Another Giants Super Bowl Win!!!

It is never early to do some trash talkin’ and that will now commence. Mr. Tebow was roundly criticized for his “Born Again” approach to football but now the Patriots and their owner seem to hint that somehow the spirit of Kraft’s late wife, Myra, has somehow been channeled to provide victory for the Patriots. I guess it is best to rely on the spirit world rather than to film your opponents in an attempt to get the edge.

The “Crime” Mitt Romney has committed is not paying enough taxes. I am amazed at the logic that attempts to skewer Romney over doing something totally legal and within the structure of our tax codes. Rich people and not so rich people take advantage of what is offered in our convoluted tax system so that they can maximize their income while minimizing their obligation to the tax collector.

Mitt also salts money away in the Cayman Islands that is the North American version of a Swiss Bank. He obviously takes as many steps as possible to keep the taxman from his door and what a door that must be.

The Republican primaries have been interesting to watch. The next potential leader of the free world doing their collective weaves around total honesty. Does Ron Paul suck on lemons before taking the podium? Gingrich comes across like a two bit Mass State House career hack. Mitt tries to be the common man when he is a monied elitist. I forget who the rest of them are.

And when a village needs an idiot I suggest they hire on Joe Biden. This Veep is the king of Gaffes. Mr. Potato Head himself Dan Quayle is a light weight in the foot in the mouth department compared to bumbling Joe.

Jobless claims are heading in the right direction as is unemployment. In November Obama will declare it is all because of his administration. The Tea Party will claim it is all the result of their slash and burn threats. The firmly entrenched hacks in D.C. (both parties) will claim it is their success thanks to experience and a mature approach to government.

I watch the Food Network and my least favorite “personality” is Paula Dean. Now it turns out Ms. Butter and Lard has had diabetes for three years and kept her cooking for a coronary show quiet on the whole thing. Now she has decided to come out that she has type two and will - surprise - become a spokesperson for a diabetes med.

The next fraud is Suze Orman now pitching her own fee enhanced debit card. Quite the contrary to what one expects from this consumer watchdog. Now she is promoting her infomercial on PBS - on our dime.

GM has surged into the top spot in auto manufacturing.

Oil at $100+ a barrel but the kibosh is on the Keystone pipeline. More important to pay the bucks to folks who absolutely despise us rather than a degree of independence. Canada has product. Canada has technology. Canada is willing to sell to us. But out of the woodwork come the real environmental nut jobs who seem to ignore the thousands of miles of pipe that already exist with relatively few problems. Just look at the gas lines that cross all over Middleboro. The technology exists to minimize land spills.

Harry Truman may have been the most musically gifted president and had even given consideration to being a concert pianist.

Carl Crawford is building upon his miserable 2011 season with the Red Sox by injuring his wrist. The injury and surgery is described as “not serious” and will probably leave him out of the lineup on opening day. Now Nomar had a wrist injury that was also “not serious” and his career fell apart.

Now with football playoffs in swing comes the next level of stupid stuff - the Mayor’s betting! One mayor bets the mayor of the opposing city on the outcome. Why not use the Mitt Romney approach and bet $10,000.

Was driving through Norton and Easton and saw Xmas trees on the side of the road for pickup. Guess they have no manpower shortage.

A Bridgewater casino? ROTFLMAO!

Assorted Stuff

Eviscerated? Was that the proper term for the recent BOS budget hearings as it relates to the town IT Director? Sure seemed that way to me.

The BOS repeatedly sympathized with the plight of various departments that have been picked clean through the years. Fiscal issues made the various wish lists just that - a wish.

The G & E got a mention as a potential revenue source. Be interesting how that campaign for new commissioners shapes up.

The federal mall cops known as the TSA have defended their policy of cupcake confiscation. A woman had her cupcake taken since it was packed with frosting and that constituted a gel. She had already gone through the security check point at Fortress Logan which in a rare moment of TSA logic allowed her in. Probably too busy groping for colostomy bags. But the sharpshooters at another TSA local managed to place the goodie under scrutiny and it was nabbed. I also understand that at the same location a black powdery substance in a Dunkin’ Donuts bag was confiscated and brewed to be tested with the offending cupcake. We can all sleep well tonight knowing America is guarded by the brave mall cops of TSA.

Bill Keating will have some primary competition with Sam Sutter getting in the race since as a redistrict he considers it “An open seat.”

Marc Pacheco will not run for Barney Frank’s seat (maybe I should phrase that differently) and will support JoJoJo (or J3) Kennedy. I wonder if that will fly as well as his support for Brunelle did?

Romney’s net worth is greater than all the other candidates and The Big Zero combined.

Verizon is amazing. Since 8/21 I have been attempting to have a bill and service corrected for an organization I belong to. I have spent over 20 hours on the phone - mostly listening to pre recorded messages and have at least fifteen e-mails in my folder. They finally managed to correct it.

Sheldon Adelson of casino fame has contributed over 5M to the Gingrich campaign.

Not a good day to be a Bronco fan.

Great day to be a Giants fan.

That Italian cruise ship is the Exxon Valdez with people.

I had a story on a sidebar a few months ago about a poor soul on the North Shore who while defenseless decided to protect his property from an armed (knife) assailant who wished to make off with the victims tools. When the cops showed up the perp had a busted jaw and was being restrained by the victim. Naturally in Massachusetts the victim gets an assault charge. That was finally dropped after excessive public outcry but one thing became clear - In Massachusetts you have very thin links on just how you can react when you see a perp making off with your goods or even if you are threatened. Amazing.

With today’s technology there should be zero toll takers. Mass Pike has long been a dumping ground for pols who wish to reward or get a relative a job.

Middleboro has a new School Super and she appears highly qualified but IMO this is a classic three and out situation. Three big earning years really help that pension kiss. I have seen that many times. Maybe she can move to NH and grab another gig?

One way around getting the kiss and then grabbing another job as a super out or in state is to have a simple non competitive agreement worked into the contract. Simply state that if you retire from our system you do not accept a similar position in another state or a similar position (compensation is limited according to pension rules) in state. Done in the dreaded private sector.

The rotary issue just goes on and on and has been a problem for at least 50 years. It appears that the various politicos and state agencies are adept at saying all the “right things” but it never goes to the next level.

The Patrick administration is discussing “revenue sources” despite about a billion extra in revenues. IMO they will try and try again to get an addition to the gas tax.

According to The Heritage Foundation and WSJ the United States has slipped to number nine in world economic freedom. Hong Kong is number one. So looks like unbridled communism is doing rather well.

A No Snow January!

How the hell do you mistake a Golden Retriever for a deer? And the shooter is a cop! I can imagine turning that mentality loose in a situation that calls for target identification.

Goodbye Bachman. Goodbye Cain. Soon to be goodbye Perry. Path is clearing for Mitt.

Linguistic manipulation by now calling one a progressive rather than a liberal. Hilarious. Like calling used cars pre owned. From what I have seen the progressiveness is the same old. Yawn.

Tim Murray is in political flip flop mode over his driving habits.

If the Red Sox get some Bruins type scores they’ll win it all.

GE paid no taxes. So GE simply takes advantage of the existing tax code. Problem is not GE.

And now I am doing my taxes. Our tax code is a convoluted mess.

Interesting factoid: In the United States, around nine billion animals are slaughtered every year (this includes about 150.4 million cattle, bison, sheep, hogs, and goats and 8.9 billion chickens, turkeys, and ducks) in 5,700 slaughterhouses and processing plants employing 527,000 workers.

Another factoid. The Constitution has 4,543 words. Think of that the next time you see legislation that goes on for book length especially the tax code.

A thank you to AB for some good advice.

ETF’s are shrinking and bond funds growing by almost a billion a week.

Unemployment is at 8.5% but the real figure is the U-6 that is near 16%. Interesting figures on Department Of Labor web site especially about jobs created and their wages.

Another Kennedy to run for Barney’s seat. This will be another Patrick “Patches” Kennedy type. Thankfully we have been out sourced here in Middleboro.

Romney is getting flack for being a capitalist. Amazing! His business decisions will naturally be scrutinized and picked apart by those who feel the paramount of leadership success is being a community organizer.

Kardashians are getting dolls in the Mattel toy line. Will BB now ditch his Barbie’s?

Charlie is in jail for failing to hand over some $$$ to an ex. Guess a 140K pension does not go as far as it use to.

A new state law in Illinois requires those who buy drain cleaners and other caustic substances to provide photo identification and sign a log. And folks whine about having an ID to vote!

Met our soon to be new rep Bill Keating. I’m not sure who picked up the pizza tab but based on the BB consumption our debt may hit 16T.

Giants move on!

2012

A new year. A new start. How can I change my blog? How can I make it better? I can’t. I’m perfect. LMCAO!

I think politicians should have all major contributors listed on their clothing like NASCAR drivers have on their uniforms.

The PAC money is starting to flow into the Massachusetts senate race.

Donors get access. Non donors do not. That is true on all levels. You reward your contributors even if it is a simple note or making a call to arrange an appointment. If it just cuts some red tape I’m cool with it.

I received another settlement check from a class action suit. Rare when they get into four figures. This one was for $3.22.

Verizon to charge a $2 fee on transactions. convenience fee on certain transactions. Guess they never got the memo on Bank Of America.

The TM got rave reviews from the BOS and deservedly so.

Obama gets hammered for a Xmas vacation in Hawaii. Huh? This is something presidents do. Same garbage went on with Bush.

Sox are again attempting to shore up their bullpen. On paper it looks great.

Mohegan Sun is attempting to rewrite 811M in debt. And Massachusetts competition on the way.

Unemployment is now down to 8.6%. The economy is “improving” until you look at the wage scale for all those new jobs.

Ron Paul is continuing to surge in the polls. There is absolutely no way he will ever be prez.

And Robert Reich has proposed a Obama- Hillary Clinton ticket for 2012 with Mr. Flub a Dub Joe Biden doing his damage as Secretary of State.

Filene’s Basement has finally succumbed.

And Friendly’s is hanging on until further notice.

Patriot fans love to pontificate about what a wonderful owner Bob Kraft is. Tell that to the good folks in Foxboro with his attempt to dump a casino in their laps. Wonder if Kraft would like it in Chestnut Hill?

Oil at a $100 a barrel and climbing.

Euro is acting like Red Sox did in September.

January 1st the deer will be able to come out and play as the various forms of deer hunting grind to a halt.

BB has his year in review column. Almost as exciting as The Yankee Clipper section of the Gazette.

That rail yard in Middleboro seems like quite a blight.

The “T” will have to raise fares which is our punishment for their collective mis-management.

Is 2012 the year the Mayan prophecies come true? My wife - The Lovely Cynthia - and I were in Tikal a few years back. Wonder if I could have searched for some inside info?

Disney. Six-Flags. How about Cedar Fair Entertainment. One of the largest in the world.

Your 401(K) American side may have settled down but for diversification junkies it was not a good year for Europe (down around 15%) or Japan (down 17%).

Gulf drilling is going on and from I have been reading the Great Spill has recovered. So much for the end of the world statements from the eco radicals.

2012 prediction: Obama loses and Warren wins.

End Of Year Post

The environmental nut jobs are on the loose with the proposed Keystone Pipeline that would bring oil from Canada to the United States. So they reject the possibility of 20,000 jobs and would rather rely of the whims of multiple quasi enemies to supply oil?

Maybe these wizards should go back in a time machine and view “The Big Ditch” constructed during WW II. This was known as the War Emergency Pipeline that would supply oil from Texas to New Jersey rather than using vulnerable tankers. In fact they actually started the oil flow before the line was complete.

Sometimes it takes extraordinary circumstance and leadership to address an issue and IMO this is an issue of national security. To set up mindless roadblocks is pure insanity. The pipeline is in our best interests and if it is constructed with the same diligence as the Alaskan Pipeline impact will be minimal or non existent.

Time for some leadership and direct intervention by President Obama.

I have recently been car/truck shopping in a serious mode but one of interest. As a current Pontiac owner I have a special “Off the books” rebate available that is between $1,500 and $3,000. But what I find interesting is the names they dream up. I think all of us have at one time or another bought a vehicle that we gave a special name such as POS or “This car sucks.”

I do believe the American auto industry has done a magnificent job of once again having products that can compete with any. Off course, most large world wide manufactures have their products build in multiple countries and the same goes for parts.

The standard for a vehicle use to be 100.000 miles. Anything after that was a bonus. IMO it is now 200,000 as many of the former bad boys such as exhaust systems and cooling systems use to have a shelf life that was dismal. No longer. But that high end technology comes with a price and that price is exorbitant labor and parts charges. I actually use a collision body shop for many repairs since they are very familiar in their triage business of worse case scenarios. The parts I’ll shop around and check after market or online sources and save upwards to 40%.

Last summer I had the opportunity to tour the Rouge factory of Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. The facility was the original site for Ford production and it is massive but today it is the assembly for trucks. They produce about 1,500 a day and the automation is intriguing. All computer driven. On the assembly line I watched the drones do one specific job over and over while working side by side with their robotic counterparts. The repetition and boredom would have me opening a vein before first break. I can understand why the workers are paid so well since you are being paid for a continually tedious job.

If you wander to Bowling Green Kentucky and are an aficionado of Corvette you can actually observe your car being assembled over a two day period. The computer and production process has your name on everything so you can build your own scrapbook. And being a capitalist society this little venture comes with a price tag - I do believe it is in excess of $500 plus your hotel stay and meals. I also understand with the ‘Vette - an engineering marvel - that virtually the entire car is American made. Few imported parts.

What frustrates me about purchasing a vehicle is that old ploy called “Options Loading.” Try buying a base model. You virtually cannot. Somewhere along the way you will have to determine just what you want and don’t want and attempt to get as close as possible.

What really ticks me off is the way a vehicle is sold. This expensive piece of machinery is then tossed into a dealership that may be ethically deficient or has a sales staff - most do - that reminds one of a street bazaar in Casablanca. It is all about “The Deal” and how “savvy” you are and their need to move the vehicle. Sales quotas, inventory excesses, cash flow and a myriad of other factors all play into how it is negotiated. The only thing that comes close to the full court press at a dealership is being trapped with a time share salesman.

Then, of course, is next up on my hit list and that is advertising. Anything over 200HP is shown in circumstances that are almost impossible with maneuvers that even an experienced NASCAR driver could not do. With trucks it seems every deep voiced actor has been captured to do those commercials. If you are a baritone voice over you have a job for life.

So I finally sprung for a truck. My current battle star had some wheel bearing work, muffle system in need and a bounty of minor ailments that would need to be addressed to the tune of about $2,000 so my ten year old got me a few bucks towards the truck (very few) and will end up in the auto auction. I lost money on that end of the sale but could care less since the aggravation of a private sale was just not worth it.

The truck I wanted was not available at a local dealer so they located one that another dealer would trade off on. Had just the base model and that is a real stripped down one. I have no need for bells and whistles and will probably use the bed so little it is really foolish getting a truck but I never had one. I would have held my breath until the Lovely Cynthia gave her permission.

Then comes one of my real pet peeves and that is the sales tax. You think the wonder boys and girls would have a one week or so open season where they would exclude the first $10,000 on a sale. That is a dream for sure.

Another Week Of Bogo Nonsense

Now the flurry of activity to line up for casinos. First up is the wonderful pairing of Robert Kraft and Steve Wynn. Kraft - he of Hartford Patriot fame - wants to lease his land for a casino. Does this mean the illustrious Mr. Kraft will finally fork over the 8M needed for the bridge from his parking lot to Patriot Place? Nothing like a billionaire doing it on the taxpayer dime. Then the usual suspects will surface from MGM to some characters from Macau. Good luck, Massachusetts!

The Robin Hood tax has surfaced and it would take international proportions. What it amounts to is a small tax (small is undefined) on financial institution transactions and this bounty would be past on to poor countries to improve their lot in life. It would generate an estimated 48B and I’m am sure it would be as successful as our war on poverty.

VW is planning a Middleboro move but not much of a move since they are already ensconced in the Metro complex about a mile up the road. It will be a welcomed addition to finally see the building - the former RV center - put to use.

When I first moved to Middleboro they had at least three major brands of cars sold in town with a Ford, Chevrolet and Buick dealerships around. That has been down to zero since McGee moved to Raynham. But we do have a number of nail salons and I can hop on a tanning bed if necessary to give me that George Hamilton look. That, I guess, is the important stuff.

Trucchi’s finally has their sign up.

Flat Iron has discontinued music so I’ll have to go on the road for my BB music fix.

Nice weather means lower gas/electric/oil bills. I encourage mother nature - one hot babe - to keep it up.

The Patriots defense gives it up quicker than a drunk cheerleader on prom night. So much for being PC.

But I’m a Giants fan and they have been down right dismal but are now in first place. Go figger.

Bobby Valentine seems like a good fit for Boston.

Squirrels, rats and seagulls - just a higher form of cockroach and mosquito to me.

Cathedral lost a Super Bowl football game because a player raised his fist for two seconds while scoring a touchdown. This is in violation of a newly emplaced celebratory rule and under the very strict interpretation was warranted, but it is also a judgment call, and it this case the ref who tossed the flag had some serious issues with circumstance and how to apply it.

Alec Baldwin once again had his bizarre behaviors surface. Money and fame doesn’t necessarily translate to class.

Spokesmen for the current failed administration - not be confused with the failed administration they replaced - claimed in 2009 they were unaware of the extent of the financial crisis. After Lehman Brothers folder in 2008 all the forensic MBA’s in the world could connect the dots and the government could not? Laughable.

The financial crisis was handled like a Big Market baseball team handles problems - throw money at it.

Too bad the basic message of OWS was lost in their loony nonsense and scruffy appearance they presented. If they had stuck to the specific message they may have been taken as a serious force.

What is major league baseball thinking of? They instituted a dress code for reporters - and you know it was directed at female reporters - attempting to limit the Victoria Secret’s clothing some wear. First Heidi leaves and now this.

Humbug To The PC Crowd

Christmas is upon us so out of the woodwork from a long hibernation will come the usual suspects whose sole intent is to demonstrate a lack of civility, respect for an ingrained tradition, plain old appalling manners and anything else I can assign from what they manage to dream up in their cloistered little clueless universe. Of whom do I speak? Why the collected Grinches that make up the PC crowd! And, of course, their collective ire over a Christian holiday - XMAS!

I’m an atheist and proud of it but I do have some minor degree of civility and common sense that I manage to apply at this time of the year. I could care less about calling it “A Holiday Tree” - it‘s a freaking Christmas tree! I could care less about a crèche displayed on public property. I could care less about carols sung to God wherever she may be. They can pontificate all they want about Jesus and I could care less. I will not go into a fetal position and whine endlessly to gutless public and private sector entities about “making changes.“ Christmas is important to my family, neighbors, friends and about 300,000,000 or so total strangers who reside - legally and illegally - in the United States. Sure they wallow in the excessive commercialism but they also managed to get their arse in gear and actually reach out to at least give some degree of holiday spirit. I may not be an active participant but I managed to keep my yap shut and throw some fiscal bones to assorted charities. Since I don’t believe in an afterlife I am certainly not investing in a stairway to heaven.

Now along comes assorted PC characters - usually with a abundance of Cambridge and Brookline zip codes - to try and do everything possible to actually put a damper of what a very vast majority celebrate and do so in a fairly harmless manner. Hello! PC! You folks are cranks! Understand you morons it is not the end of civilization to actually allow celebrations to take place. If someone finds it offensive for religious reasons or some type of moral conviction just don’t participate. Hey - I don’t celebrate Ramadan - but somehow it doesn’t toss me into a fit. Stick to that former obnoxious habit of prayers in schools. Concentrate on the “In God We Trust” that seems to still proliferate - although I really don’t get lathered up about it.

What is amazing is how easy some public and private types with decision making powers cave in so quickly to the whims of a few kooks. Seems everyone is so damn petrified of offending someone that they are 100% clueless that who they are actually offending is the 95% or so who participate in all this Christmas shenanigans. Schools seem to be the ones most terrorized by any possibility of being classified as “insensitive.” Tells you the state of education in America.

So this is one atheist who will have limited Christmas participation. I will be in the holiday spirit which is translated into giving a boat load of gifts to assorted family members. I will have to go and pretend I am interested in a tree - “Yes, dear, this one looks great and it is only $55!” I will have to hang lights out which means seeing how good Medicare really is when I do a flop off a ladder. I will have to somehow hide when it comes to that traditional exercise of sending Xmas cards to people I never even heard of. I am really insistent on not sending out any for two years in hopes that we are removed from all lists. I will toss our usual cache of toys and food to the proper depots. I will have to actually with a straight face tell my daughter her dog dressed in Xmas attire looks “cute.” So if I can swallow what little pride remains for me this time of year so can the handful of PC types who can just burrow away until 12/26.