Blowouts, redemption & Greenways
Ok, getting back on track.....
How to Fix a Flat
Imagine my excitement that Thomas Friedman would write about fixing a flat, but instead he vents about his frustrations with auto makers in Michigan. The title really ought to read, "How to Fix a Blowout." I would say most people are more than frustrated with the Detroit model of business and have been for a long time. Every CEO and industry leader sees their economic bailout opportunity and believes it will be their saving grace if awarded. A successful bailout ideally not only includes the actual funds awarded, but in this case of taxpayer funds being used it has to ensure a successful rescue.
Let's all go take an honest look in the mirror. Do any of us truly believe these bailouts will prove successful? .....(tick, tock, tick, tock).....
Yeah, that's what I thought; hence everyone's reservations. Need proof? Just look at the volatility of the New York Stock Exchange and the fact that it's not far above 8000 now. It's yo-yoing like a rider about to be dropped off the back! Why? Pretty good club rider, but not quite ready for fierce competition. Cash (power/wattage) is king. Liquidity (speed/mph) is queen. If you're without either you're toast.
My prediction - it's not going to take long before we the taxpayers begin an economic revolution against every company seeking or receiving a government bailout. This bailout madness has got to end soon or we are setting ourselves up for some serious soup lines. Has it helped the auto industry before? After all, we are where we are today. The airlines? Bailouts are band-aids. When CEOs are more concerned with stock price and less about net income or dividends to stockholders it's a slippery recipe that will eventually spell the end to good sound business decisions. Unsuccessful bailouts spell the end of.....well, just about everything.
Moreover, despite Chrysler's CEO stating the bailout will promote innovation, giving handouts will have exactly the opposite effect of creating innovation! A multiple billion dollar bailout check will flatly send the message of condoning past business decisions, but more devastatingly it will destroy creative thinking. Future innovation won't exist because the bailout seeker isn't forced to figure it out on his or her own. Sure, their future will be different with or without that bailout, but creativity goes out the window when one is allowed a sigh of relief. No, I believe they all should figure out a way to fight their way out of the corner they chose to paint themselves in.
It means that some companies should close their doors. We've always been looking for a way to end our dependency on foreign oil, so imagine the outcome if there are significantly less automobiles being sold. Yes, I realize all the implications with such a dramatic result. Toyota, Honda and Nissan executives are looking at Detroit and realizing they were right all along.
Don't even get me going on the thought of huge bonuses still being paid out to Wall Street executives. Don't misunderstand me, I am a capitalist and want to see these businesses succeed. My bigger concerns are with those affecting small businesses. If your ideas and strategies are good then you should be rewarded for hard work, but if they're bad then you should also be rewarded with failure. Either way you earned it.
Disclaimer - these thoughts and opinions DO represent those of NashvilleCyclist.com.
Berkshire Hathaway Profit Falls 77% on Investments, Insurance
Warren Buffet only made a billion in the third quarter. He took it on the chin huh. However, he has performed his own bailouts with the hopes of huge returns later. It likely instills confidence and stabilizes things when it comes from a man like Warren Buffet, but when it's Mr. Government making the "investment" the market sighs and sinks.
Stretching: The Truth
No, this doesn't address sketchy politicians or CEOs. This article addresses what I've known for some time through the research I have found. I have blogged about this topic before, but I feel it's important to keep bringing it up in order to disprove previous notions about stretching. I am more flexible than most and I'm a big believer in stretching playing a role in your training program, but it's important to understand the when, where and why of it all.
European Support for Bicycles Promotes Sharing of the Wheels
Hardly a week goes by without a new article being written about a new bicycle program that's been implemented in Anywhere, Earth. These kinds of programs should become more common here in the US considering gas prices and the automobile market failures. One, it should be grown just because it's a good thing to do, and two because I think the free market sooner or later will seek it out.
24 Redemption
If only Jack Bauer could tame the business world like he does international terrorists. Get your calendars out and mark it for November 23rd, the return of 24!
Kentucky boy embodies the power of one
None of this economic nonsense matters to Adam. In fact, this little boy forges ahead and finds a way to succeed. Many times over he could have accepted the easy way out. Instead he wants to be not just like everyone else, but even better than them. I'd choose him for my team any day!
FRA - Student Profile
I am imagining building a team with Adam and Max. Oh, we would kick some butt! It's great to see Max get recognized by his school. Congrats on a great season Max, and stay away from those Coca-Colas!
You can't keep a good Cipo down
Brunette? Blonde? Brunette? Whatever, he'll take all three.
Nostalgic Julich hangs up wheels
The wattage doesn't lie does it? Interesting how it demotivated him though. Joining CSC and Bjarne Riis revitalized his career, and Julich is right, "'you know what, I've had a good run." To think he went without a coach for such a long time and was as successful as he was is pretty amazing at that level. I think every rider at every level needs someone to hold them accountable, and as a cycling coach that has a coach himself I see the benefits firsthand.
Brighter days ahead: The Ivan Basso Diary
Julich's former teammate at CSC is back from his suspension and ready to redeem. I'd say after his third place finish at the Japan Cup last month the Euro peloton had better get ready for some pain. I am big believer in everyone getting the opportunity to redeem themselves, so I am hopeful Basso's return is successful not only for himself but for cycling as a whole.
Walk/Bike Forum
Here's a great new resource for Nashvillians to "allow for an interactive exchange of ideas, news, information, and general thoughts about walking and biking in the greater Nashville region."
Today's post highlights the incredible progress made regarding Greenways in Nashville. Just eight years ago only 5.6% of us in Davidson County lived within a half-mile of one, but by 2007 there was 36.4% of us near a Greenway. The exciting end to our Greenway projects will see a whopping 95.3% of us living near a Greenway. Wow! Imagine how that is going to impact our communities and improve our quality of life. Moreover, think of how much our habits will change as well as our perceptions about daily activities and routines. One prediction is we bicyclists should receive tremendous goodwill as bicycling will be much more mainstream than today. Our perception is our reality, and it's being reshaped before our eyes!
How to Fix a Flat
Imagine my excitement that Thomas Friedman would write about fixing a flat, but instead he vents about his frustrations with auto makers in Michigan. The title really ought to read, "How to Fix a Blowout." I would say most people are more than frustrated with the Detroit model of business and have been for a long time. Every CEO and industry leader sees their economic bailout opportunity and believes it will be their saving grace if awarded. A successful bailout ideally not only includes the actual funds awarded, but in this case of taxpayer funds being used it has to ensure a successful rescue.
Let's all go take an honest look in the mirror. Do any of us truly believe these bailouts will prove successful? .....(tick, tock, tick, tock).....
Yeah, that's what I thought; hence everyone's reservations. Need proof? Just look at the volatility of the New York Stock Exchange and the fact that it's not far above 8000 now. It's yo-yoing like a rider about to be dropped off the back! Why? Pretty good club rider, but not quite ready for fierce competition. Cash (power/wattage) is king. Liquidity (speed/mph) is queen. If you're without either you're toast.
My prediction - it's not going to take long before we the taxpayers begin an economic revolution against every company seeking or receiving a government bailout. This bailout madness has got to end soon or we are setting ourselves up for some serious soup lines. Has it helped the auto industry before? After all, we are where we are today. The airlines? Bailouts are band-aids. When CEOs are more concerned with stock price and less about net income or dividends to stockholders it's a slippery recipe that will eventually spell the end to good sound business decisions. Unsuccessful bailouts spell the end of.....well, just about everything.
Moreover, despite Chrysler's CEO stating the bailout will promote innovation, giving handouts will have exactly the opposite effect of creating innovation! A multiple billion dollar bailout check will flatly send the message of condoning past business decisions, but more devastatingly it will destroy creative thinking. Future innovation won't exist because the bailout seeker isn't forced to figure it out on his or her own. Sure, their future will be different with or without that bailout, but creativity goes out the window when one is allowed a sigh of relief. No, I believe they all should figure out a way to fight their way out of the corner they chose to paint themselves in.
It means that some companies should close their doors. We've always been looking for a way to end our dependency on foreign oil, so imagine the outcome if there are significantly less automobiles being sold. Yes, I realize all the implications with such a dramatic result. Toyota, Honda and Nissan executives are looking at Detroit and realizing they were right all along.
Don't even get me going on the thought of huge bonuses still being paid out to Wall Street executives. Don't misunderstand me, I am a capitalist and want to see these businesses succeed. My bigger concerns are with those affecting small businesses. If your ideas and strategies are good then you should be rewarded for hard work, but if they're bad then you should also be rewarded with failure. Either way you earned it.
Disclaimer - these thoughts and opinions DO represent those of NashvilleCyclist.com.
Berkshire Hathaway Profit Falls 77% on Investments, Insurance
Warren Buffet only made a billion in the third quarter. He took it on the chin huh. However, he has performed his own bailouts with the hopes of huge returns later. It likely instills confidence and stabilizes things when it comes from a man like Warren Buffet, but when it's Mr. Government making the "investment" the market sighs and sinks.
Stretching: The Truth
No, this doesn't address sketchy politicians or CEOs. This article addresses what I've known for some time through the research I have found. I have blogged about this topic before, but I feel it's important to keep bringing it up in order to disprove previous notions about stretching. I am more flexible than most and I'm a big believer in stretching playing a role in your training program, but it's important to understand the when, where and why of it all.
European Support for Bicycles Promotes Sharing of the Wheels
Hardly a week goes by without a new article being written about a new bicycle program that's been implemented in Anywhere, Earth. These kinds of programs should become more common here in the US considering gas prices and the automobile market failures. One, it should be grown just because it's a good thing to do, and two because I think the free market sooner or later will seek it out.
24 Redemption
If only Jack Bauer could tame the business world like he does international terrorists. Get your calendars out and mark it for November 23rd, the return of 24!
Kentucky boy embodies the power of one
None of this economic nonsense matters to Adam. In fact, this little boy forges ahead and finds a way to succeed. Many times over he could have accepted the easy way out. Instead he wants to be not just like everyone else, but even better than them. I'd choose him for my team any day!
FRA - Student Profile
I am imagining building a team with Adam and Max. Oh, we would kick some butt! It's great to see Max get recognized by his school. Congrats on a great season Max, and stay away from those Coca-Colas!
You can't keep a good Cipo down
Brunette? Blonde? Brunette? Whatever, he'll take all three.
Nostalgic Julich hangs up wheels
The wattage doesn't lie does it? Interesting how it demotivated him though. Joining CSC and Bjarne Riis revitalized his career, and Julich is right, "'you know what, I've had a good run." To think he went without a coach for such a long time and was as successful as he was is pretty amazing at that level. I think every rider at every level needs someone to hold them accountable, and as a cycling coach that has a coach himself I see the benefits firsthand.
Brighter days ahead: The Ivan Basso Diary
Julich's former teammate at CSC is back from his suspension and ready to redeem. I'd say after his third place finish at the Japan Cup last month the Euro peloton had better get ready for some pain. I am big believer in everyone getting the opportunity to redeem themselves, so I am hopeful Basso's return is successful not only for himself but for cycling as a whole.
Walk/Bike Forum
Here's a great new resource for Nashvillians to "allow for an interactive exchange of ideas, news, information, and general thoughts about walking and biking in the greater Nashville region."
Today's post highlights the incredible progress made regarding Greenways in Nashville. Just eight years ago only 5.6% of us in Davidson County lived within a half-mile of one, but by 2007 there was 36.4% of us near a Greenway. The exciting end to our Greenway projects will see a whopping 95.3% of us living near a Greenway. Wow! Imagine how that is going to impact our communities and improve our quality of life. Moreover, think of how much our habits will change as well as our perceptions about daily activities and routines. One prediction is we bicyclists should receive tremendous goodwill as bicycling will be much more mainstream than today. Our perception is our reality, and it's being reshaped before our eyes!
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 11/13/2008 09:22:00 AM
1 Comments:
Good job, Tim. Keep it coming!
Post a Comment
<< Home