Global Warming?

The past three days have been a bit chilly for October. If you are not a native Floridian you probably do not understand. You are probably used to cooler fall weather.

Most of us in South Florida are used to wearing shorts almost to Christmas time each year. To have three consecutive days in the 50s in October is unheard of. (Actually record setting.)

Now I like cool weather now and then. Football was meant for cool fall weather. But to have this cool of weather for an extended in October? What is going on?

We keep hearing about global warming and how it is effecting our environment. They say that pollution is causing our climate to warm, yet last winter was the coldest since 2001.

I do not think we know enough about our climate. We have limited set of data on our climate, yet the tree huggers claim they know what is best. For all we know the earth goes through warm and cool cycles. If you deny that, look at the track record of hurricanes over the last 40 years. They go through cycles of increased and less activity. I think the earth does the same thing.

Hopefully it warms up soon - its been too cold for this native to ride in the mornings.

Presidential Charity

The statistics should come as no surprise.

The Obamas have not given very much to charity until he became a US Senator (and into the public spotlight). Once again this points towards his belief in government solutions. Below is a table of Obama's charitable contributions for the past several years:


The Obamas are by no means scrapping by. They are making a pretty descent income. And with his book sales, their income has skyrocketed the last three years in comparison to the "average Joe". He talks about helping others but it appears that he has not done it personally.

As a Christian, I tithe to my church and support other charitable ministries that help people in my community. I make a descent living and I try to give back (and feel that I need to give more at times). It is surprising that the Obamas have not given more to their church over the years.

Obama's idea of charity is government entitlements - a return to the socialist leaning "New Deal" that Roosevelt instituted during the Great Depression of the late 1920s and 1930s. It is a belief that the government can do a better job of helping people than a church or non-profit organization.

A Wall Street Jounral article from October 24th warns that the Democrats might be contemplating restrictions on what is a charitable contribution. They want a litmus test on organizations around who they help and who they hire.

What does this potentially mean? Gifts you make to colleges, churches, and other non-profit organizations will be scrutinized by the government because of who they support. If the government does not like them - they will not qualify. The gifts I make to the conservative Christian university where I got my MBA (and rated in the top 50 by Newsweek) probably would not qualify.

This is just another reason that I cannot support Obama.

Obama's Plans to Raise Taxes

Obama claims that he is lowering taxes for 95% percent of the population. However, other statements that he is making do not add up. It continues to sound like the typcial Deomcrat tax and spend philosophy.

If you read between the line of his tax policies, you will find taxes going up for more people than going down. Some of the examples include:

• Obama wants to increase the "phase out" of certain tax credits such as child care and education. This is a hidden way to raise taxes.
• Obama wants to remove the ceiling for social security - this is a 12.4% tax increase for anyone making over $102,000. Yes, this is paid by the employee and employer unless you are self employed and you pay the full 12.4% yourself.
• Democrats are looking at removing the charitable contribution for non-profits. I agree there are a lot of loop holes in the tax code but there are legitimate items like this that move money toward more efficient chartiable efforts than the government. Charitable individuals will loose this deduction and pay more in taxes.

The net effect is that middle class working people will be subject to more taxes at the end of the day.

The independent, non-partisan Tax Policy Center put together a "tax calculator" to compare your tax bill under McCain and Obama. Surprisingly my taxes will go up under Obama even though I make far less than $250K a year.

Obama has also proposed massive government spending increases. Somehow he has to come up with the money to support those initiatives. The only way he can really do that is through raising taxes. Remember this when you vote next Tuesday.

Sun Sentinel Endorses Obama

It really should not come as a surprise. The Sun Sentinel endorsed Obama for President. They dedicated almost the entire Outlook section of Sunday's paper to the presidential race and the reasons they support Obama. It was also scattered to other sections including Sports. You almost you not escape it.

In the Outlook section, they provided a one page overview of how they rated the candidates on key topics. They gave more advantages to Obama over McCain to help back up their decision:

• Wall Street Financial Crisis - They gave the advantage to Obama even though he has two of the former CEOs of Fannie Mae (one of the largers contributors to our current economic problems) on his economic counsel. Obama offers entitlements and tax relief as the solution to the mortgage crisis. McCain did not offer much more but did point out the sub-prime mortgage problem before it melted.
• War in Iraq - They support Obama because he opposed the war and calls for a timeline on withdraw. A timeline makes no sense. Do we tell thieves when the police will not be on patrol in a neighborhood?
• Immigration - They admit that McCain had a better plan but could not get it through Congress. So they supported Obama because he voted for a bill that passed... I do not agree with either candidate on this issue. I do not support the free ride both are offering to illegal immigrants.
• Cuba - Obama might have the advantage, but it is also the same approach with Iran and Korea. Opening relations and easing restrictions do not always make bad people behave better.
• Leadership - I am not sure how Obama got this one either. They say he inspires and upset the Clinton political juggernaut in the primary. But with a war-chest of $600M in campaign contributions he should have. Obama has never held an executive position and has never succeeded in getting a major piece of legislation through. Maybe they are counting his volunteer work with ACORN...
• Abortion - They support Obama with his anti-life stance. As Christian, this is something that appalls me.
• 2nd Amendment - They support Obama for wanted to ban guns (and taxing ammunition). They painted McCain as someone who will allow almost anything. We do need better background checks and stiffer penalties for committing crimes with guns. Not restoring felons voting rights and making sentencing less stringent. The bad guys do not want the average person to have a gun - it puts them in danger.

They gave no advantage to either candidate on Education, Health Care, Taxes, Israel, and Energy. I agree with that on all but Taxes and Energy. Obama has changed his stance more recently on oil drilling to be more politically acceptable. McCain changed his stance but it was early in the primaries as oil prices started to raise. He also supported more alternate forms from nuclear to wind just without government entitlements for it. Taxes are vastly difference. Obama's plan is almost anti-business and will suffocate an economy that needs to rebound. McCain supports tax relief for everyone to help stimulate the economy.

They did give McCain advantages on Campaign Finance, Labor, Environment, and Social Security. (Surprising the Republican has the better environmental plan...) However the Sentinel failed to cover topics such as Foreign Affairs (beyond Cuba and Israel), Crime Control, Military Veterans' Benefits and Entitlements which are also important. They are also items where McCain has an advantage.

Granted, I am a conservative. I will not deny that. But I am not so blind that I cannot judge two candidates fairly. I have even voted for Democrats in the past. I am not an ardent McCain supporter, but he is the better choice for our nation in a time of need.

The Sentinel did point out Obama's questionable connections with Rev. Wright (but failed to mention Bill Ayers, Jimmie Johnson, or Franklin Raines). They also pointed out that Obama's tax plan and entitlements probably will not work with the state of our economy. They also pointed out doubts because of his inexperience but still support him in the end. They said Obama made a safe choice VP in Biden (despite all of his gaffs).

They said that McCain chose shrill over statesmanship - I guess they never saw the attack ads on McCain or Palin. They liked McCain but felt he gave into the right. More proof that they are left leaning in their thinking.

I saw this coming in the primary season. The Sentinel's coverage leaned towards Obama based on the coverage they provided. They showed more articles and pictures of him than his opponents. In comparison, I was in North Florida during the same time and saw the Jacksonville Times-Union provide more coverage to Hillary Clinton. She was their candidate they were pushing in the primary.

I am not sure if the editors of the Sentinel are really providing a fair and balanced view of the candidates. Maybe they drank the Kool-Aide at the convention in Denver...

Dolphins Beat The Bills!

Another win by the Dolphins today!

We saw more good things from the team today. The defense looked better and held Buffalo to one TD and three field goals. Joey Porter terrorized QB Trent Edwards and got a sack for a safety. The Dolphins got four turnovers and only gave one back.

Special teams were not special but did what they needed to do. Pennington took advantage of a porous pass defense. Ted Ginn showed up and torched Buffalo CB McGee for 175 yards.

The running game did not look great, but Buffalo has a descent run defense. The Dolphins moved the ball enough to keep the Bills off balance.

Pennington should get the game ball for today. He played smart and took advantage of what the Bills gave him. He hit Ginn in stride several times for large gains. Some of Pennington's passes looked like wounded ducks, but to complete 70%+ of your passes for 314 yards is pretty good.

CBS commentator Rich Gannon was correct in saying that the Dolphins got more out acquiring Pennington than the Jets did in getting Brett Farve. Where would the Dolphins be without Pennington?

Next week, the Dolphins go to Denver. They are team that is hurting with multiple injuries. This is another chance for a win, but they need to play like they did today.

This team is still a work in progress - they are not playoff contenders yet. But you can tell they are headed in the right direction.

A New Retirement Plan

I do not forward funny emails, so I decided to post this one instead.

If you had purchased $1,000 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago, you would have $49 left. With Fannie Mae, you would have $2.50 left of the original $1,000. With AIG, you would have less than $15.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, consumed all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you would have $214 cash.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

It's called the 401-Keg Plan.

Thank you Bev for the laugh!

The sad part is that this is close to the truth except that I buy bottled beer...

Where Are Your Investments?

America has become a second-rate power. Its trade deficit and its fiscal deficit are at nightmare proportions... The new law of evolution in Corporate America seem to be 'survival of the unfittest'...

The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed - for lack of a better word - is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward of mankind - and greed, you mark my words - will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.

Gordon Gecko, as played by Michael Douglas in Wall Street (1987)

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and Money.

Matthew 6:19-24

It has been depressing to look at the stock market and my investment statements. Over the past year we have over 1/3 of the value of the stock market evaporate.

There are days of late where I get angry and frustrated over what has been happening with our economy. I blame Congress for lack of a oversight. I blame corrupt CEOs who raped their companies (and investors).

The sermon this week at church helped to put some things back in perspective.

As a nation we have become a debt based, materialistic society. We put our security in things around us - and over time they will fail or not satisfy us. They also create anxiety in our lives as we worry over them.

Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said that we can only serve one master - and we have choose whether that is God or Money. He pointed out that the eternal is more important than the temporal. (But we should not ignore the temporal - just keep it in the right perspective.)

When I was an undergrad, my fellow students and I loved the movie Wall Street. We all wanted to be part of the action in the finance industry - just without the illegal part. But I put my faith in the wrong things - a love for money. And it disappointed me in the end.

I have been through this before. I was invested in the stock market during the 1987 crash. I went through the Internet crash and 9/11 in 2001. Maybe today it hurt more because I had more. Maybe its because my faith was in the wrong place this time around.

What drives you? Where do you put your trust?

I still believe that the free market economy is the best - but the current situation is a lesson once again in what is most important.

No Speeding in the Express Lane...

So I stop by Publix, where shopping is a pleasure, to pick a few items.

I picked up eight items to be specific. I was paying with my ATM card, so I headed to the express lane.

So I get in line and there is a family of four checking out in front of me. They keep putting items on the counter. Then their elementary aged child walks up and drops something else on the counter.

I am standing counting the check-out screen and its 13 items! (The sign says 10 items or less.)

Then the lady pulls out her check book. (I think the sign also says cash or ATM only...)

By the time she finishes there are six people in line behind me.

This is not the first time I have been stuck behind someone over the limit. I have asked cashiers why they don't say something to them. They couldn't answer me.

Unfortunately it comes down to a lack of courtesy. The express lane is there for people who have a small purchase to get out quickly. Yet people do not follow the instructions on the sign. (Buying 10 yogurts for $4 does not count as one item when they scan each one...)

We see a lack of courtesy all around - from people trying to cross the street, holding the elevator for someone, to helping unload something. If we each did one small courtesy each day the world might be a little better.

Is the season almost over?

No I am not referring to summer. I am referring to election season.

I am tired of the campaign rhetoric from both sides. I am tired of debates not providing new insights. I am tired of campaign signs plastered everywhere.

The election cannot come quick enough for me on November 4th.

Please do not get me wrong - I think elections are an important process of our government system and a right we need to cherish and appreciate. Not everyone on the earth has this.

Unfortunately for Fort Lauderdale residents the season will not be over. We have primaries on February 10th and the general election on March 10th. We have to endure several more months of campaign rhetoric.

My question is why can't the City of Fort Lauderdale hold their elections at the same time as the national and state elections? Are we wasting our tax dollars by having separate elections? (I would say yes.)

I think they should be at the same time as other elections. People are already coming to vote. The equipment and polling workers are there. Why not vote for Mayor at the same you vote for the President and state legislators?

I like what Brenda Snipes has done to clean up the image of Broward county elections. It lacked integrity for years with voting machine problems, missing ballot boxes, and voting registration anomalies. Now I would like for her to question the municipalities about why they need separate elections.

Shoot The Aliens!

South Florida has been invaded.

Okay - maybe not by what you are thinking but it has been invaded by plants and animals that do not belong in South Florida.

The Sun Sentinel pointed out on Sunday (Oct 12th) that lionfish are multiplying in the Caribbean waters and disrupting native fish populations. They supposedly escaped (or released) during hurricane Andrew in 1992. Now they are spreading through the Caribbean and up the east coast.
Unfortunately, man is to blame for most of the aliens. We grow tried of pets and release them (or allow them to escape). Or we try to introduce new species to "improve" our ecology. In the end we have just disrupted the balance of nature that God put in place.

We see other native species around like iguanas, nandy and quaker parrots, boa constrictors, peacock bass, and oscar fish. In addition we see non-native foliage taking over like Australian pine, carrotwood, prickly pear cactus, Brazilian pepper tree, and melaleuca trees.

My vote is for open season on all of the critters that do not belong. You might ask why - isn't that cruel? It is cruel for the native species in Florida because they are being pushed out.

I am in favor of gigging lionfish when you scuba dive, popping an iguana with a pellet gun (always be safe), or pulling out those non-native trees. We need to return Florida to the way it was. In the end this is another way to go "Green" because we will save natural resources.

These aliens are destroying Florida's ecology:

• Most of the animals have no natural enemies in Florida - they are able to multiply at will and beat out native wildlife for food.
• They are distributing ecological balance that was in place - lionfish eat small fish on reefs. This includes fry of commercial fish that puts food on tables.
• Non-native foliage typically have greater water demand than native foliage - melaleuca trees are drying up parts of the everglades.

The government spends millions of our tax payer dollars fighting these aliens.

After Hurricane Wilma, I took advantage of the city picking debris by cutting down two carrotwood trees. My neighbor (non Florida native northerner) scolded me for cutting them down. I explained to her they they are non-native weeds that are a problem. She didn't buy it. In the end I replacing them with palm trees (more native than carrotwoods). She continues to water her backyard every other day to keep her non-native foliage from burning up - what a waste of our water.

Almost Another Statistic

I came close to becoming another statistic over the weekend.

While riding in the bike lane, a county bus came within three feet of me (and the driver blew the bus horn as well to let me know she was there).

This is the third time this year a county bus has nearly side swiped me. I have been hit by cars twice before (including a trip to the hospital). At this point I am fed with drivers who hold no regard for traffic or cyclists lives.

Cyclists in South Florida are getting mad for a reason. Our lives are at risk on the roadways when we ride. People complain about cyclists but we have a right to be on the road according to Florida Statutes.

The Sun Sentinel had a cover story in the local section about the fight over roadway between cyclists and automobiles. Cyclists do have a right to be on the road and must obey the traffic laws as a car. However when you read all of the comments posted you see the hatred between drivers and cyclists.

In my case over the weekend, the bus driver failed to use proper care while passing me. The Florida State Statues states the following about automobiles passing cyclists:

316.083 Overtaking and passing a vehicle.--The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules hereinafter stated:
(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall give an appropriate signal as provided for in s. 316.156, shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle.

I followed the bus to the next stop, pulled in front, and asked the driver if she realized what she almost did. She proceeded to tell me that I needed to get off the road and I was at fault. Unfortunately this is the prevailing attitude among drivers.

If she would have been more understanding, I would have let it go. Instead I called the Fort Lauderdale Police and filed a traffic complaint against her. (I am calling the bus operations as well.) Officer Alsamawi was very helpful with situation but arrived after the bus left. He recommended the following in situations like this:

1. Get the tag of automobile (camera phone works great)
2. Get a description of the vehicle
3. Call the police with the information and file a complaint

I do agree that there are cyclists on the road who blatantly disobey the traffic as well. We are like a car on the road as well. The police should address them as well. It is both elite and casual cyclists who contribute to the problems.

But the bottom is that South Florida drivers blatantly disobey the driving laws and do care for others. They speed, do not yield the right of way, talk on cell phones, and perform other dangerous maneuvers. Local governments need to enforce the traffic equally for everyone.

Unfortunately the bottom line is that if you are a cyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian - watch out!

FTL = Fix The Lights

I was driving home last Friday night and came across Broward Boulevard from I-95. I got stopped by three lights. The next day I was headed to a wedding and got stopped twice going towards I-95. Coming home I got stopped three times again by lights. (I go through six lights driving across Broward to and from my house - getting stopped by half of them is not very good.)

This scenario is true on any of the major roads in Fort Lauderdale - Broward, Sunrise, Davie, and Federal Highway. You cannot drive any distance on them without getting stopped by lights. I expect stop and go traffic during rush hour, but off hours?

Everyone realizes that stop and go driving wastes gas (especially when the price is north of $3 a gallon). The City of Fort Lauderdale encourages people to be "green" and save energy but they do not help us in what seems to be a simple way. (Another blog deserves to be written on the paper they send out to promote saving resources...)

Why can't they synchronize the lights better on the major roads? I am not expecting every light to be green when I approach it but it would be nice to get through a few in a row without being stopped.

Drive north on Federal and see how far you can get without being stopped. I bet you will only get through 2 or 3 lights before you catch a red light.

The only way to get around this is to speed or run red lights. (And I am not advocating either of those options!)

The City needs to step and help the citizens out by managing the traffic flows better. I wrote previously how they open bridges during rush hour. Does the mayor and city commission care about the citizens? I am not sure.

The Dolphins Win Again!

The Dolphins won their second game of the season today. That is something that we could not say last year.

They beat a team that went to the AFC championship game last year. A team that is loaded offensively. And they had no excuses today. Tomlinson had been hurting but looked good early in the game. Miami simply outplayed their opponent like their last game.

The Dolphins controlled both lines of scrimmages. We saw them run the ball at will and get tough yards when they needed it. We saw the defensive line limit the Chargers in their running games including a critical 4th and goal at the 1 yard line. (I had mixed emotions since I have Tomlinson on my fantasy team!)

Sprano has the team playing like a team. They are doing the little things that it takes to win (i.e. Ricky William's key block on Ronnie Brown's touchdown run). We are also seeing creatively with the offense with the "wildcat" formation. Opponents will have to figure out how to stop it. It worked again this week and definitely confused the Chargers.

The Dolphins travel to Houston next week to play the Texans. The Texans are winless and have given their last two games away. Miami still needs to play well to win. They are not that good yet and Houston has some talented players at the skill positions.

Golf - The game of futility?

"Golf is a good walk spoiled."
Mark Twain

I am on vacation this week in NC. I have been enjoying riding in Pisgah National Forest, but I have also enjoyed playing some golf with a friend up here.

Golf is a game that will just frustrate someone with perfectionist tendencies like me. I can get a par (or occasional birdie) on one hole and get a double (par - not double bogey) the next. I realize that I do not practice enough - it really shows in my short game.

I do believe that golf is great social sport - when you are playing with friends it is a great way to spend half a day (or a day). But the game is definitely hard and I have a ton of respect for the pros.

This year I have been playing more golf - partially due to the fact that my buddy's boat has been out of the water in disrepair and that I have new friends in FLL that play. It has definitely have build some deeper friendships.

Maybe Twain was not right about golf in the end.