As LA burns

 Cycling, Life  1 Response »
Nov 152008
 

Well if you happen to be living on another planet, or are more interested in the goings on at the G20 economic summit in Washington, I thought I’d let you know, LA is on fire (well at least the areas immediately surrounding LA). I’ve never experienced anything quite like this during my 26 years living in California.

The fires are so bad, the smell of smoke 45 miles to the north, and 30 miles to the east, is permeating the air, and the sky is heavily overcast from all the smoke and ash.

Even worse, hundreds of homes are burning, numerous freeways are  closed, and the fires are threatening electrical power lines [and I think I even heard some electrical power plants] around LA.

WOW! It’s even difficult breathing outside, and we’re a long way from the fires. I can’t even imagine what it must be like closer to the fires.

I doubt there’ll be many people riding their bikes on the road for at least the next day or two. Although I wasn’t planning on riding this weekend, because my back is acting up again, at least now I’ve got a really good excuse.

 Posted by at 1:37 pm

Sometimes I have to wonder

 Life, Politics, Work  2 Responses »
Nov 122008
 

This morning, as we were having coffee at the midpoint of our morning bike ride, a friend and long time riding buddy commented

I just hope when Obama gets in, he doesn’t screw up the economy too bad.

SAY WHAT? As if the economy isn’t screwed up enough already, after 8 years of George Bush, 6 years of a Republican congress, and a free market system left to run amok, he’s worried Obama might screw things up more. (Sorry ……. I couldn’t help myself. :) )

No matter what Obama does when he gets into office, has to be an improvement. I don’t think it’s possible to screw things up any more than they already are. There just isn’t that much room left, if any, for things to get worse.

But even with that said, I can see it now, as clearly as I can see LA from the top of Turnbull Canyon when the Santa Ana’s are blowing, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh calling for the impeachment of Obama, and blaming this whole economic mess on him and the Democratic congress.

Then on top of that, I’ve got a customer “all up in arms” complaining the manufacturing plan that was submitted by the machine shop, for some parts that we’re making, isn’t satisfactory.

The big deal in this case is, there isn’t even a requirement to send a separate machining plan for approval. (We already provided a manufacturing plan, including machining, which was approved.) It seems our sales manager requested this plan from the machine shop (bypassing quality), and then proceeded to send it to the customer.

Like I said, sometimes I just have to wonder where some people have their heads?

 Posted by at 11:59 am

Some advice for our president elect

 Health Care, Politics  No Responses »
Nov 072008
 

There is no doubt our economy is in deep trouble. The stock market is still in turmoil, job layoffs are expanding, and our debt is soaring. There’s no money left in the piggy bank (home equity) for consumers to use to fuel the economy, and nothing short of massive stimulus by the federal government, much like FDR in the 30’s, can bring us out of this morass.

But in the wake of the latest request by the automotive industry for more money to help it survive, there is one thing our government can do immediately to help all business, especially the auto industry, and consumers alike, and that is to once and for all remove the burden of health care from the backs of US business.

One of the biggest obstacles facing the US, as we attempt to drag ourselves out of this morass we’re facing, is the non competitiveness of US industry, and the loss of a huge portion of our manufacturing base to low wage countries like, Mexico, China, India, etc, where businesses are not forced to bear the health care burden.

My only concern is we haven’t lost too much of our manufacturing base already, preventing us from ever extricating ourselves from this economic downturn, as it did during WWII.

MEDICARE FOR ALL!

 Posted by at 5:15 am

Happy days are here again

 Politics  1 Response »
Nov 042008
 

The America I have fond memories of is back, and after what seems to have been an eternity of political campaigning, I can finally relax.

As I write this post, Senator McCain is conceding defeat.

I know there are likely more than a few people seething over the prospect of a democrat (not to mention a black democrat) as president of the United States, but I couldn’t be happier.

All I can say is, now is the time to get the politics out of government. It’s time we move away from the policies of fear and divisiveness, which have so been a trademark of the past 8 years, and start thinking about what is in the best interest of the country, and not just what only serves our own individual self interest.

And I can think of no better person able to accomplish that task, and guide this country through what is sure to be a tumultous few years than Barack Obama.

 Posted by at 9:29 pm
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