Racism Warps the Political Process

I am sure that racism in the United States has a different meaning to me than for 90% of all Americans, both black and white. As a 73-year-old African American, I look in retrospect at the numerous times I was got past the narrow gates of racial bias because I could prove my worth. While it is impossible to ignore the incidences of prejudice in our society, especially in the job market, my personal view is that racism always has an attachment to individual insecurity and irrationality.

Let me explain that statement, briefly. The only way I was able to drive my 1964 LeMans 800 miles from Chicago to New York City in search of a job at the age of 25 is that I knew I could be recognized as a contributor ( as opposed to a dependent) if I played my cards right. My parents taught me how to envision that image, regardless of rampant social moirés. Their values have sustained me through a series of challenges and achievements, some of which are described in my new novel, “Stock Power”.

Today, 45 years since I tested the lines of resistance to color in this country, America has responded to an extraordinary demonstration of confidence and panache in the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama. It is obvious to me that the reason for this phenomenon is the unprecedented contribution Senator Obama has made to the Democratic campaign. Although I am no political expert, Senator Obama is probably the most natural answer to the division in a tottering administration.

The Devil We Know Versus the Devil We Don’t Know

American voters owe it to themselves to be circumspect about their adulation for either presidential candidate. I don’t see a clear passing grade for either opponent. It is unfortunate that the stakes are as high as they are where the ultimate executive position in this country is concerned. The global financial crisis is an additional albatross to the campaigns on both sides; but incidents of hate and prejudice, regardless of how isolated or private they might be, will warp the minds of voters and skew the political process.

If you look past the rhetoric and myopia in this country and try to assess the prowess of each candidate, the rational solution might be revealed. Critical questions have yet to be answered; yet, given the challenges that lie ahead, I believe the junior but more capable candidate should be the next President of the United States. That would be Senator Barack Obama.

Let us all be hopeful.

Hudster

Small Investment Can Earn Big Money

I have been building publicity for a recently published novel that will soon become a first rate motion picture. The book, Stock Power, is already on its way to being a best seller. The story is a contemporary drama based on a Wall Street theme. On its own, the book will become a popular ticket, setting the stage for a box-office success for the movie.

This project is part of a multi-million dollar pie. You can grab a slice if you reply by September 30, 2008. Investors are invited to visit the website shown below for details about the novel. Please use the contact box on my home page for information about the investment opportunity or send inquiries via email to:

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Regards,

Bill Hudley
WLH Communications Inc.
Parsippany, New Jersey

Let's See. New Kidney? Or A Yacht?

There is a sport that I suppose is played around the world that baffles me, no end. Just because I don't like to watch or play it doesn't mean it's a lousy game. Don't get me wrong. I don't have a grudge against anyone nor do I envy the champions of this sport.

I have a good friend who seems to enjoy getting up at four in the morning to arrive on the greens by six. Not a terrible scenario...unless you consider that his foursome finishes the round four and a half hours later. I see a lot more redemption in showing up at the tennis courts by seven and hitting the showers by nine - a program that rocks for me in July.

The problem I have with the game of golf is that it is the only spectator sport I know of where you can spend the equivalent of half a day watching the participants walk from one spot to another without actually playing! That's just for openers.

If you haven't guessed, I don't play golf. I don't have time for golf, which brings me to the other end of the axe I have to grind.

Shortly after I got into business, many years ago, a customer said to me, "Bill, if only you played golf, you and I could do a lot more business together!"

My reflexes prompted me to think: why don't we just have lunch for two hours? That would save us time and money, and it would give me more than enough time to sell my deal. I could not see his logic; and I see less of it now than when I was thirty years younger. Please allow me to elaborate.

The skill that's required to sink a white sphere that weighs less than two ounces into a cup measuring roughly twice the dimension is not what I call super human. Additionally, I contend that a golfer can prove his or her ability to drive, chip and putt a perfectly shaped object in as few as nine holes on any course. I don't get many arguments on that score.

So, let's look at the money. Oh, that. Yes, that. According to a CBS correspondent, Tiger Woods is knocking on the door of $1 billion in earnings [probably includes royalties] and I believe that mark will be achieved in less than 10 years as a professional. Folks, there is another way of presenting that kind of information, but the language would not be permitted in this forum.

The money that top players earn, not just in the golfing world, but specifically to drive a pitted little orb into the air is past egregious, in my view.

Merchandising to the tune of one thousand times one million dollars for a few obligatory ten-second poses after the ball is hit goes against the grain, to use a figure of speech. At the risk of sounding like a bleeding heart – for which I would not qualify – doctors, scientists, artists and educators would have to combine their lifetime salaries in lots, starting at just around 1,000 heads per, to match the spoils thrust upon one man who has only lived three decades, so far.

There are people in the world whose delight in receiving a kidney transplant would outshine Woods' pleasure in having his furniture shipped to domiciles positioned near his tournaments. Other starving souls would be grateful to get a serving of real food on a plastic plate. I'm referring to the unsung poverty stricken Americans, some of them living within a stone's throw of our wealthiest country clubs.

If recognition of a gifted sportsman costs $1 billion every ten years, the scale of equity in the world definitely needs recalibrating. Do you think Rolex has a clue, or even wants one?

O.J. Simpson The Perennial Enigma

The O.J. Simpson story is a volcanic nemesis to society as evidenced in the recent report about a restaurateur in Louisville, Kentucky who refused to serve him. I had no interest in voting with my opinion of whether or not he was treated fairly on the AOL poll, except that I was somewhat curious about the public’s reaction to the story. To my amazement, I found a blaze of racist comments that I suspect was instigated by Mr. Simpson’s lawyer’s attitude toward the restaurant owner.

I was suddenly reminded that we can count on blatant ignorance and bias to erupt from the simplest of incidents in the United States of America. What’s more amazing is how our social system manages to thrive in a so-called free world. It’s worth pondering. Here now is a copy of my response to the variety of horrible counter-communal expressions elicited by the story.

* * * * * * * * * * *

I've eaten in some of Louisville's finest restaurants and it was strictly because I wanted a particular menu - not because I'm a wannabe anything. I'm African American, by the way.

In 1970 I opened the doors to my first business in midtown Manhattan with a partner who needs not be characterized by his race. He was gentleman with a lot of respect for my skills. Together, we promoted our tiny business until we began to attract some of largest advertisers in the world, from here to Osaka. I hope everyone knows where that is.

I also remember flying to St. Louis to the headquarters of America's most prominent beer manufacturer. I was invited out after several phone conversations leading up to the invitation. Yes, when I arrived with my partner, there was a definite element of surprise registered on the faces of some of the brands managers who attended our meeting. We're in 1972 now, so stay with me.

This company gave us a complete tour of the production plant for one of it's brands where I learned at least a semester's worth of knowledge about cost control. My partner and I returned to our office in on west 45th Street in New York without a contract but with a lot more knowledge about how the big guns make money. We turned in one of our best years in '72.

Some of you need to know (perhaps) that I lost a handful of bids because I was black. It didn't mean I had to be ignorant and start marching on Madison Avenue for my equal rights.

I was not refused service ever in some of the finer restaurants although at times I was treated rudely. If I felt it would make a difference, I brought the issue to management's attention, not the newspapers.

I don't like attorney's who prey upon the emotions of the public. There's only one obvious reason for this story to cause such a stir. It happens to be........ready?.......ignorance!

I don't remember seeing 'buckwheat' on TV. I'm sure I did. My parents helped me to chalk up that kind imagery to being a fault in our society at the time. Because of them, I have built two businesses and am currently in the process of creating the third. I'm going to make a comment now that all of you can accept or dismiss. Seven out of eight total investors in my new venture are not African American.

Get up off [your knees] and stop mopping floors with antiquated ideas. You're hurting the wrong person. God help us all!

BH

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Hudster

Is Your Exercise Fact or Fiction?

I watch people running and walking on the roadsides in their communities. It used to amaze me that so many people have it wrong. I stopped being amazed nearly ten years ago. I remember stopping to talk to a man who was doing some calisthenics after a run. He seemed to be having difficulty finding the correct extension for stretching the hamstring. I showed him how to prop his leg up on the back of a nearby park bench instead of the waste receptacle he was using.I thought I would ask if he had ever worked with a trainer or read a book on exercise.

I wasn't surprised by his response."Any fool can get out and walk," he said. "It doesn't take a whole lot of studying."

The man was partly right, but not correct enough to prevent some serious problems down the road.

There are literally thousands of people on the roads of their towns who apparently want to be in better health but don't have a clue. On our website, Vitality Peaks, we point out that exercise can be damaging to the body if not done correctly. Think of it as driving your car all over town in first gear or with your brake shoes dragging against the discs.

Some people seem to understand the importance of wearing good walking shoes, rather than ordinary street shoes. That's a start. Most of the problem seems to be the manner in which the uninformed person walks or runs. Since there are so many physiques that respond to exercise in different ways, the technique for exercise has to be personalized.

If I am caught sauntering down the street, it does not mean you can do it without harming your joints or spine. We are all different to some degree, and it's important to know why. For details about how to exercise and for how long, please see our newest page on that subject at the site shown below:

http://www.vitalitypeaks.com

Here's to your health!

Hudster

What's Happening To The Stock Market?

(I thought I would try my hand at media hype and join the fray. It didn’t do anything for me, however; but it was fun trying.)

Headlines across the country were screaming over the incremental drop in the Dow Jones Averages that has not ended since February 12, 2007. Where else can you see excitement over a 4% (533 pt.) loss of equity following behind a run-up of more than 18%?One key benefit that we might consider is that the financial markets provided some relief from the arcane coverage of the much less dynamic political front.

We would like to contribute a few additional alarms for the sake of added distraction and higher TV ratings (as opposed to value). For example: Is the market in a correction pattern or are we headed back to 11,000. Could it be 10,000 or, worse yet, 9,000 before we get our sea legs? No doubt some creative journalist has already thought of this ploy.

I could not resist shaking my head when reading yet another refried correlation between the market and the contest on capitol hill. This puny but visible media source stated, right on the World Wide Web, that the market needed “...a decisive direction” in the presidential race. Wait just a cotton-picking minute! What will the market need after the election is over…for Al Gore to promise he will stay out of politics forever?

What the media needs to do is not let the specialty crews that cover energy markets get too comfortable. Neither Clinton nor Obama will have any influence on spot crude prices when they spoar past 90. What will either of them be able to do to control oil prices? Nothing.

Here's a fun exercise for you. Try, if you will, to image any one of the presidential hopefuls sitting across from Wen Jiabao next year and saying, “Look Ace, this is how it’s going down.”

Let’s keep it real and keep an eye on energy prices and the European markets until the sleeping dragon decides it’s time to eat. We are not naive about the role the media will play in the short run. But, we had better think seriously about what’s really happening around the globe.

More on that subject a little later on.

Hudster