Chapter 11 Bound GM

GM is pretty much getting itself ready for bankruptcy. How does a company that was the number one automaker get itself into such a mess? Greed and poor management. I have read and heard that management is 80% of a companies problems. If that is true, how do companies run? The companies that usually make it big have one or several very intelligent people. Look at Apple for example, CEO Steve Jobs left for several years and returned when Apple looked as if it were headed for disaster. Upon Steve Jobs' return Apple grew and is now one of the leaders in computer based technology with its huge hit, the iPhone and other recent new products.

To bad for GM that they haven't had that intelligent person who could run the company and make all those right decisions. All they have now is the June 1 deadline by the government to come up with a restructuring plan to make itself profitable. The only way they can do that is to get the bondholders to swap $27 billion in debt for ten percent of its pretty much junk stock. Also in the next three weeks GM must make deals with its union, close factories, force hundreds of dealers out of business and cut or sell some of its brands.

For most people they would say that is impossible and I feel they would be correct. So pretty much all GM is doing is getting all of its "ducks in a row" before June 1 (Chapter 11). If GM proves me wrong there must be some intelligence that finally arrived.

I know the economy isn't what it used to be but GM was unprepared, they were living in the moment (Greed) like so many people do.

Some People Are Just Useless

Take for example the 28-year-old dirt bag from Sheboygan Falls who beat his three-week-old son. Four broken ribs, a punctured lung, and skull fractures, who would do that to their child? I have many choice words right now that I would LOVE to post, but I probably shouldn't.

What about the mom, where was she during or after this happened? I understand that a person called in the possible child abuse after they saw bruises on the child when the couple was out somewhere. Did the mom not really know? I'm sure she did. I am not sure if she should be charged also, but how could she not go to someone. Maybe she was scared because maybe this guy is more of a creep than most know.

As far as punishment for this crime goes I am not sure if there is any kind of legal punishment that fits this horrible crime. "Eye for an eye" sounds good to me. If someone was to beat the ---- out of him, I find it hard to believe that anyone would care. I am sure while he sits in prison for what he has done there will be plenty of people in prison who will also see him as the dirt bag he really is. I find it hard to believe that the next ten years of his life are going to be anything but pleasant.

I don't think capital punishment is to far out of the question for this dirt bag.

Technology At Its Worst

I never used to be big on computers but now with school that has all changed. This last Wednesday my girlfriends computer took a leap into the trash (it died). I never thought the day would happen when I would say, "Now what do I do". Well the answers are obvious, buy a new one or try to fix the old one. The computer was about six years old, so I opted to buy a new one.

I started looking for a new computer online at work (Don't worry I was on break). When I was done looking I had my eye set on a laptop from Best Buy. On Friday after softball practice I decided to go to Best Buy and have a look. The girl who helped me out was extremely nice and had an answer for every question I asked. As she was helping me out, she walked away for a minute to get the computer from in back that I was about to purchase and I couldn't help but over here another salesperson talking with a customer. The salesperson was one I was glad not to have because he was being very vague and short with his answers to the customers questions (he seemed like he didn't like his job). When she came back she showed me a few other things that I needed and then it was time to check to out.

I had the Geek squad do a couple of things to our computer, so I couldn't take it home right away. I told them I would come back later that evening and pick it up. My girlfriend and I had an appointment in Mequon at 5:45. The appointment was for dance classes (maybe I'll explain in a later blog). The guy told me it would be done around six (it was 1:30 p.m. when I left). When we came back later that night at 8:30 it wasn't ready yet (they close at 9). So we ran to Michael's because Stef had to pick something up from there. When we returned at 8:50 the guy told me it would be about a minute yet. I was starting to think that maybe we would have to come back the next day (I was not liking that idea). At about 9:00 the computer was finally ready and now they were waiting for us to leave. Isn't that something.

This morning (Saturday) I set-up the laptop and got the router hooked up. Something I never thought I would be doing but now with school I am becoming more up to speed with the real world (Internet and computers). Technology isn't a bad thing but can be pretty darn expensive once you have become to rely on it. I better get working on that English paper again :o)

What's next?

Spring

Yesterday (Saturday) was awesome. So many people were out enjoying the weather and doing things that the cold weather doesn't allow. I think everyone who owns a motorcycle, had gotten it out yesterday. I know I did, after I got my new tires put on.

Why is spring enjoyed by so many people? No more snow and warm weather? To me spring is the time to enjoy the outdoors and go places. What if there was never a change in seasons and it was always spring? Would everyone be much happier? I don't think so. Change is a good thing to have from time-to-time. It gives you something to look forward to and keeps you sane. The change could be anything from the change in seasons (simple), to the change of having your first child (major). Even though spring is a simple change, it is a much needed one by all. Spring allows for such activities like riding a bike, running, walking, boating, water skiing, outdoor water parks, amusement parks, camping, the beach, etc.

So to me, spring is a necessity that shows up once a year for us all to enjoy. So get out there and enjoy it!!!!

Don't Mess With The U.S.

I just found out that the American ship captain Richard Phillips was rescued in a swift gun battle, that killed three of the four Somali pirates who were holding him hostage. Richard Phillips was captured last week when the shipping vessel, U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama was taken over by pirates while off the coast of Africa. The gun battle today, happened off the coast of Africa, where the pirates were holding Richard in a lifeboat sense last week. The pirates fled the ship last week when the crew took the ship back in a brief standoff.

During the take over last week Richard Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates, so none of the crew members would be hurt. That takes guts, he is the definition of Captain. I think everyone who knows Richard Phillips is proud of the decision he made to save his crew. I am happy for him and his family that everything turned out alright in the end.

When this all first happened I was glad to here the response that the US was taking, in sending the warship USS Bainbridge immediately to the area where this was all happening. Isn't that something, for your country to have your back. That was 100% the right decision by the US to show force and send a message to the pirates, that if they keep hijacking ships, this is the kind of response they are going to continue to get.

I am sure this won't be the last hijacking of a ship but hopefully this makes the pirates think twice about their actions.

March Madness "Final Four"

I don't know about you, but I like to watch college basketball a little bit. So when March roles around I always get into a college basketball pool.

The pool I am in is double elimination so I get two chances to win. The first team that was picked for me in the pool was LSU. Luckily they won the first round, so they got to play UNC in the second round. LSU lost to UNC in the second round, so now I got to pick up UNC as my second team but they have to win it all. If there was a team I would've picked to win it all, it would've been UNC, so my fingers are crossed.

This time of the year is huge for a lot of college basketball fans. Listening to people and seeing how excited some fans get is crazy. Look at how easy it is to watch a game no matter what you are doing. Anywhere you go to eat that has a TV, will have a game on or even if you are sitting on the computer you can watch a game in between what you are doing, if you want.

I would be surprised, if there is not a pool, at almost every place of employment. When talking to friends I here about pools they are in at work and who they picked to win it all. College basketball has become the American past time for the month of March. Maybe it is because winter is over and the warm weather is around the corner and most people are excited already for the warmer weather that is coming. I think it has become the American past time for the month of March because a lot of basketball fans are sick of watching the overpaid NBA players.

When you watch a lot of NBA basketball games you tend to notice that some of the teams or players don't play with the same determination that the college basketball players play with. Take the Milwaukee Bucks for example, I was watching them about a week ago and they were walking up and down the court (not exciting at all). I feel that once the money is made, when some players make it to the NBA, certain players loose that no guts no glory mentality.

So with that said, I can't wait to watch UNC take that no guts no glory mentality and crush Villanova. Oh ya, I will also be watching the MSU vs. UCONN game. Go Big Ten.

Unpredictable Mother Nature

Wouldn't you know it, that we didn't get the four to seven inches of snow that was forecast for our area on Saturday night. With all the talk about the winter storm that was coming, it sure turned out to be a big disappointment or to others a blessing that we didn't get the forecast amount of snow.

How would you like to be a weather Forecaster? What a great job right, you can be wrong 90% of the time and you don't lose your job. All you have to do is blame it on mother nature, if your forecast wasn't correct. Being a weather forecaster could also be a disappointing job, to where if you're always wrong people begin to dislike you and talk about how being a weather forecaster is such an easy job, I mean you have a 50/50 shot at getting it right. You can't find a much easier job than that right? I don't know first hand how much work goes into being a weather forecaster but I am sure it is much harder than taking a 50/50 shot and hopefully getting the forecast right. I think that most people don't realize how unpredictable mother nature can be.

I am sure this won't be the last snow fall of spring, so I won't deflate the snow tubes quite yet. I was hoping to go sledding today with my daughter but leave it up to unpredictable mother nature to change her plans. So, yes, I was disappointed in mother nature and not the weather forecaster, that it didn't snow four to seven inches last night. I guess I will just have to wait and hope for one more big snow fall.

Why Some People Shouldn't Own a Gun

I was looking on the Internet and I just came across this story about a man from Malaysia, who shot his neighbor.

The man came home from work and heard some rustling in his tree outside. He thought it was a monkey, so he got his gun and without seeing anything he just fired a shot into the tree. He didn't know it was his neighbor until he heard her scream (I guess a monkey doesn't scream like a person). She is in stable condition with a gun shot wound to the abdomen. The man is now facing a possible charge for, illegally discharging a fire arm, that carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

I would not want to be that man, I mean come on, why not wait till you see something before you shoot. Something so simple as waiting to see the monkey first but now he could face charges and prison time. His neighbor lady probably shouldn't have been climbing around in his tree picking fruit either but I don't think she deserves to be shot for it.

I sure hope the man has a good attorney.

Having a Job

It's disappointing how bad the economy has become. So many people are losing their jobs and their lives, as they have known them to be for so long. Bank's are foreclosing on homes at rates that just keep increasing and don't look like they are going to slow down anytime soon. Oh ya, the stock market is terrible too.



I know friends that have lost their jobs and have been looking for work for quite some time. A friend of mine who has been out of work for at least a year called me the other day and told me that he was offered a part-time job where I work. I told him to take it and get his foot in the door, something is better than nothing. I still have to call him back and see how the job offer went. I am excited for him because he is a decent guy, who was one of the many that has been laid off by many businesses in this bad economy.



The other day I opened up an e-mail at work to see the company I work for was laying off 32 people, 7 office and 25 production. The layoffs are not here at the plant that I work at but they are in North Carolina where there is another plant. Sales at the plant in North Carolina are down 30% and don't look to improve in the near future. So far our plant here has been lucky and not had any layoffs.



The one thing I can't stand and never could, is when people you work with complain about their job. I've always felt that I should be glad to have a job and if I don't like it, I should get a different one. Ever sense the economy has taken a turn for the worse, it's funny listening to some of the people who use to complain about their job and how different they view their job now, and are just happy to have one. It's amazing how sometimes it takes bad situations for people to realize just how lucky they really are.

Babysitters

I have a 3 year-old daughter and without babysitters there would be times where she would just have to come along.



Obviously she can't come everywhere with me because it's just not looked at as the right thing to do for certain functions. If I brought her to class with me or took her to work I'm sure everyone would look at me like, what is he doing, doesn't he know that he can't do that. If I ask my daughter what she would want to do, she would love to come along with me everywhere I go. That is why I try to include my daughter in everything I do.



My daughter has a babysitter whose name is Barbie, she is one of the nicest old ladies that anyone could meet. But there is also a problem with that, she is to nice and just gives in when my daughter wants or doesn't want things. So I am sure you know where I am going with this. Even though people need babysitters sometimes they can teach kids the wrong things at times. I know Barbie doesn't want to teach my daughter bad things but sometimes she does. I have talked to Barbie about not giving in to my daughter so often but try telling that to Grandma and actually have her listen. That's what Barbie is to my daughter, a Grandma. So obviously I know my daughter loves Barbie so I just can't stop taking my daughter to Barbie's house.

That's why when school started this year for my daughter, even though it is only two days a week, I was excited. It gives my daughter a chance to get away from Grandma and have to listen; and not always get her way. This has helped tremendously with the behavior that my daughter use to show when she didn't get her way. My daughter finally realizes that even though she is cute, she can't always have her way.

Who's to blame for overpaid executives?

Compensation committees are to blame. They are usually made up of a few board members who oversee incentive plans, top salaries, and bonuses.

The CEOs get to pick who's on their boards, and who is on the compensation committees. Isn't that awesome, it's almost like stealing candy from a baby. Obviously whoever they pick is going to be someone that doesn't hate them.

Shareholders are also responsible. They approve the pay plans and also re-elect the directors.

One great thing about the stimulus package is that companies receiving bailout money are limited to how much compensation can be paid. Part of the plan also gives unlimited restricted stock options but until the government gets paid back those options will not vest.

One thing I thought that was neat this last week was, that I read Jeffrey Inmelt the chief executive of GE is turning down his bonus for 2008. What he gave up was an 11.7 million dollar long term performance award. He still got a 3.3 million dollar salary along with $2 million in equity awards though. It's not like he is going to be poor but at least it shows that some of these executives are realizing that some of these bonuses are unnecessary in times when companies are not delivering solid returns.

If I don't do my job at work, I don't get paid. At least these executives still get paid. So I don't feel bad for those executives at all if they were to lose their bonuses in hard times when their companies are not making solid returns.

Michael Phelps' bong drama

What did Michael Phelps do that was so wrong? Last I checked he was 23 years old. I don't think it is that uncommon for most people that age or around that age to try new things. Some cases may be more severe than others but smoking pot or taking a hit from a bong isn't one of them. I don't understand how people can say he ruined everything by acting like a 23-year-old.

Leon Lott, the sheriff in South Carolina were Phelps was photographed smoking pot is thinking about bringing charges against Michael Phelps. Lott is a character himself. I feel the effort that is going in to making a case against Phelps, is more of a crime itself. The sheriff doesn't want to treat him any differently because he is a celebrity. What does he think he is doing by all of the search warrants and arrests that he is making over a simple picture of someone smoking pot from a bong?

Under South Carolina law, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor that carries a fine up to $200 and 30 days in jail for the first offense. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a $500 fine. So just charge him and get it over with.

The world has other things to worry about that are way more important. Move on Leon.