Professor Elam

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  • Professor Elam

    Design Through Time

    Tuesday Nov 15, 2011

    We are reading about Total Quality Management. I highlighted Bob Lutz The Car Guy both book and interview in the last post. Lutz makes the point that while TQM is all about designing an electric window lift that works well, it is not all about creating esthetic design that drives people to the showroom. 

    He also mentions the necessity of having am autocratic leader to make the tough decisions. So let's take a look at a few designers through history. 

    Leonardo Da Vinci the original Renaissance man

    Raymond Loewy, The Father of Industrial Design

    Screen shot 2011-11-15 at 3.31.16 PMLoewy designed the 1953 Studebaker Starliner coupe, note how much it looks like a 1966 mustang, a hardtop with the long front and short rear overhang, the front seat was wider than the back seat. 

     

     

    Pininfarina designed the case for my portable hard drives I use, as well gorgeous Italian automobiles

    Ralph Lauren A whole lifestyle image   Screen shot 2011-11-15 at 3.41.18 PM

    Dante Ferretti - Martin Scorcese's favorite set designer

    Diana Eden - Award Winning Costume designer

    Edith Head  A Hollywood Legend in her own right

     

    How would you combine TQM with a desire to create unique items that make people scurry to your business to buy them?  As Bob Lutz says, any used car solves a transportation problem but only  a new design drives someone to the showroom. 

     

  • Professor Elam

    Pathway to Brazil

    Screen shot 2011-11-15 at 6.35.34 AM

  • Professor Elam

    New Jersey Slays the Golden Goose Well to Do

    Tuesday Nov 15, 2011

    Liberal politicians tend to think of the wealthy as a sort of giant jelly bean jar. Need some revenue for your re election project, just reach in the jar and grab some jelly bean revenue. 

    Recent studies in New Jersey indicate otherwise. 

    Individuals and business have left the high tax states of CA, NY and NJ and come south. Ditto the automobile business. People ultimately vote with their feet. This is why Texas picked up some representatives in the National House in the last census. 

    The better idea is to coax the wealthy with lower taxes. After all it is the wealthy that invest in business and donate to charitable causes. 

  • Professor Elam

    Bryan Wright Breaks Notes with SA Ragtime Society

    Sunday Nov 12, 2011

    We announced the Sunday afternoon 'concert' with both younger players and Bryan Wright featured at teh PB136520San Antonio Ragtime Society  concert at Radius on Auditorium Circle.  Bryan kicks off the program in this shot. 

    This was our first visit to Radius. This is an indoor forum for smaller concerts.  It features two Yamaha grand pianos and is clearly a refurbished older building with a nice feel to it. 

     

     

     

     

     

    Luis Martinez and Ashley Craven of TAMUSA were on hand for the fun. I liked her bucket hat and Luis 

    music themed tie!  As you can tell all are enjoying themselves!

     

     

    PB136554

     

    PB136591

    Hey it's all about the music, the hand movement, these guys play that piano!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PB136619

    Bryan's wife joined him in an improptu rendition of  a Claudette Cobert song, she was a delight!

     

    All in all a fun afternoon, we enjoyed our two hours there,  this is a group we will plan to keep track of, lots of fun. I am sending the 197 images, okay so 39 were lousy, to Luis for posting on their facebook page. 

     

     

     

    Check out Bryan's ragtime piano duet 

    by clicking here!

     

     

     

    PB136480

     

     

     

     

  • Professor Elam

    Olympus Launders Their Mistakes

    Tuesday Nov 8, 2011

    Olympus Imaging apparently made some bad bets on investments in the 1990s. They lost money. Now the truth is beginning to surface. While the linked article does not explicitly say so, apparently Olympus laundered the money through consultant fees to hide the loss. I assume the consultant channeled the money to cover the loss after of course taking out a 'handling fee.'  Olympus has already written off the value of some of its supposed acquisitions. 

    The Internal Auditor has resigned, the fired CEO is having a field day being proven right and the shares of the company have dropped dramatically in value. That puts the company in play. The Officials are subject to various criminal penalties for the cover up. 

    It is always better to come clean and admit mistakes. As Watergate proved the cover up can be worse than the crime. 

  • Professor Elam

    iPad Pilot Program

    iPad Pilot Rental Program for School of Business Students:

    Are you interested in using an iPad 2 to enhance your study skills? What about having a device that fully supports your e-books? Starting in Spring 2012 you will have the opportunity to participate in an iPad 2 pilot rental program. The cost is $120 per semester. There may also be a rent to own option as well. Please complete this form if you are interested in being a part of this pilot program. Supply is limited so sign up today. I-PAD 2 Request Form

    In a separate e-mail you will receive more information on a student agreement so you can finalize this request. For more information please call 210-932-7894 or e-mailebook@tamusa.tamus.edu

     

  • Professor Elam

    Get in Touch with Math

    Monday Nov 7, 2011

    Here is a description of the Spring 2012 show Touch starring Keifer Sutherland. 

    Screen shot 2011-11-07 at 7.40.19 AMThe plot is pure Stephen King fantasy psycho kinetic thriller.  He sounds a bit like the girl in Firestarter or Danny in The Shining.  Touch  features an autistic son who only communicates mathematically. 

    I don't see a start date but as per my previous superhero post, this show should do well. 

     

  • Professor Elam

    Dysfunctional Governments

    Monday Nov 7, 2011

    Take a quick read on Mish's Global Economics column, that would be the Monday Nov 7 post. 

    Box Score

    Greece is forming a new government. 

    Italy's Berlusconi is likely out this week

    Portugal, Spain, probably in the near future. 

    The folks in France and Germany are increasingly unhappy with Sarkozy and Merkel, Expect them to lose seats if hot their offices. 

    If the US had a parliamentary system like England, the leaders would have to stand for re-election at any time there were votes to force a vote. Does anyone think our current leaders would survive a vote this week?

    This was a theme of my talk on socionomics. In times of negative social mood all leaders are rejected, world wide. 

    The problem as Mish notes if finding better ones out of the current crop. 

    Obama has lost support with independents and his left base. 

    The Republican primary has, as one observer noted, become a game of musical chairs. The leader rotates from one to another as former leaders lose support. Even Gingrich is up this week. What next, does Santorum have a shot at it?

  • Professor Elam

    Buffet Posts $1.59 B loss in Derivatives

    Monday Nov 7 2011

    Okay so it was an unrealized loss.  We study derivatives in Acct 3312 and will do a lot more of that in Acct 3311 in the future. Please read this article as I will be explaining the meaning of it in class. 

  • Professor Elam

    30 Companies Paid No Income Tax Last 3 Years

    Monday Nov 7, 2011

    Thirty companies paid no income tax the last three years. 

    With a year to go in the election I suspect this will be come a more serious issue. I know I paid taxes the last three years, did you?