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Saturday, February 28, 2009

One-of-a- Kind Broadcaster Dies at Age of 90

Broadcasting pioneer Paul Harvey dies today

Paul Harvey is one of 2 people who saved AM radio. Without him I would not have gotten in the business and wouldn't be in it today. He was a real pro, and proved that being the best you, is always the best thing to do. It works even when the experts say otherwise.

God bless you Paul. Keep on showing me the way.

Friday, February 27, 2009

The Obama Baseline - James C. Capretta - The Corner on National Review Online

In Government Less Doesn't Mean Less, More Doesn't Mean More

I've known this for a while, but I realize many of us don't. Its worth repeating. When the Government says it cut the budget, it doesn't mean it's less. It means it grew by a smaller amount. I know, it's ridiculous but true.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Elegant Solutions: Mmm Mmm Good! Campbell's "Stop-Doing" Strategy

Another Counter Intuitive Insight

At least for me. It's easy to get stuck working hard trying to make something work that just isn't going to. We all admire those brilliant business people who know when to get into a business or product line at just the right time and make a killing.

It's at least as important to be able to time getting out intelligently. It's ironic that I was discussing this very skill at a luncheon with a very successful realtor today.

It is not a skill that comes natural for me. Whatever success I've enjoyed generally came by beating things to death. Just shear determination and stick-to-it-iveness. That's an important trait too, but knowing when to move on is a real advantage. It allows you to concentrate on what's working, and avoid the negativity and stress that can come with a struggling product. Read the article, it's very insightful.

150 Year Success Story Folds

Rocky Mountain News No More

After 150 years The Rocky Mountain News ceases publishing Friday. Another iconic newspaper down the drain. An example of not keeping up with change and printing content that people want. There are many theories as to what the primary problem is. The method of delivery comes in to play, but ultimately the issue is content.

Unfortunately, as the heat is applied economically management tends to take the focus off content and into revenue exclusively. The content degrades slowly over the years, with no apparent negative effect on readership or revenue. But all of the sudden at some point the threshold is crossed and nobody's listening, nobody's advertising, and ultimately nobody has a job.

Radio is experiencing a similar process. It's slower, less dramatic, but potentially just as catastrophic. If we keep the focus on revenue only, making excuses for content we know is poison, we may go the way of newspapers.

There is hope for radio. Some companies get it. We've been very fortunate that our affiliates remain focused on content quality, believing that revenue will eventually catch up. Let's hope that people don't leave radio the way they did newspapers. Radios delivery method is big positive, but does not inoculate us from the 3 most important things in media: content, content, content.

What about the Constitution?

Senate Approves D.C. Voting Rights Bill With Gun Amendment - D.C. Wire -

The vote taken today is in direct contradiction to the Constitution. All they need to do is run an amendment through, have it ratified and it would be legal. Right now it's political chaos. Otherwise embassies, Military bases, and even Guantanamo Bay should have elected representatives. See my blog warning of this: In defiance of the Constitution

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

MSNBC Intro

Gov. Jindal: 'Oh God'

No matter what side of the isle you're on you must admit the lack of professionalism is stunning. They have completely given up any effort to appear serious or journalistic, not to mention unbiased. I feel like I'm living Tunnelvision. Only a lot less funny...

The White House - Press Office - Executive Order: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects

The White House - Press Office - Executive Order: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects

Obama quietly signed this executive order in the third week of his administration to mandate the use of union labor only for Federal projects. At first I was angry, but then I realized that maybe they would destroy our Government like they have our educational system, auto manufacturers and other heavy industries, then we could get back to a Constitutional American government.

Sure to happen, but it will be an excruciating wait.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

In Defiance of the Constitution

Voting Representation for the District of Columbia: Violating the Framers' Vision and Constitutional Commands

The latest in a long line of unconstitutional legislation is being voted upon today in the Senate. s. 160 provides for a Representative for the District of Columbia.

To put this in perspective, the Constitution treats the District of Columbia as a special Federal possession similar to a Army base, dock or a "Federal town". Not a state. Much like Guantanamo Bay.

We have come to believe that the Constitution is a set of suggestions that can only be violated if it makes real sense and helps people. In fact it cannot be violated at all, whether it helps people or not. Any prospective law MUST promote the common good AND be Constitutional. Period.

Our Governemtal problems are all either created or exacerbated by the political manipulation and even defiance of the Constitution. All we need to do is insist that our Legislators live up to their oath of office, or face impeachment. Everyone has given that up, so we have no recourse. We vote as fools, for fools pretending it's OK to "Federally" steal from our fellow citizens. We are now just along for the ride.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Draconian new toy legislation (CPSIA)

Information on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

I realize that few if any of you are going to read this legislation, but we now have a law in place that has caused 10's maybe even 100's of millions of dollars of inventory to be tossed out.

Most Americans have no clue how this legislation has and will destroy the toy industry among others. Congress has no idea how to implement legislation that is effective and reasonable. They are so much in the palm of the Environmental Wackos (not the responsible environmentalists), that they don't even know what damage they've done.

The lawsuit and insurance costs are going to go through the roof. Be prepared for an East German like business environment. It was tough before with the crazy OSHA and EPA regs. Now it's repressive. Just what we need in this tough business environment.

We MUST get informed and active. We must go on the offensive. We can't wait until it kills our own products, by then it will be too late. Whether its' the Fairness Doctrine (or it's stealth terms like localization, diversity and public interest), global warming, or CPSIA; will destroy the freedom and prosperity we always enjoyed.

All totalitarianism is for the good of the people. This is how it happens.

Enormous Arctic Sea Ice Error

Due to sensor drift, the recent seasons Arctic ice count was UNDERcounted by 193,000 square miles - roughly the size of the state of California. While I don't fault anyone for making an honest mistake let's see how the mainstream media handles it. You won't see a mention, I'm sure.

The carte-blanche we give scientists, journalists and politicians is amazing. These are humans with faults and frailties as significant as any other profession. Sometimes worse, because some abuse their trusted position. We often treat them as though they are immune to the same character flaws and weakness that any other human has, and we are so impressed with their position that we abdicate our responsibility for remaining vigilant. How many similar errors have we not heard about because the media is in the tank? Check out this earlier blog of mine about a media guy/scientist who is bucking the trend: The Amazing Story of the Global Warming Scam.

When you have scientists, journalists and politicians get together to promote an idea like man-made global warming, you've got potential for catastrophic fraud. The trustworthiness of that mob has got to be subterranean.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Fannie Mae Ex-Officers Sued by U.S. - New York Times

Fannie Mae Ex-Officers Sued by U.S. - New York Times

Hand it to the NY Times. They may be going out of business, but they did report what was going on with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This story is from December 06.

Not real hard to find. I'm just doing searches on the NYtimes.com site for FannieMae. This one is about Franklin Raines and two other top officers who were being investigated for fraud and questionable accounting while at Fannie Mae. I may have to take back all the mean things I've said about the NY Times.

Guess who is an Obama economics advisor?

New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae - New York Times

New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae - New York Times

Gottcha!

This is not a current story, it is a NY Times article dated September 11th 2003. That's right, 6 years ago! It outlines the Bush administrations warning - one of at least 3, that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were broken and at great risk.

The solution proposed by the administration is absolute idiocy, but it proves what almost no one is aware of - or is unwilling to admit - that this financial meltdown was not Bush's fault. It's seeds were own decades ago, and the last 10 years we have been shoveling fertilizer on it. The Liberals had the shovels. And when they were warned about the financial reality, they accused the Administration and Republican Senators of being racists.

Read the article, it contains some compelling details. How much do you remember hearing about this?

Fannie Mae to Restate Results by $6.3 Billion Because of Accounting - New York Times

Fannie Mae to Restate Results by $6.3 Billion Because of Accounting - New York Times

I'm on a jag now, looking up Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac reports that no one took seriously. Again the NY Times of 12/7/06.

We have no excuse.Yet another example of the failure of the MSM to do their job, although the Times did cover it, it never got the legs it should have. Why not? Who squashed it?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Recovery.gov blocked search engine tracking | Surveillance State - CNET News

Recovery.gov blocked search engine tracking | Surveillance State - CNET News

I am not going to get into the details of all the significant mistakes the Obama administration has made in it's first month in office. I don't have the time , but I must say that they have proven that what they say they are doing and what they do are often completely unrelated. Recovery.gov is just another example. It was put on the Internet with code that blocked Googling.

One can only guess why the administration would do that. Would it be because the web team is incompetent and didn't realize their mistake. Would it be because it would then be more difficult to search for key terms that the administration isn't particularly anxious for us to learn about? I can't say. But I do suspect the later.

The good news is they seem to be VERY sensitive to political pressure, so they removed the offending code within hours of the blog uproar. Proves just how important we have become. The days of mainstream media checking these guys is long gone. It's up to us now. I think we are up to the job.

The administrations commitment to transparency is just an empty promise that we must diligently monitor. This isn't the first nor will it be the last time they try to pull the wool over our eyes.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Ebony and Ivory circa 1970

I was thinking about my experiences with other races and cultures as the result of the rather embarrassing comments today of our new Attorney General.

One incident sticks out in my memory. I had a very good friend in 6th grade at McGogney Elementary School in Southwest Washington D.C. We both lived in the middle of the ghetto, about 6 blocks from the area that was burned to the ground after Martin Luther King was killed. His name was Marcellus Greene. He was a gifted athlete, bright student and more rational and insightful than any current politician I can think of. He was black, I white and as was often the case we were walking down the hall between class discussing our insane world and what we could do about fixing it. We had decided that ultimately racism can only be eliminated if people of both races stopped attempting to gain advantages based on race, but how hard that seemed to be to avoid.

Marcellus and I were taken aback when the teachers we passed in the hall became very emotional after overhearing our discussion and friendly agreement on the solution. Teachers came up to us crying, congratulating us for our insight, maturity and overall cute wonderfulness.

We thought they were nuts.

Looking back, we were cute and wonderful, but we were right too. And still are. Here's to you Marcellus.

Attorney General of a Nation of Cowards

Holder: US is nation of cowards on racial matters

I am so steamed about this I can barely write. I must ask once more: how much bigotry and hatred must be practiced to eliminate bigotry and hatred?

Here's my considered response to Holder's speech:

Mr Holder,
I have lost all tolerance for the warped perspective you and other America haters express about the country I love and it's citizens. With all due respect-screw you! I cannot believe that an appointee of my President, and a man in service to the people of America would make such an outrageously bigoted and false statement about my wonderful country.

This country once fought a devastating war, brother against brother, for four torturous years. That war cost around $2.5 million daily. An official report in 1879 estimated Federal costs totaled $6,190,000,000. The Confederacy spent somewhere around $2,099,808,707 more. The total casualties of 1,094,453 brave souls means more Americans gave their sacred lives and were wounded in that war than any other war before or since. By 1906 another $3.3 billion had been spent by the Federal government for Northerners' pensions and other veterans' benefits. That war was fought to end slavery and keep the Union together. The very existence of this country was risked to make right the horrific wrong of one American enslaving another.

During that war an American President risked his health, his life through multiple assassination attempts, his political power and position, and his wife's sanity. Ultimately he sacrificed his life to free American slaves.

In the 1960's LBJ spent over $305.7 billion (in 2009 dollars) in Great Society spending primarily in an attempt to make amends for the injustice of slavery, segregation and institutional bigotry throughout American history.

The Americans have freed more people of all races than any other country on the face of the Earth. In just the last 8 years we have freed over 50 million men, women and children in Iraq and Afghanistan. People can vote for their leaders, are relatively safe and no longer fear the death squads of their own evil leaders. Brave Americans volunteered to do this, and many gave their lives to do so.

Now we have an African American President and Attorney General and after all this we are a nation of racial cowards? What country on Earth could you possibly be talking about? You sir are an idiot!

I hold you in utter contempt not because of your race, but your ignorance and hateful bigotry. I refuse to be lumped together with whatever negligible remnants of cowardly racists may remain in this country. Show me just how brave a man YOU are by apologizing sincerely for your incredibly thoughtless, insulting statement. You are a hateful fool. I am embarrassed for you. Bigotry is evil whether based on race or country, when practiced by a person of any race. Period.

You are the Attorney General of the United States of America- grow up and get serious. The collegiate, liberal "bravo sierra" no longer cuts it.


I hope I don't regret this. I haven't typed what I really wanted to though, believe me. I usually try to cool off before I write, but this flummery demanded a strong, quick and clear response. Elections do have consequences.

Monday, February 16, 2009

THE Secret to Prosperity

Economic Truth and Economic Fallacy in the United States

In this article Tor Dahl, the productivity expert presents the reality of success in business and economies. We try to cheat in this regard, but we always end up paying. Productivity gains are the silver bullet, if there is one.

His criticism of six sigma is particularly refreshing. We have become a completely risk averse culture and are paying dearly for it. Six sigma, among other phenomena play a big part in it. When you focus completely on preventing failures and errors, as important as that is, you lose the ability to take rational risks for big productivity gains. You think you have too much to lose.

Tor doesn't put it this way, but a little dose of roughneck American Cowboy attitude is sorely needed. Read it and wake up to a reality you can work with. The answers aren't in D.C.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Retail Sales Rose 1% in January - WSJ.com

Good Economic News in Spite of Everything

Hard to believe, but retail sales are up 1% in January along with very slightly reduced jobless claims, according to this WSJ story.

While this doesn't mean that all is well, this is an indicator of Americans getting a grip on the realities of their situation and making adjustments in spending. The sky is falling reports have been overblown, and Americans are realizing this and spending slightly more.

The challenges remain, particularly in the automotive, housing and financial segments of the economy. Add the additional long-term economic stress of the "Porkulus" bill, and it remains to be seen just what the future holds.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Power, politics, gossip on daily call - John F. Harris - Politico.com

Politics Obliterates Objective Journalism Once More

Here's an open letter I've written to the folks at ABC and Disney:


I am troubled by ABC News reporters participating in daily phone briefings of the White House Chief of Staff.

Much of the value of news reporters and news organizations is in their credibility. Without that, even the most well connected and gifted reporter is suspect. I believe you do ABC News and the American people a great disservice by not clearly dealing with the obviously compromised objectivity of George Stephanopoulos. While I am not surprised by his bias given his history, I am greatly disappointed in the manner the issue has been dealt with and the apparent lack of concern of ABC News management.


Assertions of this type of behavior were leveled at other news outlets during the Bush years, but were of course unfounded. Ironic that this is occuring at ABC now. This is yet more evidence that the proud history of traditional American media is being trampled, along with it's business viability - by itself!

Alas all things must pass. I suppose that includes ABC News. Very sad...
Dave Mason



Click on the link at the top to review the full story on The Politico. Sad indeed.

Zero Hedge: How The World Almost Came To An End At 2PM On September 18

Media ignores another historic, catastrophic story!

Thank goodness we have the Internet, talk radio and other alternative media. Otherwise we'd never know that on September 18th, we nearly had a complete economic collapse and no one in the mainstream media is covering it. The evil alternative media that our national political leaders want to shut down is exposing the truth, at least for the time being. Click on the link to read the story and view the CSPAN video of a Democratic politicians discussion of the event. Frightening. Not so much that it occurred, but that it's gotten no coverage in the conventional media. And we have no idea who did it or why it happened. We must have transparency and accurate coverage of the facts or we will be unable to hold our politicians feet to the fire. Believe me, until that happens we are at their mercy, and whatever economic, political and cultural destruction they continue to railroad into law will occur without our consent, but will occur. And then be blamed on Conservatives...

It is becoming incredibly difficult to continue to be optimistic in light of what is going on right now. The porkulus bill passed in the Senate yesterday and now the Democrats are excluding the Republicans in all conference discussions today. So much for bi-partisanship, huh?

We simply MUST wakeup and give 'em heck in DC. Our livelihoods, freedom and indeed, the existence of America as we know it are at risk. Call, fax and email the President and your representatives now or else!!