Disqus - Latest Comments for JoachimStiller

Re: Outsourcing from a Different Perspective

JoachimStiller — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:34:06 -0000

Just type de gouden koets in your browser and you get a lot of pictures.

Re: Stocks are Bouncing Off the Walls

JoachimStiller — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:22:30 -0000

Well isn't there a song by Green Day that outlines this annual Market Behavior. It's called "Wake me up when September Ends". Great song. The Market will go to sleep soon.

Re: Back 2 Skool Musik Fest and Skate Demo

JoachimStiller — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:10:44 -0000

Who wrote the press release copy for Dear Dakota? Man that sucks. "Pop-rock for the IntroSpective'? Sounds like Leonard Cohen on a trip. By the way Daryl Phennegar was also the engineer for Blistur's first album. Nice kid and completely self taught. Works for SoundVision in Orange Park.

Re: Sheriff Seagraves Addresses the City Commission

JoachimStiller — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:27:39 -0000

I am torn between two Seagraves' personifications. One is the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Kid from the Who's Rock Opera "Tommy" and the other one refers to Elton John's "Madman Across the Water".
With an emphatic denial of the rumors that he wanted to take over the city's police department, Seagraves proceeds with tearing down the city police department's professionalism, communication methods and overall functionality. Well if that is not sounding like a "Vote of No Confidence", then what is. Most interesting and bothersome in his "plea" was his attitude towards chief Hurley and his people. With complete lack of respect for anyone's actions and professionalism Seagraves emphasized himself as the self appointed authority in law enforcement for all of Nassau county and Amelia Island. Personally I get the eerie feeling that he claims to have an established direct line to the Almighty or even worse, he may actually think he is.
I do understand the mechanics of "good old boys politics", what I despise however is the arrogance behind it. It reminds me a lot of the colonial crap that was justified with "The White Man's Burden" philosophy. It goes like this: you dumb people have no clue, so let me help you. Beware, Seagraves just took step number one in the process to take over the city. He uses an old politician's approach: Put a black hat on your opponent and race in as the saving grace with a white hat on. We're in for interesting times. One thing's for sure in my humble opinion, if Seagraves wins the battle that just started, we may as well Kiss our Little Paradise Tourism Island and Economy Goodbye.

Re: The Bait and Switch Started with Adam and Eve

JoachimStiller — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:39:02 -0000

Absolutely agree.

Re: Are we Spoiled or on a Mission?

JoachimStiller — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:19:24 -0000

I don't things have changed. I think it's called progress and progress develops as follows: Someone invents a wheel to move the huge blocks that pyramids are constructed with. After several people were crushed because they could stop the wagon in time someone invented a brake. Now that we had a brake we didn't have to be afraid anymore not being able to stop. So some applied automatic motion (horse or oxen) which later turned into the combustion engine (horse power we gave it). Curiosity is the motor of progress. Lose it or kill it (as our current leaders are doing) and we'll be back rather quickly bathing once a year.

Re: Envision 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan

JoachimStiller — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:32:19 -0000

Thank you for this posting. I decided to check out the website and to my utmost surprise learned that here in North East Florida the majority of people would like to see a regional transit rail system. Something like Atlanta's MARTA or Miami-Dade Transit. Good choice. What I didn't see however was an effort to promote or even consider long haul HIGH SPEED TRAIN TRANSIT. It's green and it is comfortable travel.
I don't know what the story here is in the US, but it is time to realize that mass transportation needs High Speed Rail Road. Imagine Jacksonville - Miami in the comfort of an airconditioned, well cushioned, beverage provided rail road cart; 350 miles in less than 1-1/2 hours; no airport security crap, delays, discomfort; no 6 hours on the road with construction delays, troopers on the look out and dangerous tractor/trailers. If you don't believe me that the flat Florida land is ideal for such a development, than please fly to Paris France and take the High Speed Train into any direction and tell me that it is not the future and I'll tell you to buy a horse and a saddle.

Re: Happiness is Not Just More of the Same

JoachimStiller — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:17:11 -0000

Even though I do agree with your statement dear Amelia IPO, this story seems to be more about choosing and continually building and re-building your backyard to fit your life's needs. Kind of moulding your environment to your life's curiosity. I also think that the story's author has found a place where roots can grow. But you're absolutely right that happiness comes from small things. This morning's happiness for me was 3 minutes in bed with my wife in one arm and my 12 pound dog snuggling on the other side. Didn't cost me a penny and put a smile on my face!

Re: Moving Forward Takes Forward Thinking

JoachimStiller — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:55:21 -0000

Well the thing is that even banks have to start thinking and acting out of the box. Their previous business model has proven to be faulty as well.Their most important loan qualification criteria should answer the following questions:
1. who is the person(s) wanting a loan. In today's new economy we see many partnerships with a wide variety of know how and experience.
2. does the business plan reflect a valid, valuable and growing market
3. does their market plan include and master all new technologies and is this properly budgetted
4. is their substantial personal meat invested in the operation.

Re: Moving Forward Takes Forward Thinking

JoachimStiller — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:48:42 -0000

Yes and no. When you're talking about cutting out intermediaries you seem to imply the sales and distribution channels. Yes when it comes to traditional brick and mortar distribution channels that add to the sales price for the consumer. Cut that out wherever you can or at least start looking at opportunities. GM goes on eBay on Tuesday. That is cutting out thousands of dealerships. It's natural progression no matter if it cuts jobs on the short term. Harley Davidson will follow soon believe me.
Now that is a distribution/sales channel development that every business owner should look into and that is sales affiliation. The system is simple: if you know somebody who knows somebody that wants to buy your product, would you give him/her a commission if the sale is arranged through him/her. No paperwork, no invoices, no intermediaries; just a good word from the intermediary.

Re: Doctors Weigh in on the Health Care Proposal

JoachimStiller — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:07:45 -0000

Absolutely correct and there is even a bigger picture, because if you place the human being inside the spectrum of medical progress and food production over the past 150 years or so, people with contrary opinions to yours will say, "well a hundred years ago mankind's average age was 47, now it's 80 something, how do you explain that". Voluntarily giving up on the ageless choice between quality and quantity is never a true consideration in our society. By far most people go for quantity, more of the same.

In general I agree with your statement that it's all because the almighty buck and the ingrained fear not to have food on the table and a roof over your head. At least it starts out that way. However beyond that point greed takes us all far beyond the physical needs into psychological territories. Indians did not kill more bisons that they needed to survive the winter. The white man killed them for greed and entertainment. At what point do our actions become our own worst enemy?
Philosophy as well as science have become ad hoc today, because the bigger picture is so gigantically out of reach, that only what we perceive as (distorted) facts, are allowed in the absolute formulas called capitalism, socialism and communism. Today's world order and the ability to communicate in the moment is pulling the rug from underneath these absolute formulas while creating mass confusion and a new era of counter cultures.

Re: Government Fixed the Economy

JoachimStiller — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:09:00 -0000

Just as numbers are being created to show that housing data are "improving" and therefore we are looking at a stabilizing economy, Fannie Mae is looking for $10 billion plus to stay in business. No doubt Freddie Mac is standing in the wings to claim support for its shortfalls soon. What the government has done with the all the stimulus is create a French Revolution scenario: "Apres Nous Le Deluge". Of course giant stimulus packages as have been created will have an effect on the economy, however it will be too short and it will not return us to "The Way We Were". Those day are gone.

Re: The Price We Pay to Live Near the Beach

JoachimStiller — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:46:55 -0000

I've lived for 20 years down in the Caribbean Island and directly went through several hurricanes and the aftermath looks quite different from what is shown in this picture. Your grandparents' home came off the blocks probably as a result of flooding, but it still has a roof and believe me that's the first thing that goes after all lose debris has gone flying.
Over the years of writing and learning about hurricanes, I have come to the conclusion that the main reason why Amelia Island is quite protected against a direct hit from a major hurricane is the Gulfstream way out there in the Atlantic. As long as the water temperature of this phenomenon stays substantially higher than the surrounding waters closer to our coast line, it will attract and guide the eye of a storm, the engine of the beast if you will, to stay away from here. There is more to it of course such as forward momentum (Andrew) and supporting or competing weather patterns, but this is the main reason.
This year's hurricane season was downgraded yesterday as El Nino in the Pacific did develop strongly in June and early July, diminishing the patterns in the Atlantic.

Re: Doctors Weigh in on the Health Care Proposal

JoachimStiller — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:29:56 -0000

quite observant Tommylee. What do you think, there must be a spot somewhere here for See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil.

Re: Fernandina Fire Official Press Release

JoachimStiller — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:23:05 -0000

I live practically next door and yes we had several lightning strikes in the immediate area, but to name lightning the possible cause would assume that the physics of a strike have changed as there are several structures right next door to this one that are substantially taller.

Re: Swoosh Returns

JoachimStiller — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:29:08 -0000

Philip, you may or may not have heard of the white bicycle plan that has been in existence in Amsterdam for decades. We came up with the plan during the hey days of the flower power movement (next week is 40 years of Woodstock). it was simple and obviously very effective. We collected hundreds of discarded bikes from the streets and backyards; repaired them into a safe and drivable condition and painted them white and then distributed them all over downtown's street corners, near the train stations and bus stations, parking lots and on city squares. The idea was and is that if you need transportation take the white bike and leave it where you're going to. No locks needed. It works 40 years later.

Re: Operation Fish-Net Cleans Up the Streets

JoachimStiller — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:42:35 -0000

Thank you

Re: Operation Fish-Net Cleans Up the Streets

JoachimStiller — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:20:59 -0000

Chris Brown and Benjamin Morris look like brothers and what's this special assessment fee of $100??

Re: Growing up Without Fast Food

JoachimStiller — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:07:31 -0000

Well savoring food is one of life's true pleasures which way too many Americans have lost. It's all about volume and nothing about taste. I see the cardboard commercials passing as food on the TV and I think, just put A1 steak sauce on it and they will eat it.
I play guitar in weekends on a dining deck and notice how couples are now caught up in their phones, texting to whomever, occasionally throwing a word across the table as to what someone texted, never taking their eyes off the LCD screen. Don't let me ask how sex works for these people. It's a sad affair.

Re: Blueberry Bread Puddings with Lemon Curd

JoachimStiller — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:59:09 -0000

Hey and Blue Berries are 2 for 1 at Food Lion on Sadler. Ooops that is blatant advertising.
Can't help it, I love blue berries.

Re: The Journey into Paradise Begins

JoachimStiller — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:06:02 -0000

Thank you for giving such beautiful dimensions to someone I had only heard about as I arrived too late to personally have met her. I have however met several MaVynne Betsch's in my travels and decided that they are the "salt of the earth" that makes life edible. Thanks.

Re: Quitting Smoking, It’s the Easiest Thing to Do

JoachimStiller — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:27:52 -0000

I appreciate your thought here about quitting smoking for a new child to be born, but if you remember the fifties and sixties, a pregnant woman did not seem to be any reason for anyone not to smoke around this woman. I would estimate that at least 70% of the population smoked and smoked everywhere. Since I traveled half a million miles a year in those days I was happy to be able to smoke in airplanes, but I tell you I dreaded the moment the captain turned off the no smoking sign, because the wave of smoke immediately following could strangle a elephant. I think the writer is right however, anger correctly directed is a great motivator.

Re: Hobbes Delivers the Cumberland Island History…Part Two

JoachimStiller — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:39:28 -0000

Great writing. I felt like I was there, surrounded by purity. Well done.

Re: Because These Are Extraordinary Times…

JoachimStiller — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:36:19 -0000

Very true. Carpe diem would be another expression. If we could only accept that life on a less greedy level offers a lot more peace of mind.

Re: Parking Meters in Fernandina Beach

JoachimStiller — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:31:16 -0000

Well from a visitor point of view there is quite a difference between meters at Main Beach and meters in town. Shopping is quite naturally "burdened" with parking fees, primarily because there is usually a lack of spaces. No problem there in my opinion. Now, putting meters up on Main Beach will bring a substantial inconvenience to tourism. People coming for a day at the beach don't want to get up from their towel, grab the baby and toddler and walk half a mile to refill the meter. As a tourist I would avoid Main Beach for Slider's or even Peter's Point. As a business owner on Main Beach I wold start screaming now. On the money end.....Let me see: first question is how many parking spaces are there. The cost of the meters are usually around $750 per meter installed. (http://www.taphilo.com/tom/....
Enforcement is a necessity so figure another $60,000 a year ($100K with car and benefits). Regular meters need replacement every 7-10 years in a normal inner city. On Main Beach exposed to saltwater, blowing sand and the elements I would say about 3 years to replacement. Well from there you can do the math and the damage you do to tourism business in the area.