U.S. intelligence: "lack of imagination"

Cartoon by Gary McCoy, Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis

"Across the government, there were failures of imagination, policy, capabilities and management," the report said, adding: "The most important failure was one of imagination. We do not believe leaders understood the gravity of the threat." From the final report of the 9/11 commission.
This cartoon - also published in the great book "Attack Of The Political Cartoonists: Insights And Assaults From Today's Editorial Pages" - couldn't comment it better.

Money talks in the presidential race

It's an open secret that the presidential election 2004 is the most expensive in the history of the United States. It is just staggering how much playdough the big boys have. As of June 30 President Bush raised a total of 228 million dollar, while Senator John Kerry raised 185 million. But surprise - which candidate was the more successfull fundraiser last month? Check out my little chart.

Congress debates $100 billion Iraq cost

As the costs of fighting and rebuilding in Iraq keep mounting by the billions, lawmakers and policy makers are debating how much more will be needed and whether money used so far was well spent.At least $100 billion already has been spent or is in the pipeline for the now 16-month-old campaign, according to Defense Department figures. That's $67.7 billion obligated for military expenses as of March, when the last figures were available, and an estimated $16 billion since then, based on spending at a rate of about $1 billion a week. Another $18.6 billion has been approved but largely unspent for reconstruction. Thanks god the U.S. is in such a great shape that's we don't need these billions at home....

Literature endangered in the U.S.

What a bummer. Are Americans really shying away from reading literature? According to a
new study by the National Endowment for the Arts there's been a 10 percent drop over the past two decades in the number of Americans reading novels, short stories, plays and poems. 47 percent of Americans say they read a literary work in 2002, compared with 57 percent in 1982. 95 percent prefer watching television, 60 would rather see a movie, and 55 percent would choose weightlifting or other exercise over reading books. For the first time reading has been declining among every segment of American adults. - Read people! There are so many great and exciting books out there!

A daily dosis beach

Webcam from Laguna Beach, California.

Academic predictions: Kerry will win

If the election were held today, Princeton Professor Sam Wang says Senator John Kerry would win: "Counting the last six polls, the current probability of a Kerry win is 98 percent. Counting only the last three polls, the probability is 99.98 percent." (via Political Wire)

Scandal goes on at atomic bomb lab

After last weeks' shocking news that two electronic data storage devices reported missing at the National Los Alamos Laboratory 19 workers "of all levels" have been put on investigative leave
Los Alamos has been under intense scrutiny since November 2002, when allegations surfaced about purchasing fraud, equipment theft and mismanagement. The ensuing scandal prompted an overhaul of lab business policies and a culling of top managers. The University of California has managed the lab for the federal government since it was created 61 years ago to build the atomic bomb. Because of the lapses, the Energy Department has decided to put the management contract up for bid when it expires in 2005.

Great concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Our favorite outdoor concert venue in L.A.

Last night we went to the "Jazz Lowdown" concert at the Hollywood Bowl. A wonderful experience at our favorite outdoor venue in L.A. ! We loved the performances of legendary Cassandra Wilson and the Brazilian singer Eliane Elias; but Boz Scaggs sucked. We definitely want to come back for other great events. Here are more pictures.

Bush's vague hints about his 2nd term

According to the Los Angeles Times President Bush seems to be clueless (or secretive, what's new) about what he would do in a second term as president. In a speech to donors he said that he would forge ahead with a plan to create private retirement savings and health accounts "new era of ownership"(he called it a "new era of ownership for Americans"), but offered few specifics. In the meanwhile: The deficit in fiscal year 2004, which ends September 30, is predicted to approach $500 billion - an increase from the 2003 deficit of $374 billion. Good riddance...

Join the U.S. army - have a nose job

The United States Army must have a big image problem. It is so desperate in recruiting new soldiers that the Pentagon is reportedly using some $3 billion of American taxpayers' money to draw their children (!!!) into the military. But there is more. As the New Yorker magazine reports in its July 26th edition soldiers and their families can receive now plastic surgery, including breast enlargements - also on the taxpayers' dime! Members of all four branches of the US military can get face-lifts, breast enlargements, liposuction and nose jobs for free - something the military says helps surgeons practise their skills. "The surgeons have to have someone to practise on", an army spokesperson told the magazine. Between 2000 and 2003, military doctors performed 496 breast enlargements and 1361 liposuction surgeries on soldiers and their dependents. Finally we understand the true meaning of the army's advertising slogan "Be All You Can Be"... In the meanwhile we just learned that the Pentagon faces a $17 billion shortfall for the costs of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and its worldwide effort against terrorism. The amount is triple what the administration projected in April it would need to make it through September.

Bush plans campaign trip to California

O god. In August Bush wants to come to California. Fortunately the predictions show very clearly that the Golden State will vote for John Kerry in November. But Dubbya thinks he can help Senate candidate Bill Jones and try raise funds for his own race.

For Martin

Hi branding guru! There are tons of stories about the rise of the weblogs and its discovery as a business tool. To start, here is a story which could be interesting for you: At a recent advertising conference McDonalds declared that mass marketing no longer works and that it has adopted a new marketing technique called "brand journalism." McDonalds described the concept as one marking "the end of brand positioning as we know it." He went on to say that effective marketing should use many stories rather than employing one message to reach everyone. In effect, he declared that McDonald's was abandoning the universal message concept. "Any single ad, commercial or promotion is not a summary of our strategy. It's not representative of the brand message," McDonalds chief marketing officer said. "We don't need one big execution of a big idea. We need one big idea that can be used in a multidimensional, multilayered and multifaceted way." PR Machine thinks that "brand journalism' is a reaction to the threat of customers talking back to company brands through blogs. "New technologies such as blogs interrupt the power of controlled communications and its brand messages. (..) Blogging is a technology of un-control." Plus: Interesting comments of marketing guru Seth Godin regarding "Brand Journalism".

Cookies for Kerry - successful bakesale

Baking for Kerry - fantasy without borders

I finally uploaded the pictures of the "John Kerry 10000 Dollar Bakesale" from last Saturday. Wow! What a fun event that was! The political momentum for Kerry really mobilized the masses and inspired the creativity of the people. We saw so many humorously designed baked good turned into political statements. Among others there were like "Give Pies a Chance", "Cupcake Revolution", "Raise Dough for Kerry" or "Fahrenheit 375 - the temperature at which cookies bake". The bakesale raised 9400 dollars. Congrats to the organizer, Shana Lutker and Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (great and inspiring article about these two guys in the L.A. Weekly)!

L.A. phone home

Los Angeles has been called the city of lost souls, but it could also be the city of lost cell phones. Approximately 400 cell phones a month, or 4,800 a year, are sent to Los Angeles International Airport's "lost and found" bin, according to a poll commissioned by FusionOne, a company which makes software that lets users back up and recover data on lost handhelds. In addition the report unveiled that almost half (43 percent) of mobile users have lost, damaged or had their cell phones stolen at some point.

Great John Kerry House Party

Cozy Kerry supporter

Political grassroots work is fun! Yesterday we hosted the fundraiser party for John Kerry at our house. Approximately 15 people showed up to help us to raise money and awareness for a change in the White House. We had lively discussions about the election in November and tons of other issues, sipped delicious Chardonnay wine and got energized with yummy cheese (thanks Dylan), crudite and political cookies. Event Ali the cat got excited and filled out his voter registration form. But then he had to rest... Here are more pictures.

Political cookies

Have a bite....

We served these cookies at our house party - they were gone in a heartbeart. Because the decoration is so stimulating?

Diana Krall - the shy Jazz talent

Last night we went to the concert of Jazz singer Diana Krall at the Greek Theatre. A wonderful event, a great venue (although we like the legendary Hollywood Bowl better). She played lots of songs of her new album "The Girl in the Other Room" (which just sold 1 million copies) - a work of collaboration with her husband, rock performer Elvis Costello. I also loved her interpretation of Tom Waits' "Temptation", Joni Mitchell's "Black Crow", and especially Irving Berlin’s "Let's Face the Music and Dance". A huge talent, but very shy on stage.