They Know Nothing

On CNBC's Stop Trading with Erin Burnett a year ago today, Jim Cramer absolutely lost it while discussing the subprime mess.

And what a mess it is. Cramer is just great entertainment and Bear Stearns, trading 109 on this day, is now a morsel of JP Morgan. Since then, the FED has cut over 300 basis points and difficulty in acquiring credit remains at extreme levels as we continue to wring out these excesses and absorb the existing housing inventories.

Food Police Chase The Hamburglar

Sometimes, most of the time, it seems California operates outside of the range of normalcy. San Francisco is nutcase central and Hollywood is, well, Hollywood. The state of California, in a recent report by DCI (http://www.aboutdci.com/WinningStrategies.aspx), (hat tip Carpe Diem blog) was identified as having the least favorite business climate in the nation, with “too much regulation” cited as the leading culprit.

Enter the Los Angeles City Council, who on Tuesday voted unanimously to place a yearlong moratorium on new fast food restaurants in an area of impoverished citizens where obesity (not crime) is apparently running rampant. Thanks.

"Our communities have an extreme shortage of quality foods," City Councilman Bernard Parks said. I guess the programs implemented by favorite son Magic Johnson, who has TGI Friday’s among his corporate partners, have not had an impact. They in fact have!

The City Council, who obviously know more about where and what their citizens should eat than the citizens themselves, was apparently unwilling to work with existing and prospective restaurant outlets. "It's not where you eat, it's what you eat," said Andrew Puzder, president and chief executive of CKE Restaurants, parent company of Carl's Jr. "We were willing to work with the city on that, but they obviously weren't interested."


I got some thoughts for the “Food Police”. There are several very serious problems in south central Los Angeles which require immediate attention, and Ronald McDonald and his restaurants, charities and arch rival the Hamburglar are not among them. The Council should be spending the greater majority of their time eliminating gangs and the high level of violence and drug issues associated with them. The problem is so severe, the Army Rangers may be required to get the job done.

Should MS-13 and it’s counterparts be extinguished, a more favorable business climate could be established, leading to new restaurant ventures which could provide the alternatives necessary to help combat the perceived issues with obesity. Then, small business entrepreneurs and risk takers may find an environment worthy of investment. Having then escaped the local council’s interference in the marketplace, the private sector will provide a full array of choice for the citizens in your impoverished neighborhoods.

ALTHOUGH NOT CURRENTLY, I HAVE BEEN A LONGTIME SHAREHOLDER OF McDONALDS.

Hand Over The Heisman

At the Big XII Media Days held a few days back, Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman informed the country just how vast his talent is.

"I'd say I'm the best. That's my opinion because of what I bring to the table. The other guys are good quarterbacks, but I have supreme confidence in my ability as a quarterback and a playmaker."

Freeman popped off on losing All America wide receiver Jordy Nelson, a second round pick of the San Francisco 49ers.

"He was a good player … a great player, I'd say," Freeman said. "I was supposed to throw him the ball, so I threw him the ball. "But I won't miss him at all."

The one time Nebraska verbal commitment text messaged his de-commitment a week before signing day. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, Bill Callahan answered Nebraska had no room for prima donnas or drama queens, and such people “can go to Kansas State.” Callahan apparently got one thing right during his tenure in Lincoln.

Meanwhile, Freeman failed to display his skills to the public in 2007 as he tossed 11 interceptions versus 18 touchdowns. But, look out in 2008. Hey Tebow, get ready to hand over that Heisman Trophy!

Thanks Grandma

Bankruptcy Boots Bennigans

Another pitstop on the Budha-BAHL-Ash tour has bit the dust as Bennigans closed the doors today on over 300 restuarants nationwide in a sign of the credit strapped times we live in.

I have caused a lot of trouble at Bennigans over the years and will miss the place.

The Wall Street Journal has the unfortunate story at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121734771456393641.html

Plant's Please Read The Letter

Political events got blood shooting out of your eyeballs?
Stock market downdraft got you ready to pull the hair out of your head and set yourself on fire?

Kick back with an classic ole piece from the Plant and Page effort Walking Into Clarksdale in 1998 as Robert Plant teams with Alison Krauss in an excellent rendition of Please Read The Letter.

Wall Street Hangover

I should not be surprised when I hear news outlets offer condemnation for accurate opinions when they consistently present news pieces laced with false information on a nightly, scratch that, hourly basis.

When the drive by media, well coined by Rush Limbaugh, finds an opportunity to hammer our present Commander in Chief (Obama actually has not been elected yet), they get right to it.

These comments by President Bush are right on the mark. In fact, on my very first blog entry, your humble pontificator made very similar commentary, even presenting the potential length of the hangover."

http://bahl-blog.blogspot.com/search?q=hangover

The comments Bush made about Texas are correct as well. Texas, who seems to governed well save some illegal immigration issues, is one of the states with the least amount of issues related to subprime. Although they did not experience the exponential escalation in residential property values, they have also not been part of the historical decline. In addition, as one of the least taxed states, Texas continues to grow, attracting countless new businesses and having already emerged as a tech haven down in Austin.

Gee, less taxes producing favorable results yet again. The news media missing the point minute by minute. Common themes of our day, along with bashing our President, at least for the time being!

The Brickyard 400

Today is the running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, which is the 15th running of this race when the stock cars first invaded the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Todays race will only have seven racers who raced in the inaugural Brickyard 400. They include Joe Nemechek, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin and the 2000 winner Bobby Labonte, who is pictured below crossing the start/finish line.
Bill Elliott, another former winner (2002), failed to qualify. Four racers have run all the Brickyards; Burton, Gordon, Martin and Bobby Labonte. Two inaugural competitors are deceased, Bobby Hamilton and Dale Earnhardt, who won in 1995. The fact that only seven racers among the 43 starters are running today from the inaugural is to me astonishing. Fifteen years is not that long ago.

Time for Tomahawks

With Weatherford front and center on the FSU preseason poster, I think the powers that be figure he will continue to be the starting signal caller in Tallahassee. He needs to deliver point production.

Pelosi Pontificates

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, responding to President Bush lifting the executive order to prohibit drilling in the outer continental shelf (OTS), offers that the President is a "total failure".


Talk about the pot calling kettle! Her tenure as Speaker may well go down in history as least productive in history. While hearings have been taking place to put on a public spectacle of the oil executives, the Pelosi led congress has offered nothing in terms of realistic solutions, has blocked efforts to drill, failed to support the clearance of permitted drilling, bemoaned speculators and dismissed promising efforts, like ANWR. She recently penned a letter to Bush urging him to release portions of the strategic reserve, a naive and dangerous idea given the geopolitical turmoil we currently find ourselves engaged in. Former Speaker Gingrich, a private citizen, has far eclipsed Pelosi in efforts to find solutions.

She claims Bush has lost all credibility on the war ( very strong performance if you ask me), the economy (none of these problems are at his feet) and energy (He was tardy in calling you out for sure).

Other issues plaguing her, not withstanding the food service which went private after squandering millions of our dollars, center around the party of corruption, her party. The House Banking committee is of immediate concern. Chuck Schumer ignites a run on a bank from his careless at best media relations, Christopher Dodd is overseeing a bailout of the subprime crisis in which he got a preferred loan and is consulting with the parent of that company in crafting the legislation. You just want to pull the hair out of your head and set yourself on fire.

For her to chastise President Bush given her complete incompetence is mind boggling. She should be embarrassed, and if she had any dignity, should resign. A deadline is looming on September 30 to extend the congressional ban on the OTS. At that time , watch her fold as her weakness will be on display.

The House That Ruth Built

Prior to the 2008 All Star Game at Yankee Stadium, many Hall of Famers were honored which turned out to be the most stout collections of baseballs greats ever to be on the same field.

This is the final season for The House That Ruth Built as a new Yankee Stadium will be ready next spring. Although I like the Yankees and appreciate the history of the franchise, my favorite player of all time had tremendous success and fame at Yankee Stadium, Kansas City's George Brett. Brett, pictured at left, was one of the HOF players honored tonight. Over the years, he blasted towering home runs and got up close and personal with pine tar at Yankee Stadium.

Among the Yankee greats, and there are many of them, one of my favorites is Yogi Berra, a great New Yorker indeed. Yogi Berra is quite a character and participated in one the greatest television commercials of all time. Yogi at his finest!



If you get hurt and miss work, it don't hurt to miss work!

The Old Lady

I am a huge fan of advances in technology and our way of life through American Ingenuity, but I am also nostalgic, particularly when it comes to the grand traditions of college football.

Among those traditions for me was the magical place known as The Orange Bowl. Since it was determined The Orange Bowl was not cost effective to spruce up and with The Orange Bowl Classic long since moved to Pro Player Stadium at the Dade/Broward line, it's only tenant, the Miami Hurricanes, packed up and followed the Dolphins north. With that decision, you can see from the pictures below what we are left with. A historical icon in ruins.


I have attended some 25 games down at the O-Bowl, including several national championship games. Every other year I go down with the mighty Seminoles and use the port-o-lets on the second level grabbing a cold draft or three along the way. Parties in the motor home lot having traveled up from Kendall via Orlando with my buddies Butch, Craig and Eric from The Sports Grill were to die for.

Along with Florida State, I have also followed the Big Red Machine down there and caught an OU-Miami game or two as well. The 31-30 Miami upset of The 'Huskers would likely be the most memorable game. I would also like to forget the 31-0 shellacking UM handed my 'Noles in 1988. I was left to pound beers at Little Hoolies after that one.

One of my favorite memories is captured below for your viewing pleasure as Duncan, NE native Cory Schlesinger drove a stake through Sebastian the Ibis as Nebraska captures another national title.



For teams driving into the closed end zone it was very imposing. I recall the UM stadium announcer cheerleading for The 'Canes and the circus like atmosphere on January 1, 1984. My first game at The Orange Bowl saw Nebraska destroy Alabama 38-6 to capture the 1971 National Title. My last game there was Miami coming from behind to dump Florida State 28-27 in October 2002. After 31 years of history, and with The Orange Bowl on the ground, how fitting.

Absence Of Malice

Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow died early Saturday of colon cancer at the young age of 53.

Before Snow was press secretary, he was the first face of FOX News when it originally launched. I really came to appreciate him from his radio program, where he exhibited true professionalism with a demeanor we all could strive for. He dealt with his callers and guests with kindness and respect, appreciating those with positions different than his.

I never met Tony Snow, but felt as if I had from listening to the radio broadcasts. I was very encouraged when he became press secretary, thinking he would be top notch in that position. He was. After his cancer was made public, I thought he showed tremendous courage fighting for his life and displayed an attitude of a winner.

It has been a tough year for journalists with integrity, with Tim Russert and Tony Snow passing. I hope those who remain behind have learned lessons from those departed.

The American Century Golf Championship

Actor Jack Wagner, formerly of ABC's General Hospital and FOX's Melrose Place, signs autographs on Saturday at The American Century Investments Celebrity Golf Tournament benefitting The Lance Armstrong Foundation at Lake Tahoe.

The tournament includes celebrities like Al Michaels, politicians such as Dan Quayle, current athletes like Tony Romo (with Jessica Simpson in tow), and former athletes including Rick Rhoden, Michael Jordan, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky and Dale Jarrett.

I have always pulled for Jack Wagner, who is the only "non-athlete" to win the event, winning in 2006. I have been a fan of his since the early 80's, and I had occasion to meet the General Hospital star during his musical tour, showcasing his #1 hit "All I Need". Pictured below is Wagner backstage at the Bob Carr Auditorium in Orlando in May 1985.

The American Century Golf Championship, broadcast annually by NBC Sports, is scheduled to donate over a half a million dollars to The Lance Armstrong Foundation. It is also fun to watch!

Alabama Football

From Losers With Socks,
Kickoff '08 is coming soon, but apparently the games have begun!!!

Evinrude Celebrates 100th

Much of my childhood was spent in the boat water skiing and fishing, and the boat was powered by Evinrude. Evinrude, now owned by BRP but formerly by Outboard Marine Corporation (which also makes Johnson) and Mercury of Mercury Marine, a Brunswick Corporation (BC:NYSE), used to rule the day powering boats.

Yamaha then came in and developed some high level competition. Today, all three companies excel, putting forth engines with supreme power, speed and efficiency.

I would like to congratulate Evinrude on the 100th anniversary. The engines served my family very well as we tore up the slalom course on a daily basis. The engines were steadily powerful and reliable.

I know Ralph Evinrude and Francis Langford are beaming with pride!