Hyundai Trying New Approach To Sell Cars

Hyundai is now offering people who purchase one of their vehicles now, a way to get out of their loan if they lose their job in the next year. I am sure there is some red tape in there somewhere, but from what I see, it seems pretty straight up.

Apple Goes DRM Free, Then Kicks You In The Groin!

Yesterday's confirmation from Apple that iTunes will go DRM free was much welcomed. There are so many reasons why DRM free music is good for us, and having Apple finally come to some terms with the studios, is long overdue. However, Apple will only let you update your songs at once. And all, not the ones you want. What does this mean?

Well for me, it means $101 to start to make my iTunes library DRM free. I would love to start updating my music, but not all at once. I have read on one of the threads at Mac Rumors that one of the guys has to spend over $600 to make his DRM free, and that is all at once. Apple really needs to rethink this model, cause until they do, I guess my older music will be burned as MP3's like I have done in the past to get around DRM, and Apple and the studios will get no money! Or, I will start using Amazon for $.79 a song instead.

Bushed!

As I listen to the President, not Obama, but that guy that quacks a lot, he just said the increase in the job losses is a result of the credit and housing issue. Question, could it have anything to do with Bush economic policies? Nah, he won't take any responsibility for his actions on his way out, just like he has avoided any responsibility for any of the mess he created in the last eight years.

When I watch Bush, I realize how much I can't wait for someone else to be President!

Your Blowing It Obama

Why! Why! Why! Bill Richardson as Commerce Sec.? Maybe he will be good at it, but why put someone as Sec of State who disagrees with you on the most important foreign policy issue of our time, and then put someone with Richardson's experience in foreign policy and energy as Commerce Sec? Oh, and Richardson wasn't for the invasion of Iraq either. So very disappointed.

Why Detroit Should NOT Get Bailed Out

I am not saying that something shouldn't be done, but when I see a commercial on TV, this very morning, for the new Hummer H3T(which uses a V8 instead of the inline 5 of the H3)I have to say, the what now? Yeah, I know the Volt is coming and it is the savior for GM, but if they are gonna keep selling and producing vehicles that won't sell, is that the fault of a poor economy? Or is it more poor planning from Detroit that you and I will have to pay for?

Since the only stupid idea, is the idea not said, how about a merger or two in the American motor sector, or if nothing else, a little consolidation of the brands? Maybe instead of having a street full of Chevy, Buick, GMC, Hummer, Saturn, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, you have a GM dealer that has all the brands?

How about stopping the duplicate car making. For years, GM has made a car or truck, which they change a few exterior details, and called one a Chevy and one a Pontiac. Did we need the Cavalier and the Sunbird? Did the Camaro and Trans Am battle for the same buyer? Does every GM brand have to make an SUV that looks the same except for the brand logo on the hood or grill? Is there really a difference between Chevy trucks and GMC trucks? Basically I am saying, it should be a GM Impala or a GM Vue or a GM G6. And of course, they can always just make better vehicles and stop making cars with the philosophy that defects can be fixed under warranty.

When I was turning 16, I wanted a Camaro. Not because I wanted to buy US, but because it was a Chevy Camaro. If I was 16 now, the last place I would go to would be Chevy. GM, Ford and Chrysler need to find their way again, and maybe the Volt will do that GM, but something tells me not as much as people hope.

I'd Like To Be Bailed Out Too!

Dear Government,

I am writing you to ask that you bail me out like you have the financial institutions and maybe Detroit. I, like those businesses, have been foolish with my money and spent unwisely. I lived in the moment and did not plan for the future or develop the strategy to adapt to changing times and demands.

Sure, I could could probably fix it myself, but that would take too long. And in order for me to stay competitive in the human race, I ask for your help. And unlike some companies, I won't hold any, let alone two lavish "sales" meetings, while holding out my hand for billions in assistance. In fact, I am not looking for billions, $100,000 should get me on the road to recovery. But I would like to reserve the right to ask for more in case I am foolish again.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

McCain Is Just Lying

Why Sen McCain keeps saying that Sen Obama will raise your taxes is beyond me. Sen Obama, and everyone who has looked at his plan, says that 95% of the American workers will not receive a raise in their taxes. In fact, the majority of Americans will see their taxes not change or go down. So if McCain keeps saying that Obama will raise your taxes, he is either lying or talking to who the Republicans really care about, the top 5% of income earners. People need to stop being fooled by this rhetoric and VOTE YOUR INTEREST NOT YOUR DREAMS!!!!

And There Goes The Incense Market

I am guessing this will bring sales of incense to a halt

(MSNBC/Reuters) Burning incense may create a sweet scent, but regularly inhaling the smoke could put people at risk of cancers of the respiratory tract, researchers reported Monday

The sweet smell of cancer.

Poor Starbucks

Who would have thought that putting a Starbucks every 500 feet would be a bad business plan?

(NYT) For years, Starbucks was known for aggressive growth, opening some stores only a few city blocks away from others. As of Sept. 30, the company operated 6,793 outlets in the United States, according to a regulatory filing. About 70 percent of the stores that will be closed have been open for fewer than three years.

It Keeps Going And Going

$4.07

Thanks to all the Presidents since the 70's for not having any vision or backbone to get us off oil. I bet GM and Ford are wishing they had the vision to see this. It continues to amaze me how poor companies plan and forecast for the future. I understand the demand is finally there,but they should have been researching and developing so that when this crisis hit, the answer wasn't just smaller cars, hybrids and corn based ethanol. Not too mention the lack of true solar, wind and water energy plans.

But let's suspend an $.18 cent a gallon tax to make Americans stop thinking about it so the energy industry can continue raking in the profits form oil. We do it to ourselves!

Moment Of Silence

You probably owe many delicious moments to Irv Robbins.

Rev. Wright....YAWN!!!

Oil still is above $115.

The Taliban attempted to assassinate Karzai followed by suicide bombings over the next few days.

Iraq has gone so well, we sent a second carrier into the gulf to ratchet up the tension with Iran.

Homes losing value at a pace not seen in two decades and foreclosures rising.

Millions being wasted on a so called virtual fence that doesn't work and, btw, still doesn't solve an immigration/border security issue in this country.

I can go on and on, but it is Rev. Wright and this mindless shit that the media forces down our throats.

Nothing Says Impartiality Like....

A lung cancer study being funded by a tobacco company. The company that brings you Quest, the "nicotine free cigarettes" (but not intended for quitting) now wants to fund a study that says lung cancer is, eh, not so bad. Good news for me, I thought I was going to be in trouble one day!

Is Your Name Computer Friendly?

Interesting article on how computers are unable to handle different type of names. If youhave an apostrophe in your name, you might know what I am talking about.

They Hate Us For Our Freedoms?

Or maybe it's because they see things like this?

The Frenzy Begins

On Your Mark, Get Set........

It's keynote time!

Not The Best Day For Apple Inc!

Well the end of the pool season in the Chicagoland area as arrived. 120+ days without a day off, means I am ready for a little rest and relaxation. It also means that now I can do a little blogging again. Hmmm, where to start? Iraq, Bush and the Lemacrats?(That's lemon+Democrats, and I claim that unless proven otherwise) Six nuclear missiles being flown across the country by accident? More hypocritical Republicans? The NAB's attempt to block the Merger of Sirius and XM? Nope, I will start with a more friendly target, Apple!

Yesterday, Apple announced their newest update to the iPod. The design specialists must have hit a roadblock, because all they could come up with was the iPod "Classic". Another little nugget Steve Jobs dropped was a $200 price cut on the iPhone. Great for those who didn't want to pay $599, but a little bit of a slap in the face of the loyal fans who have already purchased the iPhone. Before you say, "This isn't anything new, technology always drops in price over time.", I call bullshit!

Three years ago, when I dropped my PC for my PowerBook, I instantly became a Mac addict. Within a few months after I bought my PowerBook, I purchased my first iPod, and the rest is as they say, history. If you read through my posts about Apple, it's obvious that I drank the Kool-Aid. However, right now I have a real bad taste in my mouth. Not because I feel cheated or swindled, because that is the way of technology and capitalism, but I expected more from Apple Inc. I expected them to be better then Microsoft.

Am I naive? Maybe. But I think if you ask Mac users, they will tell you that Apple has usually worked with the consumer in mind. It costs you more, but those who use their products soon become loyal. So when I dropped over six bills for an iPhone, I accepted that some day it would be cheaper. I just thought it would take longer than two months. But I thought of a way Apple could make this right for those who bought their phone prior to the drop.

Free ringtones for the life of your iPhone! I know this sounds silly, but one of the other announcements was the arrival of ringtones for the iPhone on iTunes. You can now buy a song and take a 30 second clip and make it your ringtone. Apple should give "current" iPhone users this service for free(This should be free anyway if you OWN the song). I won't hold my breath, but I might just hold back my dollars for the next new thing Apple releases.

On a slightly related note. Yesterday I also upgraded to the iLife '08,(bought before yesterdays announcement) and it seems like Apple has begun shutting out non-Intel Macs, sort of. Even though Jobs promised this wouldn't happen, in the new version of iLife, iMovie requires an Intel Mac, Power Mac G5 or an iMac G5. That means anyone using an iBook or PowerBook are shut out from the new iMovie. This is just my opinion, but it was not the best day for Apple Inc!

UPDATE: 5:23 PM Central-Apple Splits The Difference

Apple is actually giving a $100 credit/gift card to iPhone owners who paid $599. Details aren't out yet, but at least they heard the outcry. The taste in my mouth isn't so bad now. I'll still take the ringtones too Steve!

iBetter Now

The iPhone is a go! The phone call with AT&T was painless this morning, and about a 15 minutes after hanging up with AT&T, my iPhone was active. It is currently in the sync process, but I already made and received a few calls, and everything is working just fine. The speaker phone actually works well.

So for now, crisis averted.