Monday, July 14, 2008
Nice Snow Obituary
Letter from US Airways
| Dear US Airways customer, As you can read in the attached letter signed by 12 airline CEOs, US Airways and other carriers in partnership with the Air Transport Association (ATA) are joining a broad coalition of consumer and industry groups calling upon Congress to take swift action to reign in irresponsible oil speculators. We advocate putting common sense limits on unchecked oil speculation by paper traders who are running up the price, but do not intend to take possession of the oil they trade. While the reasons for surging oil prices are complex, common sense tells us that escalating prices are more than a supply and demand issue. In the long term, we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The airline industry fully supports maximum efforts to increase domestic production of oil, alternative energy sources and conservation. But there is also a short term problem which has significantly impacted the price of oil. While this is not the only solution, it is perhaps the quickest way to stop or reduce the rising price of oil. Without immediate oil speculation reform by Congress there will likely be additional service level reductions and higher airfares. We urge you to contact your representatives in Congress immediately. Thank you for your support and business during this unprecedented time for our industry. | |
An open letter to all airline customers: Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now. For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers. Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation. Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs. Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper. The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem. We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting StopOilSpeculationNow.com. A major US corporation asking for regulation? What's this world coming to? I thought all regulation was evil and bad for the economy!
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Sunday, July 13, 2008
It's All Good
(Update: It weren't easy, but Papelbon managed to seal the deal, getting Melvin Mora to line out with the tying run on third to seal a 2-1 win.)
In addition, a Red Sox farmhand named Lin starred in the Futures Game. W00t!
I listened to a series of disturbing podcasts today-Bob Edwards had a pair of authors telling about injustice, both in the American legal system and at Guantanamo. Bill Moyers had a discussion with a pair of conservatives about the future of the conservative movement. Then, of course, the king of the independent media, Dan Carlin.
Dan Carlin's show was absolutely brilliant. It was a 50 minute argument that the American political system is hopelessly broken, and it may have been the most compelling show I've ever heard from him.
"The tree of liberty must, from time to time, be refreshed with the blood of tyrants."
I don't even know what to say about it-to say anything at all is to minimize it. I don't feel capable of describing it adequately.
The remedy of impeachment, conviction, and imprisonment seems almost too light for the extent to which the Republicans have debased America in nearly every way. And the Democrats, frankly, aren't all that much better because they acquiesed to so much of it.
Dan said that his local newspaper prints the Declaration of Independence in place of editorials in its July 4 edition. It very much reminds me of the John Adams program, of course, and the fear those men must have been under at that time. Committing treason at best, they were all due to be hung if the revolution failed.
And, as Dan notes during the show, if there were a Thomas Jefferson alive today, we'd wiretap him.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Timmeh! (Game 96)
Of course, the Yankees are coming up from behind, only 6 games off the pace. Something tells me they are going to be heard from before all is said and done. As much chaos as they have endured, you have to give them some credit for staying in this race. As much as the rest of America hates it, it looks like it may have to be Boston and New York again in September.
Woot!
Bobby Murcer
Murcer was an all star in the 1970s, but managed to leave just before the Yankees got good, coming back just in time to fade out in the early 1980s. Murcer never achieved stardom, but was truly a useful, professional third outfielder.
RIP, Bobby Murcer.
BTW, excellent obituary of George Carlin by film director Kevin Smith.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/142975
And if you had any doubt that it's 1932 all over again, BANKS ARE FAILING. BANKS. I'm going to get my cup full of pencils ready.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iWxtfjpQDpa7Wc4t3xQQf84g16XgD91S93C00
Don't Meet Dave
Snow has fallen
While I didn't agree with his politics, I'm sure his family will miss him. RIP. Say hi to Hunter S. Thompson for me.
We had one of those "big boss" meetings on Friday. You know, big man (and woman) coming from the central office, spend a whole week spitshining everything, running around like an idiot instead of concentrating on oh, you know, doing business.
First of all, if this is the way things are supposed to be, why don't we spend the time and money and other resources to make it that way all the time? Second of all, if you're the big boss, why do you announce your visit? I'd just walk in if I were they. That is, if you really want to know how things are really going.
What a senseless waste of money and people.
Friday, July 11, 2008
So Much For That Little Issue...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080712/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_global_warming
"The Bush administration, dismissing the recommendations of its top experts, rejected regulating the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming Friday, saying it would cripple the U.S. economy."
If I were a reporter, I would have a hotkey that allowed me to type, "The Bush administration, rejecting the claims of experts, " with one keystroke. It would save a lot of time.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Great Billy Joel Article
Great Billy Joel article coming in Sunday's New York Times.
What I have always loved about Joel is, similar to Vonnegut, he always has a soupcon of bitterness to go with the sweetness.
Meme Time II
2. Diamonds or pearls? "Diamonds Are Forever"(Bond movie) beats "Pearl Necklace" (ZZ Top)
3. What is your favorite t.v. show? Hard to say. I probably watch "Baseball Tonight" more than anything else, but in terms of story-ish shows, it would have to be FX's "The Riches" or Fox's "The Sarah Conner Chronicles".
4. What do you usually have for breakfast? Nothing.
5. What is your middle name? Frederick. My father's name, and my son's name.
6. What food do you dislike? Vegetables.
7. What is your favorite song at the moment? "Vienna", Billy Joel
8. What kind of car do you drive? Hyundai Santa Fe
9. Favorite sandwich? Hard to say. At the moment, a meatball sandwich with cheese.
10. What characteristic do you despise? Mindless obedience
11. Favorite item of clothing? Red Sox t shirt
12. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Paris
13. Favorite brand of clothing? Lands End
14. Where would you retire to? Doesn't matter. I'd retire tomorrow.
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? I can't think of one.
16. Favorite sport to watch? Baseball
17. Furthest place you are sending this? Everywhere.
18. Person you expect to send it back first? K?
19. Missing? A sense of purpose.
20. When is your birthday? October
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night. No doubt.
22. What is your shoe size? 10, I think. I don't know.
23. Pets? Nope.
24. Any exciting news you would like to share with us? Nope.
25. What did you want to be when you were little? Right fielder for the Boston Red Sox.
26. How are you today? Distressed.
27. What is your favorite flower? None.
28. What is a day on the calendar that you are looking forward to? The day I'm not working,
29. What is your full name? Easy to mock.
30. What are you listening to right now? Jimmy Pardo's "Never Not Funny" podcast
31. What was the last thing you ate? Casserole that my wife made for my son
32. Do you wish on stars? No.
33. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Black.
34. How is the weather right now? Calm. A little humid. Feels like it might rain.
35. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My mother.
***This meme is missing #36. I have no idea what the question was. ***
36. Suggested replacement- If you could have dinner with one American President, who would you pick? Lincoln.
37. Favorite restaurant? Fridays. I know, no taste.
38. Hair color? Light brown and thinning.
39. What was your favorite toy as a child? Star Wars figurines.
40. Summer or winter? Fall.
41. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla
42. Coffee or tea? Tea, but Diet Soda more than both (Coke Zero)
43. Do you want your friends to email you back? Sure, I like these. Spread 'em around.
44. When was the last time you cried? I don't remember.
45. What is under your bed? Baseball cards.
46. What did you do last night? Played a tabletop baseball game, then went to bed.
47. What are you afraid of? My son living as unhappily as I am.
48. Salty or sweet? Both!
49. How many keys on your key ring? I don't know. Maybe 8.
50. How many years at your current job? 3+
51. Favorite day of the week? Days off.
52. How many towns have you lived in? Four
53. Do you make friends easily? Nope.
54. How many people will you send this to? Smoke em if you got em
55. How many will respond? No clue.
56. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Yes, these are fun.
Yes, You're Right. (Phil Gramm is a Ninny)
Yes, Senator Gramm, you're right.
It's MY fault Gas is $4 per gallon.
"We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline," Gramm said.
That's basically because America is in decline. The barbarians are at the gates, and it was deregulation-mad idiots like you who brought us here.
"These national and congressional leaders 'blame speculators and oil companies for our problems, instead of presenting concrete programs for using energy more efficiently, or leaders who don't think we can compete with Mexico.' "
Well, that's because speculators and oil companies are responsible for our problems. It is your Republican Party who has mocked and killed any efforts to use energy more efficiently, and we CAN'T COMPETE WITH MEXICO PAYING $1.00 AN HOUR, YOU NINNY!
Rock ribbed Republicans like Phil Gramm love to talk about competition and worshipping at the altar of the free market, until it's time to pay the bill. Heaven knows, it isn't capitalism's fault. Of course not.
I wish Republicans would just come out and say it, "I'm not going to be really happy until I drive over the bodies of poor people on my way to the store."
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
That Went Well (Game 94)
Inconvenient Fact
Can't say this often enough.
George W. Bush is a felon. He has committed crimes, and should be impeached, convicted, and removed from office.
The price will be making happy for you
They have begun somehow installing addresses from my address book into the headers of their messages, to make me open them.
Elton Brand is a Sixer. That's pretty big news. Suddenly the balance of power in the Eastern Conference gets a little less balanced.
Another day, another dollar.