Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy got off scott free for robbing and nearly destroying the company after losing $3 billion and cooking the books to hide it. He claims trickery...and the Alabama jury in their infinite stupidity believed it.
Why you ask? According to one juror, cause investigators didn't get fingerprints off the notebooks for it "that would have shown Mr. Scrushy handled the notebooks," according to juror Vest. Nevermind that "notebook" is harddrive data, not an actual pile of paper. Nevermind this is about cooking books not a murder investigation. Nevermind this is a case about the responsibility of CEOs not wether they touched a piece of paper or not.
The message seems to be this, keep it digital, go to Alabama and those fools will let anyone off because apparently they watch to much CSI and Law & Order. You know those where a piece of dust in the wrong place points to the evil killer even though in reality doesn't quite work that way. Smart people know this, just not the citizens of Alabama apparently and definity those fools on the jury. If going to acquite someone at least have a sane logical reason for it. Not some bullshit "CSI" nonsense.
So once again, let the nation bestow the title "Stupidiest State" to Alabama.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Been sick
Been awhile cause been sick and just haven't felt like posting. That and haven't had anything that tickled me enough to write about. Feel free to submit your own rants if the mood strikes.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Jackson on all charges: not guilty
All I can say I am so glad that is done with. Not guilty. Another day or two of it and no more Jackson, Jackson, Jackson on the air waves. So sick of it. Now if only that pesky civil trial goes away Jackson can finally slide into that nothingness that all ex-popstars go to.
As for the verdict, I can't say I am happy or not happy. I still don't know what the man did. I do know that based on the evidence as presented by the prosecution, they didn't prove the case. It basically came down to a child with clearly money hungry parents. The problem with this is that you have to wonder how much the child tells is truth and how much was made up to bolster the civil case.
Not sure what the press will do after this, suddenly have 2100 reporters with nothing to do. Yes I am sure they will all squeeze at least another week of "reports" out this, the usual reaction, what you think, what we think, what now, blah blah blahness that tells you nothing and gives no actually news. Sigh, those poor bastards may actually have to do something they are out of practice on, actually report some other news. That transition alone may kill some of them.
Two things I would like to see from this trial:
1) Arrest charges against the parents. If you are not willing to let some adult from down the street watch you children or stay overnight, then there is no excuse for allowing Michael Jackson or any other celebrity that same. Just because can add some zeros on his income doesn't make the decision "ok". Rich, not rich, doesn't matter, those children should have never been allowed to visit and especially never, ever allowed to spend the night. What the parents did was sacrifice their children for the almight dollar and they should get jail time for it.
2) Make the fucking press actually report some news. Strange concept but the ONLY news from the Jackson trail is the verdict. That took, what 2 minutes to rattle off. Allow another 10 minutes for commentary and thats it. No more news. Either repeat or move on. Instead will hear about this for at least another 24-72 hours while the news elsewhere continues to get ignored. So to the press, report some news for once, there is an entire world out there beyond the "story of the day." Go do your jobs, find it and inform us about it.
As for the verdict, I can't say I am happy or not happy. I still don't know what the man did. I do know that based on the evidence as presented by the prosecution, they didn't prove the case. It basically came down to a child with clearly money hungry parents. The problem with this is that you have to wonder how much the child tells is truth and how much was made up to bolster the civil case.
Not sure what the press will do after this, suddenly have 2100 reporters with nothing to do. Yes I am sure they will all squeeze at least another week of "reports" out this, the usual reaction, what you think, what we think, what now, blah blah blahness that tells you nothing and gives no actually news. Sigh, those poor bastards may actually have to do something they are out of practice on, actually report some other news. That transition alone may kill some of them.
Two things I would like to see from this trial:
1) Arrest charges against the parents. If you are not willing to let some adult from down the street watch you children or stay overnight, then there is no excuse for allowing Michael Jackson or any other celebrity that same. Just because can add some zeros on his income doesn't make the decision "ok". Rich, not rich, doesn't matter, those children should have never been allowed to visit and especially never, ever allowed to spend the night. What the parents did was sacrifice their children for the almight dollar and they should get jail time for it.
2) Make the fucking press actually report some news. Strange concept but the ONLY news from the Jackson trail is the verdict. That took, what 2 minutes to rattle off. Allow another 10 minutes for commentary and thats it. No more news. Either repeat or move on. Instead will hear about this for at least another 24-72 hours while the news elsewhere continues to get ignored. So to the press, report some news for once, there is an entire world out there beyond the "story of the day." Go do your jobs, find it and inform us about it.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Apple Switches to Intel
Read it here, Apples waves buy to IBM and says hello to Intel chips starting in 2007 but slow phasing in beginning now. Many may think its gloom and doom for Apple but it could be an excellent idea depending on a few decisions or hurdles.
Hurdle 1 is re-writing all that software and OS. Apple just released another update of OS X and now with a chip change they practically have to re-write it and all other software. Technically a driver update alone can handle it, but it simple wouldn't run as smooth or as quick as software built around a certain chipset. Since Apple likes to trump (its now decaying) dependability, they and related vendors have no choice.
Which leads to hurdle 2. What if many vendors say to hell with re-writing their software or at the very least delay. After all thats alot of work for a company that only has 2% market share. Microsoft and Adobe together could decide not to rewrite Photoshop and Office and that could break Apple's back before the first Intel machine ships.
Hurdle 3 is the pissed off customer base. Apple users tend to be a rabid die hard bunch. Anything that even sniffs of Apple tends to blow their tops and the resulting bad press for the next 2 years could be more damaging then Jobs may think. First step is to make sure those die hards are not losing the Apple they know and love. And nevermind confusion for the less computer savvy who will know have to know what their chipset is to make proper software and hardware purchases. That alone is going to be a troubleshooting nightmare.
Hurdle 4 is the price of those machines could come close to PCs. Cheaper will be nice but at least close to average PC price. iPods show that people are willing to pay a little bit more for looks, the key is making sure that Apple finds that sweet spot of not charging to much. Something they have historically had a problem doing but slowing getting better at. To truly compete however, they can't take their golly sweet time working out the price.
If Apple can overcome these main hurdles, they do have extra pluses going for them. Plus One is the iPod/iTunes combo. Here they have this massive highway into Windows world introducing millions to what Apple is able to do with both hardware and software. If they don't ruin that good will in the next two years, they can use those inroads to promote the intel version of the Macs. One top of that, the iPod shows that people are willing to pay more for a well engineered and gorgeous product. In other words, looks matter, even for computers and Apple bar none has the best looking machines on the market.
This leads to plus number two. Since its an intel chipset, which currently is on many many Windows PCs (such as Dell) this means that technically an Apple machine can run Windows instead of Mac. So users who want the look of a Mac but the OS of Windows can do that. Lots of customers there alone. Or even better, if Apple has some brains, they will make sure that the Intel OS X can run Windows programs nativily or in a built in emulator. Suddenly you can have the best of both worlds. Talk about maximum value. However, I don't see Jobs' ego allowing this to occur and the die hard community will shit a brick.
Finally plus number 3 is the GHZ speed. Most people here 3.2 ghz dell computer or 1.5 G5 they just assume that bigger number equals faster machine. And not only faster but cheaper so hince better deal. Now, finally, Apple can compete at a level the average customer understands. Now number for number there will be a true and easy comparison. Assuming Intel gives Apple the lastest and greatest (and it doesn't have to, Dell could say nope and since bigger customer Intel will listen) then in stats, Apple will have a level ground.
The main key I think however is Apple embracing Windows and windows programming either with duel boot setup (by at least not preventing it) or more smartly building it into the OS. To bad Apple didn't go with some of the proven (and cheaper) chipmakers such as AMD. That alone would have handled the pricing hurdle they have to deal with.
Hurdle 1 is re-writing all that software and OS. Apple just released another update of OS X and now with a chip change they practically have to re-write it and all other software. Technically a driver update alone can handle it, but it simple wouldn't run as smooth or as quick as software built around a certain chipset. Since Apple likes to trump (its now decaying) dependability, they and related vendors have no choice.
Which leads to hurdle 2. What if many vendors say to hell with re-writing their software or at the very least delay. After all thats alot of work for a company that only has 2% market share. Microsoft and Adobe together could decide not to rewrite Photoshop and Office and that could break Apple's back before the first Intel machine ships.
Hurdle 3 is the pissed off customer base. Apple users tend to be a rabid die hard bunch. Anything that even sniffs of Apple tends to blow their tops and the resulting bad press for the next 2 years could be more damaging then Jobs may think. First step is to make sure those die hards are not losing the Apple they know and love. And nevermind confusion for the less computer savvy who will know have to know what their chipset is to make proper software and hardware purchases. That alone is going to be a troubleshooting nightmare.
Hurdle 4 is the price of those machines could come close to PCs. Cheaper will be nice but at least close to average PC price. iPods show that people are willing to pay a little bit more for looks, the key is making sure that Apple finds that sweet spot of not charging to much. Something they have historically had a problem doing but slowing getting better at. To truly compete however, they can't take their golly sweet time working out the price.
If Apple can overcome these main hurdles, they do have extra pluses going for them. Plus One is the iPod/iTunes combo. Here they have this massive highway into Windows world introducing millions to what Apple is able to do with both hardware and software. If they don't ruin that good will in the next two years, they can use those inroads to promote the intel version of the Macs. One top of that, the iPod shows that people are willing to pay more for a well engineered and gorgeous product. In other words, looks matter, even for computers and Apple bar none has the best looking machines on the market.
This leads to plus number two. Since its an intel chipset, which currently is on many many Windows PCs (such as Dell) this means that technically an Apple machine can run Windows instead of Mac. So users who want the look of a Mac but the OS of Windows can do that. Lots of customers there alone. Or even better, if Apple has some brains, they will make sure that the Intel OS X can run Windows programs nativily or in a built in emulator. Suddenly you can have the best of both worlds. Talk about maximum value. However, I don't see Jobs' ego allowing this to occur and the die hard community will shit a brick.
Finally plus number 3 is the GHZ speed. Most people here 3.2 ghz dell computer or 1.5 G5 they just assume that bigger number equals faster machine. And not only faster but cheaper so hince better deal. Now, finally, Apple can compete at a level the average customer understands. Now number for number there will be a true and easy comparison. Assuming Intel gives Apple the lastest and greatest (and it doesn't have to, Dell could say nope and since bigger customer Intel will listen) then in stats, Apple will have a level ground.
The main key I think however is Apple embracing Windows and windows programming either with duel boot setup (by at least not preventing it) or more smartly building it into the OS. To bad Apple didn't go with some of the proven (and cheaper) chipmakers such as AMD. That alone would have handled the pricing hurdle they have to deal with.
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