Thank you Kanye for making me feel better about myself and lowering the bar for everyone overall:)

I just read about this concert pianist Lang Lang on The Horn's blog. I recommend reading his posts very highly.
The Horn - Controversial Young Chinese Pianist Lang Lang
Lang Lang seems immature, maybe to some degree autistic in that he seems disconnected,
yet obviously brilliant. I am interested in how people's perception of his emotional
maturity and depth relate to his interpretation of his music. To me watching him feels
like watching a child who only sees the surface of a thing. Maybe in time Lang Lang
will be grow and change and it will be interesting to see his interpretations change.

Thank you for sharing this with me Horn:)

Here is a YouTube of Lang Lang.

 Just a quick comment. I have been noticing a significant number of changes in the overall business climate these days. But there is one pattern that I have noticed recently that worries me. Some companies seem to be thinking short term when it comes to their customer relationships. When things are good and there is enough money and resources for all, everyone is just a little more generous and easy going. I believe this is true of businesses as well. When resources are tight people's true colors tend to show. An example of this is an experience I just had with Ghetty images. I have been a customer of theirs for over 10 years. We have purchased Ghetty images for web sites through multiple business and personal accounts. I keep track of what we buy but after a few years our records are no longer perfect. You see, there have been several unorganized back ups and hard drive crashes over the years etc.. Also sometimes I will ask a graphic artist to buy an image on their account and reimburse them. Our policy is to purchase all our images, so I thought that was enough. However, Ghetty contacted a customer of mine threatening a law suite if they did not pay them $1,300.00 immediately and threatened to sue for $3,000 + if they did not comply within 10 business days. They did say that if they paid right away they would give a 15% discount on the $1,300.00. So.. I hope you are still following me. I have raked through our records but can't find a receipt. I don't know how to prove that we purchased the image because it was over five years ago that it was implemented. My point is this; of course the photographer owns the photo and should be paid, but was this a good way to deal with us as a Ghetty customer considering we purchase their photos regularly through different companies etc.. for 10 years now. I personally don't think so.

We are now afraid to use Ghetty images. I like their site and held them in high regard until now. They strong armed us and our client. I can't easily forget that. I need to mention that the image was 70x50 pixels, not a large image. I don't like feeling trapped. They could have said to us; "Hey we see this image, did you pay for it? and, if not we need to charge you. We also would like you to see some other products and services we are now offering". Get my point? This was an opportunity for them to sell us something and strengthen our relationship not kill it. For any of you that build web sites on a small scale I highly recommend buying royalty free images from istockphoto. At least you can rest at night knowing that you are unlikely to have Ghetty and their image recognition software threaten you years from now and force you to pay thousands of dollars for an image the size of a nickel. This is not the only example, and I am sure you have your own experience of companies you are dealing with trying gouge you. I seriously hope that this recession eventually subsides or we might see companies and individuals sink lower when it comes to their business ethics.

http://www.blogiversity.org/blogs/parker/archive/2009/08/28/it-s-about-time.aspx

Look at THIS!! vomiting in my mouth just a little:P OK Shalene, maybe you were right all along. I also found out that he was arrested for exposing himself not his usual thong outfit. There is more to this story as well. This is painful to look at!

 

This post and the last one may sound rather negative and close minded.  I want to make sure I say here that I am all for the health and success of countries like China, Brazil, India and Russia.  I love all the beauty, music, knowledge, art, love and life they bring to the world and do not believe I am or anyone is better than anyone one else.  The older I get the more I appreciate the differences between cultures.  I believe these differences are not just perceptually beautiful they provide protection for the human race from changes that occur and are largely inevitable.

In the U.S. we have recently dismantled industries like the textile industry in the awe of globalization.  Most see globalization as inevitable.  To me globalization is just a system which although has potential to create much more wealth and increase standard of living accelerates the use of materials and subsidizes increased population growth.  It also creates problems that cannot be solved on a macro scale as there is no world economic, political or religious governing body.  Even if there were with such a large and unpredictable system solutions are more complicated and problematic in their nature. Additionally when problems happen they are on a grand scale and can take enormous tolls on human life and governments.  I believe these problems will lead to massive human suffering of all types.

The argument goes, that if we don't participate our competitors will out  produce us and eventually overtake us economically and endanger the very existence of our country.  All I am saying is globalization is dangerous in itself and will likely lead to unimaginable hardship on populations that are unable to provide value or acquire required resources in a timely fashion.  The core problem here is that human and the systems in which they exist adapt but can be over come when change comes at them too fast. 

OK here is a letter that apparently berates the auto industry for accepting the bailout money and for being inept.   I think losing out auto industry would be a horrible mistake.  But with the environment in which decisions are now being so incredibly complicated, it's hard to know which path is less punishing.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Dear Employees & Suppliers,
 Congress and the current Administration will soon determine whether to provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation's history. Your elected officials must hear from all of us now on why this support is critical to our continuing the progress we began prior to the global financial crisis......................As an employee or supplier, you have a lot at stake and continue to be one of our most effective and passionate voices. I know GM can count on you to have your voice heard.

Thank you for your urgent action and ongoing support.

 Troy Clarke
 President General Motors North America

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  
 
  
  Response from:
  Gregory Knox, Pres.
  Knox Machinery Company
  Franklin, Ohio
  
  Gentlemen:
  
 In response to your request to contact legislators and ask for a bailout for the Big Three automakers please consider the following, and please pass my thoughts on to Troy Clarke, President of General Motors North America.  
  
  Politicians and Management of the Big 3 are both infected with the same entitlement mentality that has spread like cancerous germs in UAW halls for the last countless decades, and whose plague is now sweeping this nation, awaiting our new "messiah", Pres-elect Obama, to wave his magic wand and make all our problems go away, while at the same time allowing our once great nation to keep "living the dream" Believe me folks, The dream is over!  
  
  This dream where we can ignore the consumer for years while management myopically focuses on its personal rewards packages at the same time that our factories have been filled with the worlds most overpaid, arrogant, ignorant and laziest entitlement minded "laborers" without paying the price for these atrocities this dream where you still think the masses will line up to buy our products for ever and ever.
  
  Don't even think about telling me I'm wrong.  Don't accuse me of not knowing of what I speak.  I have called on Ford, GM, Chrysler, TRW, Delphi, Kelsey Hayes, American Axle and countless other automotive OEM's throughout the Midwest during the past 30 years and what I've seen over those years in these union shops can only be described as disgusting.   
 
  Troy Clarke, President of General Motors North America, states: "There is widespread sentiment throughout this country, and our government, and especially via the news media, that the current crisis is completely the result of bad management which it certainly is not."
  
  You're right Mr. Clarke,  it's not JUST management ….how about the electricians who walk around the plants like lords in feudal times, making people wait on them for countless hours while they drag ass, so they can come in on the weekend and make double and triple time for a job they easily could have done within their normal 40 hour work week.  How about the line workers who threaten newbies with all kinds of scare tactics for putting out too many parts on a shift and for being too productive (We certainly must not expose those lazy bums who have been getting overpaid for decades for their horrific underproduction, must we??!)
  
  Do you folks really not know about this stuff?  How about this great sentiment abridged from Mr.  Clarke's sad plea: "over the last few years we have closed the quality and efficiency gaps with our competitors."  What the hell has Detroit been doing for the last 40 years?!  Did we really JUST wake up to the gaps in quality and efficiency between us and them?  The K car vs.  the Accord?  The Pinto vs.  the Civic?!?  Do I need to go on?  What a joke!
 
We are living through the inevitable outcome of the actions of the United States auto industry for decades.  It's time to pay for your sins, Detroit .  
  
  I attended an economic summit last week where brilliant economist, Alan Beaulieu, from the Institute of Trend Research , surprised the crowd when he said he would not have given the banks a penny of "bailout money".  "Yes, he said, this would cause short term problems," but despite what people like politicians and corporate magnates would have us believe, the sun would in fact rise the next day and the following very important thing would happen….where there had been greedy and sloppy banks, new efficient ones would pop up. That is how a free market system works. It does work, if we would only let it work"
  
  But for some nondescript reason we are now deciding that the rest of the world is right and that capitalism doesn't work - that we need the government to step in and "save us" Save us my ass, Hell - we're nationalizing and unfortunately too many of our once fine nation's citizens don't even have a clue that this is what is really happening. But, they sure can tell you the stats on their favorite sports teams….yeah - THAT'S really important, isn't it…!
  
  Does it ever occur to ANYONE that the "competition" has been producing vehicles, EXTREMELY PROFITABLY, for decades in this country?...  How can that be???  Let's see… Fuel efficient… Listening to customers…. Investing  in the proper tooling and automation for the long haul….
  
  Not being too complacent or arrogant to listen to Dr. W. Edwards Deming four decades ago when he taught that by adopting appropriate principles of management, organizations could increase quality and simultaneously reduce costs. Ever increased productivity through quality and intelligent planning. Treating vendors like strategic partners, rather than like "the enemy" Efficient front  and back offices…. Non union environment….!
  
  Again, I could go on and on, but I really wouldn't be telling anyone anything they really don't already know down deep in their hearts.  
  
  I have six children, so I am not unfamiliar with the concept of wanting someone to bail you out of a mess that you have gotten yourself into - my children do this on a weekly, if not daily basis, as I did when I was their age.  I do for them what my parents did for me (one of their greatest gifts, by the way) - I make them stand on their own two feet and accept the consequences of their actions and work through it.  Radical concept, huh..? Am I there for them in the wings?  Of course - but only until such time as they need to be fully on their own as adults.
  
  I don't want to oversimplify a complex situation, but there certainly are unmistakable parallels here between the proper role of parenting and government.   Detroit and the United States need to pay for their sins.  Bad news people - it's coming whether we like it or not. The newly elected Messiah really doesn't have a magic wand big enough to "make it all go away."  I laughed as I heard Obama "reeling it back in" almost immediately after the final vote count was tallied. "we really might not do it in a year or in four" Where the Hell was that kind of talk when he was RUNNING for office?
  
 Stop trying to put off the inevitable folks…! That house in Florida really isn't worth $750,000.. People who jump across a border really don't deserve free health care benefits..! That job driving that forklift for the Big 3 really isn't worth $85,000 a year…. We really shouldn't allow Wal-Mart to stock their shelves with products acquired from a country that unfairly manipulates their currency and has the most atrocious human rights infractions on the face of the globe..!
  
 That couple whose combined income is less than $50,000 really shouldn't be living in that $485,000 home..!  Let the market correct itself folks - it will.  Yes it will be painful, but it's gonna' be painful either way, and the bright side of my proposal is that on the other side of it all, is a nation that appreciates what it has and doesn't live beyond its means and gets back to basics….and redevelops the patriotic work ethic that made it the greatest nation in the history of the world and probably turns back to God.  
    Sorry - don't cut my head off, I'm just the messenger sharing with you the "bad news". I hope you take it to heart.
  
  Gregory J. Knox, President
  Knox Machinery, Inc.
  Franklin, Ohio 45005
 

 

Joe started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am . While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with Petrol from Saudi Arabia and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his Computer (Made In Malaysia), Joe decided to relax for a while.. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE.!) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in ... AMERICA.....

Please take a look at the information provided here and let me know what you think. 

A trend forecaster, renowned for being accurate in the past, says that America will cease to be a developed nation within 4 years, crisis will be "worse than the great depression"


Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Thursday, November 13, 2008

The man who predicted the 1987 stock market crash and the fall of the Soviet Union is now forecasting revolution in America, food riots and tax rebellions - all within four years, while cautioning that putting food on the table will be a more pressing concern than buying Christmas gifts by 2012.

Gerald Celente, the CEO of Trends Research Institute trendsresearch.com, is renowned for his accuracy in predicting future world and economic events, which will send a chill down your spine considering what he told Fox News this week.

Celente says that by 2012 America will become an undeveloped nation, that
there will be a revolution marked by food riots, squatter rebellions, tax
revolts and job marches, and that holidays will be more about obtaining
food, not gifts.

(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)

"We're going to see the end of the retail Christmas..we're going to see a fundamental shift take place..putting food on the table is going to be more important that putting gifts under the Christmas tree," said Celente, adding that the situation would be "worse than the great depression".

"America's going to go through a transition the likes of which no one is prepared for," said Celente, noting that people's refusal to acknowledge that America was even in a recession highlights how big a problem denial is in being ready for the true scale of the crisis.

Celente, who successfully predicted the 1997 Asian Currency Crisis, the subprime mortgage collapse and the massive devaluation of the U.S. dollar, told UPI in November last year

upi.com/Business_News/2007/11/19/Forecast_US_dollar_could_plunge_90_pct/UPI-48761195499806 

that the following year would be known as "The Panic of 2008," adding that "giants (would) tumble to their deaths," which is exactly what we have witnessed with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and others. He also said that the dollar would eventually be devalued by as much as 90 per cent.

The consequence of what we have seen unfold this year would lead to a lowering in living standards, Celente predicted a year ago, which is also being borne out by plummeting retail sales figures presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=75273§ionid=3510203 .

The prospect of revolution was a concept echoed by a British Ministry of Defence report last year guardian.co.uk/science/2007/apr/09/frontpagenews.news, which predicted that within 30 years, the growing gap between the super rich and the middle class, along with an urban underclass threatening social order would mean, "The world's middle classes might unite, using access to knowledge, resources and skills to shape transnational processes in their own class interest," and that, "The middle classes could become a revolutionary class."

In a separate recent interview earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=1485&category=Environment , Celente went further on the subject of revolution in America.

"There will be a revolution in this country," he said. "It's not going to come yet, but it's going to come down the line and we're going to see a third party and this was the catalyst for it: the takeover of Washington, D. C., in broad daylight by Wall Street in this bloodless coup. And it will happen as conditions continue to worsen."

"The first thing to do is organize with tax revolts. That's going to be the big one because people can't afford to pay more school tax, property tax, any kind of tax. You're going to start seeing those kinds of protests start to develop."

"It's going to be very bleak. Very sad. And there is going to be a lot of homeless, the likes of which we have never seen before. Tent cities are already sprouting up around the country and we're going to see many more."

"We're going to start seeing huge areas of vacant real estate and squatters living in them as well. It's going to be a picture the likes of which
Americans are not going to be used to. It's going to come as a shock and with it, there's going to be a lot of crime. And the crime is going to be a lot worse than it was before because in the last 1929 Depression, people's minds weren't wrecked on all these modern drugs - over-the-counter drugs, or crystal meth or whatever it might be. So, you have a huge underclass of very desperate people with their minds chemically blown beyond anybody's comprehension."

The George Washington blog georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2008/11/top-trend-forecaster-says-were-going-to.html 

has compiled a list of quotes attesting to Celente's accuracy as a trend forecaster.

"When CNN wants to know about the Top Trends, we ask Gerald Celente."
- CNN Headline News

"A network of 25 experts whose range of specialties would rival many
university faculties."
- The Economist

"Gerald Celente has a knack for getting the zeitgeist right."
- USA Today

"There's not a better trend forecaster than Gerald Celente. The man knows
what he's talking about."
- CNBC

"Those who take their predictions seriously . consider the Trends Research
Institute."
- The Wall Street Journal

"Gerald Celente is always ahead of the curve on trends and uncannily on the
mark . he's one of the most accurate forecasters around."
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Mr. Celente tracks the world's social, economic and business trends for
corporate clients."
- The New York Times

"Mr. Celente is a very intelligent guy. We are able to learn about trends
from an authority."
- 48 Hours, CBS News

"Gerald Celente has a solid track record. He has predicted everything from
the 1987 stock market crash and the demise of the Soviet Union to green
marketing and corporate downsizing."
- The Detroit News

"Gerald Celente forecast the 1987 stock market crash, 'green marketing,' and
the boom in gourmet coffees."
- Chicago Tribune

"The Trends Research Institute is the Standard and Poors of Popular
Culture."
- The Los Angeles Times

"If Nostradamus were alive today, he'd have a hard time keeping up with
Gerald Celente."
- New York Post
+++++++++++++++++++

So there you have it!  Is it time to buy Gold and dehydrated food?  Or do we work on faith and move forward.  I personally am going to do both.  It seems that we are in a world economic crisis caused potentially by a global economic war.  I believe our country is run by patriots and in the end they are not moved by personal greed but by the greater good. If you disagree please let me know your opinion. 

People that don't have money think that the rich only care about money.  In my opinion the opposite is true.  The rich understand money and their concern is with power and control.  Many of the most wealthy patriots that control our country care about the future of this nation above everything else and will do whatever it takes for our long term survival and keeping the basic principals our country was founded on.  What we see is a media delivered "song and dance" designed to keep us focused on issues and concepts our uniformed masses can grasp. 

The news is delivered in a way that the average man can understand and be moved by.   However the concepts involved in global political and economic strategies have very little in common with the common man's understanding of terms that are popularly used in the media such as; neighbors, friendly nations, enemies, partners etc..  The fact is we have complex relationship with Russia, Iran, Venezuela, China etc...  and we compete with them for everything.  The best way to win this competition is to use our economy which is the lynchpin of the world economy to make sure the U.S. has a prosperous future.  The question is will the cure kill us.  Anyone who has treated a dog for heart worms understands that the dog is given poison to kill the worms.  The question is, are we stronger than the disease? 

Well late last night I got the news.  Obama is the winner.  I just want to say that I am not going to hold my tongue on this one.  I believe Americans have shown themselves unqualified for their positions as voters. Yep, take away all their voting rights, in the end they made a poor decision.  If we keep making bad decisions we won't have the right to vote anyway.  Albeit I personally think Obama is a very talented man.  However with his positions on wealth redistribution and his very weird and dangerous personal friends and aquantances who likely share some of his own personal philosophies, he makes a risky candidate.  I believe America wanted to punish the Republicans and George Bush for the job they have done and the perceptions they have created.  President Bush could have done a much better job handling us, the American people.  He seems to have given up communicating with us over the last two years and the war was poorly handled before the surge.  However McCain was not part of those failures.  He represents America at it's best.  Think about it, he has sacrificed all his life for us in every way you can sacrifice.  He also was willing to work with Democrats on major issues and find compromise.   He knew how to make progress.  McCain risked his political career so that we might find victory in Iraq.  And although I sincerely hope that Obama has a successful presidency in that he is able to correct some of our obvious problems, I am still disappointed.  However, I do see two good things here that I am happy about.  Obama is of mixed raced and his being elected says a great deal about America and our progress in regards to dealing with our history and racial prejudices.  Additionally the international community may look at America differently than they did two days ago.  No matter how unfair I believe their views have been, their perceptions still affect our well being and safety.

To me personally the most scary problem we face is our media and it's willingness to compromise it principles for the sake of profit.  In many ways it is functioning as the U.S.'s fourth branch of government!   We vote for them by watching them and buying the products advertised on their shows.  They had a massive impact in this campaign by broadcasting their opinions over the air into our homes 24 hrs a day seven days a week and boy do they have some strong opinions.  I think we are becoming a vulnerable country because of this.  Democracy will not last long if people can be manipulated in this way so easily.  The dangerous part is that most people can't see this problem because they will look for a source that has their views and biases and support them by tuning in.  I can't think of a Cable or Network that's not completely off the wall biased one way or the other.  The media has proven themselves corrupt and irresponsible.  I mean our country is a wonderful place, please don't screw it up.  Individually the media is made up of bright people engaging in a negative and deceitful activity.  News should not be ENTERTAINMENT!  From my point of view McCain was a victim of our corrupt system that chose not to reward the most qualified and patriotic candidate.  Even if you don't agree about my candidate, I hope you will at least think about the media and how they have evolved into an ungoverned entity that wields tremendous power and is willing to wield that political power in the primary interest of making money. 

Many of you are happy that this is over.  The reality is that the conversation about what kind of country we are going to become has only just begun.  Obama represents a new direction that makes many who have sacrificed to achieve financial success left wondering, why did we sacrifice so much and what value to do my skills have in this new Obamaland?   What do we tell our children about hard work and sacrifice? 

 

 

OK, wow are you kidding? Microsoft's new campaign to show the real PC users is in my opinion; not so smart. First when Apple created their characters PC and Mac for their ad campaigns they had little to lose and a great deal to gain. Apple was the underdog. Apple users are far fewer in number than PC users and it makes good sense that Apple could pick on Windows and Microsoft inadequacies and make progress. By Microsoft acknowledging Apple's attacks they are admitting; yes we are a boring and uncreative bunch and that really hurts. Apple was also rather kind in their selection of John Hodgman as "PC". He is a affable guy and I am sure many of us can relate to him. However the new Microsoft Ads are not so flattering to their own stereo type. Their PC guy looks more like the real thing. He is the guy that just does it his way and loves to spend time installing the latest anti-virus software and thinks Paintshop is a really cool graphics program.

Honestly Microsoft has been such a good marketer of it's operating system and software, that I am disappointed in them. Microsoft seems to be tone deaf to their own obvious weak points. By acknowledging Apple and creating their own 'PC' guy they proved Apple right. One last thing on this subject. It also seems to me they are desperate to find people using their PC's creatively that they are now advertising on MSN. Please if there is a creative PC user out there contact us! Please it's an emergency! OK PC users don't get mad at me. I know I am being obnoxious. It's just that being an Apple user for so long it's nice to see Apple finding their stride and making some really wonderful hardware to go along with their really reliable and powerful software. Go Apple!! Oh and you creative PC users, please don't hesitate to make the move it's not that big a deal.

I have spent the last six weeks it seems arguing about whether McCain is another George Bush etc... So I just want to say thank you John McCain. Thank you for fighting for my freedom. Thank you for defending me and my family. I have two sons and a beautiful daughter. I would die if anything happened to them so I know what your parents and you have put on the line for us.

I know John McCain didn't make a career out of being a war hero. That's just who he is as a person. He is just simply a great human being. He is not perfect but in most of the important categories that should be measured when picking a president he gets an A+ in my book. I voted for Gore and Clinton before him, so know when I praise him, that I am sincere. I just was thinking about the silly almost comical news media and how they twist stories to get ever drop of entertainment out of them. I am talking about almost all news or entertainment or whatever the heck it is. The lines are so blurred at this point. The fact that McCain is hard working, honest, patriotic, intelligent, brave, tough, funny and creative should be relevant but doesn't get much play. The fact that he has reached over the isle so many times, takes responsibility even when he is wrong, the fact that he walks the walk in his life and career, and his willingness to give everything he has for this country should count for something, right? He may not have a fancy logo, published memoirs or be a chain smoker like Obama but I find those things pretty self serving, even selfish and that's one thing McCain is not, selfish!

I LOVE SUSHI  I don't know the Japanese names for the different dishes, but I can't think of a meal more ideal more than
miso soup, a simple salad with ginger dressing followed by a combination plate of sush and sashimi.  There is a new restaurant in my town
and I am VERY HAPPY about it  The name of the restaurant is Sakura.  They are located just a few blocks from my office on Monroe street in Tallahassee Florida.  I hope they are OK with me going there every day, because that is what's happening!  The owner and her husband are utterly charming.  They put a great deal of effort into the decor and design and it shows.  It took almost an entire year to open the restaurant!  The chefs that work there are magicians. 

Here are some pics of some of their sush dishes:   

We are facing a unique time in history where globalization has made the world a very small place. With each country having it's own plans to survive in this new world, we find ourselves faced in competitive situations with almost every nation. We are the most successful and powerful country in the world. One prize for this position power is the envy and resentment of countries less fortunate. This stature also challenges us with the responsibility of guiding the worlds future.

Today we see many counties and cultures focused on our way of life, our values and our religions. Many see us a greedy and materialistic. I say all humans are greedy and materialistic to a degree. It's built into our nature. To survive we have developed a never ending desire for more. I see these characteristics in every race, age, religion, culture and sex. It's part survival. The rules of survival do not abide by any morals or ethics. It's simple, the winner takes all, winners set the rules and write and rewrite history. It worries me that every country vies for our position or at least to be closer to it, but who can blame them. How long will we be able to stay number one and what price will we pay? How many of us will die to keep our way of life and what options do we have? After all, we are one of the most free and culturally advanced civilizations ever to exist. Would any of you want to see how other countries would behave in our position? Do you think they would do better? And finally, does everyone realize that to be in this position we will likely have to fight and fight and fight.

I hope there comes a day where we can transcend our predicament, learn new ways to sustain our world so that we can all live here peacefully without destroying our earth and all the people in it. I really want this for my children. The american indians believed a parent should leave the world better for their children than it was for them.  I am embarrassed and ashamed that I have have not done more personally.

I recently explained to my son how China artificially pegs their currency to always be substanctially less valuable than the US dollar. By doing this it helps keep their products affordable to americans and provides us with inexpensive imports that can be found at any Wal-Mart. While we temporarily benefit from inexpensive and convenient products, we lose jobs for our citizens and contribute to China's growth surge. As they grow they increasingly compete with us for fuel, raw materials and food. China then takes their profits and loans them back to us. This cycle will be dissasterous for us if it is not dealt with. I think the next revolution should take place on an individual level where we will spend our time and money to guide our world to a better existence. We need to change our values to where what we do and what we give is the measure of our worth and not what we have.

Wednesday night I received a call from a friend offering Elton John tickets for a show at our local civic center.  It was really a last minute thing.  I had no idea that Elton had rescheduled to play in Tallahassee.  I believe he canceled his last performance due to illness.  So I did some scrambling and I was able to get a babysitter which has proven pretty hard to do even with notice.  I think my son is an angel but then I am his dad;) 

The concert was AMAZING.  Elton ROCKs!!!  His talent, showmanship, skill are unmatched in any concert I have attended.  No he doesn't do flips or bite the head off a bat, but he really is a force of nature when it comes to his voice and piano playing.  I am very very grateful to have been able to go to see him.  There is one more thing about Elton that makes him special and different.  He is very humble and generous.  He signed autographs on stage and when the audience called for him after minutes, he and his very talented band reappeared in different more casual attire as if they were ready to go home. To me this really showed that he cared about the audience enough to provide an extra level of detail that I have not seen before.   The show raged for three hours and the list of songs was formidable.  There is a lot more to say about his show and him personally but I am not eloquent enough to do him justice. 

Today was a really bad day for our company. We have a client that we have worked with for a long time and they are making changes that will likely mean that we will lose substantial revenue. We have worked really hard on them and they are very close to going public or selling to a larger financial entity. It's the same old story for us. We help a company until they are very successful and then they are faced with challenges in their growth that require them to change their marketing model. They see the need to get more control. I see it too. We can always take pride in knowing we helped them, but we don't get to take part in the final victory. It's our own fault for being so enthusiastic about business concepts and ideas. We get enamored about an idea that hasn't yet had it's chance. We see the potential and want to be a part of it. At that time we don't want to be greedy or pushy so just play along as a team player. The problem is that things change and we are more useful in the initial stages of growth. Once you have millions coming in a month you can bring services in house. Anyway, I will try to get some sleep and stay positive. The universe is a big place and our business Karma is pretty good:) So I am open to any new opportunities that are waiting for us. On last thing. Don't throw rocks when you live in a glass house. Remember what comes around, goes around and we are all connected. Our individuality is an illusion and we all make choices that bring us closer or farther from God. Our greatest gift is that we can make our own choices. Don't make excuses and claim you were forced to make a bad choice. If you make a bad choice, take some credit, it was your choice:)