This post has nothing to do with the recent tabloid news about Tiger Woods and any alleged affair.
If you were brought here by a search engine I apologize for this experiment. You see, often times I too do a search that brings me to a totally irrelevant page. It is as if the owners of the site feel that what ever it is they are selling I'll buy it if they could just get me to stumble onto their page.
So, again, there is no news here regarding Tiger Woods or any of the women, babes, skanks or mistresses he may or may not have connected with.
Dec 3, 2009
Interesting Quote
I just saw this in a book review on Amazon:
"It's a sign of maturity when you begin to fall out of love with your own drama."
"It's a sign of maturity when you begin to fall out of love with your own drama."
Aug 9, 2009
Cash for clunkers
Just poking around the government web site to see if my car qualifies as a clunker. In most peoples mind's my car is definitely old enough and rough enough to be called a clunker. Unfortunately, the gas mileage of this car is high enough such that it does not qualify.
On the other hand, for the same model year various Rolls Royce*, Porsche, Mercedes and even Lamborghini* models do qualify as clunkers.
*If you are about to turn in your Rolls or Lamborghini please email me. I can give you a little more than the $4500 the dealer would.
On the other hand, for the same model year various Rolls Royce*, Porsche, Mercedes and even Lamborghini* models do qualify as clunkers.
*If you are about to turn in your Rolls or Lamborghini please email me. I can give you a little more than the $4500 the dealer would.
Mar 2, 2009
A Nickle's Worth of Karma
When I was a little boy, a very long time ago, I had a very brief experience that still surprises me when I think of the imprint it has left on me.
I was standing at the counter in a neighborhood grocery/deli and I was just about to pay for a candy bar. Back then most candy bars were 5 cents, and only a few were 10 cents. Anyway, as I was about to pay for the candy an older gentleman who was behind me in line reached over and gave the clerk a nickle and said he was paying for the candy.
He then turned to me and said: "Do you know how you can repay me? When you grow up you have to do something for somebody else." I have no idea who this person was -- I had never seen him before nor have I seen him since. But, I wish I could tell him that since that day when I do a favor for someone, or give something away, I often think of that encounter. His brilliance, intended or not, is that I have never considered the debt repaid. I have never felt that I have lived up to the promise I made with my timid "okay" in response to the gentleman's request.
I was standing at the counter in a neighborhood grocery/deli and I was just about to pay for a candy bar. Back then most candy bars were 5 cents, and only a few were 10 cents. Anyway, as I was about to pay for the candy an older gentleman who was behind me in line reached over and gave the clerk a nickle and said he was paying for the candy.
He then turned to me and said: "Do you know how you can repay me? When you grow up you have to do something for somebody else." I have no idea who this person was -- I had never seen him before nor have I seen him since. But, I wish I could tell him that since that day when I do a favor for someone, or give something away, I often think of that encounter. His brilliance, intended or not, is that I have never considered the debt repaid. I have never felt that I have lived up to the promise I made with my timid "okay" in response to the gentleman's request.
Feb 26, 2009
Feb 8, 2009
He needs more "proof"
While I believe that one shouldn't expend too much energy in responding to nutty and controversial claims, in general, this one has me intrigued.
Catholic Bishop Richard Williamson doesn't believe the Nazi Holocaust took place,and has said, "I believe that the historical evidence is strongly against...". The bishop goes on to say "If I find this proof, then I will correct myself".
One wonders what proof he will need to see, and where he has been looking for it.
There are eyewitnesses alive today -- who have been either guards or inmates at concentration camps -- who attest to the facts. Some of the camps still exist, preserved as memorials. Also, both American and Russian armies were firsthand witness to the atrocities when they arrived to liberate the survivors. Photos and film footage exist from before, during, and after the liberation. Nazi records also exist -- which document actions and logistics that took place. At numerous trials since then, enablers at all levels have used the "just following orders" defense.
Bishop Richard Williamson still needs more proof. The irony, of course, is that Bishop Williamson apparently does not require proof of the existence of god, that Jesus walked on water or that the virgin Mary has appeared to the faithful as an image on a tortilla. Actually, rather than being an irony, it is the "tell" that belies the Bishop's agenda. Here is a person who's "being" is based on wholesale acceptance of articles of faith, and yet he is denying overwhelmingly well documented fact as "insufficient proof".
Catholic Bishop Richard Williamson doesn't believe the Nazi Holocaust took place,and has said, "I believe that the historical evidence is strongly against...". The bishop goes on to say "If I find this proof, then I will correct myself".
One wonders what proof he will need to see, and where he has been looking for it.
There are eyewitnesses alive today -- who have been either guards or inmates at concentration camps -- who attest to the facts. Some of the camps still exist, preserved as memorials. Also, both American and Russian armies were firsthand witness to the atrocities when they arrived to liberate the survivors. Photos and film footage exist from before, during, and after the liberation. Nazi records also exist -- which document actions and logistics that took place. At numerous trials since then, enablers at all levels have used the "just following orders" defense.
Bishop Richard Williamson still needs more proof. The irony, of course, is that Bishop Williamson apparently does not require proof of the existence of god, that Jesus walked on water or that the virgin Mary has appeared to the faithful as an image on a tortilla. Actually, rather than being an irony, it is the "tell" that belies the Bishop's agenda. Here is a person who's "being" is based on wholesale acceptance of articles of faith, and yet he is denying overwhelmingly well documented fact as "insufficient proof".
Jan 8, 2009
Stimulus plan - perspective
Although I think a stimulus plan (and a big one) is the right thing to do I am stuck by the numbers being thrown around. Yesterday I heard that the total package could amount to as much as $1.3 Trillion.
A quick search of the net (only looking at a few results) indicates that in recent years there are about 130 million individual tax returns filed annually. That divides into the other figure nicely -- $10,000 per tax return (tax payer/family). Implementation of such a plan is a complex process involving art, science and politics but I can't help thinking about this in terms of sending every tax return filer a $10,000 rebate check!
A quick search of the net (only looking at a few results) indicates that in recent years there are about 130 million individual tax returns filed annually. That divides into the other figure nicely -- $10,000 per tax return (tax payer/family). Implementation of such a plan is a complex process involving art, science and politics but I can't help thinking about this in terms of sending every tax return filer a $10,000 rebate check!
Jan 6, 2009
Adventures in Loan Sharking
More junk mail from the banks this week. With rates at all time lows, a letter from Bank of America says we're pre-qualified for some huge loan amount. The reality is probably that this is boiler-plate text and if one were to apply they would get a much lower limit.
Anyway, the fun part is that the initial interest rate is 7% (sneaky, they call it 6.99%) but the fine print says that if you miss a payment they can adjust the rate up to 28% (sneaky, they call it 27.99%).
Obviously, if you can't make your payments QUADRUPLING the interest rate will only make it harder, if not impossible. Seems more like the financial equivalent of a mob enforcer breaking your legs if you can't pay up.
Anyway, the fun part is that the initial interest rate is 7% (sneaky, they call it 6.99%) but the fine print says that if you miss a payment they can adjust the rate up to 28% (sneaky, they call it 27.99%).
Obviously, if you can't make your payments QUADRUPLING the interest rate will only make it harder, if not impossible. Seems more like the financial equivalent of a mob enforcer breaking your legs if you can't pay up.
Dec 4, 2008
Comments On
I just turned on this blog's comment feature and will see how that goes for a while. It is set such that I get to moderate them for now but that could change.
Another bail-out idea
Unfortunately, I have thought about this one even less than the other. But, what if instead of giving the big three cash to tide them over we treat it as a pre-payment on the design and delivery of massive amounts of mass transit projects?
Theoretically at least, this seems to address the automakers short term economic problem, the putting-people-to-work problem, the general economic stimulus problem and the fuel/global warming problem at the same time. I think that a key part of a fuel/global warming solution would not be hybrid or other cars getting 50 mile per gallon. That only delays the inevitable. Rather, a solution would include mass transit in urban areas that would allow you to go anywhere with the same comfort as, and more convenience than, a car.
Certainly it does not address the fact that the "big 3" need immediate operating capital and the fact that this money will be spent long before any such design could begin.
Theoretically at least, this seems to address the automakers short term economic problem, the putting-people-to-work problem, the general economic stimulus problem and the fuel/global warming problem at the same time. I think that a key part of a fuel/global warming solution would not be hybrid or other cars getting 50 mile per gallon. That only delays the inevitable. Rather, a solution would include mass transit in urban areas that would allow you to go anywhere with the same comfort as, and more convenience than, a car.
Certainly it does not address the fact that the "big 3" need immediate operating capital and the fact that this money will be spent long before any such design could begin.
Nov 22, 2008
Bailout idea
I haven't seen supporting data on this one way or another but I don't see much of downside to this idea.
What if the US instituted a policy that waived the 10% penalty of IRA withdrawal? Currently those funds in IRAs are fulfilling some role in the economy but to the owners of those funds they are not directly stimulating the economy. It seems to me that if people could draw on those funds now it would:
Update: Yes - I know that the fund holders who might do this will not be able to participate in the recovery, when it happens. This is an idea for a quick shot in the arm for the economy while helping people access their own money, in time of need, without an additional 10% penalty.
What if the US instituted a policy that waived the 10% penalty of IRA withdrawal? Currently those funds in IRAs are fulfilling some role in the economy but to the owners of those funds they are not directly stimulating the economy. It seems to me that if people could draw on those funds now it would:
- help many with urgent needs
- stimulate production
- put money into circulation
- boost tax revenue as those withdrawals would be treated as income
Update: Yes - I know that the fund holders who might do this will not be able to participate in the recovery, when it happens. This is an idea for a quick shot in the arm for the economy while helping people access their own money, in time of need, without an additional 10% penalty.
Nov 20, 2008
Peak Everything
Earlier this week we went to a lecture* by Richard Heinberg, the author of Peak Everything.
From what he says you might say that we (civilization) will either have to drastically change soon or we're in big trouble. We are running out of a lot more than oil and water and historically we have just used new sources of energy to increase the pace at which we extract other resources from the earth -- and use even more resources doing it.
So the sudden invention of abundant, cheap and clean energy (say, fusion) would likely increase the pace of other environmental catastrophes. Furthermore, the economics are such that in good times it is not cost effective to develop alternatives and in times like these alternatives may not be able to be developed timely enough for them to help. Another interesting point is that even if there were a sudden shift to an all out effort to develop solar energy, we would run out of essential raw materials (such as gallium) long before photovoltaic sources of energy met our needs.
His point is that the only solution is to replace the growth model of economics with a sustainable steady state model (if maybe even after some scaling back from where we are). That's not something that any population is likely to accept willingly**.
I haven't yet found anything which strongly disagrees with what he says either. Sounds like civilization's response this problem is like the classic case of boiling a frog. Throw him in hot water and he jumps out. But, put him in warm water and slowly increase the heat and he just relaxes...
*Update: The lecture was conducted interview-style and taped presumably for an upcoming episode of Chicago Public Radio's Eight Forty-Eight.
** Update: Professor, author and retired army colonel Andrew J. Bacevich (in spite of being a conservative) said something similar recently during an interview with Charley Rose. The caveat was that -- although true, any president to say this to the public would be voted out of office. He says this was the case with Carter.
From what he says you might say that we (civilization) will either have to drastically change soon or we're in big trouble. We are running out of a lot more than oil and water and historically we have just used new sources of energy to increase the pace at which we extract other resources from the earth -- and use even more resources doing it.
So the sudden invention of abundant, cheap and clean energy (say, fusion) would likely increase the pace of other environmental catastrophes. Furthermore, the economics are such that in good times it is not cost effective to develop alternatives and in times like these alternatives may not be able to be developed timely enough for them to help. Another interesting point is that even if there were a sudden shift to an all out effort to develop solar energy, we would run out of essential raw materials (such as gallium) long before photovoltaic sources of energy met our needs.
His point is that the only solution is to replace the growth model of economics with a sustainable steady state model (if maybe even after some scaling back from where we are). That's not something that any population is likely to accept willingly**.
I haven't yet found anything which strongly disagrees with what he says either. Sounds like civilization's response this problem is like the classic case of boiling a frog. Throw him in hot water and he jumps out. But, put him in warm water and slowly increase the heat and he just relaxes...
*Update: The lecture was conducted interview-style and taped presumably for an upcoming episode of Chicago Public Radio's Eight Forty-Eight.
** Update: Professor, author and retired army colonel Andrew J. Bacevich (in spite of being a conservative) said something similar recently during an interview with Charley Rose. The caveat was that -- although true, any president to say this to the public would be voted out of office. He says this was the case with Carter.
Oct 5, 2008
Chicago Handyman
I'm so pleased with the last few repair/remodeling jobs done by this crew, I've added a link to their site in my link area (linkage, on the right).
Anyway, if any of you have had repair and remodeling jobs done you know the typical problems. But now after at least a half a dozen jobs using www.MasterHandyMen.com I'm am pleased that:
Anyway, if any of you have had repair and remodeling jobs done you know the typical problems. But now after at least a half a dozen jobs using www.MasterHandyMen.com I'm am pleased that:
- They always show up at the agreed upon time for an estimate.
- They always give me a reasonable estimate.
- They always do the job right.
- They can handle large jobs.
- They are willing to take on small jobs.
Sep 25, 2008
Wise Words
Your beliefs become your thoughts.
Your thoughts become your words.
Your words become your actions.
Your actions become your habits.
Your habits become your values.
Your values become your destiny.
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Your thoughts become your words.
Your words become your actions.
Your actions become your habits.
Your habits become your values.
Your values become your destiny.
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Sep 20, 2008
Image uploading test
This image is uploaded to blogger versus the previous test which just linked to an image hosted elsewhere.
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