I'm predicting a power shift in the House and some leveling in the Senate. This means, we'll be close to a deadlock situation.
In the past decade, the significant growth created by our government has been in debt, government employees and credit balloons. So, if it is hamstrung and cannot govern, that's good. That will create a modicum of optimism in the market.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
On the other hand
My son travels a different route from his sister and is getting married. I'm not sure how I feel about that, either. It's tough being granny.
And I thought I wouldn't
Last night I had dinner with my daughter. One of our rituals is to compare our busy calendars to plot out our future get-togethers. Hers was somewhat crammed, thanks to extended visits to Mexico and a Colorado mountains ski resort. “Mexico? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“My friends have been talking about going forever. Now’s the time. It’s cheap.”
“So is Kabul, but you don’t see anyone rushing over there.”
“We’re staying in a tourist area. They’re giving big incentives and making sure everything is cool to bring business back.”
“The people spraying the lead around aren’t with the convention & visitors bureau. They probably didn’t get the memo.”
“Whatever.”
“And this ski trip, is that with what’s-his-name? The guy who studies his shoes every time I look at him?”
“Couldn’t have anything to do with you calling him what’s-his-name or the way you stare at him.”
“Why’s he got to drag you off to Colorado?”
“Because I said I’d like to go skiing there this winter. I’m sure you did what you wanted at my age.”
“I wasn’t running all over the place.”
“Your choice.”
“Not really. I was changing your diapers.”
“Like I said, your choice. And, you were complaining about granny questioning your choices.”
She’s right. I’m turning into granny.
“My friends have been talking about going forever. Now’s the time. It’s cheap.”
“So is Kabul, but you don’t see anyone rushing over there.”
“We’re staying in a tourist area. They’re giving big incentives and making sure everything is cool to bring business back.”
“The people spraying the lead around aren’t with the convention & visitors bureau. They probably didn’t get the memo.”
“Whatever.”
“And this ski trip, is that with what’s-his-name? The guy who studies his shoes every time I look at him?”
“Couldn’t have anything to do with you calling him what’s-his-name or the way you stare at him.”
“Why’s he got to drag you off to Colorado?”
“Because I said I’d like to go skiing there this winter. I’m sure you did what you wanted at my age.”
“I wasn’t running all over the place.”
“Your choice.”
“Not really. I was changing your diapers.”
“Like I said, your choice. And, you were complaining about granny questioning your choices.”
She’s right. I’m turning into granny.
Now you have my attention
Harry and his partner hate news coverage, so I’ll avoid identification. Except for Harry who, much to my surprise, is already on the front page of today’s newspaper.
Not for his being president of a bank. It’s because he bought the Aston Martin DB5 of James Bond fame for over four million dollars.
About twenty years ago, I had a business relationship with the partners, who both had a passion for cars. I was a bit of an enthusiast but didn’t share their tastes. When Harry bought a new Ferrari F40 and it didn’t light my fire, he couldn’t care less.
With his partner, it was a different story. He acquired an Acura NSX (exotic sports car) and, when I didn’t flip over that, he became close to enraged. Actually, I achieved provoking that when I suggested that they didn’t display their extravagant rides in front of their bank, which they delighted in doing, because it might be perceived as a poke in the eye by customers nailed with higher banking fees or to employees shorted on raises.
Over four decades ago, I sat in a movie theater watching “Goldfinger” and lusted after that Aston Martin. I never dreamed I’d know the owner. Harry, you finally impressed me.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A public service
Stan Chesley, the attorney filing a slander suit against Archie Wilson, spoke today about the egregious nature of the unsubstantiated accusations about a family made by Wilson. As a footnote, I will not use the name of the family because they’ve suffered enough. I have no trouble naming Wilson because I believe what I say is accurate or in accepting responsibility for what I say.
The family had a baby perish when left in a car on a hot summer day. Wilson alleged that the child was murdered to cover up molestation with the collusion of a variety of law enforcement officials. In the spirit of the ilk who does this kind of thing, he has supplied little or no hard evidence to substantiate his rubbish.
While it is obvious that all is not right in Archieland, what is disappointing is what his party officials had to say after he put this out at a party function. When asked about his remarks, several said they couldn’t recall him speaking about that during his speech. What? A guy asserts a couple killed their baby and public officials were paid off to cover it up, and that didn’t register with you? Right.
The silver lining is that Wilson is providing a public service. He’s running for county commissioner and is doing the right thing leaving no doubt about his mental processes. Anyone can have a bad day, but the repetition of such acrimonious acts reflects one cannot distinguish right from wrong or what is reality and what is not. It is fortunate that those people cannot help but repeatedly doing things that plainly expose their mentality.
While the case hasn’t been tried, Wilson has been challenged on this and responds with a no-comment. If you had the evidence, this would be the time to lay it out.
While this is pitiful enough, I checked his county party’s web site and they endorsed him subsequent to when he disseminated the charges and are still doing so today. Politics is politics, but that’s just pathetic.
The family had a baby perish when left in a car on a hot summer day. Wilson alleged that the child was murdered to cover up molestation with the collusion of a variety of law enforcement officials. In the spirit of the ilk who does this kind of thing, he has supplied little or no hard evidence to substantiate his rubbish.
While it is obvious that all is not right in Archieland, what is disappointing is what his party officials had to say after he put this out at a party function. When asked about his remarks, several said they couldn’t recall him speaking about that during his speech. What? A guy asserts a couple killed their baby and public officials were paid off to cover it up, and that didn’t register with you? Right.
The silver lining is that Wilson is providing a public service. He’s running for county commissioner and is doing the right thing leaving no doubt about his mental processes. Anyone can have a bad day, but the repetition of such acrimonious acts reflects one cannot distinguish right from wrong or what is reality and what is not. It is fortunate that those people cannot help but repeatedly doing things that plainly expose their mentality.
While the case hasn’t been tried, Wilson has been challenged on this and responds with a no-comment. If you had the evidence, this would be the time to lay it out.
While this is pitiful enough, I checked his county party’s web site and they endorsed him subsequent to when he disseminated the charges and are still doing so today. Politics is politics, but that’s just pathetic.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Unanticipated Anniversary
This weekend, I’ll be leading my 25th annual fall foliage paddling campout. I wouldn’t have realized that, except an old friend asked me what I was up to lately. When I told her, Sue pointed out the milepost. She had been my assistant leader on the initial trips, but I was still in awe that she recalled the origin date and did the computation to arrive at its significance. I can barely remember my own age.
Actually, it isn’t the 25th because I have skipped a few years. I’ve organized many paddling trips, but there has always been something a little special about these. Sue got us started recalling some of the most memorable aspects.
One year, it rained. Well, more than one year, but this one was different. The weather had been unseasonably warm, so the river was tepid. A light, fine rain began as we launched our canoes. Hitting the warm water, it produced a mist across the surface. Paddling through that was incredibly serene and magical.
As we completed the journey, the precipitation increased significantly. It was pretty much a monsoon by the time we reached the campground and found the owner in the process of locking the gate. No one had showed up that day and he was assuming no one would. He threw me the keys and said we could have the run of the place.
It was nestled between limestone outcroppings with a brook running down the middle. He had built a large picnic shelter with a massive stone fireplace. It made for a wonderful evening.
The first trip we did was also in that area, which is larded with caves. It was a lot of fun stopping along the river and poking into them. The group on that trip was also a lot of fun and we had a great time.
Speaking of fun, one year we paddled the Hocking Hills and planned a Halloween party for that evening at the campsite. While the location was remote, it just so happened another group camped near us, a women’s motorcycle club. I invited them to join us. Now that was a party.
I’ve been looking forward to the trip this weekend, probably the last campout of the year. Good weather, nice location and a great group. And, now that I realize it’s the 25th anniversary, so much the better.
Monday, October 18, 2010
It's in the jeans
I was talking to someone on the phone and, after completing our conversation, asked if his fiancé was there. I wanted to say hello.
He replied she was immersed in picking out the wedding gown. Since it was the most important clothing purchase of her life, it might be best not to interrupt her.
Boy, does he have a lot to learn. At least, in my experience. This was underscored during a recent trip when my companion insisted we dogleg our route to include a city that’s home to one of her favorite stores. Favorite for jeans, that is. And what’s more important to a woman than her jeans? For my money, nothing.
My primary pair is more than a decade old. When I do buy them, I just find an inexpensive pair that bears my waist and inseam. Done.
In fairness to her, she runs to the slender side and I’m a little closer to the mean than she is. But, it’s not simply a case of finding something with the two dimensions. She says they have to fit. I would think that waist and inseam was a fit, and I would be wrong, apparently. I have learned to stop advocating my point of view because it only provokes a heated discussion.
And, I usually lose on points when she notes that I check out her jeans pretty carefully when she wears them. I’m just trying to understand this fit thing.
To confirm my theory that jeans are the predominant purchase decision, I raised the question last night when a group I kayak with went out for a few beers after a practice session. Karen looked at me pitifully and shook her head. Then, she went on to patiently explain the process of going around and trying on jeans. “The first round isn’t to make the purchase,” she explained patiently. “You just want to see yourself in a variety of brands, styles and sizes, and with different shoes and tops. You go back later and make the decision. If you don’t get that, it’s best that you don’t go along.”
Sage advice.
He replied she was immersed in picking out the wedding gown. Since it was the most important clothing purchase of her life, it might be best not to interrupt her.
Boy, does he have a lot to learn. At least, in my experience. This was underscored during a recent trip when my companion insisted we dogleg our route to include a city that’s home to one of her favorite stores. Favorite for jeans, that is. And what’s more important to a woman than her jeans? For my money, nothing.
My primary pair is more than a decade old. When I do buy them, I just find an inexpensive pair that bears my waist and inseam. Done.
In fairness to her, she runs to the slender side and I’m a little closer to the mean than she is. But, it’s not simply a case of finding something with the two dimensions. She says they have to fit. I would think that waist and inseam was a fit, and I would be wrong, apparently. I have learned to stop advocating my point of view because it only provokes a heated discussion.
And, I usually lose on points when she notes that I check out her jeans pretty carefully when she wears them. I’m just trying to understand this fit thing.
To confirm my theory that jeans are the predominant purchase decision, I raised the question last night when a group I kayak with went out for a few beers after a practice session. Karen looked at me pitifully and shook her head. Then, she went on to patiently explain the process of going around and trying on jeans. “The first round isn’t to make the purchase,” she explained patiently. “You just want to see yourself in a variety of brands, styles and sizes, and with different shoes and tops. You go back later and make the decision. If you don’t get that, it’s best that you don’t go along.”
Sage advice.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Never apologize, never explain, never mind
A subject in the locker room last week was the report about Dick Cheney not apologizing for shooting a fellow hunter. I don’t know if it’s true, but didn’t consider it newsworthy or any of my concern. So, I went about my business until one of the guys threw out a comment.
“Never apologize, never explain.” At that point, I had to look up to note who would say such a thing. Noticing my attention, Randy asked. “What, you don’t agree?”
“No, I don’t.”
“It’s a famous quote.”
“There are a lot of famous quotes that are either invalid or out of context.” I doubted if he knew who said it (a 19th century British admiral), anyway. “Stephen Covey says that apologizing reflects strength of character, so I guess it’s a case of what makes sense to you.”
“Who’s Stephen Covey?” I explained who he was, admitting that authority doesn’t make it true. “Yeah, well everyone knows that apologizing is a sign of weakness.”
No. Actually, most know that refusing to apologize is a form of denial, insecurity or other mental defects. But, I didn’t point that out. I don’t think it’s worth the time to banter with that mindset.
I apologize for my impatience.
“Never apologize, never explain.” At that point, I had to look up to note who would say such a thing. Noticing my attention, Randy asked. “What, you don’t agree?”
“No, I don’t.”
“It’s a famous quote.”
“There are a lot of famous quotes that are either invalid or out of context.” I doubted if he knew who said it (a 19th century British admiral), anyway. “Stephen Covey says that apologizing reflects strength of character, so I guess it’s a case of what makes sense to you.”
“Who’s Stephen Covey?” I explained who he was, admitting that authority doesn’t make it true. “Yeah, well everyone knows that apologizing is a sign of weakness.”
No. Actually, most know that refusing to apologize is a form of denial, insecurity or other mental defects. But, I didn’t point that out. I don’t think it’s worth the time to banter with that mindset.
I apologize for my impatience.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Why
Why buy this kayak? The question was first posed by me to me, and now by some of my paddling friends. Actually, the greater matter is why did I pursue it for almost five years?
It is unforgiving to paddle. It rewards precise technique and punishes lapses. Good. You learn from tough taskmasters. I have several moderate boats in my fleet but almost always find myself pulling out the difficult ones when it comes time to rack up. As with sailing and rowing, you can master a thoroughbred or just float along in a barge as ballast. I find the former to be more fun.
It’s weird. Someone described it as the reason you don’t design a boat when on acid. Fine with me. I push the envelope myself in a quest for better results. I can appreciate the work of someone else doing that.
It’s far from a popular model. The only place that has in my equation is potential resale. The smart thing to do is to hedge your bet with radical designs by paying nothing but bottom dollar. That’s the reason the deal took years to consummate. The seller had to come to terms with the fact that he had paid too much and would have to take a haircut.
In some ways, I look at this as a metaphor of life (surprise). You get the most out of life by stretching yourself and not ruling out the unconventional. But, you think it through ahead of time.
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