weissblog

So it’s been quite a few years since I’ve gotten a chance to go off-roading. Recently some friends and I have taken to looking for trails and such to play on since I do happen to have a 4 wheel drive Ford Explorer. We found a few and were having fun exploring them a bit. All was going fine, but my truck was making some odd noises when it was in 4×4 mode. So I took the truck in, got a quote on what it’ll take to fix it. The next day I decided to go play in the woods again.

Now, my thought process was simple. Whether I go or not, I still have to have it fixed. So by going and tearing it up even worse, I’m not out any more $$$. So, no risk, right? WRONG!

My friends and I are off in the woods a little ways when the 4×4 goes out, resulting in my truck getting just a tad bit stuck in the sand. For those not from Florida, yes we have white beach sand even in the woods… I know, it’s weird.

Anyway, here’s a couple pics snapped with a cellphone. Enjoy.

So, we ended up having to walk back to the highway where my loving wife picked us up. One of the guys with me had a 4×4 as well, so we took it back to get my truck out. That didn’t go smooth either. Then a good samaritan named Mark showed up (said he heard the sound of a chain pulling tight) and helped as well and we eventually got back on hard ground.

In the end, my off-roading hobby has been laid to rest again. Maybe I’ll get the 4×4 fixed on the truck at some point… but it’s definitely not high on the priority list.

Those those who haven’t been keeping up, Microsoft is trying to acquire Yahoo! and the latest round of press releases is a bit interesting. Last Friday, Microsoft issued a nice press release chiding Yahoo! for not being willing to play ball. There’s a couple interesting phrases in it that I’d like to comment on:

Finally, you have adopted new plans at the company that have made any change of control more costly.

So MS is upset because Y! has taken steps to make a takeover harder? Umm… excuse me, isn’t that what a company is suppose to do when facing a potentially hostel takeover? And, take a gander at this:

If we have not concluded an agreement within the next three weeks, we will be compelled to take our case directly to your shareholders, including the initiation of a proxy contest to elect an alternative slate of directors for the Yahoo! board. The substantial premium reflected in our initial proposal anticipated a friendly transaction with you. If we are forced to take an offer directly to your shareholders, that action will have an undesirable impact on the value of your company from our perspective which will be reflected in the terms of our proposal.

As far as I can remember, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a threat in a press release. In non-legalese, MS is telling Y! to sell now or they’ll start a proxy battle which will drive share prices down, and then MS will buy Y! out for even less than they’ve offered.

Over the weekend, a lot of people were wondering how Yahoo! would respond to the Redmond giant. This morning they responded by pointing out all the holes in Microsoft’s press release.

Our Board’s view of your proposal has not changed. We continue to believe that your proposal is not in the best interests of Yahoo! and our stockholders. Contrary to statements in your letter, stockholders representing a significant portion of our outstanding shares have indicated to us that your proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo!. Furthermore, as a result of the decrease in your own stock price, the value of your proposal today is significantly lower than it was when you made your initial proposal.

Here Y! takes a line from Oceans 13. “Well, I know all the guys that you’d hire to come after me, and they like me better than you. ” Yahoo subtlly lets MS know they’ve already spoken with the major shareholders who’s support MS would need for the proxy battle and those shareholders agree that the offer was to low. Then they point out that since MS’s offer was ½ stock and the MS stock has declined, then the value of the offer has declined. And I loved this line, in response to MS’s comment about no meaningful meetings:

Moreover, Steve, you personally attended two of these meetings and could have advanced discussions in any way you saw fit.

And they closed their press release quite nicely with

In conclusion, please allow us to restate our position, so there can be no confusion. We are open to all alternatives that maximize stockholder value. To be clear, this includes a transaction with Microsoft if it represents a price that fully recognizes the value of Yahoo! on a standalone basis and to Microsoft, is superior to our other alternatives, and provides certainty of value and certainty of closing. Lastly, we are steadfast in our commitment to choosing a path that maximizes stockholder value and we will not allow you or anyone else to acquire the company for anything less than its full value.

So, basically, Y! is saying “either put up or shut up; we’re not afraid of your threats.” And now let us all sit back and continue to watch as this Internet soap opera continues…

Earlier today while out near my mom’s apartment we spotted a store named “Global Chocolate.” Being suckers for chocolate, we had to swing in and see what it was all about, and I’m glad we did. This little shop was very tastefully decorated and had bookcases along the walls. Above each bookcase was a sign with a country name reflecting the origin of all the chocolate on the bookcase. There was chocolate from more Germany, Poland, Sweden and more. It really was a neat little place. We ended up purchasing some candy from Russia. We can’t read the label, but it sure tasted good.

My last blog post was back in November and much has changed since then. Since November, my business has grown quite a bit, my family has moved from the ghetto over to a nice condo a few blocks off the beach, and we’re just all around doing better. But with all the good, there’s been some bad; but this has mostly consisted of me having to shut down a couple of my blogs (and forsaking this one for a while).

To catch up a bit more, head over to my wife’s blog. She’s done a good job of posting regularly since the move. She’s even got some photos of the air show we went to earlier today.

Sometimes it’s odd. As we grow up and move on we spend less time with the things, ideas, and even the dreams, of our youth. When I was a kid, all the way up through my teenage years, I loved motorcycles. I was never in the position to be able to do anything professionally, though I always felt I could have, but I was always doing hair-brain stunts on my bikes and had my fair share of crashes as well (even going as far as riding with a cast on one leg). During this time in my life I used to love watching and reading everything I could about Evel Knievel. He was my inspiration many times… usually a bad inspiration, but I was inspired none the less. But it’s been over 14 years since I owned a motorcycle. I’m fast approaching my 31^st birthday and the memories of those times have been pushed aside in the hustle and bustle of life.

But this evening, when I discovered that Robert Craig ‘Evel’ Knievel passed away today, many of those old memories came rushing back to the front of my mind. And, as I sit here reading about Evel’s life it gives me pause… he lived life to the fullest. He did the things that everyone said would kill him. And you know what? They didn’t. He did what others are afraid to do and he lived through it all. Now, I never had the opportunity to meet the man, but something tells me that when he passed on, it was with few regrets. And for those who don’t know, Evel did accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour of his life earlier this year. So, I guess I will get a chance to meet him after all, some day.

And, in the mean time, I think come summer I may start looking for me another bike. It’s about time my older daughters learned how to ride and I can’t wait to teach them.

My prayers go out to the whole Knievel family during this time of loss. God Bless.

Safe Landings.