Aug 29

A Letter to Samsara

by Chris Billows in Spirit 0 comments tags: Fictional Letter, Human Misery, Personal Resolve, Self Analysis, Stages of Realization
Dear Samsara, I am writing to let you know that I have finally figured out how bad you are for me and that its time to break this thing off. You kept telling me that the pain of our relationship would get easier with time, that I would learn to live with the pain and come to accept it. I now don’t think so. I remember as a young child how my parents took care of me, yet you took the credit for all of the good things that happened. And when the bad things happened, you told me to just wait until the next good thing comes along. I believed you that life is full of ups and downs and you just had to hold on. As an older child I remember experiencing terror, tragedy, and self-loathing, and yet you were nowhere to be seen. You were never there to help me. Yet, I survived. And it was this survival that created this distinct self-sculpture. My scars became signs of battles survived and never won. As a young adult, I began exploring the limitless pleasures you offered. You provided entertainment, dining and drink. Yet these experiences always had a […]
Aug 18

The Bankruptcy of Detroit (Motor City is Burning)

by Chris Billows in Think (Politics) 0 comments tags: Economic Disaster, Human Misery
How do democratically elected political leaders, their well paid bureaucrats, and astute citizens allow for the largest ever bankruptcy of a U.S. city? On July 18, 2013 Detroit declared what was already understood that they did not have enough money to pay for their commitments and obligations. The Mayor and the city Council knew that Detroit was losing jobs and people. But did they do anything to change how they operated the city? The people that the Mayor hired had to know that Detroit’s tax base had eroded over decades and that it was not going to be possible to continue spending money as they were. The people who did not leave Detroit, did not hold the government accountable to find a solution. The bondholders and business elite stood aside and did not demand that changes take place. This is the most startling example of a clusterf*ck. Detroit has been on a decline for decades. They did not lose half of their population (1.5 million to 700 hundred thousand) in the span of a few years according to The Economist. This is what has happened in Europe with is Euro crisis, with nation states not recognizing the limits of their […]
Aug 07

How To Prepare To Blog

by Chris Billows in Trade (Blogging) 0 comments tags: Blogging, Self Analysis
Technology can be a wonderful thing. The ready availability and ease of setting up one’s own website is very easy because of services like WiredTree.com and blogging platforms like WordPress. But ease of publishing on the net is a gilded dream. It looks good but is insubstantial. You still need to do the hard work of coming up with good content which requires substantial perspiration and inspiration. And the only way to find inspiration is to know thyself enough to know what interests you and triggers a response. Otherwise, you are just rehashing what others are saying which is simply boring and lazy. Developing an online presence has never been easier, but this ease of entry into the market means that portraying a unique message is even more important. And this can only be done by developing enough self-insight to know what things trigger in you an emotional and intellectual response so you have material to work with. Its what separates the leaders from the followers. It is hard work because it requires so much self-analysis and self-editing. Thankfully, just like any skill set, it becomes easier with practice and repetition.
Aug 06

Atlanta Thrashers 2010-11 Player Leaders

by Chris Billows in Think (Hockey) 0 comments tags: Atlanta Thrashers Relocation, Jets Goalie Stats
On May 31, 2011 the Atlanta Thrashers were sold to True North Sports & Entertainment. Within weeks a new management structure was hired and developed a plan to build a competitive team. The Atlanta Thrashers were a mediocre hockey team. From 1999-2000 to 2010-2011, they accumulated a winning % of 0.379 (342 wins out of 902 games), made the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, and were dispatched during those playoffs in the first round not even winning a single game. Games Played Wins Losses Ties OT Losses 902 342 437 45 78 The new Winnipeg Jets 2.0 would be built on a hockey team that did not have much to be proud of.  True North acquired a team that were just one step above an expansion franchise. Winnipeg and Manitoba adopted the team enthusiastically despite the team’s past performance. For the sake of posterity and to begin analyzing how Jets Management has attended to the team here is a list of the Atlanta Thrashers skaters (ranked by point totals) and goalies (ranked by games played) for the 2010-11 season. NS Player  Pos  GP  G  A  P +/-  PIM  PP  SH  GW  OT  Shots  1 X Andrew Ladd L 81 29 […]
Aug 05

Welcome to Winnipeg Jets Flight Control

by Chris Billows in Think (Hockey) 0 comments tags: Atlanta Thrashers Relocation
Welcome to my personal dedication to the Winnipeg Jets. I love hockey and I love sports statistics. I am combining the two in my blog that looks at insightful new ways of seeing how the Management of the Jets (Mark Chipman & Co.) are doing with advancing to the Stanley Cup. I firmly believe that a sports franchise is only as good as its Ownership and Management. When Mark Chipman & David Thompson purchased the Atlanta Thrashers, they inherited some building blocks but the franchise was disorganized and listless. They have spent the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons evaluating the team all the while trying to put a competitive team on the ice. This blog will look at different aspects of the Winnipeg Jets from its drafting record, its player performances, and how the team compares to when it operated as the Atlanta Thrashers. Thanks for checking this site out.
Aug 03

Business Failures due to Slack Partners

by Chris Billows in Trade 2 comments tags: Human Misery, Personal Resolve
This post is a cathartic release. What I love about blogging is that it can become a way to share and put to rest one’s experiences. This post is my way to summarizing what three years of doing business online has taught me. Essentially there are two things needed for business success: 1) a product that sells (scratching an itch, fixing a problem, providing a solution that people want); and 2) find the right business partners to help you deliver the product. Finding a product that sells is a challenge but is definitely the sexier topic and there are thousands of services out there to help you find a product to sell. It is the second point about needing to find the proper business partner has crystallized for me just recently and is not discussed very much. It is because as a topic it is full of disappointment and unhappiness. Nobody can do everything by his or her self. You need to find and work with others who help you with technology, accounting, marketing, etc. You can engage these people by purchasing their services or by entering into a formal business partnership. Regardless of how it is done, finding the […]
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