Random Thoughts on Various Subjects

1. STEVE JOBS RESIGNATION



It is my personal belief that Steve Jobs will not live out the year. In fact, he probably won't live out the month. For that guy to turn his resignation, he has to be hellacious sick. Either way, his passing of the torch is a blow to both Apple and the world of tech.



The media is already summing up the man's life. Without a doubt, he is up there with people like Henry Ford. Jack Welch said that Jobs was the greatest CEO he had ever seen, and I am in agreement that Jobs was the best. That guy provided visionary leadership. Steve Jobs will always hold a very large place in the annals of business.



The next aspect of the issue is the future of Apple. Can they keep on being great? Many people point to Steve's ouster as Apple went to shit back in the day. That has gone down in the history of business as one of the greatest clusterfucks of all time. But hindsight is 20/20 as we would not be saying this had Jobs not come back and turned Apple into what it is today. But it points to the larger fact that people like Jobs are not tolerated in Corporate America. Corporate America is office politics not leadership.



People worry that Apple will slide into oblivion because of what happened before when Jobs left. But there is another company that Jobs led and left. This is Pixar. To this day, they still live up to the standards that Jobs left for them. I think Apple will do the same thing.



A lot is said about Jobs and his vision and his dictatorial style. Of all the people in the world, Jobs comes closest to resembling a hero from an Ayn Rand novel. His philosophy and sense of life would never mesh with hers, but his leadership style and passion would. Jobs comes closest to being a Hank Rearden. The guy cares about his work, and I know what Jobs hates the most. He hates people that just don't give a fuck and simply go through the motions. I am very sympathetic to this. I think anyone reading this would agree that the biggest problem in their organization are worthless pieces of shit who do the minimum while still collecting a paycheck.



Jobs will be missed. When he dies, he will be mourned like no other. I am saddened at this, but it is what it is. The man was an example of uncompromising vision and dedication to his work. The world needs more people like him.







2. LIBYA



Qaddafi is done. They just need to find him and kill/try him. I suspect they will kill him to spare themselves the trial much as they did with Osama bin Laden. It is a fitting end to a monster. But this still leaves Libya.



Justin Raimondo pointed out that Libya will be a pyrrhic victory for the Obama administration. This is because the rebels are certainly religious types who have already declared their intentions to impose sharia law. Like Iraq, you are seeing the emergence of a new Islamic theocratic state.



The big issue that is on everyone's mind concerns how large of a role that NATO and the USA had especially the CIA. These rebels went from the Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight to being victorious over a ruthless and capable dictator. Clearly, NATO involvement was what turned the tide. This is a clear case of meddling in foreign affairs. What will be the blowback? Trust me, there will be blowback.



3. RICK PERRY



Rick Perry is starting to eclipse Mitt Romney as the GOP frontrunner. It is obvious that the GOP wants a guy who can appeal to a broad base without being a Mormon. The media are out to attack Perry as ultra-conservative, a religious nut, and a closet racist. This would be the bulk of GOP primary voters. Meanwhile, Jon Huntsman is a complete fucking joke and should be ignored. But the media loves that son of a bitch. Then, the guy who is the real firebrand of the GOP--Ron Paul--is ignored by the media. In the wings, we have Sarah Palin and Jeb Bush. Will they run? No predictions here.



4. IRENE



I have had my weekend plans change on account of Hurricane Irene. That's about it. I'm just glad SC is not getting a direct hit from that thing. But we are at the beginning of hurricane season, and I dread it. I went through Hugo, and I never forgot that shit. Definitely get a generator and a chain saw. Those make a huge difference in the aftermath.

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