WEEKLY BLOG COMMENTS No. 73
DATES:
2013/07/14 – 2013/07/21
ANALYST:
Domingo Trassens
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Dear
Friends:
During
the last week, a series of conflictive situations crashed and produced a lot of
noise.
The
verdict of the trial against George Zimmerman that ended with a "Not
Guilty" generated a confrontation between those who think the death of
Trayvon Martin was a racial crime and the others who believe Mr. Zimmerman
acted in the correct way. Protests across Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC and other cities put “race” over
Justice.
Next,
the Taliban pointed against Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who a
week ago in the UN asserted: “the extremists are afraid of book and pens”. A
top leader of the Taliban said that the Malala’s campaign for the education of
the girls is satanic.
After
that, the bankruptcy of the City of Detroit showed that when economic
mistakes are not fixed in the right time, they can demolish cities and
communities that in other times looked invulnerable.
In the
end, President Obama broke his silence about the case Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin
with these words: “Could have been me.”
Through
all these events, we perceive serious conflicts related to the color of the
skin and sex of human beings, plus the social collapse when companies and
communities don’t understand basic laws of the diversification of the economic
production and the market competition.
The case
of Detroit and the automotive industry was also a warning for
companies from other sectors like big players of technology that according to
the investors today are “missing the boat.”
During
the week, Microsoft, IBM, Google, Intel, Nokia, Yahoo and others posted their
financial results of the second quarter of the year with gloomy figures.
On
Friday, a deep fall of the Microsoft’s shares was a complaint of the Wall
Street people against a company that was a brilliant star of the technology
investors several years ago.
And in
connection with the Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case, during the last few days,
more than one whispered in the ear of President Obama: “Please, Mr. President,
you have to remain cool…”
In
summary, we saw how social and economic weaknesses can generate a mess with
quasi incontrollable reactions.
Now I
would like to share with you a series of comments posted by myself in the WSJ
Journal Community and PBS through Twitter during the last seven days about the
top news of the week.
The comments
are organized in the following sections:
- United States
- Europe
- The
World (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
- Latin America
-
Education
-
Economy, Business, Technology.
DAT
July 21, 2013
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UNITED
STATES
Subject: Debate about the possible suspension of the planned trip to
Moscow of President Obama to meet President Putin in September.
My Comment: In the current circumstances, if
President Obama travels to Moscow
in September, he will waste time because the recent meeting with President
Putin was fruitless and bored.
Mr. Obama will not change the current plans of the Russian President and from the other side, now Mr. Putin is busy playing with his new toy (Edward Snowden). (2013/07/20) 1 Recommendation
Mr. Obama will not change the current plans of the Russian President and from the other side, now Mr. Putin is busy playing with his new toy (Edward Snowden). (2013/07/20) 1 Recommendation
Subject: After a long silence, President Obama talked again about
Trayvon Martin but he said that we have to respect the verdict of Justice.
My Comment: Mr.
President, you have a lot of problems on your desk… The case of George
Zimmerman – Trayvon Martin is a Justice issue. (2013/07/19) 6 Recommendations
PBS - REPORT AIR DATE: July 17, 2013 - News Wrap: House Republicans Attempt to
Delay Health Reform Mandates
Subject: Republicans who are the majority in the House
attempted to delay the mandates of the health reform known as Obamacare.
My Comment: In the federal sphere, the Republicans have
an important “weapon” to fight against the White House. This “weapon” is the US
House. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/18)
Subject: In the Senate, after a hard dialogue, Republicans and
Democrats avoided the filibuster in the pending nominations of the new members
of the executive branch.
My Comment: After a
“personal war” between Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell, a Senate bipartisan agreement put a good end to the differences
between Republicans and Democrats about the package of nominations from the
White House.
To avoid similar confrontations, both sides have to be more flexible using common sense.
It is not a question to approve a complete "package" with the eyes closed. In the other words, they have to approve the good nominees and withdraw the others. (2013/07/17)
PBS - THE MORNING
LINE - July 16, 2013 at 9:01 AM EDT - Senators Look to Defuse 'Nuclear Option'
Ahead of Tuesday Votes. By: Terence Burlij and
Katelyn Polantz
Subject: Previous discussions about the resources of
the minority to block initiatives of the White House or the majority.
My Comment: The abuse of the “filibuster” is bad;
however the majority and minority leaders have to discuss their differences in
a constructive way.
And the nomination process has to be open to refuse the
candidates that don’t satisfy basic conditions. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/16)
Story: Feds Weigh Charging Zimmerman in Killing – Part
1
Subject: After the “Not Guilty” verdict of the trial against
Zimmerman, members of the federal government weighed to charge Zimmerman in
killing.
My Comment: We have
to hope the political organizations that converted this trial in a “political
issue” stop the “game” soon if they don’t want riots across the country like in
Turkey, Brazil
or Egypt.
This is a new distraction to turn the face of the “naive” people away from other serious problems of the country… (2013/07/15) 5 Recommendations
Story: Feds Weigh Charging Zimmerman in Killing – Part
2
My Second Comment:
If the media doesn’t stop the “propaganda” and the politicians don’t put down
their own “feelings”, the Zimmerman case will become a new “racial war”. (2013/07/15) 6 Recommendations
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EUROPE
Subject: After more than one year of the Costa
Concordia's shipwreck, the legal process continues and the ship was not removed
from the place of the accident.
In the last days, the judge
charged five members of the company, but the sentence against the captain is
open till now.
We have to remember
that the captain left the ship where a lot of people died.
My Comment: All the
legal process related to the sinking of the Costa Concordia ship does not look
serious. It is another picture of Italian "dolce vita". (2013/07/21)
My Comment: Around
Silvio Berlusconi it all smells rotten, but he always has an angel who protects
him. (2013/07/20)
PBS- REPORT AIR DATE: July 19, 2013 - News Wrap: Opposition Leader Alexei
Navalny Released From Prison in Russia
Subject: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was
released from prison after he was charged as guilty.
My Comment: We don’t believe the court decided for
itself the freedom of Alexei Navalny.
We think President
Putin made the decision behind the scene to avoid more domestic and
international protests.(By TWITTER) (2013/07/20)
Subject: Another story about the freedom of Alexei Navalny who wants
to run for Moscow mayor.
My Comment: Really, this is an intriguing movement. Probably,
now Mr. Putin is happy after all the “metadata” and surveillance systems that surely
his agents have copied from the mobile computers of Edward Snowden.
In the future, maybe when in your mobile phone, you hear that somebody is listening to your call, you don't have to say more: "Hello NSA!”. You have to say: "Hello KGB!" (2013/07/19)
In the future, maybe when in your mobile phone, you hear that somebody is listening to your call, you don't have to say more: "Hello NSA!”. You have to say: "Hello KGB!" (2013/07/19)
Subject: A German
member of the Angela Merkel’s cabinet traveled to Greece due to this country continues with serious financial
problems.
My Comment: The news
says “Greece Needs Money Again”. One time was okay. The second time was too
much. Now, it is really crazy.
If the German taxpayers continue pouring more money into Greece, this country will become a new former DDR (German Democratic Republic or East Germany).
In this case, the Germans will have the right to "move" the complete Parthenon plus all the other monuments of the “Glorious Greece” to Berlin and the tourist agencies that organize tours to Athens will have to re-schedule their trips to Germany. (2013/07/18)
If the German taxpayers continue pouring more money into Greece, this country will become a new former DDR (German Democratic Republic or East Germany).
In this case, the Germans will have the right to "move" the complete Parthenon plus all the other monuments of the “Glorious Greece” to Berlin and the tourist agencies that organize tours to Athens will have to re-schedule their trips to Germany. (2013/07/18)
Subject: (This story was posted when Alexei Navalny was found
guilty).
My Comment: If
Alexei Navalny survives the jail, perhaps he will become the Russian leader
after President Putin.
History shows that a lot of charismatic leaders grow from their prison days. Of course, they have to be courageous and hard fighters.
According to the information available, Mr. Navalny, a 37-year old anticorruption activist looks with a profile of a strong fighter also with experience using the new resources of the Internet like blog pages. (2013/07/18) 3 Recommendations
History shows that a lot of charismatic leaders grow from their prison days. Of course, they have to be courageous and hard fighters.
According to the information available, Mr. Navalny, a 37-year old anticorruption activist looks with a profile of a strong fighter also with experience using the new resources of the Internet like blog pages. (2013/07/18) 3 Recommendations
Story: Putin Says He Hopes Snowden Leaves Russia – Part
1
Subject: President Putin says that he hopes Mr. Snowden leaves Russia but till now the former NSA contractor remains in the Moscow airport.
My Comment: If
Edward Snowden doesn’t find the way to leave Russia
soon, he will become a “toy” in the hands of the former KGB agent. (2013/07/15)
1 Recommendation
Story: Putin Urges Snowden to Leave Russia – Part 2
My Answer to another member who
made an affirmative statement about my previous comment: XX: Yes,
Snowden is a child compared with the KGB's guys and if he continues living in
the Moscow Airport
it is because till now Mr. Putin enjoys the game... (2013/07/16) 5
Recommendations
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THE
WORLD (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
Subject: Israel and Palestinians agreed to start a new peace process with
the participation of the United States.
My Comment: Always
when the Palestinians agree to sit around a “peace” table with the Israelis is
because they are looking for something from behind.
Maybe, they want that President Obama send them "food stamps" for their families with children. (2013/07/19) 3 Recommendations
Subject: Japan announced an important plan to revival its military power.
My Comment: The
military revival of Japan is not good news for different reasons:
1) The Japanese were very cruel warriors in all the wars they participated and they enjoyed fighting hard against their enemies, making suicide attacks, beheading prisoners, using slavery practices and more.
2) During the last few years, the old “wounds” of the war with China were reopened and they had a series of incidents between both countries. The Japan-China War was a terrible humiliation for the Chinese that they will never forget.
3) Japan has also pending war cases with other countries like Russia and Korea. And we will never forget the Pearl Harbor attack despite the United States and Japan are allies now. (2013/07/18) 4 Recommendations
1) The Japanese were very cruel warriors in all the wars they participated and they enjoyed fighting hard against their enemies, making suicide attacks, beheading prisoners, using slavery practices and more.
2) During the last few years, the old “wounds” of the war with China were reopened and they had a series of incidents between both countries. The Japan-China War was a terrible humiliation for the Chinese that they will never forget.
3) Japan has also pending war cases with other countries like Russia and Korea. And we will never forget the Pearl Harbor attack despite the United States and Japan are allies now. (2013/07/18) 4 Recommendations
PBS- REPORT - AIR
DATE: July 15, 2013 - News Wrap: U.S. Urges Egypt to Be Inclusive in Political Transition
Subject: An important member of the President Obama
administration visited Egypt to urge the new authorities to accelerate
the political transition.
My COMMENT: The problem is the United States supported President Morsi despite from the
beginning we knew it was a risky decision.
Now, the American
support to the Egyptian military and interim government leaders will crash us
against the Morsi’s supporters who will become our bitter enemies.
This confrontation doesn’t help for a new understanding. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/16)
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LATIN AMERICA
Subject: In Colombia, poor rural workers are organizing a series of protests
against the current government politics.
My Comment: The
strikes and marches of poor rural workers against the Colombian government is a
serious warning.
During the last few years, President Juan Manuel Santos and his predecessor improved the economy of the country and put down the guerrilla operations.
Now, from the view of international observers, Colombia looks like a country with a strong economy and more politically stable than before.
During the last few years, President Juan Manuel Santos and his predecessor improved the economy of the country and put down the guerrilla operations.
Now, from the view of international observers, Colombia looks like a country with a strong economy and more politically stable than before.
But if the poorer rural workers complain it is because Mr. Santos is not doing a good job or at least he is doing an incomplete job.
When a country grows economically, everybody has to be the beneficiary of this growth. The economic and social inequality is unfair and it generates popular unrest, riots and strikes and promotes “guerrilla” tactics plus the activities of illegal businesses like the drug traffic.
By the way, Colombia is a rich nation in resources, with an educated middle-class population and it is located in a strategic geopolitical region of the north of South America with coasts on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea and an excellent climate.
(2013/07/20)
Subject: The head of the “Zetas” drug cartel was captured in Mexico.
My Comment: Always
when they captured a drug leader, there are more than one ready to continue the
illegal business. It is very difficult to dismantle a strong gang like 'Zetas'.
(2013/07/16) 2 Recommendations
REPORT AIR DATE: July 16, 2013 - Leader of Brutal Zetas Drug Cartel
Captured Near Texas Border
Subject: Another story about the leader of the brutal
“Zetas” drug cartel.
My Comment: We cannot celebrate the capture of Miguel
Angel Treviño Morales as a big victory of the Mexican government. Before we saw
that other drug leaders were captured or killed but nothing changed.
The killing of one bad guy periodically is not the end of
the war against crime. We have to
observe when they kill the next. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/17)
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EDUCATION
Subject: A Taliban leader reacted after the speech of Malala Yousafzai
in the United Nations against extremists and education.
My Comment: As we
saw some few days ago through the Malala Yousafzai's speech in the UN, the
teenage campaigner for girls’ education is stronger than the corrupt Pakistani and
Afghan politicians.
For this reason, now again the Taliban leaders attack her saying that her preaching is “satanic”.
Taliban fears that this schoolgirl will knock down their power, something that is really possible because education opens minds and makes more solid changes in the society than weapons and bullets. (2013/07/18) 19 Recommendations
For this reason, now again the Taliban leaders attack her saying that her preaching is “satanic”.
Taliban fears that this schoolgirl will knock down their power, something that is really possible because education opens minds and makes more solid changes in the society than weapons and bullets. (2013/07/18) 19 Recommendations
Subject: The death of a group of school children due to
insecticide-contaminated food puts in evidence serious corruption problems of
the public educational system in India.
Before this incident, some
external observers said that the food-program of the Indian schools was
considered a successful program.
My Comment: The
human tragedies continue hitting the countries of South Asia.
India is in the
center of this geography with frequent bad news.
A week ago, another story commented that the health authorities of United Kingdom made a serious warning about medicaments and medical drugs produced by Indian laboratories.
This current tragedy of at least 22 children killed by contaminated meals in public schools is very painful. However, it will not be the last bad news from a country with a lot of social and economic problems and limited sanitary infrastructures to cover the needs of the poor people. (2013/07/17) 4 Recommendations
A week ago, another story commented that the health authorities of United Kingdom made a serious warning about medicaments and medical drugs produced by Indian laboratories.
This current tragedy of at least 22 children killed by contaminated meals in public schools is very painful. However, it will not be the last bad news from a country with a lot of social and economic problems and limited sanitary infrastructures to cover the needs of the poor people. (2013/07/17) 4 Recommendations
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ECONOMY,
BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY
Subject: After the publication of the Microsoft's financial report
related to its four fiscal quarter, its shares dropped in Wall Street.
My Comment: According to the news, investors
say that the “big technology companies are missing the boat”, but Wall Street
only sees the part of the chart that shows how much revenue and net income the
company declared at the end of the quarter.
Nobody
looks at the beginning of the graph where you can see how many Windows licenses
or PCs the companies have to sell every day of the quarter to improve their
figures of previous similar periods.
In 1995,
when Microsoft began its Windows 95 campaign, the market were virgin and a lot
of potential users waited anxiously to run a computer with an graphic interface
based on the Intel microprocessors.
Today,
Microsoft wants to push up its sales of Windows 8 but till now across the world
there are a lot of packages of Windows 7 on the shelves of its resellers and
retailers waiting for a customer.
Despite
the hard work of selling thousands of licenses per day, in the last quarter,
Microsoft achieved revenues of $19.9 billions and a net income of $4.97
billion. Nevertheless, on July 19, the MSFT shares fell 11.40%.0%
(2013/07/21)
Subject: IBM posted its second quarter financial report announcing
new efforts to lift revenue.
My Comment: The financial results of IBM of
its second 2013 quarter show the struggle of the technology companies to sell
expensive tools in crisis times:
- Its
net income was $ 3.2 billion, down 17% compared with a year ago.
- Its
revenues were $ 24.9 billion, down 3% compared also with the same quarter of
2012.
But in
the analysis of the operations of its business units, we can find some
interesting data:
- The
revenues of its Software Unit were US$ 6.4 billion, up 4% compared with a year
ago.
- Also,
its unit that produces and sells the System z mainframe grew 10% in revenues
compared year over year.
-And its
Microelectronics OEM unit increased a 6% in the same period.
Through
these numbers, we see some important achievements:
- The
effort made during years in the building the new software platform for
corporations and big users is giving fruit. IBM didn’t buy bargains. It bought
companies with tools that plug perfectly into its business model.
- From
the other side, when in the 90s, a lot of people was mocking IBM for its
dinosaurs (old mainframes), this company began a serious auto-analysis of the
good and bad features of big computing systems. Now the System z mainframe is
giving to IBM an exclusive opportunity to implement information solutions that
others cannot. (2013/07/21)
Subject: Nokia posted the financial results of the last quarter with
negative figures.
My Comment: The news
says: “The erosion of Nokia Corp.'s mobile device unit continued in the most
recent financial period…”
Since the company is in the hands of the Chief Executive
Stephen Elop, with every quarter, the results are gloomy.
The former employee of Microsoft didn’t want till now to
rebuild the Nokia’s business in the correct way. He persists with the idea that
Nokia has to work as a Microsoft OEM using the Mobile Windows operating system
as its main smart-phone line.
Nokia has to develop mobile phones for the satisfaction of
its customers, not for the happiness of Steve Ballmer, the Microsoft’s CEO.
(2013/07/19)
PBS -REPORT AIR DATE: July 18, 2013 - News Wrap: City of Detroit Files for Bankruptcy – Part 1
Subject: Kevin Orr, the Michigan state-appointed emergency manager filed for
bankruptcy on behalf of the city of Detroit. This is the largest bankruptcy of an
American city.
My Comment: After the pioneers of the automotive
industry died, nobody in Detroit opened an “economy book” to learn what happens when the competition
grows and you lose income because your product is no more the bestseller in the
market.
Detroit was a
company and union town. But it also was a town of "blind" people.
They never saw what was happening when Japanese and German car makers invaded
the world. They never opened the economy of the city with a wide criterion to
avoid the collapse. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/19) 2 Recommendations
PBS - REPORT AIR DATE: July 18, 2013 - News Wrap: City of Detroit Files for Bankruptcy – Part 2
My Comment
answering to another member:
It is true that after the crisis of 2008-2009, the American car makers are
recovering part of the ground they lost, but the competition is stronger than
during the glorious times of Detroit and is growing too.
Today the leaders of
the world automotive industry are:
- GM: U.S.
- Volkswagen: Germany
- Toyota: Japan
- Hyundai: Korea
- Ford: U.S.
- Nissan: Japan
- PSA: France
- Honda: Japan
- Renault: France
- Suzuki: Japan
- Fiat: Italy
- Chrysler: U.S.
- BMW: Germany
- Mercedes Benz: Germany
.......
In Summary, the
Metro Detroit area cannot continue dreaming that if GM, Ford and Chrysler improve
their car sales they will recover the leadership of 50 years ago, before German
and Japanese manufacturers invaded the world market. Additionally, now Hyundai
from Korean is part of the top leaders of the industry. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/20)
Story: Another story remarking the record bankruptcy for Detroit.
My Comment: The bankruptcy
of the city of Detroit is the
consequence of a serious mistake made by politician leaders and unions.
Everybody continued sleeping under the “umbrella” of the automotive industry
despite they saw that the “holes” in the umbrella were growing.
Never should a city, state or country focus its economy on only one productive resource. Always, the leaders have to promote the diversification of the productive sources. (2013/07/19) 2 Recommendations
Never should a city, state or country focus its economy on only one productive resource. Always, the leaders have to promote the diversification of the productive sources. (2013/07/19) 2 Recommendations
Story: Dell Buyout Vote Is Delayed
Subject: The discussion about the last price of the Dell buyout
continues.
My Comment: This is
a "personal game" of Michael Dell that will not heal the sickness of
his company.
DeII Inc. is losing time because its founder is playing with his ego, while Lenovo, Huawei and others are pushing hard to be at the top of the hill.
DeII Inc. is losing time because its founder is playing with his ego, while Lenovo, Huawei and others are pushing hard to be at the top of the hill.
Really, Dell as a technology company has only three options:
1) Redefine its business model like IBM as a provider of information technology solutions, consulting and services for corporations.
2) Put more pressure than Lenovo to become the No.1 of the PC market during the rest of the second decade of 2000s.
3) Refocus its business in the niche of digital tables, smart-phones and other digital devices. (In this niche, it has to compete hand to hand with tough players like Samsung and Huawei. It is a very difficult plan.)
If Michael continues playing like now, in 5 or more years somebody will buy its "debris" for less than the current value of the company. (2013/07/18) 2 Recommendations
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SOURCES:
1)
External Sources:
1.1) Wall
Street Journal: different articles and issues.
1.2) The
New York Times: different articles and issues.
1.3) PBS
NewsHour: different programs and pages.
1.4)
Microsoft Press: News release of its last financial results.
1.5) IBM
Press: News release of its last financial results.
2)
Own Sources: My
own research for previous publishing projects: TTT of Comlab Corp, Spanish
English Club online.
Website: http://world-rethink.blogspot.de/
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