Life takes us in many strange directions and wonderful discoveries. It never turns out the way we thought it would.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
JacksMars: The Classic 1950 Film Flight To Mars
JacksMars: The Classic 1950 Film Flight To Mars: Flight to Mars is one of my all time favorite films. I have the DVD and a model of the rocket used in the film. The writers some 62 years a...
Jack's South America: 'Miss Bum Bum' Pageant Seeks Brazil's Best Butt (P...
Jack's South America: 'Miss Bum Bum' Pageant Seeks Brazil's Best Butt (P...: 'Miss Bum Bum' Pageant Seeks Brazil's Best Butt (PHOTOS)
Friday, September 28, 2012
"Let The Market Take Care Of Things"
There once was a gentleman of great intellect and character named Herbert Hoover. He graduated from Stanford University. He had an incredible career in the mining industry. He made a fortune and rose to be president of the USA. When the stock market crashed in 1929 and things started to go bad, he made the comment: "Let the market take care of things." We all know what happened next. We have a man running for president now with the same slogan: "Let the market take care of things." Need I say more?
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Jack's South America: Fabio Jose Silva Coelho, Google Exec, Detained By ...
Jack's South America: Fabio Jose Silva Coelho, Google Exec, Detained By ...: Fabio Jose Silva Coelho, Google Exec, Detained By Brazil Police Over Anti-Islam Film
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
An Amazing Discovery While Watching A 41 Year-Old British Sci-Fi Series
I spent 11 years of my life in what I call "The British World." I include in this Britain,Australia and South Africa. I fell in love with television in all three countries. Great television stations were the BBC (British Broadcasting Commission), SABC (South African Broadcasting Commission, and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission.
All of these networks or channels had incredible courage. They would always "tell it like it is" even if someone got offended. Their "made for TV" movies were always incredible.
I came to especially love a show called Minder. It premiered on British television in 1979 and lasted on television until 1994. It was a comedy about a boxer who was an ex-convict (Terrence McCann-played by Dennis Waterman) and a con man named Arthur Daley (played by a British actor named George Cole.) Terry and Arthur are a part of the British national character as Archie Bunker is in the US.
I also love a British science fiction show from the late 1960's and early 1970's called UFO. It's about a secret organization battling aliens from other planets. The organization battling the aliens is called SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization). The star of the show is a great US actor named Ed Bishop. The series was 40-50 years ahead of its time. It still has a cult following today.
I was watching the third episode of the series. It centered on a SHADO medical technician who gave the aliens classified information. The actor playing the traitor had a voice that sounded familiar. I was sure that it was George Cole, the actor who went on to play Arthur Daley. But he looked much too young. At the end of the show I read the credits listing the name of the actor. Sure enough, George Cole's name was there. What a big surprise and coincidence!!!!
All of these networks or channels had incredible courage. They would always "tell it like it is" even if someone got offended. Their "made for TV" movies were always incredible.
I came to especially love a show called Minder. It premiered on British television in 1979 and lasted on television until 1994. It was a comedy about a boxer who was an ex-convict (Terrence McCann-played by Dennis Waterman) and a con man named Arthur Daley (played by a British actor named George Cole.) Terry and Arthur are a part of the British national character as Archie Bunker is in the US.
I also love a British science fiction show from the late 1960's and early 1970's called UFO. It's about a secret organization battling aliens from other planets. The organization battling the aliens is called SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization). The star of the show is a great US actor named Ed Bishop. The series was 40-50 years ahead of its time. It still has a cult following today.
I was watching the third episode of the series. It centered on a SHADO medical technician who gave the aliens classified information. The actor playing the traitor had a voice that sounded familiar. I was sure that it was George Cole, the actor who went on to play Arthur Daley. But he looked much too young. At the end of the show I read the credits listing the name of the actor. Sure enough, George Cole's name was there. What a big surprise and coincidence!!!!
Monday, September 24, 2012
JacksMars: Beyond-the-moon base stirs up buzz - Cosmic Log
JacksMars: Beyond-the-moon base stirs up buzz - Cosmic Log: Beyond-the-moon base stirs up buzz - Cosmic Log : 'via Blog this'
Jack's Africa: Jungletraders - Fine Furniture and African Art
Jack's Africa: Jungletraders - Fine Furniture and African Art: Jungletraders - Fine Furniture and African Art : 'via Blog this'
Jack's Africa: R52m tender trips up Malema | Fin24
Jack's Africa: R52m tender trips up Malema | Fin24: R52m tender trips up Malema | Fin24 : 'via Blog this'
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Jack's Africa: Second Take: Digital terrestrial television
Jack's Africa: Second Take: Digital terrestrial television: Second Take: Digital terrestrial television : 'via Blog this'
A Saturday In Half Moon Bay, California
It's Sunday morning and I'm up with a cough. I also had a reaction to the Shingles shot that I took. At least Elena and the dogs are resting nicely. Today we went to Half Moon Bay. We gave the dogs a nice walk in Pilar Point. We then went tot he town and bought a device to cook tortillas and an African face mark for our dining room that is going to be "a little bit of Africa." I spent 6 years of my life in Africa. Elena has been there. We met because of a picture of Elena taken in Swaziland. I want everyone who comes in the housee to see how much we love Africa.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
I Talk To A Young Student About Becoming A Doctor
Shingles is an unpleasant skin disease that can affect older people. On the recommendation of Elena I went yesterday to Kaiser South San Francisco to get a shot to protect me against shingles. At the reception area I met a young lady who was studying for the MCAT examination. (This is the exam that all applicants for medical school must take.) She looked at my Kaiser card and thought that I was a doctor. I explained to her that my wife was a doctor. She asked me for advice. I told her that the three year residency is the worst part of the painful process to become a doctor. I told her how much it hurt me to see Elena literally work a 36 hour workday in ICU . I told her that her partner in life was going to suffer a lot while she went through all the hard steps to become a doctor. I went on to tell her that medicine was a great career not only for the money but also for the satisfaction of being able to help others and save lives. I told her to become a doctor.
Friday, September 21, 2012
In And Out Burgers
There are two fast food restaurants int he USA where I will eat-Five Guys and In And Out Burgers. After my bureaucratic battle at the DMV I had lunch at In and Out Burgers. After eating my heavenly burger, I saw a sketch on the wall. It was of the first In and Out Burger opened in Southern California in October, 1948-the month and the year that I was born. A burger was 30 cents way back then.
Is War With Iran Inevitable?
I attended a fascinating program last night at the Westin Saint Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Former Secretary of State George Schultz spoke. Also present were two retired ambassadors who used to work for Schultz, a Stanford University history professor, and a retired 4-star admiral who specialized in special operations forces.
This was a group of very bright political conservatives. At the end of the process they said that war with Iran was not inevitable.
They then made two truly surprising revelations as follows:
1) India and Iran are very good friends. (They strongly emphasized that India violates no international sanctions and provides Iran with no help with their nuclear program.) Iran is always helping India to counter Pakistan. Iran has helped India to set up a strong base in Afghanistan. When the US leaves Afghanistan, India will be the dominant foreign power there (much to the horror of the Pakistanis!)
2) Right now Japan has the capability of manufacturing and deploying very advanced nuclear weapons. They choose not to. They love to send a subtle message to China and North Korea that they have the capability to produce and deploy these weapons fast. The learned political conservatives conducting the meeting said this was the same place that Iran wanted to be.
These learned political conservatives emphasized that diplomacy and opening a serious and sincere dialogue with Iran was much better than a military strike that would set back the Iranian nuclear program 4 years but make them more determined to get nuclear weapons.
There is a little hope in the world this morning.
Jack's South America: The Limits OF A Brasilian-Mexican Partnership
Jack's South America: The Limits OF A Brasilian-Mexican Partnership: The Limits of a Brazilian-Mexican Partnership September 21, 2012 | 0553 GMT Mexican President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto a...
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Iran Could ATTACK The USA!
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012
War between China and Japan
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Massive Naval Exercise In Persian Gulf
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Jack's Africa: Marikana Truth
Jack's Africa: Marikana Truth: Marikana Truth Marikana Truth Marikana Massacre: All this to protect an Oligarch? Posted on September 5, 2012 ...
Monday, September 17, 2012
War With Iran Near
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A Sunday Morning Breakfast At Whole Foods Market
One of the guiding forces in my life is a book by John R. Talbott called Survival Investing. He's a bright man with a lot of common sense.He warns people to invest in gold and to also invest in things that they know well. He has this commonsense idea that you should invest in your own home or condo. After all you live there. He also advises people to invest in things that they personally know. I have taken his advice to heart nad invested in companies like the CBS television network. I am going t add Whole Foods Markets to my list of great companies that I know well. Yesterday Elena got called to a work-related meeting in Burlingame. I was stuck with the dogs in the car. I drove to Whole Foods Market and had a great breakfast. I was amazed at all of the new food choices that they had added. Whole Foods used to be a market for the upper income people who wanted organic food and the like. Without compromising their excellent quality, they have evolved in to a company offering quality food and services to their customers. I like what I see and will buy shares in the company.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Jack's Africa: Second Take: Marikana accountability
Jack's Africa: Second Take: Marikana accountability: Second Take: Marikana accountability : 'via Blog this'
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Bringing A 12 Year Old Bicycle Back To Life
Luah needed a bicycle so we gave her the bike that Elena received when she arrived in San Jose 12 years ago (She only rode it once.) It has a nice comfortable seat that women love. I had to spend a good part of the day putting air in the tires, cleaning it up, buying and mounting a new lock, front light and a mirror for the helmet. Now Luah has a safe bike, "The things we do for love!"
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
JacksMars: Russia's Deputy PM says country must shoot for Moo...
JacksMars: Russia's Deputy PM says country must shoot for Moo...: Russia's Deputy PM says country must shoot for Moon base : 'via Blog this'
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
JacksMars: The Space Review: Review: The Laws of Spaceflight
JacksMars: The Space Review: Review: The Laws of Spaceflight: The Space Review: Review: The Laws of Spaceflight : 'via Blog this'
16 Years Ago Today I Arrived In The San Francisco Bay Area
16 years ago I arrived on a Greyhound Bus in San Jose. Thus began my 16 year adventure in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been a really tough ride with a few marvelous high points.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Jack's Africa: SAfrica labor unrest spreads, 41,200 miners strike...
Jack's Africa: SAfrica labor unrest spreads, 41,200 miners strike...: SAfrica labor unrest spreads, 41,200 miners strike : 'via Blog this'
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Are You Better Off Than You Were 4 Years Ago?
From my father I learned to be a student of history. I have studied the great depression. We have been living through a mini Great Depression 2. The politicians have sugar coated it and what is left of the social net has saved us from oblivion. Had President Obama not intervened as he did, we would have had cataclysmic Great Depression 2. I'm sure that it would have been worse than the one in the 1930's. There would have been incredible human suffering and social unrest. Violence would have been common place. In such unsettled conditions, it would have been easy for a politician like Hitler or Stalin to take power. God knows what would have happened afterwards. President Obama will get a good place in history for this achievement.
Are my wife and I better off than we were in September, 2008? We live in the same house that we did 4 years ago. We still own the same rental property that we owned years ago. We drive the same cars that we drove 4 years ago. We have the same television that we had 4 years ago. We wear the same clothes that we did 4 years ago. But our debt has dropped over $250,000 and our retirement savings have grown.
I am retired and my wife is a doctor. She has been spared the pain of unemployment. But we have suffered a lot of stress over the last 4 years.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Jack's South America: Colombia’s peace hopes fuel Ecopetrol - FT.com
Jack's South America: Colombia’s peace hopes fuel Ecopetrol - FT.com: Colombia’s peace hopes fuel Ecopetrol - FT.com : 'via Blog this'
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
JacksMars: How to Get to Mars. Very Cool! HD - YouTube
JacksMars: How to Get to Mars. Very Cool! HD - YouTube: How to Get to Mars. Very Cool! HD - YouTube : 'via Blog this'
Monday, September 3, 2012
Get Ready For Military Action In Iran
I worked at a telecom company for eight years as international sales manager. My engineer was a wonderful man named Bill Kubicki. If I was getting ready to make a big mistake he would come up to me and calmly ask this question:
"Jack what's wrong with this picture?"
Most of the time I did not have an answer. Bill would then sit me down beside him and go through the problem in detail and give me the right answer that saved my neck. Each one of these talks was a wonderful learning experience for me.
Bill Kubicki would look at the whole picture with Iran and ask that same tried and true question:
"Jack what's wrong with this picture?"
In this case I would have an answer for him. It is odd that the Iranians are building more and more centrifuges to create weapons-grade plutonium. It would be fairly easy to buy such fissile material from Pakistan that is very sympathetic to all Muslims. In the second case they could buy the fissile material from North Korea that is always hungry for money. I would not be surprised to hear that Iran already has enough fissile material for a few bombs or some crude tactical nuclear war heads.
Going further in my response to Bill Kubicki, I would "throw cold water" on this whole idea that Isreal is going to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities with their F-15 and F-16 fighters bought from the USA. The best shot they would have with aircraft is a direct flight over Syria. This would only happen if the rebels in Syria disabled the sophisticated Russian air defense system provided to the Assad government. That is a questionable proposition.
I would tell Bill that if I was the Israeli military planner I would call for an attack using submarine-launched cruise missiles and short range-ballistic missiles launched from Israel. If the warheads had precision guidance they would land right on the target. Iran is the maker of the finest concrete in the word so the warheads would have to be designed to penetrate deeply before detonating. I would surmise that low-yield and light-weight tactical nuclear weapons would have to be employed to destroy such strongly-constructed facilities.
Having said all of that I would next tell Bill that the Iranians would fight back fiercely when they are attacked. They would strike out at Israel and the USA. The United States would be drawn into the war that follows. If it happens before the presidential election,Obama will be seen as a president in time of war and he will not be voted out of office.
I would go on to tell Bill that the Iranians are never to be underestimated. Their counter attack will be clever and destructive. The Strait of Hormuz will be closed. Oil prices and gold prices will "go through the roof."
I would tell Bill that American naval units in the Persian Gulf would be attacked. Missiles would rain down on Israel. Terrorist attacks would happen in Europe and the USA.
I would tell Bill that Russia would not come to Iran's aid. They will sit back cynically and watch the price of oil go up to $250.00+ per barrel. As the old saying goes: "They will be laughing all the way to the bank." The Chinese will be losing over 6% of their oil imports. It would make no sense to them to go to war to recover these lost oil imports. I'm sure they already have contingency plans to source the oil elsewhere.
I would warn Bill that Pakistan is 'a wild card here." They will give Iran all sorts of secret aid. They will act cynically and "let Iran do their dirty work."
I would end my comments to Bill by saying that the war with Iran will either be long and very bloody or short and extremely bloody with weapons of mass destruction used by both sides. I would sadly tell Bill that It is very likely that we will see nuclear weapons fired in anger for the first time since 1945.
A Beautiful Sunday Interlude In Santa Cruz, California
Elena and I went to Santa Rosa, California yesterday. The great director Alfred Hitchcock loved this small city. He often filmed movies there and near by. It's a charming small city. Elena and I left the car in covered parking so the dogs would be protected from the sun. We went to a charming art museum. They had a small selection of artists but the work was high quality. We took some great pictures. We then walked two blocks and had lunch at an Italian restaurant. We were the only customers. I had a glass of Chianti and we shared a salad. Elena had a panini and I had a marvelous chicken dish. We listened to romantic music and were happy just to be alive and in love.
Jack's Africa: Marikana murder charges dropped - Crime & Courts |...
Jack's Africa: Marikana murder charges dropped - Crime & Courts |...: Marikana murder charges dropped - Crime & Courts | IOL News | IOL.co.za : 'via Blog this'
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Jack's Beautiful Woman For Sunday 2 September, 2012
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Saturday, September 1, 2012
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