"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up."
mmmm I am still thinking, why can't I do both? After all:
"'And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.' ~ Abraham Lincoln"
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Move over Hitler, we now have Mugabe...
Move over Hitler, we now have Mugabe and he can make you like you never got out of kindergarten.
At least Hitler had brains! He was a misguided and an evil man, but he had an ideology that he was working towards. Even Sadam Hussain who was a wicked man and also ruthlessly killed many thousands of people, at least he had an aim that he was working towards. At least these two evil misguided men where relatively good to their own tribes (all be it that it came with a threat to tow the line).
Mugabe is a common thief, a robber and a self indulgent fool who cares only for himself and his immediate friends. He does not care about his own people and is willing to let them die and suffer any fate, as long as he can live his life on his terms. He has raped his country in every possible way.
When a Government cannot care or defend its people, it is not governing. Hospitals closed down, drinking water contaminated, no currency, no food and looting by the army.
This is Zimbabwe in 2008. This is the Zimbabwe where a man more evil than Hitler and more cruel than Sadam Hussain is the ruler along with his puppeteers. The ONLY people that can help and save Zimbabwe are the rest of Africa.
When will the price for turning back the colonies be paid in full. How much more must the African people (not the West) suffer? Mugabe was fighting for freedom from their “Colonial Masters”. Now his people suffer in ways they never did when Rhodesia was a Colony. They were promised a better life and instead life has NEVER been so bad.
Even Hitler would hold his head in shame at what we see Mugabe doing in what was once a self sufficient country. Even Sudam Hussain would shake his head in amazement at the stupidity of what is now the worlds most worthless ruler.
At least Hitler had brains! He was a misguided and an evil man, but he had an ideology that he was working towards. Even Sadam Hussain who was a wicked man and also ruthlessly killed many thousands of people, at least he had an aim that he was working towards. At least these two evil misguided men where relatively good to their own tribes (all be it that it came with a threat to tow the line).
Mugabe is a common thief, a robber and a self indulgent fool who cares only for himself and his immediate friends. He does not care about his own people and is willing to let them die and suffer any fate, as long as he can live his life on his terms. He has raped his country in every possible way.
When a Government cannot care or defend its people, it is not governing. Hospitals closed down, drinking water contaminated, no currency, no food and looting by the army.
This is Zimbabwe in 2008. This is the Zimbabwe where a man more evil than Hitler and more cruel than Sadam Hussain is the ruler along with his puppeteers. The ONLY people that can help and save Zimbabwe are the rest of Africa.
When will the price for turning back the colonies be paid in full. How much more must the African people (not the West) suffer? Mugabe was fighting for freedom from their “Colonial Masters”. Now his people suffer in ways they never did when Rhodesia was a Colony. They were promised a better life and instead life has NEVER been so bad.
Even Hitler would hold his head in shame at what we see Mugabe doing in what was once a self sufficient country. Even Sudam Hussain would shake his head in amazement at the stupidity of what is now the worlds most worthless ruler.
Too many cars....
Too many cars being made by too many people means that something has to give. Add to that mix the way the recent rise in fuel costs has made people think about what they are buying. Even though the price of oil has come down, people know that when the economy picks up the price will likely rise again.
So the current situation does not look good for this industry. Even TATA has been caught short with its recent acquisition of Jaguar and Landrover. Whilst a wonderful move at the right time by Ford, it must be a shock to TATA. Toyota is seeing a massive increases in the cost per vehicle as the Dollar changes to the Yen as well as a reduction in sales. The difference is that Toyota is ideally situated with a good balance sheet and strong reserves of cash to be able to weather the current climate.
So in the midst of this unsettled automobile market place, we see the big three in America go to Washington to beg for some money. What do they do? They each take their company jet from Detroit to Washington to appear before congress!!!!!
Is nobody in these three major companies in touch with the perception of the world outside? Can they not see how ridiculous this makes them look? Wow, I am amazed at how insular people can become at a time when the world is looking for leadership to guide us through the next 18 months.
At a time like this there is a need to consolidate and work together. Why aren’t these people getting together to make massive reductions in wasteful costs. At the end of the day, there is a speed limit on the roads and so an engine only has to be a certain size with a certain level of transmission. Can’t these people see that working together on certain aspects of their business can actually save them? Standardize as much as they can and collaborate.
Boeing has become a designer of aeroplanes now and that has been a major step forward. If they had not made the switch, the likelihood is that they may not have survived till now. The big three automakers need to think what their role is and how they can work together to save their industry AND grow it.
Now is a time to think differently. I was hoping the three of them would have come with a joint plan as well as individual plans to Washington this week.
Maybe it is not that important to them after all!
So the current situation does not look good for this industry. Even TATA has been caught short with its recent acquisition of Jaguar and Landrover. Whilst a wonderful move at the right time by Ford, it must be a shock to TATA. Toyota is seeing a massive increases in the cost per vehicle as the Dollar changes to the Yen as well as a reduction in sales. The difference is that Toyota is ideally situated with a good balance sheet and strong reserves of cash to be able to weather the current climate.
So in the midst of this unsettled automobile market place, we see the big three in America go to Washington to beg for some money. What do they do? They each take their company jet from Detroit to Washington to appear before congress!!!!!
Is nobody in these three major companies in touch with the perception of the world outside? Can they not see how ridiculous this makes them look? Wow, I am amazed at how insular people can become at a time when the world is looking for leadership to guide us through the next 18 months.
At a time like this there is a need to consolidate and work together. Why aren’t these people getting together to make massive reductions in wasteful costs. At the end of the day, there is a speed limit on the roads and so an engine only has to be a certain size with a certain level of transmission. Can’t these people see that working together on certain aspects of their business can actually save them? Standardize as much as they can and collaborate.
Boeing has become a designer of aeroplanes now and that has been a major step forward. If they had not made the switch, the likelihood is that they may not have survived till now. The big three automakers need to think what their role is and how they can work together to save their industry AND grow it.
Now is a time to think differently. I was hoping the three of them would have come with a joint plan as well as individual plans to Washington this week.
Maybe it is not that important to them after all!
Mumbai - Stepping back in time to see the future
It has taken me a few days to sit down and express my thoughts about Mumabi. First of all let me say that I love Mumbai. It is a wonderful city. Not in the way one talks about Singapore, New York, Sidney or Vancouver which are all wonderful cities for completely different reasons.
Mumbai is like stepping back in time in order to see our future. In many ways it is very run down and there is a lot of poverty but within it is also some extremely modern and very wealthy people. It is a city of contrasts. But the essence of Mumbai is those people of all ages and backgrounds. Everybody is trying to carve their niche and grow their own future at some level. It is like cutting off the top of an ant hill and peering in. As you look in an anthill you see a hive of activity and you may not understand it but you know that every single ant is making a contribution to the whole.
Mumbai is like that. It is a hive of activity and it looks like chaos but in reality everyone is contributing to the whole. Even beggars on the streets are making things out of bits of paper, wood, string and flowers to give to you in return for the money you may give them.
People of Mumbai respect those that achieve and everyone comes to this city to make their fortune or even to find themselves.
Into the midst of this walks a group of young men that have never had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of life. Brainwashed by some radical fools, who will never achieve much in their lives, and who seek to make a name for themselves on the back of the innocent and by reeking destruction on innocent hard working people.
We all saw what havoc these stupid and misguided young men created. It is a great shame that once again Mumbai has been used by the few to make a name for themselves. But there may be a silver lining to this horrible cloud that descended over the city.
It depends on two things. First of all, will the people of India allow the actions of a few misguided people to escalate into full confrontation between them and Pakistan? My experience is that the people of Pakistan and the people of India do not want that. They are sick of that old conflict in the same way that the average person on the streets in Belfast did not want the conflict and the average person in Iran is sick of their Governments conflicts with the world.
I think the people of Mumbai and India as a whole will not allow the actions of a very few people start up a conflict again. There is too much to loose and they have come too far. The days of blaming a whole nation for the actions of a few is gone and I believe that the average man and woman in India understands this. They also realize that the problem between Governments is a two-way issue. There is as much blame on one side as the other. That leads me to the second point.
The second is how the people of India will react to their Government now? Corruption is a problem in India and Government is no exception. India's growth is slower than it could be because of corruption. Given a chance, people will take the easy way out and so systems can easily lapse, procedures are not always followed and the opportunity to make a fast buck is taken when it arises.
The latest news that a Police Officer was part of helping the mindless young people achieve their actions, is an example of how quickly small acts of corruption can lead to deadly consequences.
I believe that the people of India are now sick of the Politicians and the way Government is being handled. Government should be an example of good behaviors and actions. Instead it is just another place that corruption is rife. I hope that the people of India will rise up and force their Government to take a stand and be part of the building of India rather than a referee on the side choosing what to notice and what to ignore.
Certainly the people of India have got the spirit that it takes to rise up. They are a strong minded people, and never more so than in the wonderful city of Mumbai. The peace rally recently showed the first sign of people of all ages and sectors standing up and showing that they want change.
I love Mumbai and it will continue to grow and prosper. This set back will make it stronger and if anything more determined. Those wonderful people have choices to make and I hope they choose wisely.
Mumbai is like stepping back in time in order to see our future. In many ways it is very run down and there is a lot of poverty but within it is also some extremely modern and very wealthy people. It is a city of contrasts. But the essence of Mumbai is those people of all ages and backgrounds. Everybody is trying to carve their niche and grow their own future at some level. It is like cutting off the top of an ant hill and peering in. As you look in an anthill you see a hive of activity and you may not understand it but you know that every single ant is making a contribution to the whole.
Mumbai is like that. It is a hive of activity and it looks like chaos but in reality everyone is contributing to the whole. Even beggars on the streets are making things out of bits of paper, wood, string and flowers to give to you in return for the money you may give them.
People of Mumbai respect those that achieve and everyone comes to this city to make their fortune or even to find themselves.
Into the midst of this walks a group of young men that have never had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of life. Brainwashed by some radical fools, who will never achieve much in their lives, and who seek to make a name for themselves on the back of the innocent and by reeking destruction on innocent hard working people.
We all saw what havoc these stupid and misguided young men created. It is a great shame that once again Mumbai has been used by the few to make a name for themselves. But there may be a silver lining to this horrible cloud that descended over the city.
It depends on two things. First of all, will the people of India allow the actions of a few misguided people to escalate into full confrontation between them and Pakistan? My experience is that the people of Pakistan and the people of India do not want that. They are sick of that old conflict in the same way that the average person on the streets in Belfast did not want the conflict and the average person in Iran is sick of their Governments conflicts with the world.
I think the people of Mumbai and India as a whole will not allow the actions of a very few people start up a conflict again. There is too much to loose and they have come too far. The days of blaming a whole nation for the actions of a few is gone and I believe that the average man and woman in India understands this. They also realize that the problem between Governments is a two-way issue. There is as much blame on one side as the other. That leads me to the second point.
The second is how the people of India will react to their Government now? Corruption is a problem in India and Government is no exception. India's growth is slower than it could be because of corruption. Given a chance, people will take the easy way out and so systems can easily lapse, procedures are not always followed and the opportunity to make a fast buck is taken when it arises.
The latest news that a Police Officer was part of helping the mindless young people achieve their actions, is an example of how quickly small acts of corruption can lead to deadly consequences.
I believe that the people of India are now sick of the Politicians and the way Government is being handled. Government should be an example of good behaviors and actions. Instead it is just another place that corruption is rife. I hope that the people of India will rise up and force their Government to take a stand and be part of the building of India rather than a referee on the side choosing what to notice and what to ignore.
Certainly the people of India have got the spirit that it takes to rise up. They are a strong minded people, and never more so than in the wonderful city of Mumbai. The peace rally recently showed the first sign of people of all ages and sectors standing up and showing that they want change.
I love Mumbai and it will continue to grow and prosper. This set back will make it stronger and if anything more determined. Those wonderful people have choices to make and I hope they choose wisely.
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