Updating our Stock of the Day profile of eBay, in yet another sign that the company is woefully mismanaged, the worldwide auction service firm has announced plans to shut down its Chinese subsifiary, EachNet, and partner instead with China-based TOM Online to keep a presence in the world's most populous nation.
After an original 2003 investment of $30 million, eBay bought EachNet for a purported $120 million in 2004. Management squandered money and resources over the past 2+ years before finally deciding to pull the plug. Whether the unit had or would ever achieve profitability is doubtful.
For more detail on eBay's Chinese experience, see this article on internetnews.com.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Credit cards: Handle with Care
My lifetime experience with credit cards has been less than satisfactory. Much of the time I used credit cards for unnecessary purchases and later found myself with unwanted payments. Actually, having and using credit cards has negatively affected my credit rating because of a few missteps on my part and some rather dubious practices by the card-issuing companies which I disputed - to my detriment.
My sister, however, 6 years my junior, has fared much better, using credit cards with great discipline, carrying a small balance, using the cards for needed purchases and paying them off within the grace period at no interest. Thus has she achieved a stellar credit record over the years.
Obviously, how one uses credit and credit cards will in a large way determine one's credit rating, which carries great influence in today's highly-leveraged environment.
Credit ratings and records are used in everything from purchasing a vehicle, home, or establishing individual store revolving credit to employment and security screening. It's gotten to the point where three companies - Equifax, Experian and Trans-Union control our destinies to an unwanted degree.
If you are interested in furthering your understanding of credit cards check out Credit Card News.
For information on proper use of credit cards, credit repair and more, see Credit Card Advice.
My sister, however, 6 years my junior, has fared much better, using credit cards with great discipline, carrying a small balance, using the cards for needed purchases and paying them off within the grace period at no interest. Thus has she achieved a stellar credit record over the years.
Obviously, how one uses credit and credit cards will in a large way determine one's credit rating, which carries great influence in today's highly-leveraged environment.
Credit ratings and records are used in everything from purchasing a vehicle, home, or establishing individual store revolving credit to employment and security screening. It's gotten to the point where three companies - Equifax, Experian and Trans-Union control our destinies to an unwanted degree.
If you are interested in furthering your understanding of credit cards check out Credit Card News.
For information on proper use of credit cards, credit repair and more, see Credit Card Advice.
Bowl Season off to Flying Start
With the first college football bowl game of the season completed last night, Fearless Rick's record for predictions stands at 1-0 as TCU hammered Northern Illinois, 37-7, limiting the nation's leading rusher, Garrett Wolfe, to 28 yards rushing.
As stated in my preview the Horned Frogs were probably wondering why they were relegated to the low-level Poinsettia Bowl and they proved that they deserved better.
TCU's senior QB Jeff Ballard cemented his credentials as a bona fide NFL prospect with an outstanding performance in his final game. Ballard rushed for three scores, threw for another and amassed 253 passing yards.
Next up on the college football carousel is the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl, on Thursday, Dec. 21, pitting BYU against Oregon. Brigham Young is favored by a field goal or more and I don't think it will even be that close.
I'll continue to update here as bowl season progresses.
As stated in my preview the Horned Frogs were probably wondering why they were relegated to the low-level Poinsettia Bowl and they proved that they deserved better.
TCU's senior QB Jeff Ballard cemented his credentials as a bona fide NFL prospect with an outstanding performance in his final game. Ballard rushed for three scores, threw for another and amassed 253 passing yards.
Next up on the college football carousel is the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl, on Thursday, Dec. 21, pitting BYU against Oregon. Brigham Young is favored by a field goal or more and I don't think it will even be that close.
I'll continue to update here as bowl season progresses.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Thom Hartmann is THE MAN!
With Al Franken spending this week entertaining the troops with the USO in Iraq, my favorite local radio station, NewsTalk 950 (WROC, 950-AM) has been carrying the show with Thom Hartmann as the guest host. After just two days, I'm hoping the rumor that Franken will be leaving AirAmerica Radio is true.
The Freepers over at Free Republic (no, I'm not linking to those losers) are jumping up and down with glee over the purported news, but they're so ignorant of the truth that they can't even imagine what a great replacement Hartmann would make or even that Franken isn't even the best host on AirAmerica.
Hartmann's show is carried on 80+ stations already, and if Franken does bow out, he'd likely add another 50 to 100 more, as his show runs in the same time slot as Al's on many stations. On 950, they carry Franken at noon to 3:00 pm, a slot that's getting pretty competitive for the progressives as Ed Schultz recently moved from 3:00 pm to noon as well.
Hartmann is probably the best-read and most literate host on radio today. Any man that can quote Aristotle as easily as most hosts replay topical political quips, is far, far ahead in my book.
If we don't get Hartmann on a regular basis - like we don't get Randi Rhodes in her regular slot, or the great Mike Malloy (too honest), I'll be a regular visitor to his web site, complete with live and archived download links to his radio show, loads of online writings and other information by and about this Project Censored-award-winning and New York Times best-selling author.
His latest book, Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class -- And What We Can Do About It also makes a great Christmas present (hint, hint).
The Freepers over at Free Republic (no, I'm not linking to those losers) are jumping up and down with glee over the purported news, but they're so ignorant of the truth that they can't even imagine what a great replacement Hartmann would make or even that Franken isn't even the best host on AirAmerica.
Hartmann's show is carried on 80+ stations already, and if Franken does bow out, he'd likely add another 50 to 100 more, as his show runs in the same time slot as Al's on many stations. On 950, they carry Franken at noon to 3:00 pm, a slot that's getting pretty competitive for the progressives as Ed Schultz recently moved from 3:00 pm to noon as well.
Hartmann is probably the best-read and most literate host on radio today. Any man that can quote Aristotle as easily as most hosts replay topical political quips, is far, far ahead in my book.
If we don't get Hartmann on a regular basis - like we don't get Randi Rhodes in her regular slot, or the great Mike Malloy (too honest), I'll be a regular visitor to his web site, complete with live and archived download links to his radio show, loads of online writings and other information by and about this Project Censored-award-winning and New York Times best-selling author.
His latest book, Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class -- And What We Can Do About It also makes a great Christmas present (hint, hint).
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Lazy slackers make living difficult
What's more dangerous than a lazy slacker?
A lazy slacker who is also a manipulative, deceitful drunk, that's what. Not mentioning any names (Ron Mavity) these people should be barred from entering into business agreements of any kind.
What do I mean by "deceitful manipulative lazy slacker?" This would be a person who would spend time and effort sabotaging something rather than spending the time and effort to actually get the job done. It's the worst sort, a person whose entire life is spent avoiding doing anything labeled "work." It disgusts me.
A lazy slacker who is also a manipulative, deceitful drunk, that's what. Not mentioning any names (Ron Mavity) these people should be barred from entering into business agreements of any kind.
What do I mean by "deceitful manipulative lazy slacker?" This would be a person who would spend time and effort sabotaging something rather than spending the time and effort to actually get the job done. It's the worst sort, a person whose entire life is spent avoiding doing anything labeled "work." It disgusts me.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Doc Warner: Man of Mystery
I am one of maybe three people in Rochester who dutifully tunes into NewsTalk 950's (WROC, 950 AM) On The Line Radio Saturday mornings at 9:00 am.
The past two weeks, however, I haven't been able to hear its host, Kenneth 'Doc' Warner, warble on monotonously for the better part of the hour. Last week, the show re-aired the production from October 15, and this week, the host who "works overtime so you don't have to" has been preempted by a show pimping longevity pills. At least it's better radio...
But that's just the beginning.
Warner, who, as far as anyone can tell, is not a "doctor" of anything. He also doesn't return emails - at least not mine. I've tried to connect with him, offering suggestions on how to improve the broadcast (like, kill the Three Stooges music, stop interrupting your interviewees...) but the good doctor apparently can't read, thinks his show is perfect as is, or is harboring a deep-seated resentment dating back to the mid-80s, when he almost became my partner in the wildly successful venture known in these parts as Downtown Magazine.
One thing we do know about the mysterious Mr. Warner is that he's a self-proclaimed "political operative" (read: paid shill) who was the driving force behind the election of Bill Johnson for mayor, a couple of times, as he used to remind us every week.
At the very least, I'd like to be able to heap blame on Warner for working so hard to promote people who have helped ruin the city, but he's MIA, ostensibly working overtime on something other than radio.
Thank goodness.
The past two weeks, however, I haven't been able to hear its host, Kenneth 'Doc' Warner, warble on monotonously for the better part of the hour. Last week, the show re-aired the production from October 15, and this week, the host who "works overtime so you don't have to" has been preempted by a show pimping longevity pills. At least it's better radio...
But that's just the beginning.
Warner, who, as far as anyone can tell, is not a "doctor" of anything. He also doesn't return emails - at least not mine. I've tried to connect with him, offering suggestions on how to improve the broadcast (like, kill the Three Stooges music, stop interrupting your interviewees...) but the good doctor apparently can't read, thinks his show is perfect as is, or is harboring a deep-seated resentment dating back to the mid-80s, when he almost became my partner in the wildly successful venture known in these parts as Downtown Magazine.
One thing we do know about the mysterious Mr. Warner is that he's a self-proclaimed "political operative" (read: paid shill) who was the driving force behind the election of Bill Johnson for mayor, a couple of times, as he used to remind us every week.
At the very least, I'd like to be able to heap blame on Warner for working so hard to promote people who have helped ruin the city, but he's MIA, ostensibly working overtime on something other than radio.
Thank goodness.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Flippity-flop: Timetable for Iraq
US troops substantially drawn down in 12-18 months (but it will still be a war zone) according to proven liar Gen. Casey
Aftermonths and months of telling the American public and concerned congressmenlike John Murtha that a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistakeand that it would give the "terrorists" or the "enemy" (whoever they are)an advantage to "wait us out" and put our troops in more danger, the administrationhas done just that by announcing that the Iraqi and US governments are workingon just such a plan.
Reuters is a little dodgy on the issue, here,citing that the Bush administration would set up "benchmarks" for the al-Malikigovernment in Iraq, which, if not met, would force the US to reassess theirstrategy in the country.
According to the Washington Post, General George Casey, Commander of Multi-national Forces in Iraq, believes:
But, that sounds strangely similar to what he said over a year ago.
Yep, I was right. Here'sCasey saying we could see "substantial withdrawals of troops in Spring of2006. But Casey said that on July 27, 2005. Since then, we've actually increasedtroop levels and the violence has increased. So, why should we believe himnow, and why are the Republicans not muzzling each other over this changein tone just before the mid-term elections?
Just for fun, here's Casey again in June of 2006, saying that troop levels would be reduced in September (didn't happen).
Elsewhere,White House spokesman Tony Snow said Monday the administration would no longeruse the term "stay the course" to describe the administration's prosecutionof the war. This gem of wisdom came after George Bush (the president, rememberhim?) said. "...we never were Stay the course" to George Stephanopoulos duringan interview aired Sunday on ABC News.
I'll bet hard currency thatyou can do a Google search for "Bush Iraq stay the course" and you'll findat least half a dozen examples of him saying just that. I tried it. I win.We all lose with this nitwit in office.
And if all of this pre-electionwar blathering hasn't given you heartburn, maybe the fact that the UnitedStates has fallen into a tie for 53rd place with Tonga, Botswana and Croatiain the Press Freedom Index:
If I'm not back bloggingin a few days, look for me in Tonga, where I might be able to find employmentat Tefua-'a-Vaka-Lautala. Adios, Aloha and Sayonara for now.
Aftermonths and months of telling the American public and concerned congressmenlike John Murtha that a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistakeand that it would give the "terrorists" or the "enemy" (whoever they are)an advantage to "wait us out" and put our troops in more danger, the administrationhas done just that by announcing that the Iraqi and US governments are workingon just such a plan.
Reuters is a little dodgy on the issue, here,citing that the Bush administration would set up "benchmarks" for the al-Malikigovernment in Iraq, which, if not met, would force the US to reassess theirstrategy in the country.
According to the Washington Post, General George Casey, Commander of Multi-national Forces in Iraq, believes:
Weare about 75 percent of the way through a three-step process in buildingthose forces. And it's going to take another 12 to 18 months or so untilI believe the Iraqi security forces are completely capable of taking overresponsibility for their own security. Still probably with some level ofsupport from us, but that will be asked for by the Iraqis.
But, that sounds strangely similar to what he said over a year ago.
Yep, I was right. Here'sCasey saying we could see "substantial withdrawals of troops in Spring of2006. But Casey said that on July 27, 2005. Since then, we've actually increasedtroop levels and the violence has increased. So, why should we believe himnow, and why are the Republicans not muzzling each other over this changein tone just before the mid-term elections?
Just for fun, here's Casey again in June of 2006, saying that troop levels would be reduced in September (didn't happen).
Elsewhere,White House spokesman Tony Snow said Monday the administration would no longeruse the term "stay the course" to describe the administration's prosecutionof the war. This gem of wisdom came after George Bush (the president, rememberhim?) said. "...we never were Stay the course" to George Stephanopoulos duringan interview aired Sunday on ABC News.
I'll bet hard currency thatyou can do a Google search for "Bush Iraq stay the course" and you'll findat least half a dozen examples of him saying just that. I tried it. I win.We all lose with this nitwit in office.
And if all of this pre-electionwar blathering hasn't given you heartburn, maybe the fact that the UnitedStates has fallen into a tie for 53rd place with Tonga, Botswana and Croatiain the Press Freedom Index:
TheUnited States (53rd) has fallen nine places since last year, after beingin 17th position in the first year of the Index, in 2002. Relations betweenthe media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the presidentused the pretext of “national security” to regard as suspicious any journalistwho questioned his “war on terrorism.” The zeal of federal courts which,unlike those in 33 US states, refuse to recognize the media’s right not toreveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations haveno connection at all with terrorism.
Freelance journalist and bloggerJosh Wolf was imprisoned when he refused to hand over his video archives.Sudanese cameraman Sami al-Haj, who works for the pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera,has been held without trial since June 2002 at the US military base at Guantanamo,and Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein has been held by US authoritiesin Iraq since April this year.
If I'm not back bloggingin a few days, look for me in Tonga, where I might be able to find employmentat Tefua-'a-Vaka-Lautala. Adios, Aloha and Sayonara for now.
Monday, October 23, 2006
The Death of Network TV: "The Class" is unfunny and not gay.
Insipid. Futile. Moronic.
Those are probably the best words I can use to describe the CBS comedy (and I use the term with remorse) The Class.
The characters, half of whom are (I guess) gay, are not believable, the writing is dull, the plot lines thinner than Calista Flockhart. There's nothing good about this show except that it will soon be gone. It is amazing that network executives are so morally and intellectually dead that they would stoop to the depths to which this show plummets.
Then again, this is the network that brought Katie Couric to the nightly news.
Considering the current shape of the networks, The Class actually reaches a new low, and CBS should apologize to all of us.
Those are probably the best words I can use to describe the CBS comedy (and I use the term with remorse) The Class.
The characters, half of whom are (I guess) gay, are not believable, the writing is dull, the plot lines thinner than Calista Flockhart. There's nothing good about this show except that it will soon be gone. It is amazing that network executives are so morally and intellectually dead that they would stoop to the depths to which this show plummets.
Then again, this is the network that brought Katie Couric to the nightly news.
Considering the current shape of the networks, The Class actually reaches a new low, and CBS should apologize to all of us.
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