Work Today

Busy day today at work and the best is yet to come. We are getting ready for the Legislative Conference next week as well as the Engineering and Operations Conference which will be in March instead of April. I will be present at the legislative conference, known to us as "Leg Rally." It should be really exciting with the new Congress and administration here in town. At this conference they discuss the legislative issues and their positions and go to Capitol Hill to lobby. Most importantly, staff makes sure to come on an empty stomach-there is plenty to eat and drink! This year I won't have to worry about going to class or capstone group meetings afterwards.

Cry me a river

Today GM and Chrysler asked for $21.6 billion more to help keep the industry and businesses afloat. Okay enough already. GM and Chrysler you don't need more money. Be smart fiscally and use what the Feds have already given you to shore up your industry and clean house. For all I care put the CEOs in a high rise apartment or condo-I find mine very enjoyable! At least they should be getting pay cuts. I still haven't forgiven them for flying in their CEOs on private jets. If there is one thing at least they aren't running really annoying ads. "Saved by Zero" still haunts me from football season.

A-Rod comes out to the press

Today A-Rod came out to the press to discuss the details of his use of performance enhancing drugs. I am giving him a lot of credit for being forthright for admitting his use and even facing up to the fans, the league and the media. Personally I feel all of them should have done this but after the circus involving Messrs. Clemens, Palmiero, Giambi et. al. this is quite refreshing. Unfortunately the trust has been breached and the recent modern game has been tainted by the use of steroids in baseball. It saddens me that some of the moments that brought us to our feet (The Great Home Run Chase, Barry Bonds 73 home runs) weren't legit and probably the greatest one of all (bias here) 2004 World Series will fall under the same category. It is time to move on and implement a zero tolerance strategy. Of course nothing will ever take away from the celebratory moments and here is a reminder (in case you forgot).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aem_VmGTBa8

Obama troop decision

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that President Obama will be making a big decision soon about increasing the number or U.S. troops in Afghanistan. First of all I am all for this along with a renewed effort to try and get Osama Bin Laden. One can only wonder if this will have any effect on the troops in Iraq, will resources be diverted or will he stick to his promise of having troops out there within a year or so from taking office and back on U.S. soil. All I have to say is that this is an awesome challenge be a commander in chief over not one but two wars and figuring out how to deploy forces in both theaters. Historically speaking it reminds me of World War II where there were two different theaters that need to be fought two different ways. It was one conflict but it could have easily been two. The crises that we are facing are without a doubt two separate conflicts with two separate goals and for that reason the military challenges Obama is facing are extraordinary.

Presidential rankings

On this Presidents Day the latest C-SPAN Presidential rankings came out and it has Abraham Lincoln on top and the latest ex-president George W. Bush is ranked 36th. Ranking presidents is just about as bad in terms of legitimate scoring as the BCS as different presidents dealt with very different situations and may have had more means at their disposal. For example FDR had 12 years and was asked to get us out of the Great Depression and World War II. Later presidents had much larger staffs and more technology and information at their hands which they could use to govern more effectively. However, the rankings do the best they can and different systems usually determine that one of three is ranked as the best president, Lincoln, FDR or Washington and a case can be made for either of them. The article states that over time rankings can change and only history will determine that. Check out the article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/16/presidential.survey/index.html#cnnSTCOther1

Tiger Woods Watch part 1

Tiger Woods' close friend Mark O'Meara said that Woods is ready to return to action very soon but is unsure at which tournament. My guess is he won't return at the Masters as he will want to get some competitive action in before the first major championship of the season. My guess is that it will be at the CA Championship at Doral as his many have advised him not to come back too early as that could pose many health risks. As far as a storyline, his winning streak ended here last year and he would want to get some redemption by making his comeback and, of course, win in some fashion whether it be annihilating the field or sinking a clutch 40 foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. After all, what else does he do when he tees it up? Stay tuned for more updates on the Tiger Woods Watch.

New York plane crash

My thoughts and prayers are with those that were killed in the plane crash in the Buffalo area last week. We now learned that it was landing on autopilot and it was against policy to fly a plane on autopilot in icy conditions. I am sure this event will at least force the FAA to adjust policy and procedure when dealing with the use of autopilot on planes of any size. If nothing else it will force more extensive explanation of procedures in pilot training classes.