Saturday, October 16, 2010

2nd wave of Banking Meltdown is here

MSNBC—Oct. 14, 2010—From the Dylan Ratigan Show. People are starting to fight back against mistreatment by mortgage lenders. And the extent of the housing mortgage mess is beginning to come to light.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Game, Set,...Match?

Death of a city - Gary, Indiana



Wall Street swimming in money while Main Street is swimming in Debt - The Sellout of America - Top 35 Financial Institutions will get $144 billion in bonuses - (Wall Street Journal - October 11, 2010)



Dollar fall sparks stability warnings
- (Financial Times - October 14, 2010)- Increasing expectations the Federal Reserve will pump more money into the US economy next month under a policy known as quantitative easing sent the dollar to new lows against the Chinese renminbi, Swiss franc and Australian dollar. It dropped to a 15-year low against the yen and an eight-month low against the euro.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

October Rant -- Honesty, Integrity, Honor, and Loyalty

I know that nothing is ever been perfect and there have always been problems in our society. Think back to the days of Bonnie and Clyde or John Dillinger. Those were iconic criminal figures of the Economic Depression of the 1930s. Most of us weren't alive then and so we don't really know if these people were looked up to or not, but there have certainly been movies made that glorified what they did -- sort of like a Robin Hood situation.

You have also seen several of these kinds of issues that have always involved politics. I think of Huey Long in Louisiana or Mayor Richard J. Daley in Chicago. These men were kingmakers and played a role in national politics as much as they did on the local scene. These men's legacies were formed around issues that involved corruption and near dictatorial powers. Their strength, it has been stated in so many words, was built on a foundation of unethical activity. The end always justified the means. Even when their personal actions did not overtly support this corruption, the men who they had put in positions of power formed the base which supported such activity.

Whatever happened to integrity? Did it not used to be part of the fabric of our society or is that just a myth. I look at the documents formed by our forefathers and the government that was instituted their by, did not that government bring us the principles of liberty and were they not founded upon personal integrity, self-reliance, and rugged individualism? It just does not seem right that such a magnificent foundation of principles should lead us to where we are today. How have we gotten to this point?

I am by no means perfect. I do not look to judge people by perfection. But, what I see today is a society that is always looking for someone else to solve their problems and the easy way out. We see a society that has given up on the ideals of excellence. Is that how we have gotten to this point?

In my line of work, I see a general lack of courtesy and manners on a daily basis. I see a true lack of respect between people who should be trying to help one another. The customer provides money and the employee provides a service. Both sides need one another and yet so many times they look at one another in an adversarial manner. One cannot exist without the other, but it seems many times that each look down at the other. They are both human, they're both going to make mistakes, and in the end it is the desire of both parties that each get what they want out of the process. How about some courtesy, some patience, some understanding, some respect? This should be true of all forms of business.

However, what we have seen develop is a game of one-upsmanship. Each party feeling that they are superior to the other party. You know it takes all of us to make a great society. If we respected one another's capabilities and tried to lift one another up, instead of building ourselves up by putting others down, then would the world not be a better place?

I am a chef by trade, I love cooking for people who enjoy good wholesome creative food, but honestly I have lost my desire to practice my profession in public. The people of this area limit the ability of top-notch talent to ply their trade, because they enjoy the process of eating and filling their gut with foods that they could just as easily prepare at home. They just don't seem to care about quality. It is about price, speed of service, portion size. I may be being too honest by stating that, but I am giving a generality about what I have witnessed over the last 25 years.

There are some people who do appreciate what I desire to deliver, but they are in the vast minority. Ten years ago this area was much more economically viable, because the companies in the area were more economically dynamic. We had people coming from all parts of the world to our area and those people respected the talents of creative people in this area. That is part of the race to the bottom that has been witnessed in our area. We have a lot to offer, but we don't have a lot to offer it to. We need to expand our horizons to the outside world, not close the area off to that world.

I really don't know how we're going to get out of this mess. There are forces that are working against solving the problems that we see in our area. And there are forces that are putting their futures at stake to try and rectify the inadequacies and negatives that have been perpetuated and put us in the vulnerable position that we are in today.

I spoke with a friend of mine who is in the real estate profession. I was talking to him about the Economic Depression that we're in and I was stating that I can't understand how people don't see that we are in an Economic Depression. He said that he believed that most people understand this, they just don't want to talk about it or deal with it -- they're scared. I asked about the real estate business and was he doing any business? He stated that he showed properties and he talked about properties, but he wasn't doing any business. He said everything is on hold. Life is on hold.

It is like we have stated on this blog before. You're either making positive progress or you are falling behind. Stagnation is falling behind. I do agree that this area has done things which will help "some" when things turn around, but what are we aggressively doing to turn things around? We have to do things to turn our economic prospects around without relying on external forces to come save the day. We are going to have to take some chances. The status quo in a period of malaise only helps to propagate that malaise.

I feel that it is incumbent upon the people of our community to look to themselves as problem solvers. If we look at the major issues that we are facing today, the common thread is that people are desiring unrealistic solutions from third-party sources. Instead of self-reliance as the principal, people are all too willing to accept charity from people who lack accountability. Who am I talking about? The GOVERNMENT.

Our government is a big problem. The people are going to have to demand accountability from the government. The government grows larger and larger and yet their accountability continues to dim. If the people continue to accept their current lot in this downward economic spiral, then they better prepare for the worst.

I do not know what the future holds, because honestly, I don't understand people. Why do people want to wait until a catastrophe arises until they take action. We have already seen a catastrophe take place with our economy and we have seen the inaction of the government and an ambivalence towards solving the problems that we face. Words, words, words... when we need action. And I may not be taking enough action, but I am acting. People can do something (anything) to help.

Integrity is all about being true to oneself and being honest with oneself. If one cannot get to the core of that general principle, then frankly there is nothing that can be done to help that individual. We need leaders, not sociopaths. The term used for those who serve in the government is “Public Servant.” The government as an entity is supposed to serve the people, not the other way around. That is the foundational principle upon which our government is based.

Corruption is at the root of our economic problems. What we see is systemic. Until we choose to call out those people who represent the forces of iniquity, then we will continue to spin our wheels forever. You better start learning and teaching you kids Mandarin. Taking the easy way out is no longer an option. The issues that we face are related to character. It is only about judging people to the extent of what is inherently right and wrong. If we are unwilling to call people out, because of who they are or some entity that they represent, then we are accomplices and enablers of whatever injustice these people are perpetrating.

We must represent and demand honesty, integrity, honor, and loyalty and we should never shrink in espousing these principles.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

REBUILDING & EMPOWERING FROM THE BOTTOM UP -- Citizens for Equity in Government

The Citizens for Equity in Government (CEG) in Hickory is a call for every resident of Hickory to join in a major effort to make Hickory a better city. Rebuilding and empowering the city requires an informed public that is willing to continually seek the truth and stand for justice for all people. We want to build a grassroots democratic culture where all are respected, all voices are heard, and where we work together so that the needs of all are met. Is that the Hickory you want? Let’s join together in Hickory and make it happen. This campaign is a continuation of decades of grassroots work and is an important step towards laying the foundations for a city where dignity and worth of all are affirmed and up held.

We at CEG stand for dignity, worth and potential of every person. We work with mainly the poor, most rejected, and most ejected and excluded. We try to do this work in such a way as to promote the welfare of all. We fully support the effort to save our children’s swimming pools.

Our struggle for justice involves issues of health, education, environment, and economics. Saving our children’s swimming pools is a starting point rather than an end.

At the recent workshops (hearings) held by the City of Hickory it was abundantly clear what type of Aquatic Program the citizens desired. It was also made clear by City Council member Hank Guess that “the City does not have money set aside for swimming pools and has to balance recreation needs with other city projects.”

Hearings, workshops, citizens’ suggestions and ideals!

We will continue our struggle on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 11:00 am at Ridgeview Recreation Center. Hear the Rev. Nelson Johnson of Greensboro, NC deliver the keynote address.

Hear what other citizens’ research exposes. But, most of all express yourself.

There will be food and fellowship for all.

Contact: Billy Sudderth (828) 308-4669

The Hound: This sounds great and it is my hope that an effort such as this can succeed in engaging all of the citizens of Hickory and enticing more people to participate in the decision making processes that take place in Hickory. This is not going to be an easy task. In my opinion there are forces that have long aligned to keep the average citizen out of the city's policy making apparatus.

What this is going to take is determination and perseverance. Far too many people believe that efforts such as these will be quickly and easily solved. They feel that going to one meeting or attending a few functions are going to gain attention and cause key decision makers to take notice and support whatever position the group is advocating. It unfortunately does not work that way.

It is a numbers game. The Powers that Be are only going to listen to you when they feel that it may have a direct effect (or reflection) on their status. They listen to the existing interests, because that is who brought them to the decision making table. If they feel that your movement could cause them to lose their position of status, then they will be moved to incorporate your interests into the decision making process. Unfortunately, the name of the game today is not right and/or wrong. Right and/or wrong is only going to come to the fore if a group such as "Citizens for Equity in Government" can become enough of a force to make the necessary changes to existing processes to incorporate such principles into the decision making process.

I congratulate Citizens for Equity in Government on their initial efforts. I do believe that we have seen progress on the Hickory City Pools issue. The efforts to squash the interests of the Ridgeview and West Hickory have failed miserably and this shows that when Advocacy groups do take an interest in city processes that they can make a difference. But, this issue is not solved until the goal is attained and the Pools issue is solved and then we move on from there to solve other issues. Just because you have gotten the tide to turn in your favor on this issue does not mean that you have won anything. You have to remain vigilant. There will be wins and losses along the way. That is how a Representative Democracy works. But, you are now in the game and your participation in Hickory City Governance is a most welcomed sight!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The Future is Now -- Hickory Hound 30,000+ Unique Views

On Tuesday the Hound went over 30,000 unique views. I have been keeping up with the numbers and this is by far the fastest 5,000 unique view increment increase that we have seen since this blog began. It took 82 days to get those 5,000 views compared to the previous 5,000 increment (from 20k to 25k) that took 130 days. It is great to see that the Hound continues to gather momentum. It has been steady progress, of course with constant steps forward and steps back, but the trends show the slow, but we are seeing an exponential growth curve develop as we have moved forward.

I truly appreciate those who read and participate with the input of this blog. In my opinion, you give this community hope, because you care. It is discouraging when we see the challenges that we face in this community and the fact that some people just don't get it and others just don't care. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that is what makes a great community, but when people are ambivalent they may as well be working against us.

Some people think that I am out there and I guess I am a little out there, but I'm a lot less crazy than some of you think. Below is an embedded video from Discovery Channel called "Next World -- the Future of Life on Earth." This video shows technology, much of which is already accessible in its beginning form, that will change life as we know it on earth. I have been around technology my entire life. I have told many of you about that before in other postings and in person.

The human brain does 100 trillion calculations per second, by 2050 a desktop computer will have the equivalent processing power of 9 billion brains. We're moving quickly towards where computer devices will have artificial intelligence. The machines that are derivatives of this technology will give us the capability of being superhuman in nature.

I was around computers when they took up the bottom floor a building to do the most rudimentary operations. Those computers were nothing compared to what Blackberries and iPhones can do today. Remember people’s vinyl collections of music and how much space that 100 albums would take up. Well, today's 160 GB iPod will hold 40,000 songs, so that's anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 albums and this will fit easily in your shirt pocket. That is how technology has evolved and expanded over the last 30 years.

What this video shows is the evolution of robotic technology. The video shows the melding of humans and machines. That is already taking place. Look at what has happened with smart phones and Blue Tooth technology.

This video shows Ray Kurzweil who is one of the leading futurists in the world. What we see from all of this is that humans in their ultimate form are very adaptive. Sometimes the exponential growth of the technology that surrounds us has proven to be faster than our minds can comprehend. What I want you to understand is that most of the technology that we are enjoying today was at one time thought to be impossible. So as one watches this video and has trouble comprehending or believing what they are seeing, they need to come to the realization that anything is possible if given enough time to develop. It is foolish to ever think or state that something can never happened -- never say never.

One recent example is an article that I read on ESPN.com today. Brent Musburger, who most of us know through his association as a media journalist and commentator, was stating that the use of steroids (performance enhancing drugs), when properly administered by physicians in a safe environment, should be acceptable for adult professional athletes. A lot of respondents went with standard line of today that that is an unacceptable idea. But, I understand exactly where Brent Musburger is coming from.

We are coming to an age when bionic prosthetic devices could be used when a human has a problem with the knee joint, hip joint, elbow, shoulder, ankle, vertebrae, etc... Eventually these devices could be better than the real thing. Would these not be construed as performance enhancing devices. Should they be banned or outlawed. What if an athlete tears up their knee and one of these devices could be installed as replacement. What would be wrong with that?

These are some of the ethical questions that are going to have to be answered in the very near future. We see this in this video when an exoskeleton is shown. We have already seen the use of predator drones on the battlefield. Soon we are going to see the ability to utilize robotic technology and exoskeleton technology in conjunction with humans on the battlefield. We must open our minds to the possibilities in order to gain an understanding of what we are facing. You can stick your head in the sand or you can join those of us who have an acceptance of all of this and help to make better decisions of the limitless possibilities, consequences, and challenges that we face.

This particular video runs a little over 40 minutes. Watch a little bit at a time and come back to it. I don't see how you can't find something such as this very interesting. Sure it isn't a comedy or drama to help you escape the pressures of day, but it is good to expand your horizons and understand the true characteristics of the world in which we live.