Bruce Momjian: General Blog

How Green Is Green?

Sun, 13 May 2012 12:00:00 -0400

This article about Walmart's ecological push in China asks a question few pro-environmental people want to ask:

As I roamed through Walmart stores, visited factories, traipsed around co-op farms, and listened to corporate executives in China, I found myself pondering a question that I couldn't get out of my mind, but that had little to do with Walmart's immediate success in China or the world: However smart, prescient, and successful Walmart's sustainability efforts actually turn out to be, just how "sustainable" is the whole bloody global-retail proposition that lies at the heart of the company's amazing progress? Maybe Walmart's new initiatives will pencil out in a business sense for the company and, within the terms of the current retail game, even serve as a model of good environmental stewardship. But will the hyperactive retail-consumption model that it has pioneered for global consumers pencil out for the world?

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Al Qaeda Is in Tatters

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 -0400

This article persuasively argues that Al Qaeda is in profound decline.

Airline Merger Could Adversely Affect Philadelphia International Airport

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:00:00 -0400

Philadelphia International Airport currently enjoys a great number of non-stop flights to many destinations, but that might change. Last week's announcement of a possible hostile takeover bid of American Airlines by US Airways could adversely affect flight volume at Philadelphia International Airport.

Right now, US Airways carries 70% of airport passengers at Philadelphia International Airport. However, American Airlines already has a hub at JFK International Airport, and a merged carrier would likely consolidate northeast traffic at a single airport, probably JFK. Can't happen? Consider how US Airways drastically reduced flights at Pittsburgh's airport in the mid-2000's, moving flights to other hubs. The same could happen to Philadelphia. If it does happen, the only hope would be that another large airline would designate Philadelphia as one of its hubs. This article suggests that the merger might increase international flights at Philadelphia, though I fail to see how.

New Briefcase

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:00 -0400

After using the same Coach brown leather briefcase for over fifteen years, I have purchases a new Coach black, slightly-thinner briefcase. Thin briefcases are hard to find and even my old one, at three inches, was too thick. I had it monogramed at a store where I bought some luggage and even the salespeople admired it, so it was probably a good choice.

Santorum Suspends Presidential Campaign

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:00:00 -0400

I always liked Rick Santorum's campaign and values, but this video of him announcing his campaign suspension was remarkable — nice touch announcing it in the historic town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Four Days of Church

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:00 -0400

I went to church for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil (Saturday), and Easter. I think this was the first time I attended church all four days during Holy Week. The Easter Vigil was rough, meaning I would not have done well praying with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Can the Middle Class Be Saved?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0400

Related to my previous blog entry about the super-rich, this article talks about the challenges faced by middle-class workers in a new global marketplace.

How Christian is Christmas?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0400

It might seem to be an odd question to ask if Christmas is Christian. Certainly the name has "Christ" in it, but there are many aspects of Christmas that are not related to Christianity (video):

The Date: Jesus was born in the western hemisphere's spring, not in December. The December Christian observance was selected to match the pagan winter solstice celebration.
The Christmas Tree: The Christmas tree is taken from Egyptian and Roman practices.
Giving Gifts: Gift giving is based on a Roman holiday.
Santa Claus: Santa Claus is based on a merger of several pagan traditions.

So, what's left? Well, the star on the Christmas tree represents the Star of Bethlehem, and the nativity obviously represents Jesus's birth. Christianity certainly gives the holiday a special meaning that it would not have as a simple pagan holiday. Some Christians complain that commercialism take the Christ out of Christmas, but you could argue that Christ was never really part of it. In fact, some Christians considered Christmas a pagan holiday and didn't celebrate it.

Replacement Therapy

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0400

This article explains that, sometimes, electronics can't wear out fast enough.

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How to Land Your Kid in Therapy

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0400

This article explains that giving children too many choices and insulating them from failure can cause long-term problems.

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