Uganda President Museveni

Recently, I caught an episode on HD Theater called " Uganda: The Presidential Tour." It is basically an hour with Forrest Sawyer touring Uganda with President Yoweri Museveni serving as his tour guide.

First of all, I was impressed by Uganda's beauty: its vast area covered by Lake Victoria and many lakes that connect to the Nile. The white water rafting shown in the episode was amazing. Second, its wild life of elephants, lions, monkeys, and others, are as spectacular as many other African nations.

But what impressed me the most is President Museveni himself, who seems so casual and so normal like any ordinary men. They way he dressed, what he wear, he would accompany Mr. Sawyer to certain places, while not in others. It seems quite genuine to me.

I am sure some people would say these are just an act and all staged, especially those with its people. Well, there are probably some truth to that. Probably plenty of corruption in Uganda still and some economic and political achievements are exaggerated. That are probably true also.

But you have to be impressed that the President would take the time for a reporter, even for a marketing campaign, to showcase his country. You got to give credit when it is due. Even if half of what is shown is true, I am still impressed.

Russian professor predicted US divided in six parts, but something worth celebrating

Russian professor, Igor Panarin, predicted that the current financial crisis will lead to the collapse of the United States. That prediction isn't new or surprising. But the most interesting part of his prediction is the U.S. will be divided into six parts: the Pacific coast, the South, Texas, the Atlantic coast, central states, and the northern states. The Chinese would have strong influence in the Pacific coast states; Texas will go to Mexico; Atlantic coast states will join the European Union, Canada will claim the northern states; Japan will take Hawaii; and Alaska goes back to Russia.

Wow, this sounds bad if it ever happens. Despite all the devastating consequences if it does, at least, there are two things that we can look forward to.

One, Sarah Palin no longer needs to see Russia from her house. Because her house is already in Russia.

Two, George W. Bush would have left the United States for good. Señor Bush would be a Mexican.

Tell me. Are these two developments alone would worth a celebration?

Links to story,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051100709638419.html
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/12/the-united-stat.html

What to do with the automaker bailout

Whether to bailout the big-3 automakers, that is the big question facing Congress and in a way, the President-Elected. There are difficult, philosophical, and conflicting views that in a capitalist market, companies are to die or survive base on their abilities to compete, and not on the government handout. Let's not forget UAW contracts and pension obligations are heavily burden on these companies also. They made the automakers uncompetitive. But the managements are not blameless either. They made terrible and unreliable products. Invested on the wrong line of business in SUV rather than high-mileage cars. Their marketing, branding, and distributions are so diluted that are inefficient and wasteful.

A bankruptcy and maybe new management would allow them a clean restart. But it could also wipe out the entire auto industry in the U.S. and lose millions of jobs. Frankly, I don't think it will be as bad as it might seem. Toyota, Honda, and others will simply come in and fill the void by hiring the same worker, making a different brand of cars, and selling to the same American people. Oh yes, the workers would have less perks than today.

The Congress did ask for detail plans from the big-3 executives on what they will do with the bailout. Here is what I suggest the Congress should do.

1. There is no rule that say the government has to rescue all-3 or none of the automakers. What about rescuing 1 or at most 2 automakers. So, that would create a competition for the best plan. The best plan will survive. The worst plan will mean bankruptcy and possible acquire by the surviving automakers.

2. Bailout money should only go to do research and manufacture of high-mileage and green vehicles only. Yes, they can funnel existing high-mileage budget to save other line of businesses, but it should be clear on what the government's priorities are.

3. There should be no more mileage exception for trucks. Trucks and SUVs are under the same mileage standard as cars.

4. The 35 mph mileage standard to be effective in 2020 needs to move to 2010.

5. Last but not least, UAW needs to make some concessions also. No more perks, just an ordinary salary and 401k, like the rest of us. And at the comparable pay as those work at the Toyota plans in the U.S.

I am sure they don't like any of these proposal. Who would. But they do beat the alternative of going bankrupt and losing their jobs.