100 days...

Well,

Our cousins to the south have had their new guy for 100 days! Good for them and good for the rest of us too. So, armed with Wasabi Peas and India Pale Ale, I will now venture forth into my opinion of the first 1/32 (more or less) of a two term Obama Presidency. Here is the Newsweek 100 day summary:



This man is a remarkable communicator - I call him the Professor in Chief. People do want to understand complicated issues and he has a gift for explaining those same complicated issues. He inherited a crappy situation and is dealing with it and doing so in what is starting to look like a credible manner. He also genuinely enjoys the job, something that his predecessor may not have. Finally, it is far nicer to have a VP named Joe over someone named DICK!

Here is the view of a couple of good historians on the first one hundred days:



Interesting that even the Republican representative feels that there are issues with the Republican stance.

Here is Countdown's take on this evening's press conference. A press conference which came after a really interesting town hall this afternoon - good lord, this man can connect.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Speaking of Joe, wasn't that a masterful manipulation of the Republicans in the Senate with the whole Spector defection? The Democrats are going to need a filibuster proof majority if they want to get through health care and energy R&D legislation. With Al Franken likely going to win the Minnesota Senate Race, that gets the Dems to a place where they need to be to introduce real change. While I don't like the source, the following article lays it all out:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/28/specter-defection-raises-stakes-minnesota-senate-race/

Before I close, a couple of things I would like to see in the next 100 days:

1. Some approach to Pakistan that is going to lead to Taliban control
2. A rational Energy R&D policy - I would like a carbon tax but that isn't going to happen
3. More NASA funding and a new administrator selected
4. The shutdown of GM (also isn't going to happen)
5. Some very targeted investigation of "Crimes Against Humanity" by senior Bush officials over the last eight years

We will see what happens next. But let me end with my grading of the first 100 days - you get an A+ Mr. President.

Paul

Updates abound...

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to update you on a couple of things. First off, my eBook, So Fatso, Do you want to run a marathon with me? - Chapter 5 has been delivered to our crack team of literary critics and, assuming that they return with comments that are anything other than absolutely scathing, it will be out in two weeks or so. Check into this blog early and often!

Politics. Hmmm... Well I think the states is going to have to undergo a Truth and Reconciliation commission of some sort. They know they did bad and, radical right aside, want to work through this. Obama is proving to be a great President - "The Professor in Chief" and is trying to make things work again - a focus on understanding and delivery rather than ideology.

Did I mention Dick Cheney's first name? Oh, sorry, I should have its... DICK.

Movies - really cool movies. The new trek film is now 10 days away here in North America. All the preliminary reviews have been great and Barb, my sons and I just can't wait to see it. I do believe it will be something of a family event with Jamie and Scot showing up as well.

An article on the reviews can be found at: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/04/22/star.trek.screening.room/

OK - Canadian Politics. I believe the end of this recession is in site and, as such, the Liberals will have no option but to call an election on "Fiscal Responsibility" before it is officially over. Mark October in your calendars, kids - we is going to the polls.

Later.

Paul

A Smorgasborg...

Hi there everyone,

It has been a while since I have posted, sorry - travel, getting over it and all that.

First off, a new Paul Mackin Blog which will temporarily replace the Prague Blog - ladies and gentlemen, the Reykjavik Marathon Blog: http://mackin-reykjavik-2009.blogspot.com/. Check it out, become a fan, tell your friends, inflict it upon your enemies (and then they will fear you). Go on, check it out!

OK so, we are now in the final, pre-bankruptcy days for GM and Chrysler. Savour the moment - bad business decisions are now coming home to roost: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30264733/. Ultimately this all will get sorted but with this financial action pending, nobody in their right mind will buy one of these cars and that, of course, escalates the situation.

A birthday of note: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=28015 - Happy Birthday, you beautiful girl you!

So, why do you think they named him "Dick"?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Last point - Canadian Politics - expect an October election. You heard it hear first...

Paul

Can't judge a book by its cover...

Hi everyone,

Safely back in Canada and with an improved opinion of both Nigeria and the project in which I was previously engaged. It looks like I, and my company, will have a focus there for the next bit of time. We will see.


A couple of years back, there was a Welsh fellow named Paul Pot who found Baritone stardom on some sort of British talent show. Rightfully so, now another discovery - a real jewel - has been found. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Susan Boyle - here is the URL - I can say nothing else:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

What is remarkable about this video is the change. People go from contemptuous to adoring. She is not an attractive woman but, upon even the most rudimentary exploration, it is clear that she is bright, engaging, funny and very human. How we limit ourselves with our first pass view of people. One of the commentators said: "It was a complete privilege listening to that" - I can only tell you that the 3/8th of my ancestry that is Scottish is howling out with pride right now.

I was going to write about a bunch of other things tonight. I will defer that for 24 hours or so. I am that impressed by the lovely and talented Ms. Boyle.

Paul

Last night in Africa before the flight home...

Hi everyone,

I head out tomorrow night on a Lufthansa flight to Germany and then on a connecting flight to Toronto with appropriate, and I must say, lengthy, stopovers in my third favorite country in Europe.

I am sitting in the hotel bar here in Lagos and a great song just came on the sound system here - The Things we do For Love by one of my favorite bands, 10cc. Looking forward to getting home as all the people I love are there.

OK, so tonight I had drinks with my friend Remi and some of his friends and we discussed energy systems. I recently came across a great cartoon - Opus - only the best. I like this because it does discuss, in some ways the "mix" approach which I feel we have to take. It doesn't cover a few alternatives but its irreverence and direct approach is absolutely what we need.

As per our idiot cousins in the North American Automotive Industry ("NAAI"- sounds like the wail of some evil creature before it expires) , sorry but I refuse to claim a closer relationship with them than that - here are the latest monstrosities out of the NY Automotive show - these guys really need to decide who, and what, they are: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30095892/

Great news on the Trek front - unfortunately I will likely be in Lagos the day it opens: http://www.trekweb.com/

Blog you back from Canada on the weekend.

Paul

Coming at you from Deepest, Darkest Africa...

Hi guys,

Just a quick blog post - my first in April this year. I am down here in Lagos and things are going quite well. This is my third attempt to launch this project and, as they say, the third time seems to be the charm - there appears to be a genuine interest in getting this network built this time.

Africa is really interesting. There are many things about it which would be abhorrent to those of us in the west but, you know, stuff does get done here. Nigeria, for all its flaws is a bit of a success story, granted, one fueled by oil. Still, this is clearly a nicer place to live, in almost all parts of the country, than it was four years ago. They move ahead. I will post a Flickr set of pictures from Nigeria when I get back home on the weekend.

OK - now onto my usual themes. Let's start with GM (the company that deserves to die):

http://www.newsweek.com/id/192458

The bottom line is that even when a company gets credible ideas about how to move forward, they abandon them and through out the baby but keep the bloody bathwater. These guys, and the UAW, are morons studying to be idiots but, unfortunately without a work ethic. Heavy sigh!

Hey are really cool Star Trek thing is happening - today, on two continents was the premier of the new Star Trek film. I wasn't there and, unfortunately, I likely won't be there when it opens on the 8th of May. I was chatting to my friend Barb earlier this week and we are kind of leaning toward her picking me up at the airport upon my return from Africa on the 15th and heading straight to the movie theater - picking up James and Andrew on the way... We will see...

Here is a link with some details:

http://www.trekweb.com/

OK. Last thing. Great article on HRH Charles, the Prince of Wales in the Globe and Mail today. As many of you know, I am a HUGE monarchist. This story does, indeed give the skinny on old Chuck. He will do as good a job, or better, than his Great, Great Grandfather Edward VIII - "The Peacemaker" a man who also had a mother who was a Queen (Victoria), who also reigned until he was in his very late 50's (Charles is 60) - Edward, whom everyone assumed was an idiot, was a great king - just as Charles will be.

Here is the article - share and enjoy: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090406.wmacgregor06art2232/BNStory/National/

Will update you all when I return to the Great, White (I am told - apparently it has been snowing), North.

Paul