tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post1650778501445260935..comments2024-03-22T02:57:20.853-07:00Comments on Center of Gravitas: Take Me for a RideGayProfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-54864480769984905392017-08-15T04:51:43.573-07:002017-08-15T04:51:43.573-07:00YoBit enables you to claim FREE CRYPTO-COINS from ...<b><a href="http://btcx.syntaxlinks.com/r/YoBit" rel="nofollow">YoBit</a></b> enables you to claim <b>FREE CRYPTO-COINS</b> from over <b><i>100</i></b> different crypto-currencies, you complete a captcha one time and claim as much as coins you can from the available offers.<br /><br />After you make about 20-30 claims, you complete the captcha and proceed to claiming.<br /><br /><b>You can press CLAIM as much as 50 times per one captcha.</b><br /><br />The coins will <b>stored</b> in your account, and you can convert them to Bitcoins or USD.Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287821785570247118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-44551985803254904942009-12-08T01:01:47.147-08:002009-12-08T01:01:47.147-08:00Hi,
Good one on Take Me for a Ride. If you are lo...Hi,<br /><br />Good one on Take Me for a Ride. If you are looking for corporate housing rentals it doesn't matter if you are a corporate and searching for rental or properties or you own a property and looking to rent out http://tchnetwork.com/blog/ can help. Their service is amazing.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />KellyUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14684042590478366697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-41917337911367701632008-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:002008-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:00I wish I was in the market for a car right now, be...I wish I was in the market for a car right now, because I'd have them by the balls and I'd walk out of there at $100 over invoice! I agree, let's wipe the slate clean and get rid of all those greedy bastards.CoffeeDoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12561507227103151863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-19333044127913548192008-12-06T22:45:00.000-08:002008-12-06T22:45:00.000-08:00I am that drug addicted relative you so cavalierly...I am that drug addicted relative you so cavalierly dismissed and I really NEED the money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-30003663860763644972008-12-06T21:02:00.000-08:002008-12-06T21:02:00.000-08:00oh gayprof, I've missed you so.I am naive, I know,...oh gayprof, I've missed you so.<BR/><BR/>I am naive, I know, but maybe we need to learn a lesson as a nation. Will it truly be so bad if we don't support the big three?<BR/><BR/>I know, I know, there was a compromise; which only means that we, the taxpayers will be out more money, and the big three will still probably go under.<BR/><BR/>This is one of the times I wish I was omnipotent, or at least smarter.<BR/><BR/>As it is, I just try to make it through every day, hoping not everyone decides to send their child to private school.<BR/><BR/>My word verification is "spree." That just strikes me funny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-36462838335090678862008-12-06T12:03:00.000-08:002008-12-06T12:03:00.000-08:00You could have written this about Cleveland as wel...You could have written this about Cleveland as well. Except our population exodus is probably even greater than Michigan's is. Plus we have a major interstate high level bridge into downtown, literally on the verge of collapse (ala Minneapolis), that rather than find money to repair it...they instead shut down two lanes in each direction and now ticket any truck or bus that dares to cross it! Can you say "death trap waiting to happen"? Turns out that, plain and simple, there is No Money. Not on the city level, the state level or even, apparently, the federal level. We are a forgotten, dying city and nobody wants to help. Funny how there's all the money in the world for banks and huge corps. though. Oh well. <BR/><BR/>I agree that the Unions once served an important role in this country but the problem with them is that they became as greedy as their employers. I had a co-worker whose father worked for a large steel plant in this region. He once bragged to me about how his father was up to seven weeks of paid vacation by the time he retired. I was aghast. 7 weeks??!!! PAID???!!! Nobody needs seven weeks of vacation time. That man was paid to sit on his rear end doing nothing for 7 weeks and those costs were passed on to us, the consumers. Is it any wonder the steel industry high-tailed it to Mexico and overseas?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-23319855796141284182008-12-03T23:46:00.000-08:002008-12-03T23:46:00.000-08:00So interested to hear your take on Richardson's ap...So interested to hear your take on Richardson's appointmentjeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06313206057933336246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-42122361093203406072008-12-01T13:28:00.000-08:002008-12-01T13:28:00.000-08:00When I went to a funeral in Michigan last April I ...When I went to a funeral in Michigan last April I forgot my suit jacket so I ended up at the Goodwill Store in Traverse City. I have never seen so many people at Goodwill, diligently looking for a bargain. The parking lot was full. <BR/><BR/>All of the little companies in northern Michigan that supply auto parts are closing and all of the other manufacturing jobs are going off to some foreign country. Those were the only good-paying jobs for poorly educated people.<BR/><BR/>There are a lot of desperate people in northern Michigan. I expect if things don't change parts of that state will empty out like North Dakota.Homerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18107337628719451890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-27912739709834099382008-11-25T11:31:00.000-08:002008-11-25T11:31:00.000-08:00Alan2 Them is fightin' words. My first car was 19...<B>Alan2</B> Them is fightin' words. My first car was 1975 Dodge Dart Sport. It was a solidly built car and I still catch one or two on the road today.<BR/><BR/>But, of course, that was then. My parents, who are Mopar slaves, bought a Plymouth Horizon (a stripped down version of the Omni (if you can imagine!)). It was quite possibly the worst car ever built, ever, ever.<BR/><BR/><B>Earl:</B> The CEO's must go now and larger corporations must be broken apart.<BR/><BR/><B>Chad:</B> Yeah, it's interesting all the ire directed to the auto industry while the banking industry had been given a free pass.<BR/><BR/><B>Prof BW:</B> The General Lee was a Dodge <I>Charger</I>, a "B" body. I want the <I>Challenger</I>, which was based on the original "E" body. They are totally different. <BR/><BR/><B>Anon:</B> Sometimes television makes everything feel better.<BR/><BR/><B>Michael</B>: I still haven't forgiven the Democrats for the primary mess in Michigan.GayProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-72073064046336592762008-11-25T07:31:00.000-08:002008-11-25T07:31:00.000-08:00Being from Michigan, I felt ignore when our Amendm...Being from Michigan, I felt ignore when our Amendment banding Gay marrigae and Civil Union. Its was like you live there why should we care. <BR/> I like the upper mid-west the great lakes states where I live. It's surprisely "more Happening" then people give it credit. <BR/> Plenty of famous gay folks from the Midwest. <BR/> Lots of pockets of Liberism through out the great Lake state<BR/>Here's my blog http://zepposslave.blogspot.com/Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13752534671376363699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-87697004682672034242008-11-21T11:52:00.000-08:002008-11-21T11:52:00.000-08:00Thank you for the WKRP clip. I'm too exhausted fr...Thank you for the WKRP clip. I'm too exhausted from my own never ending project to comment on anything more substantial that TV reruns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-88517559503716356792008-11-21T08:43:00.000-08:002008-11-21T08:43:00.000-08:00I worry that your analogy is correct; if bailing o...I worry that your analogy is correct; if bailing out the big 3 is akin to handing money to a strung out relative, then what is the solution to the crumbling that you discuss so astutely here? I've been thinking about it for some time b/c I too think blaming the unions is mostly far fetched and funding another corporate vacation on tax payers' money is unthinkable. And oh yeah, I have tried to use Windows Vista and that is why I now refer to my brand new $2000 Toshiba as "the paper weight from hell."<BR/><BR/>It seems to me that there are several other countries we could look to for how regulation, green economies, and job production could work and fearing those places as "communist" is not only inaccurate it is ignorant with so much on the line. Perhaps if we all took some time to teach that in our classes we could really be the liberal threat we've been painted as. Or am I just dreaming again?<BR/><BR/>In all seriousness, when I get to Midwestern Funky Town (Planned for some time next year), we will have to discuss in person why you cannot pine after a car that looks like "the general lee." I think its the NM in you ;PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-74258207949768932242008-11-21T07:56:00.000-08:002008-11-21T07:56:00.000-08:00I think a blog I read put it best, in dramatic for...I think a blog I read put it best, <A HREF="http://fengi.livejournal.com/850501.html" REL="nofollow">in dramatic form</A>:<BR/><BR/>Little Miss Market: Oooh, unky, can I have a bit more of that seven hun bill? I swear I won't spend it all on other banks. Double promise.<BR/><BR/>Uncle Sam: Here you are, you little brat. But if you don't start doing your mortgage chores, I shall be very cross. [yelling after her] And I mean it this time. [chuckles] Ah, I have no idea what she gets up to. [pause] Now, where were we?<BR/><BR/>Chaz Auto: Well, I...really need some money. Just for a while. Things didn't go quite as planned.<BR/><BR/>Uncle Sam: [harrumphing] Quite as planned. Well, well, well - that's all you've got to say for yourself? I'm afraid you're going to have to much better than that. You've made a right hash things haven't you? [Chaz opens his mouth] And don't go blaming it on your cousin. She's a right fine lady while you - and your unions and grubby factories. Well, it's not very financial, is it? Honestly, it's hard to believe we're related.<BR/><BR/>Chaz Auto: But, sir. There's a lot of people depending on me.<BR/><BR/>Uncle Sam: [sighs] You're right. Well, you've got me only because I've got my reputation to consider. But first I want you to write out exactly what you plan to do with my money - and don't forget it's my money - and you'd better be ready to stick to every letter.<BR/><BR/>Chaz Auto: So you'll help?<BR/><BR/>Uncle Sam: Maybe. Perhaps. Well see. [pause] Now push off, I've got a little lunch with one of Miss Market's friends. She's a peach and a half. [he pats his pockets, then pulls out an empty wallet] And it seems little Miss snuck another trillion when I wasn't looking. She's so naughty!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-83027991037918568972008-11-20T17:10:00.000-08:002008-11-20T17:10:00.000-08:00Lose the millionaire execs. You and I both know t...Lose the millionaire execs. You and I both know they're what's keeping me from my thirty-hour work week. (Not to mention flying cars and moving sidewalks and bubble cities and all the other amazing things I was promised in my formative years.)<BR/><BR/>Yes, it's a conundrum. I can't see letting the Big 3 collapse, but they do (it would seem) need a boot of some kind on their throats to make them mass-produce the fuel-efficient vehicles that we are capable of engineering and that a majority of Americans would snatch right off the assembly lines.<BR/><BR/>Hm, maybe that boot needs to be on the throats of the oil companies?<BR/><BR/>Go, Waxman!Earl Cootiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13204523494279709530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-34510202868516264412008-11-20T12:36:00.000-08:002008-11-20T12:36:00.000-08:00Oh, I forgot to add.Dodge Challenger?Dodge has nev...Oh, I forgot to add.<BR/><BR/>Dodge Challenger?<BR/><BR/>Dodge has never made a hot car, nor a good car. They should have stuck with the Omni, it was more appropos of what Dodge is all about. :)<BR/><BR/>BTW, my word verification word is "ressessi" which I assume is Italian for recession.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274395216929104919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-14852410013467264572008-11-20T11:43:00.000-08:002008-11-20T11:43:00.000-08:00ROG: I agree that we have given automakers a free ...<B>ROG:</B> I agree that we have given automakers a free pass for much too long. But their total collapse, I fear, will be incredibly crippling to this region.<BR/><BR/><B>Torn:</B> Yeah, the jet-setting CEO's need to go (I actually think that this is true for all sectors of business).<BR/><BR/><B>Doug:</B> My rusty memory seems to recall a Detroit promise from long ago to build "muscle" hybrids. Apparently they changed their minds.<BR/><BR/><B>Pacalaga:</B> "Dodge Challenger" was probably the most interesting bit in this entry anyway.<BR/><BR/><B>Alan:</B> You actually write up this issues involved much better than me. So much so, I thought about adding your whole comment as an addendum to my own entry.<BR/><BR/>The only two things that I would add are a) Democrats proposed taking the $25 billion from the already existing $700 billion package. So, it wouldn't be $725 billion, but Republicans and bankers don't want to share that package (what a surprise). B) Many of those factories that relocated to Mexico have recently recolated again to China. So, not only have they screwed the U.S. Midwest, they have also screwed Northern Mexico. All in pursuit of the cheapest, most exploitable labor possible.GayProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-25346632812922427852008-11-20T06:55:00.000-08:002008-11-20T06:55:00.000-08:00Having lived here all my life, I can tell you when...Having lived here all my life, I can tell you when the doom began: the recession of the late 1970's, and the economy of Midwestern Peninsular State hasn't recovered since. Seriously.<BR/><BR/>It isn't just cars. Back in the day, there were several major factories within spitting distance of the tiny Midwestern Tiny Town in which I grew up. Gibson's Refrigerators had two factories, GM had a major magnetics plant nearby, untold numbers of tool-and-die shops, etc., etc. Now they're all gone. Gibsons became Frigidare which became Electrolux which moved to Mexico. The magnetics plant became Hitachi Magnetics which moved to Mexico. The folks from those companies who didn't retire, lost their seniority, and moved to the bottom of the latter at auto factories or auto factory suppliers.<BR/><BR/>In Midwestern Tiny Town, where my folks still live, nearly every other house on their street is for sale for about half of what the owners paid for it originally.<BR/><BR/>So what about this Chapter 11 idea? Well, for Chapter 11 to work, people would have to continue buying GM cars during restructuring. Why buy a car from a company that may not be around in 6 months? Why buy a car with a 5 year, 50,000 mile warranty that won't last 6 months? Not gonna happen. Chapter 11 will insure that GM fails.<BR/><BR/>And GM's 123,000 employees? Feh. That's a drop in the bucket when we consider all of the suppliers who will also be run out of business, not to mention the stores and service industry jobs in and around factory towns. Oh, and the towns themselves? Several of them are already bankrupt, like Midwestern Polish Enclave, next to Decaying Midwestern Urban Center, which itself has been bankrupt.<BR/><BR/>I think people have no idea what Michigan is like these days. We've had almost double the rate of unemployment of the rest of the country for years. And for the last 7 years, the Big 3 have been trying to meet with the Bush Administration about figuring out a way to get government support for retooling for fuel efficient cars and R&D and were unable to do so. (Government aid that other car companies get from their respective governments, I might add.)<BR/><BR/>So, somehow we're able to find the money to give $700 billion dollars to crooked Wall Street firms and moronic banks who gave moronic mortgages to moronic people who bought more house than they could afford. But we're not able to find $25 billion to loan to an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of workers and makes real products? Really? $700 billion was OK, but $25 billion, that's too much?<BR/><BR/>So much for the Wall Street vs. Main Street rhetoric we heard throughout the campaign.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I'm all for attaching whatever strings are necessary to this money ... heck, use ropes if necessary. I just don't think it's responsible to get rid of hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs when the economy is in free fall. Particularly when it is the American taxpayer who has been buying the now unpopular SUVs for years. Suddenly now they want to be responsible? <BR/><BR/>(Oh, and just to make this whole story even happier, Don't forget that in Midwestern Peninsular State, we pay for our public schools using property taxes. Say goodbye to our already troubled school systems once GM goes out of business and everyone either loses their house through foreclosure and/or moves to some other state.)Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274395216929104919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-46366462049551824682008-11-20T05:15:00.000-08:002008-11-20T05:15:00.000-08:00I'm sorry, all I read was blahblahblahblah Dodge C...I'm sorry, all I read was blahblahblahblah Dodge Challenger.<BR/>(Totally kidding, but I swear, now I know why muscle cars had such large back seats, esp compared to Geos.)<BR/>Yes, your #1 requirement was one I could get behind. "We'll loan/give you this money, as soon as you fire (without severance) all your executive board members." It's interesting to me how often the tech industry splits itself off into offshoots, smaller companies, subsidiaries, whatever, and yet the manufacturing corporations are still trying to consolidate.<BR/>And what do you mean, Phoenix doesn't have water? Don't you know they're going to have the World's Largest Water Park soon?<BR/>http://tinyurl.com/5rnqz8pacalagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12498703982601315908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-84799983235322499922008-11-20T04:17:00.000-08:002008-11-20T04:17:00.000-08:00I love your demands, except that last one. I mean...I love your demands, except that last one. I mean, a Dodge Challenger? Doesn't one of the big three make a nice hybrid? Oh, right, they don't. Go Dodge Challenger!Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065042871216479832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-56892494597832671162008-11-20T03:27:00.000-08:002008-11-20T03:27:00.000-08:00I was astonished that they had one really bad quar...I was astonished that they had one really bad quarter and that's going to cause them to go bankrupt. Really, you had no contingency plan? Imagine if every company went out of business for having a bad few months. And then yesterday when I saw them fly on their luxury jets to beg for money.... The only word to describe my expression is agape.tornwordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581361982939423598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-37917027034304561642008-11-19T23:55:00.000-08:002008-11-19T23:55:00.000-08:00I too am conflicted. I've long thought that if th...I too am conflicted. I've long thought that if the fuel efficiency standards that Washington would put in place and then renege upon, because Detroit wailed that it was "too hard, too restrictive", HAD gone into effect, then the industry AND the country would have been better off. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, they file Chapter 11, reorganize and gut labor, they my survive, but at what cost to the work force?Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.com