It is a rather simple sign shaped just like a stop sign and attached to the end of a long pole. One side has in red letters stop and the other side has in green letters go. A workman just moves the sign to inform traffic how to proceed in a construction site. I see this in my travels all over the country but with one exception - Massachusetts.
Here we have one of the most pronounced handouts to a union that I can imagine. It is called the paid detail and it can be the source of substantial pay to police. I have often wondered why I see multiple state police cruisers at work sites with officers not visible that often outside the cruiser. The lights provide that moth type attracted to drivers who are careless or have ingested too much alcohol or drugs and seems to have been responsible for a rash of tragic incidents in the last year or so.
On the local level the paid details will usually be found hovering around a G & E “work” crew to direct traffic and generally insure that the hole is properly excavated. Now the usual justification is it is a safety issue and we simple citizens should be content to have such well trained law enforcement officers in the general vicinity to make sure no evil doers or miscreant drivers create any “issues.” The retired officers especially look in prime physical condition to handle any problems that may occur.
Recently BB and I were returning from a running foray and were cruising along route 28 when a work site appeared. I could see the cones out and, of course, the mountainous G & E truck that was the usual hive of activity with a G & E crew. I slowed. Neither BB nor myself had the slightest idea if we were being waved forward. The arm signal could not be seen with the glare so I crept forward until I realized that there was actually a half hearted effort to signal us to scurry along. After running the gauntlet of cones we came across the second member of the detail who I noticed was deep in conversation with someone in a cruiser. I am sure the topic for discussion was advanced law enforcement techniques.
Attempts have been made to at least diminish the fiscal impact of this golden goose with the latest being by the Patrick Administration. From what I have read the savings are about nil so I guess it’s the thought that counts.
I know a few years back the administrators in Halifax attempted to eliminate paid details. Not sure if the chief was involved or this was some type of austerity program implemented to contain cots. I’m not sure if this was during the Benjamino regime and they may have been forced to find pennies elsewhere to fork out cash to their spiffy ambulance service.
Paid details will probably be with us forever. When I discuss it with officers in other states it usually results in inquiring about job possibilities, housing costs and the weather. But what I would like to see is a simple concession to logic - get those freaking stop/go signs so I have a clue of what you are doing.
Alone the legal front comes another jury that was sent down from the mother ship to make judgment. This one found one Albert Arroyo innocent of fraud which, specifically, was collecting a disability from the Boston Fire Department for an “on the job injury.” Now this “bad back” made it impossible for him to work even at a desk job or fire prevention but it did not stop him from competitive body building or palying hard ball baseball.
Albert also claimed during the trial that the union encouraged him to file for a disability. I just can’t imagine a public service union doing that!
I actually followed this trial and assumed it was a slam dunk but now you just never know. I have no idea what this brain dead jury was doing and the decision is just incomprehensible to me. So Albert will continue to collect 65 large each year for the rest of his life.
I have now lost count of the number of union inspired materials I have received from the Brunelle campaign. As a retired teacher my wife and I have been inundated with the usual MTA fliers. Brunelle is the education candidate? No....he is the one that will be able to do the bidding for the MTA just like his sponsor Pacheco has done.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Ecomomy and Other
How dare those unknown faces at S & P downgrade our credit rating and put a damper on economic growth. The reality is they are just responding what we have done to ourselves. If you had an income of say 100K and a debt of 500K does that make you a 3A risk? No way! It is not the TP who was willing to set the government crashing against the fiscal rocks but a string of incompetent and compliant members of congress and the executive branch. Blame the messenger does not work.
When Obama appeared before the teleprompters the other day to help calm our growing fears something struck me. I put in the back of my mind as just a quirk on my part until Margery Egan and a few internet commentators pointed out the same. Obama appeared scared. I watched him on the internet and that was my reaction. A president who knew everything his administration has attempted has failed. A president who knew he was in way over his head. A president who left immediately afterwards for a political fund raiser.
Will the latest mess result in a new Congress? I firmly believe it will result in a new president as leadership goes well beyond the ability to present yourself well and talk a good game. I wonder if the Tea Party will be part of those swept out or if somehow Republican and Democrats running will attempt to adopt some of the TP fiscal agenda?
Why this administration is a wreck. David Alexrold a flack for Obama blames the whole fiscal mess on the TP. A recent comment I read said: “They spend money we do not have, and then they blame all the people who want to cut spending.”
As gas prices crash the one thing that pops up is our legislature and illustrious governor considering a raise in the gas tax.
The futures traders in oil have really gotten killed in the last two weeks. Many are sitting on $110 a barrel contracts and have been forced to liquidate other assets to cover and that includes investment houses and hedge funds. So that just adds to the frenzy.
There is actually profit to be made in a cash is king environment. Many stocks have shown substantial declines and for the five star companies out there undervalued is some real bargains. I like Boeing (BA), Alcoa (AA), General Electric (GE) and Morgan Stanley (MS).
Trickle down is the old RR song and dance that Democrats loved to tap dance all over especially the more liberal element within the party. Of course they were willing to use the same logic behind the Stimulus measures but just attempt to frame it differently but you have seen and will continue to see a rather negative trickle down. Anyone that is a member of FinCom, SC or the BOS sees it constantly. The state reduces a program and then the town gets stuck. Or the stte gets stuck when the feds do the same and it then trickles down from them to where the buck stops - us. Usually these programs have an “M” to designate mandated,
The international debt crisis has its foundation firmly rooted in socialism. The cradle to grave has a bill to pay and when too much is given and too little comes in borrowing takes place. And when a government realizes the insanity has to be moderated you have riots as in Greece. Now when this eventually happens in this country do I chain myself to the nursing home or burn my Social Security card in protest?
The AARP set to which I belong meaning over age 50 has tremendous political clout. There are a lot of us and we vote. Many younger folks do not - probably working too hard to pay my SS? Anyways, it will be interesting to see how energized the over 50 set is to rewarding themselves at the expense of everyone else. IMO the over 50 set is by far the most politically savvy group in this country and will be key for making the decisions that will impact for the next fifty years. If all holds true they will step up and take a hit “for the children.”
I just wonder if congress is capable on making revisions needed to the tax code. What can be done to make it more attractive for corporations to invest in the U.S.? What loopholes will have to be addressed? Eventually a tax hike is almost a given. I hate the idea but we will be in a hole with no way out. Everyone should get nicked and maybe a few nicked a wee bit more than others. No way anyone either GE or a citizen should pay zero taxes.
This generally runs counter to my own personal philosophy that the government has enough revenue but does not allocate it wisely. They screwed up. We have hired and fired them and they still screw up so giving into their spending addiction is questionable.
Talking heads are always discussing all the intricate programs that home in on a variety of statistical data that results in automated computer trading. Machines betting against each other? The response is so quick that huge blocks of stock can be bought, sold, bought and sold in a matter of minutes. This seems to be a significant issue on volatile trading days and I wonder about one point the “experts” don’t mention. On my laptop I have a button to turn the thing off. Years ago when I worked with massive mainframes - some of the biggest in the world - we had a lever that was labeled: Power on/off.
The Fed will keep a lock on their interest rates for two years so that is some level of stability.
I had several economics courses in college and if you really want to mess with you mind for a day or two read up on Keynesian economics and the negative and positive positions on it. Toss in all the other various schools of economic though and theory and then realize that these are the folks running the economic show. That’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy.
Why do we fight two wars? We now have a mess in Afghanistan with a measured with drawl taking place. At the end of WW II the U.S. packed up and left. Equipment was left behind and some of it was some great stuff used for decades my scavengers from other nations. What is stopping our government from simply commandeering civilian aircraft and doing a reverse Berlin Airlift? Is it our “Word?” A bad war becomes a horrible war when it continues without resolution in view or any firm and attainable objectives. Just leave Afghanistan. Maybe put it on travel sites for those wishing to view life in the 17th century.
The defenders of the failed administration seem to just be in a constant snit over the reporting on FOX. I guess what passes for reporting on CNBC and MSNBC is acceptable?
The MBTA is nine billion in the hole. That’s their debt. Now there are reports they have been unable to pay claims against the “T.” Some have waited well over a year. The MBTA is a wonderful hack dumping ground that is certainly on a par with MassPort and the Lottery. BB wants to carry on about excessive pensions and benefits those three hack paradises would keep him blogging into the 22nd century.
When Obama appeared before the teleprompters the other day to help calm our growing fears something struck me. I put in the back of my mind as just a quirk on my part until Margery Egan and a few internet commentators pointed out the same. Obama appeared scared. I watched him on the internet and that was my reaction. A president who knew everything his administration has attempted has failed. A president who knew he was in way over his head. A president who left immediately afterwards for a political fund raiser.
Will the latest mess result in a new Congress? I firmly believe it will result in a new president as leadership goes well beyond the ability to present yourself well and talk a good game. I wonder if the Tea Party will be part of those swept out or if somehow Republican and Democrats running will attempt to adopt some of the TP fiscal agenda?
Why this administration is a wreck. David Alexrold a flack for Obama blames the whole fiscal mess on the TP. A recent comment I read said: “They spend money we do not have, and then they blame all the people who want to cut spending.”
As gas prices crash the one thing that pops up is our legislature and illustrious governor considering a raise in the gas tax.
The futures traders in oil have really gotten killed in the last two weeks. Many are sitting on $110 a barrel contracts and have been forced to liquidate other assets to cover and that includes investment houses and hedge funds. So that just adds to the frenzy.
There is actually profit to be made in a cash is king environment. Many stocks have shown substantial declines and for the five star companies out there undervalued is some real bargains. I like Boeing (BA), Alcoa (AA), General Electric (GE) and Morgan Stanley (MS).
Trickle down is the old RR song and dance that Democrats loved to tap dance all over especially the more liberal element within the party. Of course they were willing to use the same logic behind the Stimulus measures but just attempt to frame it differently but you have seen and will continue to see a rather negative trickle down. Anyone that is a member of FinCom, SC or the BOS sees it constantly. The state reduces a program and then the town gets stuck. Or the stte gets stuck when the feds do the same and it then trickles down from them to where the buck stops - us. Usually these programs have an “M” to designate mandated,
The international debt crisis has its foundation firmly rooted in socialism. The cradle to grave has a bill to pay and when too much is given and too little comes in borrowing takes place. And when a government realizes the insanity has to be moderated you have riots as in Greece. Now when this eventually happens in this country do I chain myself to the nursing home or burn my Social Security card in protest?
The AARP set to which I belong meaning over age 50 has tremendous political clout. There are a lot of us and we vote. Many younger folks do not - probably working too hard to pay my SS? Anyways, it will be interesting to see how energized the over 50 set is to rewarding themselves at the expense of everyone else. IMO the over 50 set is by far the most politically savvy group in this country and will be key for making the decisions that will impact for the next fifty years. If all holds true they will step up and take a hit “for the children.”
I just wonder if congress is capable on making revisions needed to the tax code. What can be done to make it more attractive for corporations to invest in the U.S.? What loopholes will have to be addressed? Eventually a tax hike is almost a given. I hate the idea but we will be in a hole with no way out. Everyone should get nicked and maybe a few nicked a wee bit more than others. No way anyone either GE or a citizen should pay zero taxes.
This generally runs counter to my own personal philosophy that the government has enough revenue but does not allocate it wisely. They screwed up. We have hired and fired them and they still screw up so giving into their spending addiction is questionable.
Talking heads are always discussing all the intricate programs that home in on a variety of statistical data that results in automated computer trading. Machines betting against each other? The response is so quick that huge blocks of stock can be bought, sold, bought and sold in a matter of minutes. This seems to be a significant issue on volatile trading days and I wonder about one point the “experts” don’t mention. On my laptop I have a button to turn the thing off. Years ago when I worked with massive mainframes - some of the biggest in the world - we had a lever that was labeled: Power on/off.
The Fed will keep a lock on their interest rates for two years so that is some level of stability.
I had several economics courses in college and if you really want to mess with you mind for a day or two read up on Keynesian economics and the negative and positive positions on it. Toss in all the other various schools of economic though and theory and then realize that these are the folks running the economic show. That’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy.
Why do we fight two wars? We now have a mess in Afghanistan with a measured with drawl taking place. At the end of WW II the U.S. packed up and left. Equipment was left behind and some of it was some great stuff used for decades my scavengers from other nations. What is stopping our government from simply commandeering civilian aircraft and doing a reverse Berlin Airlift? Is it our “Word?” A bad war becomes a horrible war when it continues without resolution in view or any firm and attainable objectives. Just leave Afghanistan. Maybe put it on travel sites for those wishing to view life in the 17th century.
The defenders of the failed administration seem to just be in a constant snit over the reporting on FOX. I guess what passes for reporting on CNBC and MSNBC is acceptable?
The MBTA is nine billion in the hole. That’s their debt. Now there are reports they have been unable to pay claims against the “T.” Some have waited well over a year. The MBTA is a wonderful hack dumping ground that is certainly on a par with MassPort and the Lottery. BB wants to carry on about excessive pensions and benefits those three hack paradises would keep him blogging into the 22nd century.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Beer/EBT/Safer/Personal Racism
Craft Brewers are the latest to get screwed over in the convoluted regulations that seem to impede business and job growth at every step in Massachusetts. Regulations would almost mandate the purchasing of a Manufactures License since they could not necessarily meet the requirements for a Farmers License regarding using locally grown hops. Some of these small brewers are living on the edge as all expect to be the next Sam Adams but fall short. Some fail and some plug along with a nice work force, a quality product and a reasonable profit. All that seems to go out the door when the regulatory police step in. Does anyone actually sit down with these people? Do they actually look at the consequences of their actions? These are not polluters dumping who knows what in the middle of the night but small businessmen and women being strangled by an unresponsive and no thinking government.
I saw an article the other day in the Enterprise where new legislation is aimed towards attempting to curb some of the more elegant ways those using the automated welfare cards - EBT - spend their or is it our money. Seems that alcohol and cigs can be purchased but what is interesting is the rampant abuse. The Boston Herald ran their usual dump on the poor or disadvantaged or downtrodden or however you wish to describe the recipients series of articles or exposes several months ago. The anecdotal evidence is overwhelming on abuse and fraud in the entire system. Lax controls and easily to manipulate scams abound.
In Brockton I have a rental property and near the property is a convenience store owned and operated by “Jeff.” “Put a camera in my store for 24 hours and put it on TV” is his usual rant. If it was up to “Jeff” he probably would not allow half the purchases that go through his store but the last thing he needs in his life is some heat coming down on him from some governments agency charging discrimination. His biggest complaint is the prices that folks pay at his store when a Shaw’s is less than a mile away. “Why would someone do $40 worth of shopping from me when they can get the same from Shaw’s for $25? I’ve seen people come in and do that and drive away. I’ve seen them buy stuff and then go out the door and sell it for peanuts to get cash.”
And speaking of Brockton I just think of the total mess that they have regarding past due water bills. The spin from the city officials - especially the water department - is to try and place as much onus as possible on the homeowners. Well enough information has surfaced to show that the most significant problem in the entire mess is not the homeowners but the sloppy operation and billing practices of the water department.
S & P downgraded the U.S. rating but it was not based on the ability to pay but the ability to reach a consensus. Congress reminds me of two pubescent girls fighting over a Justin Beiber autograph. Now several years ago Japan had a downgrade and the financial experts stated that the result would be an increase in bond interest rates but just the opposite happened. The only ones in Washington that seem to have a clue are the Tea Party members. Oh how I hate to say that but I give them there props.
Bad economic sign #3,786 is that consumer borrowing is at its highest level in four years.
“Throw the bums out” seems to be the prevailing logic in dealing with the morass of inefficiency that is Washington. If I recall that has been tried the last two election cycles. Maybe third time is a charm?
A golden opportunity is at hand to revise our tax codes. Maybe actually not punish folks for making wise financial decisions?
The economic mess of 2008 took most 401(k)’s the last three years to recover. Now comes the latest blip and what may happen is a massive sell off that will really cause a tumble as folks get gun shy.
The Red Sox banged out another series against NY on the plus side. In 12 games it is now 10 wins but all that is meaningless as the two baseball titans are on a playoff collision course.
The Patriots seem to be collecting a few players of questionable character.
The Safer Grant appears in trouble as our vagabond fire chief has managed to get the whole process questioned. Now his Sharon gig supposedly fell apart over a residency restriction so why didn’t he just have a time frame for a move, then get it extended and then get another job?
With the double dip recession or is it just one very long recession the mood of taxpayers is going to be rather interesting. Look for public service employees to have a nice target on their backs. The pensions and benefits exceed that of the DPS (Dreaded Private Sector) so when cuts are mentioned by Joe and Jane taxpayer you know who and what will be targeted.
I have written to many politicians about adjustments to traditional 401(k)’s in regards to substantial losses some have incurred. These are tax deferred but it would be rather easy to target losses and make an adjustment based on either new tax policy or adjusting old policy. The idea is the money would grow and for many it has not. Some are forced into minimal withdrawal on greatly reduced portfolio’s. Barney Frank’s office has repeatedly refused to even respond to the issue and Scott Brown is just the opposite.
On a recent trip I had the opportunity to board the bus that Rosa Parks did her thing on and even sat in the very seat. It caused a flood of memories of when I was exposed to that “Quaint Custom” as a teenager. More on that below.
On a talk show the commentator was talking about a conversation he had while getting his coffee “With a lovely Chinese lady.” I have no idea why that was even pertinent to the topic. I doubt he would say “I had a conversation with a lovely White woman.”
Years ago two of my very liberal friends were commenting on the Obama speech given at the Democratic convention. I have heard them comment many times on other speakers but they both said “He was so articulate.” I chuckled to myself thinking what do they really mean? We found a Black guy who can speak a sentence with Ebonics?
I taught with someone many years ago who was Black and a forceful speaker. He told me when he got a comment like that his usual retort was “And I am house broken, too.”
When I speak to a person who is different in color or ethnic background what registers first is - and I will focus on color - Black. What I have to do is set makers in my mind to take all stereotypes and keep them locked away and make judgments based on what takes place. I have discussed this trait with folks other than White and have discovered it appears universal. Maybe a form of universal racism? Maybe just human nature?
I remember many years ago being in Charleston for several months. I was about fourteen years of age and my parents were spending some time in the area while my father set up a business. In those days you would take the bus everywhere and I remember boarding the bus to take me to the area of the movie theaters. I always loved to sit in the back where you had these round seats. Very roomy so I went and plopped myself down.
After a few minutes the bus halted and the driver scurried to the back. “What are you doing there, boy?” I responded with a simple “Sitting, sir.” “You not from around here are you, boy?” “No…I’m from Massachusetts.” So he says “Those seats is for the Nigras!” “What’s a Nigra?” “Those is colored folks, boy, now you move you ass down front or I’ll toss you off the bus!”
I remember the separation as you had the various signs that said “Colored” and “White” on restrooms and fountains. I remember having dinner at the house of a prominent Black who was a scrap dealer that my father would sell his scrape to. This man was wealthy and lived in a large home that was in a Black neighborhood. The irony is we could go to his home without incident but he could not go to ours. My father didn’t give a damn about color except green.
I experienced many other such demonstrations while down south and in the years that followed discussed with many folks of color about it. I was always shocked to hear so many with southern roots say in many ways it was better than the north. Up here it was all under the surface and hidden with smiles and platitudes. Down there you knew it.
I saw an article the other day in the Enterprise where new legislation is aimed towards attempting to curb some of the more elegant ways those using the automated welfare cards - EBT - spend their or is it our money. Seems that alcohol and cigs can be purchased but what is interesting is the rampant abuse. The Boston Herald ran their usual dump on the poor or disadvantaged or downtrodden or however you wish to describe the recipients series of articles or exposes several months ago. The anecdotal evidence is overwhelming on abuse and fraud in the entire system. Lax controls and easily to manipulate scams abound.
In Brockton I have a rental property and near the property is a convenience store owned and operated by “Jeff.” “Put a camera in my store for 24 hours and put it on TV” is his usual rant. If it was up to “Jeff” he probably would not allow half the purchases that go through his store but the last thing he needs in his life is some heat coming down on him from some governments agency charging discrimination. His biggest complaint is the prices that folks pay at his store when a Shaw’s is less than a mile away. “Why would someone do $40 worth of shopping from me when they can get the same from Shaw’s for $25? I’ve seen people come in and do that and drive away. I’ve seen them buy stuff and then go out the door and sell it for peanuts to get cash.”
And speaking of Brockton I just think of the total mess that they have regarding past due water bills. The spin from the city officials - especially the water department - is to try and place as much onus as possible on the homeowners. Well enough information has surfaced to show that the most significant problem in the entire mess is not the homeowners but the sloppy operation and billing practices of the water department.
S & P downgraded the U.S. rating but it was not based on the ability to pay but the ability to reach a consensus. Congress reminds me of two pubescent girls fighting over a Justin Beiber autograph. Now several years ago Japan had a downgrade and the financial experts stated that the result would be an increase in bond interest rates but just the opposite happened. The only ones in Washington that seem to have a clue are the Tea Party members. Oh how I hate to say that but I give them there props.
Bad economic sign #3,786 is that consumer borrowing is at its highest level in four years.
“Throw the bums out” seems to be the prevailing logic in dealing with the morass of inefficiency that is Washington. If I recall that has been tried the last two election cycles. Maybe third time is a charm?
A golden opportunity is at hand to revise our tax codes. Maybe actually not punish folks for making wise financial decisions?
The economic mess of 2008 took most 401(k)’s the last three years to recover. Now comes the latest blip and what may happen is a massive sell off that will really cause a tumble as folks get gun shy.
The Red Sox banged out another series against NY on the plus side. In 12 games it is now 10 wins but all that is meaningless as the two baseball titans are on a playoff collision course.
The Patriots seem to be collecting a few players of questionable character.
The Safer Grant appears in trouble as our vagabond fire chief has managed to get the whole process questioned. Now his Sharon gig supposedly fell apart over a residency restriction so why didn’t he just have a time frame for a move, then get it extended and then get another job?
With the double dip recession or is it just one very long recession the mood of taxpayers is going to be rather interesting. Look for public service employees to have a nice target on their backs. The pensions and benefits exceed that of the DPS (Dreaded Private Sector) so when cuts are mentioned by Joe and Jane taxpayer you know who and what will be targeted.
I have written to many politicians about adjustments to traditional 401(k)’s in regards to substantial losses some have incurred. These are tax deferred but it would be rather easy to target losses and make an adjustment based on either new tax policy or adjusting old policy. The idea is the money would grow and for many it has not. Some are forced into minimal withdrawal on greatly reduced portfolio’s. Barney Frank’s office has repeatedly refused to even respond to the issue and Scott Brown is just the opposite.
On a recent trip I had the opportunity to board the bus that Rosa Parks did her thing on and even sat in the very seat. It caused a flood of memories of when I was exposed to that “Quaint Custom” as a teenager. More on that below.
On a talk show the commentator was talking about a conversation he had while getting his coffee “With a lovely Chinese lady.” I have no idea why that was even pertinent to the topic. I doubt he would say “I had a conversation with a lovely White woman.”
Years ago two of my very liberal friends were commenting on the Obama speech given at the Democratic convention. I have heard them comment many times on other speakers but they both said “He was so articulate.” I chuckled to myself thinking what do they really mean? We found a Black guy who can speak a sentence with Ebonics?
I taught with someone many years ago who was Black and a forceful speaker. He told me when he got a comment like that his usual retort was “And I am house broken, too.”
When I speak to a person who is different in color or ethnic background what registers first is - and I will focus on color - Black. What I have to do is set makers in my mind to take all stereotypes and keep them locked away and make judgments based on what takes place. I have discussed this trait with folks other than White and have discovered it appears universal. Maybe a form of universal racism? Maybe just human nature?
I remember many years ago being in Charleston for several months. I was about fourteen years of age and my parents were spending some time in the area while my father set up a business. In those days you would take the bus everywhere and I remember boarding the bus to take me to the area of the movie theaters. I always loved to sit in the back where you had these round seats. Very roomy so I went and plopped myself down.
After a few minutes the bus halted and the driver scurried to the back. “What are you doing there, boy?” I responded with a simple “Sitting, sir.” “You not from around here are you, boy?” “No…I’m from Massachusetts.” So he says “Those seats is for the Nigras!” “What’s a Nigra?” “Those is colored folks, boy, now you move you ass down front or I’ll toss you off the bus!”
I remember the separation as you had the various signs that said “Colored” and “White” on restrooms and fountains. I remember having dinner at the house of a prominent Black who was a scrap dealer that my father would sell his scrape to. This man was wealthy and lived in a large home that was in a Black neighborhood. The irony is we could go to his home without incident but he could not go to ours. My father didn’t give a damn about color except green.
I experienced many other such demonstrations while down south and in the years that followed discussed with many folks of color about it. I was always shocked to hear so many with southern roots say in many ways it was better than the north. Up here it was all under the surface and hidden with smiles and platitudes. Down there you knew it.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Taxes/Trails/Pacheco/Zoo/TSA
Tax free weekend has surfaced with its usual attendant list of just exactly qualifies. I noted our illustrious members up “On The Hill” went full bore to get this done much the same as they went full bore to raise the sales tax.
If they wish a real sales tax holiday extend it to big ticket items.
New Hampshire does not have tax free holidays since every day is a tax free holiday.
On a recent trip to the Midwest we spent much time on the Eastern Time Zone cusp of the great divide. Loved the idea that the sun was setting a bit past 9PM as I’d take that trade off versus a early sun rise.
The Enterprise has raised their prices and my wife - The Lovely Cynthia - refuses to scuttle this worthless mess that Gatehouse created. Alice does a wonderful job covering local news but as a regional daily the Enterprise now relies on wire stories and is just symptomatic of what one sees in the news biz.
As weeklies go the Gazette is still top notch. I love to get local weeklies when I travel since they are a find mix of local kitsch, hard news, hilarious letters and some quite pointed editorials. I would say over the years I have seen at least a hundred weeklies and the Gazette is right up with the very, very best.
On news stories I have noticed a migration through the years where opinions now surface in hard news reporting. This was once a big no no and a guarantee to have the news editor get all over you. No more. I have no idea if this represents a “policy” shift?
Rupert Murdock is getting some heat over the excesses of his tabloids. This seems to be motivated more for political payback than anything else especially with the weepy eyed liberal set tired of getting their philosophical clocks cleaned by FOX.
Ohio seems to really “get it” with building a trail system or at least the Miami River area does. This area is about the size of Southeastern Massachusetts but has 283 miles of paved trails and about 3,000 miles of hiking trails within the various Metro Parks. Now these trails are in pristine condition in that they are scenic, well drained, are well marked, have rest areas and bridges where applicable. Many are handicapped accessible.
Now in Michigan they do the same. Along I-275 and I-70 there were paved bikeways next to the highway. In the latest issue of Rails To Trails magazine they highlight the Michigan trail system. As with Ohio many of the systems interconnect and there seems to be a concerted effort by the state, local government and private organizations to make this happen.
In Massachusetts we have some marvelous trail systems for both hiking and biking but often large swatches are not connected. On the sidebar of this blog I do have a list of sites which detail some of the trails and as an ardent runner/explorer I have become quite adept at searching them out. I use to use old railroad maps, power line systems and equestrian places but with the internet you have an explosion of information provided by bikes (motorized and manual), hikers and just plain nature lovers.
On out trip we finished it off with a visit to the Columbus, Ohio zoo. Now I have some real issues with animal servitude and have heard all the pluses many, many times but still find something repulsive about the whole concept. That said I have visited zoos of all sizes just about everywhere I have traveled and this one may be on the top of my list.
First off is the price. Quite reasonable. Then you have a nice layout that is easy to follow. The food is good by zoo standards and quite reasonable. We had a salad and small drink combo (16 ounces) for $5.99. The place is clean and well maintained and best of all a great place to take kids. Much of the area is really kid oriented with hands on activities. Plenty of parking, too, and at $5.
What really set this zoo apart is they have a water park complete with several kids rides. Interesting concept.
The zoo also has many kids employed who would fit into the category of developmentally delayed and they usually partner up with other kids and are assigned to areas such as the various petting zoo areas which litter the place.
TSA is always a wonder to me regarding just how the agents interact with the public. TSA at Columbus was exceptionally professional and I have found the same at Fortress Logan in Boston. But I could make a very long list - too long - of places where any reasonable manager focused on customer service would probably can the lot of them.
Water rates going up in Middleboro. Does this mean we are getting hosed?
This July I have noticed a proliferation of weeds in our garden. July is usually relatively weed free but not this year. We have managed to stay ahead of the onslaught - for now.
The battle my son has had with the woodchuck appears over with the woodchuck being victorious. My wife - the you know who - was petrified about some of the measures he was contemplating regarding possible ways to have a demise of the woodchuck. Her solution was to fence in crops, plant things it does not want and even plant on the periphery of the garden its own buffet. Wonderful. What a kind lady.
OK….Mr. Woodchuck burrowed under multiple fences including all that had deep rock emplacement and snacked on her beets, squash and a few other items. My how the perspective changes when it gets personal.
I usually use a hoe (the manual tool - LOL) to weed in areas that are fairly open. I also use a smaller spade shaped hoe to get close to the plants. To my wife this is just the very last thing you do. I guess you could say she is a non hoe? Anyways at Greenfield Village in Dearborn Michigan is replica farms. On one farm set in the 1885 time period they were in the fields with - you guessed it - hoes! I ask “Excuse me sir, is that instrument you are using called a hoe? Is it specifically designed to removed weeds with breaking ones back?” His reply “Yes, it is. It makes the task easier and saves a lot of labor.” Now an experienced male would not have turned to his wife and said “I told you so” and I didn’t. I merely turned and smiled and listened to her blabber on about why the period farmer was wrong.
Now this visit was also before the woodchuck devastated her garden so I asked another “farmer” how they handled that situation? He didn’t come right out and give a direct answer but said they handle it the same way farmers have handled varmints since the first seeds were planted 10,000 or so years ago.
Certain local bloggers enjoy various diatribes at the pension system of pubic employees. Well the COLA just came through for the teachers and it is what it always is an increase of 3% on the first $12,000. Over the years this will certainly erode benefits so even those on the public you know what need a 401(K). But that is better than my Social Security COLA that amounted to zero.
IMO the “Concessions” will be minimal from the fire department union. Their main focus is job security and protection of wages and benefits. The safety concerns that have been highlighted at the various public forums and most pronounced by firefighters are accurate but if you wish to do the walk give some real serious wage concessions - otherwise it is just a way of expanding union presence.
Marc Pacheco is suppose to or has endorsed Roger, Jr. Look for the union label on this one. Pacheco is the number one water boy for public service unions in this state so that is no surprise. Pacheco is also an avid proponent for expanded gaming so I would think that could be another reason. Nothing like going to all those union boys and girls who were panting after casino jobs and telling them that Allin was an active mover in the anti movement.
If they wish a real sales tax holiday extend it to big ticket items.
New Hampshire does not have tax free holidays since every day is a tax free holiday.
On a recent trip to the Midwest we spent much time on the Eastern Time Zone cusp of the great divide. Loved the idea that the sun was setting a bit past 9PM as I’d take that trade off versus a early sun rise.
The Enterprise has raised their prices and my wife - The Lovely Cynthia - refuses to scuttle this worthless mess that Gatehouse created. Alice does a wonderful job covering local news but as a regional daily the Enterprise now relies on wire stories and is just symptomatic of what one sees in the news biz.
As weeklies go the Gazette is still top notch. I love to get local weeklies when I travel since they are a find mix of local kitsch, hard news, hilarious letters and some quite pointed editorials. I would say over the years I have seen at least a hundred weeklies and the Gazette is right up with the very, very best.
On news stories I have noticed a migration through the years where opinions now surface in hard news reporting. This was once a big no no and a guarantee to have the news editor get all over you. No more. I have no idea if this represents a “policy” shift?
Rupert Murdock is getting some heat over the excesses of his tabloids. This seems to be motivated more for political payback than anything else especially with the weepy eyed liberal set tired of getting their philosophical clocks cleaned by FOX.
Ohio seems to really “get it” with building a trail system or at least the Miami River area does. This area is about the size of Southeastern Massachusetts but has 283 miles of paved trails and about 3,000 miles of hiking trails within the various Metro Parks. Now these trails are in pristine condition in that they are scenic, well drained, are well marked, have rest areas and bridges where applicable. Many are handicapped accessible.
Now in Michigan they do the same. Along I-275 and I-70 there were paved bikeways next to the highway. In the latest issue of Rails To Trails magazine they highlight the Michigan trail system. As with Ohio many of the systems interconnect and there seems to be a concerted effort by the state, local government and private organizations to make this happen.
In Massachusetts we have some marvelous trail systems for both hiking and biking but often large swatches are not connected. On the sidebar of this blog I do have a list of sites which detail some of the trails and as an ardent runner/explorer I have become quite adept at searching them out. I use to use old railroad maps, power line systems and equestrian places but with the internet you have an explosion of information provided by bikes (motorized and manual), hikers and just plain nature lovers.
On out trip we finished it off with a visit to the Columbus, Ohio zoo. Now I have some real issues with animal servitude and have heard all the pluses many, many times but still find something repulsive about the whole concept. That said I have visited zoos of all sizes just about everywhere I have traveled and this one may be on the top of my list.
First off is the price. Quite reasonable. Then you have a nice layout that is easy to follow. The food is good by zoo standards and quite reasonable. We had a salad and small drink combo (16 ounces) for $5.99. The place is clean and well maintained and best of all a great place to take kids. Much of the area is really kid oriented with hands on activities. Plenty of parking, too, and at $5.
What really set this zoo apart is they have a water park complete with several kids rides. Interesting concept.
The zoo also has many kids employed who would fit into the category of developmentally delayed and they usually partner up with other kids and are assigned to areas such as the various petting zoo areas which litter the place.
TSA is always a wonder to me regarding just how the agents interact with the public. TSA at Columbus was exceptionally professional and I have found the same at Fortress Logan in Boston. But I could make a very long list - too long - of places where any reasonable manager focused on customer service would probably can the lot of them.
Water rates going up in Middleboro. Does this mean we are getting hosed?
This July I have noticed a proliferation of weeds in our garden. July is usually relatively weed free but not this year. We have managed to stay ahead of the onslaught - for now.
The battle my son has had with the woodchuck appears over with the woodchuck being victorious. My wife - the you know who - was petrified about some of the measures he was contemplating regarding possible ways to have a demise of the woodchuck. Her solution was to fence in crops, plant things it does not want and even plant on the periphery of the garden its own buffet. Wonderful. What a kind lady.
OK….Mr. Woodchuck burrowed under multiple fences including all that had deep rock emplacement and snacked on her beets, squash and a few other items. My how the perspective changes when it gets personal.
I usually use a hoe (the manual tool - LOL) to weed in areas that are fairly open. I also use a smaller spade shaped hoe to get close to the plants. To my wife this is just the very last thing you do. I guess you could say she is a non hoe? Anyways at Greenfield Village in Dearborn Michigan is replica farms. On one farm set in the 1885 time period they were in the fields with - you guessed it - hoes! I ask “Excuse me sir, is that instrument you are using called a hoe? Is it specifically designed to removed weeds with breaking ones back?” His reply “Yes, it is. It makes the task easier and saves a lot of labor.” Now an experienced male would not have turned to his wife and said “I told you so” and I didn’t. I merely turned and smiled and listened to her blabber on about why the period farmer was wrong.
Now this visit was also before the woodchuck devastated her garden so I asked another “farmer” how they handled that situation? He didn’t come right out and give a direct answer but said they handle it the same way farmers have handled varmints since the first seeds were planted 10,000 or so years ago.
Certain local bloggers enjoy various diatribes at the pension system of pubic employees. Well the COLA just came through for the teachers and it is what it always is an increase of 3% on the first $12,000. Over the years this will certainly erode benefits so even those on the public you know what need a 401(K). But that is better than my Social Security COLA that amounted to zero.
IMO the “Concessions” will be minimal from the fire department union. Their main focus is job security and protection of wages and benefits. The safety concerns that have been highlighted at the various public forums and most pronounced by firefighters are accurate but if you wish to do the walk give some real serious wage concessions - otherwise it is just a way of expanding union presence.
Marc Pacheco is suppose to or has endorsed Roger, Jr. Look for the union label on this one. Pacheco is the number one water boy for public service unions in this state so that is no surprise. Pacheco is also an avid proponent for expanded gaming so I would think that could be another reason. Nothing like going to all those union boys and girls who were panting after casino jobs and telling them that Allin was an active mover in the anti movement.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Fiscal Crisis And Hint On Buying Stocks.
The Speaker of The House is having quite a time trying to bring into the fold some of his newer members as he attempts to get some forward movement of the “debt crisis” which may or may not be shaping up as a fiscal 2YK.
Now the general opinion of those in the media that are left leaning is that this group - with strong Tea Party affiliations - are the ones who will be ultimately responsible for a four figure drop in the DOW and beggar status for the United States. What is left out is they are doing exactly what they were voted into office to do and they are hard liners on it so the next few days of arm twisting will be of much interest.
The postion I found interesting and personally somewhat compatible to my own warped fiscal opinions is the “Gang Of Six” and their attempts to reach a bi-partisan accommodation. The reduction in the number of tax levels, reduction of corporate taxes and a further revision of the tax code stood out. That of course would be accompanied by cuts and the ever present “Revenue Enhancement” otherwise known as taxes.
I really see the rich as an easy target and it appears the breaking point for being rich is a family income in access of 250K. An easy target since about 98% fall below that but what I find appalling is that half the people in this country pay no taxes. Zippo! And that is some with income that touches 85K. With no skin in the game you are not part of the game. IMO everyone should pay taxes even if it is a nominal few bucks. After all the handouts the tax codes provide to get to that zero base and below - you can actually receive money back - sort of a bonus. No taxes and a refund to boot. So when that zero is reached that is it. Nothing. No give backs. And then a few dollars sort of a minimal tax.
IMO I have been impressed with the actions by the Speaker in attempting to resolve this issue. He has a split party or what is really a party of clearly defined factions along fiscal policy. The Tea Party types have entrenched themselves and although I may not agree they are doing exactly what they were elected to do. I just wonder if this may cause a party split similar to what happened to the Democrats in 1972 and 1980 over different issues. Maybe a political version of the cleansing of the hive?
What is absolutely a given is that any measures that Obama has attempted to address a broken economy have failed. You can play the Bush card just for a bit until you have ownership and this president now has ownership and seems lost. The number one priority should have been the economy from day one and not an poorly planned health care proposal that was rushed through a Congress who want to curry favor with a president who “claimed” a mandate. I just love hind sight.
Right now there has not been an aggressive shift of funds as folks seem to have taken a bunker mentality like I have. Gold is up a bit but draw downs in mutual funds are not present. Like me it seems to be a long haul situation where a loss is almost a given but what falls will rise. I place it in the category of what happens when a significant world event takes place such as 9/11 or the Japan mess several months ago. You take a hit and then in three or four weeks the dust has settled and been brushed away and you are back to square one.
This week the markets will lose about 3-5% depending upon how today goes. With a down market cash will be king over the next few months as bargain hunters will be on the prowl. With the mess comes opportunity. I will now give you the great tip I have used for years to purchase stocks. In fact I was discussing this with an investment advisers who was quite intrigued by my approach. This is something that is relatively easy to do with the age of the internet and the wealth of information available.
I go to mutual funds research. You can do this on about any financial site without having an account or just use Yahoo. A few months ago I wished to purchase some pharmaceutical stocks so I went into funds that specialized in pharma. I looked at about six funds from the successful to the not so successful and when you do that you can see what their holdings are. So I check out each fund and see how many have similar holdings that are relatively successful. I make a list of potentials and narrowed it down to Medco Health Solutions (MHS). I checked it out on various research portals such as The Street and Market Watch and found it to be under valued so I made a purchase. The stock trended upwards are finally was purchased by their most significant competitor - Express Scripts (ESRX) and I stand to make a tidy 40% when this corporate marriage is finally consummated. Total time spent about two hours.
Is the above a guarantee for success? Well..….I used the same method and loaded up on World Com so that should say it all but it does offer you an option to build your own mutual fund without the costs of a mutual fund such as front loads and fees. I built my own and so can you just by selecting some of the blue chips that make up the DJ and toss in a few high performers from the NASDAQ. I still have mutual funds and consider them and their poor cousin ETF's to be excellent. I just like to create my own which is exactly what fund managers do.
One other thing I have done is not all funds are created and managed equally. I really go against the grain on this one but have the hard data to prove it and advisers get a bit flummoxed over it. Say I have $75,000 I want to toss into large cap fund. The conventional wisdom is you pick a fund and in it goes. I would pick three funds with similar objectives, holdings, performance and fees and pump 25K into each. Duplication of services? I have actually seen a variance as high as 30% over a period of one year since some funds are managed better than others and it also spreads the risk even within similar financial objectives.
Now the general opinion of those in the media that are left leaning is that this group - with strong Tea Party affiliations - are the ones who will be ultimately responsible for a four figure drop in the DOW and beggar status for the United States. What is left out is they are doing exactly what they were voted into office to do and they are hard liners on it so the next few days of arm twisting will be of much interest.
The postion I found interesting and personally somewhat compatible to my own warped fiscal opinions is the “Gang Of Six” and their attempts to reach a bi-partisan accommodation. The reduction in the number of tax levels, reduction of corporate taxes and a further revision of the tax code stood out. That of course would be accompanied by cuts and the ever present “Revenue Enhancement” otherwise known as taxes.
I really see the rich as an easy target and it appears the breaking point for being rich is a family income in access of 250K. An easy target since about 98% fall below that but what I find appalling is that half the people in this country pay no taxes. Zippo! And that is some with income that touches 85K. With no skin in the game you are not part of the game. IMO everyone should pay taxes even if it is a nominal few bucks. After all the handouts the tax codes provide to get to that zero base and below - you can actually receive money back - sort of a bonus. No taxes and a refund to boot. So when that zero is reached that is it. Nothing. No give backs. And then a few dollars sort of a minimal tax.
IMO I have been impressed with the actions by the Speaker in attempting to resolve this issue. He has a split party or what is really a party of clearly defined factions along fiscal policy. The Tea Party types have entrenched themselves and although I may not agree they are doing exactly what they were elected to do. I just wonder if this may cause a party split similar to what happened to the Democrats in 1972 and 1980 over different issues. Maybe a political version of the cleansing of the hive?
What is absolutely a given is that any measures that Obama has attempted to address a broken economy have failed. You can play the Bush card just for a bit until you have ownership and this president now has ownership and seems lost. The number one priority should have been the economy from day one and not an poorly planned health care proposal that was rushed through a Congress who want to curry favor with a president who “claimed” a mandate. I just love hind sight.
Right now there has not been an aggressive shift of funds as folks seem to have taken a bunker mentality like I have. Gold is up a bit but draw downs in mutual funds are not present. Like me it seems to be a long haul situation where a loss is almost a given but what falls will rise. I place it in the category of what happens when a significant world event takes place such as 9/11 or the Japan mess several months ago. You take a hit and then in three or four weeks the dust has settled and been brushed away and you are back to square one.
This week the markets will lose about 3-5% depending upon how today goes. With a down market cash will be king over the next few months as bargain hunters will be on the prowl. With the mess comes opportunity. I will now give you the great tip I have used for years to purchase stocks. In fact I was discussing this with an investment advisers who was quite intrigued by my approach. This is something that is relatively easy to do with the age of the internet and the wealth of information available.
I go to mutual funds research. You can do this on about any financial site without having an account or just use Yahoo. A few months ago I wished to purchase some pharmaceutical stocks so I went into funds that specialized in pharma. I looked at about six funds from the successful to the not so successful and when you do that you can see what their holdings are. So I check out each fund and see how many have similar holdings that are relatively successful. I make a list of potentials and narrowed it down to Medco Health Solutions (MHS). I checked it out on various research portals such as The Street and Market Watch and found it to be under valued so I made a purchase. The stock trended upwards are finally was purchased by their most significant competitor - Express Scripts (ESRX) and I stand to make a tidy 40% when this corporate marriage is finally consummated. Total time spent about two hours.
Is the above a guarantee for success? Well..….I used the same method and loaded up on World Com so that should say it all but it does offer you an option to build your own mutual fund without the costs of a mutual fund such as front loads and fees. I built my own and so can you just by selecting some of the blue chips that make up the DJ and toss in a few high performers from the NASDAQ. I still have mutual funds and consider them and their poor cousin ETF's to be excellent. I just like to create my own which is exactly what fund managers do.
One other thing I have done is not all funds are created and managed equally. I really go against the grain on this one but have the hard data to prove it and advisers get a bit flummoxed over it. Say I have $75,000 I want to toss into large cap fund. The conventional wisdom is you pick a fund and in it goes. I would pick three funds with similar objectives, holdings, performance and fees and pump 25K into each. Duplication of services? I have actually seen a variance as high as 30% over a period of one year since some funds are managed better than others and it also spreads the risk even within similar financial objectives.
Monday, July 25, 2011
I Love A Middleboro Casino
I love a Middleboro casino.
Now I was a moderate anti that was best described as a NIMBY that is similar to being a fiscal conservative and a social liberal or maybe getting to second base on a date. An ardent draw the line in the sand I was not. In fact I didn’t mind throwing verbal and written darts at both sides. In my own perverse way I actually rather enjoyed it. But that whole issue is now “back in the day” category. Divisive it may have been but that seems to have dissipated to the part where a small coterie of true believers is left on both sides. No longer is being on one side of the fence or perched in the middle like me a litmus test.
I think we all owe a sincere debt to that issue. It has nurtured a good many activist who as time passed by left the one trick pony to the zealots and moved on to a virtual buffet of town issues. Even our BOS now has members who really would still be tending to their gardens and doing the 9-5 completely oblivious to local government except to curse about their taxes, trash bill or the other mundane things we grouse about and quickly put on the back burner to concentrate on more important activities like viewing American Idol.
Circumference of about 9.25 inches, diameter of about 2.9 inches, a weight of 5.25 ounces and, of course, 108 stitches. Being a true American I have avoided that Gawd Awful metric crap. That is a baseball. My father loved boxing and cherished the day I would box but at age eight I fell in love with the sphere. I learned everything about it. Read and still read endlessly. A devoted fan. Hooked.
Well we all have our addictions and the casino was a great incubator just as the simple sphere was for me. Some - and why mention names as we know them - got hooked on the process of politics especially town politics. What does this board do? Who the hell is Robert and his rules? How do you make sense of a budget? What is the bizarre relationship between FinCom and the BOS? Politics - like baseball - can be a disease and there is no cure but involvement. The casino managed to bring out a whole new phalanx of locals who just plain got involved, Learned and got appointed an ran. They are not one trick ponies but now examine issues diligently, do their homework, are assessable and try to be as transparent as possible and I am not discussing the BOS exclusively.
So that is why I just love that damn casino. It has reverberated by bringing out new bodies with new ideas and a new level of involvement.
Backpacks have now reached the point where they need to be brought to the attention of the Nanny Police. On a recent flight I ended up with a bruised forehead and a scraped face thanks to one clod maneuvering it as he attempted to get into his seat. “Oh…excuse me did I hit you?” “No….I just punched myself in the head and scraped my face with my nails because I was bored.” This bag was huge. And the manners? Folks are so use to carrying them they are clueless that when you turn you are swinging something that sticks out well over a foot and closer to two feet.
A good baseball trade is one in which both teams win. Both teams have needs filled and they walk away from the transaction satisfied. No winners or losers. But with politics and especially the “Debt Crisis” you have to have a winner and a loser and that will be Republicans or Democrats depending upon whom is putting on the spin. Another disgraceful moment in our history and one in which the leadership gap is incredible. That leadership is our current president who will now be the 21st century answer to Herbert Hoover. Obama has shown racial equality at its very best in that a Black guy is as capable as screwing up as a White guy - especially any with a last mane of Bush.
Now I was a moderate anti that was best described as a NIMBY that is similar to being a fiscal conservative and a social liberal or maybe getting to second base on a date. An ardent draw the line in the sand I was not. In fact I didn’t mind throwing verbal and written darts at both sides. In my own perverse way I actually rather enjoyed it. But that whole issue is now “back in the day” category. Divisive it may have been but that seems to have dissipated to the part where a small coterie of true believers is left on both sides. No longer is being on one side of the fence or perched in the middle like me a litmus test.
I think we all owe a sincere debt to that issue. It has nurtured a good many activist who as time passed by left the one trick pony to the zealots and moved on to a virtual buffet of town issues. Even our BOS now has members who really would still be tending to their gardens and doing the 9-5 completely oblivious to local government except to curse about their taxes, trash bill or the other mundane things we grouse about and quickly put on the back burner to concentrate on more important activities like viewing American Idol.
Circumference of about 9.25 inches, diameter of about 2.9 inches, a weight of 5.25 ounces and, of course, 108 stitches. Being a true American I have avoided that Gawd Awful metric crap. That is a baseball. My father loved boxing and cherished the day I would box but at age eight I fell in love with the sphere. I learned everything about it. Read and still read endlessly. A devoted fan. Hooked.
Well we all have our addictions and the casino was a great incubator just as the simple sphere was for me. Some - and why mention names as we know them - got hooked on the process of politics especially town politics. What does this board do? Who the hell is Robert and his rules? How do you make sense of a budget? What is the bizarre relationship between FinCom and the BOS? Politics - like baseball - can be a disease and there is no cure but involvement. The casino managed to bring out a whole new phalanx of locals who just plain got involved, Learned and got appointed an ran. They are not one trick ponies but now examine issues diligently, do their homework, are assessable and try to be as transparent as possible and I am not discussing the BOS exclusively.
So that is why I just love that damn casino. It has reverberated by bringing out new bodies with new ideas and a new level of involvement.
Backpacks have now reached the point where they need to be brought to the attention of the Nanny Police. On a recent flight I ended up with a bruised forehead and a scraped face thanks to one clod maneuvering it as he attempted to get into his seat. “Oh…excuse me did I hit you?” “No….I just punched myself in the head and scraped my face with my nails because I was bored.” This bag was huge. And the manners? Folks are so use to carrying them they are clueless that when you turn you are swinging something that sticks out well over a foot and closer to two feet.
A good baseball trade is one in which both teams win. Both teams have needs filled and they walk away from the transaction satisfied. No winners or losers. But with politics and especially the “Debt Crisis” you have to have a winner and a loser and that will be Republicans or Democrats depending upon whom is putting on the spin. Another disgraceful moment in our history and one in which the leadership gap is incredible. That leadership is our current president who will now be the 21st century answer to Herbert Hoover. Obama has shown racial equality at its very best in that a Black guy is as capable as screwing up as a White guy - especially any with a last mane of Bush.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Allin and Lance
Allin Frawley has hit the ground running as he did for the BOS election and from what I have seen on his short stint on the BOS his work ethic is not isolated to the campaign trail but is a continuing process to understand the operations of the town - government and otherwise.
I’m sure that same quality will translate into performance when Allin is elected to that bastard step child known as the 12th Bristol. I even argue with myself so I’m sure Allin will do things that might run contrary to my own views but I know his opinion will be derived from doing some diligent homework and not an emotional rant. Folks really appreciated access and hard work no matter what their political perspective.
I have no idea why Roger Brunelle, Jr. has entered this race? He has no political resume that I know of and my typical knee jerk reaction is some type of vendetta to draw primary votes away from Allin. The typical straw entering the race whose only goal is to target one candidate. I hope I am wrong on this but until some definitive reason surfaces for entry into the race besides union affiliation I’ll stick with my knee jerk reaction.
Buy local is something we see and hear all the time. Just look at the closed storefronts downtown. For a few extra bucks you can avoid having your money sent to some hillbilly corporate center in Arkansas. Same with local produce. A bit more but fresh and, of course, local
Carpetbaggers were those loyalist of the Union during the Civil War who were rewarded with political jobs of reconstruction of the South. Southerners’ quickly despised these outsiders not only over the political connections but simply because they were only there for a few dollars and then would move on.
I had some real issues with Lincoln Lynch who was school superintendent starting around the time of King Phillips War. Lynch was here for at least twenty years in the command chair and was local. He knew Middleboro and you did have the consistency of leadership in a key town position.
Now those three paragraphs are - to steal a literary term - setting the stage. We now have a fire chief that is apparently on the move - again. May the next chief - if this one leaves - actually have some connection to the town. Maybe it is time to buy local? I really have some “issues” with residency but just maybe that does deserve a look. Maybe a key department needs someone who is more than two or three and out.
At this juncture the whole convoluted ambulance issue is up for more serious debate. Exactly what concessions are being tossed around? This will eventually come out in the wash since the negotiations have borrowed the Cone of Silence from “Get Smart.” Spataro was right in not voting.
I’m sure that same quality will translate into performance when Allin is elected to that bastard step child known as the 12th Bristol. I even argue with myself so I’m sure Allin will do things that might run contrary to my own views but I know his opinion will be derived from doing some diligent homework and not an emotional rant. Folks really appreciated access and hard work no matter what their political perspective.
I have no idea why Roger Brunelle, Jr. has entered this race? He has no political resume that I know of and my typical knee jerk reaction is some type of vendetta to draw primary votes away from Allin. The typical straw entering the race whose only goal is to target one candidate. I hope I am wrong on this but until some definitive reason surfaces for entry into the race besides union affiliation I’ll stick with my knee jerk reaction.
Buy local is something we see and hear all the time. Just look at the closed storefronts downtown. For a few extra bucks you can avoid having your money sent to some hillbilly corporate center in Arkansas. Same with local produce. A bit more but fresh and, of course, local
Carpetbaggers were those loyalist of the Union during the Civil War who were rewarded with political jobs of reconstruction of the South. Southerners’ quickly despised these outsiders not only over the political connections but simply because they were only there for a few dollars and then would move on.
I had some real issues with Lincoln Lynch who was school superintendent starting around the time of King Phillips War. Lynch was here for at least twenty years in the command chair and was local. He knew Middleboro and you did have the consistency of leadership in a key town position.
Now those three paragraphs are - to steal a literary term - setting the stage. We now have a fire chief that is apparently on the move - again. May the next chief - if this one leaves - actually have some connection to the town. Maybe it is time to buy local? I really have some “issues” with residency but just maybe that does deserve a look. Maybe a key department needs someone who is more than two or three and out.
At this juncture the whole convoluted ambulance issue is up for more serious debate. Exactly what concessions are being tossed around? This will eventually come out in the wash since the negotiations have borrowed the Cone of Silence from “Get Smart.” Spataro was right in not voting.
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