and I laugh.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee gave quite the tongue lashing to Obama's nomination for Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayer, who would be the first Hispanic US Supreme Court Justice.
Unfortunately he thought her name was Maria........
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/26/huckabee-maria-sotomayor_n_207620.html
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Buy some Amazon-AMZN
Amazon To Target $5.5 Billion Textbook Market With New Kindle?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702597.html
Texas House approves bill on funds for school electronic text books.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-textbooks_03tex.ART.State.Edition1.4afd165.html
Textbooks of the future? If that turns out to be the case Amazon is set to grab onto that market share.
It will probably take a while for this to become integrated into schools nationwide, we'll see how it does in Texas.
However, regardless of the kindle/textbook outcome Amazon is a great long term investment. Even in the rough economy, Amazon has still produced a good looking 1st quarter statement, much better than most companies in their sector.
I use Sharebuilder http://www.sharebuilder.com/
Friday, May 8, 2009
Posts that got away from me
Super gorgeous Valentine's Day Flowers that I took tons of pictures of. Partly because the middle of the flower looked like a gooey brain :)
Trevor came to visit and we took him to Disney on ice!
The reason every kid should have a dog. (I would recommend a Sheltie :)
Trevor was really trying to corral the dogs and get them to smile for a picture.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Do Economic Recovery Programs Work?
Look to history- The New Deal, The Marshall Plan
The New Deal was the name that United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave to a complex package of economic programs he initiated between 1933 and 1935 with the goal of giving relief to the unemployed, reform of business and financial practices, and promoting recovery of the economy during The Great Depression.
With strident language Roosevelt took credit for dethroning the bankers he alleged had caused the debacle. On March 4, 1933, in his first inaugural address, he proclaimed:
"Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men. . . . The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization."
In 1937, the editors of The Economist published an appraisal of the New Deal in which they concluded that:
"If the New Deal be compared, not with the absolute standards of Utopia, but with the achievements of other Governments, the former adverse judgement must be modified. If it be compared with either the performance or the promise of its rivals, it comes out well. If its achievements be compared with the situation which confronted it in March, 1933, it is a striking success."
The Marshall Plan (from its enactment, officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was the primary plan of the United States for rebuilding and creating a stronger foundation for the countries of Western Europe, and repelling communism after World War II.
The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948. During that period some USD 13 billion in economic and technical assistance were given to help the recovery of the European countries
The years 1948 to 1952 saw the fastest period of growth in European history. Industrial production increased by 35%. Agricultural production substantially surpassed pre-war levels. The poverty and starvation of the immediate postwar years disappeared, and Western Europe embarked upon an unprecedented two decades of growth that saw standards of living increase dramatically.
The New Deal was the name that United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave to a complex package of economic programs he initiated between 1933 and 1935 with the goal of giving relief to the unemployed, reform of business and financial practices, and promoting recovery of the economy during The Great Depression.
With strident language Roosevelt took credit for dethroning the bankers he alleged had caused the debacle. On March 4, 1933, in his first inaugural address, he proclaimed:
"Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men. . . . The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization."
In 1937, the editors of The Economist published an appraisal of the New Deal in which they concluded that:
"If the New Deal be compared, not with the absolute standards of Utopia, but with the achievements of other Governments, the former adverse judgement must be modified. If it be compared with either the performance or the promise of its rivals, it comes out well. If its achievements be compared with the situation which confronted it in March, 1933, it is a striking success."
The Marshall Plan (from its enactment, officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was the primary plan of the United States for rebuilding and creating a stronger foundation for the countries of Western Europe, and repelling communism after World War II.
The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948. During that period some USD 13 billion in economic and technical assistance were given to help the recovery of the European countries
The years 1948 to 1952 saw the fastest period of growth in European history. Industrial production increased by 35%. Agricultural production substantially surpassed pre-war levels. The poverty and starvation of the immediate postwar years disappeared, and Western Europe embarked upon an unprecedented two decades of growth that saw standards of living increase dramatically.
The New Economics of Wine
This 2007 Black Swan Shiraz is in a 187 mL bottle, and comes in a 4 pack, with a screw top cap. I think this is genius packaging. And this one happens to be a great shiraz at $5 for the 4 pack or the regular bottle, with a dark berry and chocolate smooth taste.
I love the packaging in the 4 pack bottles because I can have a glass of wine whenever and not feel like I need to finish the entire bottle so it doesn't go to waste.
I have this problem with drinking re-corked wine. I never feel like it tastes the same!
I also love the screw cap top, it's just easier.
According to several independent surveys, wine consumers buy wine sealed with natural cork over any other closures. Another survey of the wine trade, suggested that most consumers think that non-closures cheapen the bottle of wine. Screw caps, on the other hand, are seen as industrial, cheap and lacking the romance of the old "closure" but they have been hailed as the future because there is no danger they will spoil or "taint" the wine, a problem that is said to affect up to one in 10 corked bottles.
On top of avoiding cork contamination, new technologies in fermenting don't require wines to be aged for years to achieve full flavor.
I am all for a good cheap wine that I can drink in glass by glass over 2 weeks if I choose and not waste a penny.
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