Some things that I simply don't like...
People Who Don't Read
I don't care if you read Nora Roberts novels or the Wall Street Journal, but just read. Reading is this wonderful gift that makes zero sense to not fully use. Reading keeps your mind sharp.
Lazy People
You only get so much time in this existence, so why not try and make the best of it? Why not fill your time being creative, making things better, improving your mind? Why simply sit on your ass? Now I know that we all need to rest, and that's perfectly ok. But to spend hours on end just sitting around? Hell no.
Negative People
I know...how ironic! Despite the title and tone of this post, I am, by and large, a very positive person. What's more, I (like most people I think) hate to be around negative people. I have people like that in my extended family, and it's not pleasant.
People Who Abuse The System
We have safety nets built into our society for things like unemployment, food for the poor, etc. Nothing pisses me off more than people who take advantage of programs who really should not. Let's get it straight: unemployment is just for people who are laid off from a job due to no fault of their own...period. In this same category we have people who, for some reason, think it's ok to use an Access card to guy groceries but then magically have cash for smokes and beer....that amounts to nothing more than taxpayers subsidizing bad habits at best, stealing at worst.
People Who Are Not Curious
How could anyone live in this wide universe and not at least be a little bit curious about the things around them? There is so much to learn, there is so much to experience. Sheer insanity to not be the least bit curious about at least some aspects of the wider world.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
In The News...
...former First Lady Barbara Bush was recently hospitalized. You can disagree with the politics of her husband (by and large I didn't) and/or her son (by and large I did), but you have to admit that this is one classy lady. Seemingly very down to Earth, spunky and very protective of her family, I think she typified what a modern First Lady should be.
Trivia: when I first began working for my current employer, the President of our division was named Scott Pierce, who just happened to be the brother of Ms Bush.
All the best to Barbara Bush for a speedy recovery in time to spend Thanksgiving with her family.
Trivia: when I first began working for my current employer, the President of our division was named Scott Pierce, who just happened to be the brother of Ms Bush.
All the best to Barbara Bush for a speedy recovery in time to spend Thanksgiving with her family.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Personal Virtue
Vice President Dick Cheney was famous for once saying "conservation is a personal virtue, not a matter of public policy" or something with that same intent. Now I'm not going to question the motives or virtues of Mr Cheney, with whom I do disagree on more than a few things, but it does raise an interesting question: where do personal virtues cross that line where they should be a matter of public policy? Here are some of my thoughts on personal virtues.
Honesty
Honesty is a personal virtue. We are told that we should always be honest, but yet all of us lie at one time or another, and in point of fact being dishonest in some circumstances can probably be considered more virtuous than telling the truth (anyone who has or has had children knows what I am referring to when they eat their child's first culinary creation). Honesty is also a virtue that is a matter of public policy: when you are stopped by a police officer, you are required to be honest when he asks you questions. When you are in court, you are expected to be honest, else you will be charged contempt of court. I'm not lying here, although I will not claim to telling the truth all the time.
Charity
Another contradiction to Mr Cheney, in that charity is a personal virtue, but if you itemize your federal taxes you know doubt realize that the federal government encourages charitable giving via a tax deduction. I don't give enough, which I publicly confess. Years ago I would give to the Church on a regular basis, but that's slowly changed. I know that's not necessarily a good message, but I have a very difficult time supporting my Catholic Diocese when the leader of the Diocese seems to contradict Church teaching on the rights of workers to unionize and the right of all believers to use their God-given brains and hearts to weigh moral issues in an election. Anyway, recognizing that my level of charitable giving as decreased over the years, I've made the decision this year to being contributing regularly to a Charity (St Jude Children's Research Hospital). "Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found" goes the hymn I learned in Church as a child.
Hard Work
I believe in the soul-building value of working hard. Mind you, I don't think that working hard without gain is smart, so I'd qualify this virtue to mean that it's important to work hard as a means to an end. I fall short in this regard all the time, but I temper that personal disappointment with the knowledge that each and every day I can wake up and trying to get it right on a new day.
Conservation
I personally believe in conservation, both as a virtue and as a matter of public policy. Simply put, the public good is served by not wasting resources. Conservation is one of those things that we, as a people, can do to tangibly help those that come after us. On a personal level, I am more or less a fanatic about recycling, as my children can attest. I will go so far as to pull plastic and glass out of garbage cans to put them into recycle containers. Why? It just makes sense to me. It also plays into my thoughts overall about excessive consumption.
Frugality
I recently bought (from www.evolvefish.com) a bumper sticker that says "An economy based on the consumption of fixed resources will consume itself", which I think is a great thought. Maybe because I grew up without a lot I am more sensitive than most of this notion of constant consumption. Now I do like my toys: I even have an MP3 player with wireless Internet access; however my consumption isn't ever spur of the moment and is always done in consideration of what I need and can use vs what I simply want. Have I always done a good job of passing this virtue onto my children? Hell no. But my work in that regard is like someone trying to shovel water: it's just fighting against this all-conquering tide. In the case of consumption, that "tide" is reality all of the consumption-based society in which we live. Our children are taught from an early age by society and the media that consumption can make you happy, cool, popular, well-skinned, etc. It's up to us to get smart, as we grow older, to realize that the "big lie" exists in our consumption-based society: you can not consume yourself into happiness.
Independence
This is probably the most important personal virtue that I think anyone can ever have. I greatly admire people who strive for independence. Note that I said "strive", in that I realize all of us need help every now and then. I try to instill this virtue in my children, both overtly (by telling them that I want them to be successful in their lives on their own) and covertly. Conversely, I find it sometimes difficult to deal with the chronically dependent.
Honesty
Honesty is a personal virtue. We are told that we should always be honest, but yet all of us lie at one time or another, and in point of fact being dishonest in some circumstances can probably be considered more virtuous than telling the truth (anyone who has or has had children knows what I am referring to when they eat their child's first culinary creation). Honesty is also a virtue that is a matter of public policy: when you are stopped by a police officer, you are required to be honest when he asks you questions. When you are in court, you are expected to be honest, else you will be charged contempt of court. I'm not lying here, although I will not claim to telling the truth all the time.
Charity
Another contradiction to Mr Cheney, in that charity is a personal virtue, but if you itemize your federal taxes you know doubt realize that the federal government encourages charitable giving via a tax deduction. I don't give enough, which I publicly confess. Years ago I would give to the Church on a regular basis, but that's slowly changed. I know that's not necessarily a good message, but I have a very difficult time supporting my Catholic Diocese when the leader of the Diocese seems to contradict Church teaching on the rights of workers to unionize and the right of all believers to use their God-given brains and hearts to weigh moral issues in an election. Anyway, recognizing that my level of charitable giving as decreased over the years, I've made the decision this year to being contributing regularly to a Charity (St Jude Children's Research Hospital). "Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found" goes the hymn I learned in Church as a child.
Hard Work
I believe in the soul-building value of working hard. Mind you, I don't think that working hard without gain is smart, so I'd qualify this virtue to mean that it's important to work hard as a means to an end. I fall short in this regard all the time, but I temper that personal disappointment with the knowledge that each and every day I can wake up and trying to get it right on a new day.
Conservation
I personally believe in conservation, both as a virtue and as a matter of public policy. Simply put, the public good is served by not wasting resources. Conservation is one of those things that we, as a people, can do to tangibly help those that come after us. On a personal level, I am more or less a fanatic about recycling, as my children can attest. I will go so far as to pull plastic and glass out of garbage cans to put them into recycle containers. Why? It just makes sense to me. It also plays into my thoughts overall about excessive consumption.
Frugality
I recently bought (from www.evolvefish.com) a bumper sticker that says "An economy based on the consumption of fixed resources will consume itself", which I think is a great thought. Maybe because I grew up without a lot I am more sensitive than most of this notion of constant consumption. Now I do like my toys: I even have an MP3 player with wireless Internet access; however my consumption isn't ever spur of the moment and is always done in consideration of what I need and can use vs what I simply want. Have I always done a good job of passing this virtue onto my children? Hell no. But my work in that regard is like someone trying to shovel water: it's just fighting against this all-conquering tide. In the case of consumption, that "tide" is reality all of the consumption-based society in which we live. Our children are taught from an early age by society and the media that consumption can make you happy, cool, popular, well-skinned, etc. It's up to us to get smart, as we grow older, to realize that the "big lie" exists in our consumption-based society: you can not consume yourself into happiness.
Independence
This is probably the most important personal virtue that I think anyone can ever have. I greatly admire people who strive for independence. Note that I said "strive", in that I realize all of us need help every now and then. I try to instill this virtue in my children, both overtly (by telling them that I want them to be successful in their lives on their own) and covertly. Conversely, I find it sometimes difficult to deal with the chronically dependent.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Road Apples, #4
A Day On - I'm taking today off, if for no other reason than I have a lot of days to take off and a few months ago, for some reason, I thought today would be a good day to be off. Does that make any sense what so ever? Like most days off, I usually don't broadcast the fact at home, lest I be given massive lists of things to do, which in turn morphs my day off into a day on. Again, I don't really know if what I just wrote makes any sense to anyone but me, but that's ok, as it's my day off anyway. Regardless, I do have three things that must be done today:
1. I have to get the Cruiser's oil changed. I also want them to install the new, high-intensity headlights I bought back in March. I got these things with every intention of installing them myself, but then I learned that Chrysler, in it's infinite wisdom, requires that you install PT Cruiser headlights via the wheel wells (I kid you not), where there are these two little access panels. Sorry, but I have very big hands and these look like mighty small openings. I'm thinking that the Laser Lube guys will throw these bad-boys in for me for around $20, which will be worth it. The Laser Lube guys are great, by the way. Anyway, the new headlights should be about 40% brighter than what I currently have on the car, and with bad weather approaching, every little bit helps.
2. I have a meeting at noon in the office. Yeah, I know it stinks going in on a day off, but this is in support of someone who quasi-reports to me on this big project I'm working on, and she's really done a great job so far. The least I can do is to go in for a 30 minute conference call.
Oh The Weather Outside - It looks like our first real winter storm is approaching. My only real worry is that my oldest daughter was planning on coming home from school tomorrow (Kutztown). I'll have to call her this morning and tell her to consider coming back on Wednesday. I do sorry about her when she drives.
I'm Still Waiting for My Bailout - The federal government is going to pump billions into a bailout of CitiBank, just like the state and local governments are going to pump millions into keeping a department store (Boscov's) afloat. I agree that the government should help, but I do worry that we are now in essence rewarding failure for big-shots, and still punishing it for small-shots. Maybe, just maybe, this can change the culture of consumption that we have in this country. Maybe, just maybe, when all this is said and done, we will realize that there is no such animal as unlimited economic expansion.
Christmas Is Approaching - and I've got most of my shopping done. I still have some gift cards to pick up, and I still need something else to get my mother. I like having it all done, even though I know there are buys to be had on "Black Friday". About 20 years ago I worked in retail (assistant store manager at a Bon Ton in another part of the state), so I'm very familiar with the "big day". As a consumer, I've only been out shopping early on "Black Friday" once, years ago, to get a present for my mother-in-law. Never, ever again. I had to go to Walmart to look for a TV and a VCR/DVD combination machine. It was like some bizzare cross between shopping and "rollerball". I had old ladies ramming my heels with shopping carts. Scientists could model shark feeding behavior by watching this stuff. Definitely not worth it, even though I do love my mother-in-law.
Big Plans - I don't have my 2008 bonus, but I'm hoping it's at least quasi-ok, as I'm interested in doing some work around the house with it. Normally, my bonus is split between three things:
1. Pay the Property Taxes - Since I don't have a mortgage (I paid that off a few years ago), I have to pay my taxes on my own. It's about $1800 or so in total for everything...I think.
2. Pay Kate's Tuition - The biggest chunk of the bonus goes towards paying my oldest daugther's tuition bill. We get no real financial aid, other than an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, so this is a big expense.
3. Stuff Around the House/Vacation - I'm not big on vacations, truth be told. When the girls were younger it was different, but now everyone has their own interests, so that's not something I'm really all that keen on, truth be told. This year the money will go towards some much needed repairs around the house (last year those repairs included replacing some roof shingles and upgrading the house electrical service), including replacing part of the TV room ceiling...which had some water damage...and I'd like to get a small flat screen TV for my office, where I can couple it with my XBox360 and maybe a PS3. I'd also like to get a new mission-style cabinet for the equipment and to store games, DVD, etc. This would free my existing cabinet for the ever-growing collection of CDs.
Let It Be - I discovered last night that you can see the entire motion picture Let It Be, by the Beatles, on YouTube. I watched about half of it. Damn, Paul was really, really bossy back then. Interesting if you are a hard-core fan, but otherwise I think it would bore most people. I'll probably try and catch the rest of it this evening.
Note for whomever read this: If I were you, I'd be thinking right now "Damn, that's an awful lot of stuff I didn't need to know". Sorry...if I could credit your life with the 5 minutes you just took to read the above, I would. Hell, contact me and I'll buy you the non-alcoholic drink of your choice, just because I feel guilty sometimes for writing this stuff.
1. I have to get the Cruiser's oil changed. I also want them to install the new, high-intensity headlights I bought back in March. I got these things with every intention of installing them myself, but then I learned that Chrysler, in it's infinite wisdom, requires that you install PT Cruiser headlights via the wheel wells (I kid you not), where there are these two little access panels. Sorry, but I have very big hands and these look like mighty small openings. I'm thinking that the Laser Lube guys will throw these bad-boys in for me for around $20, which will be worth it. The Laser Lube guys are great, by the way. Anyway, the new headlights should be about 40% brighter than what I currently have on the car, and with bad weather approaching, every little bit helps.
2. I have a meeting at noon in the office. Yeah, I know it stinks going in on a day off, but this is in support of someone who quasi-reports to me on this big project I'm working on, and she's really done a great job so far. The least I can do is to go in for a 30 minute conference call.
Oh The Weather Outside - It looks like our first real winter storm is approaching. My only real worry is that my oldest daughter was planning on coming home from school tomorrow (Kutztown). I'll have to call her this morning and tell her to consider coming back on Wednesday. I do sorry about her when she drives.
I'm Still Waiting for My Bailout - The federal government is going to pump billions into a bailout of CitiBank, just like the state and local governments are going to pump millions into keeping a department store (Boscov's) afloat. I agree that the government should help, but I do worry that we are now in essence rewarding failure for big-shots, and still punishing it for small-shots. Maybe, just maybe, this can change the culture of consumption that we have in this country. Maybe, just maybe, when all this is said and done, we will realize that there is no such animal as unlimited economic expansion.
Christmas Is Approaching - and I've got most of my shopping done. I still have some gift cards to pick up, and I still need something else to get my mother. I like having it all done, even though I know there are buys to be had on "Black Friday". About 20 years ago I worked in retail (assistant store manager at a Bon Ton in another part of the state), so I'm very familiar with the "big day". As a consumer, I've only been out shopping early on "Black Friday" once, years ago, to get a present for my mother-in-law. Never, ever again. I had to go to Walmart to look for a TV and a VCR/DVD combination machine. It was like some bizzare cross between shopping and "rollerball". I had old ladies ramming my heels with shopping carts. Scientists could model shark feeding behavior by watching this stuff. Definitely not worth it, even though I do love my mother-in-law.
Big Plans - I don't have my 2008 bonus, but I'm hoping it's at least quasi-ok, as I'm interested in doing some work around the house with it. Normally, my bonus is split between three things:
1. Pay the Property Taxes - Since I don't have a mortgage (I paid that off a few years ago), I have to pay my taxes on my own. It's about $1800 or so in total for everything...I think.
2. Pay Kate's Tuition - The biggest chunk of the bonus goes towards paying my oldest daugther's tuition bill. We get no real financial aid, other than an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, so this is a big expense.
3. Stuff Around the House/Vacation - I'm not big on vacations, truth be told. When the girls were younger it was different, but now everyone has their own interests, so that's not something I'm really all that keen on, truth be told. This year the money will go towards some much needed repairs around the house (last year those repairs included replacing some roof shingles and upgrading the house electrical service), including replacing part of the TV room ceiling...which had some water damage...and I'd like to get a small flat screen TV for my office, where I can couple it with my XBox360 and maybe a PS3. I'd also like to get a new mission-style cabinet for the equipment and to store games, DVD, etc. This would free my existing cabinet for the ever-growing collection of CDs.
Let It Be - I discovered last night that you can see the entire motion picture Let It Be, by the Beatles, on YouTube. I watched about half of it. Damn, Paul was really, really bossy back then. Interesting if you are a hard-core fan, but otherwise I think it would bore most people. I'll probably try and catch the rest of it this evening.
Note for whomever read this: If I were you, I'd be thinking right now "Damn, that's an awful lot of stuff I didn't need to know". Sorry...if I could credit your life with the 5 minutes you just took to read the above, I would. Hell, contact me and I'll buy you the non-alcoholic drink of your choice, just because I feel guilty sometimes for writing this stuff.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Mental Health & The Holidays
As I've written about before, mental illness is something I deal with in my family on an almost daily basis. Sometimes the way the illness manifests itself isn't so readily apparent; other times, especially during the holidays, it tends to smack you in the face. As the holidays come upon us, it's time for me to work even harder to keep things in perspective and try to keep the spirit of the holidays alive inside myself.
It's been my experience that, for people who struggle with mental illness, the holidays present an especially difficult time of the year. For many, just the change in routine can be difficult, and coupled with financial pressures (and the need to, perhaps, use material things to prove feelings that can't readily be expressed) makes for a very difficult time. As has been the case for me over the years, the easy thing would have been to just sink into the despair that the holiday season bring to some, but for me it's been a blessing of sorts in that I see even more clearly what really matters. The fact that I can derive joy from buying gifts for my family, unencumbered by the mental baggage of worry and guilt, is something I am very thankful for.
I am not immune to the pressures that mental illness in the family brings during the holiday season. I do get angry, I do get worried with unexpected financial pressures arise, I do get disappointed when others can't seem to enjoy a season that exists for the very purpose of enjoyment. But for me, I have learned through the years that having those feelings is perfectly ok, as long as I acknowledge the feeling and know for myself that my negative feelings don't rule me.
It's been my experience that, for people who struggle with mental illness, the holidays present an especially difficult time of the year. For many, just the change in routine can be difficult, and coupled with financial pressures (and the need to, perhaps, use material things to prove feelings that can't readily be expressed) makes for a very difficult time. As has been the case for me over the years, the easy thing would have been to just sink into the despair that the holiday season bring to some, but for me it's been a blessing of sorts in that I see even more clearly what really matters. The fact that I can derive joy from buying gifts for my family, unencumbered by the mental baggage of worry and guilt, is something I am very thankful for.
I am not immune to the pressures that mental illness in the family brings during the holiday season. I do get angry, I do get worried with unexpected financial pressures arise, I do get disappointed when others can't seem to enjoy a season that exists for the very purpose of enjoyment. But for me, I have learned through the years that having those feelings is perfectly ok, as long as I acknowledge the feeling and know for myself that my negative feelings don't rule me.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Road Apples, #3
Just a few random thoughts running through my head at the moment:
YESTERDAY was a long day. I had to facilitate a class yesterday in Woodbridge on the subject of Career Planning, which translated into 5+ hours on the road (where you have to really be "on" all the time...we are talking NJ roads here), 45 minutes of a meeting and about an hour and a half of actual class time (where I really, really had to be "on"). There's nothing like 60 people staring at you, waiting for something informative and/or inspirational to somehow come from your lips to their ears. Anyway, the class seemed to go well, as I had a lot of nodding heads, more than a few questions/comments, lots of people staying afterwards to chat and, I think, a satisfied executive sponsor. I don't normally do a lot of what you could call "soft skills" classes, so this was a nice change of pace.
IT'S TOO DAMN COLD OUT for November. Twenty one degrees outside this morning. I want my Global Warming, and I want it now!
IN THE HANDOUT DEPARTMENT we now have Boscov's department store. Story link here. I have very mixed feeling about this, but I need time to noodle the whole thing over some more. What bothers me somewhat is that the chain started to get into trouble, I think, when it bought-out Mr Boscov a few years ago and then decided to over-expand. Generally speaking, bankruptcy doesn't always result in a happy ending for department store chains.
I HAVE MONDDAY OFF and I'm actually kind of thrilled. It's been a long, long week. I didn't get to workout much this week, and I think I'm feeling the effects. Work was also trying, as they are a lot of pressing issues involved in a big projet I work on. Generally speaking, I can handle techincial issues on projects fairly well; what saps me of energy is when I have to deal with all the organizational bullcrap that goes with them (territories being defended, people arguing about resources, etc.). It's all so Dilbert-esque.
DID I MENTION that it's cold outside? Just started the car, and it feels like February.
I HAVE A RECLINER in my office that I am torn over. Specifically, I want to get rid of it, but my cats just love to sit on the top of it. What's a guy to do? I can't use the recliner as an actual chair anymore, becasue said cats have deposited so much fur on it that you can't even be near it without getting a coating on yourself. It also takes up too much space (and isn't in keeping my my plans for the office next year). Decisions, decisions.
YESTERDAY was a long day. I had to facilitate a class yesterday in Woodbridge on the subject of Career Planning, which translated into 5+ hours on the road (where you have to really be "on" all the time...we are talking NJ roads here), 45 minutes of a meeting and about an hour and a half of actual class time (where I really, really had to be "on"). There's nothing like 60 people staring at you, waiting for something informative and/or inspirational to somehow come from your lips to their ears. Anyway, the class seemed to go well, as I had a lot of nodding heads, more than a few questions/comments, lots of people staying afterwards to chat and, I think, a satisfied executive sponsor. I don't normally do a lot of what you could call "soft skills" classes, so this was a nice change of pace.
IT'S TOO DAMN COLD OUT for November. Twenty one degrees outside this morning. I want my Global Warming, and I want it now!
IN THE HANDOUT DEPARTMENT we now have Boscov's department store. Story link here. I have very mixed feeling about this, but I need time to noodle the whole thing over some more. What bothers me somewhat is that the chain started to get into trouble, I think, when it bought-out Mr Boscov a few years ago and then decided to over-expand. Generally speaking, bankruptcy doesn't always result in a happy ending for department store chains.
I HAVE MONDDAY OFF and I'm actually kind of thrilled. It's been a long, long week. I didn't get to workout much this week, and I think I'm feeling the effects. Work was also trying, as they are a lot of pressing issues involved in a big projet I work on. Generally speaking, I can handle techincial issues on projects fairly well; what saps me of energy is when I have to deal with all the organizational bullcrap that goes with them (territories being defended, people arguing about resources, etc.). It's all so Dilbert-esque.
DID I MENTION that it's cold outside? Just started the car, and it feels like February.
I HAVE A RECLINER in my office that I am torn over. Specifically, I want to get rid of it, but my cats just love to sit on the top of it. What's a guy to do? I can't use the recliner as an actual chair anymore, becasue said cats have deposited so much fur on it that you can't even be near it without getting a coating on yourself. It also takes up too much space (and isn't in keeping my my plans for the office next year). Decisions, decisions.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
David Brooks Piece On The Big Three Bailout
I do my best to get a 30 minute workout in my schedule about 4-5 days a week. Sometimes it's easier said than done to actually make it happen, but never the less I do try. While I'm chugging along for 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, I usually read through two newspapers...typically The Scranton Times and USA Today (both of which I buy at work that morning). Anyway, this has two benefits for me:
1. I get much-needed exercise (stress relief, lower blood pressure, etc.)
2. I get to keep up on current events.
In yesterday's Scranton Times there was what I think is the best yet commentary piece of the proposed bail-out of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers, penned by New York Times columnist David Brooks. Click on the title of this blog (or here) for the article. Personally I think everyone should be interested in this, as what is done in this instance has very wide implications for our nation and our economy.
My own opinion is that Brooks has nailed it. If you or I were to fail to run the financial side of our lives in a prudent manner, we would have to face the consequences of a debt management service or perhaps bankruptcy. There would be no government subsidy of our bad spending and life decisions (gee, maybe buying all the Elvis memorabilia on QVC wasn't such a good decisions after all). In fact, even if you were prudent in running your life, you could still encounter situations (such as a large medical expenses) whereby bankruptcy could be the only option. Yet here we stand, seeing an entire industry that, for about as long as I have been alive, has failed to make sound business decisions with regards to fuel economy, product reliability and labor relations.
At most, Congress should allow the Big Three to use the $25 billion in loans already in place for technology re-tooling for other uses AND attach new conditions that will require the companies to submit to transparent oversight of core business drivers (such as fuel economy and product reliability). The public should also be given a seat of the Boards of Directors of these firms.
Let's stop rewarding failure on the part of the money-elite and punishing failure for the rest of us.
1. I get much-needed exercise (stress relief, lower blood pressure, etc.)
2. I get to keep up on current events.
In yesterday's Scranton Times there was what I think is the best yet commentary piece of the proposed bail-out of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers, penned by New York Times columnist David Brooks. Click on the title of this blog (or here) for the article. Personally I think everyone should be interested in this, as what is done in this instance has very wide implications for our nation and our economy.
My own opinion is that Brooks has nailed it. If you or I were to fail to run the financial side of our lives in a prudent manner, we would have to face the consequences of a debt management service or perhaps bankruptcy. There would be no government subsidy of our bad spending and life decisions (gee, maybe buying all the Elvis memorabilia on QVC wasn't such a good decisions after all). In fact, even if you were prudent in running your life, you could still encounter situations (such as a large medical expenses) whereby bankruptcy could be the only option. Yet here we stand, seeing an entire industry that, for about as long as I have been alive, has failed to make sound business decisions with regards to fuel economy, product reliability and labor relations.
At most, Congress should allow the Big Three to use the $25 billion in loans already in place for technology re-tooling for other uses AND attach new conditions that will require the companies to submit to transparent oversight of core business drivers (such as fuel economy and product reliability). The public should also be given a seat of the Boards of Directors of these firms.
Let's stop rewarding failure on the part of the money-elite and punishing failure for the rest of us.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Likes & Dislikes
In the "probably no one gives a crap" department, here's a list of likes and dislikes from yours truly. This is probably a repeat, but
LIKES
Cats - Maybe it's their "I'll be affectionate, but on my terms" attitude. Maybe it's the fact that they are the ultimate stress managers...ever see a cat sleeping? Now that's relaxation! The are relative clean (except for the litter box) and don't smell. Decent size...not too big, not too small. They also have their own individual personalities.
Non-Fiction - I enjoy reading biographies and pieces on politics, current events, astronomy, etc. I also like my reading in chunks that manage my incredibly short attention span.
MSNBC.com - One of the best news sites on the Internet. Lots of current content sorted by category, with a great mix of text and video. Interesting "Top 5 ____" articles that make for short-but-fun reading.
Mozilla Firefox - The best Internet browser on the market. Intuitive controls that can be customized, lots of features to protect privacy.
Coconut - I love it. Candy...deserts, etc. It matters not. Good coconut cream pie is as good as it gets.
Pennsylvania - Big cities (Philadelphia & Pittsburgh), rolling country side (Lancaster County), forested hills (NEPA). Affordable cost of living, relatively low property taxes and, if you live in Scranton, NYC and Philadelphia in about two hours. The downside is that the economy has never been great, especially in this area.
Governor Ed Rendell - A politician's politician, glad-handing with the best of them, but also a very smart guy who gets stuff done. Has butted heads with just about everyone at one time or another, which isn't a bad thing.
Satellite Radio - A great guilty pleasure, although I can do without the "news in Korean" channel. Well worth the $12 a month.
Contributing to Children's Charities - Call me a softee, but I think there isn't much worse than seeing a kid having to battle cancer. I don't wish illness on anyone, but some of us at least have had a chance to live a decent life; the notion that someone who hasn't had that opportunity being struck down is saddening. That's why I do my best to support charities that help children.
Newt Gingrich - I don't agree with everything Newt says, but I do admire his logic, reasoning and passion. This is a very bright guy who appeals to the head. He only fails when he pushes the "family values" button, which is not a good move with some of the baggage he carries.
DISLIKES
Dogs - I have nothing against dogs, well other than the fact that they can be, well, stinky. We had a dog when I was a kid. Nice pet, but man was she stinky. I'd actually like the idea of having a dog to walk, well except for having to pick up after it. I think I'll pass.
Fiction - I have a very tough time reading most fiction. I actually got into trouble when I was around 12 for refusing to read 'The Outsiders' during a summer program. About the only fiction I've actually ever read was the occasional SciFi novel. No offense to anyone, but I just have a tough time getting into something that isn't true.
CNN.com - Probably one of the worst Internet News sites. A shockingly small amount of content that isn't refreshed very often. Too much video content.
Internet Explorer - Horribly, simply horrible. The world's most hacked web browser. I find the latest version's "icons instead of commands/buttons" interface to be confusing. Just where the hell is the refresh button?
Peanut Butter - I can't comprehend how human beings can consume this rancid crap. The smell alone makes me want to vomit.
Connecticut - Hartford is Newark NJ's mini-me. Incredibly high cost of living. Some very nice people, but I get the impression that it's the worst managed state in the union. About the only nice thing I can say is that it's quainter than New Jersey.
State Senator Bob Mellow - Nothing personal against Senator Mellow, as I am sure he is personally a decent guy, but I don't get the thing with using taxpayer money for things like college theaters and then having them named "The Bob Mellow __________". How about "The Taxpayer ___________" instead?
Commercial Radio - Safe programming, 24/7 Foghat & Freebird, and almost constant commercials. An idea whose time has gone.
Contributing to Political Action Committees - I've never given a dollar to a politician campaign, party or PAC, nor will I ever. By in large, PACs have narrow visions that support narrow segments of society. Some have very worthwhile missions, but I think there are other priorities in life than supporting the right to own a machinegun.
Rush Limbaugh - A guy who was secretly addicted to drugs while at the same time saying publicly that people who use drugs should go to jail. 'nuff said.
LIKES
Cats - Maybe it's their "I'll be affectionate, but on my terms" attitude. Maybe it's the fact that they are the ultimate stress managers...ever see a cat sleeping? Now that's relaxation! The are relative clean (except for the litter box) and don't smell. Decent size...not too big, not too small. They also have their own individual personalities.
Non-Fiction - I enjoy reading biographies and pieces on politics, current events, astronomy, etc. I also like my reading in chunks that manage my incredibly short attention span.
MSNBC.com - One of the best news sites on the Internet. Lots of current content sorted by category, with a great mix of text and video. Interesting "Top 5 ____" articles that make for short-but-fun reading.
Mozilla Firefox - The best Internet browser on the market. Intuitive controls that can be customized, lots of features to protect privacy.
Coconut - I love it. Candy...deserts, etc. It matters not. Good coconut cream pie is as good as it gets.
Pennsylvania - Big cities (Philadelphia & Pittsburgh), rolling country side (Lancaster County), forested hills (NEPA). Affordable cost of living, relatively low property taxes and, if you live in Scranton, NYC and Philadelphia in about two hours. The downside is that the economy has never been great, especially in this area.
Governor Ed Rendell - A politician's politician, glad-handing with the best of them, but also a very smart guy who gets stuff done. Has butted heads with just about everyone at one time or another, which isn't a bad thing.
Satellite Radio - A great guilty pleasure, although I can do without the "news in Korean" channel. Well worth the $12 a month.
Contributing to Children's Charities - Call me a softee, but I think there isn't much worse than seeing a kid having to battle cancer. I don't wish illness on anyone, but some of us at least have had a chance to live a decent life; the notion that someone who hasn't had that opportunity being struck down is saddening. That's why I do my best to support charities that help children.
Newt Gingrich - I don't agree with everything Newt says, but I do admire his logic, reasoning and passion. This is a very bright guy who appeals to the head. He only fails when he pushes the "family values" button, which is not a good move with some of the baggage he carries.
DISLIKES
Dogs - I have nothing against dogs, well other than the fact that they can be, well, stinky. We had a dog when I was a kid. Nice pet, but man was she stinky. I'd actually like the idea of having a dog to walk, well except for having to pick up after it. I think I'll pass.
Fiction - I have a very tough time reading most fiction. I actually got into trouble when I was around 12 for refusing to read 'The Outsiders' during a summer program. About the only fiction I've actually ever read was the occasional SciFi novel. No offense to anyone, but I just have a tough time getting into something that isn't true.
CNN.com - Probably one of the worst Internet News sites. A shockingly small amount of content that isn't refreshed very often. Too much video content.
Internet Explorer - Horribly, simply horrible. The world's most hacked web browser. I find the latest version's "icons instead of commands/buttons" interface to be confusing. Just where the hell is the refresh button?
Peanut Butter - I can't comprehend how human beings can consume this rancid crap. The smell alone makes me want to vomit.
Connecticut - Hartford is Newark NJ's mini-me. Incredibly high cost of living. Some very nice people, but I get the impression that it's the worst managed state in the union. About the only nice thing I can say is that it's quainter than New Jersey.
State Senator Bob Mellow - Nothing personal against Senator Mellow, as I am sure he is personally a decent guy, but I don't get the thing with using taxpayer money for things like college theaters and then having them named "The Bob Mellow __________". How about "The Taxpayer ___________" instead?
Commercial Radio - Safe programming, 24/7 Foghat & Freebird, and almost constant commercials. An idea whose time has gone.
Contributing to Political Action Committees - I've never given a dollar to a politician campaign, party or PAC, nor will I ever. By in large, PACs have narrow visions that support narrow segments of society. Some have very worthwhile missions, but I think there are other priorities in life than supporting the right to own a machinegun.
Rush Limbaugh - A guy who was secretly addicted to drugs while at the same time saying publicly that people who use drugs should go to jail. 'nuff said.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Getting Paid for Bad Decisions
I have three daughters that don't always pick up after themselves. Can the government give me a hand with that?
I have four cats, and it's very difficult picking up the hair, cleaning out the litterboxes, finding the tuna wet catfood that they like, etc.. Can the government give me a hand with that as well?
Yeah, I know that those examples are a little trite, to say the least, but I guess the concept is still the same, namely that somehow I need to be accountable for my own bad decisions (whether it be related to teaching my kids to pick up after themselves or in collecting cats), on a small scale, but somehow responsibility ends when the bad decisions get bigger.
Now please don't think that I'm somehow against any and every instance of government intervention into the business world, because I am not. I also realize that the 80's bailout of Chrysler actually made money for the government (Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca actually paid the money back, with interest, early). However, at what point does this end? In the auto industry, we have a HISTORY of businesses forgoing long-term profit in exchange for short-term gain. These people KNEW that gas prices were going to go up over the long term, but yet they still kept spitting out the large SUVs and putting too much of their R&D money into more of the same. A classic example of the worst that American business has to offer: short term profits ahead of long-term success. While Ford was putting out moster sized F-150, 250, 350 (some being so big that you swear they could turn, at a moment's notice, into a giant fighting robot), Toyota was putting out the Prius.
The Greed Heads in corporate offices aren't the only one's to blame here. Add two more to the list:
1. Union Members who believed that they were entitled to employment for a lifetime and who wanted to be paid for obstensively not working (the infamous "job bank" program, whereby laid off workers show up at a center and continue to get paid for not working). These same union members seems to feel that somehow their fortunes are divorced from those of their employers. The easy shot here is to blame management for giving in to the union demands, but as is the case with an unexpected pregnancy, it "takes two to tango". In the end, when it come to labor costs it's all in the math: GM pays about $70/hr for wages and benefits, Toyota pays about $45. Cultivating "us" vs. "them" attitudes may be good for union leadership, but I think it's also a big part of the failure here. While I don't have any ill-will towards workers (who were not designing crappy cars or pushing SUVs...management was doing that), the fact remains that they too believed in this fairy tale of "the never-ending paycheck".
2. Michigan Congressional delegation who were nothing more than puppets of a bloated industry that fought things like higer fuel economy standards like Bush fighting the Endangered Species Act. IF EVER there was a case of money corrupting politics, it's in this state (Michigan) and these elected officials.
So there you have it, poorly run companies, unions detached from reality and members of congress who were puppets of the previous two. And now they want money from all of us? Yes, sure, there can be conditions.
Am I against the bailout of these companies? I guess you've probably figured out that I am.
Many years ago, I found out that my own finances were not in the best of shape. I was in a position whereby someone else was taking care of that stuff, and I assumed it was ok. The greater sin was mine, as allowed someone else to be in charge of that without the support I should have been providing all along. Fair enough. However, once I found out just how bad it was, I took responsibility, didn't ask for dime from anyone, and set to work cleaning it all up. Years later, my house is paid for, and I have a total of $1400 in total creditcard debt. Superman? No. I just took responsiblity for the situation I found myself in and dealt with it. It was painful, it was difficult and it required sacrifice. It required humility on my part. But when all was said and done, I was better off for having dealt with it myself.
In the end, my position is simple: Detroit created this crisis. Sure, recent economic changes have made it tough on auto manufacturers, but well-run businesses have the resources to ride-out the bad economic storms. With the "Big Three" we have classic examples of unmittigated greed...from the board room to the union halls to the halls of Congress. Would bankruptcy create hardship for all involved? I am sure it would, but any solition that doens't involve some pain for all the parties involved (Managment, workers and Michigan Congressional delegation) isn't much of solution.
What's left? Bankruptcy, re-organization and consolidation. There will be much pain, and for that I am sorry. However, if there were to be a bailout, it would simply postpone the pain to a future year. Simply put, no amount of money can solve the fundamental problems here, because the people that run these companies and the workers build the vehicles seem to detached from the reality of the situation: competition that is better at building cars at a lower cost structure. Throwing $50 billion at the industry will not change that fundamental.
Think of the auto industry as suffering from a disease: throwing money at them would be like giving it something for the pain, however it doesn't threat the underlying cause of the illness. What's needed now is surgery.
I have four cats, and it's very difficult picking up the hair, cleaning out the litterboxes, finding the tuna wet catfood that they like, etc.. Can the government give me a hand with that as well?
Yeah, I know that those examples are a little trite, to say the least, but I guess the concept is still the same, namely that somehow I need to be accountable for my own bad decisions (whether it be related to teaching my kids to pick up after themselves or in collecting cats), on a small scale, but somehow responsibility ends when the bad decisions get bigger.
Now please don't think that I'm somehow against any and every instance of government intervention into the business world, because I am not. I also realize that the 80's bailout of Chrysler actually made money for the government (Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca actually paid the money back, with interest, early). However, at what point does this end? In the auto industry, we have a HISTORY of businesses forgoing long-term profit in exchange for short-term gain. These people KNEW that gas prices were going to go up over the long term, but yet they still kept spitting out the large SUVs and putting too much of their R&D money into more of the same. A classic example of the worst that American business has to offer: short term profits ahead of long-term success. While Ford was putting out moster sized F-150, 250, 350 (some being so big that you swear they could turn, at a moment's notice, into a giant fighting robot), Toyota was putting out the Prius.
The Greed Heads in corporate offices aren't the only one's to blame here. Add two more to the list:
1. Union Members who believed that they were entitled to employment for a lifetime and who wanted to be paid for obstensively not working (the infamous "job bank" program, whereby laid off workers show up at a center and continue to get paid for not working). These same union members seems to feel that somehow their fortunes are divorced from those of their employers. The easy shot here is to blame management for giving in to the union demands, but as is the case with an unexpected pregnancy, it "takes two to tango". In the end, when it come to labor costs it's all in the math: GM pays about $70/hr for wages and benefits, Toyota pays about $45. Cultivating "us" vs. "them" attitudes may be good for union leadership, but I think it's also a big part of the failure here. While I don't have any ill-will towards workers (who were not designing crappy cars or pushing SUVs...management was doing that), the fact remains that they too believed in this fairy tale of "the never-ending paycheck".
2. Michigan Congressional delegation who were nothing more than puppets of a bloated industry that fought things like higer fuel economy standards like Bush fighting the Endangered Species Act. IF EVER there was a case of money corrupting politics, it's in this state (Michigan) and these elected officials.
So there you have it, poorly run companies, unions detached from reality and members of congress who were puppets of the previous two. And now they want money from all of us? Yes, sure, there can be conditions.
Am I against the bailout of these companies? I guess you've probably figured out that I am.
Many years ago, I found out that my own finances were not in the best of shape. I was in a position whereby someone else was taking care of that stuff, and I assumed it was ok. The greater sin was mine, as allowed someone else to be in charge of that without the support I should have been providing all along. Fair enough. However, once I found out just how bad it was, I took responsibility, didn't ask for dime from anyone, and set to work cleaning it all up. Years later, my house is paid for, and I have a total of $1400 in total creditcard debt. Superman? No. I just took responsiblity for the situation I found myself in and dealt with it. It was painful, it was difficult and it required sacrifice. It required humility on my part. But when all was said and done, I was better off for having dealt with it myself.
In the end, my position is simple: Detroit created this crisis. Sure, recent economic changes have made it tough on auto manufacturers, but well-run businesses have the resources to ride-out the bad economic storms. With the "Big Three" we have classic examples of unmittigated greed...from the board room to the union halls to the halls of Congress. Would bankruptcy create hardship for all involved? I am sure it would, but any solition that doens't involve some pain for all the parties involved (Managment, workers and Michigan Congressional delegation) isn't much of solution.
What's left? Bankruptcy, re-organization and consolidation. There will be much pain, and for that I am sorry. However, if there were to be a bailout, it would simply postpone the pain to a future year. Simply put, no amount of money can solve the fundamental problems here, because the people that run these companies and the workers build the vehicles seem to detached from the reality of the situation: competition that is better at building cars at a lower cost structure. Throwing $50 billion at the industry will not change that fundamental.
Think of the auto industry as suffering from a disease: throwing money at them would be like giving it something for the pain, however it doesn't threat the underlying cause of the illness. What's needed now is surgery.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Things I Grew Up With (some have gone, and some remain)
"There are places I remember,
All my life, though some have changed.
Some forever not for better,
Some have gone and some remain."
-In My Life (The Beatles)
Leaving work on Friday, I was thinking about how much of my life was shaped by how I grew up. Now I'm not sure why this particular thought crumb fell into my lap, but never the less it was there. To extend the randomness even further, I was thinking about the things I knew and experienced growing up and how they've influenced and impacted me to this date.
Growing Up (relatively) Not Well Off
I grew up in a housing project, one of four boys raised by a single parent who worked nights to support her children. We were not destitute, but we didn't have a lot either. For example, I still remember when we got our first color TV, because the first thing I remember watching was something about the funeral of Elvis Presley. I was also (relatively) ashamed of where I lived and tried my best to keep it a secret. That was the natural reaction to the peer pressure I felt at the time, I suppose, but it was incredibly wrong never the less. I had nothing to be ashamed of, and now I am very proud of where I came from. I work with plenty of people who grew up in nice middle-class surroundings who don't seem any more well adjusted than me...and in fact some seem less adjusted, truth be told.
Music
When I was young, my brothers and I would often listed to my mother's records. This included the soundtrack to West Side Story (I can still sing "Sgt Krupki" on request) Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits and other assorted albums. What I didn't listen to, for the most part, was popular music of the period. In fact, I remember being in 7th grade and seeing a "Kiss" sticker on someones book and having to asking them what it was. We just really didn't listen to all that much radio back then, and as a result (at least I) really didn't hear much in the way of "period" music. That changed rapidly, and by the time I was earning my own money with a paper route, I was buying 8 Track Tapes and albums. Now music is something that's readily a part of my life and the lives of my children. They grew up listening to me play ABBA and the Beatles, and now they are all old enough to have their own musical preferences. I drew few lines in what they could listen to: I never wanted anything that was disrespectful to women, for example, but pretty much everything else is ok. That's not to say that I actually like listening to the 'Emo' style that my youngest daughter listens to, but hey, it's her choice.
Food
I think my mother made about 7 different things to eat, and that was pretty much it. I think the meals fell into something of a pattern, more or less, although I'm not sure just what the pattern was all those years ago. We always had spaghetti...which I don't like now, although I do like meatballs, and my mother always made homemade meatballs. We would have pork chops....which I never eat now, ever. I just don't like pork, outside of some bacon or a piece of ham every once in a while. We would have meatloaf...and I try my best to make my mother's meatloaf to this very day; in fact, my kids actually like it when I make meatloaf. We would have things like roast beef and chicken (I can still remember my mother boiling the chicken before putting it in the oven), although my mother was very simple with the veggies (I can remember three: Lima Beans, Green Beans and Wax Beans), so to this very day I don't eat a wide variety of them.
Books
We always had books laying around the house, including a full set of encyclopedias. I would love to take an encyclopedia volume and just open it up and read stuff. I think that's where my love of random information comes from. My mother always encouraged us to read things we liked, and there was never any pressure to read things we didn't. To this day I don't read a lot of fiction, but I think that's in part because of how I loved reading about all those random facts in the encyclopedia.
Clothes
Because we were not all that well off, I would describe our clothes as simple. In fact, outside of the one good dress shirt, I really didn't own any shirts with collars for the longest time. I think I bought my own first polo shirt..,it was navy blue and I got it from Sears in the Viewmont Mall. Needless to say, we didn't grow up as members of the fashion elite. Now days I wouldn't say that I'm a "clothes horse", but I do try and pay attention to what I wear. I love stuff from Eddie Bauer...even my basic watch is from Eddie. I like earth tones and things that have a relaxed fit, although I do own a wardrobe that fits with my need to look professional at work (including the required dark grey suit).
All my life, though some have changed.
Some forever not for better,
Some have gone and some remain."
-In My Life (The Beatles)
Leaving work on Friday, I was thinking about how much of my life was shaped by how I grew up. Now I'm not sure why this particular thought crumb fell into my lap, but never the less it was there. To extend the randomness even further, I was thinking about the things I knew and experienced growing up and how they've influenced and impacted me to this date.
Growing Up (relatively) Not Well Off
I grew up in a housing project, one of four boys raised by a single parent who worked nights to support her children. We were not destitute, but we didn't have a lot either. For example, I still remember when we got our first color TV, because the first thing I remember watching was something about the funeral of Elvis Presley. I was also (relatively) ashamed of where I lived and tried my best to keep it a secret. That was the natural reaction to the peer pressure I felt at the time, I suppose, but it was incredibly wrong never the less. I had nothing to be ashamed of, and now I am very proud of where I came from. I work with plenty of people who grew up in nice middle-class surroundings who don't seem any more well adjusted than me...and in fact some seem less adjusted, truth be told.
Music
When I was young, my brothers and I would often listed to my mother's records. This included the soundtrack to West Side Story (I can still sing "Sgt Krupki" on request) Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits and other assorted albums. What I didn't listen to, for the most part, was popular music of the period. In fact, I remember being in 7th grade and seeing a "Kiss" sticker on someones book and having to asking them what it was. We just really didn't listen to all that much radio back then, and as a result (at least I) really didn't hear much in the way of "period" music. That changed rapidly, and by the time I was earning my own money with a paper route, I was buying 8 Track Tapes and albums. Now music is something that's readily a part of my life and the lives of my children. They grew up listening to me play ABBA and the Beatles, and now they are all old enough to have their own musical preferences. I drew few lines in what they could listen to: I never wanted anything that was disrespectful to women, for example, but pretty much everything else is ok. That's not to say that I actually like listening to the 'Emo' style that my youngest daughter listens to, but hey, it's her choice.
Food
I think my mother made about 7 different things to eat, and that was pretty much it. I think the meals fell into something of a pattern, more or less, although I'm not sure just what the pattern was all those years ago. We always had spaghetti...which I don't like now, although I do like meatballs, and my mother always made homemade meatballs. We would have pork chops....which I never eat now, ever. I just don't like pork, outside of some bacon or a piece of ham every once in a while. We would have meatloaf...and I try my best to make my mother's meatloaf to this very day; in fact, my kids actually like it when I make meatloaf. We would have things like roast beef and chicken (I can still remember my mother boiling the chicken before putting it in the oven), although my mother was very simple with the veggies (I can remember three: Lima Beans, Green Beans and Wax Beans), so to this very day I don't eat a wide variety of them.
Books
We always had books laying around the house, including a full set of encyclopedias. I would love to take an encyclopedia volume and just open it up and read stuff. I think that's where my love of random information comes from. My mother always encouraged us to read things we liked, and there was never any pressure to read things we didn't. To this day I don't read a lot of fiction, but I think that's in part because of how I loved reading about all those random facts in the encyclopedia.
Clothes
Because we were not all that well off, I would describe our clothes as simple. In fact, outside of the one good dress shirt, I really didn't own any shirts with collars for the longest time. I think I bought my own first polo shirt..,it was navy blue and I got it from Sears in the Viewmont Mall. Needless to say, we didn't grow up as members of the fashion elite. Now days I wouldn't say that I'm a "clothes horse", but I do try and pay attention to what I wear. I love stuff from Eddie Bauer...even my basic watch is from Eddie. I like earth tones and things that have a relaxed fit, although I do own a wardrobe that fits with my need to look professional at work (including the required dark grey suit).
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