The rivalry between BMW and Audi continues….

I had to laugh at these billboards!  I love the competition between the two brands.

11 Trillion and counting – U.S. National Debt is out of control

The national debt has continued to increase an average of $3.85 Billion per day since Sept. 2007!!

Our national debt right this minute!  Click->

Concerned? Then tell Congress and the White House!

If you have an extra hour watch this Frontline special called “Ten Trillion and Counting”  It does a great job describing how we arrived here and the consequences we face if we dont fix the problem.  Its an amazing video in my opinion.  

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tentrillion/view/

 

The Crisis of Credit Visualized

Great little video explanation of the credit crisis.  Really cool.

http://crisisofcredit.com/

 

TiVo CNBC’s “House of Cards”

CNBC’s “House of Cards” documentary clearly explains the entire U.S. housing market and the global economic crisis that came out of the housing collapse.  A very thorough, 2 hour show that simply amazed me!   Definatley worth a watch.  

Preview and Slide Show at this link:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/28892719/

CNBC Show times:

Wednesday, February 25th  8p ET
Sunday, March 1st  Midnight ET
Sunday, March 15th  9p ET

Let me know what you think after watching it.

The fall of the United States? We are in serious debt!

By January 2009 the Federal Debt will be over $10 Trillion Dollars.

Our federal fiscal hole will be about $56 Trillion Dollars.

That’s $184,000 of debt for every American.

Every American should watch the movie I.O.U.S.A and decide how important this issue is to them.  Here is a link to the condensed version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_TjBNjc9Bo&feature=related

Let me know what you think after watching the movie

Sample Ballot for 2008 Election – for my address

I encourage everyone to find there sample ballot. If in Georgia visit http://vote-ga.org to get yours. Then you can be prepared on election day!
This is a sample ballot for my address here in Atlanta:
US House District 5 Georgia
Georgia Senate District 39
Georgia House District 54
Fulton County

US President
John McCain (R)
Barack Obama (D)

US Senate, Georgia
Allen Buckley (L)
*Saxby Chambliss (R)
Jim Martin (D)

US House, Georgia District 5
*John Lewis (D)

State Senate, District 39
*Vincent D. Fort (D)

State Representative, District 54
*Ed Lindsey (R)

Georgia Referendum
Amendment 1 To Encourage The Preservation
Of Georgia’s Forests Through A Conservation Use Property Tax Reduction Program.
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the General Assembly by general law shall encourage the preservation, conservation, and protection of the state’s forests through the special assessment and taxation of certain forest lands and assistance grants to local government?
Yes
No
Amendment 2 To Authorize Local School Districts To Use Tax Funds For Community Redevelopment Purposes.
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize community redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and programs?
Yes
No
Amendment 3 To Authorize The Creation Of Special Infrastructure Development Districts Providing Infrastructure To Underserved Areas.
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for the creation and comprehensive regulation of infrastructure development districts for the provision of infrastructure as authorized by local governments?
Yes
No

Off Shore Drilling…

Off Shore Drilling is a good idea but not the solution.  We have bigger problems.

 

Who Has Been Hindering Your Growth?

I received this simple and profound story in a forwarded email from my friend Brian.  I thought it was a great reminder and absolutely true!  Check it out…..  

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a
big notice on the door on which it was written: ‘Yesterday the
person who has been hindering your growth in this Company passed away. We
invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the
gym’.

In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of
t heir  colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious
to know who  was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and
the company  itself. The excitement in the gym was such that security
agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room.

The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement
heated up. Everyone thought: ‘Who is this guy who was
hindering my progress?  Well, at least he died!’. One by one the thrilled
employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly
became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in
silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked
inside it could see himself.  There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:
‘There is only one person who is capable to set Limits to your growth: it is YOU .
Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs.

PS – Miami does not suck

I highly recommend the Le Meridien Condo/Hotel in Sunny Isles Beach.  A long weekend with these amazing beaches will take away all your stress.  I could live in Miami, no problem.

Pics:  The View from our Condo, The four of us on St. Patty’s Day (Me, Tammi, Cousin Francine, Dimitry and baby Alex). 

Why are our American cars so crappy?

 

Hello Alan Mullaly,

Please give me one good reason why the Ford Mondeo is not available in the United States?

Thank you,

A disappointed Car Enthusiast

David Shanahan 

——————————————————————————————–

Above was the letter I sent to the CEO of Ford Motor Company.  We will see if I get a response.

Here is a good article about the Ford Mondeo, the car that American car companies should be manufacturing here in the states.  An Edmunds Jounalist says “The European-built 2007 Ford Mondeo is Ford’s best sedan — quick, agile and sophisticated in both style and performance.”  Unfortunatley you will never see it here in the United States. 

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=123824

 

 

UPDATE –  I received a personal phone call from Ford Motor Company’s customer service team.  They said they are working hard to bring vehicles like the Ford Mondeo here to the USA.  They expect to incorporate many of the design features into the new Ford Taurus coming in 2010.  I was surprised when they called- I really respect that they took the time to hear my concerns.  I spoke with a really nice man that shared my opinions and enthusiasm for cars- we spoke for almost an hour.