How Are The Big Three CEO's Getting To DC This Time?
December 02, 2008 11:56 AM
It was a public relations disaster. The CEO's of the Big Three Autos came to Washington aboard corporate jets to ask for a tax payer bail out. Congress was none too happy. Well, the Big 3 are coming back later this week. Most importantly they'll be coming with newly revised plans for how they'll spend federal bail out dollars. But, in terms of symbolism, we're learning they'll also be parking the jets.
ABC's Charlie Herman reports from New York on how the CEOs plan to travel this week:
GM
CEO Rick Wagoner drives to DC in a Malibu Hybrid.
Don't know if he will be behind the wheel.
Ford
CEO Alan Mulally drives to DC in an Escape Hyrbid
Don't know if he will be behind the wheel.
Chrysler
No word yet.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Opinion Writing: A Cancer on the Financial System
Here's an example of extremely effective editorial-style writing. Punchy, direct, well-documented--very lean, no wasted words. Strong call to action that is clear. A very good model of effective persuasive writing.
A Cancer on the Financial System
Radical Surgery Required
By Chuck Colson
For those of you who remember Watergate, John Dean, the President’s counsel, famously warned President Nixon about Watergate, describing it as, quote, “a cancer on the Presidency.” That is a pretty good phrase to describe our economic mess.
If you get the sniffles, you can take an antihistamine. A few antibiotics can cure an ear infection. But cancer requires surgery, and maybe chemo and radiation.
Last week in the New York Times, Thomas Friedman wrote, “Right now there is something deeply dysfunctional, bordering on scandalously irresponsible, in the fractious way our political elite are behaving—with business as usual in the most unusual economic moment of our lifetimes. They don’t seem to understand: Our financial system is imperiled.” And, quoting Yale professor Jeffrey Garten, Friedman argued that it’s better to overestimate the danger and act accordingly than to underestimate.
He’s right. So I have a radical proposal: surgery followed by chemo.
Let us remember that one of the great concepts of the Reformation was the Rule of Law. No office holder is above it. So as for the surgery, I’d start maybe impeaching or indicting some of the officials who pontificate day after day on television about the terrible crisis—but they’re the same ones who helped bring it about. From those who put their pals in charge of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and then forced those agencies to make loans they knew couldn’t be repaid; to those regulators at the Office of Thrift Supervision who ignored the signs of catastrophe while the likes of Countrywide Financial, IndyMac, and Washington Mutual went down.
As one former Republican lawmaker told the Washington Post last week, the “regulatory motif” at OTS “was too accommodating to private-sector interests.” The result was chaos!
As for Wall Street, the surgery would include curbing the excess compensation so many of those officials got, and even indicting some of the irresponsible ones who negligently promoted instruments they knew had to fail. In the old days, we’d have called that fraud.
And don’t continue bail-outs to the irresponsible. Let the bankruptcy courts reorganize mismanaged companies. The reorganization would get rid of the all the labor feather-bedding and corporate excesses, particularly in the three big auto makers.
The chemo and radiation part is harder. It means injecting into the bloodstream of the nation a sense of ethics. It’s not taught in business schools; it’s not taught in high schools. We have lost our understanding of right and wrong. All that matters anymore is the financial bottom line and self satisfaction.
So this is where Christians can truly make a difference, as I have written this month in Christianity Today. The financial meltdown is more a crisis of character than a crisis of finances. Historically, our ethical system has come from Judeo-Christian revelation. We’ve got to start bringing it back into society. There is simply no other way.
Surgery, chemo and radiation are long processes. When my son went through it a while ago, it took a year. But the point is, until the cancer is destroyed, the body cannot be healthy.
To postpone it will only postpone the inevitable and perhaps merely succeed in allowing the patient to die painlessly.
This nation deserves better.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Writing Advice From the Book Doctor
Here's some good advice from John Shore, who blogs at crosswalk.com. This is a short excerpt from a longer posting:
The Book Doctor Will Needle You Now
My last post, A Would-Be Writers Asks: "MUST I Go to College?" made me think of a job I took earlier this year doctoring a novel. If you don't know, "doctoring" a novel means taking someone's novel and either outright fixing it yourself, or directing its author on what he or she needs to do in order to fix it themselves.
It's the most intrusive and inclusive kind of editing; it covers every aspect of the book at hand: pace, setting, characters, dialogue, wardrobe malfunctions, etc. I sometimes take on this sort of work if I believe in the author, or think the book has potential.
Below are excerpts from the last summary report I wrote for a would-be novelist (a fellow whom I'm proud to say took my advice, returned to college, and is now well on his way to making it as a writer of literary fiction).
Back to basics
Just like a physicist must first master basic math skills, so a writer must first master punctuation, grammar, syntax and usage. You simply have to know this stuff, cold. I don’t know how you’re going to learn it as thoroughly as you need to---if you’re going to take an adult ed class in English composition, or buy some style or usage guides and study them, or what.
I can tell you what I did---though I wouldn’t recommend it. I taught that stuff to myself. I spent about three years with my nose buried in "The Chicago Manual of Style," and Kate Turabian’s classic style manual, and the "Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage," and the AP Style Guide, and about a zillion other such titles. (One of the best, most comprehensive books of this sort available today is "Quick Access" by Lynn Quitman Troyka. It’s awesome. If you’re only gonna have one such book---and don’t, of course---make it this one.)
I wouldn’t recommend teaching yourself this material because the best way to learn anything so vast and complex is systematically, which is pretty much the whole purpose of (shudder!) school. I think you want to take some classes in English composition. You need to know what constitutes a complete sentence; the basic rules of punctuation; the pitfalls and earmarks of sloppy syntax. However you go about it, do not try to short cut around learning this stuff, because without it I guarantee you will never get off the ground as a writer....
Reading is really the best way to learn the basics of writing. If you read enough, for long enough, after awhile you just know what does and doesn’t make for a sound, clean sentence; you understand the functions of punctuation; you come to have a solid feel for syntax and usage.
Read any modern master: Updike, Vonnegut, Hemingway, John Irving, Steinbeck. Read it hard. Study it. Take a class or two (or ten) on English literature. Give it a some time. It’ll be worth it, because once you know grammar and syntax you'll be in possession of all the bricks necessary to build yourself virtually any building you want....
The Book Doctor Will Needle You Now
My last post, A Would-Be Writers Asks: "MUST I Go to College?" made me think of a job I took earlier this year doctoring a novel. If you don't know, "doctoring" a novel means taking someone's novel and either outright fixing it yourself, or directing its author on what he or she needs to do in order to fix it themselves.
It's the most intrusive and inclusive kind of editing; it covers every aspect of the book at hand: pace, setting, characters, dialogue, wardrobe malfunctions, etc. I sometimes take on this sort of work if I believe in the author, or think the book has potential.
Below are excerpts from the last summary report I wrote for a would-be novelist (a fellow whom I'm proud to say took my advice, returned to college, and is now well on his way to making it as a writer of literary fiction).
Back to basics
Just like a physicist must first master basic math skills, so a writer must first master punctuation, grammar, syntax and usage. You simply have to know this stuff, cold. I don’t know how you’re going to learn it as thoroughly as you need to---if you’re going to take an adult ed class in English composition, or buy some style or usage guides and study them, or what.
I can tell you what I did---though I wouldn’t recommend it. I taught that stuff to myself. I spent about three years with my nose buried in "The Chicago Manual of Style," and Kate Turabian’s classic style manual, and the "Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage," and the AP Style Guide, and about a zillion other such titles. (One of the best, most comprehensive books of this sort available today is "Quick Access" by Lynn Quitman Troyka. It’s awesome. If you’re only gonna have one such book---and don’t, of course---make it this one.)
I wouldn’t recommend teaching yourself this material because the best way to learn anything so vast and complex is systematically, which is pretty much the whole purpose of (shudder!) school. I think you want to take some classes in English composition. You need to know what constitutes a complete sentence; the basic rules of punctuation; the pitfalls and earmarks of sloppy syntax. However you go about it, do not try to short cut around learning this stuff, because without it I guarantee you will never get off the ground as a writer....
Reading is really the best way to learn the basics of writing. If you read enough, for long enough, after awhile you just know what does and doesn’t make for a sound, clean sentence; you understand the functions of punctuation; you come to have a solid feel for syntax and usage.
Read any modern master: Updike, Vonnegut, Hemingway, John Irving, Steinbeck. Read it hard. Study it. Take a class or two (or ten) on English literature. Give it a some time. It’ll be worth it, because once you know grammar and syntax you'll be in possession of all the bricks necessary to build yourself virtually any building you want....
What Was That You Said?
(These will NOT show up on a quiz)
When pop star Britney Spears was asked what is the best part about being famous, she replied, "I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada." When you're a celebrity or politician, everything you say can be used against you later. If you're famous, innocent flubs that would otherwise be forgotten are quoted until your dying day.
Here is an assortment of some of those innocent flubs collected by Rinkworks.com:
"Outside of the killings, [Washington, D.C.] has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."
-- Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, D.C.
"[I want to] make sure everybody who has a job wants a job."
-- George H. W. Bush, during his first campaign for the presidency
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
-- George W. Bush
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
-- George W. Bush
"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness."
-- George W. Bush
--"President Carter speaks loudly and carries a fly spotter, a fly swasher -- it's been a long day."
-- Gerald Ford
"If Lincoln was alive today, he'd roll over in his grave."
-- Gerald Ford
"That is what has made America last these past 200 centuries."
-- Gerald Ford
"A zebra does not change its spots."
-- Al Gore
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."
-- Brooke Shields
When pop star Britney Spears was asked what is the best part about being famous, she replied, "I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada." When you're a celebrity or politician, everything you say can be used against you later. If you're famous, innocent flubs that would otherwise be forgotten are quoted until your dying day.
Here is an assortment of some of those innocent flubs collected by Rinkworks.com:
"Outside of the killings, [Washington, D.C.] has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."
-- Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, D.C.
"[I want to] make sure everybody who has a job wants a job."
-- George H. W. Bush, during his first campaign for the presidency
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
-- George W. Bush
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
-- George W. Bush
"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness."
-- George W. Bush
--"President Carter speaks loudly and carries a fly spotter, a fly swasher -- it's been a long day."
-- Gerald Ford
"If Lincoln was alive today, he'd roll over in his grave."
-- Gerald Ford
"That is what has made America last these past 200 centuries."
-- Gerald Ford
"A zebra does not change its spots."
-- Al Gore
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."
-- Brooke Shields
Friday, November 28, 2008
Rick Warren Releases Christmas Book
From Christianpost.com:
Rick Warren's New Book Hits Bestsellers Lists
By Eric Young
Christian Post Reporter
Rick Warren’s first released book since his highly popular Purpose Driven Life is another best seller and will likely continue its climb as America heads past Thanksgiving and toward Christmas.
After two weeks on the bookshelves, The Purpose of Christmas has been listed among the New York Times’ top 5 bestselling Hardcover Advice books. It is also currently No. 25 on USA Today’s weekly top 150 best sellers overall after debuting at No. 27.
“This book, The Purpose of Christmas, is the most clear definition of Christianity – of what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to be saved – of anything I’ve ever written,” says Warren, who pastors Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif.
"The book is cleverly simple and profound," adds Pastor Phil Munsey of the Life Church in Mission Viejo, Calif.
"This book won't answer the questions of the skeptic, but it will answer the sincere quest of those who just want the simple truth of the most celebrated holiday in the world," Munsey told the OC Register of Orange County. "If you want to recapture the innocent childlike faith you embraced … this book will cause you to rejoice."
Based off a Christmas message Warren had delivered two years ago at his Southern California megachurch, The Purpose of Christmas explains why Jesus Christ came to earth – which Warren says can be summed up through the three statements given by the angels that appeared at the first Christmas.
“First, he (the angel) said ‘I bring you good news of great joy.’ It’s a time for celebration,” explains Warren. “And then he says, ‘for on this day is born to you a savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ It’s a time for salvation. And then he says ‘Peace on earth; goodwill toward men.’ It’s a time for reconciliation.
“Jesus Christ came to the earth for celebration, salvation, and reconciliation,” Warren says. “In other words, to make peace with God, to make peace with ourselves, to make peace with other people.”
The 125-page gift book follows Warren's bestselling The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold 52 million copies since its release six years ago. Described as the bestselling nonfiction hardback book in history, the 2002 devotional book rocketed the Baptist pastor into national prominence and was also most identified in a Barna survey of American pastors and ministers as the book that was most influential on their lives and ministries.
Even compared to it, however, Warren says The Purpose of Christmas is “the most evangelistic book I’ve ever written.”
“It’s the clearest presentation of the Gospel,” he says.
In addition to the book, two other “amazing tools” were created by Warren and his team to help people understand the meaning and purpose of Christmas.
The second tool that was created is a three-week small group curriculum based on the three parts of Warren’s Christmas message and intended for Christians and churches to use in the months of November and December. The third is a 16-track CD that intertwines inspirational Christmas songs – sung by such well-known artists as Sarah McLachlan, Martina McBride, ThirdDay and Vince Gill – with inspiring narrative from Warren explaining the three purposes of Christmas as detailed in his book.
"God's message of the purpose of Christmas is clearly written in His Word," says Warren. "I believe that when people experience the Good News … they will begin to understand what Christmas means to them personally, deepening their regard and respect for this season.
“We’re going to be praying that this book is used widely to win many people to Christ,” he adds.
All net proceeds of The Purpose of Christmas book and CD will go to benefit Saddleback Church's PEACE Plan – a global initiative created by Warren to mobilize millions of Christians in the fight against the five global giants of spiritual emptiness, self-centered leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease and illiteracy/education.
The CD, which comes with a bonus DVD of Warren's message, is currently available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores through an exclusive arrangement.
The Purpose of Christmas book and the DVD study curriculum materials from Christian publishing giant Zondervan, meanwhile, are available at stores nationwide.
Rick Warren's New Book Hits Bestsellers Lists
By Eric Young
Christian Post Reporter
Rick Warren’s first released book since his highly popular Purpose Driven Life is another best seller and will likely continue its climb as America heads past Thanksgiving and toward Christmas.
After two weeks on the bookshelves, The Purpose of Christmas has been listed among the New York Times’ top 5 bestselling Hardcover Advice books. It is also currently No. 25 on USA Today’s weekly top 150 best sellers overall after debuting at No. 27.
“This book, The Purpose of Christmas, is the most clear definition of Christianity – of what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to be saved – of anything I’ve ever written,” says Warren, who pastors Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif.
"The book is cleverly simple and profound," adds Pastor Phil Munsey of the Life Church in Mission Viejo, Calif.
"This book won't answer the questions of the skeptic, but it will answer the sincere quest of those who just want the simple truth of the most celebrated holiday in the world," Munsey told the OC Register of Orange County. "If you want to recapture the innocent childlike faith you embraced … this book will cause you to rejoice."
Based off a Christmas message Warren had delivered two years ago at his Southern California megachurch, The Purpose of Christmas explains why Jesus Christ came to earth – which Warren says can be summed up through the three statements given by the angels that appeared at the first Christmas.
“First, he (the angel) said ‘I bring you good news of great joy.’ It’s a time for celebration,” explains Warren. “And then he says, ‘for on this day is born to you a savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ It’s a time for salvation. And then he says ‘Peace on earth; goodwill toward men.’ It’s a time for reconciliation.
“Jesus Christ came to the earth for celebration, salvation, and reconciliation,” Warren says. “In other words, to make peace with God, to make peace with ourselves, to make peace with other people.”
The 125-page gift book follows Warren's bestselling The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold 52 million copies since its release six years ago. Described as the bestselling nonfiction hardback book in history, the 2002 devotional book rocketed the Baptist pastor into national prominence and was also most identified in a Barna survey of American pastors and ministers as the book that was most influential on their lives and ministries.
Even compared to it, however, Warren says The Purpose of Christmas is “the most evangelistic book I’ve ever written.”
“It’s the clearest presentation of the Gospel,” he says.
In addition to the book, two other “amazing tools” were created by Warren and his team to help people understand the meaning and purpose of Christmas.
The second tool that was created is a three-week small group curriculum based on the three parts of Warren’s Christmas message and intended for Christians and churches to use in the months of November and December. The third is a 16-track CD that intertwines inspirational Christmas songs – sung by such well-known artists as Sarah McLachlan, Martina McBride, ThirdDay and Vince Gill – with inspiring narrative from Warren explaining the three purposes of Christmas as detailed in his book.
"God's message of the purpose of Christmas is clearly written in His Word," says Warren. "I believe that when people experience the Good News … they will begin to understand what Christmas means to them personally, deepening their regard and respect for this season.
“We’re going to be praying that this book is used widely to win many people to Christ,” he adds.
All net proceeds of The Purpose of Christmas book and CD will go to benefit Saddleback Church's PEACE Plan – a global initiative created by Warren to mobilize millions of Christians in the fight against the five global giants of spiritual emptiness, self-centered leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease and illiteracy/education.
The CD, which comes with a bonus DVD of Warren's message, is currently available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores through an exclusive arrangement.
The Purpose of Christmas book and the DVD study curriculum materials from Christian publishing giant Zondervan, meanwhile, are available at stores nationwide.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Reader's Digest, Rick Warren to Start Magazine
The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., and Dr. Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church and the author of the worldwide best-seller, "The Purpose Driven Life," today announced a partnership to produce an inspirational multimedia platform called The Purpose Driven Connection.
Together the organizations will pool their international resources to produce and publish this Purpose Driven platform to help people who are seeking their purpose in life and wish to interact with others on their spiritual journeys.
The platform will provide a suite of bundled multimedia tools: "The Purpose Driven Connection," a quarterly magazine; Small Group study materials delivered in DVDs, workbooks and downloadable discussion guides; and a state-of-the-art Christian social networking website.
"We are excited about this new partnership and its unprecedented potential for international impact," said Warren, who will serve as Editor-in-Chief and be heavily involved in the conception of each element. "The Purpose Driven Connection represents more than simply integrated multimedia resources; it will become a platform for a movement of people to change the world."
"We are delighted to be working with Rick Warren and the Saddleback team," said Alyce Alston, President of RDA's Home & Garden and Health & Wellness affinities. "This is one of our company's most important and far-reaching ventures ever. Together we will create a category-busting multimedia suite that will help millions of people in their daily lives, including those who already follow the Purpose Driven principles as well as seekers everywhere looking for greater fulfillment."
The Purpose Driven Connection revolves around the theme, "Your Life Matters," and mirrors Warren's book, which has sold more than 30 million copies since being released in 2002 and has been read by 60 million people and translated into nearly 100 languages.
It also relates to Saddleback Church's PEACE Plan, initiated by Warren, which mobilizes Christians to combat global problems affecting billions of people, including spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases and illiteracy. To date, the PEACE Coalition has advanced the program among the public, profit and faith sectors in 68 countries.
The magazine, to launch early in 2009, will include stories of everyday people who have found God's purpose for their lives. The framework for the platform will be designed to provide five practical tools to communicate five spiritual purposes -- Knowing, Relating, Growing, Serving and Sharing -- each through a combination of teaching and testimony.
"The magazine will be consistent with our highest editorial standards," said Frank Lalli, RDA's Vice President of International Editions and Magazine Development. "In the best traditions of RDA, we are commissioning extraordinary photographers, illustrators and writers to travel the world and capture real-life stories that will change how readers think and inspire them to take action to improve society."
Together the organizations will pool their international resources to produce and publish this Purpose Driven platform to help people who are seeking their purpose in life and wish to interact with others on their spiritual journeys.
The platform will provide a suite of bundled multimedia tools: "The Purpose Driven Connection," a quarterly magazine; Small Group study materials delivered in DVDs, workbooks and downloadable discussion guides; and a state-of-the-art Christian social networking website.
"We are excited about this new partnership and its unprecedented potential for international impact," said Warren, who will serve as Editor-in-Chief and be heavily involved in the conception of each element. "The Purpose Driven Connection represents more than simply integrated multimedia resources; it will become a platform for a movement of people to change the world."
"We are delighted to be working with Rick Warren and the Saddleback team," said Alyce Alston, President of RDA's Home & Garden and Health & Wellness affinities. "This is one of our company's most important and far-reaching ventures ever. Together we will create a category-busting multimedia suite that will help millions of people in their daily lives, including those who already follow the Purpose Driven principles as well as seekers everywhere looking for greater fulfillment."
The Purpose Driven Connection revolves around the theme, "Your Life Matters," and mirrors Warren's book, which has sold more than 30 million copies since being released in 2002 and has been read by 60 million people and translated into nearly 100 languages.
It also relates to Saddleback Church's PEACE Plan, initiated by Warren, which mobilizes Christians to combat global problems affecting billions of people, including spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases and illiteracy. To date, the PEACE Coalition has advanced the program among the public, profit and faith sectors in 68 countries.
The magazine, to launch early in 2009, will include stories of everyday people who have found God's purpose for their lives. The framework for the platform will be designed to provide five practical tools to communicate five spiritual purposes -- Knowing, Relating, Growing, Serving and Sharing -- each through a combination of teaching and testimony.
"The magazine will be consistent with our highest editorial standards," said Frank Lalli, RDA's Vice President of International Editions and Magazine Development. "In the best traditions of RDA, we are commissioning extraordinary photographers, illustrators and writers to travel the world and capture real-life stories that will change how readers think and inspire them to take action to improve society."
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Woodward & Bernstein Visit 'Deep Throat'
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