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Zuckerberg's Facebook: Is his Harvard dorm room experiment really worth more than Volkswagen, ConocoPhillips, or Mercedes Benz? |
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A Top U.S. Portfolio Manager: Facebook IPO Pricing "Ridiculous"
Friday, May 18, 2012 Rochester, NY - A top American high-net worth portfolio manager, who asked not to be identified, claims Facebook's IPO valuation, at a 95-times (multiple) price-to-earnings ratio, is simply "ridiculous". And with General Motors pulling their ad accounts on Facebook on the eve of the upstart's New York Stock Exchange first listing on Friday, one has to wonder is the Facebook IPO perhaps the greatest investment opportunity of all time, or will it prove to be just another traveling carnival side-show, snake oil sale? Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot |
Nojay: Making the leap from Smugtown Beacon to NYS Assembly? |
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Three Republican Candidates, Three Republican Parties?
Wednesday May 16, 2012 This year, the Rochester area may elect three Republican candidates to new offices: County Executive Maggie Brooks is seeking a seat in the US House of Representatives, Assemblymember Sean Hanna is seeking the State Senate seat of retiring Sen. Jim Alesi and talk radio host (and sometimes Smugtown Beacon contributor) Bill Nojay is seeking the Assembly seat being vacated by Hanna. Interestingly, all three will play very different roles as “Republicans” -- what does this say about the state of the Republican Party? Read More ...
Aaron E. Wicks |
Mayan doomsday: Really? |
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Accumulated Myths 
Monday, May 14, 2012 Rochester, NY - It is amazing that in such an educated, scientific, and technologically advanced society such as ours, so many myths and half-truths still trump reality. The following is a truncated list of commonly held beliefs in America, in a time when it is vitally important we let go of superstition and fraud, and embrace rationality and reason. Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot - 4 opinions posted |
Can a state whose official "blue berry" is the blueberry be an adequate protector of civil rights? Evidently not. |
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Are There Issues Voters are too Dumb to Decide?
Wednesday May 9, 2012 ...More to the point: are there issues that are simply not subject to democratic whims? Are there rights that are protected from the passing passions of majorities? Is marriage equality one of them? North Carolina provides us with an intriguing case study. Read More ...
Aaron E. Wicks - 4 opinions posted |
Who Should Benefit from Taxpayer Concessions?
Friday May 4, 2012 A report suggests that a major developer may be in line to garner taxpayer support for the redevelopment of Medley Centre. Some consider these costs the price of development -- if we do not provide support, developers will go elsewhere with their money. Others consider it welfare for businesspeople. Is it that clear cut? Are there times when taxpayers should finance projects? Is Medley Centre one of them? Read More ...
Aaron E. Wicks - 8 opinions posted |
The victim: Rochester City Councilwoman Loretta Scott. The human epidemic of domestic violence continues. |
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News Briefs: Loretta Scott's Ordeal; A Progressive Local Republican?
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 Rochester, NY - Rochester City Councilwoman Loretta Scott was attacked last Friday by her husband, 52 year old Timothy Scott. Is it wrong to publicize this case, because of Scott's heavy local name I.D.? No, if it helps prevent any future cases of domestic violence, by anyone, anywhere. Do any of you mourn the passing of Rockefeller Republicans? Now you don't have to. Penfield Supervisor Tony LaFountain is intent on blazing a new, and perhaps green, trail. Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot - 2 opinions posted |
Little Rock was easy compared to the challenges facing Rochester's schools |
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So, What Do We Think of Vargas?
Monday April 30, 2012 A common question during the past week has been: What do you think of the decision to hire Dr. Bolgen Vargas as Rochester’s permanent superintendent? The answer is not terribly relevant. The bigger question is this: What will everyone else do now that the Vargas decision has been made?
Read More ...
Aaron E. Wicks |
Neither Albany, nor Monroe County suburbanites will ever surrender enough green to provide a "sound and basic education" to City kids. |
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Congratulations! Now You Must Fix the Un-Fixable
Saturday, April 28, 2012 Rochester, NY - Like the lyrics from a famous 1960's song, To dream, the impossible dream, newly appointed RCSD permanent superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas is up against virtually impossible odds that he, or anyone, can turn around an impoverished urban school district, where 90% of RCSD students are eligible for the reduced lunch. Good luck. Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot |
The offending blog -- see link within! |
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Why Rochester Needs Independent Media - the Slaughter Suppression
Monday April 23, 2012 A local blog -- Roc25.com -- has done its part to hold local media accountable. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle posted, then pulled (without explanation) a blog from one of its commentators. Was it because the blog was inappropriate? Or did it violate the D&C’s political preferences? Read More ...
Aaron E. Wicks - 2 opinions posted |
Interim RCSD Superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas: Opinions range from 'uniquely qualified' to 'the fix is in' (Photo source: WHEC TV-10) |
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First Hand Account: Police Called as Roch. Parents United Stops Vargas from Speaking
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Rochester, NY - At East High School last evening, more than 100 people turned out to listen to the only candidates still in the running for the RCSD Superintendent's job. While Andre Spencer was allowed to speak for a solid hour, uninterrupted, factions of Rochester Parents United and the Community Education Task Force forced Dr. Bolgen Vargas to cease his remarks, as the Rochester Police Department (RPD) arrived to break up the mayhem. Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot |
Van White: insider under attack -- but is it fair? |
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Rochester’s Superintendent Search: Will Insiders or Outsiders Carry the Day?
Monday April 16, 2012 The Smugtown Beacon recently asked if educational activist Howard Eagle could ever be satisfied with actions by the Rochester City School District. After several comments -- including some from Mr. Eagle himself -- the topic deserves another look. Read More ...
Aaron E. Wicks - 2 opinions posted |
Dear Fellow Suburbanites: Really now, what is so scary about faces such as these? |
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Op-Ed Briefs: I Better Open Up My Check Book; On 2nd Thought, Downtown Rochester Can Only Be Transformed When We Solve Our Race Problem
Thursday, April 12, 2012 Rochester, NY - With the arrest of accused killer George Zimmerman, I will follow through on a pledge I made to Smugtown readers, but a pledge I made primarily to myself, to donate money to charities associated with the arresting officer(s), and the prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin murder. Now where the hell is my suitcase? All the charrettes, seminars, and speeches in the world can never transform Downtown Rochester until residents of Greater Rochester become more honest about our race and class problems. Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot - 7 opinions posted |
My sympathies, sure, but why the hell did it take you 30 minutes to leave? (photo: G-Directory.org). |
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The Myth of (quality) American Customer Service and Corporate Stewardship
Monday, May 7, 2012 Rochester, NY - Recently, I attempted to call our family and friends just south of Frankfurt, Germany, to let them know we had arrived home safely. After more than 10 minutes on the phone with A.T.&T., you would think my Sisyphean task might be over. Could Frontier do what A.T.&T. could not? What follows are disturbing examples of how customer service, and alleged corporate care, have gone by the wayside, in the age of the computer telephone prompt. Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot |
From the Onion.com. |
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Headlines I'd Like to Read
Friday, April 20, 2012 Rochester, NY - In a nation, in a community, dominated by depressing media headlines, it might be time for something a little different. Inquire within. Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot |
Works better than Ambien: Even "Hunger Games" co-star Woody Harrelson (center) looks bored and tired. |
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Film Review: 'The Slumber Games'
Monday, April 9, 2012 Rochester, NY - I saw The Hunger Games yesterday. This 'blockbuster' won the box office wars for the third week in a row, raking in $33.5 million (three week total: $303 million in the U.S. & Canada alone). However, this film is the cinematic articulation of the anti-intellectual movement in America. Or, perhaps I'm a member of the wrong target demographic? Read More ...
Christopher J. Wilmot - 1 opinion posted |
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