great stock to add to a long term portfolio. An analyst at Piper Jaffray commented that investors who were originally worried about this problems spreading to other BOL products were heartened “by the strength and conviction of the FDA statements in saying that they too thought the problem was limited to MoistureLoc.”