Thoughts on this day...

As I watch the swearing in of Joe Biden, my thoughts wander back to the recent presidential campaign and the growing popularity (seemingly out of nowhere) of Barack Obama. Two years ago he was an obscure senator from Illinois and now he sits waiting for the moment when her will stand up, walk over to the podium, and put his hand on President Lincoln's Bible and get sworn in as our 44th President of the United States.
I watch as the cameras keep panning on the millions of people in the National Mall, and I try to imagine what it would be like to be there.
I know, because of my PTSD, that I could never be in a crowd that big without panic seizing me like a vise. I wonder what it would be like standing among that many like-minded people.
Now, as Barack repeats the oath, I watch his wife's eyes reflecting pride...then "Congradulations Mr President" and the crowd claps deleriously. People hugging and kissing. Jumping up and down for joy. Tears running down eyes that never thought they would see this day.
A sense of hope so strong that you can taste it, smell it, feel it in your pores.
Now, as Barack addresses everyone, he calmly, in his rich voice, speaks. His eyes seem to make contact with the millions before him. He appears serious, yet, a secret smile breaks through at times, as he spells out the challenges we all now face. He points out the problems we must now tackle, and the economy is mentioned first.
He tries to make us all understand that their are many challenges, but as he said, "They can be met!" You know, by the tone of his voice he means it. He speaks, not to just Americans, but to the world which is also watching this ceremonial changing of the guard. This peaceful transistion of power is something we pride ourselves in as Americans.
Cameras walk through the mass of humanity, and sometimes they settle on a face - and we see smiles or tears.
My mind wanders back to when I was growing up in the 50s and 60's and saw the ugly face of rasicm and an oppresed people. In those days, people referred to African-Americans as niggers, and other blatantly racist terms. I was familiar with descrimination as one of the few Caucasians that lived in the barrios of La Puente and El Monte. Most of my fights were because I was different. I didn't fit in those prodominately Hispanic communities.
So you see, I have a certain prospective on race that helps me understand what the blacks in this country have gone through.
Now, everyone's clapping... he waves...and waves amid the sea of sound. Then it's over. It's official. I wait for the ground to open up and Angels to sing...
but all that happens is a woman walks up to the mics and recites a poem. The spell is broken too soon. Too soon. The rhetoric sets in now...

Kobe and Gasol carve up the Cavaliers, 105-88

Forget about a dislocated pinkie that happened in the first quarter, Kobe finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 12 assists!

LeBron and company got brought down to earth, as they suffered their worst loss of the season to the surging Lakers.

The game was reminiscent of the Celtic game, where the Lakers stopped the Celtics winning streak (19 games).

Cleveland has the best record the franchise ever posted and has been winning games easily until they ran into the Lakers last night.

At times like this, it sure is fun being a fan (since 1961 by the way).

AP photo

An Historical Day: Obama becomes 44nd president

Was there ever a president who had more expected from him? It's incredible to see the support for Obama.

Watching the crowd grow this morning at the National Mall, I was reminded of the glory days of JFK, when most Americans had a sense of hope and change.

After the pomp and ceremony of today, Obama faces challenges that would make any man nervous, but he seems to maintain a sense of calm that only that only the great one's can.

May God bless his administration.

AP photo

LATEST UPDATE: FDA confirms salmonella in Kellogg Peanut Butter Snacks!

Watch out for peanut butter!

What began as an investigation of bulk peanut butter shipped to nursing homes and institutional cafeterias has broadened with the Kellogg Co. recalling 16 products and federal officials confirming salmonella contamination at a Georgia facility that ships peanut products to 85 food companies.

There's a reported 474 people sick from peanut butter products, and six deaths attributed to the outbreak.

The new recalls, including one from General Mills (GIS) for Lärabar and JamFrakas snack bars, means that about a dozen companies have pulled products, including cookies, crackers and ice cream. Products were sold in stores such as Wal-Mart and Food Lion.

Kroger said Monday that it is recalling Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in select stores because the peanut butter in the ice cream was supplied by Peanut Corporation of America and may be contaminated with Salmonella. Stores under the following names are included in this recall: City Market, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC and Smith's.

More recalls are likely, given that the Peanut Corporation of America, which earlier recalled the suspect peanut butter and peanut paste, supplied 23 other companies with product that's been recalled. PCA first recalled peanut butter last Tuesday, then Sunday added its peanut paste, an ingredient used by food manufacturer

Photo on right is the American Peanut Butter plant.

To see what products are being recalled click here

AP photo

The only good thing Bush Did: Pardons Border Guards

The El Paso Times / Associated Press

Border guards Ignacio Ramos, at left, wearing tie, and Jose Compean, pictured here in file photos, today had their prison sentences commuted by President Bush.

Bush's Legacy: most reviled president parodied

President Bush, art urinal, by Clark Sorensen. From EXHIBIT: 'DOWN THE DRAIN' -THE LEGACY OF GEORGE

AP photo

Thoughts on the state of the struggling newspaper industry

I'm moved enough to make a few comments today about the state of the struggling newspaper industry today. Here are my observations for better or worse:

Online Classified advertising is proving to be more profitable than print Classifieds.
Back in my publishing days, we depended on those print classified ads to help anchor the publication(s) with a steady flow of cash. Legal ads were also desirable because they were a steady income too.
Another reason why the classifieds do well is that we’re in the 21st Century and an increasing number of readers prefer to take care of business instantly. We are a nation of people who “want it now” and not later. It isn’t just the younger set that are tuning in to their daily newspapers online. Canny older consumers are finding that the deals online often beat anything around where they live.

I’m not surprised to see the newspaper industry struggling right now. The whole country is struggling in this depression. Couple that fact with the changing demographics of readers who now go online to get their news and do their shopping, and it becomes apparent that the web (in the end) is what’s going to save newspapers.
As odd as that may sound, I can foresee the majority of newspapers in the next ten years shifting their revenue emphasis to online products, while still maintaining a paper edition (in minimum local runs) for traditionalists and baby boomers like me, who still enjoy holding a newspaper and having the ability to cut items out of it for future posterity (just one reason).

As tough as the times are, there are newspapers hanging in there. One of the challenges facing newspapers profit lines is the publications that went public are now finding themselves leveraged to the hilt and drowning in debt-service.
A good example is the now bankrupt Tribune Company. Every single entity they own has been making money! Prior management (or mis-management if you will) took care of that by loading the companies up with debt. Has the lesson been learned? We’ll see.
    The current owners (particularly the Sam Zell's and private equity firms of the world) are not “newspaper types”and could care less about the obligations a publication should have towards it’s readers. Unlike the families who started many of the nation’s newspaper chains, these new owners have had only one thing in their minds - profit first, second, and third.
Little niceties like ethics, and fair and honest reporting, are still be taught in colleges, but when the students graduate they find a whole new reality often awaits them.
I have no sympathy for the new breed of owners who ignore everything that’s important about newspapers and equate them with something called a “profit center.”  If they lose all their equity and the bond holders take a beating during these bankruptcies, oh well. Cry me a river.
There’s still hope for newspapers. Watch and see which ones come up with a balance between integrity, emphasis on the reporters giving on-the-spot coverage that cannot be outsourced, and the addition of user-friendly online components that the 21st Century reader looks for.
As it Stands, I may be considered an “old time” journalist for the era I worked in, but I have made peace with the changes the newspaper industry is making, and still believe in the power of the written word!

Google image

Farewell to a great actor - Ricardo Montalban dies

I'm going to miss Montalban. I loved the commercial he did for the Chrysler Cordoba "..soft Corinthian leather..."

He was often cast -- and stereotyped -- as a Latin lover and later was best known as Mr. Roarke of 'Fantasy Island.'

He was respected for his work to improve the roles and image of other Latino actors.

The Los Angeles Times has written a nice tribute to this one-time Latin lover and actor.

Montalban suffered from a painful spinal condition in his old age, but remained active in trying to raise the profile of Latinos in Hollywood.

Click here for the whole story.

photo by Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Harold was horrified when he saw the suicide!

via Google images

Global Warming: The world is changing rapidly...

NO SNOW: this image shows Mount Hood in Oregon at the same time in late summer in 1985 and 2002.

Image: Gary Braasch ©