Political Video Wars

This year possibly more than any other in history will provide more political videos and ads than have ever been seen before.  Several services have made it easy for people to share videos that they snap.  Now more services are popping up that makes it easier to mash pictures and slide shows together with a soundtrack.

FlipTrack.com is a great example.  They provide music sound tracks that are safe to use legally (They have the rights not only to share but to mash together with your images.)

You upload your images and you can then use their software to insert the pictures itno the songs, transitioning the songs at key inflection points in the music or lyrics.  FlipTrack doesn't let you use your own sound files for copyright protection reasons, plus their simple editing software uses a proprietary file format that makes the editing experience easier.

Once you have it put together you can rapidly share it on a blog or website or in an email.  In the recent past the option to share was key, now the option to make it easy to make videos slide shows and parodies and protests, even ads is the new important step in captializing on the internet.

Above is an example of a video that someone has shared on the service.

 

Technorati tags: Making videos slide shows, easy video slide show service

Politicians Need to Own their Name or Someone Else will by default

In the world of the Internet, various companies that have websites essentially be the end to own names in key words by default. They don't necessarily do this by going out and purchase in a name. Instead they create great content that's focused on that name or keyword spamming Google does their index the best rise to the top.

The number one position on a Google search essentially owns that key word. The company that owns the site that has that number one position may not own it forever but they can own it as long as they're on top. Most people will check that address or website out.

Politicians need to be extra careful to ensure that they own their own name. They need to hire the best SEO Companies to optimize their websites and in particular their pages on the websites such that when someone does a search for politicians name their own site comes up at the top of the list. This provides their opportunity to get that good first impression. If they fail in opponent could own their name with a derogatory website or page about them.

Wrong Stuff for VP may Make Right Stuff for President

Presidential Candidate and former Senator John Edwards expressed his sadness over the initial feud of the Democratic nomination race for President between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Edwards said that the row between the candidates have entertainment value, but did not have any value for a country "faced with a war and huge challenges at home."  He went on to state, "These sort of back-and-forth personal interactions I don't think are helpful for America."  Edwards appears to be trying to stick to the positive high road, a role that he is most comfortable in driving.  The 2004 Presidential campaign with Edwards as Vice President showed that he did not quite have the ability to stand up to a tough as nails Vice President Cheney, forcing Senator Kerry the Presidential candidate to do some of the down in the trenches mud flinging often reserved for VP's so that the Presidential Wannabe can look . . . Presidential.

Edwards did not help his team win in 2004 by not attacking, but taking the high road may have kept his own image fresh and innocent enough to make this run now in 2008.  It however probably completely precludes him from a second run as a Vice President.  He might be Presidential material but he has proven that he doesn't have the right stuff to be Vice President.

Technorati tags: John Edwars, Presidential Campaign 2008

Interesting Concept - One Account Mortgage

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Anyone that has ever attempted to make an extra payment on their mortgage or especially several extra payments, may have learned that their mortgage company may not apply that money to the principle right away.

Every mortgage is different some treat it as a prepayment on a future bill and hold the money while they continue to charge interest on the mortgage balance.  Others may not allow it outright.  That may seem strange, but it usually means they have tight rules hoping to force you to refinance into a plan where you pay your mortgage every two weeks instead of monthly to save interest.

Paying more frequently saves you money in interest, just like credit cards charge you more interest when they are computed daily. 

So when I found a new type of mortgage that essentially lets you pay down your mortgage daily, I was intrigued.

The One account mortgage allows you to combine your current account with your mortgage. Send your direct deposit pay check to the account and you can pay the mortgage down as the money coms in and then as you need money for other bills and expenses you withdraw those funds. (essentially borrowing again on your house)

If I understand the concept correctly it would be like combining your checking account with your mortgage and a home equity line of credit all in one.

The goal is to provide you with an instant pay down on your mortgage as money comes in saving you money as interest is computed daily. Then as you take money out, you borrow again and start the interest clock on that portion.

The interest rate on this type of mortgage is 6.45%. There are two questions that I would want answered before I would consider this type of mortgage. One could I get a better rate of return on my checking/savings than 6.45%? If the answer is yes and if that return is calculated daily or if the real money turns out to be more than the time value of money on 6.45% computed daily, then it could be a good deal from that perspective.

The second question would be - How does the law look at this type of mortgage? Is it deductible for tax purposes? What happens if a person goes bankrupt or forecloses? I suspect those answers would be a little more difficult and depend on the country or state you live in.

Overall I like the concept as it allows the daily pay down of interest as cash flows in and out. I would want the other questions answered as well, but its a concept worth paying attention to going into the future.

Remember When Al Gore Wasn't Cool

Al Gore has led a troubled political life despite achieving great success.  He has served in many capacities reaching the highest office (so far) of Vice President.  It takes a distinct degree of popularity, money and power to pull that off. 

Al Gore has achieved levels of popularity since the 2000 election  that are slowly transforming him into a cult of personality, possibly more than he has a right to hold.  Many people see Gore as the person that actually won the popular election in 2000.  Many more people including Christian Conservatives see him as the person that is calling a foul when it comes to global warming, a failing energy policy and a destruction of the Earth (and that goes double for those that view it as God's Green Earth).

Gore's award winning documentary is fueling that fire even more.  His background as a journalist in Vietnam is serving him well as a reborn media mogul.  He is moving from the book writer turned movie producer and he is now expanding into Rock promoter. 

For me this is where irony starts to turn hypocritical.  I grew up in an era where Al Gore was not cool.  He was the anti-thesis of cool.  he was a Southern Senator attempting with his wife to represent the moral majority.  They attempted to have rock lyrics labeled and censored.  His wife Tipper became famous for coming close to Slandering Dee Snider of Twisted Sister only to be followed up with a very uncool assault by the 'liberal' Senator Gore in 1985 while Dee Snider a thirty year old rock star at the time showed admirable sophistication, intelligence and cool in response.

That assault has been followed up by more than two decades of return salvo by the rock industry from artists including Prince, Megadeth, The Ramones, Ministry, Anthrax, Eminem, Frank Zappa, KMFDM, Suicidal Tendencies, Cinderella and Ice-T.  Al Gore and Tipper Gores politics made for some very strange bed fellows and that lost them the cool vote in 2000.  Al Gore may have been right about Global Warming, but he was wrong on many other counts.

Perspective

I grew up in the seventies and eighties and went on to serve in the Army during the first Gulf War. I served under the Clinton administration that brought the ludicrous notion of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy to the military.  I say ludicrous because it is an insane example of the absolute wrong type of compromise.  It punishes the people that think that homosexuals should not be allowed to serve and it punishes people like myself that feel that they should be allowed to serve in the military.

As the 2000 election came around I was torn between a vote of two evils.  An ignorant Ivy leaguer pretending to be a southerner serving as a  Texas Governor that had a terrible track record in business and had presented no real ideas or plans attempting to assume the throne of President from his father, and a backwards Southern Senator that had presented no real ideas or plans pretending attempting to assume the throne of President in a line of Democratic succession.  They were two of the worst candidates that the United States has seen in many years.

Changing Tide

With that perspective Gore's new move into rock star promoter come across to me as extremely hypocritical.  I do believe that people can change with the times and improve.  I think and suspect that Gore has had to do this out of necessity.  I do feel that he happens to be right about global warming.  He chose to fight ignorant battles in the past and now when a serious battle is before the world he has little credibility, just like George Bush who chose to fight battles for the wrong reason and now has little credibility.

Al Gore is continuing a massive image make over and just might be the under dog of the 2008 Presidential campaign.  For him to succeed he needs to win an Oscar.  He needs to court new voters.  He needs to show the world that he has changed and corrected some of his past character flaws.  He and Tipper also need to invite Dee Snider to dinner and apologize. 

That would be cool.

Technorati tags: Al Gore, Dee Snider, Tipper Gore, Election, Global Warming, Image Make over, Apology to Rock Industry

Review My Blog on Your Blog and earn $$$

Gridlock on Rye utilizes PayPerPost to source sponsors for blog. We have been using this service for sometime and it has proven to be very positive. The sponsors we attract help keep this blog funded and working.

PayPerPost has just launched a new program to attract more bloggers. It allows new bloggers to review Gridlock on Rye by writing about our site on their site. PayPerPost will pay you $7.50 to review my blog!

This is good for me as it helps to increase blog traffic, its good for you because you earn some money for writing a review and then you can source sponsors for your blog as well, and its good for PayPerPost as they attract more great bloggers to join our collaborative of writers.

All in all that is terrific.   When you combine the power of your writing skills, your blog and PayPerPost you can earn anywhere from $15 to a couple hundred dollars per day, depending on the strength of your blog and your tenacity to write.  This sponsorship does motivate you to write more.  It gives your blog a little more sense of purpose and tangible value. 

PayPerPost helps to links thousands of advertisers with thousands of blogs and is growing very fast.  Their advertising rates are very affordable for advertisers as well.  If you would be interested in sponsoring articles on this blog or others, PayPerPost is definitely a solid option and I can give you more information in that area if you need it.

Why isn't Richard Armitage on Trial for Leaking a CIA Agent's identity?

I have been reading some of the testimony from the Scooter Libby trial and I'm struck over and over again by the question, "Why did the Special Prosecutor not prosecute Richard Armitage?"

It would appear that Armitage leaked the CIA agent's identity to Robert Novak of CNN and Bob Woodward of Watergate reporting fame, who also had the presence of mind to record his conversation with Armitage.  On the tape played in court Armitage tells the reporter about the identity of the CIA agent.

I do not know the answer to this rhetorical question, but its possible that the special prosecutor has to rule out the lies from Libby's potential (not proven guilty yet) perjury.  With perjury proven then the truth would be elevated just a little more and from that domino might come another domino up the chain that might topple Armitage, Karl Rove or the Vice President.

 

Technorati tags: Scooter Libby, perjury

Wirefly Helps Callers Choose Plans that fit their Calling Patterns

A Helpful Message for Our Sponsor

Over time our calling needs and pattern often change. 

History of a Changing Pattern

Three years ago I primarily relied on my office phone for my business calls.  My wife and I utilized are cell phones and the free family time to talk with each other for just a couple dollars a month.  We used the extra minutes to reduce our long distance bill on our home phone.

Two years ago I spent a huge amount of time on my cell phone day and night taking calls from around the globe at all hours.  My office phone forwarded to my cell phone and so did my voice mail.  The phone rang off the hook.

One year ago as I transitioned into the life of a writer and consultant, my phone calls slowed down considerably, but my mobile email lit up like a Christmas tree.  My wife changed jobs and teaches now.  The school she works in has no cellular repeaters and she can not get a signal inside so we do not use the cell phones to talk any more.  We use email and text messages, which are smaller in signal size and apparently can sneak out of the school and make it to me over the network.

Today, I work with many international clients and write the majority of my work at night.  I sleep through the US morning and do not take any calls at that time.  I only use the phone when I am traveling and then I rely on it completely.

The point is that over time our needs change.  Sometimes our carriers can keep up with our changing needs and sometimes they miss the boat entirely.

Our sponsor Wirefly specializes in helping customers find the right plan to fit their current needs.  They also help find the right plans to go with that phone.  We often look at plans when we need a new phone.  Sometimes however it is much more cost effective and productive (not to mention likely to keep your spouse happy) to switch to plans that make you more accessible without over paying for the service.

What is the Nuclear Half Life of an Agreement with North Korea?

Negotiators in the six party talks are hoping to announce soon the completion of an agreement between the parties.  They have reached a draft in their negotiations and are sending it to their respective governments for approval.

If and its a very big 'If' the US and/or North Korea were actually to put their past vocal complaints against each other out of mind and sign off on the agreement, I have to wonder whether the agreement would be worth anything.  As I recall the Bush Administration was very vocal about denouncing the Clinton Administration for not getting tough on North Korea and relying on ' an agreement,' which North Korea in retrospect promptly began to ignore and break shortly after signing it.

What in the world makes the Bush Administration and American envoy Christopher Hill who is brokering the deal think that this agreement will be any different or carry any more weight?  North Korea's promises and their agreements are less stable than a radioactive isotope and they are highly likely to decay very very rapidly.

Technorati tags: radioactive decay of North Korean Agreements, North Korea, Nuclear Negotiations, Six Party Talks

Invest in Bansko Ski Resort Condo

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We often feature escapes for our sponsors  on Gridlock on Rye, but recently an escape to Bansko Ski Resort in Bulgaria caught our eye.  The Bansko Ski Resort is developing property in this rarely seen part of the world.  Many apartments and condos on the actual mountains and ski runs are going for $50,000 euros.  The Panoramic view caught our eye.

If you truly want to escape the Gridlock this property in Bulgaria is an escape like no other.  Fine luxury condominiums in deep valleys and on clefts of amazing looking mountains with some of the freshest skiing in Europe is available in Bulgaria's Bansko ski resort just north of Greece. 

Technorati tags: Bansko Ski Resort, Bulgaria

Do Dollar Coins increase or Decrease Gridlock?

The mint is rolling out golden dollar bill coins, again.  They are trying to save money on reprinting costs for new dollar bills that replace old bills that get to worn out.

But do we really need a new coin, again?

It seems that the mint is continually trying to sell us on a dollar coin.  If they think its such a great idea, why do they spend so much time and money coming up with new designs?  Pick a coin and stick with it.  The quarter worked just fine for decades. 

even at the Mint you have to spend money to make money . . .

There was no solid reason for making the print look special with multiple state designs, but I suspect working at the mint gets a little dull.  And even at the Mint you have to spend money to make money, literally!

I just hope they stick with the same coin.  All this back and forth on the issue doesn't help the coin get established.

It probably doesn't help that the Mint selected Nixon as a model for one of the new dollar coins(Granted that coin will not be available for about 9 years as they are doing 4 coins per year starting with the first four Presidents and working their way up). 

Who's next King George? 

(the original not the current imposter to the throne)

Technorati tags: mint, dollar coin, nixon on dollar, waisting time at mint, pictures of new gold coins 2007

Sandals Curing Gridlock

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The sandal is one of the most important technologies devised by humans as it enable us to move literally around the world.  We have fallen recently for other technologies like cars and planes that often times embroil us in gridlock.  However there is a simple cure for gridlock and that is the Sandal.

Wearing in sandals is healthy for your feet as it allows them to get the air they need, while letting go of perspiration and moisture that can harbor fungus and other problems.  Plus, walking is good for you.

We also tend to have fond memories of  the beach when we are wearing reef sandals inspiring us to calm down and keep life in perspective.

Maybe you are looking for a way to get past the gridlock or maybe you are even fortunate enough to be heading to the reef soon. Either way sandals are good for your feet, good for your mind and good for your soul. I am wearing a pair as I type this article myself!

Technorati tags: reef sandals, sandal technology, sandals for mind body and soul

Branson and Gore Appealing to Top Scientist for $25m World Vacuum

Billionaire, adventurists and sometime TV personality Richard Branson along with former Vice President Al Gore announced a $25 million prize to top scientists if they could find a way to suck the green house gases warming our planet out of the atmosphere, presumably without ending all life as we know it on Earth.

Branson also asked other governments to match the money he was offering as a prize in the spirit of the Longitude prize sponsored by the British government for scientists and mathematicians in the 17th century to develop a means for determining longitude at sea enabling a safe navigation of the oceans and globe.  Gore elaborated on the challenge explaining that the prize was for a cure and not something that alleviates the symptoms or creates a stop gap measure temporarily improving things.

The goal is an end to the problem of green house gases that have collected primarily as carbon is released into the atmosphere from petroleum that has been locked safely in the ground for millions of years. 

To date there have been technologies that have surfaced that were designed to remove Carbon from the air.  One of those was a synthetic tree developed at Columbia University, but it never left the drawing board for lack of funding.  Another is the technology used on nuclear submarines to clean the air.  That application is obviously limited to a much smaller scale and so its obvious that scientists need to think of solutions much larger in scope.

Technorati tags: Richard Branson, Al Gore, Global warming, Clean Carbon from the Earth

Courting a Millionaire

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Maybe Nancy Pelosi could have avoided some of the scandal yesterday if she had been dating a millionaire willing to foot the bill for a bigger jet?

Actually, she is already married to a millionaire. Her husband Paul is worth at least $25 million.

You may not be the Speaker of the House and married to a millionaire, but you might be able to start your life journey in that direction. Our sponsor DateAMillionaire.com provides an online Millionaire Dating site that helps bring single millionaires and the people looking to meet them together.

Who knows maybe you can find a millionaire online yourself. Then you could move into politics and become the second woman to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives, maybe even President. We all have to start somewhere . . .

Pelosi Falls Victim to Freshman Prank

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was confirmed this week as a newbie House Speaker after allowing her self to unwittingly become embroiled in a controversy over the use of government assets.   Pelosi like many of her House Speaker predecessors allowed herself to be ensnared with one of the oldest tricks in the book.  She forgot that the power she wields is powerful and subject to abuse or misuse.

As the House Speaker and third in line to the Presidency, like Former Speaker and Former President Gerald Ford, Pelosi is entitled to military flights for her own protection.  And as such a non-stop flight from DC to San Francisco, her home, would be safer, just as her most recent predecessor Dennis Hastert flew straight through to Illinois.

That is not really at question in this case.  The problem is that she allowed herself to be put in a position where it looks like she is asking for a bigger plane without clarifying and qualifying the request and pushing it through a bipartisan committee to ensure that it would not be seen as abusive.  Similarly, she failed to insure that her quick request was not acted upon without thought to these same issues.  As the House Speaker she does have a level of power that will make some people jump when she makes the order.

So now Republicans have dragged her request through the mud as it looks like in retrospect that she was requesting an extremely expensive plane equivalent to Air Force 2 as opposed to the smaller plane previously used by Hastert, that is actually capable of making a non-stop flight to San Francisco, but might or might not be capable of having to circle or divert a long distance under odd circumstances, say like the death or ailment of both the President and the Vice President.  The plane could make the flight across the country, but could it divert when it made it San Francisco and fly half way back across the country to a safe destination in the advent of some strange attack? 

Probably not, but regardless she allowed herself to be suckered into this attack and she is suffering from it.  Maybe this will serve as a reminder her to her that she's in the number three seat now and politics are much uglier at that level for everyone involved.

Technorati tags: Nancy Pelosi, Scandal, Air Force 2, House Speaker, Presidential Succession Scenarios

The Cure for Too Much Gridlock News

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It happens to everyone even us here at Gridlock on Rye.  Sometimes we get inundated with too much Gridlock News.  The only cure I know for this symptom is laughter. 

Odds are if you are feeling overwhelmed, so are other people you know.  Fortunately for all of us, laughter is infectious and can be spread like a virus. 

Our new sponsor, EGreetings.com provides some  free funny eCards.  You can subscribe to their service and readily have many videos emails available to send to your groups, friends and family.  You can even send one to your Congresswoman or Congressman.

If you stop by their site, you might even do a search on the keyword cupid for one of their newer videos.  ;) 

Iraqi Botchi Ball

As a veteran myself, I get regular newsletters from several different military journals including Military.com.  They recently re-ran a report from the Associated Press titled "US Botched Training of Iraqis" dated January 31, 2007.

It talks about Democrats and Republicans directly challenging President Bush for botching the training job of Iraqi police and the Iraqi judicial system.  Its been reported many times that the US initially did not send the right type of troops to train new Iraqi police recruits.  The unfortunate soldiers tasked with the mission were not given adequate support, resources, sometimes didn't even get enough food for themselves let alone training materials, supplies or anything else for the Iraqi police.

Its no wonder that there were so many defections from the flanks of the Iraqi police force.  Not only were they under attack and subject to kidnapping and everything else, but they would show up for training with the American troops that weren't prepared nor supported by their command.  That very poor first impression will probably come back to haunt the US for decades.

Unfortunately, even after these problems were identified, things were never fixed.  In the early days training the Iraqis was not a priority.  When it became a priority it wasn't supported.  When support came it came to few and too far between and much of the damage was done.

Many of the troops doing the training were the most vocal critics of the training program, asking, pleading and begging for their commanders and commander in chief to get their act together and start building the force that would one day protect Iraq, the Iraqi police.  Its no surprise that the power void left by too few Americans on the ground and no trained police force enabled and 'emboldened' insurgents to gain a foot hold in Iraq. 

President Bush let and encouraged insurgents to gain a foot hold in Iraq by not sending enough troops to do the job and failing to make training the Iraqi police force a priority with funding, and supplies and trainers and his leadership and oversight from the top down.  His failure has been losing us the war since shortly after we won the initial victories in 2003.

Technorati tags: President Bush, iraqi police training, botched job

Setting Up an E-Commerce Store takes the right Software

If you want to setup a successful e-commerce store online, my advice is to research and find the right software.  I have done this on several occasions and used many different tools, the software makes all the difference. 

Our sponsor Ashop.com provides shopping cart software that can help you get an online shopping system setup, marketed established online, optimized, validated and all of the other things that are required to setup an e business correctly.

If you would like to learn more about their shopping cart software packages designed and put together to make things easier.  Then stop by and check out this sponsor, if you setup a store with their tools drop us a comment and we'll make arrangements to interview you and help promote your new store through one of our sister blogs.

Churches Illegal Display of the Super Bowl

Sports bars and other business have worked for years to get deals with the NFL in order to be allowed to display NFL football games and the superbowl.  An Indianapolis church however is going against the law and planning to display the Superbowl on Superbowl Sunday to its patrons despite being disallowed to proceed by the NFL.

The Second Baptist Church at 3705 Kessler Blvd North Drive in Indianapolis will be in essence pirating the content owned by the NFL to display on a large projector / screen.  The NFL's policy has prevented 'mass out-of-home viewing' for decades.  It is somewhat disturbing to see a church taking advantage of the public broadcast in a manner that will exploit the NFL to serve church purposes and patrons. 

It makes you wonder what will be next.  Will churches start burning pirated copies of Windows Vista and downloading illegal copies of music and DVD's or selling knock of designer hand bags made by Honduran child labor to raise money?

What is it saying to our youth when churches won't respect the law?

Technorati tags: church steals superbowl, church ignores license, superbowl church super pirate

Valentine's Day Target Drip

One of our long time sponsors offers a very useful program that helps people find online coupons for the stores and sites that they shop at everyday.

As a great example, my family shops at Target all the time.  You could probably say that we have a Target IV or something pumping things into our house.  The thing is too often we shop from our favorite stores and fail to pick up some of those coupons that the stores use to lure in brand new customers.

So we try to remember to check out the Target Coupons first, before we buy something anyway.  If it gives you free shipping, or maybe you find a  10 or 15% off type of offer or leads you to a great deal that your local Target store doesn't carry, then the money you save just makes the Target Drip a little less painful.  With Valentine's Day coming it just adds to the benefits, as there is nothing better than getting a great gift while getting a great deal at the same time!

Inmate Trade Deficit

California is rapidly mobilizing to become an exporter of prison inmates.  Over the years many prisons have paid to have their prisoners held in counties and cities, typically within the state, but Governor Schwarzenegger of California is taking steps to export 5,000 to 7,000 inmates to private prisons in other states due to over crowding in California.

He claims that he has no choice as the prisons are over crowded and the courts are threatening to start forcing the state to release prisoners or turn them away at the gates.

Among other things civil rights activists complain that prisoners in over crowded prisons are less likely to receive rehabilitation, which may account for the extremely high rate of recidivism in California.  This has helped to push the California prison population up to 172,000 inmates out of approximately 2.2 million nation wide, which is almost 10% of all the prisoners in the country.

States eager to take on good paying prison jobs that Californians do not want have signed on to take these prisoners into their own private prisons.  The entire scenario raises many troubling questions that no one can answer yet, such as:

1. Where will these exported prisoners live when they get out of jail?
2. What type of recidivism will be encouraged by transplanting prisoners away from their family and support networks?
3. Will the prisoners left behind in the over crowded prisons get early releases forced by the courts?
4. How much money is the California economy losing to other states by sending their prisoners abroad?

There's no clear answer, but California is not alone in this type of problem.  Prison populations are growing across the US.  Its also a problem that is extremely problematic in the United Kingdom where judges are being forced to turn new prisoners away from prisons due to over crowding in that country.

Technorati tags: exporting prisoners, over crowded prisons, prisoner trade deficit, recidivism

Ebates to Support the Troops

One of our sponsors is Ebates and the provide a service that allows consumers to receive a commission rebate for products that they buy from many online stores and major retailers such as   circuit city, where an Ebate rebate will save you 25% off your purchase. 

Now recently I saw a report about CNN's efforts to help soldiers that have lost limbs during the war get medical attention, support, therapy and more.

It struck me that if people were to sign up for Ebates (they are one of our sponsors, but are not promoting or endorsing my suggestion) and took the money that they save from using Ebates to send to organizations that help the troops, then we would have a nice little support circle that could help our troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan learn to deal with their injuries and get on with their lives.

On a similar train of thought, it would be nice if some of that money saved were to be used to send care packages to the troops still in harms way in Iraq.

Technorati tags: Ebates, Support Our Troops, Care Packages

Intelligence Report the Obvious Iraq is Unraveling

The LA Times has a report out tonight that states something that the entire world can see, Iraq is unraveling at an accelerated rate.

Possibly the news worthy item about this statement is that it is coming from America's intelligence agencies.  These agencies have not been blind to this unraveling, however politics has been hard in play for many years now and the intelligence communities public reports have been as political as anything else that flows through, towards, around, behind,below or above Washington.

The report titled, "Prospects for Iraq's Stability: A Challenging Road Ahead," moves one additional step in the direction of the obvious when it says there are a few scenarios that could lead to progress and recovery but there are many triggers that could also lead to chaos.

There is no news in any of this other than the fact that maybe the discussion in Washington can progress now that it is public that the military is no longer in denial.

 

Technorati tags: Unraveling Iraq, America Intelligence, LA Times, Iraq

US Wins the 'I told You So Round' Against North Korea

Sometimes in global politics when you win, you really lose.  This week the US found vindication in a bank investigation that confirmed US allegations that North Korea had use a Macau bank for illicit activity.

This vindication unfortunately came just as parties seemed to be making some progress in talks, despite other reports that indicate that North Korea is preparing to test another Nuclear explosion within weeks.

North Korea had been fighting to have the Bush Administration lift sanctions, but the key word there is fighting. North Korea is pulling every under handed trick in the book to make progress on a world stage.  Meanwhile the US is left in an innefectual position of holding the status quo on a country that will soon develop nuclear missile technology possibly capable someday of hitting California.

The problem is that the Bush Administration wants to be able to demonstrate progress, but North Korea is either not capable or unwilling to progress in a direction where they would have to provide evidence that they can be trusted.  In fact they are making every effort it would seem to prove that they are not, while demanding additional concessions.

This would appear to be the downside of six party talks.  Instead of the two countries dealing directly with each other and calling it as they see it, both sides are left in a childish game of finger pointing leaving China as the closest thing to a neutral referee, which is a farce at best.

Technorati tags: North Korea, US Sanctions, Nuclear Testing, illicit banking activity

National Recruiters

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We would like to welcome our new sponsors A.E. Feldman Associates, Inc. a recruiting firm for business executives in operation since 1967.  This new sponsor for Gridlock on Rye provides recruiting services to industry leading companies and firms covering the entire country.

They focus on sourcing the highest quality candidates to fill invaluable roles within companies.  They provide placement and recruiting services for financial roles, legal and legal services, human resources, consulting, technology, risk management and many mother disciplines.

A.E. Feldman Associates (AEF) according to a recent press release works to find the ' tightest fit for each job' among their strong pool of likely candidates.  They cover many levels of executive placement from middle managers all the way up to managing directors.

Tough Fight Against Cartoon Advertisers in Terror Scare

Prosecutors are attempting to cover for the fact that the city of Boston feel victim to over blown fears of terrorism.  They are now trying to save face by prosecuting the two men that placed the advertising boxes that according to attorneys look like toys all over Boston in several dozen locations.  The devices were placed several weeks before they were found and prompted a scare in Boston, when no other city in the country had much of an issue with them.

Now prosecutors will have to prove that the men that placed these devices intended to cause fear and not the more expected smirk as people saw a cartoon waving the finger back at them.

That's going to be a pretty tough case against two twenty somethings that were working for a multi national media conglomerate that owns CNN and many other TV stations.  Prosecutors will be better off settling and hoping that their scare tactics are forgotten.

Technorati tags: boston, culture of fear, terrorism

Vacation Villa Calling Candidates

Maybe after Senator Biden's last slip up of words he might be better off taking a quick vacation. 

Our preferred new sponsor SkyAuction offers Vacation Rentals through their online auction services. Its a great concept, you can place a bid for a great vacation package and land a great deal better than you could ever set up with a travel agent.

Just picture yourself landing a vacation package for a ridiculously low rate and escaping to warmer weather, maybe to swim with the dolphins. Currently there are bids on Vacation Villas for Florida starting at just $16!

Now it is an auction so you never know who you will be bidding against, but that is also the beauty of the thing as you can take a look at some locations you might not normally consider but get into a great package with a tremendous savings.

Senator Biden Jumps into Presidential Race In time to Look the Fool

After jumping into the race then out of the race, hemming and hawing over whether to run and what the public wants him to do, Senator Joseph Biden announced that he will run for President in 2008.

Almost simultaneously Senator Biden made statements that were quick to alienate Senator Barack Obama and possibly African-American voters as he described Senator Barack Obama in a way that sounded condescending to African Americans.

The words in question

“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said.

If its not condescending, it is most decidedly a back handed compliment.  I personally choose to interpret it as both and possibly worse.  I would offer Senator the Biden the benefit of the doubt for a slip up of words, however I will not as he is running for the office of President and in this day and age we need a leader that doesn't have barriers in their mind between the races. 

We need a leader that sees all people as people and doesn't subject their views to a filter of race first.  As such, I suspect that Senator Biden's comments will be his rapid undoing.

 

Technorati tags: Biden, Obama, Presidential candidates, Biden sticks Foot in Mouth

America's Gold

Sponsored Article

Monex Deposit Company (MDC) provides the means for precious metals investors to purchase gold bullion, silver or other metals as an investment.  They have been working in the business selling precious metals for thirty years, a relatively short period considering the history of precious metal trading, however they have developed a reputation during that time that makes investments of this nature easier to transact.

Precious metals prices have been very high over the last several years drawing a strong correlation from both the high price of oil and the significant amount of political instability in many regions around the world.  Investing in commodities such as precious metals is a complex business and requires a significant amount of study and analysis, however it is a trade that people have been working in for hundreds of years.

Jailed Reporter Testifies Against Libby

Judith Miller, the former reporter from The New York Times that was jailed for 85 days while trying to protect her sources and possibly herself, testified with details about her confidential interviews with Scooter Libby, Vice President Cheney's staffer.

She refused initially to testify, she was jailed by the special prosecutor and finally testified after indicating that Libby had released her from her confidentiality vow. 

This week she calmly recounted Libby's revelation that Valerie Wilson was a CIA operative and also known as Valerie Plame.  She detailed that Libby was very upset with the CIA for an on going war of leaks against the administration allowing the CIA to back pedal from its earlier evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.  He reportedly made the association between Plame and Joseph Wilson, Plame's husband.

Ultimately, this would seem to pin down Libby with the knowledge of Plame's role as a CIA agent, and now the government will have to prove when Libby learned about this information and possibly the source.

Technorati tags: Libby, Scooter libby, perjury, Bush Administration, CIA

Sky Auction Promotion of Brazilian Luxury Hotels

A brief word for our Sponsors . . .

We live in a world where it serves everyone well for us to get out and travel and learn from each other.  Our sponsor SkyAuction is promoting Othon Hotels, a chain of luxury hotels in Brazil.

This great promotion will serve to give travelers a chance to capitalize on their new travel auction service.  You can place bids starting at $1 to enter an auction to buy a travel deal.  Since it is an auction you might get a great deal as other travelers bid on the package for these Brazil Travel Deals.

Technorati tags: Brazil, Travel Auction

The bar to be Set $2.10 Higher

The Senate this week approved a bill in a 94-3 vote that would set the minimum wage bar higher by $2.10.  This takes the minimum wage up to $7.25 an hour phased in over 2 years.

The bill also included an increase in taxes for executives that are earning more than $1 million per year and would give a tax break to small businesses.

Republicans had tried to put this bill through twice before with much bigger tax breaks for small businesses.  The newly motivated Democratic Senate desperately needed to establish momentum and found a compromise that the Senate could live with and maybe the House too.

President Bush publicly asked the Congress to support the bill and pass it, indicating his own support for the bill.

Technorati tags: Minimum Wage, Increase Minimum Wage, Tax Increase for Rich, Tax Cuts for Small Business