Hey all! After three eventful years, Artful Codger is back! I'm back posting on politics, economics, health care, health insurance, films and filmmaking and other miscellaneous stuff.
My approach is as always: a non-partisan, common sense approach to the issues of the day.
My main focus this week is "Splitting California in Half".
I've been thinking about this issue for years. I've done a lot of research on the subject. I've concluded, as have many others, that California is simply too big and too politically divided to exist much longer the way it is.
I was struck by the results of the 2016 presidential election. Although the Republicans nominated the most unconventional candidate in its history, Donald Trump did surprisingly well. In half the state. In the most left-wing portions of the state, the vote was diametrically opposed.
Maps from the California Secretary of State tell the tale. The very left-wing, progressive part of the state, the coastal counties from San Diego to Humboldt, voted overwhelmingly for Mrs. Clinton. The more conservative half of the state, the Central Valley counties to the West of the Coast Range, voted more narrowly, but clearly, for Mr. Trump. This illustrates convincingly that California is two states, economically and politically. Los Angeles shares much more in common with San Francisco than it does Fresno and Bakersfield counties.
In future posts I'll look at the history of previous attempts to split the state up, how it can be accomplished, the positives and negatives, the ramifications, and the politics involved.
A.C.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Friday, June 26, 2015
Gay Marriage
By a narrow 5-4 ruling, the court held that gay marriage cannot be banned by the states, even when the state's population has made it clear they do not want it.
Anthony Kennedy exhibited his continued journey from conservative justice to liberal outlook. He claims that the 14th amendment to the Constitution protects marriage of any sort to exist, everywhere.
By this tortured reasoning, any marriage between anyone, and anything, and in any number, is now legal. Expect a quick legal effort to make polygamy likewise legal, which will happen because 'love' is all that counts.
Next, expect an assault on religion. How can a church refuse to glorify same-sex marriage when it is supposedly protected by the Constitution (which, by the way, is silent on the subject. This is more reaching by the liberal majority on the court). I anticipate an early effort to censure any religion that refuses to perform same-sex weddings.
Already it's illegal for persons who for religious reasons to refuse to celebrate homosexual marriage. They will be fined harshly by the government if they don't jump up and down in joy when ordered by gay couples to do their bidding.
It will be interesting to see if any gays are foolish enough to demand that Muslims perform such weddings. They won't because they only demand those who will easily fold, such as Christians.
It's a sad day for America.
First the homosexuals want to change the law making it a crime to engage in their sexual behavior. Well, OK. Then they wanted to adopt children. Well, there's a shortage of adoptive parents, so, OK. Then they wanted to have spousal rights of joint ownership and survival benefits. I guess. Then they wanted gay marriage. Now they want us not only to tolerate their behavior, but to celebrate it.
If we don't enthusiastically scream our assent, then we are bigots and evil.
This is what America has come to. And we let it happen by electing liberals who have packed the court with looney leftists.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
On the Confederate Flag
First of all, I don't like the Confederate Flag. I don't like the South's role in the Civil War, which was fought over one issue, and one issue only: slavery. I don't think it should be raised on the grounds of the state capitol of any state, and I don't think the South's role in the conflict should be honored or glorified.
That said, I abhor the sudden silencing of those who wish to display such items as the Confederate flag, Confederate memorabilia, or any other image that evokes the Southern Cause.
It's only abhorrent speech that the first amendment protects. If you agree with me 100%, I'm going to support your speech, obviously. But if you vehemently disagree with me, I must also support your right to free speech.
Political correctness rears it's ugly head yet again. Those on the left can't seem to understand that one day, their speech may be unpopular, and restricted. Then, of course, they will squirm.
That said, I abhor the sudden silencing of those who wish to display such items as the Confederate flag, Confederate memorabilia, or any other image that evokes the Southern Cause.
It's only abhorrent speech that the first amendment protects. If you agree with me 100%, I'm going to support your speech, obviously. But if you vehemently disagree with me, I must also support your right to free speech.
Political correctness rears it's ugly head yet again. Those on the left can't seem to understand that one day, their speech may be unpopular, and restricted. Then, of course, they will squirm.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Are We At War With China?
This isn't even the first time Chinese hackers have targeted the Office of Personnel Management. In March, 2014, they nabbed the names of people who had applied for top secret security clearances.
OPM says they fend off 2.5 billion hack attempts each month. Most, obviously are thwarted. But when you have the resources of the Chinese government behind you, you're facing the best computer geeks on the planet.
What are the Chinese up to? We've seen other provocative moves by the Chinese lately, including the construction and occupation of artificial islands to be used as military bases in the South China Sea. China is ramping up its military spending is growing at a 10-12% rate per annum. That's in contrast to the United State's virtually flat budget, although that may soon change.
Since China's revenue comes primarily from exporting around the world, kind of make you wonder why we keep buying their stuff. Every dollar we send to China is another dollar available for their intelligence and military budgets.
We really do seem to be in a conflict with the Chinese, whether we realize it or not.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Is 'ultrasounded' a word?
I told my wife that I had my former cat 'ultrasounded'. I said that the vet suspected cancer, so I took her to the specialty vet and had her ultrasounded. That sounded kind of off, and so did she.
I looked it up on Google, and can't find a definitive answer. Spell check here doesn't like it, as well. She said I could say, 'I took her to the vet and had an ultrasound done', but that seems unnecessarily long.
If poor Uggs had had an X-ray, I could say, 'I had my cat X-rayed'. So why not say ultrasounded.
Makes sense to me.
I looked it up on Google, and can't find a definitive answer. Spell check here doesn't like it, as well. She said I could say, 'I took her to the vet and had an ultrasound done', but that seems unnecessarily long.
If poor Uggs had had an X-ray, I could say, 'I had my cat X-rayed'. So why not say ultrasounded.
Makes sense to me.
Friday, May 22, 2015
El Nino?
May 2015 in Sacramento California thus far has been pretty mild, except for two days early in the month when it was about 10 degrees above normal, into the low 90s. Lately, it's been in the low to upper 70s, which isn't that unusual for May, it's just that we generally have more variability; 70s for a few days, into the 80s, then into the 90s, or even 100s (!) Yes, May can be hot. I remember 1987 (I think) when I painted my duplex in mid-May. We had a string of days well over 100 degrees, maxing out in the mid-100s. It was brutal, painting under the eaves, paint dripping down my arms, sweating like crazy. It seemed like a harbinger of things to come...a hot summer! But, it cooled down and we had a pretty normal summer after that.
Went to LA yesterday to see the eye doc. The traffic was crazy busy, even at 10:30 in the morning. It never got better, of course. The weather was great, though, which is why LA is so crowded. The weather's usually very nice, but you'd never get me down there. Too many people, too little green space. My doctor's office was on the UCLA campus, and even though I went to UC Santa Barbara, I've never been there. Unlike UCSB and UC San Diego, the campus is in an urban environment, and not particularly attractive.
I had a delayed flight out of LA, supposedly due to inclement weather in New Orleans. I didn't back home in Sacramento until midnight.
Went to LA yesterday to see the eye doc. The traffic was crazy busy, even at 10:30 in the morning. It never got better, of course. The weather was great, though, which is why LA is so crowded. The weather's usually very nice, but you'd never get me down there. Too many people, too little green space. My doctor's office was on the UCLA campus, and even though I went to UC Santa Barbara, I've never been there. Unlike UCSB and UC San Diego, the campus is in an urban environment, and not particularly attractive.
I had a delayed flight out of LA, supposedly due to inclement weather in New Orleans. I didn't back home in Sacramento until midnight.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Rain or lack thereof
We're in a drought...sort of.
I'm in Sacramento and I've been living here since 1960; a long time. We've had years of low rainfall and high rainfall. The last drought we had that was called a drought was in 76-77. It was in all the papers. You went to a state park, and they'd have displays about the drought.
That was a drought. In 1976 we had just over 7 inches of rain. It was sunny and in the mid-70s...in January. Very weird, very nice winter weather (unless you were a skier, as I was), and very scary. It was dry, dry, dry.
This past weather year, 2014-15 (the weather year, at least for rain, goes from July 1 to June 30), we've (so far) gotten over 13 inches of rain. The average (which it is, not 'normal' as is so often used) is just over 20 inches.
(An aside...That average has inched up since I've been paying attention to the weather. It used to be 19 and something inches. Now it's over 20. Interesting. Been getting wetter? )
They say an El Nino is forming, or has formed, or will form. That usually means wetter weather, which would be welcomed by all except those with leaky roofs. It has been a somewhat wet spring, which follows an absolutely dry January.
So...it's dry, but it's been worse. The drought of 76-77 was not followed by all of the hand-wringing and turgid verbiage as is the case nowadays. Makes for more wailing and gnashing of teeth, and, of course, more money to the local bureaucracy.
We're in a drought...sort of.
I'm in Sacramento and I've been living here since 1960; a long time. We've had years of low rainfall and high rainfall. The last drought we had that was called a drought was in 76-77. It was in all the papers. You went to a state park, and they'd have displays about the drought.
That was a drought. In 1976 we had just over 7 inches of rain. It was sunny and in the mid-70s...in January. Very weird, very nice winter weather (unless you were a skier, as I was), and very scary. It was dry, dry, dry.
This past weather year, 2014-15 (the weather year, at least for rain, goes from July 1 to June 30), we've (so far) gotten over 13 inches of rain. The average (which it is, not 'normal' as is so often used) is just over 20 inches.
(An aside...That average has inched up since I've been paying attention to the weather. It used to be 19 and something inches. Now it's over 20. Interesting. Been getting wetter? )
They say an El Nino is forming, or has formed, or will form. That usually means wetter weather, which would be welcomed by all except those with leaky roofs. It has been a somewhat wet spring, which follows an absolutely dry January.
So...it's dry, but it's been worse. The drought of 76-77 was not followed by all of the hand-wringing and turgid verbiage as is the case nowadays. Makes for more wailing and gnashing of teeth, and, of course, more money to the local bureaucracy.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Good News! Birthrates drop!
I heard a report on the radio this morning that stated in California at least, birthrates are dropping for hispanics, asians, and all other ethnic groups. It will be a while, but the environmental pressures resulting from overpopulation will (hopefully) subside.
Now all we have to do is to curb immigration into this country, both legal and illegal.
I see that the Republican party is embracing amnesty, even though immigrants vote overwhelmingly for liberal Democrats. Not a smart move!
Now all we have to do is to curb immigration into this country, both legal and illegal.
I see that the Republican party is embracing amnesty, even though immigrants vote overwhelmingly for liberal Democrats. Not a smart move!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Happy Holidays for Endangered Species!
While many of us gather with family and friends for Christmas, let us give some thought to the many plants and animals wild and out-of-control population growth and immigration are putting at risk. Loss of habitat is the main reason we are driving whole species out of existence, never to be seen again.
We think we can rape the earth and do whatever we want to the land, but we take that opinion at our peril. For the Lange's metalmark butterfly and the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, this holiday season is just another month to hang on to life.
It is up to us to make sure these creatures are given safe haven from our greed and our desire to run the planet the way we want, without regard for our fellow animals, plants and even insects which only ask to remain unmolested.
We think we can rape the earth and do whatever we want to the land, but we take that opinion at our peril. For the Lange's metalmark butterfly and the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, this holiday season is just another month to hang on to life.
It is up to us to make sure these creatures are given safe haven from our greed and our desire to run the planet the way we want, without regard for our fellow animals, plants and even insects which only ask to remain unmolested.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sound thinking on the immigration issue
Some sound thinking on the immigration issue can be found at the American Thinker site (http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/11/the_gops_california_lesson.html). As a resident of California and with a lot of Mexican American friends, I agree wholeheartedly with the ideas presented in the column.
The fact that I oppose amnesty, open borders, and internal population growth because it places animals and plants in peril through the loss of habitat does not mean that I object to opposition to immigration because of other reasons. Any argument to lower (or better yet, eliminate) immigration is going to get my attention.
As I've pointed out many times, support of immigration means that you cannot be an environmentalist, for population growth causes the greatest risk to endangered species because of loss of habitat.
Think about it.
The fact that I oppose amnesty, open borders, and internal population growth because it places animals and plants in peril through the loss of habitat does not mean that I object to opposition to immigration because of other reasons. Any argument to lower (or better yet, eliminate) immigration is going to get my attention.
As I've pointed out many times, support of immigration means that you cannot be an environmentalist, for population growth causes the greatest risk to endangered species because of loss of habitat.
Think about it.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
I see that the Republican party is ready to give up on the immigration front. They apparently lost the Hispanic vote (traditionally Democrat for decades), so the two point loss that Romney suffered is a 'mandate' to go left of the Democrats on this issue.
A two-point win by Obama is not a mandate to do anything, let alone open the borders to anyone who wants to come to this country and start living on the largess of the United States government.
We must look at the bigger picture. More immigration into the US means that more and more animals and plants will simply go extinct. Some pundits are calling the times we live in the sixth era of extensive species extinction.
What causes an animal to go on the endangered list? The biggest reason is loss of habitat. This means for every person who comes as an immigrant to this country puts that much more pressure on the animals and plants that just 'are in the way'.
What to do about it? First, let's limit legal immigration to perhaps 100,000 per year. Second, we need to work to send all illegals back to their country of origin, be it Mexico, El Salvador, China, South Korea or wherever.
If we don't work to stop massive immigration, more and more animals will disappear from the planet.
And that is something I just can't abide without a fight!
A two-point win by Obama is not a mandate to do anything, let alone open the borders to anyone who wants to come to this country and start living on the largess of the United States government.
We must look at the bigger picture. More immigration into the US means that more and more animals and plants will simply go extinct. Some pundits are calling the times we live in the sixth era of extensive species extinction.
What causes an animal to go on the endangered list? The biggest reason is loss of habitat. This means for every person who comes as an immigrant to this country puts that much more pressure on the animals and plants that just 'are in the way'.
What to do about it? First, let's limit legal immigration to perhaps 100,000 per year. Second, we need to work to send all illegals back to their country of origin, be it Mexico, El Salvador, China, South Korea or wherever.
If we don't work to stop massive immigration, more and more animals will disappear from the planet.
And that is something I just can't abide without a fight!
Friday, November 9, 2012
The 2% Solution
Governor Romney lost his bid for the White House by two points. This is not a landslide, folks.
The liberal media points out that Romney lost the hispanic vote by 6 to 3. Even if the Republican candidate earned 40 percent of the vote, it would not been enough to win any more of the 'swing' states. That notwithstanding, the liberals are telling Republicans they need to move towards an open borders policy. That, of course, would spell disaster for the unemployment rate and government subsidies.Who needs that?
The other factor to remember is the high rate of immigration, both legal and illegal, leads to pressure on endangered species. Already many people think we are in a period of rapid extinction of species. The main reason for this is loss of habitat space for animals. As it stands now, building more and more houses puts more and more pressure on the animals that are being displaced by more and more people in this country (the rest of the world is just as bad).
The liberal media points out that Romney lost the hispanic vote by 6 to 3. Even if the Republican candidate earned 40 percent of the vote, it would not been enough to win any more of the 'swing' states. That notwithstanding, the liberals are telling Republicans they need to move towards an open borders policy. That, of course, would spell disaster for the unemployment rate and government subsidies.Who needs that?
The other factor to remember is the high rate of immigration, both legal and illegal, leads to pressure on endangered species. Already many people think we are in a period of rapid extinction of species. The main reason for this is loss of habitat space for animals. As it stands now, building more and more houses puts more and more pressure on the animals that are being displaced by more and more people in this country (the rest of the world is just as bad).
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Sally Ride
Just found out that Sally Ride was gay. Don't know what to think about it, except she was quite effective at hiding it while she was alive. Some are saying it was unfortunate, because she would have been a role model for the very few who are lesbians; some say she deserved some measure of privacy, since that is obviously what she wanted.
I lean toward not criticizing her, since this was her decision.
In a way, it's like a health issue. Whether a celebrity 'comes out' about health issues, may affect their future earnings. And no one wants to let other people down because of their potential health problems. The main thing is making the decision and telling friends and families.
I think this is the same with Sally Ride. Obviously a private person, it is surprising in a way that it ever came out at all.
I lean toward not criticizing her, since this was her decision.
In a way, it's like a health issue. Whether a celebrity 'comes out' about health issues, may affect their future earnings. And no one wants to let other people down because of their potential health problems. The main thing is making the decision and telling friends and families.
I think this is the same with Sally Ride. Obviously a private person, it is surprising in a way that it ever came out at all.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Colorado shooting
The only question I have is, why? Why would this wacko decide to end his life by the death penalty or suffer life in prison without parole? Makes no sense and it hurts a random assortment of people.
What we need to do is give this idiot a speedy trial, then quickly hang him. It will cut down on the number of copy cats out there who want to make a name for themselves.
Is it the fault of gun laws? Not really, though without access to automatic weapons, the death/injury tolls would less. So I believe that the laws can be changed to satisfy both sides to the issue.
What a shame. What a tragedy.
What we need to do is give this idiot a speedy trial, then quickly hang him. It will cut down on the number of copy cats out there who want to make a name for themselves.
Is it the fault of gun laws? Not really, though without access to automatic weapons, the death/injury tolls would less. So I believe that the laws can be changed to satisfy both sides to the issue.
What a shame. What a tragedy.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
You Can't be an Environmentalist and for Open Borders at the Same Time
The bottom line on environmentalism and immigration is that the latter affects the former tremendously. Loss of habitat is the most serious problem facing animals under stress. We are losing thousands of animals, plants and other living things each year, directly caused by man's activities. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/2/l_032_04.html)
By encouraging unchecked immigration into the United States, as well as not emphasizing family planning among the people already here, we are putting increased pressure on all of the living creatures who call North America home.
Bottom line: YOU CANNOT CALL YOURSELF AN ENVIRONMENTALIST AND SUPPORT IMMIGRATION AT THE SAME TIME.
Me? I support the variety and diversity of life in North America, and work to sharply curtail immigration, both legal and illegal.
Scott Slotterbeck
By encouraging unchecked immigration into the United States, as well as not emphasizing family planning among the people already here, we are putting increased pressure on all of the living creatures who call North America home.
Bottom line: YOU CANNOT CALL YOURSELF AN ENVIRONMENTALIST AND SUPPORT IMMIGRATION AT THE SAME TIME.
Me? I support the variety and diversity of life in North America, and work to sharply curtail immigration, both legal and illegal.
Scott Slotterbeck
Sunday, June 17, 2012
I see that Barak has done an end-around on immigration, hoping to buy the hispanic vote with this back-door amnesty (thanks for this quote from Governor Brewer of Arizona).
What no one seems to mention is that Mexicans are not the only group here illegally. The number of illegal Chinese here is incalculable. These people (and many other ethnic groups) either purchase there way here, or get a temporary visa, and then just over stay their visa, rightly guessing that no one is going to much bother with them. Then their kids are born here, are then automatic citizens, and they of course it is 'inhuman' to send the parents back to Vietnam, China, Africa or wherever they are from.
What no one mentions is the terrible toll this takes on America's wildlife. The country itself is at a stable population when internal growth is taken into account. It is the unfettered immigration that leads to the urban sprawl that is costing wildlife through loss of habitat.
That is the real tragedy of this uncontrolled immigration; loss of habitat, more pollution, more fossil fuels wasted, more land torn up to make way for millions of illegals.
What no one seems to mention is that Mexicans are not the only group here illegally. The number of illegal Chinese here is incalculable. These people (and many other ethnic groups) either purchase there way here, or get a temporary visa, and then just over stay their visa, rightly guessing that no one is going to much bother with them. Then their kids are born here, are then automatic citizens, and they of course it is 'inhuman' to send the parents back to Vietnam, China, Africa or wherever they are from.
What no one mentions is the terrible toll this takes on America's wildlife. The country itself is at a stable population when internal growth is taken into account. It is the unfettered immigration that leads to the urban sprawl that is costing wildlife through loss of habitat.
That is the real tragedy of this uncontrolled immigration; loss of habitat, more pollution, more fossil fuels wasted, more land torn up to make way for millions of illegals.
Monday, February 6, 2012
A New Year
Yep, I'm a bit late with a post like this, but I have a good excuse; I spiked a temperature and ended up in the stupid hospital. I have to be hyper-vigilant with my immune system since it's so screwed up.
So, what did you get for Christmas? I got a nice wrap-around blanket thingie like the Snuggle thing they advertise on TV, but much better quality. The watch I got my wife disappeared in UPS, fancy that. It's a four hundred dollar watch, thank God for insurance. Believe it or not, we just came to an agreement concerning the value and I re-ordered the watch.
The Republican primaries are clugging and jerking along; Romney has taken Florida in a big win, and Nevada in a not-unexpected win. Damn that guy looks so damn good; central casting picked him to play the part of the prez, looks-wise.
If he shows up anywhere near hear, I'll go see him. I'm going to give him some money as well. I hope he's better than Bush II. He has to be better than Obama; my cat could do a better job socializing the economy.
Looking for newer SUV. I've been using my Mom's old Mercury Grand Marquis, and boy is that showing its age! I expect to hit a bump and have the back end fall off.
Actually, the car is solid and will outlast me. I just want an Explorer or similar foreign car.
What I REALLY want (besides that Lamborghini) is a Nat Gas powered SUV that I can fill up every night in the garage. There is no shortage of nat-gas, and the price is quite reasonable most of the time. (However, just learned Honda, the maker of 'Phill' refueling gizmo has let the product die, since the only car now that can use the Phill is the Civic, and nobody is buying the stodgy Civic these days.)
So it's to conventional gas or diesel. Diesel is going to be in my future, I know it, because I want to try it. Few SUVs other than the lame Cross-overs offer it.
Anyway, shopping now for my wife's Valentine's present, and have no idea what to get her.
Any suggestions?
So, what did you get for Christmas? I got a nice wrap-around blanket thingie like the Snuggle thing they advertise on TV, but much better quality. The watch I got my wife disappeared in UPS, fancy that. It's a four hundred dollar watch, thank God for insurance. Believe it or not, we just came to an agreement concerning the value and I re-ordered the watch.
The Republican primaries are clugging and jerking along; Romney has taken Florida in a big win, and Nevada in a not-unexpected win. Damn that guy looks so damn good; central casting picked him to play the part of the prez, looks-wise.
If he shows up anywhere near hear, I'll go see him. I'm going to give him some money as well. I hope he's better than Bush II. He has to be better than Obama; my cat could do a better job socializing the economy.
Looking for newer SUV. I've been using my Mom's old Mercury Grand Marquis, and boy is that showing its age! I expect to hit a bump and have the back end fall off.
Actually, the car is solid and will outlast me. I just want an Explorer or similar foreign car.
What I REALLY want (besides that Lamborghini) is a Nat Gas powered SUV that I can fill up every night in the garage. There is no shortage of nat-gas, and the price is quite reasonable most of the time. (However, just learned Honda, the maker of 'Phill' refueling gizmo has let the product die, since the only car now that can use the Phill is the Civic, and nobody is buying the stodgy Civic these days.)
So it's to conventional gas or diesel. Diesel is going to be in my future, I know it, because I want to try it. Few SUVs other than the lame Cross-overs offer it.
Anyway, shopping now for my wife's Valentine's present, and have no idea what to get her.
Any suggestions?
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Occupy Wall Street
The Occupy Wall Street 'movement' has spread to hundreds of cities, worldwide. Less than a movement than what we used to call a 'happening', OWS has come to Sacramento, a bastion of liberals in a state of liberals.
I've watched the interviews of the 'protesters' on the television news, and the main problem with describing OWS as a movement is that there is no there, there, as Gertrude Stein famously said of the city of Oakland. If you talk to 100 of the people in the park, you'll get at least 100 reasons for them being there. Many, in my opinion, are just looking for something to do. It's fun to camp out, to flirt with the girls, and to smoke lots and lots of weed.
Speaking of which, marijuana is essentially legal in California. There are scores of pot 'dispensaries' throughout every large and small city in the state. The legalization of the drug was slipped pas the voters in an initiative that was billed as providing medical marijuana by prescription to those very, very few who would benefit from an appetite simulator, and memory-haze inducer. Of course, there is virtually no on who is not 'sick' enough to get a prescription through the medical marijuana mill. Bad back? Yep, you qualify. Who hasn't strained their back once in their life? I've not heard of a single person being turned down for a 'prescription' for the drug.
What a joke.
Getting back to the Occupy Wall Street crowd, it's a real stretch to compare this group with the Tea Party movement. That spontaneous movement arouse out of a sense that a small group of liberal-socialists had taken over the country, and, according to its leader, wanted to 'spread the wealth around', which is shorthand for property seizure and redistribution to the 'peasants'. The fact that the families truly mired in intractable poverty in the country nevertheless have flat panel TVs and cells phones goes uncommented upon by the media, not surprisingly.
Will the OWS movement lead to anything at all? I don't see it now. There is no leader, no unified platform, no over-riding theme, just a hundred different noisy folks with drums to bang on and horns to blow.
Come to think of it, if I were 25, I might spend some time down at Cesar Chavez park myself. Seems like a good place to meet accommodating women. Bring some wine and 'medical' marijuana and party!
I've watched the interviews of the 'protesters' on the television news, and the main problem with describing OWS as a movement is that there is no there, there, as Gertrude Stein famously said of the city of Oakland. If you talk to 100 of the people in the park, you'll get at least 100 reasons for them being there. Many, in my opinion, are just looking for something to do. It's fun to camp out, to flirt with the girls, and to smoke lots and lots of weed.
Speaking of which, marijuana is essentially legal in California. There are scores of pot 'dispensaries' throughout every large and small city in the state. The legalization of the drug was slipped pas the voters in an initiative that was billed as providing medical marijuana by prescription to those very, very few who would benefit from an appetite simulator, and memory-haze inducer. Of course, there is virtually no on who is not 'sick' enough to get a prescription through the medical marijuana mill. Bad back? Yep, you qualify. Who hasn't strained their back once in their life? I've not heard of a single person being turned down for a 'prescription' for the drug.
What a joke.
Getting back to the Occupy Wall Street crowd, it's a real stretch to compare this group with the Tea Party movement. That spontaneous movement arouse out of a sense that a small group of liberal-socialists had taken over the country, and, according to its leader, wanted to 'spread the wealth around', which is shorthand for property seizure and redistribution to the 'peasants'. The fact that the families truly mired in intractable poverty in the country nevertheless have flat panel TVs and cells phones goes uncommented upon by the media, not surprisingly.
Will the OWS movement lead to anything at all? I don't see it now. There is no leader, no unified platform, no over-riding theme, just a hundred different noisy folks with drums to bang on and horns to blow.
Come to think of it, if I were 25, I might spend some time down at Cesar Chavez park myself. Seems like a good place to meet accommodating women. Bring some wine and 'medical' marijuana and party!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Steve Jobs and the Media
Steve Jobs had an interesting and highly successful career, no doubt. He single-handedly created one of the richest companies in the world, and he has the reputation of being a creative genius the likes of which we have never seen before.
But how much of that almost universal adoration was based on science, design, and obsession with excellence, and how much as pure marketing?
One only has to look at the stock of Apple when Jobs ran it the first time, after he left, and when he took the reins back. The presence or absence of Jobs is tightly linked to the stock performance of Apple. In world of corporate anonymity, Jobs stood out. Much like Richard Branson, Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump, you can't imagine the company without its eponymous leader. The danger, of course, is that the company is so closely linked to one person, when that person leaves (for whatever reason), the company loses the wind from its sails.
So which was Jobs, brilliant engineer, obsessed techie, design maven, or just a skillful pitchman?
Probably a little of each, but I'd submit it was mainly the fact that with every success, the 'coolness' factor of Jobs went up a notch. And how the geeky fans loved that! Here's a group of people who would hardly notice if cool knocked them on the ground, suddenly not only cool, but 'early cool'. Working for Apple, or being a very early adopter (hence the long lines at one or the other of a product launch) gave instant cache to aforementioned geek. So, Jobs sat on top of the coolest pitchmen around. One only has to watch videos of his product launches to understand how adored he was.
Admittedly, a mop of hair (when Jobs was young) and a lack of a college degree doesn't automatically make one a successful icon of the geek community. You do at some point have to actually make a product, or come up with something tangible in order to gain a following, even a cult following that Apple was for many years.
So, can Apple survive without its star pitchman? Yes, of course it can. I'll bet you don't know who the CEO of Acer computers is, or who runs ExxonMobile. They survive without all of the glitz and glamor that Jobs attracted. In fact, the anonymous management is the norm, not the exception.
There is a philosophy at Apple shared by every great corporation; hire the best, most talented people around, keep them happy and productive, and get them to feel ownership of the company. If they work for someone else, hire them away. If they're in college, recruit them. If their designs wow their customers, that's obviously good. Make sure they are driven to be the best. Pick those who place work before family and life's other pleasures. Harsh, perhaps, but the world doesn't change by a guy who works 9-5, and goes home to spaghetti and meatballs. The world is changed by those who work themselves hard, driven to succeed; no, really, driven to win at almost any cost. You may die at 56, but you have made a difference.
So ultimately, it's the product that succeeds or fails. If Apple continues to pump out incrementally better products each cycle, they'll do fine. If they keep the best in design and engineering, it will serve them well. If they have a big flop, that's OK (see the Lisa computer). Just don't repeat too often.
The long-term mega-success of the company depends on one thing, in my opinion, and something I think is in jeopardy with the loss of Jobs; the ability to see around the next curve in the road. The game-changing ideas, the invention of whole new product categories. Improving products is one thing, make up something that most people didn't even think was possible, in quite another.
Apple will be around a long, long time. I've been critical for years concerning Apple's almost cultivation as a niche company. But they've made it pay off. I felt that Apple would have whipped Microsoft at the OS game with the Mac OS, and they would have. But Jobs always wanted to be in the manufacturing business, and it paid off handsomely for them. If they were a software-only company, there'd be no iPhone, iPad, iPod, to mention a few.
But how much of that almost universal adoration was based on science, design, and obsession with excellence, and how much as pure marketing?
One only has to look at the stock of Apple when Jobs ran it the first time, after he left, and when he took the reins back. The presence or absence of Jobs is tightly linked to the stock performance of Apple. In world of corporate anonymity, Jobs stood out. Much like Richard Branson, Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump, you can't imagine the company without its eponymous leader. The danger, of course, is that the company is so closely linked to one person, when that person leaves (for whatever reason), the company loses the wind from its sails.
So which was Jobs, brilliant engineer, obsessed techie, design maven, or just a skillful pitchman?
Probably a little of each, but I'd submit it was mainly the fact that with every success, the 'coolness' factor of Jobs went up a notch. And how the geeky fans loved that! Here's a group of people who would hardly notice if cool knocked them on the ground, suddenly not only cool, but 'early cool'. Working for Apple, or being a very early adopter (hence the long lines at one or the other of a product launch) gave instant cache to aforementioned geek. So, Jobs sat on top of the coolest pitchmen around. One only has to watch videos of his product launches to understand how adored he was.
Admittedly, a mop of hair (when Jobs was young) and a lack of a college degree doesn't automatically make one a successful icon of the geek community. You do at some point have to actually make a product, or come up with something tangible in order to gain a following, even a cult following that Apple was for many years.
So, can Apple survive without its star pitchman? Yes, of course it can. I'll bet you don't know who the CEO of Acer computers is, or who runs ExxonMobile. They survive without all of the glitz and glamor that Jobs attracted. In fact, the anonymous management is the norm, not the exception.
There is a philosophy at Apple shared by every great corporation; hire the best, most talented people around, keep them happy and productive, and get them to feel ownership of the company. If they work for someone else, hire them away. If they're in college, recruit them. If their designs wow their customers, that's obviously good. Make sure they are driven to be the best. Pick those who place work before family and life's other pleasures. Harsh, perhaps, but the world doesn't change by a guy who works 9-5, and goes home to spaghetti and meatballs. The world is changed by those who work themselves hard, driven to succeed; no, really, driven to win at almost any cost. You may die at 56, but you have made a difference.
So ultimately, it's the product that succeeds or fails. If Apple continues to pump out incrementally better products each cycle, they'll do fine. If they keep the best in design and engineering, it will serve them well. If they have a big flop, that's OK (see the Lisa computer). Just don't repeat too often.
The long-term mega-success of the company depends on one thing, in my opinion, and something I think is in jeopardy with the loss of Jobs; the ability to see around the next curve in the road. The game-changing ideas, the invention of whole new product categories. Improving products is one thing, make up something that most people didn't even think was possible, in quite another.
Apple will be around a long, long time. I've been critical for years concerning Apple's almost cultivation as a niche company. But they've made it pay off. I felt that Apple would have whipped Microsoft at the OS game with the Mac OS, and they would have. But Jobs always wanted to be in the manufacturing business, and it paid off handsomely for them. If they were a software-only company, there'd be no iPhone, iPad, iPod, to mention a few.
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