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By Hugh Betcha, September 4, 2010 5:30 AM

It’s unbelievable to an Old Boy from the Midwest, born in the mid 20th Century, who grew up fair to middlin’; that I would live to see the day that the Pontiac nameplate disappeared from the General Motors menu of cars. Stranger still are the attitudes that now prevail in regard to the American automotive industry. Tuesday I saw a bumper sticker on a Toyota displaying the GM logo with a caption that read “Boycott Government Motors!”

I guess the idea is to punish GM for taking bailout bucks from Uncle Sam, a.k.a. “Uncle Sugar.” How far we’ve come from the days of “…what is good for the country is good for General Motors and vice versa.”

We’ve come about fifty years from the date that GM President Charles E. Wilson made that comment during confirmation hearings of his appointment as Secretary of Defense. During that period since we’ve seen alot of style changes, countless safety improvements, numerous emissions and mileage standards imposed. We’ve also witnessed two Oil Crises.

An old tune by the “Buggles” makes the claim that Video Killed the Radio Star. I claim that the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 combined with the Iranian Revolution of 1979 to kill off the Muscle Car and to further cripple an automotive industry already woefully out of touch with the American consumer.

By the late 1970s Detroit was clueless and Chrysler was in serious trouble. Chrysler took a bailout from the Feds at that time and Lee Iacocca was able to turn them around; largely due to his introduction of the mini-van concept. Many at the time thought it a bad idea for the Feds to get involved. With the days of cheap gas becoming a fleeting memory, the car buyers were soon turning to the more fuel efficient imports of Japan and Europe. The Datsun (now Nissan) was a big seller with models like the B-210. These no frills tin tanks were rugged and very conservative with the petrol.

A diesel craze had begun and the Volkswagen Rabbit was selling for double the list price in some cities. And people were putting up huge deposits just to get on a waiting list. But as gas prices fluctuated the public would react like a person with multiple personality disorder. First demanding economy and then jonesing for huge gas-guzzling SUVs. What’s a car-maker to think? As the decades passed the U.S. manufacturers continued their aimless wandering through the desert morass. Meanwhile younger drivers became addicted to the offerings of the import companies. They liked the styling, the reliabilty and especially the economy. Slogans like “Buy American” or “Don’t buy Jap Crap” became anacranistic. Detroit’s market share continued to decline.

Detroit persisted in cranking out the same old tired designs, giving us options like the Pontiac Vibe (pictured above). Ford excelled at building a fleet of energy extravagant vehicles. They seemed fond of names like Explorer, Expedition and Excursion; each more gargantuan than the other. Anything that began with “EX” seemed appropriate. You’d think the more practical Escape would be an exception, however many people call it the “Excape.” I think they knew this. Ford finally realized their folly with the introduction of the Ford Excretion. It was touted as their biggest piece of crap to date.

Of course I made that up, but it isn’t far off the mark. I long for the days of the Big Block V-8 engine and real High Octane gasoline: a time when a full size sedan was larger that a roller skate and didn’t resemble a european jogging shoe. The days when “Rock” was “Rock” and we knew who are friends were. I guess it’s true that you can never go home again!

''One of these days I'll sell the Harley and find me a clean mean machine''

Hugh Loves ya, Baby

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. ~Mac McCleary

A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. ~Peter De Vries

It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road. ~Author Unknown

A pedestrian is someone who thought there were a couple of gallons left in the tank. ~Author Unknown

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By Hugh Betcha, August 16, 2010 1:30 PM

My 3 Angels and friend

The First of Festivus dinner was a combination of good food and good times (playing electronic trivia) at a place here in town called the Native New Yorker. I also received calls with Festivus greetings from My Three Angels. They sent a photo, in the Festivus (Birthday) card, taken on the back of the famous bus “Further.” Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters used “further” during their famous road trips in the summer of 1964. Their earlier escapades were chronicled by Tom Wolfe in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. I may have to pick up a copy at the library.

Now for the not so pleasant, but ultimately necessary Airing of Grievances!!!

I have a real problem with the people responsible for the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi. He is known as the Lockerbie Bomber and the only person convicted for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over the small town of Lockerbie Scotland. It seems the man released from prison, on a compassionate pardon, with only 3 months to live, is still living one year later. He just ain’t dyin’ fast enough for some of us.

Professor Karol Sikora was among the experts who expressed the opinion that lead to his release. Sikora was quoted as saying “In medicine we say ‘Never say never and never say always,’ because funny things happen. All you can do is give a statistical opinion,”

Yeah. Funny things happen, Doc! Not so funny for the victims and their families. It reminds me of the story of an inmate who gained access to his records and managed to convince officials that he had terminal cancer and was released to hospice only to later convince hapless bureaucrats that he was dead. A toast to the healing power of Bullshit!

And having got that off my chest I’d like to address the issue of people who leave their carts loose in the parking lot at Safeway. Push them over to the front of the store or into the rack, for Pete’s sake. I mean, what kind of inconsiderate #@%&**????!!!…

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By Hugh Betcha, August 10, 2010 8:55 AM

How often do we wish we had more time. We want more time to complete the tasks we are faced with, more time to spend with friends and family and more time to just do nothing. Leisure time is what many of us do without most. So, what is the solution?

A quick search of the internet produces a wealth of information on increasing productivity and reducing stress through better time management. Some of the most important of these are planning – you can’t be productive without a plan – prioritizing and commiting to doing those dread chores first.

We often procrastinate when a task is quite distasteful. A coworker once told me that if you have to do it you don’t want to do it, but if you want to do it then you don’t have to do it. I initially thought he was nuts. After I gave it some thought I began to see that by adjusting my attitude toward a particular task it eliminated that sense of dread and the work became easier.

Yesterday I wore myself ragged by working out in the heat with the man I hire to move boulders and dirt for my landscaping. Despite his time saving techniques we spent four hours in the Arizona sun. The Chiefie thought I would collapse from heat stroke. After a dip in the pool I was refreshed enough for a late lunch and then spent the afternoon reading and relaxing. So, today it will take an extra effort to accomplish those tasks I wanted to finish yesterday.

Onward and upward!

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By Hugh Betcha, August 5, 2010 6:03 AM

''He still has something to say that is worth hearing''

Do you remeber Lee Iacocca? His was the genius behind the Ford Mustang that first created such a stir in the 60s. He later ran Chrysler Corp. and helped lead their recovery in the late 70s and early 80s. He used leadership to accomplish these tasks and that’s what his new book is about. My job is easy this morning. I’m posting an excerpt for you perusal

Lee Iacocca Says:
‘Am I the only guy in this country who’s fed up with what’s happening? Where
the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We’ve got a
gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we’ve
got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can’t even clean up after
a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad,
everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, ‘Stay
the course’
Stay the course? You’ve got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned
‘Titanic’. I’ll give you a sound bite: ‘Throw all the bums out!’
You might think I’m getting senile, that I’ve gone off my rocker, and maybe
I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country
anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in
handcuffs. While we’re fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and
nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving ‘pom-poms’ instead
of asking hard questions. That’s not the promise of the ‘ America ‘ my
parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I’ve had enough. How about
you?
I’ll go a step further. You can’t call yourself a patriot if you’re not
outraged. This is a fight I’m ready and willing to have. The Biggest ‘C’ is
Crisis! Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis.
It’s easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or
send someone else’s kids off to war when you’ve never seen a battlefield
yourself. It’s another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in
our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes.
A Hell of a Mess. So here’s where we stand. We’re immersed in a bloody war
with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We’re running the biggest
deficit in the history of the country. We’re losing the manufacturing edge
to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health
care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent
energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves.
The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry
out for leadership. But when you look around, you’ve got to ask: ‘Where have
all the leaders gone?’ Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where
are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common
sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us
take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We’ve spent
billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to
do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina.
Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the
hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in
the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone’s hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn’t happen again.
Now, that’s just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out
what you’re going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can
restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that
there could ever be a time when ‘The Big Three’ referred to Japanese car
companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do
about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the
debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The
silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our
country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn’t elect you to sit on your
asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked
and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so
afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a
break. Why don’t you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough?
Hey, I’m not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I’m trying to
light a fire. I’m speaking out because I have hope, I believe in America .
In my lifetime I’ve had the privilege of living through some of America ‘s
greatest moments. I’ve also experienced some of our worst crises: the ‘Great
Depression’, ‘World War II’, the ‘Korean War’, the ‘Kennedy Assassination’,
the ‘Vietnam War’, the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years
culminating with 9/11. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s this: ‘You don’t get
anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take
action. Whether it’s building a better car or building a better future for
our children, we all have a role to play. That’s the challenge I’m raising
in this book. It’s a call to ‘Action’ for people who, like me, believe in
America . It’s not too late, but it’s getting pretty close. So let’s shake
off the crap and go to work. Let’s tell ‘em all we’ve had ‘enough.’
Excerpted from ‘Where Have All the Leaders Gone?’.
Copyright (c) 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved

Can I get a heartfelt Amen! I could have written that myself. Some would say it does sound like me. If you are fed up with the staus quo I’d like to hear from you. Email me or leave a comment. Thanks.

~ Hugh Loves ya, Baby!

Comments (3)

By Hugh Betcha, August 4, 2010 9:40 AM

Spontaneous brain combustion due to bureacratic ineptness!

I was preparing to write a post on Lee Iacocca and his new book Where Have All the Leaders Gone? when I overheard The Chiefie attempting to pry some information from the lips of a standard bureaucratic automaton.

When the uncooperative person was unable or unwilling to provide the requested information she, The Chiefie, asked to be connected to the Supervisor. After some compulsory grumbling she was put on hold and sent to the voicemail of the alleged Supervisor. The Supervisor was away from his/her desk on vacation. This always seems to be the case. Why is it that supervisors are never around to supervise anything. It would appear that the word is used as a term meaning glorified flunky.

After being reconnected to bureaucrat #1 she was promptly disconnected. Another score for bureacracy! As a proper prelude to Lee’s book I would ask … ” Where have all the Supervisors Gone?”

~ Hugh Loves ya, Baby!

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By Hugh Betcha, August 3, 2010 8:47 AM

Ben - My favorite Founding Father

The other day, as I checked out of our local hardware store, the conversation turned to percentages and eventually to taxes.

“I find in incomprehensible that voters would actually vote themselves a sales tax increase,” I said. “They sold you on the idea by saying that it was only ‘a penny’, and not a penny on each and every dollar you spend.”

“Yes, but I have kids and it was for a good cause,” came the reply.

“Oh, my, they must have already gotten to you” I exclaimed. “Let me see your neck.”

She turned and looked askance at me. Her face wore a bewildered expression.

“Hmmm. I see the spot that got in and brainwashed you. I could have saved you had I gotten here sooner. You fail to understand that the voters are supposed to tell their elected officials how things are to be done. Government needs to live within their means the same as the rest of us.”

“I see your point,” she said showing more interest.

“If they are not able to balance the annual budgets they should not hold your children’s education hostage! That is most reprehensible and should not be tolerated from officials who serve at the will of the people. Sadly, it worked; because a majority of the voters were bullied into believing the distortions of truth. Sales taxes hurt those that need it most and deserve not to be further taxed.”

“I’ll have to give it more thought. Thanks, Hugh.”

“You’re welcome. It looks like their damage wasn’t permanent after all.”

I find that the difficult part of all this is that so many people are lacking in an understanding of the real power of percentages. I’m surprised at how few people grasp the advantage of compounding and therefore we have very little personal savings in this country. The picture improves, somewhat, if you include retirement savings outside of Social Security (mandatory/confiscatory) contributions.

(Include some data) The savings rate (as a percentage of disposable income) was as high as 10% for several consecutive months during periods of the 70s and 80s. The trend was altered in the 90s as the rate shank into low single digits. A coinciding upward trend in personal spending also occurred. DOH!

Most of us could accumulate considerable wealth in our lifetimes if we learned some financial discipline. We should delay gratification and do with much less now so that we force ourselves to save and secure our own futures and those of our future generations.

I’m convinced that is more people understood their own finances more thoroughly; they would be more concerned about where it goes and what it is going for. Then you would see less of it going to the Government and more of it being kept by its rightful owners.

The Power of Compound Interest

There was one of those “did you know” things back when we were kids that had something to do with taking a penny (in the original it was a grain of wheat) and doubling it every day for a month. After 30 days you would have over a billion pennies. Hey, that’s a cool million. The link above provides more practical illustrations of the power of compound interest when applied to personal savings.

I find it sad to admit, but the long and the short of it is that government entitlement programs are so far reaching in this country – from agriculture subsidies and corporate welfare to the system of “Baby Momma” (social welfare) programs – that you would be hard pressed to find anyone in this country who isn’t, at least indirectly, a beneficiary of a government entitlement.

Perhaps a return to a more self reliant approach to life would not only honor the pioneer spirit of our forebears, it would also serve to diminish the need of an overbearing “Big Brother” style Federal Government. You know, we used to call him Uncle Sam. Same guy, only he just pretends to be as benevolent as before.

So spend a little thought on the power of percentages and save yourself some grief. Whose trough would you prefer to feed at? Your won or the Government’s. And the next time some fool politician asks you to vote yourself a tax increase…

…tell him HELL NO!

Hugh loves ya, BABY!

Comments (3)

By Hugh Betcha, July 18, 2010 1:33 PM

''How do you think of this man?''

How will this man be remembered by historians? He was born in France in 1933 of a Russian born mother of the Catholic faith and a Jewish father. The family moved back to Poland in 1936. While his mother perished in Auschwitz, Roman and his father escaped that fate. Should we remember him as a Holocaust survivor?

By the 1960s he had developed into a film director, producer, writer and actor. Knife in the Water (1962) was his first feature length film. His later film The Pianist earned him an Academy Award for Best Director in 2002. Among his other awards for artistic achievment are a Golden Globe, two BAFTAs four Ce’sars and a Palme d’Or. Will his legacy be that of a cinematic genius?

On the night of August 9, 1969 the world was shocked by the gruesome murders of Ploanski’s wife, Sharon Tate, and four guests at their home in Los Angeles. The crimes were eventually attributed to members of the Charles Manson Cult and the perpetrators were tried and convicted of the brutal slayings. Tate was pregnant and the time, leaving Polanski to grieve the loss of his wife and his child. Though not directly involved in the killings, Manson rots in prison serving out a life sentence. Does Polanksi deserve our sympathy as an aggrieved victim?

In March of 1977 Polanski was arrested and charged with the sexual assault of 13 year-old Samantha Geimer. The assault had occurred the day before at the home of actor Jack Nicholson. Geimer testified that Polanski had drugged her with Quaalude and champagne, and ignoring her protests he had performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomized the underage teen. Will we you continue to think of him as a vile pervert for these heinous acts?

Despite a civil settlement with his victim he has managed to evade authorities since his flight from justice in Febraury 1978. Because he fled prior to sentencing, all six of the original charges are still pending. He was held under house arrest at his home in Switzerland after an arrest at the Zurich airport in September 2009. After alot of legal wrangling the Swiss authorities announced that he would not be extradited to the U.S. and was no longer subject to monitoring or to house arrest. This was in part due to defect in the extradition request. Will he then be considered a fugitive of justice? It is time that he stop running and face the music.

In 2004 he sued Vanity Fair for Libel. The case involved an article in 2002 that alleged that he had made advances toward a young model as he traveled to his wife’s funeral in 1969. Polanski was awarded 50,000 pounds in a London court. Now he stands as an exonerated victim of libel. Is this the last of his fame or infamy? I think not.

To me Roman Polanski is and will remain the creator of some of the most intriguing movies to grace the silver screen. His talent and accomplishments are equaled by few, but for me he will always be considered a coward. Why? Because he fails as a man of principle. He stands as one who is morally and ethically bankrupt; too loathsome to even warrant our pity. It is time that he stop running and face the music.

Comments (1)

By Dewey Lovitt, July 4, 2010 12:20 PM

“Six feet high by the Fourth of July!” That was the phrase the old time farmers used back where I came from in the cornbelt. They referred to the height of the cornstocks in their fields. It was a way to guage the progress of their crops. I hope they have a great crop this year.

''American Independence Day'' ~ July 4th 2010

This weekend we observe the summer holiday of independence from King George III and the British Empire. As proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence the former colonies severed themselves from the tyranny of British domination in order to establish a Democratic Republic. Thus was born the sovereign nation of the United States of America.

For some of us it seems hard to believe that the bi-centennial celebration we had long anticipated is a fading memory more than 30 years old. I still have fond memories of watching the fireworks display with my school age daughter. She now teaches school herself and is the mother of three girls of her own. My how time flies.

The freedom and liberty that was hard won by this countries patriotic citizens should be cherished and preserved for future generations of Americans. Despite our current problems we continue to exhibit the characteristics of a strong and proud nation. We must remain vigilant to prevent a loss of the rights and priviledges that so many have fought and die for.
We should never allow them to be taken from us through apathy or indifference. Every citizen of legal age enjoys the right to vote and should remember to exercise that right. In fact, it should be considered a duty that is incumbent upon all American citizens.

''May she proudly wave forever''

Remember this as you enjoy your cookout and other activities this weekend. Display our colors with pride and dignity. Ours is a great and unique nation of diverse people and cultures. We should strive to respect each other and protect the concepts on which this country was built.

~ Dewey Lovitt (or what?)

Hugh Betcha we do!

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By Hugh Betcha, July 2, 2010 1:12 PM

James Arthur Ray ~ ''I hope he enjoys a long tenancy in his new home.''

Choosing a Snake Oil salesman for your self-development Guru may be hazardous to your health. Becoming a Spiritual Warrior is likely to send you to the spirit world through the express check-out lane. At least that’s my take on it after following the story of James Arthur Ray a self styled motivational speaker who has been featured on Oprah and Larry King Live in recent months.

Prior to the Sweat Lodge tragedy in which 3 participants died and several others were hospitalized, there was a incident in San Diego where Colleen Conaway jumped to her death at a mall. She had been dropped off on the streets without money or identification to live as a homeless person as part of his psychological experiment.

Another follower suffered a broken hand in yet another misguided Ray program of psychobabble when she attempted to break a board with her bare hand. The power he appears to hold over his minions reminds me of the Milgram Experiment of the 60s in which subjects were instructed to perform acts that conflicted with their personal conscience. The obedience to authority was being tested following the claim that people had been complelled during WWII to follow orders of the Nazis, despite violating their deepest moral beliefs.

Ray has a background in Telemarketing – that should say it all – and is not educated or trained in Psychology, Physics or any other discipline he purports to be an expert in. He cobbles together elements of spirituality, mysticism and quantum mechanics and comes up with a mixture that is unadulterated bullshit.

His focus on the Law of Attraction is short sided in as much as there are Seven Universal Laws which also include the Law of Compensation – or Karma – and the Law of Correspondence. I would suggest it is Karma which has come back to bite James Ray in the ass.

There are many books and organizations which can assist individuals with their self-development. Some are good and some are not so good; a few can be down right dangerous. Calamity most often occurs when a person is willing to follow blindly and allow others to do their thinking. Never, ever allow yourself to be subjugated by another under the guise of self-help. It is contrary to logic and makes no sense.

If you want to throw your hard earned dollars away I can use them. They will at least be put to good use.

~ Hugh Betcha

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By The Real Hugh, May 22, 2010 9:16 AM

Heaven help us! It’s all some sort of nightmare! Not really, I just felt like saying that. It reminds me of one of those memorable lines from a bad science-fiction movie of the 50s.

Now that the drama is out of the way let’s talk about summer. If you aren’t planning to boycott Arizona you may want to visit some of our amazing attractions like the Grand Canyon. That is one of the parks that will remain open, Kartchner Caverns is another. Many of our State Parks will close down due to budget constraints.

If you travel by car you’ll need to learn to hold it in while driving across Arizona. Many of our rest stops will also be closed. Hard times, hard times! So come and visit us and bring lots of money, we need it here. There are many things to see and do in the “Copper State.” We look forward to seeing you, and your MONEY!

If you live in Arizona then you should do as I plan to do; make yourself a fun-filled Staycation here at home. Spend those devalued greenbacks in Arizona. And while your at it, I have some old stuff I don’t need anymore for sale on Craig’s List, take a look.

*****************************************************************

Hugh Takes the Plunge

Hugh, you'll scare the kids with those pasty white legs!

Don't lose your drawers, Hugh!

Now this is a Staycation!

Enjoy a little All Day Music while Hugh takes a swim. Hugh loves ya, Baby!

- Hugh Betcha