Rumor or Fact: Microsoft to buy Adobe

Microsoft to buy Adobe? Apple would be the more logical company to buy Adobe, can they afford the $15 billion ticket? It’s obvious that Microsoft would like to purchase an undervalued brand that would give them leverage over their rival Apple. Not only would Microsoft want domain over the Adobe Suite software, but also Omniture. In Sept 2009, Adobe purchased Omniture, a leader in eCom analytics, with an eye towards the future.

If Microsoft was to purchase Adobe not only would they own Omniture technology they would control Adobe Suite, which includes Flash, a software used by designers to create simple animation for computer, phone and tablet applications. Owning both Adobe Suite and Omniture analytics would give Microsoft ownership of patented technologies that could give them power over the future of the Internet. Do we want Microsoft to have that much power?

Apple, look out. I hope this is only a rumor.


Read more
Wired: Microsoft Buying Adobe Would Solve 'The Apple Problem' For Both

eWeek: Microsoft, Adobe Merger Seems Unlikely, but Could Bring Gains

The Street: Adobe-Omniture Fits Net Merger Pattern

Adobe Online, Omniture Press: Adobe to Acquire Omniture

Captains, Pirates or "Special" members of Wall Street

Captains, Pirates or “Special” members of Wall Street

Delve into the ideology of one of the Captains of Wall Street for an eye-opening glimpse into narcissism. A recent Market Watch clip from an interview with Lloyd Blankfein, Chief Executive for Goldman Sachs Group Inc, reveals a pattern of disorders:

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s /quotes/comstock/13*!gs/quotes/nls/gs (GS 171.78, -1.62, -0.93%) chief executive defended the U.S. bank's bonus policies in an interview with U.K.'s Sunday Times, saying banks serve a "social purpose," and the return of high pay should be seen a sign of economic recovery.

"Everybody should be happy. Companies are looking to grow again and raise money. That's where we come in. The financial system may have led us into the crisis but it will lead us out," Lloyd Blankfein was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

According to the Times, Blankfein's pay package is likely to total GBP12 million ($19,904,458 US Dollar) this year, adding to the GBP300 million in Goldman shares he holds.

Narcissism: Diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV-TR = 301.81) (Wikipedia)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition, DSM IV-TR, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders, defines narcissistic personality disorder (in Axis II Cluster B) as:^[6]

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance

2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love (megalomania)

3. believes they are "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, people (or institutions) who are also "special" or of high status

4. requires excessive admiration

5. has a sense of entitlement

6. is interpersonally exploitative

7. lacks empathy

8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her

9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

$19,904,458.00 US dollars per year equals $2,272.19 per minute, twenty-four hours per day, whether his company fails or succeeds. He must be special, brilliant and entitled to unlimited success and associates with institutions that are also special and of high status. Membership is by “special” invitation only.

More on industry leading narcissists.

Related Article: news.com.au|Reuters|November 09, 2009 08:11am

Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein says banks do ‘God’s work’

Related Article: Matt Taibbi|Posted July 02, 2009 8:38 AM

“…great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity…”

Inside The Great American Bubble Machine

Related Article: Bloomberg.com|Bob Van Voris| Nov 7, 2009

Galleon Scandal Scorecard: Hedge Funds, Lawyers and Octopussy’

Who was the Galleon Group?

Related Article: Huffingtonpost.com| Oct 22, 2009 8:42 am

Roomy Khan: Informant In Galleon Insider Trading Scandal Revealed

HERE WE GO AGAIN - AIG ASKING TO PAY MORE BONUSES

AIG is asking the federal government compensation czar Kenneth Feinberg to bless payment now of $250 million bonuses that were due in 2008. AIG states that bonuses are necessary to retain key employees and is asking for the governments OK.

"Anytime we write a check to anybody" it is highly scrutinized, said an AIG official, who declined to speak on the record because the negotiations with Feinberg are ongoing. "We would want to feel comfortable that the government is comfortable with what we are doing."

This is not a minor problem and it should be scrutinized. The AIG rescue package stands at $180 billion.

A Citigroup analyst warned earlier this week that AIG, if it pays back the billions loaned, might then be worthless to shareholders. "Our valuation includes a 70 percent chance that the equity at AIG is zero," Joshua Shanker of Citigroup wrote in a note to investors. AIG's stock plummeted by more than 25 percent yesterday (July 9, 2009).

Last week AIG filed a proxy statement explaining the reason for retention payments and bonuses. "We needed to confront the fact that many of our employees, perhaps the majority, knew that their long-term future with us was limited, and our competitors knew that our key producers could perhaps be lured away. . . . Allowing departures to erode the strength of our businesses would have damaged our ability to repay taxpayers for their assistance." Understandably this could be very unpleasant for AIG.

Please read the definition of Extortion.

“Extortion: is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Organized criminal groups often practice Extortion.

The actual obtainment of money or property is not required to commit the offense. Making a threat of violence or a lawsuit which refers to a requirement of a payment of money or property to halt future violence or lawsuit is sufficient to commit the offense.

Exaction refers not only to extortion or the unlawful demanding and obtaining of something through force, but additionally, in its formal definition, means the infliction of something such as pain and suffering or making somebody endure something unpleasant.”

Please sign the petition to stop the payment of bonuses to AIG executives by clicking on the photo. Thank you.

Melodious

Take Action - End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Hey Everyone,

If I had to lie everyday in order to keep my job or even worse, prevent imprisonment, I'd have to quit? "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the current U.S. policy prohibiting gays from serving openly in the military, is the only law in the country that forces people to do just this. We are losing some of the best and brightest soldiers, limiting our nation from enlisting and keeping skilled service members.

Give all qualified Americans the right to defend their country by ending discrimination in the military. Help repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by showing your support for the troops.

I signed the petition "Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"". I'm asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 25,000 signatures. I care deeply about this cause, and I hope you will support our efforts.

Visit: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/tell-a-friend/4812325

Send a message to your Member of Congress asking them to support the protection and rights of all individuals by endorsing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Melodious

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Once Progressive, Now Antiquated

In 1993 the federal law Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. 654) was passed that prohibits anyone who "demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because it "would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability."

16 years ago this law was progress. Today the law is antiquated and irrelevant.
It seems logical that sexual activity of any kind, by anyone, discussed or performed while fulfilling military duties would "risk the high standards of morale, good order and discipline and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability." So why would a persons sexual intent be a topic of discussion or behavior while on duty or at work for that matter?

Socially acceptable behavior, values and morals are not the divine providence of the “straight” men and women of the United States of America. Sexual orientation is not a precondition for promiscuity nor is it a guarantee of holiness. Straights and gays alike have high standards, faults and vices but these are not determined by their sexual orientation.

Each person is born to this world with a genetic code. Soon science will determine what percentage of who we are is determined by our DNA and what percentage is dictated by social conditioning.

In the mean time the United States of America is threatened by losing valuable, highly educated and skilled members of the U.S. military due to their sexual orientation. Men and women who have committed their lives to protecting the United States of America are targeted for discrimination because of fear and prejudice. This act of discrimination in the military must be stopped thru legislation.

President Obama I respectfully request that you and the current administration make every effort to repeal the federal law “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. 654) of 1993 and replace it with a law that offers protection against discrimination due to sexual orientation for all men and women that serve in the military of the United States of America.

Dentists and Trust

I'd like to share my horrific dental experience of last week with everyone.

Sitting in the dentist's chair, trusting that the dentist will care for your well being puts the patient in a very vulnerable position.

I was scheduled for a skin graph from my upper right soft palette to my lower front gum.

When I first arrived at the dentists office I asked the dental assistant for the relaxing gas, nitrous oxide, but was told that it would not be possible because the gas apparatus would
be in the way while performing this treatment. The dental assistant then said
"This is a very quick procedure" so not to worry.

When the Dr. entered the treatment room I asked that he take his time injecting the
Novocain because it can be very painful if injected too quickly. He behaved offended
by my request but did make an effort. I asked how the skin is actually attached to the gum
and he began with the prep for the procedure, brushing off my question.

First he injected my lower right jaw with Novocain, then the right upper palette.
He began to clean the area that was going to be graphed and it was sensitive so he
gave me another shot of Novocain in the lower left jaw. Then another shot of Novocain in
the same area but this time very quickly making it very painful.

The Dr. kept telling me, almost ordering me, that I must relax, that I had to relax.
Then he began grabbing my lower lip, pulling on it, telling me I had to relax my jaw.
Visibly and vocally angry, he jumped up from his seat and exclaimed, "I can't do this,
I can't do this. You have to relax. I can't do this if you don't relax. I'm going to have to
recommend you to a Periodontist. I'm going to have to recommend you to a Periodontist
for IV sedation", and he rushed out of the room.

By this time my mouth was totally numb and I was rather surprised so I sat there attempting to
register what had just happened.

Then within seconds, the Dr. came back in the room and said abruptly
"Get your things and get out of here."

I was shocked. He rushed me out of the treatment room and into the waiting area. His
staff was extremely uncomfortable, hustling to get me information for a Periodontist.

I was quite traumatized by the experience and felt assaulted by his unprofessional behavior.

I decided to take action and filed a formal complaint to the Colorado Dental Association in the hopes that the Dr. will be counseled regarding anger management.

I hope this does not happen to another patient. I will seek a new dentist for future treatment.

AIG - Bonus Outrage

Please do everything in your power to stop the payment of bonuses at AIG. The bailout money is a loan from the US taxpayers and I did not agree to help support bonuses for people that did not run a business successfully. My bonus was not paid for 2008, my 401K matching has been discontinued and raises and hiring are frozen at my company. This is unethical and an example of how the world economy arrived at this point. It is an outrage for employees to be paid bonuses for non performance.
Melodie Miller