Black Friday is one of my favorite days of the year.I eagerly wait for this day, ready to purchase all the things I have had my eye on since the last Black Friday. After (usually) collecting all my flyers, and studying and comparing them, I am ready to shop.
Walmart first, where I am happy to say the only thing that got trampled were any dreams of a Garmin
GPS for less than $100. Then a quick stop into Shoprite next door for some soda on sale. I have NEVER, and I mean never, not even at 3 in the morning type never, seen the store that empty. The parking lot was full, but no one was in Shoprite. 2 checkout lanes, and I was the only person in the store checking out.
After a stop at home to drop round 1 of the purchasesd
, it was on to the big leagues, the MALL.
I was working at a definite disadvantage this year in that I had not properly perused the various flyers. However after some scavengerring, I found the flyers I needed in Best Buy, but nothing struck my fancy. However, I scored a camera in Staples (the last one!) But the rest of the mall was a bust. Sears and Home Depot had both flyers and product, and the shopping day came to a successful, if expensive, end.
Now Lovey will retrace my route and return everything.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
happy turkey day
So its thanksgiving and I am practicing for tomorrow by waiting on line with Lovey in the grocery store. I really should be helping her unload the cart, but I'll just tell her I am responding to a very important e-mail.
You know, the world at large is completely nuts with the way they treat the holiday meal. I was talking to a couple of people and asked them what they were doing for the holiday. One told me he was having six (WOW! SIX!!) adults and the other told me she was having seven adults AND one child (CAN YOU IMAGINE?????) They were both quite pleased with themselves at what appeared to be this outstanding number of people.
Then I heard on the radio that someone didn't have anyone so she put out a plea on the net, and now is having 30 people. That IS a lot of people, but what was surprising about this story was the amount of food she was making for 30 peeps. I think in was like 7 turkeys, some hams, too many sides, and two dozen pies. This is clearly someone who does not entertain very often.
Now, I'm my circles, 8 people for a holiday type meal is really no big deal, and can happen for a whole weekend. 30 people is a crowd, but each one doesn't need their own pie! Just goes to show you that people who don't entertain often have no concept of portion size, or that each food item is not mutually exclusive of every other item. (Although that may be a universal hostess mistake).
Well, I've just been asked to bag the groceries, enjoy the turkey, no matter how much you eat.
You know, the world at large is completely nuts with the way they treat the holiday meal. I was talking to a couple of people and asked them what they were doing for the holiday. One told me he was having six (WOW! SIX!!) adults and the other told me she was having seven adults AND one child (CAN YOU IMAGINE?????) They were both quite pleased with themselves at what appeared to be this outstanding number of people.
Then I heard on the radio that someone didn't have anyone so she put out a plea on the net, and now is having 30 people. That IS a lot of people, but what was surprising about this story was the amount of food she was making for 30 peeps. I think in was like 7 turkeys, some hams, too many sides, and two dozen pies. This is clearly someone who does not entertain very often.
Now, I'm my circles, 8 people for a holiday type meal is really no big deal, and can happen for a whole weekend. 30 people is a crowd, but each one doesn't need their own pie! Just goes to show you that people who don't entertain often have no concept of portion size, or that each food item is not mutually exclusive of every other item. (Although that may be a universal hostess mistake).
Well, I've just been asked to bag the groceries, enjoy the turkey, no matter how much you eat.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Here's the thing ( as promised)
I remembered. I had help though. In fact, the same reason why I thought of it in the first place.
Waffles
I shall explain.
I got out of the shower yesterday and the house smelled deliciously like waffles. Lovey had picked them up on sale, and was making them for the kids. That reminded me of breakfast by my grandmother. I used to stay overnight once a week with Oma when I was in high school in the City. Part of the allure of staying over with Oma was that she had a TV! with cable! But the real treats were her cooking. Anyone who know her knew she was a heckuva cook, and she knew how to feed you, like all good old-world grandmothers. And though her dinners were superb, for a kid, breakfast was really special.
The first reason was because she would make a "Floofy" Omelet. For those of you who may not know what this is, it is an omelet with the egg whites separated then beaten fluffy, the yolk folded back in, ( which was a sight to watch all by itself) and the egg fried covered. Amazing. However, an even bigger highlight were the insignificant frozen waffles. What made them special was that we didn't have them at home, it was a special treat reserved for visits to Oma, with syrup and butter.
As I got out of the shower and was transported back to my youth, High School , my Oma, and life, it was nostalgic. I immediately wanted to write about it, but forgot what it was until this morning, when our IcebergCarwash guest must have requested a repeat performance of breakfast from yesterday, and once again, the lovely smell of waffles pervaded the house.
(By the way, if you must have houseguests, I highly recommend this one. Quiet, polite, easy. They must be doing something right over there at the 'Wash in between posts.)
Amazing what unexpected benefits you can get out of 3 boxes for $5.00.
Waffles
I shall explain.
I got out of the shower yesterday and the house smelled deliciously like waffles. Lovey had picked them up on sale, and was making them for the kids. That reminded me of breakfast by my grandmother. I used to stay overnight once a week with Oma when I was in high school in the City. Part of the allure of staying over with Oma was that she had a TV! with cable! But the real treats were her cooking. Anyone who know her knew she was a heckuva cook, and she knew how to feed you, like all good old-world grandmothers. And though her dinners were superb, for a kid, breakfast was really special.
The first reason was because she would make a "Floofy" Omelet. For those of you who may not know what this is, it is an omelet with the egg whites separated then beaten fluffy, the yolk folded back in, ( which was a sight to watch all by itself) and the egg fried covered. Amazing. However, an even bigger highlight were the insignificant frozen waffles. What made them special was that we didn't have them at home, it was a special treat reserved for visits to Oma, with syrup and butter.
As I got out of the shower and was transported back to my youth, High School , my Oma, and life, it was nostalgic. I immediately wanted to write about it, but forgot what it was until this morning, when our IcebergCarwash guest must have requested a repeat performance of breakfast from yesterday, and once again, the lovely smell of waffles pervaded the house.
(By the way, if you must have houseguests, I highly recommend this one. Quiet, polite, easy. They must be doing something right over there at the 'Wash in between posts.)
Amazing what unexpected benefits you can get out of 3 boxes for $5.00.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
PIRACY III
It's gratifying to know that in our humane, progressive, civilized world piracy is no longer such a serious crime. Click here: piracy
This will give law enforcement and government the resources to go after the really dangerous criminals, like those who allow their cows to fart.>
This will give law enforcement and government the resources to go after the really dangerous criminals, like those who allow their cows to fart.>
And another thing...... (maybe)
This is a two parter, so keep reading until the end.
First of all, I have been getting significant grief over my choice of title for the little woman. Specifically from Mrs. Aufshnit, AKA Lady G. So I have decided to change the term of endearment from BAC to Lovey. Please make a note of it.
Now, on to the main point here.
I forgot my main point.
This has now happened to me twice. I had some extraordinary insight into our mundane lives to entertain you with and make you think outside the box, but when I went to write it, I could not remember what it was.
Rest assured, it was both brilliant and pithy, but now it is gone into the ether of my aging mind. I have tried all day to remember it, but it still eludes me.
The only reason why I remember the first part is because I wrote it down ( on the "berry, of course) before the thought could slip away, and because it is a thought that I have been percolating with for days. but I never got to the second part, and now the ravages of time have caught up with me.
So bear with me, dear readers, and it might come back in time. Until then, perhaps I should get some sleep.
First of all, I have been getting significant grief over my choice of title for the little woman. Specifically from Mrs. Aufshnit, AKA Lady G. So I have decided to change the term of endearment from BAC to Lovey. Please make a note of it.
Now, on to the main point here.
I forgot my main point.
This has now happened to me twice. I had some extraordinary insight into our mundane lives to entertain you with and make you think outside the box, but when I went to write it, I could not remember what it was.
Rest assured, it was both brilliant and pithy, but now it is gone into the ether of my aging mind. I have tried all day to remember it, but it still eludes me.
The only reason why I remember the first part is because I wrote it down ( on the "berry, of course) before the thought could slip away, and because it is a thought that I have been percolating with for days. but I never got to the second part, and now the ravages of time have caught up with me.
So bear with me, dear readers, and it might come back in time. Until then, perhaps I should get some sleep.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Calling Walt Knirps, Private Eye
We have all been wondering over here what and/or who the elusive, but combatative and verbose (of late) Doctor Uhberschnitzel is.
At first, the conventional wisdom was that it was a relative of mine by marriage, but which one, no one was sure. As each relative by blood that picked those relatives by marriage denied vehemently that it was their respective spouse, two thoughts came out. (1) It is NOT a relative by marriage, or, (2) My siblings are lying to me.
Either way, the search continues, and as the suspicions are mounting, there is a desperate need to figure this out before disaster strikes at the upcoming family gathering for the holidays, in the form of accusations flying fast and furious, followed by pieces of animal, stuffing, cutlery, dishes, clothing, and possibly hanks of hair. ( OH, THE HUMANITY, HIDE THE CHILDREN!!!!)
So in order to prevent this horrible (except for the protagonist herein) scenario from playing itself out, I have decided to try to get into the psyche of this commenter, and I have done some research.
It hasn’t really yielded anything useful.
But here goes anyway.
Uhber, or the correct Eglishification ( homage to soupeater) of Uber is a cognate of both Latin super and Greek ύπερ (hyper), as well as English over (as in "overkill"). During the 2000s, über also became a synonym for super;
While a schnitzel is usually meant to refer to a veal cutlet, we know better that it means cutlet in general, German, from Middle High German snitzel, diminutive of sniz, slice, from snitzen, to carve, frequentative of sn den, to cut, from Old High German sn dan.]
( both cites from The Free Dictionary )
So this much we know.
( 1) the commenter is probably human
(2) Either male or female
(3) considers him or herself a superlative slice of something
(4) might be German,
(5) might have a relationship with someone German or of German extraction
(6) None of the foregoing ( 3 & 4, is still probably human)
(7) is playing on both the German food groups and professional aspects of the blog name, so has a sense of humor, or at least, of irony
(8) owns or has access to a computer
(9) can read and write.
So, based on my deductive powers of reasoning, brilliantly on display here for all of you to see, I have narrowed it down.
To at least 27,000,000 people.
Watch out Doctor Hyperslice, I am on to you.
At first, the conventional wisdom was that it was a relative of mine by marriage, but which one, no one was sure. As each relative by blood that picked those relatives by marriage denied vehemently that it was their respective spouse, two thoughts came out. (1) It is NOT a relative by marriage, or, (2) My siblings are lying to me.
Either way, the search continues, and as the suspicions are mounting, there is a desperate need to figure this out before disaster strikes at the upcoming family gathering for the holidays, in the form of accusations flying fast and furious, followed by pieces of animal, stuffing, cutlery, dishes, clothing, and possibly hanks of hair. ( OH, THE HUMANITY, HIDE THE CHILDREN!!!!)
So in order to prevent this horrible (except for the protagonist herein) scenario from playing itself out, I have decided to try to get into the psyche of this commenter, and I have done some research.
It hasn’t really yielded anything useful.
But here goes anyway.
Uhber, or the correct Eglishification ( homage to soupeater) of Uber is a cognate of both Latin super and Greek ύπερ (hyper), as well as English over (as in "overkill"). During the 2000s, über also became a synonym for super;
While a schnitzel is usually meant to refer to a veal cutlet, we know better that it means cutlet in general, German, from Middle High German snitzel, diminutive of sniz, slice, from snitzen, to carve, frequentative of sn den, to cut, from Old High German sn dan.]
( both cites from The Free Dictionary )
So this much we know.
( 1) the commenter is probably human
(2) Either male or female
(3) considers him or herself a superlative slice of something
(4) might be German,
(5) might have a relationship with someone German or of German extraction
(6) None of the foregoing ( 3 & 4, is still probably human)
(7) is playing on both the German food groups and professional aspects of the blog name, so has a sense of humor, or at least, of irony
(8) owns or has access to a computer
(9) can read and write.
So, based on my deductive powers of reasoning, brilliantly on display here for all of you to see, I have narrowed it down.
To at least 27,000,000 people.
Watch out Doctor Hyperslice, I am on to you.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
the power of the pen
Spent the weekend at some friends let's call them the Aufshnits. Well actually, we had a function in their town, so we just slept there, however, we have spent time with them in the past.
Now, these are good friends, but we don't always agree on everything. Like blogging, or child rearing. For example. I don't think it is effective parenting to shout from the couch that you are going to kill the misbehaving child across the room without getting up. If you are going to threaten them, at least get up and make a show of it.
Even so, ultimately, we all want the same things, like our kids to be well adjusted and happy, so I guess we will just agree to disagree, and hopefully remain friends.
Now, these are good friends, but we don't always agree on everything. Like blogging, or child rearing. For example. I don't think it is effective parenting to shout from the couch that you are going to kill the misbehaving child across the room without getting up. If you are going to threaten them, at least get up and make a show of it.
Even so, ultimately, we all want the same things, like our kids to be well adjusted and happy, so I guess we will just agree to disagree, and hopefully remain friends.
Friday, November 21, 2008
They must not mean me.... or do they
I'm laying down here in the ambulance garage doing a night shift, 12-3. I look up at the wall and someone has put up a sign that says "Remember! No good deed goes unpunished!".
Now, I've never subscribed to that theory, and in fact, I don't really understand or appreciate it, (although I have felt that way a time or two nonetheless), but to put it up in a volunteer room, I just don't get it. I mean, is someone trying to get people to stop volunteering? Do they know something I don't? Are they privy to the workings of a higher Authority and just wish to share it with the uninformed, unwashed masses? Or is someone just incredibly stupid and unthinking?
I have no idea, bit I'm gonna try to catch some shut-eye. Just something to think about, I guess.
I'll let you know how it turns out, stay tuned...
Now, I've never subscribed to that theory, and in fact, I don't really understand or appreciate it, (although I have felt that way a time or two nonetheless), but to put it up in a volunteer room, I just don't get it. I mean, is someone trying to get people to stop volunteering? Do they know something I don't? Are they privy to the workings of a higher Authority and just wish to share it with the uninformed, unwashed masses? Or is someone just incredibly stupid and unthinking?
I have no idea, bit I'm gonna try to catch some shut-eye. Just something to think about, I guess.
I'll let you know how it turns out, stay tuned...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Redux Twice
I feel compelled to write so that all of you who have become used to witty repartee on the blogs ( this one and icebergcarwash) wont be starved for entertainment while the icees are limiting their posts.
So I went into the archives, and this one popped out. ( WHY do I have archives, when i have only been doing this for less than a month????? good question, packratisis, I guess. Again, for another time.)
I was listening to two comedians who currently have books out talk about the craft of writing humorously ( here he goes AGAIN, talking about the process, what is WRONG with this guy???). I found it both fascinating and elucidating, as I find myself in a similar position. I love the idea of putting forth my brilliant observations and thoughts, but I also feel tremendous pressure to maintain the level of funny that seems to be expected of me.
I find the craft of putting words on paper and either transporting someone to a fantasy world, provoking them to think, make them laugh, or just entertaining them, to be an incredible talent. Especially when one continues to think about what they read long after they put down the book ( or in today's world, got up from the computer, or closed their "berries).
It always amazes me that a good author can entertain you in any genre that they write in. Like a science fiction writer reminiscing about his past will still be well written and pull you in. I really should take lessons in the craft of writing on my way to my previously stated goal of the great American novel.
Now as much as I enjoy the comments, and the give and take, as well as driving up my CPP, ( see the icebergs for this one, but make sure you are awake and have time), I feel I must make a complete left turn here ,and once again address my myriad critics from yesterday's missive, Please Hold for the Next Available Operator and of course, its comments, as well as some housekeeping comments in general.
First of all, I am aware of how to get around the rules, but this is a public blog, so why would I write that I am doing something that can be considered wrong???? I am also well aware of the outsourcing issue, I WAS JUST COMMENTING ON MY EXPERIENCE, finally, I was also aware that there was probably a rule against using a coupon twice, as I stated, but felt it was silly. So read and read between the lines so your comments will remain incisive and on point.
Furthermore, although people are really creative with the names they use, that they are as good as anonymous, there are still those of you that post anonymously. I allow it, but would appreciate names, and the same ones for posts, so I can track you. ( heh heh, rubbing hands together) Also, if you are gonna sign your post, USE THAT AS YOUR NAME, and as long as I am on THAT topic, one doctor of food here is probably enough, and what is an Uhberschnitzel anyway???
So I went into the archives, and this one popped out. ( WHY do I have archives, when i have only been doing this for less than a month????? good question, packratisis, I guess. Again, for another time.)
I was listening to two comedians who currently have books out talk about the craft of writing humorously ( here he goes AGAIN, talking about the process, what is WRONG with this guy???). I found it both fascinating and elucidating, as I find myself in a similar position. I love the idea of putting forth my brilliant observations and thoughts, but I also feel tremendous pressure to maintain the level of funny that seems to be expected of me.
I find the craft of putting words on paper and either transporting someone to a fantasy world, provoking them to think, make them laugh, or just entertaining them, to be an incredible talent. Especially when one continues to think about what they read long after they put down the book ( or in today's world, got up from the computer, or closed their "berries).
It always amazes me that a good author can entertain you in any genre that they write in. Like a science fiction writer reminiscing about his past will still be well written and pull you in. I really should take lessons in the craft of writing on my way to my previously stated goal of the great American novel.
Now as much as I enjoy the comments, and the give and take, as well as driving up my CPP, ( see the icebergs for this one, but make sure you are awake and have time), I feel I must make a complete left turn here ,and once again address my myriad critics from yesterday's missive, Please Hold for the Next Available Operator and of course, its comments, as well as some housekeeping comments in general.
First of all, I am aware of how to get around the rules, but this is a public blog, so why would I write that I am doing something that can be considered wrong???? I am also well aware of the outsourcing issue, I WAS JUST COMMENTING ON MY EXPERIENCE, finally, I was also aware that there was probably a rule against using a coupon twice, as I stated, but felt it was silly. So read and read between the lines so your comments will remain incisive and on point.
Furthermore, although people are really creative with the names they use, that they are as good as anonymous, there are still those of you that post anonymously. I allow it, but would appreciate names, and the same ones for posts, so I can track you. ( heh heh, rubbing hands together) Also, if you are gonna sign your post, USE THAT AS YOUR NAME, and as long as I am on THAT topic, one doctor of food here is probably enough, and what is an Uhberschnitzel anyway???
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Please hold for the next available operator
Well, it finally happened to me. I’ve been “customer serviced”. I now feel like a true American. Here’s what happened.
I have had a digital camera since 2005. In that time, my family has never refrained from taking pictures, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the family albums. It appears that my entire family is frozen in 2004. No pictures, except for the kid’s blurry ones from the disposable cameras in camp. Lots of pictures of beds, and pimply kids.
So, BAC has been after me for a long time to get the pictures developed. Let’s go to Walmart, Costco, whatever. I wanted to save money and do it online. Finally, about two weeks ago, we got together and put 335 pictures on line. I went to print them out, and shipping was $16.00 on top of the cost. I figured I would wait for a free shipping special.
Sure enough, yesterday, I get the e-mail, free shipping. Then my entire family, who collectively think that I can’t get out of a room unless the door is marked EXIT, felt compelled to tell me that there was free shipping yesterday. I got the hint.
However, as my incompetence is apparently legendary and all pervasive, we decided that BAC would order the prints already uploaded to the site, and I would scour all my files for additional pictures.
Turns out, I found around 1,300 other pictures, which I whittled down to 850. I uploaded them, which took about 2 hours to run, and then the fun started.
First, either because the promotion was so successful, or because there were a lot of pictures, the website kept freezing my computer. After three shut downs, and removal of some programs ( “ what the heck is that for??”) I went to a different computer. Very slow, but it worked. I got to checkout, put in the coupon code, and…
No dice.
Apparently, you can only use a coupon once per account. Sounds a little silly to me, it’s the same day, same account, same address same info. So I figured that we are a service society, and happy customers are repeat customers, I"ll just call customer service, and they will graciously allow me to use the coupon.
So I call the service center, and a very cheery recording tells me that due to the successful nature of the promotion ( and I guess the complete incompetence of the internet using picture taking pubic) there is a one hour wait.
I then figure that I will just upload the pictures somewhere else while I wait. After ten minutes someone picks up the phone. However, my elation was immediately deflated by two things. One, the significant hiss in the background, and two, the accent of the fine gentleman who answered the phone. Suffice it to say that even though he gave his name as Bob, is was clearly more like Punwbrahamja so we will just call him Punjab.
Well, he was very very sorry for my inconvenience and would try to do everything he could to help me with my problem, and how are you today. (please use your best 7-11 accent for the previous sentence)
Well, the outcome was as I expected. “So sorry, we cannot do anything for you once you have used the code. “ But then he really threw me. He asked me if I would like to answer a short survey on the company. I was completely flabbergasted. They tell you to go to hell ( politely, of course), then they want your opinion! The disconnect of these people is mind boggling. I think I might have done better with an automated system using voice recognition, I certainly could not have done worse. And that would REALLY save the companies money, which they should look into, since the current customer service is gonna cost them all a lot more.
I just told the guy that I didn’t think it was the wisest thing for me to do since I had just been screwed.
Just like the “outsourced” American worker whose job Punjab now has.
I have had a digital camera since 2005. In that time, my family has never refrained from taking pictures, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the family albums. It appears that my entire family is frozen in 2004. No pictures, except for the kid’s blurry ones from the disposable cameras in camp. Lots of pictures of beds, and pimply kids.
So, BAC has been after me for a long time to get the pictures developed. Let’s go to Walmart, Costco, whatever. I wanted to save money and do it online. Finally, about two weeks ago, we got together and put 335 pictures on line. I went to print them out, and shipping was $16.00 on top of the cost. I figured I would wait for a free shipping special.
Sure enough, yesterday, I get the e-mail, free shipping. Then my entire family, who collectively think that I can’t get out of a room unless the door is marked EXIT, felt compelled to tell me that there was free shipping yesterday. I got the hint.
However, as my incompetence is apparently legendary and all pervasive, we decided that BAC would order the prints already uploaded to the site, and I would scour all my files for additional pictures.
Turns out, I found around 1,300 other pictures, which I whittled down to 850. I uploaded them, which took about 2 hours to run, and then the fun started.
First, either because the promotion was so successful, or because there were a lot of pictures, the website kept freezing my computer. After three shut downs, and removal of some programs ( “ what the heck is that for??”) I went to a different computer. Very slow, but it worked. I got to checkout, put in the coupon code, and…
No dice.
Apparently, you can only use a coupon once per account. Sounds a little silly to me, it’s the same day, same account, same address same info. So I figured that we are a service society, and happy customers are repeat customers, I"ll just call customer service, and they will graciously allow me to use the coupon.
So I call the service center, and a very cheery recording tells me that due to the successful nature of the promotion ( and I guess the complete incompetence of the internet using picture taking pubic) there is a one hour wait.
I then figure that I will just upload the pictures somewhere else while I wait. After ten minutes someone picks up the phone. However, my elation was immediately deflated by two things. One, the significant hiss in the background, and two, the accent of the fine gentleman who answered the phone. Suffice it to say that even though he gave his name as Bob, is was clearly more like Punwbrahamja so we will just call him Punjab.
Well, he was very very sorry for my inconvenience and would try to do everything he could to help me with my problem, and how are you today. (please use your best 7-11 accent for the previous sentence)
Well, the outcome was as I expected. “So sorry, we cannot do anything for you once you have used the code. “ But then he really threw me. He asked me if I would like to answer a short survey on the company. I was completely flabbergasted. They tell you to go to hell ( politely, of course), then they want your opinion! The disconnect of these people is mind boggling. I think I might have done better with an automated system using voice recognition, I certainly could not have done worse. And that would REALLY save the companies money, which they should look into, since the current customer service is gonna cost them all a lot more.
I just told the guy that I didn’t think it was the wisest thing for me to do since I had just been screwed.
Just like the “outsourced” American worker whose job Punjab now has.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Piracy II
Read this article all the way through, especially about the spanish thwarting of an attempted piracy and the pirate incident where a hole was ripped in the side of a ship causing a fuel leak.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,453030,00.html
Have the civilized nations of the world taken leave of their senses? Smoke canisters!?! Haven't they heard of bombs?
Piracy used to be a capital offense all over the world but now the world is worried about being sued for harming pirates in the commission of the crime of piracy. Never mind killing pirates, we are worried about environmental damage to the ocean from a few hundred gallons of fuel.
Insanity rules!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,453030,00.html
Have the civilized nations of the world taken leave of their senses? Smoke canisters!?! Haven't they heard of bombs?
Piracy used to be a capital offense all over the world but now the world is worried about being sued for harming pirates in the commission of the crime of piracy. Never mind killing pirates, we are worried about environmental damage to the ocean from a few hundred gallons of fuel.
Insanity rules!
How do we clean up this mess?
I think the government is on the right track this time, not like the Hoover administration, who ignored the crash of 1929, subsequently allowing the economy to worsen.
The government needs to address the following issues:
Liquidity in the financial sector
Loan workouts to stop the epidemic of foreclosures
Preventing economic activity from going into a tailspin
Regulation
The federal government has already addressed the issue of financial liquidity by committing a large amount of money to keep credit flowing. Tactics, how and where to apply the allocated money, is still being debated within the administration.. The original idea was to buy up "toxic" assets, those loans that are underwater and collateralized mortgage obligations both of which cannot be rationally valued. For this reason the treasury just recently backed away from using the bailout money to buy them. Instead it would rather lend the money to the banks along the lines of the AIG takeover. If the loans get paid back, which the financial institutions promise they will be, it could be quite profitable for the taxpayers.
One very big fly in the ointment is the community of financial executives who are clueless and uncaring about the inpending disaster and refuse to admit that they are a defeated nation, much like the germans at the end of world war I. They continue to dance while the ballroom is on fire. This attitude will make it difficult for the public to agree to corporate charity even though, this time, the public is in even greater danger than the corporations.
The other shoe is the attempt to stop foreclosures, which destroys neighborhoods in addition to destroying mortgagers credit..An investor with little equity will walk away from the house regardless of means. Anyone with sizeable equity in a house, investor or owner occupier, is not likely to do so, and, if in trouble, is a candidate for a workout. So is the "american dream" owner who will try to hang on to his house regardless of the economics. The major difficulty with workouts is that the mortgagees cannot be easily identified. The only way to workout this type of loan is to pay it back and negotiate a new loan.With enough money, the government can do this and eventually eliminate a large portion of toxic loans. Of course some mortgagers just don't have enough money and foreclosure is inevitable. But mortgages are like a juggling act. As long as they keep paying, the value of the collateral is immaterial.
How do we keep the balls in the air so that everything doesn't come crashing down? Keep the consumer spending, but with all the media induced panic you can't blame anyone for being cautious even if the economy suffers further.
I've got two suggestions for regulation of the financial markets.
Credit default swaps: Make it illegal to buy a CDS unless you own the underlying security, and make it illegal to write a CDS unless you are a state licensed insurance company or can prove adequate reserves to be able to absorb a hit.
Short sales: Institute a permanent ban on naked short sales.
None of this is going to halt the economic deterioration that has already begun. Despite the the gloating by the Europeans, and Sarkozy in particular, about how they brought down the american laissez-faire juggernaut at the G20 meeting on Saturday, they have no real solution to solving the current crisis.
They've locked the barn, but the horse is already stolen.
The government needs to address the following issues:
Liquidity in the financial sector
Loan workouts to stop the epidemic of foreclosures
Preventing economic activity from going into a tailspin
Regulation
The federal government has already addressed the issue of financial liquidity by committing a large amount of money to keep credit flowing. Tactics, how and where to apply the allocated money, is still being debated within the administration.. The original idea was to buy up "toxic" assets, those loans that are underwater and collateralized mortgage obligations both of which cannot be rationally valued. For this reason the treasury just recently backed away from using the bailout money to buy them. Instead it would rather lend the money to the banks along the lines of the AIG takeover. If the loans get paid back, which the financial institutions promise they will be, it could be quite profitable for the taxpayers.
One very big fly in the ointment is the community of financial executives who are clueless and uncaring about the inpending disaster and refuse to admit that they are a defeated nation, much like the germans at the end of world war I. They continue to dance while the ballroom is on fire. This attitude will make it difficult for the public to agree to corporate charity even though, this time, the public is in even greater danger than the corporations.
The other shoe is the attempt to stop foreclosures, which destroys neighborhoods in addition to destroying mortgagers credit..An investor with little equity will walk away from the house regardless of means. Anyone with sizeable equity in a house, investor or owner occupier, is not likely to do so, and, if in trouble, is a candidate for a workout. So is the "american dream" owner who will try to hang on to his house regardless of the economics. The major difficulty with workouts is that the mortgagees cannot be easily identified. The only way to workout this type of loan is to pay it back and negotiate a new loan.With enough money, the government can do this and eventually eliminate a large portion of toxic loans. Of course some mortgagers just don't have enough money and foreclosure is inevitable. But mortgages are like a juggling act. As long as they keep paying, the value of the collateral is immaterial.
How do we keep the balls in the air so that everything doesn't come crashing down? Keep the consumer spending, but with all the media induced panic you can't blame anyone for being cautious even if the economy suffers further.
I've got two suggestions for regulation of the financial markets.
Credit default swaps: Make it illegal to buy a CDS unless you own the underlying security, and make it illegal to write a CDS unless you are a state licensed insurance company or can prove adequate reserves to be able to absorb a hit.
Short sales: Institute a permanent ban on naked short sales.
None of this is going to halt the economic deterioration that has already begun. Despite the the gloating by the Europeans, and Sarkozy in particular, about how they brought down the american laissez-faire juggernaut at the G20 meeting on Saturday, they have no real solution to solving the current crisis.
They've locked the barn, but the horse is already stolen.
Row, Row, Row your....... car
It's been over 1/2 a week, and nothing here at the good Doctor site, I feel that I have been remiss. However, things have indeed happened during that time that certainly NEED to be blogged about, but in order to (1) protect the innocent (2) avoid a potential lawsuit and (3) sleep in my own bed, I think that I cannot comment on the world about me.
All I CAN say is that I was on an emergency ambulance call this weekend with a couple of gentlemen who are studying to become paramedics. These guys happen to be friends of mine, so I felt I could get away with the following line as I walked in " Good to see that you have all of the attitude, and none of the ability."
It could be that you have to be "inside" to get that, but I feel that it nicely shows my ( better) improv skills that humor writing skills ( sotto voce -he's talking about his writing again, why does he keep DOING that?)
However, to keep you, my dear readers interested, I will tell you that I am working on pieces about socks and Canadian geese. ( AGAIN about the writing, sheesh) As of now they are two separate pieces, but you never know. If there is a topic you would like expanded upon, please let me know, and I will try to oblige.
Hey, if Seinfeld can make a career out of it.....
All I CAN say is that I was on an emergency ambulance call this weekend with a couple of gentlemen who are studying to become paramedics. These guys happen to be friends of mine, so I felt I could get away with the following line as I walked in " Good to see that you have all of the attitude, and none of the ability."
It could be that you have to be "inside" to get that, but I feel that it nicely shows my ( better) improv skills that humor writing skills ( sotto voce -he's talking about his writing again, why does he keep DOING that?)
However, to keep you, my dear readers interested, I will tell you that I am working on pieces about socks and Canadian geese. ( AGAIN about the writing, sheesh) As of now they are two separate pieces, but you never know. If there is a topic you would like expanded upon, please let me know, and I will try to oblige.
Hey, if Seinfeld can make a career out of it.....
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Don't count those chickens just yet
The media is reporting that the stock market is being driven by fear and panic. I think that's right. The fear is certainly what I am feeling even though I haven't yet reached the panic stage. Maybe I won't because it's already too late to panic.
The comparisons with 1929 are eerie. I have been through several recessions, some of which we didn't see coming, and through a major stock market crash that did not greatly impact the rest of the economy. Major bank failures or near failures, the precipitous drop in commodity prices, the abrupt slowdown in consumer spending, even the prolonged freefall of the stock market and all other financial instrument markets, leads me to a feeling of dread for what may be coming. The great crash of 1929, while being the signature event of the depression, was only the beginning of a long decline which didn't end until the advent of the second world war.
The hot stock of the twenties, RCA, illustrates the decline. It had split 5 for 1 in 1929 and then went on to hit a high of 114-3/4 per share but by 1934 was down at about 3. It didn't recover to its 1929 price for about 25 years. I guess the buy and hold philosophy is effective in most cases but you have to live long enough to be able to make it work.
My main worry is that prices will continue to drop. Some people will consider the drop in prices a good thing when the economy is bad, but that's a case of the tail wagging the dog. Sure you can buy some things when they are cheaper but the real reason for the price drop is that money is becoming more precious and is worth more since there is less of it around. You may need less money to buy, say, a gallon of gas, but you have less of it than you previously had. People can only afford less and therefore the price has to drop in order to get the product sold.
For the time being, I would conserve every penny of cash that I have.and delay any sizable purchase for at least 6 months if not a year. If I am right, anything that looks like a bargain today will pale in comparison to what it will sell for in the near future.
I will address my take on what the government is doing regarding the economic situation and what I think they should be doing, in my next blog.
The comparisons with 1929 are eerie. I have been through several recessions, some of which we didn't see coming, and through a major stock market crash that did not greatly impact the rest of the economy. Major bank failures or near failures, the precipitous drop in commodity prices, the abrupt slowdown in consumer spending, even the prolonged freefall of the stock market and all other financial instrument markets, leads me to a feeling of dread for what may be coming. The great crash of 1929, while being the signature event of the depression, was only the beginning of a long decline which didn't end until the advent of the second world war.
The hot stock of the twenties, RCA, illustrates the decline. It had split 5 for 1 in 1929 and then went on to hit a high of 114-3/4 per share but by 1934 was down at about 3. It didn't recover to its 1929 price for about 25 years. I guess the buy and hold philosophy is effective in most cases but you have to live long enough to be able to make it work.
My main worry is that prices will continue to drop. Some people will consider the drop in prices a good thing when the economy is bad, but that's a case of the tail wagging the dog. Sure you can buy some things when they are cheaper but the real reason for the price drop is that money is becoming more precious and is worth more since there is less of it around. You may need less money to buy, say, a gallon of gas, but you have less of it than you previously had. People can only afford less and therefore the price has to drop in order to get the product sold.
For the time being, I would conserve every penny of cash that I have.and delay any sizable purchase for at least 6 months if not a year. If I am right, anything that looks like a bargain today will pale in comparison to what it will sell for in the near future.
I will address my take on what the government is doing regarding the economic situation and what I think they should be doing, in my next blog.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Those who can't, criticize
It has come to my attention that people are disappointed in this blog because the humor level is not up to expectations (BRING ON THE FUNNY, BUB!) and that the choice location for reading these well crafted missives is NOT the reading room at the New York Public Library. (Use your imagination for this one).
First of all, I take the first part of the comment as a compliment, people generally view me as funny, and are expecting the same here. It just so happens that (1) some people are funny in person , improv, if you will, which is where my skill lies, (I'd like to beleive) (2) some people are funny writers ( see MBB ) and (3) sometimes the reader or listener has no sense of humor, or fails to see the subtle brilliance in the humor.
In the case of the commenter herein, I vote for #3, as well as #1, of course. But keep coming back and reading, you never know, maybe I'll hit the funnybone or take lessons from my friends at IcebergCarwash.
Now, as to the reading of these fine words in places that don't really do them justice, remind me NOT to borrow your Blackberry.
First of all, I take the first part of the comment as a compliment, people generally view me as funny, and are expecting the same here. It just so happens that (1) some people are funny in person , improv, if you will, which is where my skill lies, (I'd like to beleive) (2) some people are funny writers ( see MBB ) and (3) sometimes the reader or listener has no sense of humor, or fails to see the subtle brilliance in the humor.
In the case of the commenter herein, I vote for #3, as well as #1, of course. But keep coming back and reading, you never know, maybe I'll hit the funnybone or take lessons from my friends at IcebergCarwash.
Now, as to the reading of these fine words in places that don't really do them justice, remind me NOT to borrow your Blackberry.
Monday, November 10, 2008
OK, OK, I get it.
All right folks, simmer down. I feel that I must respond to all the comments on my last entry. First of all, I thank you for your kind words, those of you who expressed such. Now, on to the rest of you.
First of all, when I started this, I indicated that the reason for me to blog in the first place was to get stuff out without it being shot to pieces before I could get to the end of a thought. Now I still have to deal with everyone's opinions, but I least I get to moderate them. Gives me a wonderful feeling of power. So WATCH OUT, I AM THE KING OF THE COMMENTS!!! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!! ( or comment)
OK, now that I got that off my chest, I shall address the specifics. You may wish to review the comments to the "Yes Dear" post first. Go ahead, I'll wait....... Good. Now here goes.
The expression "little woman" is just that, an old expression with 737,000 sites on google. In fact, pursuant to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, it means wife. That's it. No offense.
Of course we were not alone the entire time, but there were no random children floating around. One of our regular afternoon visitors made an appearance and sat with us for a bit. I never expect complete privacy. if i did, I wouldn't be shouting " COME IN !!" at the door every ten minutes or so.
As far as those of you who felt compelled to defend BAC, let me tell you, she can do quite a good job on her own. Why do you think I feel compelled to pour out my life experiences to you??? at 11:00 at night in my office??? So calm down, folks.
Besides, I may end up having to sleep here sometimes.
First of all, when I started this, I indicated that the reason for me to blog in the first place was to get stuff out without it being shot to pieces before I could get to the end of a thought. Now I still have to deal with everyone's opinions, but I least I get to moderate them. Gives me a wonderful feeling of power. So WATCH OUT, I AM THE KING OF THE COMMENTS!!! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!! ( or comment)
OK, now that I got that off my chest, I shall address the specifics. You may wish to review the comments to the "Yes Dear" post first. Go ahead, I'll wait....... Good. Now here goes.
The expression "little woman" is just that, an old expression with 737,000 sites on google. In fact, pursuant to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, it means wife. That's it. No offense.
Of course we were not alone the entire time, but there were no random children floating around. One of our regular afternoon visitors made an appearance and sat with us for a bit. I never expect complete privacy. if i did, I wouldn't be shouting " COME IN !!" at the door every ten minutes or so.
As far as those of you who felt compelled to defend BAC, let me tell you, she can do quite a good job on her own. Why do you think I feel compelled to pour out my life experiences to you??? at 11:00 at night in my office??? So calm down, folks.
Besides, I may end up having to sleep here sometimes.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Yes, Dear
I had a somewhat newly married relative couple over the other night. They seem to get along, but they bicker good naturedly like they have been married much longer. I find it odd that less than two years ago, the husband was single and hanging out with us, and now he is an old married man with a kid who sits at the kitchen table and belches (Really not a big deal in my family, though).
So I felt the need to compare their situation to my own. I have yet to mention the little woman, and I have to give her a blog reference name. I think I will go with BAC. It fits, trust me. I really could say whatever I want here since she refuses to read anything I write, but once again, that's for another time.
So BAC and I had a preview of empty nest syndrome this weekend. One is abroad, and the others were gone for the weekend. We were invited to an affair for lunch, but then came home to an quiet house, and if you know anything about my house, that is really really odd.
The kids didn't come home until much later, when we went and collected them (or they may never have come back) so for those few hours it was just BAC and me. It was nice, we managed to fill those hours with conversation and quiet companionship. I can't guarantee that we could maintain that, but as a preview, the main show looks good.
Now if only the kids would call once in a while....
So I felt the need to compare their situation to my own. I have yet to mention the little woman, and I have to give her a blog reference name. I think I will go with BAC. It fits, trust me. I really could say whatever I want here since she refuses to read anything I write, but once again, that's for another time.
So BAC and I had a preview of empty nest syndrome this weekend. One is abroad, and the others were gone for the weekend. We were invited to an affair for lunch, but then came home to an quiet house, and if you know anything about my house, that is really really odd.
The kids didn't come home until much later, when we went and collected them (or they may never have come back) so for those few hours it was just BAC and me. It was nice, we managed to fill those hours with conversation and quiet companionship. I can't guarantee that we could maintain that, but as a preview, the main show looks good.
Now if only the kids would call once in a while....
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Brother, can you spare a million dollars?
Today I needed to be in the city, so I took a quasi-private bus company to work. From stories I have heard, and from past experience, I thought for sure that this would generate something to comment on. Alas, if one takes a later bus, all the characters and situations that would normally cause something out of the ordinary have already passed, so it was a quiet, uneventful ride. But then I got on the subway.
One of the things about a subway car that has always amazed me is the tremendous diversity one finds on a New York City subway car, but that is for another time.
As I looked around, I noticed that I was sitting near (not directly next to, but one seat over from) a homeless dude. This seating arrangement seems to be the protocol for sitting near homeless people, get as close as the smell allows, but not right next to them.
So I looked the guy over and I was amazed at two things. Sure, he had on grubby clothes, including an all weather coat, was sleeping slumped over in the standard position, and was indeed wearing Eau de Homeless, but the first interesting thing was that he had on relatively new and clean New Balance sneakers, which go for a lot more than the Walmart specials that I wear, but even more amazing to me was the fact that the only accoutrement he had with him was AN UMBRELLA!!!
Now, I generally don't carry an umbrella in the city because the winds make it inconvenient, I'm not usually outside long enough to really need it, and I tend to lose them along the way, but they do come in handy if you absolutely need to be outside at a certain time and it's really raining hard.
However, my question is, if one is homeless, has no real place to go, and is riding the trains and stations for a livelihood, why would the one thing you need be an umbrella?? WHERE IS HE GOING? and what are his plans for this umbrella?
I mean, on the next train, the requisite homeless dude in that car had three coats and a bucket with two squeegees, that's enterprise and forward thinking, but what can you do to improve your station in life with just an umbrella?
Perhaps he was hoping to assist lost society ladies across the street so they wouldn't get wet "thank you dear Billy, here's $10,000 for you help", or he could sell it as an umbrella lost by a celebrity "umbrella left on the seat by Lindsay after a night out on the town, $5,000", but I think he is probably holding out for the big score, "Mayor Mike, its raining, take my umbrella" "thank you Billy here's a million dollars, and there's another mil in it for you if you vote for me again."
Ah, New York, city of dreams and opportunity.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry on the subway
One of the things about a subway car that has always amazed me is the tremendous diversity one finds on a New York City subway car, but that is for another time.
As I looked around, I noticed that I was sitting near (not directly next to, but one seat over from) a homeless dude. This seating arrangement seems to be the protocol for sitting near homeless people, get as close as the smell allows, but not right next to them.
So I looked the guy over and I was amazed at two things. Sure, he had on grubby clothes, including an all weather coat, was sleeping slumped over in the standard position, and was indeed wearing Eau de Homeless, but the first interesting thing was that he had on relatively new and clean New Balance sneakers, which go for a lot more than the Walmart specials that I wear, but even more amazing to me was the fact that the only accoutrement he had with him was AN UMBRELLA!!!
Now, I generally don't carry an umbrella in the city because the winds make it inconvenient, I'm not usually outside long enough to really need it, and I tend to lose them along the way, but they do come in handy if you absolutely need to be outside at a certain time and it's really raining hard.
However, my question is, if one is homeless, has no real place to go, and is riding the trains and stations for a livelihood, why would the one thing you need be an umbrella?? WHERE IS HE GOING? and what are his plans for this umbrella?
I mean, on the next train, the requisite homeless dude in that car had three coats and a bucket with two squeegees, that's enterprise and forward thinking, but what can you do to improve your station in life with just an umbrella?
Perhaps he was hoping to assist lost society ladies across the street so they wouldn't get wet "thank you dear Billy, here's $10,000 for you help", or he could sell it as an umbrella lost by a celebrity "umbrella left on the seat by Lindsay after a night out on the town, $5,000", but I think he is probably holding out for the big score, "Mayor Mike, its raining, take my umbrella" "thank you Billy here's a million dollars, and there's another mil in it for you if you vote for me again."
Ah, New York, city of dreams and opportunity.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry on the subway
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Racism is dead, the funeral will be...
With the results of the election, and the historic election of a black man to the presidency, something inconceivable in the 60's, it is safe to say that racism in America is a thing of the past.
Just look at the facts. That a man, who's only valid credential was the fact that he is black, can convince America to elect him to the highest office in the land shows clearly that the color of a man's skin has no bearing on the idiotic choices that Americans make. His agenda, or lack thereof, his radical associates, and his non-experience would have doomed a white man long before the primaries had concluded, but now all is well. We have paid our societal debt to the black man, and they should be happy and enfranchised.
But what do you call a group of people who vote based solely on the color of the man's skin? Who riot every time someone looks at them askance? Whose leadership never has a word in support of internecine violence ? These people are the racists, not white Americans anymore, who voted blind to color.
However, I highly doubt that someone like Al will put away his hate industry and go quietly in the night. Like Yertle the Turtle, he will want more ( emperor of the world, perhaps?) and will hopefully end up with the same result, but I digress.
Racism against black people is dead. We should have a funeral for it. We can bury it next to the "N" word.
Just look at the facts. That a man, who's only valid credential was the fact that he is black, can convince America to elect him to the highest office in the land shows clearly that the color of a man's skin has no bearing on the idiotic choices that Americans make. His agenda, or lack thereof, his radical associates, and his non-experience would have doomed a white man long before the primaries had concluded, but now all is well. We have paid our societal debt to the black man, and they should be happy and enfranchised.
But what do you call a group of people who vote based solely on the color of the man's skin? Who riot every time someone looks at them askance? Whose leadership never has a word in support of internecine violence ? These people are the racists, not white Americans anymore, who voted blind to color.
However, I highly doubt that someone like Al will put away his hate industry and go quietly in the night. Like Yertle the Turtle, he will want more ( emperor of the world, perhaps?) and will hopefully end up with the same result, but I digress.
Racism against black people is dead. We should have a funeral for it. We can bury it next to the "N" word.
I can't think of an appropriate title, just read it
After I returned home last night I was feeling a bit better and then I got called out to help transport a cancer patient who was unresponsive to the hospital. As I entered the room and saw the ill person lying on the bed, although still traumatized by the election results, I realized that in the big picture of life, if we can all physically and economically survive the next ( hopefully only) four years, this to shall pass, life goes on, and there are bigger issues to deal with than who is sitting in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
So take heart, dear readers, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, and I can finally criticize a president I didn't vote for. Should be fun, glad to have you along for the ride.
So take heart, dear readers, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, and I can finally criticize a president I didn't vote for. Should be fun, glad to have you along for the ride.
Peggy Noonan, write another book
SOUPEATER says...
In the past few days, I have been driving through Ohio, enjoying the extraordinarily warm weather for this time of year. This morning I was driving along a country road passing through some very small towns when I took notice of an interesting phenomenon which may explain the political results we all now know. I had been observing the political lawn signs and was surprised to see that there wasn't much difference between an Obama sign and a McCain sign. They both were the same colors and you had to
read the sign before you knew whom it was for. Closer to Cleveland, the signs were overwhelmingly for Obama but as I moved away from the big city, it became more even handed. In many neighborhoods in this battleground state, the signs were mixed; a few Obama signs followed by some McCain signs and so on.When I moved through the farming communities, the Obama signs completely disappeared and all you could see was McCain.
In one of the more mixed towns I passed through this morning the older houses along the main street exhibited the usual mix but as I got out of town there were some newer houses, very recently built from the look of them, and certainly large enough that they would not embarass their owners even in Monsey. One of these mcmansions placed far back from the road had an Obama sign along the road. I considered this significant. Crane Brinton, in his book "Anatomy of a Revolution," points out that among the necessary ingredients for a revolution to take place is the movement of some of the ruling class to the cause of the rebels. This was a classic case. Here was probably a member of the ruling class who had thrown in his lot with those, who, historically, were incapable of leading but were now challenging those in power. This was a revolution which would initially succeed.
But take heart, my friends. Almost all revolutions, as futher pointed out by Mr. Brinton, progress to a stage of excesses which eventually leads to a reaction and puts the original ruling class (what is left of them in the case of the French Revolution and Bolshevik revolution) back in power. Let's see how this plays out. I hope the excesses won't become dangerous to the personal safety and freedoms of the citizens and will be more like an excess of stealing, lying, sexual pecadillos and general venality and corruption. In four years the Republicans will be back.
If you are thinking of putting your money into the market, don't. We've had "irrational exuberance" and all out panic, both of which make some sense. But a drop of 200 points today and a rise of 350 points tomorrow is totally without reason and is more like the fluctuations of the Asian stock markets which defy reality.
I am more pessimistic than usual. The current economic disruptions - stock market crash, financial system breakdown, commodity price plunges - all point to a more than usually severe recession and has all the earmarks of a repeat of the great depression. Now don't get me wrong. Notwithstanding the constant barrage of news comments indicating that we are in the grip of a very severe economic slowdown, the general economy has only retrenched a little bit and doesn't even meet the criteria usually used to indicate the start of a recession which is two quarters of negative growth. We have had 7 percent unemployment before and, not to dismiss the hardships this causes, it does not in any way shape or form resemble the depression. If a repeat of the great depression is on the way, we are now in the very early stages of it and it can be controlled. Remember that Roosevelt who tried, unsuccessfully, to stem the tide, did so only three years after the start of the depression by which time it was an unstoppable downwards spiral. George Bush is not Herbert Hoover. He won't be involved as long as Hoover was. Our next president will have to work hard to keep us out of trouble.I predict he will fail as did other black politicians who wanted the job so badly that they were willing to take on an impossible situation and they failed miserably.
Who says the American electorate is stupid?
In the past few days, I have been driving through Ohio, enjoying the extraordinarily warm weather for this time of year. This morning I was driving along a country road passing through some very small towns when I took notice of an interesting phenomenon which may explain the political results we all now know. I had been observing the political lawn signs and was surprised to see that there wasn't much difference between an Obama sign and a McCain sign. They both were the same colors and you had to
read the sign before you knew whom it was for. Closer to Cleveland, the signs were overwhelmingly for Obama but as I moved away from the big city, it became more even handed. In many neighborhoods in this battleground state, the signs were mixed; a few Obama signs followed by some McCain signs and so on.When I moved through the farming communities, the Obama signs completely disappeared and all you could see was McCain.
In one of the more mixed towns I passed through this morning the older houses along the main street exhibited the usual mix but as I got out of town there were some newer houses, very recently built from the look of them, and certainly large enough that they would not embarass their owners even in Monsey. One of these mcmansions placed far back from the road had an Obama sign along the road. I considered this significant. Crane Brinton, in his book "Anatomy of a Revolution," points out that among the necessary ingredients for a revolution to take place is the movement of some of the ruling class to the cause of the rebels. This was a classic case. Here was probably a member of the ruling class who had thrown in his lot with those, who, historically, were incapable of leading but were now challenging those in power. This was a revolution which would initially succeed.
But take heart, my friends. Almost all revolutions, as futher pointed out by Mr. Brinton, progress to a stage of excesses which eventually leads to a reaction and puts the original ruling class (what is left of them in the case of the French Revolution and Bolshevik revolution) back in power. Let's see how this plays out. I hope the excesses won't become dangerous to the personal safety and freedoms of the citizens and will be more like an excess of stealing, lying, sexual pecadillos and general venality and corruption. In four years the Republicans will be back.
If you are thinking of putting your money into the market, don't. We've had "irrational exuberance" and all out panic, both of which make some sense. But a drop of 200 points today and a rise of 350 points tomorrow is totally without reason and is more like the fluctuations of the Asian stock markets which defy reality.
I am more pessimistic than usual. The current economic disruptions - stock market crash, financial system breakdown, commodity price plunges - all point to a more than usually severe recession and has all the earmarks of a repeat of the great depression. Now don't get me wrong. Notwithstanding the constant barrage of news comments indicating that we are in the grip of a very severe economic slowdown, the general economy has only retrenched a little bit and doesn't even meet the criteria usually used to indicate the start of a recession which is two quarters of negative growth. We have had 7 percent unemployment before and, not to dismiss the hardships this causes, it does not in any way shape or form resemble the depression. If a repeat of the great depression is on the way, we are now in the very early stages of it and it can be controlled. Remember that Roosevelt who tried, unsuccessfully, to stem the tide, did so only three years after the start of the depression by which time it was an unstoppable downwards spiral. George Bush is not Herbert Hoover. He won't be involved as long as Hoover was. Our next president will have to work hard to keep us out of trouble.I predict he will fail as did other black politicians who wanted the job so badly that they were willing to take on an impossible situation and they failed miserably.
Who says the American electorate is stupid?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A New Day Dawning? or is it blackest before the Dawn?
I have just come from my house after watching the Networks gleefully call the election for Hussein Obama. Truly a sad day for Republicans everywhere. We have a new president-elect, a man who came out of nowhere to sweep away the old guard, and usher in a new chapter in our history. One of the most disturbing things about this election was the clapping that could be heard in the background at ABC news when the anchor announced, with great gravitas, that Mr. hussein had just been projected as the winner.
I went outside with a scotch and my pipe, to take it all in, and I was amazed that life went on, the night crickets chirped, and animals rustled about in my back yard.
So for the animals of the animal variety, life does indeed go on the way it has been before, but I am very wary of the changes that are a'comin' for all the hard working people of this great country, as the Democrats, giddy with what am sure they will consider a mandate, go about dismantling all that we have built over the last 28 years, since the debacle that was Jimmy Carter was swept out of office in a landslide.
I am very concerned that the government will now take away all our hard won success, and we will be once again seen as weak on the world stage. I hope it doesn't happen. We shall see.
I just threw up. I have to go to bed.
I went outside with a scotch and my pipe, to take it all in, and I was amazed that life went on, the night crickets chirped, and animals rustled about in my back yard.
So for the animals of the animal variety, life does indeed go on the way it has been before, but I am very wary of the changes that are a'comin' for all the hard working people of this great country, as the Democrats, giddy with what am sure they will consider a mandate, go about dismantling all that we have built over the last 28 years, since the debacle that was Jimmy Carter was swept out of office in a landslide.
I am very concerned that the government will now take away all our hard won success, and we will be once again seen as weak on the world stage. I hope it doesn't happen. We shall see.
I just threw up. I have to go to bed.
writing are hard
I'm waiting on line again (this time at e-z pass) and thinking that I really need to write something, since I can't let down my followers, but this can be tough. I'm reminded of the time I was listening to Don Imus who decided to show how ridiculous it is for sports reporters to ask ball players the same questions over and over. What he did was interview Mike Breen, his sports guy, after each report, to ask him how it went. The point was to show how these writers badger players over the whole season with the same questions.
However, as I have now joined the ranks of the writers, I see that the purpose was probably to find an angle to write about, since the pressure to be creative and write on a regular basis can be difficult.
Add to that the pressure of my adoring fans, who complain in one place that people put pressure on THEM to post by 12 PM, and then send me messages that I haven't posted yet! It can be a real weight on someone's mind. But then something will happen and the floodgates will open, but be released judiciously to the public so to keep a steady stream of witty dialogue and observations flowing.
All that being said, suffice it to say ( even further) that in the 1/2 a week I have been doing this, I have gained a real appreciation for
1. Professional writers
2. Editorialists and Humorists who publish in newspapers regularly, and
3. Bloggers ( see http://www.icebergcarwash.blogspot.com/ , and SOUPEATER)
Kudos to us. And I have written or writing. A neat little trick, no?
However, as I have now joined the ranks of the writers, I see that the purpose was probably to find an angle to write about, since the pressure to be creative and write on a regular basis can be difficult.
Add to that the pressure of my adoring fans, who complain in one place that people put pressure on THEM to post by 12 PM, and then send me messages that I haven't posted yet! It can be a real weight on someone's mind. But then something will happen and the floodgates will open, but be released judiciously to the public so to keep a steady stream of witty dialogue and observations flowing.
All that being said, suffice it to say ( even further) that in the 1/2 a week I have been doing this, I have gained a real appreciation for
1. Professional writers
2. Editorialists and Humorists who publish in newspapers regularly, and
3. Bloggers ( see http://www.icebergcarwash.blogspot.com/ , and SOUPEATER)
Kudos to us. And I have written or writing. A neat little trick, no?
Barack Hilton would be more appropriate...
I was watching Paris Hilton on TV and I am convinced the girl is a genius. She has made a career out of being famous, all the while projecting a vapid, airheaded image. However, at this point she HAS made a career and business out of it, a singing career, TV and movie celebrity, a much written about social butterfly, as well as a businesswoman with perfumes and I assume, fashions. Not bad for someone with no appreciable skills or professional training! It just goes to show you what slick marketing and internet exposure can get you.
Which brings us, on the day of the election, to our "anointed by the press" next president. A man with no record, no accomplishments, and no skills other than the ability to read a teleprompter well and lie about things. Oh, and throw everyone from his past under the bus.
It is truly amazing to me what you can accomplish in this country with almost nothing, as long as you have an adoring lap dog like the press to tout your greatness. And it doesn't hurt to have the outspoken members of that most morally bankrupt industry, " The Arts" constantly shilling for you, or the moronic masses actually listening to them.
Well, if Hussein manages to win the election, at least I won't lack for things to rant about, so there is a silver lining in here somewhere.
VOTE FOR McCAIN
this post has not been approved by John McCain or the Republican party, but is solely the opinion of some poor soul hiding in a bunker somewhere
Which brings us, on the day of the election, to our "anointed by the press" next president. A man with no record, no accomplishments, and no skills other than the ability to read a teleprompter well and lie about things. Oh, and throw everyone from his past under the bus.
It is truly amazing to me what you can accomplish in this country with almost nothing, as long as you have an adoring lap dog like the press to tout your greatness. And it doesn't hurt to have the outspoken members of that most morally bankrupt industry, " The Arts" constantly shilling for you, or the moronic masses actually listening to them.
Well, if Hussein manages to win the election, at least I won't lack for things to rant about, so there is a silver lining in here somewhere.
VOTE FOR McCAIN
this post has not been approved by John McCain or the Republican party, but is solely the opinion of some poor soul hiding in a bunker somewhere
Monday, November 3, 2008
Soothing the savage beasts (my critics)
SOUPEATER has more..
Friday was halloween and WQXR played a lot of what they called "creepy" music in the spirit of the holday. This is a usual practice for classical music stations which play pieces specifically written for halloween or those whose subject or title refer to the macabre or death or haunting or the devil himself. There is even a compostion called "The Devil's Trill" which has nothing to do with the devil other than it is devilishly hard to play.
One of the compositions played was The Erlking, or Erlkonig in german, the Goethe terror tale set to music by Franz Schubert. Its basic story is that of a father riding home with his child presumably through woods, when the child senses the presence of the malevolent Erlking, a mythical being that preys on children. The Erlking entices the child to play with him but when the child hesitates threatens him instead. The father, disbelieving, tries to comfort the child by discounting what the child sees and hears but ultimately, when he arrives home, the child is dead in his arms. It is a chilling tale on its own but Schubert's ethereal music adds yet another turn of the screw..
I must admit that it is one of my favorite pieces and my children can attest to my infatuation with the song. I can remember one of my sons, spoofing me in some unremembered way, shouting " mein vater mein vater!" and singing dada da dada da dumm dumm dumm, as part of his spoof.
The singer has to simulate 4 different voices; the father, the child, the erlking and the narrator. Thus the singer makes the music. The particular recording WQXR played on Friday was touted by the disc jockey as being such a wonderful performance, I didn't find it that great since the voice of the erlking was a bit namby pamby rather than the frightening voice it is supposed to be. Marian Anderson was terrific in her performances of the song and so was Fisher-Dieskau.
Classical music is the drug of the mind. Nothing quite gives me a high as the performance of a piece I have grown to love such as Schubert's trout quintet, Smetana's Quartet #1 and countless others too difficult for me to single out. I think music reached its high point in the period starting from the 18th century to the end of the 19th century. That is not to denigrate some of the musical forms which came before and after this period. Certainly some recent compositions in the modern era, although they sound quite strange to the unused ear will certainly achieve classical status: that which withstands the test of time. I can't imagine that the popular music of today will be around 10 years from now, much less 200 years from now.
The same will probably hold true with jewish music. There are some classics, such as Mooz Zur and Kol Nidre which has stood the test of time because they contain the spiritual purity and unity with the words. However aside from some of the Carlebach favorites and the Werdiger opuses, truly great compositions, the tunes that are wildly popular today will fade away and only be of interest to those nostalgic types who can't grow up or who have a real agenda to keep the past alive because they think it was far more wholesome than the present.
I remember melodies which were sung at every wedding which would sound archaic were they performed today at the same occasions.
So for those of you who just want a rollicking good tune, keep listening to the hopped up cacophony that is the state of chasuna music today, but if you want the music to elevate you to another plane, you'll have to turn to the great composers of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Friday was halloween and WQXR played a lot of what they called "creepy" music in the spirit of the holday. This is a usual practice for classical music stations which play pieces specifically written for halloween or those whose subject or title refer to the macabre or death or haunting or the devil himself. There is even a compostion called "The Devil's Trill" which has nothing to do with the devil other than it is devilishly hard to play.
One of the compositions played was The Erlking, or Erlkonig in german, the Goethe terror tale set to music by Franz Schubert. Its basic story is that of a father riding home with his child presumably through woods, when the child senses the presence of the malevolent Erlking, a mythical being that preys on children. The Erlking entices the child to play with him but when the child hesitates threatens him instead. The father, disbelieving, tries to comfort the child by discounting what the child sees and hears but ultimately, when he arrives home, the child is dead in his arms. It is a chilling tale on its own but Schubert's ethereal music adds yet another turn of the screw..
I must admit that it is one of my favorite pieces and my children can attest to my infatuation with the song. I can remember one of my sons, spoofing me in some unremembered way, shouting " mein vater mein vater!" and singing dada da dada da dumm dumm dumm, as part of his spoof.
The singer has to simulate 4 different voices; the father, the child, the erlking and the narrator. Thus the singer makes the music. The particular recording WQXR played on Friday was touted by the disc jockey as being such a wonderful performance, I didn't find it that great since the voice of the erlking was a bit namby pamby rather than the frightening voice it is supposed to be. Marian Anderson was terrific in her performances of the song and so was Fisher-Dieskau.
Classical music is the drug of the mind. Nothing quite gives me a high as the performance of a piece I have grown to love such as Schubert's trout quintet, Smetana's Quartet #1 and countless others too difficult for me to single out. I think music reached its high point in the period starting from the 18th century to the end of the 19th century. That is not to denigrate some of the musical forms which came before and after this period. Certainly some recent compositions in the modern era, although they sound quite strange to the unused ear will certainly achieve classical status: that which withstands the test of time. I can't imagine that the popular music of today will be around 10 years from now, much less 200 years from now.
The same will probably hold true with jewish music. There are some classics, such as Mooz Zur and Kol Nidre which has stood the test of time because they contain the spiritual purity and unity with the words. However aside from some of the Carlebach favorites and the Werdiger opuses, truly great compositions, the tunes that are wildly popular today will fade away and only be of interest to those nostalgic types who can't grow up or who have a real agenda to keep the past alive because they think it was far more wholesome than the present.
I remember melodies which were sung at every wedding which would sound archaic were they performed today at the same occasions.
So for those of you who just want a rollicking good tune, keep listening to the hopped up cacophony that is the state of chasuna music today, but if you want the music to elevate you to another plane, you'll have to turn to the great composers of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Capitalism, Democracy, my foot
Soupeater has to say...
There's a lot I want to get off my chest although there isn't one unitary theme to any of this, more like rambling, but here goes.
Have you noticed that it is easier to vote than to get on a plane these days. Despite all the hype about positive identification which is probably necessary in some neighborhoods and situations, most polling places are small electoral districts where the board of elections and poll watchers and other observers usually know either the voters themselves or can recognize those who belong. They don't require the kind of scrutiny that you get when you want to board a plane where not only do they ask for your license but they examine the license under magnification and special lighting to make sure you are Joe Terrorist and not Jim Terrorist. All this is only to prevent you from transferring your ticket to your brother or friend so that the airlines can make some money off you. Any well funded terrorist should employ, at the minimum, a forger capable of fooling the examiners at Homeland Security.
The requests by large companies such as General Motors and Ford for bailout money from the government is the most shameful instance of greed and hypocrisy that I have ever seen in my life. No one needs to be reminded that the management of these big companies, the great captains of industry, have preached their philosophy of laissez faire only now to crawl to the government with their tails between their legs and their hands out. As I have pointed out in previous posts on other blogs, if they want the government to give them money they need to give something in return. Seats on the board, equity in the company and things like that. They have given unions seats on their boards for no good reason that I can fathom since the unions don't have any capital invested in the enterprise, so why should they not give the government a bigger say in their management if the government is the only one who will invest in their poorly run companies. And, forgotten by everyone, is all the money that is distributed to share owners in the form of dividends which, when all public companies are taken together, amount to an incredibly vast sum. This represented an untapped source of capital and should be used before resorting to charity. There was a time when shareholders, holding assessable shares, were required to contribute money to their company when it was in trouble and the board required a bailout.
I don't believe in public welfare except for those truly incapable through mental or physical disablility to hold down a job. I certainly am opposed to welfare given to overextended enterprises. Let them fail. The auto companies are not going to go out of business even if they go bankrupt. There will always be a demand for autos and refrigerators and housing, even if the demand is temporarily diminished. People go through hard times and so do companies. The entire US capitalist system has yet to accept responsibility for their mismanagement the lack of which makes this corporate begging sickening.
If capitalism, which I stongly believe in, is to survive as the politico economic system of choice we have to face the music.
There's a lot I want to get off my chest although there isn't one unitary theme to any of this, more like rambling, but here goes.
Have you noticed that it is easier to vote than to get on a plane these days. Despite all the hype about positive identification which is probably necessary in some neighborhoods and situations, most polling places are small electoral districts where the board of elections and poll watchers and other observers usually know either the voters themselves or can recognize those who belong. They don't require the kind of scrutiny that you get when you want to board a plane where not only do they ask for your license but they examine the license under magnification and special lighting to make sure you are Joe Terrorist and not Jim Terrorist. All this is only to prevent you from transferring your ticket to your brother or friend so that the airlines can make some money off you. Any well funded terrorist should employ, at the minimum, a forger capable of fooling the examiners at Homeland Security.
The requests by large companies such as General Motors and Ford for bailout money from the government is the most shameful instance of greed and hypocrisy that I have ever seen in my life. No one needs to be reminded that the management of these big companies, the great captains of industry, have preached their philosophy of laissez faire only now to crawl to the government with their tails between their legs and their hands out. As I have pointed out in previous posts on other blogs, if they want the government to give them money they need to give something in return. Seats on the board, equity in the company and things like that. They have given unions seats on their boards for no good reason that I can fathom since the unions don't have any capital invested in the enterprise, so why should they not give the government a bigger say in their management if the government is the only one who will invest in their poorly run companies. And, forgotten by everyone, is all the money that is distributed to share owners in the form of dividends which, when all public companies are taken together, amount to an incredibly vast sum. This represented an untapped source of capital and should be used before resorting to charity. There was a time when shareholders, holding assessable shares, were required to contribute money to their company when it was in trouble and the board required a bailout.
I don't believe in public welfare except for those truly incapable through mental or physical disablility to hold down a job. I certainly am opposed to welfare given to overextended enterprises. Let them fail. The auto companies are not going to go out of business even if they go bankrupt. There will always be a demand for autos and refrigerators and housing, even if the demand is temporarily diminished. People go through hard times and so do companies. The entire US capitalist system has yet to accept responsibility for their mismanagement the lack of which makes this corporate begging sickening.
If capitalism, which I stongly believe in, is to survive as the politico economic system of choice we have to face the music.
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