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Eric
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7 months ago
in 05.08.09 on Tropophilia
Actually to be the bearer of awesome news! An article in the Las Vegas Review Journal on October 17, 2008 mentioned the possibility of the Star Trek Experience being recreated at the Neonopolis Mall in downtown Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman stated this in a news conference on October 16, 2008. A possible deal is currently being negotiated between CBS and Rohit Joshi, developer of the Neonopolis Mall.
As reported by TrekToday at http://www.trektoday.com/news/171008_01.shtml , Star Trek: The Experience may be re-opening as soon as the first quarter of 2009.
In an article dated November 7 on the In Business Las Vegas website, it has been confirmed that all elements of Star Trek The Experience will be moved to it's new home at Neonopolis. An operator for the attraction has not been confirmed.
Awesome!
As reported by TrekToday at http://www.trektoday.com/news/171008_01.shtml , Star Trek: The Experience may be re-opening as soon as the first quarter of 2009.
In an article dated November 7 on the In Business Las Vegas website, it has been confirmed that all elements of Star Trek The Experience will be moved to it's new home at Neonopolis. An operator for the attraction has not been confirmed.
Awesome!
7 months ago
in Everybody’s Working for the…Health Insurance on Tropophilia
Are you implying that if we had some kind of a nationalized health care system or a health care backup system that more people would be free to create start-up companies? Not to be a wet blanket but the US has more technology and biotechnology start-ups than any country in the world. (I had to add tech and biotech to differentiate from normal start-ups which would give China the edge by far!)
Look at the socialized societies of Europe. Everyone has free health care provided by the government. Does this mean that their citizens, freed from the burdens of health care, go and found new start-ups? Not by a long shot. The entire European market for start-ups and venture-backed companies is the size of a medium venture market here in the US (maybe New York or Austin). Now that doesn't mean in terms of money. In terms of pure money invested its much closer. The problem? Not enough companies. European venture capital firms end up over-funding the companies they have in Europe since there aren't enough start-ups to go around! That creates a lot of other problems that I won't go into.
While I completely agree that something has to be done about health care in the US it's my opinion that the creation of such nationalized systems are not the answer. It's certainly not the answer to more start-ups. More start-ups would be encouraged by freed up capital in terms of both credit and investment, a larger SBA with more principled investment guidelines and opportunities for the creation of third-party invested SBA funds and finally curtailing pork in our federal budget which could ultimately allow us to lower taxes on small businesses and their owners (the very people who end up taking the chance on the business in the first place).
As for world class care in Europe and other nationalized system? While I hate to bring emotional arguments into things, I have someone very close to me whose cousin is dying because the nationalized health care system gave up on her before they even tried to fight her cancer. This is a 27 year old dying because a government made a health care CHOICE to not allow her the care she needed to give her a fighting chance. She had to travel to the United States for that kind of care. World class care is not world class if the government makes the decisions about whether you can access it.
Now the argument might be made that people can't access that care here in the US but in many ways, we actually have a nationalized health care system. If you go into any public or national (non-private) university hospital right now you will be cared for, no questions asked. You will then be discharged with a bill. It is then your choice whether to pay that bill or not. If you do not pay your bill, eventually the hospital (and in essence the community around you) will pick up the tab. Well actually the hospital and doctors will pick up most of the tab first but then it goes to the community. Then, voila! Your health care is officially nationalized!
Health care is critically important in this country and we need to take it very seriously. However, the problems we face need creative solutions that will not put private health care decisions into the hands of bureaucrats or a federal, state, or local budget. Maybe a creative start-up can help us out before it's too late.
Look at the socialized societies of Europe. Everyone has free health care provided by the government. Does this mean that their citizens, freed from the burdens of health care, go and found new start-ups? Not by a long shot. The entire European market for start-ups and venture-backed companies is the size of a medium venture market here in the US (maybe New York or Austin). Now that doesn't mean in terms of money. In terms of pure money invested its much closer. The problem? Not enough companies. European venture capital firms end up over-funding the companies they have in Europe since there aren't enough start-ups to go around! That creates a lot of other problems that I won't go into.
While I completely agree that something has to be done about health care in the US it's my opinion that the creation of such nationalized systems are not the answer. It's certainly not the answer to more start-ups. More start-ups would be encouraged by freed up capital in terms of both credit and investment, a larger SBA with more principled investment guidelines and opportunities for the creation of third-party invested SBA funds and finally curtailing pork in our federal budget which could ultimately allow us to lower taxes on small businesses and their owners (the very people who end up taking the chance on the business in the first place).
As for world class care in Europe and other nationalized system? While I hate to bring emotional arguments into things, I have someone very close to me whose cousin is dying because the nationalized health care system gave up on her before they even tried to fight her cancer. This is a 27 year old dying because a government made a health care CHOICE to not allow her the care she needed to give her a fighting chance. She had to travel to the United States for that kind of care. World class care is not world class if the government makes the decisions about whether you can access it.
Now the argument might be made that people can't access that care here in the US but in many ways, we actually have a nationalized health care system. If you go into any public or national (non-private) university hospital right now you will be cared for, no questions asked. You will then be discharged with a bill. It is then your choice whether to pay that bill or not. If you do not pay your bill, eventually the hospital (and in essence the community around you) will pick up the tab. Well actually the hospital and doctors will pick up most of the tab first but then it goes to the community. Then, voila! Your health care is officially nationalized!
Health care is critically important in this country and we need to take it very seriously. However, the problems we face need creative solutions that will not put private health care decisions into the hands of bureaucrats or a federal, state, or local budget. Maybe a creative start-up can help us out before it's too late.
9 months ago
in Monday Links: September 15th, 2008 on Tropophilia
Oh yeah, and as for the Microsoft commercials...
You're right they don't talk about products. But they do have you talking. As for products, I think the most recent ad had a little hint as to where the ads are going. The final shot had the words "Perpetually Connecting" collapsing into the now maligned term "PC."
I still enjoy these ads. I think they're funny with twists and turning gags that let you in on mini stories that are ultimately about "nothing." You know, I think there might have been a show about that...
Either way they're much better than the now tiresome Mac and PC ads from Apple. It was bad enough that they had one smart ass Apple person in the ads, now they have to have "Mac Geniuses" to continue to beat the same dead horse. These ads really make me want an Apple. I just can't wait to go into a store where some "genius" in an American Apparel polo shirt can transfer my files over and snark at my musical tastes when secretly the "genius" prefers the rawk of Nickelback, or as true fans call 'em, The 'Back.
You're right they don't talk about products. But they do have you talking. As for products, I think the most recent ad had a little hint as to where the ads are going. The final shot had the words "Perpetually Connecting" collapsing into the now maligned term "PC."
I still enjoy these ads. I think they're funny with twists and turning gags that let you in on mini stories that are ultimately about "nothing." You know, I think there might have been a show about that...
Either way they're much better than the now tiresome Mac and PC ads from Apple. It was bad enough that they had one smart ass Apple person in the ads, now they have to have "Mac Geniuses" to continue to beat the same dead horse. These ads really make me want an Apple. I just can't wait to go into a store where some "genius" in an American Apparel polo shirt can transfer my files over and snark at my musical tastes when secretly the "genius" prefers the rawk of Nickelback, or as true fans call 'em, The 'Back.
9 months ago
in Monday Links: September 15th, 2008 on Tropophilia
Amazon Fresh?!? Do you think they've heard of WebVan?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webvan
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2001/07...
It is a great idea, but I think VERY hard to get working in the "expansion phase." I like that the review mentioned the reusable cartons as those are pretty much the only thing left over from the WebVan debacle.
Seattle is an area where it might work well but free delivery for over $25 is going to be pretty tough with food products. Margins aren't great in the food world. They're good, no doubt, but not great maybe around 6% according to the US Government. Six percent works great in large large quantities but not for an order once or twice a year. Either way it'll be interesting to see how things go. If they can pull it off and expand to larger areas that would be amazing. Especially in less population dense areas of the country.
I suppose that if anyone can do it Jeff Bezos can.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webvan
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2001/07...
It is a great idea, but I think VERY hard to get working in the "expansion phase." I like that the review mentioned the reusable cartons as those are pretty much the only thing left over from the WebVan debacle.
Seattle is an area where it might work well but free delivery for over $25 is going to be pretty tough with food products. Margins aren't great in the food world. They're good, no doubt, but not great maybe around 6% according to the US Government. Six percent works great in large large quantities but not for an order once or twice a year. Either way it'll be interesting to see how things go. If they can pull it off and expand to larger areas that would be amazing. Especially in less population dense areas of the country.
I suppose that if anyone can do it Jeff Bezos can.
10 months ago
in How <i>Could</i> I Forget? on Tropophilia
While I’m certainly not trying to post 100% similar stories here’s my memories of that day: About halfway through my second period on September 11, our principal, Mrs. Teague came over the intercom and very briefly told us that "Everyone here is completely safe and that there have been airplane and bomb attacks in New York and Washington." At this point, she proceeded to tell any teachers with televisions in their classrooms to turn them on. Our classroom, in the middle of the oldest building on campus, was not wired and we thus had no shot at watching. We tried to find out information on the internet but we couldn't since the computer we had in the room had a dreadful connection to the internet and the fact that I’m sure large portions of the country and the world were trying to access the myriad of online news services.
I still find it odd that so many people in schools stopped classes for the day since my high school seem determined not to let it affect the day. We continued with classes and very few people talked about what was going on. This of course led to a somewhat confusing and scary situation since what we heard were often third-hand accounts of what people were seeing on very few TVs in school. However, by lunchtime it was particularly apparent that many people left school. I specifically remember eating lunch at my usual spot outside with one of my friends. After talking for a bit about what was going on we realized that of our usually busy spot was deserted. Very few students were outside. Much to my surprise at the time many people had left school for the day.
When I look back on things now, I realize that by 1 PM I still had very little idea about what was going on. I, unlike many of the people who evidently knew more than me refused to leave since I knew that our math teacher would probably hold it against me if I skipped class. That afternoon we just sat in that teacher’s class and talked about what we thought this day meant for the country and its future. I remember very specifically that a good friend talked about how we were probably going to go to war in the Middle East over the attacks. This girl had visited Israel in the summer before school resumed and she sincerely believed that Israel would probably be our only ally. She also predicted that the United States would not fare well in such a battle. She stated that the "US and Israel play wargames every summer in the desert and most of the time the Israelis win." At that point the class kind of exploded in discussion fueled by fear, confusion, and anger. As I remember it, this was the first moment where I felt real fear about what was going on.
That afternoon I drove home and started listening to NPR. It’s funny that I can almost directly link my freakish love of NPR today to September 11th. I listened to it almost non-stop for the next few months. In fact, I don't think I listened to a CD while driving in my car until December.
That night I remember it was very hot. At home I sat in an upstairs room and I watched TV. I quickly caught up on the images that I had missed throughout the school day. Again, as I look back on it I probably shouldn't have watched since the networks weren’t editing much before it went out over the airwaves. While I realize that censorship certainly is not a good thing I am certain there were some images I saw that late afternoon and evening that have not been broadcast since. The images were pretty graphic and were pretty scary. As I watched I couldn’t get the words of my friend out of my head.
Looking back on that day each year it still is quite intrigues me in a slightly uncomfortable way. Maybe it’s the history major in me still fascinated looking back on that day. I often find myself listening back to parts of the full day coverage on NPR and its amazing how much the commentators got it 100% right. It was amazing that many of those people had the clarity and judgment to put together some amazing reporting in the minutes, hours, and days after the attacks. (Take a listen at: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/americatransfo...)
I still find it odd that so many people in schools stopped classes for the day since my high school seem determined not to let it affect the day. We continued with classes and very few people talked about what was going on. This of course led to a somewhat confusing and scary situation since what we heard were often third-hand accounts of what people were seeing on very few TVs in school. However, by lunchtime it was particularly apparent that many people left school. I specifically remember eating lunch at my usual spot outside with one of my friends. After talking for a bit about what was going on we realized that of our usually busy spot was deserted. Very few students were outside. Much to my surprise at the time many people had left school for the day.
When I look back on things now, I realize that by 1 PM I still had very little idea about what was going on. I, unlike many of the people who evidently knew more than me refused to leave since I knew that our math teacher would probably hold it against me if I skipped class. That afternoon we just sat in that teacher’s class and talked about what we thought this day meant for the country and its future. I remember very specifically that a good friend talked about how we were probably going to go to war in the Middle East over the attacks. This girl had visited Israel in the summer before school resumed and she sincerely believed that Israel would probably be our only ally. She also predicted that the United States would not fare well in such a battle. She stated that the "US and Israel play wargames every summer in the desert and most of the time the Israelis win." At that point the class kind of exploded in discussion fueled by fear, confusion, and anger. As I remember it, this was the first moment where I felt real fear about what was going on.
That afternoon I drove home and started listening to NPR. It’s funny that I can almost directly link my freakish love of NPR today to September 11th. I listened to it almost non-stop for the next few months. In fact, I don't think I listened to a CD while driving in my car until December.
That night I remember it was very hot. At home I sat in an upstairs room and I watched TV. I quickly caught up on the images that I had missed throughout the school day. Again, as I look back on it I probably shouldn't have watched since the networks weren’t editing much before it went out over the airwaves. While I realize that censorship certainly is not a good thing I am certain there were some images I saw that late afternoon and evening that have not been broadcast since. The images were pretty graphic and were pretty scary. As I watched I couldn’t get the words of my friend out of my head.
Looking back on that day each year it still is quite intrigues me in a slightly uncomfortable way. Maybe it’s the history major in me still fascinated looking back on that day. I often find myself listening back to parts of the full day coverage on NPR and its amazing how much the commentators got it 100% right. It was amazing that many of those people had the clarity and judgment to put together some amazing reporting in the minutes, hours, and days after the attacks. (Take a listen at: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/americatransfo...)
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1 year ago
in Pay As You Drive on Tropophilia
You're absolutely right, we should end the tax breaks and tax them like any other company. Just don't levy additional taxes just because they are producing a commodity. Certainly don't get the government involved with giving subsidies to develop alternative fuels. We've seen how that's worked out with the corn-based ethanol market. Prices will definetly rise as any finite commodity depletes. However, the free market will find a way to fuel the future, there are hundreds of companies right now who are working on smart and sustainable fuel options. Why muddy the process up and have the govenment decide which of these possible opportunities we should fund based on what group Congress or the president is pandering to today? What happens if the government gets it wrong and the company that could produce the most sustainable and clean energy source is forced out of business because the government decides to fund switchgrass or algae?
1 year ago
in Pay As You Drive on Tropophilia
A Gas-Tax Holiday is obviously futile pandering and is fundamentally a dumb idea. I thought that both Clinton and McCain had smarter people who knew better than to suggest such silly stimulus ideas.
But wait, "the chosen one's" (who actually promoted suspending the gas tax in Illinois in 2000) promise to institute "windfall taxes" on oil companies is not a viable decision either. At its heart, such a tax is goes at the heart of what makes our country great. Instituting a windfall a tax on a company for selling a commodity that happens to be making profits based over speculation and not the forces of supply and demand is wrong. Such a windfall tax would probably only exacerbate high prices because a tax would discourage an oil company from finding new sources. It’s not Exxon or BP’s fault that some commodity trader is hedging against a declining (now finally rising) dollar. The companies themselves have stated that prices should really be around $80 dollars a barrel. Exxon still uses a model based on $50 barrel oil in order to determine the profitability of a new project.
Candidates should be smart enough to realize that markets are efficient. Ask any condo builder in Miami or Phoenix what over speculation does to short-term profits when there are no fundamentals underlying rising prices. Oil, like other commodities (rice anyone?) are just in a boom time right now based on fear and panic, not fundamentals. Everything will work itself out in time. Let’s just hope that the correction happens before one of the three candidates has a chance to mess it up.
But wait, "the chosen one's" (who actually promoted suspending the gas tax in Illinois in 2000) promise to institute "windfall taxes" on oil companies is not a viable decision either. At its heart, such a tax is goes at the heart of what makes our country great. Instituting a windfall a tax on a company for selling a commodity that happens to be making profits based over speculation and not the forces of supply and demand is wrong. Such a windfall tax would probably only exacerbate high prices because a tax would discourage an oil company from finding new sources. It’s not Exxon or BP’s fault that some commodity trader is hedging against a declining (now finally rising) dollar. The companies themselves have stated that prices should really be around $80 dollars a barrel. Exxon still uses a model based on $50 barrel oil in order to determine the profitability of a new project.
Candidates should be smart enough to realize that markets are efficient. Ask any condo builder in Miami or Phoenix what over speculation does to short-term profits when there are no fundamentals underlying rising prices. Oil, like other commodities (rice anyone?) are just in a boom time right now based on fear and panic, not fundamentals. Everything will work itself out in time. Let’s just hope that the correction happens before one of the three candidates has a chance to mess it up.
