Three Shubos and a Turk

2007-12-28T19:08:00.000-08:00

2007-12-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

Holy Highway: Evangelicals pray to "light" Interstate 35

Jim and I are not only linked by righteously tight family bonds, but also by God's highway. Jack, perhaps you'd like to move to a trailer home in Des Moines to share our spirituality. You must keep an open mind!!!! Watch the video clip for true inspiration.

Bubble

2007-12-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

Video:
Marketing.fm » Another Bubble - Richter Scales Video

Christmas Gifts

2007-12-10T06:01:00.000-08:00

Possible gifts for those who have just about everything.
Strange New Products
Note archives.

Mother resurrected

2007-12-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Mother, resurrected as mall worker and Corn Husker fan, dies again at hands of madman.

Portraits Of Victims Emerge - Omaha News Story - KETV Omaha

Also, Waukegan made the front page of USA today this week regarding its lakefront woes. The city fathers must have hired a savvy PR firm.

Monthly Stock Contest Results

2007-12-02T06:07:00.000-08:00

Google Docs - Stock Contest November

Highway to Nowhere is Resurfaced

2007-11-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

Change is hard for people'

November 28, 2007

By JUDY MASTERSON JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM

WAUKEGAN -- The newly resurfaced Amstutz Expressway
was celebrated Tuesday with a ribbon cutting and speeches and the insistence that the lakefront highway will soon be renamed for former North Chicago Mayor Bobby Thompson. The route is featured in a Batman movie and Plains, Trains and Automobiles. It is useful for making movies because there is not traffic on it. Who wants their name on the highway to nowhere and why the former mayor of North Chicago.

About 75 people braved a frigid Lake Michigan breeze, gathering at Sheridan Road and Grand Avenue to pay tribute to Thompson, Lake County's first black mayor. Thompson, a former alderman, served as mayor a total of 14 years. He won election three times after his appointment in 1983, to the chagrin of those who appointed him with the understanding he would serve the two years left in the unfinished term of then Mayor Leo Kukla.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting in Waukegan on Tuesday marks the completion of state resurfacing of the Amstutz Expressway, which is to be renamed for the man at the lecturn, former longtime North Chicago Mayor Bobby E. Thompson. State Rep. Eddie Washington (right of Thompson) led the push to rename the lakefront highway.
(Marina Samovsky/News-Sun)

State Rep. Eddie Washington (right of Thompson) led the push to rename the lakefront highway, which runs through Waukegan and North Chicago. The highway to nowhere does not run though North Chicago. It is entirely within Waukegan. Actually it doesn't run from anywhere to anywhere.

State Rep. Eddie Washington, D-Waukegan, pushed for funding for the $1.5 million resurfacing project that was begun on Labor Day and completed in two months.

"This is a route a lot of people take to work, and it was bad to drive on," Washington said. There is no work down there anymore. The route takes no one to nowhere. "This is our way of complimenting what we're doing downtown with new streets and sidewalks -- also funded by a grant I got for the city."

Washington is also pushing to rename the Amstutz -- a 2.5-mile section of Route 137 that runs through Waukegan and a stretch that runs south from Martin Luther King Drive in North Chicago.

"We can't have small thinking or small deeds," Washington said in reference to the resolution that would rename the road, which has been approved by the Illinois House but not yet by the Senate. "Waukegan is growing up to be the city of inclusion. We want to draw people and say, 'This is a great place to make your home.'"

Thompson, who moved to Mussel Shoals, near his native Florence, Ala., more than a year ago, attended the ceremony accompanied by his wife, Vera, daughters Cheryl and Karen and granddaughters Courtney and Kamryn.

"I never dreamed I would receive such an honor," he said.

Thompson was appointed in 1983 to fill the unexpired term of longtime Mayor Leo Kukla, who left office due to failing health. After his appointment, many of his mayoral duties were revoked by the majority-white council, and he was opposed by all but two aldermen. He won election in 1985 by securing a broad-based, multi-ethnic vote. His powers were restored in 1986.

"It was a power struggle," Thompson said. "I won't say it was race. We know racism exists but (I don't like to) keep saying 'race.' Everyone was afraid of what I might do when I got in, but I proved I was for all the people and everything I did was for the people."

Thompson built a political machine called the BET (Bobby E. Thompson) Express. Politicians including the late Congressman Paul Simon sought his advice, particularly on the black vote.

The year after he was first elected, Thompson helped push for set-asides for minority contractors for the construction of the Lake County Jail. He joined forces with Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian in battling the Lake County Board's acquisition of property pegged for open space but that the mayors argued was needed for economic development.

Washington said he expects the Senate to approve the name change.

"Why wouldn't it?" he asked. "Change is hard for people, but change is good for people."

The late Melvin Amstutz, a civil engineer, helped lead the Lake County Division of Transportation for 45 years and dreamed of a lakefront expressway that would stretch from Waukegan to Kenosha. I always wondered who Amstutz was. The Amstutz opened in 1974.

Slovenian President

2007-11-20T04:47:00.000-08:00

The kid of leader the US needs:
All hail the mystic President - Times Online

Waukegan to Mexicans "Go Home"

2007-11-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

November 17, 2007 (WAUKEGAN, Ill.) - Sailboats bob on Lake Michigan just a few blocks from the sales center for a new downtown condominium development -- a welcome addition in a town that has struggled with the loss of thousands of industrial jobs.

It also fits with city officials' vision of remaking this blue-collar suburb 30 miles north of Chicago by promoting its historic downtown and lakeside location as a destination for jobs, housing, shopping and entertainment.

But other redevelopment already has taken root: Mexican groceries, a currency exchange advertising "Se habla Espanol" and other businesses that cater to the city's burgeoning immigrant population. Hispanics now represent more than half of the city's 88,500 residents, according to recent Census figures, and a third of its residents are foreign-born.

Despite their numbers, the newcomers feel anything but welcome.

Coexistence has been uneasy at best ever since Waukegan officials applied last summer for a program that would train two local police officers to enforce federal immigration law. The proposal prompted a massive downtown demonstration by immigrant rights' groups and a boycott of businesses that didn't post signs opposing the application.

City leaders say the measure would speed up the deportation of people who commit violent crimes or break drug laws, and make Waukegan a safer place for everyone.

"It's a tool we can use to rid ourselves of serious criminals, and we have to use every avenue that we can," said Police Chief William Biang.

But some Latinos say the measure will just deepen the community's distrust of the police, and scare away those who could be the backbone of a vibrant, diverse Waukegan.

"You have thousands of people who are hardworking, who came and invested in this city. They're being chased away," said Yolanda Torrez, an attorney born in Waukegan whose practice handles criminal, traffic and real estate cases.

She said Latino residents are understandably skeptical. A decade ago, the city settled a lawsuit with the Justice Department over a housing code that federal authorities alleged was aimed at Hispanic families. And, she said, Hispanic residents now feel targeted by a city ordinance that allows vehicles to be seized and a $500 penalty imposed if the driver lacks insurance or a license.

The federal immigration enforcement program was created in 1996, but the first agency didn't join until 2001. Now, about 28 municipal, county or state law enforcement agencies currently take part, and the Department of Homeland Security has applications pending from approximately 75 more.

In the Charlotte, N.C., area, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph said he joined the program out of frustration: "I knew there were many illegal immigrants, some with felony convictions, who were posting bond and walking out of my jail daily," he wrote this year in a trade magazine aimed at sheriffs.

Attorney Jennifer Nagda of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which opposes Waukegan's application, sees the increased interest in the program and other immigration-related measures passed by local governments as a symptom of "frustration over the federal government's inaction or inability to act on immigration."

"You have this patchwork of different ordinances popping up regarding immigrant communities, and this is precisely why immigration is something that needs to be dealt with at the federal level," said Nagda. "You can't have different measures each time you pass over a city or county line."

Under the immigration enforcement program, local officers receive training and supervision from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, then have access to a federal database with photos, fingerprints and information on past arrests and convictions. They also can check the validity of documents and start deportation proceedings.

Critics say procedures already are in place for deporting criminals through ICE and giving that power to local officials could lead to racial profiling and increase distrust of police among illegal and legal immigrants, as well as U.S. citizens of Latino descent.

They envision scenarios where an undocumented immigrant refuses to report her husband's physical abuse for fear of getting deported herself, or witnesses to crimes reluctant to talk to police for fear they would ask questions about their immigration status.

While Waukegan has not yet been accepted into the federal program, some say the fallout of the city's decision is already being felt.

Torrez said she's heard of Latinos who have broken their leases and moved away, and of stores that cater to immigrants that have seen sales slip.

"I think sometimes they're nostalgic for a Waukegan that never existed," Torrez said of the city's leaders.

Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde and Biang have pledged that the city's new authority won't be used for immigration raids, and that illegal immigrants stopped by police for minor infractions, such as not wearing a seat belt or a broken tail light, won't get caught up in the measure.

Instead, they say they want to ensure that immigrants convicted of felonies -- such as rape, murder, drug and gang crimes -- are on the deportation path as soon as possible.

"I don't think even people here illegally, just getting by, doing their jobs, are going to object to that," Biang said. "It's their kids who are going to be the victims of drug dealers and drive-by shootings, along with everybody else's children."

On the Net:

Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
City of Waukegan: www.waukeganweb.net
Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office: www.charmeck.org/Departments/MCSO/
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund: www.maldef.org/

Interesting Blog-Centripetal Notion

2007-11-18T08:13:00.000-08:00

Try this blog. Most the topics posted do not become dated. So, if you like it, there are two years of posts for you to explore.
Centripetal Notion

Recent pictures from Long Beach/ Hollywood

2007-11-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Waukegan to EPA "stick your $'s"

2007-11-09T07:17:00.000-08:00

I am waiting for Waukegan to go belly up.

More than $23 million in federal funds earmarked to clean Waukegan Harbor will be disbursed elsewhere. The U.S. EPA said Wednesday it is ending an agreement to design the cleanup with funds from the Great Lakes Legacy Act. "That means that money is available for other projects," said Phillippa Cannon, EPA spokeswoman. Waukegan and the agency had been working on a plan to remove PCB-contaminated sediment, but the city in July changed course. It insisted that larger ships not be allowed to use the harbor, effectively putting the remaining industrial companies there out of business.

Wingsuite

2007-11-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

I have never seen this. Looks terrifying. I guess they land with parachutes. (I found the other clips on sky diving interesting also especially the ones that are disasters). I find it hard to feel sorry for anyone who does this.
YouTube - Wingsuite mountain swoop
I guess it's real.
Wingsuit flying - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

stock picking contest

2007-10-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

RESULTS TO DATE
Note colors do not match from separate plot to aggregate plot.
Contest starts October 29 2007--the date Jimmy got in the market. Note th SPY (the S&P 500) index is included it each chart for comparisons. (Contest ends 5/10/08 with the winner receiving some number of quality Kubota hats)
Jimmy
GXP Great Plains Energy
BAC Bank for America
Turk
SPY Standard & Poors 500 Index
VWIGX Vanguard International Growth Fund
Bob

LG Laclede
SJI South Jersey

PNY Piedmont Natural Gas
NFG National Fuel Gas

ATO and/or Atmos Energy
the middle
VICEX Vice fund
All of the above
All
All $

Jimmy's challenge:
I have $40K to invest. Stocks? CD? (I have plenty of treasury bills and bonds.) I am pretty much risk adverse. Winning pick gets a free Kubota hat. Any ideas?

Jimmy's choice:
Ishmael, call me stupid! Today (10/29) I increased my holdings of GXP (Great Plains Energy) and purchased 450 shares of BAC (Bank for America). Both of these have yields above five percent. As I type this I am trembling with fear because, when there is a good deal, there is always a mange infested dog playing foot tag with the CEO in the latter's private bathroom. Hopefully these two companies have the ability and the cash to overcome any present dilemmas. In the short run, Mr. Berneke may provide a shot in the arm to carry this smelly market up through a year-end rally. After that, we take our profits and then watch Hillary put restriction percentages on all coal-generated electricity.

Thank you for your ideas. I took them seriously, but my piggery over came any sense of reason.

Jimmy's response to the responses:

Yes it seems dumb to dump C in favor of BAC. As you point out, and from all I have read, BAC is participating in the MLEC, but (at this time) BAC itself seems to be separated from the SIV mess. I gave much thought to repurchasing C at the lower price, but to me C is too aggressive and prone to risk. When I worked for CINB 28 years ago, BAC had the reputation of being the largest bank in the US. It was spread out across the state of California. It had a very diverse loan portfolio. Today that has all blown away, since they are now a North Carolina based mega bank. Anyway, BAC's risks seem to be more seem scattered. Another negative piece of info on BAC is its $2 billion investment in Countrywide. Like why did they do that? Good neighbors? Maybe they know what they are doing.

Maybe the "good old boys" down south have a leg up on the New York hot shots. Stan O'Neal called Wachovia to see if they were interested in purchasing Merrill Lynch. Those New York bankers think they know everything. Now they are whining like babies.

After I made my choices, I remembered the Vanguard GNMA fund (VFIIX). That fund is yielding 5.30%. But then, on the other hand (an expression I use constantly these days) VFIIX is bonds, and I wanted to stay with stocks. Actually the tougher choice was buying more GXP. They are purchasing two other utilities, and the stock price is probably depressed because of further shareholder dilution. Hope they know what they are doing.

Turk:

advice:
Hard to say without knowing how heavily you are in the market right now. They say that you subtract your age from 100 and that is the percentage you should be in the market. Use 110 if you are a risk-taker.

If your not in the market, for now I would be inclined to put the cash into the Vanguard prime or tax-exempt MMF as Bob suggests. I would wait until I felt I could guess the bottom of the market (that is if you don't feel it is already there) and then buy an index 500 fund (70%) and an international fund (30%). This way you avoid the risk of owning individual stocks. Vanguard and Harbor both have pretty good international funds. Putting say a 10K portion into these funds every three months or so may be less emotionally taxing in the event of a further downturn.

re Jimmy choice:
For what it's worth, today's Wall Street Journal reports that the profits of BAC or C would have to fall 50% before either would consider a dividend cut. Such a drop is highly unlikely. A consistent dividend taxed at only 15% should keep the stock price from tumbling.

Bob:
Advice:

For what it's worth, my suggestion is a variation upon what I did with the cash I inherited and reinvested during the first half of 2006. My strategy worked fine during the period of high short-term interest rates (one caveat), and stock-market exuberance (another caveat).

11-month CD 38%

Taxable money-market account 30%

Tax-free money market account 14%

Stocks* 18%

100%

*specifically: BP, Citigroup, & Con Ed.

I probably would repeat this strategy today, but with some modifications. Today, I would select a basket of gas utility stocks, such as:

Vectren (VVC),

Laclede (LG),

South Jersey (SJI),

Piedmont Natural Gas (PNY),

National Fuel Gas (NFG),

and/or Atmos Energy (ATO).

These all have nice yields and are off their 52-week highs. Gas distribution utilities, such as these, are stable, somewhat stodgy investments; however, all of these have a long history of annual dividend increases, a wonderful characteristic in the eyes of most retirees. There is a small chance of capital gains or losses, but the message here really is the dividend.

Also, I'd put more of the $40K into stocks, and less into money-markets, and none of it into CDs (given your stash of bonds). My favorite money mkt funds are Vanguard Prime, Vanguard Treasury, and Vanguard Tax-Exempt Money Market Funds. They all have zero exposure to SIVs!

Good luck,

I like both of these, especially GXP, but I'm a little bit surprised that you went for BAC after selling C. Do you think it has any less downside potential than C? Or is it relatively safe because of its limited exposure to SIV's, notwithstanding its deal with C & JPM to create a "superconduit"?

Re Jimmy's choice
I like both of these, especially GXP, but I'm a little bit surprised that you went for BAC after selling C. Do you think it has any less downside potential than C? Or is it relatively safe because of its limited exposure to SIV's, notwithstanding its deal with C & JPM to create a "superconduit"?

The Middle:
VICEX: Welcome To ViceFund
I agree the volatility of the market makes me puke. I originally was going to recommend the vice fund as a joke, but it turns out to be a well performing fund--significantly outperforming all of the market indices. Also no load

Bob Brinker:
In each of his three model portfolios, Bob's most heavily weighted asset is the Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund VTSMX. This fund's performance is nearly identical the SPY (S&P 500). See charts
In his August and Septemeber newsletters, Bob recommended index purchase should the S&P 500 fall with the 1430-1470 range. This occurred on 11/9. Bob's results assume a purchase of SPY at 146 at this date.

the bars of tenth street

2007-10-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

This is a work in progress. Goal is to get all of the bars bordered by Sheridan Road, 9th street, Lewis Avenue and 14th Street
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113794328644130655070.00043b8a69401fd12ce21&z=14&om=1

chris angel illusions

2007-10-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Try Chris Angel rips a girl in half.

my damn channel

2007-10-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

Somewhere between TV and U tube. I watched David Wain--moderately humorous.

My Damn Channel

The box enigma

2007-10-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

cardboard box 13x9x6 (a perfectly sized box)

Bob Brinker's Marketimer newsletter dated 10/3/07 which remains bullish

An orange knit hat Kubota logo, a baseball, a necktie with cameras for decoration, an obvious counterfeit $10 bill , and 7 Kubota baseball hats.

I received this package from Jimmy Friday 10/19. On that day the Dow Jones dropped over 300 points. It was also the anniversary of Black Monday, 1987 when the Dow Jones dropped over 500 points.

Jimmy did not provide any explanation as to why he sent the box or as to what the contents of the box signify. I am attempting to deconstruct the enigma of the package and will add my thoughts when I figure it out.

Being financial, clearly the date of arrival, the Marketimer newsletter and the counterfeit $10 are related. Being apparel, the stocking hat, the necktie and the baseball hats are related. I believe the baseball symbolizes the nexus of the relationship between the two sets of objects--baseball with baseball hats and baseball with baseball players receiving huge salaries. Also the baseball is timely since the baseball playoffs are currently taking place.

On the 19th the S&P 500 closed at 1500. In his August and Septemeber newsletters, Bob recommended index purchase should the S&P 500 fall with the 1430-1470 range. Even with the fall in stock prices, his prior advice has yielded a small but still positive result. Should the index again fall into that range, Bob recommends purchases in the Oct. 3 newsletter that was part of the package.

What is Jimmy saying by including the phony $10 bill? Is he saying that Bob's advice is worthless? Only in the future. can we evaluate the worth of Bob's advice in terms of dollars. Rather, I believe that Jimmy is making a larger point that the value of money is transitory and that is pointless for us to expend their our entire lives pursuing it. To Jimmy, the market and money are symbols of great human effort with no spiritual redeeming value.

With his apparel items, Jimmy is contrasting the freedom of the the outdoors (the hats) with the restrictive environment of the corporate world (the tie). The cameras decorating the tie symbolize the constant scrutiny one finds himself under in the corporate world.

I have much more to say, but I am afraid I have lost my mind. To be continued maybe........................

Human Nose-National Geographic

2007-09-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

IIt may look like a strange insect , but this is actually a CT image revealing the delicate structures underlying the human nose.

The multicolored pockets, seen in a cutaway from below the nose looking up, are the paranasal sinuses—the air-filled spaces in the skull that are the bane of many an allergy sufferer.

Other pics at: National Geographic News Photo Gallery: Best Science Images of 2007 Honored

Google Earth Links

2007-09-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Google Earth Flight Simulator
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Flight Simulator Keyboard Controls - Google Earth User Guide
Live Search
Google Earth
Google Earth FAQ & Help

PBS videos & Miro

2007-09-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

PBS | Search . Search Results
Miro Public Preview review : Mozilla Links
Miro - free, open source internet tv and video player
Does this have any value to me? I cannot figure out how PBS is organized. I installed Miro, but have no reaction yet. My internet connection may turn out to be too slow.

2007-09-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

URL Labs Websites of the week

2007-09-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

A list of websites for killing time.
THIS IS HELL - WNUR 89.3 Chicago
From the above list:
Internet Archive: Audio Archive
Seems to be an interesting site with a multitude of material. Above is audio section. Other archives available. Note Grateful Dead. There are a lot of groups I have never heard of. Tried Of a Revolution Live at Madison. Liked them for at least one listen through. Kind of a Bruce Springstein cover band.

They say I was ticketed in Graz

2007-09-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Hertz Rental Car Agency in Vienna, Austria, Hertz Rienhoff Gmbh, wrote to me and told me that I owe them 15 euro because they say I was ticketed for something I did back in April of this year in Graz, the birth place of Arnold Schwartzenrgger http://raumfahrer.wordpress.com/grazring/. Hertz Rienhoff said I owe them the 18 euro because they were an intermediary for me. That is I still owe the City of Graz for the traffic ticket, but I also owe Hertz Rienhoff Gmbh the 15 euro because I received the ticket while using one of their rent cars. I wrote back to Hertz Rienhoff and told them that I did nothing wrong. I parked where the Graz hotel people told me to park. Nobody yelled at me in Graz. Nobody gave me a ticket. Then just yesterday Hertz Rienhoff billed me another three euro for their first reminder letter. When I turned the rent car in, I paid Hertz Rienhoff 1,068 euro. They made good money from my rental! The car was damage free, and I was fully covered by their insurance. I am taking my case to the Hertz CEO. I tell you from the bottom of my heart that this is going to get ugly! A..holes.

Boomshine video game

2007-09-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Put it on here to remind myself.
Boomshine

Best Discussion Program--On point

2007-09-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

On point is the most intelligent discussion program that I have heard on either radio or TV. The moderator, Tom Ashbrook, is the best.

It's on two hours a day, five days a week. Trough its archives you can listen to it whenever you like.

Two sample programs:
On Point : The Iraq Oil Equation - The Iraq Oil Equation
On Point : The Subprime Mop-Up - The Subprime Mop-Up

Today"s program topics:
On Point : Main Page

Old Waukegan Pictures

2007-09-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

Spend some time here: wire mill

http://groups.msn.com/genealogy2000/messageboard.msnw

On-line Poker

2007-09-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

She plays at the same on-line poker site I do. She also plays on a few others. Supposedly she started playing on-line when she was 15. Hence the name.
18 year old Annette_15 wins $2 million as new WSOPE champion. | Casino News Wire - Gambling Industry News | casinowire.com