Can Facebook fall any faster?

Facebook plunged another 9 percent yesterday.

I hadn’t planned on posting on this, but Facebook is my number one read subject the past couple weeks, so apparently you guys care about it.

As I wrote in the beginning of May, Facebook is going down, and fast. In that post, I laid out why I thought all the analysts were wrong — remember, back then, everyone was yelling and screaming about how awesome Facebook was and how big this could be once they went public on the stock market.

After I wrote that post, another blogger who’s way smarter than me had this to say (well over a week later):

This puts Facebook’s market cap at approx. $100 billion or more. To put that in perspective, Facebook is:

• Bigger than McDonald’s
• Two and a half times bigger than Ford
• Bigger than FedEx and UPS combined
• Bigger than Kraft Foods and General Mills combined
• Bigger than Boeing and Lockheed Martin combined

This is insanity. (Link.)

Let’s not forget the $10 million a year GM yanked in advertising from Facebook, nor how the stock price dropped 10 percent after they had a totally lame stock offering. (See story: Facebook stock plummets on second day of trading.)

At this point, Facebook is no longer a giant who’s feared. It’s looking increasingly weak, and these lawsuits aren’t going to help…

So, the moral of the lesson is this…

If your stock broker was raving about Facebook before it went public, fire him. (I’m a nobody and I saw this coming, as I laid out in the dated posts above.)

If the news you rely on was raving about Facebook before it went public, change the channel or get a different source. (The New York Times was highly skeptical in almost all its coverage.)

If your blathering friends or family was raving about Facebook before it went public, remember that the next time they’re yelling and fired up about something. Most people are idiots, and your friends and family probably fall into this category.

Just as you should network up in your business life (instead of down), you should also listen to those who show more wisdom. And more than likely, your broke friend or family member with the High School degree is NOT who you should be listening to.

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novel Little Man, and the Dixon County War a huge success! It’s gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here), landing smack dab between a Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book. Learn more about it here.

Colin Powell’s big news… (not what you think)

Colin Powell made huge news last week, but not for what the media caught.

The media picked up that Powell wasn’t ready to endorse Obama for a second term.

But that news paled in comparison to what he said about Afghanistan.

“As for Afghanistan, Powell said upon reflection that ‘it was worth the sacrifice to give the Afghan people a chance at free government’ but that ‘we have to draw the line at some point,’ pointing towards the full withdrawal of American and NATO forces in 2014.

That’s right. Colin Powell, a former 4-star Army General with an unimpeachable military record, thinks we need to get out of Afghanistan by 2014.

This is huge news, because if we can get everyone agreeing that we must leave no later than 2014 (and that it’s not unpatriotic to say so), then we can begin the discussions of getting out faster than that.

Please, everyone. I’m begging you… Just, one day after Memorial Day, let’s use all these patriotic thoughts to think of how many service members are in harm’s way right now. And how many American lives we could save if we speed up the withdrawal of American troops.

My view remains unchanged: Let’s get out of Afghanistan, like now. And don’t buy the BS that more troops or commitment could help us win this war, whatever “win” means. The Taliban is stronger now than they were when we surged, according to many.

And the fact remains after ten years of war: We’ve done our part to try to help them, but as a whole, we’ve been roundly rejected. Let’s hand them the keys and wish them well.

So, what do you think?

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novel Little Man, and the Dixon County War a huge success! It’s gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here), landing smack dab between a Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book. Learn more about it here.

Thinking of my unit, and so many others

As you enjoy your Memorial Day, let’s not forget all those serving.

Marines from the very battalion I served in are still in harm’s way. Like serious harm’s way, with one company pushing deeper into enemy territory than has been done lately; maybe ever. (See video here.)

I shudder to think about how miserable, dirty, and tired these men must be. And how that evil temptress known as boredom must be seducing them in between their bouts of contact and action, getting them to lower their guard so that her brother mayhem can strike.

I think about how these men must miss home, miss their women, miss TV, good food, showers, clean (comfortable) beds, you name it.

So, as you enjoy your day, think at least for a moment about the amount of misery and hell my former unit — 1st Battalion, 8th Marines — is going through right now.

And then remember all those who have paid the price before them, and who are paying the price throughout the rest of the world (and even stateside) to ensure our freedom and safety.

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novel Little Man, and the Dixon County War a huge success! It’s gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here), landing smack dab between a Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book. Learn more about it here.

Tebow insanity hits New York

If you follow sports much, then you know Tim Tebow threw two interceptions during his first public practice.

Granted, they were on brand new plays he’d never run before, and there were only seven men on the field, and no one wore pads, but still: Tim Tebow threw two interceptions, so it was big news.

For like two days. And in tons of media outlets. Just amazing.

I can’t remember even a major starter having his receptions or interceptions reported on. Especially as major news. Ever heard of Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or Drew Brees throwing an interception in practice? Me neither. Maybe comments such as “He didn’t look sharp,” or, “The team isn’t operating cohesively yet.”

So to report on a backup quarterback throwing two interceptions? One who supposedly sucks? And supposedly is inaccurate?

This recent news proves why the Tim Tebow name is so big.

It’s because he’s hated — and I mean super hated — by as many (or more) people than he’s loved.

Anyway, here’s a good recap that proves how silly this all is: Tim Tebow Wore a Jets Helmet Yesterday. (And for those who don’t know… No, I’m not one of his religious fanatical fans.)

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novel Little Man, and the Dixon County War a huge success! It’s gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here), landing smack dab between a Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book. Learn more about it here.

Under Pressure: Jets QB Mark Sanchez faces impossible task

“There isn’t a player under more pressure in the NFL than Mark Sanchez.” That’s the key line in the article written by Gregg Rosenthal on Tuesday. Titled “Under Pressure: Mark Sanchez faces impossible task,” I’d say it’s pretty dead on.

Rosenthal makes plenty of great points, so definitely go check it out. (And no, I’m not a typical Tim Tebow fan; former hater in fact.)

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novel Little Man, and the Dixon County War a huge success! It’s gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here), landing smack dab between a Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book. Learn more about it here.

No. 16 in the Top 100?!

My novel Little Man, and the Dixon County War hit No. 16 last night on the Amazon UK Paid list. There it sat, for about an hour, between a Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book . It dropped to No. 20 after that, but still!

I’m still trying to pinch myself to see if this is real. (It is, and I grabbed screen shots — see here and here — so that I had some evidence for all my friends who won’t believe me.)

The book’s been as high as No. 28 on the Amazon UK Paid List before, but to hit 16 just seems so much more impressive.

Anyway, thanks to everyone in the UK for sharing the word about the book.

I’ll soon have the paperback version ready for sale — I originally didn’t plan to do this since it’s so much effort and I’d rather be finishing my next novel, but the book’s selling so well that I changed my mind.

I’ve done all the formatting, margin changes, and Danah created a full wrap around cover, so I’m down to re-proofing every single page on the draft copy mailed to me. Then, I’ll go live with it.

Since it will cost more, I want it to be absolutely perfect. And hey, I’ll be able to send out signed copies since I’ve apparently got some fans out there — at least in the UK!

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Why I’m a Tim Tebow nut…

Yes, I’m on the Tim Tebow bandwagon.

But I didn’t start there. I hated him in college when he played for Florida — being a UT fan, that’s a requirement.

I laughed when he cried in the press conference after they lost a game they shouldn’t, and I laughed even harder after he lost to Alabama and cried there.

I’ve pulled against him the entire way, even when he first landed in the pros.

But, over time — and it doesn’t have shit to do with his religion, believe me — he has absolutely won me over.

And I as researched him, learned about the broken-leg story in high school — yeah, he played nearly an entire game with a broken leg (even scored a 20-yard touchdown), and watched with disbelief his determination and drive, he completely started winning me over.

So, in total Stan mode, I began researching him further. And when I learned of his late-night workouts, the push-ups he does in the middle of the aisle while on planes, the record-number of passes he throws prior to each game, I connected with that work ethic. Especially when I compare that to the take-it-for-granted pathetic-ness of so many other pro players.

Anyway, I’m completely on board now.

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novel Little Man, and the Dixon County War a huge success! It’s gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here), landing smack dab between a Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book. Learn more about it here.