“I’m A Worried Man”

This song I think sums up what a lot of people may be thinking as we continue to experience the economic crisis.

“I’m A Worried Man” by Willie Nelson with Toots and the maytalls

My Top Ten Christmas Carols

I’m Catholic so I celebrate Christmas – so this is not meant to offend.  As many people know the Christmas carols start coming out on the radio earlier and earlier each year.   I thought I would divert from my usual banter and list my top 10 Christmas Carols.

What are your’s?

10. Little Drummer Boy – who doesn’t love to recite pa rum pum pum pum. Check out this version with Bing Crosby and Davide Bowie.

9. Jingle Bell Rock

8. Frosty the Snowman

7. Feliz Navidad – something about this song just makes me want to dance.

6. Joy to the World – at our Church the have a horn section that rocks out during this song.

5. We Three Kings – I’m a bass so it is easy for me sing

4. White Christmas – Bing Crosby still sings it the best

3. Carol of the Bells – Ding Dong, Ding Dong. Trans-Siberian Orchestra does it best.

2. I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – I’m sorry this is hysterical

and finally,

1. Grandma got run over by a reindeer – “And the pudding made of pig – Ahh”
My family usually all joins in and sings this one at Christmas dinner, especially after a few drinks.  I think we     have a weird John Prine obsession because we sang “Please don’t Bury Me” at Thanksgiving.  I have a video of my Dad and Uncle that will be up on YouTube shortly.

Finally (Red) Friday

Opposites attract – take for example the following: falling, declining, down, up, rising, increasing.  What is the attraction?  Well – they are all words that are used to explain the various financial crises in the world today.  In November we experienced the largest loss of jobs since 1964, unemployment is up to 6.7%. The price of gasoline was at its highest over the summer in a long time and now it has fallen and one CEO is saying that it could fall to $1/gallon.  Yet the oil companies are experience rising profits.  The Federal government is providing various corporations with billions of dollars to “bail” them out of their financial hardships.  Taxes are going up or are they going down?  Cuts or hikes? Banks are being bought and sold, some are strong and some are weak or not at all. I think I’ve been lucky.  I have a very steady job, business is good and I have great family and friends.  But all in all – the whole situation seems devastating to the psyche of a lot of people.  Was it avoidable – Yes, no, well if we did this and we did that – who knows.  Sure things are avoidable, hindsight is 20/20.  With the right precautions, colds are avoidable.  I’m not sure that the same applies here.

As opposites seem to be more of the same – I hope that we continue to try to move “Out of the blue (red) and into the black. “ I’m off to put some money back into the economy.

Craigslist Ride of the Day – MB 280SE

This Mercedes 280SE is one of the all time classic sedans.  The hubcaps with matching body paint coloring and the big grill make it one of the most sophisticated cars I’ve ever seen.  Plus, this car was classically featured in movies like Rocky IV and Indiana Jones – mostly driven by Germans and Russians.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/945894581.html

Technology Development

Great posting on the The ChamberPost today regarding the Gang of 31 and the repercussions of the adoption of their proposals by the Obama administration.  Check out this excerpt and link to the full article here:

Disincentives to Develop New Technologies

It has been repeatedly proven, in energy and other sectors, that a lack of protection for intellectual property rights acts as a disincentive to further research and development.  A balance must therefore be achieved between patents and developing nation access to climate-related technologies to facilitate technology transfer to developing nations.  These groups are simultaneously asking the U.S. to re-engineer its economy to address climate change while also demanding that the U.S. and other developed countries give away any real economic value such re-engineering would generate.

Literally Taking a Haircut

There was an interesting post on the “One-Person Business” blog from Inc. yesterday entitled – The Haircut Index. The premise of the post is the analysis of all the statistics, metrics and data that are being reported regarding the current economic crisis within the global markets.  The author takes an interesting approach to measuring the effect this downturn has had – a very popular and talented hair stylist has recently had some openings in what is normally a very busy schedule:

“In my small town in New York’s Hudson Valley, there’s a hair stylist who is known for his impressive talent with haircutting shears. Walk in with a shaggy head and after a brief time with Sean’s nimble work using scissors or razor, you’ll leave crisply styled. As a result, his appointment book is always full, often months in advance. While I’m delighted every time he cuts my hair, I’m usually too disorganized or haven’t planned far enough in advance to get a spot on Sean’s calendar.

The other day I called his salon, hoping to snag one of his rare cancellations (self-employment does have its scheduling benefits). Imagine my surprise when the receptionist said, “Terri, next week Sean has an opening on Wednesday at 11, and two on Thursday at 2 and 4. Which do you prefer?”

There clearly has been a major shift in the demand for what could be considered luxury items.  With the state of the economy pretty dire and an average of more than 26% losses in investments and endowments, people are cutting back.  This opening in the stylist’s normally busy schedule supports this greatly.  Often times when things are bad people will cut their budgets in other places and keep the lavish expense of a good spa treatment to otherwise treat some of the depression factors that come with a bad economy.  It appears however that things are so bad that even the more luxurious expenses are being cut.

My mother works for a relatively large luxury watch and jewelry maker and with the holidays coming up things are usually booming.  The other day she mentioned that people weren’t buying the higher end pieces but rather the $200 and under pieces.  So as we struggle to grasp a full understanding of what these “bail outs” mean to our economy, impending changes in tax policies and a stock market that is more volatile than a category 4 hurricane – what are you doing to cut back?  Personally I prefer to put money into the economy but I have never been known to be thrifty.  Perhaps we all will literally get coal in our stockings just to feed the fire and stay warm.

I’m off to get my hair trimmed!

IP Legislation and Economic Growth

Here is a great article citing Senator Voinovich on Intellectual property rights and how they are designed to help protect and create opportunities in the US economy via The Chamberpost.  Some key points are below.  I actually wrote my Masters degree thesis on Intellectual Property Rights and their effect on the Global Economy and Entrepreneurship.

Legislation designed to help protect and create U.S. Jobs

“…IP theft is a substantial and growing economic threat, with American companies losing an around $250 billion dollars a year to IP theft — and American workers losing an about 750,000 jobs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has estimated that the U.S. auto industry could hire 200,000 more workers if the sale of counterfeit auto parts were eliminated. Imagine that: 200,000 more good-paying jobs.

IP theft is no longer limited to knock-off handbags and pirated DVDs. Counterfeit medicine, baby formula, airplane parts and brake pads infiltrate store shelves and put Americans at risk every day. It seems that almost weekly there is another news story about fake products being sold to unwitting consumers.

America’s competitive edge is derived from innovation and rising productivity, and the protection of our intellectual property remains one of the best means for ensuring that American manufacturers enjoy the benefits of their investments. For the past four years, I have worked tirelessly to ensure that the products made from American innovation are not illegally copied….

…We are facing many daunting challenges as a nation — but none is bigger than turning around our economy, growing jobs and helping people survive day to day. And I am doing everything in my power to put Ohio first in line for the jobs of the future.”

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Recently we’ve seen a lot of food science and technology out there in the marketplace.  Now a potential application in the prevention of Diabetes. Check out the patent here.

Food science has become one of the new it things.  Restaurants and chefs are starting to consider all of the technical aspects of food including the harvesting, slaughtering, cooking and consumption.  In addition to the preparation and consumption, a lot of study has gone into the use of various elements of food as remedies and possible cures for disease, illness and hunger crises.  Food science applies concepts from many different fields including microbiology, chemical engineering, biochemistry and many others.

As a fan of Top Chef and the Food Network, I hope we can see improved use of food science and technology in not only cooking but as a recognition that there are other science uses for food, food products and engineered food.  Whether it is a spice, a genetically engineered crop, flavonoids, micro-biotic diets and special preparations – eat, drink and be merry.

Election Tuesday

It wouldn’t be an election day if I couldn’t add just one more post to the many that are out there regarding getting out to vote and the national election.

So as you ponder whether you want to put your “Country First” or “Change you can believe in” definitely exercise your right to vote.  I have only one question – shouldn’t we have and do both?

All Hallow’s Eve

It is finally Friday and it also just so happens to be Halloween or all hallow’s eve, the day before All Saint’s Day.  Traditionally this celebration was based on various northern European pagan traditions but also precedes the Christian feast of All Saint’s Day which occurs on November 1st.  Roman Catholics previously celebrated Halloween as the vigial to All Saint’s Day.

All Saint’s Day or all hallows is day celebrated in Roman Catholic tradition to honor all saints both known and unknown.  Saints are all of those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven.  Immediately following all Saint’s day is All Souls’ Day.  All Souls day celebrates those who have faithfully departed.

Regardless of your faith, these days to me are important.  They represent a celebration of the lives of those who have gone before us, who have impacted our lives and those close to us in our hearts.  It has been a little over a year since my Grandfather passed way, a man who should be celebrated on All Saints day.  Personally I will be taking this time to reflect on what a wonderful, caring and loving person that he was in life.  Also, I will be celebrating the lives of the people in my family because we have all been impacted by his grace.

Please do not take this a me pushing “faith” on anyone rather just a reflection.  So I say dress up, have fun, be safe and don’t eat too much candy.

I can’t wait to see some of the costumes that will be out there.  Given it is an election year I can only imagine the political satires that will be seen.  Not to mention guys dressed like girls, girls dressed like guys and one of my personal favorites – the shower (Karate Kid reference here).

Happy Halloween!