The Nicssite Blogger

As I surf the net and read all of the latest happenings, I wonder, is life really as bad as the news makes it out to be? The economy has tanked. Sure, the market is around half of its all time high of 14 some odd thousand. it only took a year to get there. but then I think, in the last 12 months it was around 5,000. Now depending on the day its closer to 8k. Hell the last month has been the best month in like 7 years. Using that as my main indicator, do I feel that we have reached the bottom? Yes I do. is our economy as strong as it was september 07? not really. I think by summer of 2010 we’ll be back to near normal.Will the economy bounce back? it hasn’t let me down in the past, though I would be more worried about inflation when it bounces back with the trillions we have pumped into the economy. Though, with inflation there’s at least good interest rates.

Next, I want to comment on Iowa and homosexual marriage in general. First, Kudos to Iowa for legalizing it. granted it was a law that deemed unconstitutional. I honestly could care less who people marry. If its a choice to be gay then so be it. People should be happy. and this really doesn’t seem to have negative consequences on society other changing ideals. Now, do I think this should be forced down religious groups. Not one bit. if a church is not comfortable with a homosexual marriage, then fine, they don’t need to marry the couple. The can goto the courthouse and have a ceremony. Will it be as romantic? No. Maybe there will be an entrepreneurship thing that will allow a marriage company to cater to gay couples. Including proceding over the wedding.  Is the world going to end if gay marriage is legalized in America? No. The couples are still going to be couples, gay people will be gay, straight people will be straight. at the end of the day, its all about legal concessions and not what the church says.

Those two things have dominated the news recently. No matter what happens with either one, the sun is going to shine tomorrow. the times they are a changing. In the long run, we’ll eventually get things right. Bush kept us on far right for so long, I figure Obama is going to take us to the far left. Kinda like mother nature uses weather to keep things in check and balances. Next president will hopefully be in the middle. Thats when we will truely flourish again. Until then, no matter how bad thigns get, the sun is still going to shine tomorrow.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The White House still believes that General Motors can restructure without filing for bankruptcy. Of course the government wants this to happen. With the billions in tax dollar money on the line, I’m sure we all want them to achieve this.

I do not believe its going to happen. Number one they can’t sell any cars. They’re not making anything close to break even and hey are still burning through billions a month and running out of cash again.

Number two, the UAW still won’t budge to help them out. Keeping their workers at high wages and making it harder for a company to scrape money is better to them then having lower wages a company that will be able to employee union members for a long term

Then there is this perception that they make junk cars. While they certainly have had several bad models in the past, I don’t think that this is the case today, at least, not any worst than any other car manufacturer. Toyota has had problems in recent years. The other two of the big three has. It’s growing pains.  GM needs to work on getting rid of that perception. They certainly are trying with their ad campaign of how many cars get good MPG. Is it enough? I don’t think so. They need to get it so people realize you are not having to take your car to the shop every other week.

GM also needs to get more cheaper, stylish,  yet extremely reliable cars on the market. People want a car the feels luxurious but not at the high price. It’s the reason the Corvette was created. GM wanted a car that could go as fast and perform as good as the performance cars of the day. The Vette came out and people loved. Create a car with that mindset, and GM has a good chance of winning over the people.

However, with all the things GM needs to do, its going to take money and couple years. That is something GM does not have at this point in time. Can they claim bankruptcy and come back smelling like roses? Yes. Shed the debt, restructure and come back leaner, meaner, more aggressive. Is it going to hurt the tax payers? Yes, however, will it help in the long run? Yes, its what should have been done a long time ago.

 

 Apple Getting Screwed: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Warner Music is going to allow Amazon.com to sell Their music DRM free. Great news. More great music downloads thats truely yours.  However, Apple Will be the loser here.  According to the New York Times Online on Friday, December 28, 2007,

“Now, some music executives are privately backing the idea of dropping the software from music sold through virtually every service except iTunes, in order to strengthen Apple’s rivals and potentially diminish Mr. Jobs’s advantage. The major labels have been upset with Apple’s inflexibility on music pricing, among other issues.”

Meaning that Since Steve Jobs will not be flexible on price, selling New hot releases Higher then Older music thats been off any top 40 station for a long time, They do not want to be flexible with Steve Jobs.

If this continues, Apple’s download music division will be hurting and eventually the consumers will too.  As long st Apple continues the 99 cent download, that will be the price tier for music. Everyone will have to sell at or below 99 cents to compete. However, If Apple ends up losing this one,  Expect higher prices on new hot released songs, and the same 99 cents on older hits that get no time on the radio anymore.

Well, the Mitchell report came out this week. 20 million dollars of tax payers money spent to learn that Roger Clemens used. Was it really worth it? I would say no. Being a huge baseball fan the news to me is really completely worthless. The report named 90 names of course, and Mitchell has stated that he believes that there are many many more. Of course there is. Not everyone that is using or has used is going to be talking.

Some Yankees fans are crying foul since not many Red Sox players were named stating that Senator Mitchell was a director for Boston for awhile.  Maybe that has tainted the report some. But then again, there is proof of the 90 players named.

There is also the case of one player that agreed to cooperate with The Senator and he was left unnamed just a footnote about it. Apparently he had bought the drugs but he never used them and disposed of them someway or another. Would it be nice to know his name? Sure, I’d like know the guy that can flirt with the idea and in the end, decide to not to do it even though its all right there and easy to get too.

The Mitchell report does not have the authority to dictate a tough testing program. It does recommend one but that actual part of getting done is left to the owners and players union.

I have felt the entire time that baseball should adopt a better testing program and move on. Your right, there is proof now that Barry was probably on steroids.  There is also proof that Clemens and his best friend Andy used. Other players named include Paul Lo Duca, Troy Glause, Miguel Tejada, and Alex Caberra.

Clemens and Caberra have both denied using them, Alex may have a case. Andy has said that he Used HGH as he was recovering from an injury.

I feel that baseball should move on. There are many things going on that are in play for higher numbers. This is from an article on MLB.com “Certainly steroids have been a part of it. There has been a trend towards smaller ballparks with the new stadiums. There have been a lot of advances in hitting instruction, hitting theory, video-based hitting instruction. I think that’s been a change that doesn’t always get a lot of publicity, but that’s been a factor as well.”

The pure science of hitting is way better then before. Players can even watch video right after their at bat to see what they did wrong. Hitting a baseball is hard. And with 31 pitchers also named, It’ll get harder. Of course players will use steroids to help out. If everyone is truely doing it, How much of an edge does it really give you?

From reports with Minor League Players that have used, Steroids have only helped out slightly. Mainly they’ve gained more weight, have a slightly better ERA or a slightly better OBP.

As it is now, I feel that baseball should adopt a tougher policy and move on. Nate Silver, proprietor of Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA statistical projection system, said they will now be using the list of known Major League Players to see how their stats have improved and see how big of an edge Steroids have given players.

I think I will wait for my final call for that report.

It was reported on thestreet.com that Amazon.com is allowed to start selling over 2 million mp3 music files DRM free. The price they are selling them at is 89-99 cents. less then Apple Itunes 1.29 for DRM free songs. The music industry has realized that DRM-free songs sell more bringing in more profits.

Hopefully Apple will be allowed the same and we will have price wars leading to cheaper music. The street’s article stating that 25 cents would be a great goal assuming the record labels can be talked into lowering their price to amazon and apple.

The downside to this is its not an overnight happening. There is no comment on how long it will take for this to be up and running, however, I would think it would be running before the holiday season.

There is also no news from amazon.com about this yet.

I just read a BBC Report that the Playstation 3 will have a 17% price cut in order to boost us sales. For those without calculators, this puts the price at $500 still 20 about the xbox and 250 above the wii. What does this mean? The wii is still the better deal. That is assuming of course the control doesn’t fly out of your hand and break your one thousand dollar TV.

Also in Playstation three news, they will be coming out with an 80 gig model. All the more fun for storing your favorite games or pirated music. Actually…thats more space then my laptop is now. go figure.