Midwestern Gent

...but that is not nice!

2010-02-21T20:19:00.000-05:00

It occurred to me this has been seriously neglected lately. The biggest reason is I live by what my mother always told me - if you have nothing nice to say do not say ...or type ... anything at all.

I could tell you all that I think doctors are basically useless... but that is not nice.

I could tell you I am tired of being unemployed and the econlmy stinks... but that is not nice.

I could tell you how crummy I have been feeling lately.. but that is not nice.

I could discuss the fact being in that limbo stage of my life not having any sort of direction... but that is my fault and not your fault.

I could tell you it is rough to watch TV these days because I will have to see HIS face eventually and I dread seeing HIS face ALL THE TIME!!! That is just not nice at all to dislike someone that much especially if he is "fearless" leader of the free world.

I could tell you that I think the economy is much worse than most people think because I see people getting training for skills that are simply not marketable in the least even when things are great. That seems negative as well.

The one positive note - we will prevail through this if it is the last thing we do. We have done it several times and if you don't know that go back and review history.

I will come back soon with a less convaluted post.

Muddled...

2009-10-13T22:16:00.001-04:00

Well this blog has been very far from active because I thought I could possibly come across as too negative due to not having much to rave about these days. At the same side it is tough to be too positive these days as some people out there are just not in good situations based on the economy and a terrible job market.

Life for me is at a complete standstill. The future is far away and the future seems good but totally foggy as I really not sure what needs to be done to make sure the future does end up bright. Many people in my age bracket don't give much thought to having faith in God. I can tell you unequivocally I am thankful he has always been there and even done a good having bad things happen to me which ended up being great things when all was said and done.

It is not hard to believe many people in the Metro Detroit area would be stagnant in their lives when they don;t know if they will have jobs tomorrow. The impact of this economy is quite staggering when you figure out the number of people who are being impacted by this economy. The amount of time it will take to get to the other side maybe infinite. For others it may just be a blip on the map.

Regardless - I found this story quite remarkable. I have ZERO idea how this happens and I have no idea how you fix this from ever happenning again. All children - regardless of what you think of national health care - should receive complementary health care.

Some Summer Sunday night thoughts

2009-08-09T21:28:00.001-04:00

Sheesh .. Two months...

A Summer Sunday night post...

Several things on my mind lately

- The whole health care debate has become ths most popular subject in most groups I interact. The worst part is regardless if I am watching on TV or listening to people no one really knows the heart of the issue. It is nothing but half truths whether the source is the guy behind the counter or the guy who has the title "President of United States".

- Discussions regarding the economy are filled with just as many half truths as well. The "worst economy since teh Great Depression" is something that should NEVER be uttered by any person. I will get to that in a later post.

- One of the things remarkable is not that the President Obama;s poll numbers are going down. That was to be suspected as its the case with most Presidents. The thing that is something to stand up and notice is the poll numbers of those who voted for him. That is where his popularity has taken a real dive.

- As I get older, I am going out much less to the "scene" which I thought was most appropriate. When I have been out there I saw mostly young people at the height of my bar going days. I am nto sure when it happenned though but now there is a club scene for people, ahem, older than me. One place where it is quite noticeable is a restaurant bar in a local outside mall. I have gone in twice. The first time I thought it was funny that everyone was about ten years older than me. I was so sure that had to be an anomaly. I went in again and sure enough the same age group. I have not been there again for some time but did walk by a few nights ago and the same is holding true. I wonder aloud if this is a new thing or have the group who could be grandparents had their version of Tiki Bobs for some time? Of course the place that intrigues me the most is in Royal Oak where people walk in and for sure do not lack confidence. I expect one time to walk in and everyone will be donning a crown of thorns. Saying that I will continue to go there because there are some remarkable moments of human nature that should not be missed.

- The people of the city of Detroit appear to be endorsing a completely new direction. A few months back, they voted in businessman Dave Bing who will bring his business knowledge to an office that needs much of it. The voters followed up this past week by voting in former reporter Charles Pugh, who has been in Detroit all his life. Pugh has made as close to a grass roots effort as a reporter can taking time and talking with the public and finding out what they want and what can be done going forward.It will be interesting to see what can be done between these two men going forward if the results carry over to November.

OK... that is what I have for right now...

Why the NHL is clueless...

2009-06-09T00:28:00.003-04:00

This article is why the NHL is clueless. NOT allowing for people to get together and watch this as has always been the case in the past is a sad pathetic move from a network losing money on a daily basis and being ordered by their parent company, GE, to pull out all the stops. What is even worse though is the NHL allowing this to even take place.

After a good night of sports...

2009-05-20T08:26:00.001-04:00

OK - A new commitment will be made... We will see how it goes...

- As if I did not know - Article

- I am not the biggest hockey fan in the world but clearly I am spoiled by a few things. The first is we have an awesome team in this town and I spend more time watching the D-Train last night. Secondly, everytime I watch them it just not seem I am dazzled by the effort. When watching sports, I never want to feel like I care more than those participating.

- I think the Wings will win the despite those efforts as they are the most experienced team remaining in this year's playoffs.

- While the Wings won last evening, I believe a more important development took place at Comerica. If Dontrelle Willis has indeed corrected his issues as a pitcher, he has the power to be one of the upper echelon athletes in this town. He has personality, ability and desire to make a difference. He offers more of an openess than your average professional athlete. More important to Mike Illitch and Tiger Management - he can bring the fans down to Comerica unlike anyone else on their team. Sure Verlander is a good guy but he does not have the "it" factor Dontrelle has for whatever reason. He has the ability to bring this town to their feet.

- I am very excited to see what Dave Bing will do in office. I have long proposed that government needs to change their direction and be run like businesses by those who have run a business. There are countless examples of this and I believe the federal government will soon be another example.

- Back to Detroit, I think Bing will be able to balance the needs of maintaining a budget with the needs of the people. He has no personal needs - not the casw with the last elected official.

- If you wonder aloud what the auto companies will look like in say ten years, you might want to view the steel comapnies who went thorugh a similar situation ten years ago. It will not be a cardon copy but some striking similarities. One thing for sure - it will be a subject of many business journal artciles of years beyond my life.

Unemployed thoughts #1

2009-04-27T22:17:00.000-04:00

I pondered while cutting my grass this afternoon - Is there such a thing as having too big of a Virgin Mary Statue in your yard?

Do people work? I did some driving around today and it seems that traffic was terrible and it was either Escalades or BMW's in my way.

Swine Flu? Do you remember anything that kills many more people - like cancer getting this much attention from the news anchors or the government in such a speedy response? The best is they call it Swine - not pig, pork, bacon, or baby back. they did not even use the phrase "pig pen".

I am not much of a TV watcher and I can see it is getting worse. I attempted watching TV twice during the day and found it awful. The talk shows are terrible. Actually the best thing going is the soap operas. They are on daily but I think if you watch your fave twice a year you know exactly what is going on with the plot lines.

Trust me when I say there be more...

The latest auto news...

2009-04-27T21:46:00.003-04:00

25% - that is the probability that Chrysler and GM are going to file bankruptcy. I watched/listened to most of Fritz's (Sweet name) speech. With Chrysler coming to an agreement with the CAW and UAW and Daimler optioning out of their share, it seems like everything will be on track for the Fiat deal to go through unless the bond holders really mess with the situation. GM and the unions will work on getting on the same page soon and strike an agreement.

The challenge for both auto companies will be the bond holders. Now I will not sit here and tell you I know how the bonds work and all. It is not the easiest thing to explain and that is coming from someone who has had some schooling with the subject. Fritz was asked by a reporter if GM was any closer to bankruptcy than they were one month ago. He answered the question the only way he could stating they are closer to bankruptcy. He could not afford to say anything else. If he said they were not than he plays into the bondholders hands. In addition, he cannot rationalize closing more plants and dealerships. This is a classic case of chicken and each team will wait for the other to blink with the the bondholders most likely to do so first.

Neither company can "afford" to go into bankruptcy. Despite the several claims by the government that they can push both auto companies through the process, it simply cannot happen. Much of this has to do with the the number of debtors each company has on their list. It would take for ever to figure out how to handle each of those entities that are owed money. It is one thing when small companies owe another small company money and bankruptcy takes care of it. It is quite another thing when you have one company which employs many people who owes another company that has several employees and numerous suppliers. The trickle effect of bankruptcy is too devastating and economically takes too long.

The other reason that bankruptcy is not an option with auto companies is there are few games in town domestically. If a bank goes out of business, it can get gobbled up by one of tons of other entities. The economic domino of all this taking place is limited since the assets and liabilities are absorbed by that financial entity. With an auto company, the company dissipates and there is everyone in that company as well as the suppliers and even non suppliers who benefited from the business of those employee's wages will en up feeling the effects of the company termination.

If anything it has been a very interesting to watch and will prove to be great for MBA students to take all in future classes.

Finally an Idol with Talent...

2009-04-15T23:01:00.002-04:00

I never watch "American Idol". I just have no use for the show whether it be the untalented people they have on as contestants or the egotistical hosts that offer little redeeming value to me. This morning at the Doctor's office they had CNN on discussing the British version of the show and specifically a woman whose name is Susan Boyle. I am sure a good number of you saw the story on CNN but if you have nothere is the full clip from YouTube.

People - this woman has talent and I openly ask - has she been living under a rock? Her talent is just not good. It is tremendous and I am sure this is not the last time we will be seeing Susan Boyle.

Are there any enaging stars anymore?

2009-04-15T23:00:00.000-04:00

This week I have seen a reminder of how things have changed in this world and not for the better. It all came full circle when I heard former Detroit Tiger Mark Fidrych passed away Monday due to an unfortunate accident with his truck. Friday was the last round of the Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia for Gary Player and Fuzzy Zoeller. These two players had a few things in common. They both have engaging personalities and are past champions of the Masters. They both realize their role and that is to entertain the people – the people who made them famous.

Gary Player, from South Africa, was Tiger Woods well before Tiger’s parents were even married. Player was the first preeminent international stars outside of the US and Europe. He was bringing the sports to ends of the earth not even thought possible to even adopt the game, whether it be South America, South Africa, or Australia. He is now 74 years old and is in better shape than most people my age. The most important thing to know about Gary Player though was he realized that without a fan base, the sport could not grow. If fans were not entertained, golf growth would stay stagnant and even Player’s prosperity would not go anywhere. He was always someone who played to the crowd whether it be his engaging personality or unique shot making when a challenge was sitting in front of him. Player is as responsible as anyone with where golf is today in the world’s forefront as anyone in my humble opinion.

Another man who is thought to be finishing his last Masters was Fuzzy Zoeller. His name alone points out that he is someone that plays to the fans. That is exactly the case during his entire career. Zoeller though got hit hard by the politically correctness of the day ten years ago. Tiger Woods was in the process of winning his first Masters and as is tradition, the champion at the Champions dinner the following year gets to pick the menu. Zoeller joked that Tiger would pick fried chicken and collard greens – typically favorites for African Americans. This was a joke but a good one as he lost some sponsorships and friends in the meantime. Those who knew Zoeller realized he made a mistake and meant zero malice by them. Anyone who had watched his career and his empathy for people he knew and did not know alike knew it to be very true. He has always talked to the people in the crowd during a round and much liked Player knew that the fans were the most important thing to the sport. Despite his unfortunate and untimely commentary, Zoeller has regained much of his sponsorship and admiration by the game which is well deserved for sure. For many years, he was kind of lost in the whole sport because of that one moment and stifling one of golf’s best ambassadors.

Monday, we lost a great ambassador for baseball when Mark Fidrych died suddenly due to a mishap with his truck he was fixing that day. Mark was known for being one of the most unusual personalities to step foot on the baseball field. He took the baseball world, and the world as a whole for that matter, in 1976 when he went north with the rest of Detroit Tigers. HE would go on to have one of the most memorable seasons stat wise as well as just plain story wise. He would talk to the baseball when he was on the mound and did plenty of things that separated him from the crowd. He would end up starting the All Star game that season and pack Tiger Stadium every time he took the mound. His career would be cut short and would be out of baseball by 1981. His career though was him entertaining the people in a sports arena.

After I started thinking about it, these three athletes represent a dying age in sports. We no longer are entertained by Sports Stars. Sure Tiger Woods is a great golfer and we will tune in when he is playing well but there is nothing captivating from a personality stand point. This is for sure the case with the rest of golf unless you count the always bombastic John Daly who despite his terrible performance over the past few years does draw big crowds despite not playing often.

The NBA is suffering from the same issues. Sure you have Lebron James but do you think he is 1% as charismatic as say Magic Johnson was considered back in 1988. Please don’t tell me you think this is the case. Magic wowed fans as well as his opponents whether it be the moves or just the sheer enjoyment of playing the game. The game could have been a meaningless middle of the season game but Magic was still out there smiling having fun.

I would challenge the casual baseball fan to name three players they would pay money to go see. Some might say Alex Rodriguez and a few random names but all in all, baseball lacks that star that is engaging with fans and not just on an international platform.

Finish, sports stars are getting more money than ever before but I would argue they are not necessarily as engaging as they have been in the past. Whether it be the fact they are guarded or just completely disconnected with “Joe Fan”, I do not know the answer to the question. One thing is for sure though – we are missing such characters as the Bird, Gary Player, Fuzzy, and Magic.

Opening Day edition....

2009-04-08T10:58:00.001-04:00

A series of thoughts here in the beginning of spring...

- I have "watched/read/whatever else you can do" analysis of the auto companies. With all the movement and all the analysis it still is amazing me that people don't understand the simple solution to all this - make credit available to the consumer and they will be able to buy cars.They can revamp the auto companies all day long but if there is no money available to finance cars, even the best corp reorg will not help.
- I am fearing the direction of our society. I have seen a few references this week indicating that people would rather text than talk on their phones. Why? Texting is a drawn out process. If talk on the phone, I can be doing something else at the same time.
- It is going to be interesting to watch as time goes along and more people are out of work the popularity of President Barack Obama. For all the talk from Washington, I don't think they have the first clue on what they should be doing.
- Did you happen to see the Congressional hearings with Ben Bernake and Tim G. a few weeks ago when Senator Barney Frank stopped the hearings for a moment to admonish those talking privately during the hearings? It was truly a sixth grade moment - I would expect nothing less from the participants. Oiiii veii...
- What would the people in the City of Detroit do if all suburbs got up one day and moved everything to Grand Rapids? Would they even know?
- A few Detroit sports predictions:
- Tigers will be a bad baseball team this year not going .500
- Even worse - they will not draw flies down at Comerica Park. This will be the same picture across the baseball landscape due to country's economics.
- Detroit Red Wings will not mak it to the Stanley Cup Finals - I am suire I will regret this prediction.
- Put this one in the time machine - Spartans will make the Final Four in men's basketball tomorrow.
- Matt Stafford... Bank on it - and bank on the Lions never winning with him.
- Tiger will win the Masters this weekend.

Random Job search question

2009-03-27T11:21:00.001-04:00

Should you even consider applying for a technical position that requires you to send your resume through snail mail?

Only a quarter the way through it...

2009-03-25T22:56:00.001-04:00

and thought it was a good idea to make sure people read and see this story from the NYT.

An interesting perspective from someone caught in the middle of everything.

Comedy show episode thoughts...

2009-03-16T21:56:00.001-04:00

I won’t waste anyone’s time with saying I have not posted and all that jazz. One thing peaked my interest recently when I was watching the clips of CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer on the Comedy Channel’s The Daily Show. I am not going to get into the media fueled feud and state some random points. They talked in three segments discussing Stewart’s complaints that CNBC did not expose the debt to asset ration the banks carried for years on mortgages. Stewart felt they should have done a better job of exposing the leverages and done way less discussing the stocks and showing them off to be good companies. Cramer – who is known for his TV show - used manage a hedge fund and has made more money off the stock market than most of us can imagine doing so in our lifetimes.

Several thoughts…

After watching the interview, I was taken aback how relaxed Cramer took the onslaught from Stewart. The more I thought it though, it made complete sense. Cramer had no way of winning an argument on that show. The only benefit for him is simply attracting some from the “Daily Show” audience.

Stewart makes the same statement I have heard a million times - those banks with large debt to asset ratios should take the responsibility for selling adjustable rate mortgages to homeowners. I am still waiting for someone to clarify the relationship between the two parties. Did someone make those people take mortgages they would eventually not afford? How does the way banks manage their assets and debt impact what people decide they can afford for their living quarters. It does not and never will.

Stewart shows videos from 2006 with Jim Cramer discussing how hedge fund managers can influence prices in the stock market. In short, they can bring down and push up prices by reporting different things that may not be accurate. What is concerning is Jon Stewart’s take shows something significant – he has never done any reading on the stock market or people in general. The reporting of inside information is a very old practice that has been going on for some time – like since the stock market came into play. Stock prices go up and down based on news which a good percentage of it is rumors and speculation. Regardless of what happens now, this practice will never stop and will become more prevalent the more media coverage the stock market receives as well other world news. That is an undeniable fact.

Stewart thinks the media should take responsibility for not exposing the leverages a long time ago. I would like to ask when people are going to start requesting the Big 4 auditing firms take some responsibility for not exposing and stopping the practice of leveraging loans. Most firms claimed the derivatives were tough to account for and these companies are stocked with Ivy League MBA’s, the supposed best and brightest. Everyone looked the other way and had a good time.

One last thing is Stewart is funny because he was so busy pointing the finger except at the man in the mirror. I would be interested in finding out how much Stewart made in the stock market during the uptick years. That was not ever even discussed but his poor mother I guess has lost a lot of money according to the end of the interview. If your mother was completely invested in the stock market and not in conservative investments based on her age… Shame on her. Shame on Stewart because I guess he must be watching his mother be destitute as he continues to host a TV show.

And there you have it.

A few Monday thoughts

2009-02-23T13:27:00.001-05:00

A few things that have passed my way these days...
- The expected turnout for the City of Detroit Mayoral primary is to be 15%.
This is extremely sad considering how important this vote if for the city. It makes you wonder what is the breaking point for the city and those who live inside the borders.
- Initially I found this clip funny. As I thought about it more it starts to scare the hell out of me. Much like what I asked in the first bullet here, I wonder when the brink will take place and what will happen when that brink occurs. Too many people pay their mortgages on time with no issues then turn around and ask those same people since they are diligent to help those who are not so timely. I will write more on this as time goes on.
- We are for sure in a new world when you see articles like this one. Big Brother seems to be progressively creeping in to our world and making us pay for it.
- Watching the Pistons lately is a test of endurance. It is brutal to watch and has forced me into a position I never thought I wouls find myself in - understanding and respecting the effort that Chauncey Billups put in during his time here. Of course if you just look at the Denver Nuggets - Chauncey's new team - they have been playing very good basketball since Mr. Big Shot's arrival. Sometimes you don't know what you have until you lost it.
- I usually do not get caught up in hype because 9 out of 10 times that is all it is. The results never match the excitement and disappointment ensues. That is what happenned last yar with the Detroit Tigers. Sure if you open the paper these days, you see alot of excitement coming from Spring training - proof warm weather is actually in reach - but that is all it is right now - excitement. I am back to where everyone should be - excitement over results. Tell me when they are winning games.

A few notes from driving

2009-02-16T23:21:00.002-05:00

When was it custom to always have your bright lights on regardless of what time of day it is? It seems strange but I am encountering this more often these days and obviously wish it was not the case. What reason does someone have to even have them on in the first place unless you going down a dark country road? Trust me when I say I am not on any dark country roads.

On another note - Is it me or are the police officers out and about way more than they have in the past?I feel like I see someone pulled over every day now. This has never been the case. Could it be a shameless way raising funds for the different municipalities that currently have little cash flow? If that is the case, I guess my tax dollars are not enough. Hopefully I stay employed to at least pass those along.

Yes - There are some good people out there

2009-02-08T22:05:00.001-05:00

I ended up seeing CBS "60 Minutes" this evening. Tonight's episode featured an interview with the team that worked Flight 1549. Most of the feature focused on the Captain Chesley "Scully" Sullenberger. It was very refreshing to finally see someone do something so awesome yet be so humble at the same time. He is doing his share of interviews while at the same time there has been no egotistical chest pumping. I think he is treating the series of interviews as a duty and not one for building any of his ego. He realizes as a whole that he saved not only the people on the flight but kept many children from growing up with one less parent.

One significant moment was when there was a reunion between one passenger and Sullenberger. The passenger had lost his brother in 9/11. He thanked Sullenberger for keeping his family from enduring another loss due to a plane crash. IT was a loss the passenger did not think his family could go through again.

More than meets the movie eyes

2009-02-04T22:54:00.000-05:00

So I see the Detroit area and I See we are looking to be Hollywood's step sister with the opening of not one but two film studios. Much of this is a direct result - gasp! - tax breaks offered to the industry. The papers are reporting close to 6000 new jobs as a result of it.

Follow along if you will. You offer tax breaks and you add jobs. Adding jobs adds to the state's tax base. That means the government has more money than they did before. If they did not offer the film industry such tax advantages, they probably would have not come to Michigan. That would mean there would not be 6000 new jobs ans tax revenue.

Class - If we were to use logic, what should Michigan do across the board with different business sectors? Why is something so damn easy so hard to do?

The next season is fastly approaching...

2009-02-03T22:42:00.002-05:00

Ok...so seriously - my efforts here have left some to be desired... I am looking at posting something... anything... for the next several days. I have ideas but time gets away from me
by the time I get even remotely to sitting down to write them out.

I have all my paper work to do my taxes and will be looking to do sometime in the next week or two. Of course since I expect to get money back, there is a reason to do my taxes in a timely manner.

I bring this up because it seems everyone that Obama is appointing many people who can't do their taxes correctly to the point that they are resigning at the moment they are exposed for their error.

This brings to light the question - why do taxes need to be so difficult? Why do they need someone with a secret decoder ring to do them with any success and limited errors? When is the flat tax - advocated forever by billionaire Steve Forbes - going to be put in and wash all that IRS tax code away?

None of this will take place as long as IRS employs so many people. It will not happen while HR Block and other tax accountants are breathing air. It will not happen while the US government shows a complete disinterest in efficiency at all levels.

All of it is a shame but seems to be a necessary evil. Oh well - buy some software, put in some numbers and hope you do not owe and maybe get back a little more than expected.

Local TV Channels when there is bad weather...

2009-01-17T23:57:00.000-05:00

I have two things with local TV I must complain about right now. The first has to do with their coverage EVERY WINTER. They have to cover snowflake dropping from the sky like a national emergency. The best if they can simply play a news clip from ten years ago and it would be the same damn thing. They will start out with the traffic shots of different streets through out the area. The next thing they do is have someone interviewing various snow plow/salt truck drivers going through the same speech which includes:

- “We will be working sixteen hour shifts”
- We are doing the best we can”
- “We will be doing the main roads and then the side roads”

Of course the reporter goes to some random shopping center just outside the border of Detroit to do some man on the street interviews and see how different people are “dealing with the cold weather” This would be unique if we lived in the south and it got this cold once a blue moon. Folks – if you live in MI you deal with this cold weather a few months a year. This is NOTHING NEW.

Needless to say I turn the channel or simply don’t watch it. I am just not sure how stupid the newscasters look doing such reports. If their market research tells them that this is what the audience wants – shame on them.

One more thing before I leave you – I turned on Channel 4 (WDIV) and 7 (WXYZ) yesterday morning. They were showing the school closings while their respective network morning shows were broadcasting at that time. COULD THEY MAKE THE SCREEN OF THE NATIONAL SHOW ANY SMALLER? Seriously – local channels in both case made the national show maybe 1/3 of the screen while they showed the schools that were closed. Never mind I don’t understand why the schools were closed because you know those kids who could not stand out on bus stops were dropped at the mall at about 10:05 AM. These are the same damn kids that don’t even wear coats. I am not even referring to the poor ones either. Thank god there was not anything I needed to see on any of those network morning shows. A simple scroll across the bottom would work just fine on those TV channels.

I am done with ranting….

I would love to see this bailout go through...

2009-01-07T17:00:00.003-05:00

Read this and do your share of chuckling...

Needless to say - EVERYONE wants a piece of the pie.

The new gold?

2009-01-05T23:46:00.001-05:00

Here is quick one... I was at the store this evening and walked by the beer aisle. I was not shopping for that at all but I thought I would check to see if there was any good deals. People - right now beer costs an arm and a leg. It has gone up two dollars for a case in the last two weeks. This is not even premium stuff. We are talking weasel piss that you buy because you plan on putting back alot and you need some value. (Please do not confuse "weasel piss" with "raw sewage" which is another level below "weasel piss") Is it transportation costs? Is it because the company that makes its no longer american owned? Did the hops crop fail this year? How about barley?

New year thoughts

2009-01-05T07:34:00.001-05:00

A few things coming to my mind as I sit here on a Sunday evening -

Since snow plowing funds in the state of Michiganm come from new cars sales, I hope we have a light snow winter. On that same topic, why is it snow removal is not a privatized operation. Why does the government think it is a good idea to take on the burden of buying trucks, maintaining them at that and having people on their payroll for something that happens so sporadically?

People will talk about new car sales for December but the ones I am looking at will be the ones starting say February when people will be able to get funding due to lower credit requirements - more having to do with GM than the other Big Three due to GMAC getting money from the Federal government. In addition people will begin getting their tax returns that may be bigger for some since they sold stock/mutual funds that lost money which will increase their tax returns.

For all the talk of parties and such for the Inaguration, I am looking forward to seeing the action of Obama in the first few days in office. I hope the people that voted him they are happier than they have been once he gets started with his plan. As for those who did not vote him in that he continues to do things that have so far shown him to be a bit more conservative than previously anticipated by the pundits.

Am I the only one notciing people keeping their Christmas trees up longer than I ever remember in the past? It seems curbs are covered with trees just days from Christmas and I see people with trees still lit up well after New Years?

I do not make New Years resolutions. My feeling is if it something that needs to be done I should have been doing it all along and not waiting until the New Year.

The other night I saw a commercial for the International Auto Show here in Detroit. They had local celebrities inviting the watcher down to the show this year. ONe struck me as strangte - Bill Bonds. He has not been doing much of anything in this area in some time other than Gardner White commercials. It seems strange to me because I thought they could have found a more worthwile celebrity to entice the people down to Cobo Hall for the annual event.

Take care - Midwest Gent

Holiday

2008-12-24T00:59:00.001-05:00

In this post there will be no sarcasm or rants or negative opinions. I will simply offer you as well as anyone you are close to a very safe and happy holiday season. We are leaving a year that has not been full of positive news but I am sure you still could compose a nice list of things that took place since the last holiday season. We have all had our challenges but forget them as you get together with family and friends with nothing but smiles as we look forward to the New Year.

Personally, 2008 was my best year ever despite some down moments. More than anything I am still employed and have weathered a health scare. Leaving 2008 I am in great shape and feel as if my career is actually headed in a good direction. Only time will tell if both those things are true. Honestly – I believe this is all up to me.

From a blog perspective - thanks much for reading and commenting here. It has been fun for sure. I will hopefully step up more in 2009 with this and maybe - just maybe - broaden my horizons with topics.

I look forward to 2009 where I don’t have any specific goals as much I simply look forward to seeing what the New Year will bring me as well as those around me.

Here is hoping you have lofty goals and you for sure achieve them before the next holiday season. More currently, I hope Santa brings you something nice.

Enough hours in the day? Guess not...

2008-12-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

I heard over the weekend and discovered it being discussed here. Retailers are now staying open 24 hours. I am trying to figure why this is at all necessary. The biproducts of our instant gratification society never seem to end. Is it not enough that these stores already have extended hours of service during the holiday? Is it enough you can purchase anything you want from the confines of your home on your computer at anytime you want from anywhere? Nope - you can now do your shopping physcically at 3:30 AM. Personally speaking, that is simply not natural. I am usually in need of sleep at that hour. This is especially true if I have been at al productive during the day. Plus I am somehow capable to manage my time to do my shopping during regular shopping hours. I am very sure I am missing something.

More Auto Relief thoughts

2008-12-21T20:20:00.001-05:00

I have watched and read a fair amount of coverage related to the loans being given to the Big Three US Auto companies. I have been bothered a fair amount because the reporting and opinions leave a fair amount to be desired – and I am being very nice leaving it there.

The first item is the work bench where a UAW member who is laid off gets 95% of their pay during that time. First, they will get subpay from their employer after they receive unemployment benefits from the government. In other words, the auto company will make up the difference between unemployment to get to that 95%. They are giving a complete 95%. On that same topic, current hires to the Big 3 auto companies will not enjoy that benefit and only 10000 benefit from that number now. That number will tail off as those UAW members retire.

Another number that will tail off in time will be the amount the Big Three Companies will give out in pensions as retirees pass away. For some time (probably ten years) new employees are not eligible for pensions and have been maintaining their retirements through 401K plans. The money going toward pensions in twenty years will be significantly less than it is now. I bring this all up to show the changes that many people are demanding have been well in place for quite some time.

For all the talk of the UAW having to renegotiate their contract even though they have made countless concessions, I think what has not been requested and should be is a COMPLETE list of costs to making a car. I have actually looked for this and asked around and the consensus – nothing exists. If you can find one, I would be very intrigued to look at it. The point I am getting to here is I don’t know how you can ask for more concessions when it is not even known what other opportunities a company has to cut costs. Keep in mind that despite supposed costs in making a Toyota or Honda being lower than US Auto companies, they are losing money and halting production as well here in the US. That makes another set of arguments from the pundits almost null in void.

The Big Three Auto companies have as a while cut down their employees drastically in the last fifteen to twenty years. Much of the analysis has simply ignored it and put out blatant opinions showing the lack of understanding with an industry that has made strides. They are being asked to com

OF course the last thing that gets my ire is the belief that more than anything all types of effort needs to go into hybrid and electric cars. This is all happening while I drive around and the American consumer still likes driving their SUV. Government has a great belief the consumer wants fuel efficient vehicles and before too long it will be the only legit viable option. Is oil going away? Is there a tremendous shortage right now? Is it real expensive? Outside some outlandish speculation that took place this summer with oil futures, prices have been relatively stable and right in the range of consumer pocketbooks whether they drive small economy size cars or something that resembles a fashionable Winnebago.

I have more points that should be made but I will save them for another time like measuring the geographical impact of letting the Big Three going bankrupt.

Getting back into the swing of things

2008-12-16T22:16:00.001-05:00

It is interesting how things change. I tried to put a new entry here every couple of days but as you see I have failed miserably the last few months for several small reasons. One reason is there being alack of inspiration. I can sit here and regurgitate what you see on the news but who needs that negative hammer to hit them even more.

Well what has hit my fancy…

Regardless of what you think of Jay Leno it has to make people chuckle when you think about the irony of him moving to the 10 o’clock slot. The irony is the networks are now bringing you variety television. Folks – that is what they were doing seventy years ago. It is way cheaper programming and breeds loyalty way more than written dramas which at this point have exhausted pretty much all story lines ten fold. The only question – who will be next star chosen and how soon?
The Lion’s season ends soon - two weeks. They are 0-14 but they have a chance of winning of the final two games – home against the New Orleans Saints and on the road against the Green Bay Packers. The long and short of it – the season will mercifully end soon. We will just have to wait and see if the Ford family is that apathetic toward winning or if they do really give a damn.

Now I don’t go to the mall or just out shopping that much but I will let you know that from one man’s personal perspective – the crowds are for sure down this year. This based on about two and a half hours in two different malls over two days. If the White House gets the money to the auto companies before the weekend, the malls will be over the top busy. The people will believe they have been given a gift and it is time to spend. I will be happy to have most of mine done with almost all of it online.

Do you think Microwave slippers are a good idea?

It is official and obvious – someone needs to think of a better system for picking those who replace leaving Congress people than this awful appointee system. The Illinois governor did not handle it well. (On a side note – he is one of the creepiest people I have ever seen out there). As for Hillary’s New York Senate seat, Caroline Kennedy is vying for it. Someone who has NEVER ran for office and people think she is qualified due to the last name on her birth certificate. Newsflash – this is not a monarchy Kennedy’s.

The Detroit News and Free Press have decided to provide home delivery on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. They are going to work on getting a majority of their readers to go through the Internet. There is for sure a place for daily newspapers in our community as well as all cities in this country. They will be able to offer stories and coverage for local events that you otherwise would not get through TV or national focused news sources. Don’t kid yourself and think this is happening due to the Big Three issues. This has been in the making for some time and will start taking place with other newspapers. In this day and age of instant gratification and a tremendous need for information, the newspapers had to adjust to the times. The one saving grace – the News and Free Press have done their best to keep writers on staff in order to give their own flair or the coverage. This has not been the case with most newspapers as they have decided to outsource their story writing giving off a very canned and impersonalized approach.

Good Quote...

2008-12-12T13:32:00.001-05:00

Found reading Detroit News this afternoon -
Franklin Roosevelt's words: "The strength of this nation shall not be diluted by the failure of the government to protect the economic well-being of its citizens."

Very true words.

Appears my spam filter is not working....

2008-12-08T19:16:00.002-05:00

or someone is trying to tell me something!

Subject - Want to Beat the Bloat?‏
From - Ultimate Colon Cleanse

The best part is someone spent time sending it out. I wish I had that time!

Back with some thoughts....

2008-12-01T23:11:00.001-05:00

Well well well… I did in fact take a hiatus though far from intentional…Some random thoughts from the past few weeks…

Trivia question – What percentage of homes in the United States are owned without mortgages? I will get back to this later.

I have not blogged since the election. One is completely unrelated to the other – I assure you of that for sure. What I will tell you is the pick of Hullary Clinton is a very interesting one. It is only made only more interesting by the endorsement of none other than Rush Limbaugh. One thing is for sure – like him or not – Obama will try his best to distinguish himself and not try old failed ways of doing things.

So let me get this straight – banks are arbirtrarily given money hand over fist with no plans and no requirements for how they are going to use the money to help out the American public and loosen up the business to business credit. The autos – who have been shrinking their business for years now and have been dealing with many arcane anti industry laws from the federal government have to beg and plead.

So I am clear I will not tell you I think the auto companies have been great but there is WAY more than meets the eye with them and the situation they find themselves in right now.

I think a sad thing may take place this spring – the NFL will remove the Thanksgiving game from Detroit and schedule another team. I hope management understands how pathetic their organization looks right now.

The Lions fan should hope Bill Ford Jr. is able to step in and do what he did with Ford Motor. In that instance he was able to bring in Alan Mullay from Boeing - someone who was successful in the manufacturing industry. Money should not be an object. They should list the best candidates – cross check them with some different people – and go after them one by one. The painful reality – they may not do it.

Ken Cockrel said on the news last week things were looking good for expanding Cobo, the site of North American International Auto Show. Things need to move faster. Nissan along with several other companies have pulled out the 2009 show. This is something that would be a good use of Federal tax dollars.

I did not work Friday and had the TV on one of the business networks. They were doing the whole “Black Friday” live shots from the mall. Of course they had some people mentioning what the hot gifts are so on and so forth. One fine individual – store employee – though Ugg Boots are “timeless pieces of fashion.” I for sure am not a fashion expert but plead with America this is not the case. From a male perspective – Ugg Boots are one the most hideous things and should not be worn out side the house.

The answer to trivia question – 50% of homes in the US are owned and have no mortgages. This is strange because much of the credit issues have to do with too many subprime mortgages and people going through foreclosures. Well 3% of mortgages going into foreclosures which is 1.5% of all home in US. Logic says some banks went WAY overboard with the subprime mortgages and certainly have a balanced portfolio.

Oh well enough from me – I will be back way sooner.

Big Three this week

2008-11-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

Well We had a brief pause in the action. I have not blogged since theday before the election because well what could I say. The guy who was up in the polls won and now we are in a wait and see pattern. For sure a lot of waiting since Obama will not take over officially until January 20 but at the same time the current sitting President, George Bush, really can;t move much due to his position and the change in Congress as well.

The funny thing is Congress is feverishly trying to get something through to get Detroit some money specifcally the Big Three Auto companies. Right now, GM is claiming they may run out of money and have to consider filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The US touts itself as an open free economy but there have been several instances that has proven this not to be the case. The most recent one is the $700 Billion package recently passed by Congress and signed by President Bush. Another fairly recent example was the stimulus package passed back int the winter. Neither of those events take place in a true open economy.

The $700B package is very frustrating since they passed it and it seemed there was no well thought out plan for it. The money they have doled out proved to do nothing since the banks have yet to lower interest rates in order to open financing in this country. The average fixed rate mortgage percentage has not changed since the bill went through as we are still looking at 30-year fixed mortgages being held at a little above 6%. This has some people asking - what are the banks doing with that money? Why did the money go to the banks and not the people of this country?

Back to the Big Three - they will be lobbying to get some of the $700B to the tune of $25B. This will prevent General Motors and to a smaller extent Ford from going bankrupt before the end of 2008. Some economists argue the Big Three should not be helped and allow them go into Chapter 11. This would force these companies to completely restructure their companies. At the same time, the impact would vibrate through out Detroit and Michigan and the US as well as the world. People would be let go from those companies, unemployment would be sky rocket anf suppliers would be hit hard as well as numerous other businesses. Proponents of giving the Big Three money say the economy, specifically MIchigan, cannot endure any of the US auto companies filing for bankruptcy and the effects of it would be rampant through out the system.

It is a time in this country that most people my age have simply never seen and still trying to figure out how we got here. It will be something to look back when it finally starts changing and even more as you look back and the analysts have their opportunity to offer their ten cents on what took place.

The scary thing is this is all in the hands of our politicians. The fate of the Big Three - very much like the government where they are secluded from the "real" world - will be determined by people who only know how to solve a problem by throwing money at it. Money will not solve most of these issues as it will be making tough decisions. Remember when you were younger and your parents told you could have one item but not all of them. The Big Three are going to have to go through that same process. They will have to start making choices and understand those choices will impact their survival.

There will be some drama that gets played out this week in Washington as well as here in Detroit. One thing is for sure - if the Big Three get the money, they will have to play by a new set of rules put forward by the loaner of that money. Those new rules will lead the Big Three into a whole new world.

Twas he night before the Election

2008-11-03T12:07:00.001-05:00

Twas the night before the election, when all through the land
Not a politician was stirring, not even the candidates.
The ads were printed and ready to be handed out at the polls the next day
In hopes their candidate would be elected to office the next day.

The electorate were nestled all snug in their beds,
While still contemplating on who they will be voting went around in their heads.
And Obama in his pajamas, and McCain in his cap,
Had just settled their brains for a much needed late fall nap.
When out in public there arose such a clatter

They both sprang from their respective beds to see what the matter
Away to the window they flew like a flash
Opened the blinds to window always hoping there is some campaign cash.
The moon was out shining upon a nation in indecision

Shining on each citizen who scratched their head still wondering what to do
When in front of both the candidates eyes appear
But Air Force One and all its staff with their faces planted against the window from front to rear.
With the driver looking like he aged a lot in the past few years

Both candidates knew it was none other than President George Bush handling the flight gear.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Cheney, now Ms. Rice! now, Paulson and Bernake!
On Mukasey! On, Gates! on, on, Chertoff, and Bolten!

To the top of White House , to the top of the Washington Monument!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all”
As bad ideas that before the hot air of Washington fly,
When they meet with the obstacle of bureaucracy mounting very high.
So up the house top Air Force One flew,

With a jet full useless politicians and George Bush too.
And then, in a twinkling, John and Barack see the plane on the lawn
and trouble seeing who is on the jet because it is not yet dawn.
As John and Barack were taking it all in,
Out of the jet came none other than the current President.

He was dressed in his ranch clothes, from his to his foot,
An his clothes were all tarnished with plane mud right from the floors of Congress on his boot.
A bundle of reparations were he had flung on his back,
He looked like a salesman as he opened the bag.

His eyes – how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
Smiling because they were both his foe.

He was slowly taking it all in while he grinned from ear to ear
realizing today was the temporary end to the smear.
He had a broad face to go with the shine of happiness in it
That only got brighter as he laughed like had a halo lighting him up.

Regardless of his state of grace, he was a right jolly old soon to be ex-president,
while Barack and John laughed when they saw him despite of themselves!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Made John and Barack wonder what they have got themselves into with running for his job.

Bush spoke not a word, but went straight to handing them stuff out of his bag,
Giving them both items that hopefully will help in the next four years not drag.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving up a nod, back up the jet’s steps he rose!

Bush sprang to Air Force One, to his Cabinet gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But they both heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Good luck to you both tomorrow, aenjoy your last free night!”

Michigan proposals

2008-11-02T22:51:00.001-05:00

One of the things that is always interesting to looking into when voting are the proposals. My state Michigan has two proposals that will be voted on this Tuesday. I have not looked into the proposals until this weekend.

The first is legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. It would allow doctors to prescribe patients who meet certain criteria marijuana as a medical prescription.

The advocates claim marijuana will serve the purpose of eliminating pain for those suffering from diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and other serious conditions. Another support item is those caught distributing the marijuana will be penalized if they are found to giving to someone else.

They continue saying non medical use will continue to be prohibited in the state. Guidelines will be put into place through the proposal to make sure safeguards are put into place keeping abuse taking place with the passing of this proposal.

Opponents have put forward a series of arguments which include there is no tested documented proof that marijuana helps with any disease. It is rejected as a solution by the majority of physicians. The opponents continue pointing out that marijuana should be approved by the Federal Drug Administration since most prescription drugs need it to be prescribed by doctors. Another issue for those against it is Lastly, the regulation on distribution will be difficult to control. Lastly, they say this proposal is just like the one they have in California. California is looking to change the law with quite a few more restrictions.

I am not going to offer how I will vote for this proposal. I am going to offer some thoughts that I don’t think have been mentioned when discussing these proposals. The first is whether or not marijuana use should be a right considered covered under the Constitution making this proposal not needed. In other words if this does in fact help people and they understand the repercussions, why should the law stand in the way of relief? Another issue is will this set a precedent for other drugs? Realistically, what are the most probably results if this proposal passes.

Overall an interesting proposal and many factors need to be regardless of your political affiliation.

As for Proposal #2, if it passed, it will amend the state constitution to allow for human embryo and stem cells research.

Proponents will tell you Michigan has been too slow to drop the restriction in the laws. Michigan laws addressing this subject are said to be some of the toughest in the country. The other benefit is they claim is this research is the best available in helping find a cure for a series of diseases. It is thought almost 800,000 people in Michigan may have a disease which would be helped with such research taking place. Another benefit this would ensure the medical schools in the state would be allowed to perform the cutting edge research which they cannot at this point and time.
Opponents are suggesting the proposal would not allow the state to regulate the embryonic research. Another mention is there are alternatives should be used whether it be adult cells or cord blood cells. There is the fear in this one as was the case in Proposal 1 about the slippery slope. The opponents say if this is allowed it will grease the skids for cloning. Lastly they mention the issues with funding such research. Long term some argue the cost benefit is not good.

I think if you read every fact and opinion on this proposal you still would not have performed an exhaustive search. There are some many issues and so many of them are personal whether it be someone you know and love possibly being helped by the research or how you relate embryos to human life.

Both proposals are issues that have deep seeded opinions that will guide the voter’s decisions on both of them. At the same time there are plenty of issues that with each proposal that must be considered when casting your ballot. It will be interesting to see how it all ends up this coming Tuesday.

Additions to "About me"

2008-10-28T21:06:00.002-04:00

Adding more the list

I have a chalkboard at my house which always seem to have different things on it from reminders to a small list of people who need for luck in their life.

I am pretty frugal with my money but will for sure splurge on the things I have wanted for a period of time.

I can't get enough of watching the stock market and tracking the financial world these days.

Feelings toward Halloween - almost apathy

I think in many circles I would be considered a minimalist.

I feel short of one of my goals this years - reading more books. I have read one and don;t anticipate reading anymore between now and year end.

I am looking around and appear to like white on my walls

For all intensive purposes I do not own a DVD player but three TV's but only watch one

I have failed to get caught up in the sushi and Thai food phenomenon

I prefer Mozilla Firefox to Internet Explorer

I have been told I am half full way more than half empty. This is funny since I think of myself as a cynical person

I would not mind going back to school despite one grad degree but I hate the homework and the cost is obscene if you don;t have financial reimbursement. With more money I would add on to it I think.

Initial "About me" post

Two Adam's Apples?

2008-10-28T20:38:00.001-04:00

This weekend has been one for reflection. If you have followed my blog, I don't discuss much personal details about myself or my life. Part of it is I am a private person and the other part is my life in general is pretty unexciting.

Saying all that I remember distinctly this past New Years Eve that it would be a good idea to relax as 2008 would be an action packed year. On many different levels this is for sure the case. From a government economy/job standpoint there is no doubt nothing has been this bizarre in a very long time - probably my whole life. I just did not know what personal things would take place.

January saw me feeling decent, living life but by February my body just did seem to be in the right position. I was very tired and my mental well being was decent but just different. I had minimal health insurance at the time but was in a position to get decent health care allowing me to get a physical and get some blood tests. I finally scheduled an appointment during a phone call in March but the appointment would not take place until May. I told myself that would be fine but in the back of my mind I was thinking it might be wise to figure out how to escalate all this but I did not know how. My energy was down but outside of that I really did not have any more telling symptoms other than some small random things

Not too long after I made the physical appointment I ended up doing something I VERY RARELY do - gargle. Yes I know you are all scratching your heads on that one. I gargled in the bathroom after brushing my teeth - must have had a scratchy throat. I looked in the mirror and saw something peculiar. It appears I had two - count them - two Adam's apples. Needless to say this was a source of alarm for me. To the best of my knowledge you should have one, I have always had one and I could not figure out for the best of me what was going on. I for sure did not put two and two together in terms of how I was feeling and the "extra Adam's Apple" Needless to say I was on the rampage to figure out - WTF?

After some discussion with my personal "doctors" some course of action was devised. I had people who were medically knowledgeable take a quick scan of it all and the consensus - call a REAL doctor. I called my REAL doctor an they told me they could see me the following week. That was about mid March. When I saw the doctor - usually a slight slow reactive one - she gave me a list of things I needed to do in q quick manner. I scheduled some tests and an appointment with a endocrinologist.

I went and got some tests done and scheduled the appointment. This all took place over Easter weekend - Good Friday and the Monday afterwards. The endocrinologist requested get a test on the second "Adam's Apple" which was in the Thyroid region. In that same appointment I was a little frustrated no action was taken based on the symptoms I had been experiencing for a few months. He added that only five percents of nodules on the thyroid are cancerous. That was great news.

I did as the doctor requested and got a biopsy on the nodule. It was done on a Friday afternoon. As the biopsy was taking place I asked the person doing the work if it would be removed if it were not cancerous. Her words - "They will remove it!" This was not "regardless if it is cancerous they will remove it". This was between the lines "It is cancer". I would not know for sure though until I talked to the doctor.

The doctor followed up pretty quickly with me requesting I stop on in the following week. I knew the verdict but it would slightly unclear until the doctor gave it the 100% confirmation. When I stopped by it was a beautiful April Wednesday afternoon. The doctor told me - I had thyroid cancer. Thank heavens I had an inkling other wise I would have dropped a load in my pants. Everyone in my family knew before hand that this was probably going to be my diagnosis. Surgery was scheduled with in ten days of the official diagnosis from the doctor. That would take place on April 24, 2008.

The toughest - and best - thing was telling people about it. People being my firends which I have way more of that I can swing a stick at for sure. I ended up writing an email blast because calling each person would take a considerable amount of time. After writing about a one page email to about fifty people - not including friends through my parents - I ended up getting a slew of phone calls. A cancer diagnosis did not make me cry. The people calling with in minutes of sending that message out for sure overwhelmed me. Everyone has the same response - WTF? How are you doing?

With everything that happened in my life, I will tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt the most positive things have produced the most positive big impact results. This topped them all for sure. I got emails from people who I thought were barely acquaintances writing heart felt messages making I was doing well and wondering if I needed anything from them. To say that in some form this was not a rewarding experience would be a terrible understatement.

The day of surgery took place and the whole thyroid was removed from me. While this is going on I have taken a whole week off work following surgery. It is typically suggested you take six to eight weeks off for all this stuff. I grow bored after three business days and log in to work and start bugging people to get stuff done. That is how I roll - I am a loser - LOL! I did have some difficulties - some which kept me from sleeping ,much more than three hours a few weeks from the syrgery

I was on the schedule to receive radioactive iodine six weeks later. This involved a few visits leading up to it. I should clarify - this was NOT typical cancer radiation, rather it was radioactive iodine. Iodine is only adsorbed by thyroid tissue. This took place on the day of the Red Wings parade for winning the Stanley Cup. The goal of the radioactive iodine is to kill all live thyroid tissue. The results of all is your body's hormone levels are completely unbalanced. You have zero stamina and mentally you are living an existence similar to either a woman going through post partum depression or manic depression. I would not wish anything I went through on my worst enemy. I was told to start the hormone replacement therapy two days after the radioactive iodine.

After a few weeks of taking the hormone Synthroid I started to get feeling better. I went in for some blood tests and the reading were good. The progress is slow though.

Six months later...I am back to a routine work out schedule. The other day I rode ten miles on the exercise bike at the gym in forty five minutes. My blood levels are quite good and I will not see the doctor until some time next spring. I feel about as good as someone can expect whether they went through what I went through or did not go through it.

As amazing at this sounds I think there is some fortune to what I went through the past six months. The show of support was out of this world and more than I could ever have imagined in my mind. The summer - despite going through much of it during that time, was one of the best I have ever had in terms of getting stuff done and good times. In general was a low moment in my life but will be look upon due to all the positives with much gratitude. I will stay this Thanksgiving when someone asks that YES I am thankful for my health - along with many other things.

What is one to do? Quick poll

2008-10-26T22:52:00.002-04:00

I am dealing with a hypothetical situation here - LOL.

Man drives down road. Turns and catches eye of girl to his liking. You both show off toothy grins. Let's say you have the opportunity at say a stop light. This is where a split second decision must be made. Do you (as the male)

A.) Role down window and ask if she wants to meet up at some nearby establishment
B.) Let it be exactly what it is - some smiling and some flirting.
C.) Something else politically correct

Politically incorrect options -
Rear ending her car
Following her to where ever her destination is she is traveling to at that time.
Start a fire in the middle of the road and send smoke signals
Before hand - have a bumper sticker made with you contact information and have it plastered all over your car.

Again - all hypothetical

Read between the lines on this one

2008-10-24T14:03:00.001-04:00

I am going to be quite convoluted here but I am sure you will be able to read between the lines. The body is made up of fat, muscle and bone. If you cut the fat you are left with muscle and bone. If you cut anything more you have cut the muscle before you get to the bone. If you have nothing left but bone, can you cut anymore? It seems some people don’t understand what you need in order to have the body continue running. These are very strange times we live in for sure.

Wild times

2008-10-21T21:08:00.002-04:00

My town is right now on watch. We all sit by our televisions, radio, and internet to find out what is the latest information we can find out about Chrysler and General Motors. Specifically, is General Motors going to buy Chrysler from Cerebus and basically wipe it off the map?

While we all bite our nails contemplating the economic impact of such an occurrence, it pushes through a series of items through my mind making this all terribly fascinating to analyze as it all takes place.

#1 - How does GM who has no money according to their financial reports and a dirt low stock price go and buy a company (Chrysler) that made an operating profit last quarter in a terrible economy and has nearly $12B sitting on the side?

#2 - How does Cerebus think it is good business to divest themselves of a company that when they are not allowed to manage themselves and times are good is the most profitable Big 3 auto company?

#3 - What good does almost $12B cash do you if you will spend it right away on merging the two large operations?

#4 - How does getting larger help GM which is only second to the federal government in bureaucracy?

#5 - If Chrysler stopped completely tomorrow for any reason what would be the financial and population impact on Southeastern Michigan? Sure we realize it is huge but does anyone know how much of an impact it will be. It would all encompassing including everything from hospitals to suppliers, entertainment to housing, tourism to whatever you can think of right now.

Of course all these questions come as today is it is announced that Kirk Kekorian will be selling off his shares of Ford. This is after he spent a premium on shares a few months back spending an roughly 30% over the stock price at the time.

All this talk along with economic news that does make any one warm and fuzzy at all, makes one wonder what the future holds and the changes that will take place all across the board.

There is nothing settling with any of this but at the same time it does force us to take inventory of everything and figure out if there is something we need to do different. This is tough to anticipate since we don;t know what will be the end results of it all. We must realize on our instinct and that American spirit will have to carry us through this turmoil that happens in every country's history.

Two weeks and counting...

2008-10-21T21:07:00.000-04:00

In the past an age old debate was the argument as to whether or not the media had a liberal bias. No one case will tell unequivocally whether that is the case or not but I think we have decent comparison among many to show here.

Before I left for work this morning, I saw a quick report on TV eluding to Democratic nominee Joe Biden's comments from Sunday evening when he said the following:

"Mark my words, it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. . . . Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. . . . I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate, and he’s gonna need help."

Oddy enough this seems to be almost put under the rug. While many of the different news sites have the story you have to seek it out to even locate it. In other words it is not big news.

This seems significant to me as it appears that Vice President realizes that the world has zero respect for Barack Obama and since he is looking to verbally each conflict, he will be having some difficult times considering the over the top personalities found in this world. Another point is if Barack Obama's running mate has little confidence in the security of the US once his running mate is sworn into office.

ONe story that was available through every network with in moments this weekend took place Sunday when former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama. While Powell initially complemented McCain as well as Obama, he commented that McCain is slightly unsure on how to handle to the economy. He continues to say that Obama has plenty of values of all people. This is funny since he denigrated those who hunt a few months ago in the state of Pennsylvania - which oddly enough is now a blue state.

Powell continues discussing the McCain strategy with respects to Obama's relationship with Ayers and continuing to talk about it. I do agree with Powell this really in the end if a non issue. At the same time - am I the only one that thinks in the long run his name does hurt him especially it is the same as the #1 fugitive in the world?

He discusses his discomfort with the Republicans and the parties move to the right. This is a misinformed statement based on the fact that based on policy it appears the Republicans are more liberal than they have ever been in their almost 150 year history whether you consider spending, the size of government as well and other considered liberal policies. In addition their presidential nominee is is the most liberal candidate to run since Ronald Reagan. No one was more liberal than Reagan.

The talk from Powell did not stop there when he speaks after his "Meet The Press" appearance when he defends Obama's assertion he will raise taxes. He continues saying "Of course I don't want my taxes raised either"

People I am not really sure what took place. ONe thing for sure - Powell has lost the respect of many in the Republican end of things but probably more so - the independents who will recognize he offerred little or any reason to vote for Obama this past week.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All in all, I am not excited in the least to head to polls two weeks from today. After watching the debates and listening to the thoughts and opionions I come back with the same conclusion - there has to be someone WAY better out there that I can vote for rather than these two individuals. IN this country with the brightest minds ever to walk the face of the earth, we have two people who are clearly not impressive and don;t inspire many people as to how they will handle the next four years. I can tell you personally I will look into ALL candidates in the next two weeks but the reality is for all the talk and endless at nauseum coverage that has taken place the last eightteen months regarding this election, it will be one fo the most anti climatic events to ever take place.

Last Debate thoughts and more

2008-10-15T22:33:00.001-04:00

It has been a wild couple of weeks in this country as well as locally.

- The stock market has been the hot topic the last few weeks. The news has been for the most part been very negative and people holding their breath to see what will happen from day to day.
- It does seem strange how we have allowed the stock market to shadow what we think of the economy as a whole. Our unemployment is not even remotely close to what it was in the 1920's and 1930's. Our GDP is doing great. The value of the dollar has actually been going since Wall Street's struggles has gone along.
- Bailing out these banks and those with mortgages close to failure is rewarding irresponsibility. It is a sad path and one don't enjoy watching unfold.
- I am watching the third Presidential debate and tell myself one thing - 2012 is PRIMED for a third party candidate. It is rough to watch these debates. The best man at the table is Bob Schieffer.
- Who runs these campaigns? If you were a Republican, would you not be irritated that McCain refuses to point out that his policy is the most liberal since FDR. If you were Obama why are you not pointing out McCain's politics are not close to many Republican stances cutting away from John's base.
- One view specifically with tonight's debate - McCain seems to have a little more urgency than what I have seen in past engagements. Based on poll numbers this will probably be too little too late.
- I have not seen alot of him but what I have seen of him I am very impressed by Ken Cockrel Jr., sitting Detroit Mayor.
- Joe the Plumber - someone who will be talked about for at least the next week.
- End result of debate - No ground gained by McCain.

Fast on the right, slow on the left - huh?

2008-10-06T13:02:00.002-04:00

Every day I travel north on the interstate and get slightly frustrated by a decision from civil engineers to have an exit on the left side of the expressway. This makes for "great" traveling as another highway which exits to the right. My exit is not too long afterwards which means it makes for a fun track each morning. Let me preface that my trip to and from work are really as a whole fantastic. It would just would drive me nuts if I went north on the way home which is typically a very slow progressing parking lot. Anyways, my typical ride is getting on the freeway and slowly progressing to the left lane. I start getting going at a nice comfortable rate but usually end up behind someone who is in the left lane waiting to exit off and locked in at that sexy 65. I am thankful for those people but I just wish they were not in front of me. These people typically maintain that speed regardless of how many people pass them in the middle lane. Once I pass that exit, I end up having to get to the right. This is always good as traffic slows down for the freeway exits coming up and the on coming traffic coming from the freeway. I slowly put my hands together as I for sure slow down unless there is an opening up ahead and there is a log jam forming from the freeway. I will as a result press the accelerator to put myself in a position of merging in that spot.

All in all - a very good time each morning. Thankfully I have the slight challenge in the morning because I do have a job.

Bank Rescue thoughts

2008-10-01T23:17:00.002-04:00

I am going through and trying to figure out what is all happening right now. I have always enjoyed following the economy and stock market but for sure these days can’t make heads or tails. I am not going to regurgitate the details of everything taking place in credit markets and financial institutions but some thoughts.

Is Congress really educated enough about the issues to pass legislation that will attempt to “solve” the issue? I still have not heard how the $700B was figured out.

Will giving $700B to the parties involved correct the issue which no one quite seems to be able to put their finger on right now?

I look at all like kids who behaved badly and did not think about their actions being rewarded very well. There were no consequences. Their parents came and rescued them and they most likely will try it again – just in a different form as to not get caught. What I am getting at is most banks got into trouble due to their own greed. Now they are being rescued and the only people suffering are us the tax payers.

Would any of this be taking place it the year were not divisible by four?

I am finding it amazing how this issue has taken such precedence in just over thirty days before the election. When you watch the news the election is still a big story but for sure not taking the precedence one would think at this critical stage especially considering how much at nauseum the cable news networks have been talking about in the last eighteen months.

I think well after passing the bill you will continue seeing the public react to this whole ordeal. There is large disgust from liberals and conservatives about this deal. It is evidence that the pain of all this is blind to political affiliation.

Something I find remarkable though I for sure understand - Obama's lead has gone up in the past week according to the polls. I am trying to figure out how this whole thing DIRECTLY relates to the position of the President of the US. Did the current guy in office give away loans to people who they knew should have never got those loans? Did he make mortgages an over whelming portion of the bank's assets? There are plenty of reason to vote for Obama but nothing having to do with the banking issue. Maybe I am just using way too much common sense.

Six Socks, no Matches

2008-09-23T22:16:00.002-04:00

I have no idea how this took place but I just got done folding the laundry and I have six socks with no mates. Count them... six.

I have told my parents numerous times that I should not be allowed to live on my own. This is just one fine example of why that is the case.

Last summer evening thoughts

2008-09-21T22:29:00.001-04:00

Some thoughts here on the last summer evening in 2008…and as usual I am all across the board…

I am a very big sports fan and changed the channel over to the Orioles and Yankees game. It is the last game in Yankee Stadium. I have a desire to see different stadiums but for whatever reason I never had a desire to go to the stadium. I do have a desire to see Fenway Park – home of the Boston Red Sox. I could not explain if my life depended on it why I want to see the one and not the other.

One thing I recommend to most people if they remember in two years is watch the Ryder Cup. Anymore I don’t watch golf on television but the Ryder Cup is something with emotion and nationalism with money not even coming into play. It is one of hardest fought competitions in sports. It is played every two years.

Lion fans have gone through some rough times but this may go down as the worst season in franchise history. I did not watch one moment of today’s game and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I did not miss anything. When you consider the position I cam efrom this shows how pathetic the organization is for sure.

Folks – we no longer are a pure democracy with in a free market. For sure this has been the case for some time but we received yet another affirmation as we see the government bailing out banks with $700B. Your tax dollars are being used to rescue overly greedy bankers who sold off poor loans just for the quick cash. What those people have done is borderline criminal and nothing will happen to them. They have their money and have probably since walked away from the whole situation. One can find themselves doing nothing but shaking their heads thinking about the situation.

Do you remember when the question “How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb” was a joke? As I continue working in Corporate America I think it is sad to find out this is a legit question that sometimes merit being asked out loud. If I were to explain to you the circumstances that took place in last project I worked on, it would make you pause for a moment to think about how anything gets done. More importantly making you wonder how people keep their jobs and some people don’t make it any further than they do.

So I read the other day that MTV’s TRL will be shutting down sometime soon after ten years. There are some things that struck me about that show. Let me preface my statements by letting you know I only ever saw it on TV for a minute or two time to time when they reran in the morning before I went to work some time ago. First it was a show on MTV that showed music videos. Is that not what MTV should be doing as that is what they did for years? Secondly, it did give everyone a new perspective on life who may have thought they could not be a star. The show produced Carson Daly who to this day I am still trying to figure out how he ever got to host the show. They could have have had anyone on that show I think doing the presenting work. The other thing that got me is they never showed much more than a minute of the videos. Is the draw of the show watching Carson in a sea of fourteen year old girls? Maybe just maybe it is the fact the audience relishes the fact they are able to vote for who they want and don’t have their vote lost in the Electoral College. I will have to give that some further thought.

List Flabbergation

2008-09-11T23:58:00.002-04:00

Dear Billboard Magazine –

I started out my day like any other rolling out of bed and some how putting on my socks without breaking my neck. While performing this always difficult act, I had the radio and heard your publication came out with a list of the top 100 songs from August 1958 to July 2008. In the fog of the morning, the radio newscaster announced that Chubby Checker had the #1 song on your list. Immediately I knew I was missing something because that is not possible. Somehow I did not understand the list of songs. I went through my mind to figure out what criteria was used to put that particular song on top. I Googled your list and found it. Now I did read your criteria for weighting older songs different but I think there has to be major flaws to it. Did you use an abacus to get the totals? It is plain as day – Chubby Checker has brought us the best song in the last fifty years. #2 was “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. Third was “Mack the knife” by the “legendary” Bobby Darin. Please line up even your readers and see how many people know Bobby Darin.

Who made this list? Is there any chance they will identify themselves or are they all in straight jackets? Did you mistakenly have one of those groups that play Dungeon and Dragon’s on Saturday night make this list of songs? I mean the whole list is whacked. Olivia Newton with “Physical” at #6 (ok – there is no issue with that selection) and Debbie Boone – WHO? Who doesn’t have Diana Ross and Lionel Richie blaring with “Endless Love” every evening of their life? Andy Gibb has two songs on this list? “Ebony and Ivory” – and here I thought that song was just a joke. WOW. All is good though – there is a Captain and Tenille sighting on this list. Maybe I will forget all this… NOT!

What was going on in that room when this list was devised? You should have all left and got some fresh air. Did you end up writing this all up with those strong smelling permanent markers that should not been inhaled? Put the caps back on when you are not using - do not pick your nose with them please.

I may be writing my Congressmen sometime this weekend to have them put together a Congressional panel on this issue. Hell they look into baseball for heaven’s sake.
I have not been flabbergasted like this in some time.

Sincerely -

Midwest Gent

"Zip Code"

2008-09-05T20:41:00.003-04:00

This evening I stopped off to fill up the "hot rod". Now I put your basic unleaded fuel in there. I charge it to the credit card and do the whole transaction at the pump. First thing that gets me is they charge another ten cents a gallon for gas. Next I turn around and go to start filling the tank. It is not filling and I turn around to see what is wrong. On the display they are asking for my zip code. Is it really necessary to find out my zip code? What immediately came to mind is being required to do this when I am filling my tank in January and the cold weather is in full effect with a nice wind shield. There are some gas stations not doing the whole extra ten cents addition for using my credit card and not wasting my time with some stupid zip code requirement. DO you think this even crosses the minds of people who put it out there?

RNC thoughts

2008-09-05T10:54:00.004-04:00

Thoughts this past Republican Convention week…

Keith Olbermann is a total dweeb and loves the Democratic Party. He was good to correct every factual error in each speech during the applause no less. If anyone watching the conventions could tell me the major networks are impartial I would give them an old shoe to chew on. Fox News Sean Hannity is for sure impartial but that is no problem because he freely admits it. There is nothing impartial with guys like Tom Brokaw,

ABC News seems to not be able to get enough of themselves. They interrupted half the speeches so political stalwarts like Diane Sawyer (you will never be Baba Wawa), Chuck Gibson, and George S (I am not even going to bother spelling his last name) could get their words in edge wise. George S probably gave himself a chemical shower every night before going to bed back at his room making sure he did not catch anything from the Republicans.

Fred Baby!! Where was that vigor when you campaigned eighteen months ago? I remember seeing him debate and on a few interviews and he came across as a narcoleptic. Had he matched the spirit the other night, he would have been on the ticket.

This election year was Joe Lieberman and the previous Republican convention was Zen Miller. This has to be a disturbing trend to Democratic leadership like Howard Dean that their own are speaking at the Republican convention making to note their party’s issues. I would love to see some knowledgeable bi partisan people debate the move of the political party in the last fifty years. More specifically it would be good to know if people think they have become better, worse, or status quo.

Rudy Giuliani speech seemed a bit over the top to the point of almost being embarrassing. The blows he was delivering seemed almost below the belt but for sure nailed the point home.

Overall, I found the conventions contrasted themselves from previous ones. Republican conventions are usually reserved and done with little emotion. The Democratic Convention is full of spirit and tude. This go round showed that not to be the case. The Democrats were a reserved group of people who put words out there but did not give the impression they really believed the words they were uttering – ie. Bill and Hillary. Obama’s speech was about the only speech with sprit but in fairness I missed Michelle Obama’s speech. I guess I could Youtube but I have not gotten around to it. The Republican Convention had their fair share of “fire and brimstone” speeches whether it be Fred or Rudy.

Did I miss this woman’s candidate’s Mr Magoo (aka Ron Paul) speaking at the convention?

Needless to say the speech this past week that came with anticipation was not the Presidential hopeful John McCain but VP candidate Sarah Palin. Her speech required to be nothing short of great and surprisingly all he pundits agreed it in fact was great.

Locally, the area I come from has been pointed at as one of the most important battle grounds. Oakland County was mentioned last week on NBC’s “Meet the Press” by Republican Strategist Mike Murphy and Macomb County was discussed on CNN last evening following McCain’s speech. My fellow Metro Detroiters, like she did here, will see members of both tickets plenty in the coming weeks.

Another remarkable thing that happened is the talk from reporters indicating that going into the convention that Republicans and the like don’t feel they have a chance at winning in November. Last time I checked the polls were split down the middle. Now I realize based on the electoral college the margin is wider based on those states each person has an advantage in but they way you hear these people talk you would think even Republican delegates see no reason to hold the election. Wonder never ceases here.

CostCo trip

2008-09-02T12:46:00.002-04:00

I went to Costco in the MH Friday morning as I was off from the Titanic and thought the crowds would be manageable. Ummmm NO!

Some of the events that took place…

The goal was to get non consumables products but for sure look around at the consumables to make sure I am not missing anything.

I really wish I was in the market for a television. The prices they have there are ridiculously low. I could get twenty more inches for the same price I bought my previous one for…cripes… My justification for getting a TV…none.

I made a phone call to see if someone I knew needed anything while I was there. I asked whether or not they wanted a power drill, wrench set, 48 AA batteries, Grill with a refrigerator or anything else I saw as I passed through the back of the store. They said they were set.

There may have been a celebrity sighting but it was tough to tell. She was in her running shorts, tshirt and did not have the makeup encased to her face. Plus I thought when I looked at her on TV she was married and I saw no ring. After passing by fifty times I still was not sure. Either I don’t really know what she looks like or this woman just closely resembled her. (To clarify, I passed by her because we were frequenting the same aisles)

I said no to the box of Gharadelli Fudge Brownie mix that would 96 servings. If I bought I would be yelled at by my mother indicating one could make better scratch brownies.

In the mean time I bought those chocolate chunk cookies from the bakery. Those are always good things to have making the trip worthwhile.

I felt like every aisle was blocked by someone with their carts left right in the middle and then either taking a sample or going elsewhere to fetch something else.

I thought as I strolled through the store – “Why do I have a card as everything here is geared toward family’s that resemble the Brady Bunch?”

Where are the treats for my four legged nieces? Why do they not have what they want? What will I give them when they make their next trip to their uncle’s?

I now have enough sandwich bags to last me almost two years. I take my lunch to work 95% of the time. In other words – that is a lot of bags.

Note to self – Continue stance on not buying pop or beer here as their prices are not that good.

I told myself as I lugged to bottles of it “Apple Juice is better tha anything else I usually have at night”.

I answer the phone – “Yes I realize I have an appointment this afternoon with dark skies and receiving the mental torture that only a dimpled ball could hand out. No I don’t know where it is as I am spending my daily one hour a day with out Internet Access being out in public with the people.”

I did not gain much coming on a Friday morning. I once again assume everyone in the world besides myself does not work.

The gas line looks like what they looked like when Jimmy Carter was President.

Biden

2008-08-26T23:18:00.001-04:00

Well this summer is cruising right along and I was late offering my prediction on who Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama would select as his VP. I will let you know that Joe Biden was not the choice I would have made.

It is a strange pick in my mind. Obama has been campaigning and taking back Washington DC and America as a whole. He follows up that with picking a guy who has been in Washington for one heck of a long time – a time in Congress that Obama has constantly criticized.

At the same time, he did go out and pick someone who helps in several areas. Joe Biden foreign policy knowledge is right at the top of the list with Sam Nunn and Joe Liberman in the Democratic party. He brings Obama an east coast state but it is only Delaware - not a big deal with only three electoral votes. He does bring some clout though in such states as Virginia and Maryland. Biden shores up any questions about the ticket’s experience. Republicans will question whether or not that experience is any good.

Some of the things that Biden does not do for Obama is help him states like New York and California that Hillary Clinton won in the primaries. He does not bring him the woman vote that was so strong for Hillary and who ended up voting in Bill Clinton his two terms. Biden does not offer any clout in the great debate on what should be done by the government with health care. (I will discuss later in later posts why health care being an issue in the 2008 and subsequent elections is ridiculous.)

If you are Republican, you kind of smile at the choice of Biden. While he a smart guy who brings a lot to the table, he is someone that does put his foot in his mouth on what seems like a regular basis only beating Obama in making a fool in himself. He is considered short tempered who is quite reactionary. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that Republicans – while they for sure respect his experience and what he brings to the table for Obama – know there is quite the possibility he may be a great choice for them.

Only time will tell what happens but sure we will sit back and wait now McCain to make his choice – which will probably be…Mitt.

As I close, I am typing this as I watch the Hillary speech from Denver. The beginning saw her explain who she is including a mother but for whatever reason – not a wife. In addition, she was very lukewarm about Obama and not damaging much to McCain. Overall, it was twenty minutes of not much context. Her future will find to be interesting as she decreases the probability she will have a role and the Democratic party continues to be divisive to each other and not untied in their effort.

Some more mid summer random thoughts...

2008-08-18T23:20:00.000-04:00

Thinking...

Here is a pet peeve – Saturday in the D was perfect – low humidity, warm, and limited cloudage. I ended up going out with friends and we went to a bar to hear a band. PET PEEVE – going to a bar all closed on a summer night. Nothing bites my ass more in this world – ok I am sure there are a few things – but wasting a summer night doing something I can do in the middle of the winter. Those nights are meant for rooftops and patios. I figure that 25% of weekend nights you can be outside. I can easily hang out inside one of those 75% nights.

I never in my life thought I would see a bar come to a stop to watch four dudes swim in a pool over in China. Nonetheless, it was quote an event to watch and even better to watch with people. It seems to be the only thing uniting people this year. The records seem to be the only thing rather than cheering against the pesky Russians. At this point even the Chinese don’t create enough nationalism from the Americans.

I had to laugh regarding the story about the people finding Sasquatch. The pic alone looked sketchy. It looked like the guerrilla mask you see sold in Halloween stores. Of course the people who found just happen to be part of an organization that sells Big Foot memorabilia. Somehow cable news showed that story all over the place. Do we need any more examples of why 24 hour news channels are not a good thing?

The biggest disappointment of the summer – Detroit Tigers. They can’t do anything right. Their pitching is terrible. They cannot field and their hitting is completely inconsistent. I guess we will have to wait for the beginning of the Lions season – ROFL! Sorry – I thought I could say it with a poker face.

In less than a week the Democratic Convention (aka Clinton Exhibit) will be underway and we should know who Barrack Obama has chosen for his Vice President. Barrack has a difficult decision in front of him as he needs to figure out who will complement him the best. I will get into this more in depth later this week. At that time we will discuss John McCain who has the same tough decision but the factors are completely different.

Is anyone seeing this race as youth against experience?

The next time someone tells you how bad the economy is, ask them to explain the long lines for iPhones and John Madden’s 2009 Football game. People – these are not bread lines. They would not be happening if the economy was truly terrible.

I need a name for these posts where they are random thoughts.

To seek or not to seek?

2008-08-12T10:45:00.001-04:00

There are brinks in our life that happen which cause us to make changes.

I am thinking it is time for a job change.

I am looking at not getting a raise for two years. This is kind of understandable considering the economy and the industry I work in these days but I think COLA should at least be offered up.
I have zero vacation days. I get paid what I work and nothing more. If I was getting a consultant rate it would be one thing but please rest assure I am not.
I had to go out and get my own health care because what was being offered by my “house” was so bad price and quality wise, I got the “top-shelf” stuff for half the price.
Based on the average salary for my education attained and experience, it appears I am drastically underpaid.
The client – which will never change – that I usually refer to as the Titanic in this blog just seems headed in the wrong direction based on strategic decisions.

Some reasons why I may just hang out:
I do like the people I work with and what I do. I never do the same thing day after day. It is always something different.
Stress level is – to me – fairly low and I work forty hours. Not 41, 42, 50, 55, or 60. I work 40. Those who don’t know my position have told me they would never do it. They think it is too damn busy.
The commute is very good – about twenty minutes. It is not grid lock either. I go north on I-75 in morning with a few other people. Afternoon I wave toward those driving north on I-75 as I breeze my way down to my exit.
My boss is real good. I am some what isolated in what I do and they let me be autonomous.
My job could easily be replaced but the people who would make that decision are smart so I can almost call my job “secure”.

I think the bottom line is I can look for something better and make a real good decision on the next step.

Random Olympic coverage moments #1

2008-08-11T21:50:00.002-04:00

So I am watching the Olympic coverage and plan on doing through out the whole thing. Yes I know I said I could not care less but we live in a free country with the ability to change my mind at a moment's notice.

NBC had Mary Carillo - usually a tennis commentator - do a feature on China and different spectacles around the country. First I am always amazed that Mary;s voice is deeper than WRIF's Arthur Penthallow.

As for her story, she has two people holding a map for her. One was the tallest man in the world who measures up to - I think they said - 7'8". The other was his wife who was only as tall as the gentleman's waist. Sorry to say but it made me chuckle. One day I will be a better person.... right......

A look back the first 2008 Summer Olympics weekend

2008-08-11T16:23:00.004-04:00

The question you have to ask yourself when you blog is whether or not you have something worth writing about when you go to do so. It is so much easier when something inspires you to do so rather than doing it on a timely basis.

One thing I did not anticipate being inspired by the Olympics. I saw myself getting drawn into them while out with friends Saturday night out at a bar sipping water (Honestly - it was a good time). I watched some of the basketball game between USA and China Sunday morning. I followed that up with watching the gymnastics and the wonderful swimming relays where the US won in a race where all the teams that medaled broke the original record.

Now I will do something I rarely do on this blog – offer a small bit of insight on what I have been up to –

List of fine things I did this weekend:
Made dinner for the parents
Fell asleep at 9:15 Friday night
Picked up a dead bird off my lawn along with several apples and pears
Spent Sunday afternoon out in the rain and mist and had very good time chasing a stupid ball
Walked dog that was not mine

Here is a list of things I did not do this weekend:
Go to a Tiger’s game – I have not been to one all season but it does not appear I am missing much
Attend the Disturbed/Slipknot concert at DTE – I don’t go to concerts especially of groups I don’t own their music
Attend Poison/Sebastien Bach/Docken at Freedom Hill – I heard this was a bit of a disappointment
Attend the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills – though I did watch a fair amount of it on TV

It is amazing to me how fast summer is going.

Unusually warm voting day

2008-08-05T21:42:00.000-04:00

Well I did my civic duty today which is kind of odd because it is usually cold as ever when I go into vote. I was not even aware there was an election today outside the series of signs I saw across the area requesting me to vote “Yes” on the Detroit Zoo proposal. I usually would not even bother but I felt I needed to in this case. For my precinct, I was #122 at 6:00 PM.

In a city that seems to be slowly losing its identity through the ever changing auto industry and its pathetic city government, one must do what they can to support what is out there that makes this area still a great area to live in regardless of your living situation. Every city must have certain standard cultural elements. Detroit is not short in this area as we have a great zoo, symphony, art institute, good universities, and a very long list of items I am leaving out at this point and time.

With those items comes a reputation of being a good place to both live and visit by large groups of people. Without them it becomes a struggle to reach that status let alone maintain it.

It is all sad that you don’t hear about those great things in this town because when you read something real good, it almost surprises you. I recently was going through Money Magazine which ranked small cities with under 300,000 people. They were ranked on five different areas – Jobs/Economy, Safety, Education, Housing Affordability, and Leisure/Arts. Out of the top 100, six were in Michigan and five were suburbs of Detroit. Once would not expect such a good turnout from an area that sounds like it should just close up shop and go home.

I don’t personally plan on leaving Michigan anytime soon. It is a good area for many reasons in my opinion. For every thing may not appeal to you – like cold weather - is every reason I tend to stay – like avoiding 120 degree weather in those not so cold environments.

Random Comments - Volume....I will figure out for the next time

2008-07-28T13:21:00.002-04:00

Random comments from yet another beautiful summer weekend…

Please, please Kwame – do the right thing for ONCE in your life.

I am somewhat irritated by the gas stations in the area charging me another 10 cents a gallon when I charge by credit card, The worst part is despite gas prices going down nearly 10%, that new charge will not be removed from my transaction. I don’t like paying up front because I like to fill up all the way and they are only allowing you to pay cash if you pay before pumping the gas. Now sure I have a rough estimate on what it will cost but in the end, I prefer the credit card. What impact will have on your pocket book? Know you will have to change the numbers based on your filling requirements. Hypothetically, you fill 12 gallons (this number can be different based on the car and how many miles you drive a week) once a week. That means you are spending another almost $63 a year. Of course one would have to ask themselves if that extra cost was already put into the price of gas to begin with and those paying cash are just now getting a discount. I will stop before my mind gets all knotted up.

Someone asked me the other day if I watched any of the coverage of Obama’s trip to Europe and the Middle East. I responded saying there did not seem to be any reason to watch the coverage as I knew how he would be portrayed by the media and it was my understanding he was not answering any questions from journalists. Did he hold press conferences? Yes but only answered questions from military personnel. I am beginning to wonder if being a garbage man is a more enviable job than being President.

I openly admit I am not a big movie guy. I am not sure why other than I find 95% predictable and just sheer lame. I occasionally go the movies. Occasionally means MAYBE twice a year depending on if the crowd has nothing else to do that night. At this point and time I will be committed to be an outsider and say I have zero interest in the new Batman flick.

The Olympics start in less than two weeks. I have watched like 30 minutes of the different trials. With everything being taped delay, waiting for primetime, it will be presented for the first time a full day later. I am one of those people who do not want to watch something that should be seen live.

Construction

2008-07-26T12:09:00.001-04:00

Wednesday was an interesting driving day for me. In the morning, I went out to my dentist - out is a good way of putting it - to only drive to the Titanic a different way than usual following my appointment. The Titanic has a few different ways of entering and this way which I don't take was all messed up with construction. It took another five minutes which in the whole scheme of things is not that badbut for sure unexpected. This was followed up with a trip to a fine summer activity. I decided to take what I thought to be a "shorter" way of getting there. That proved to be completely wrong as they were doing construction on this well traveled three lane - sometimes four lanes - north south Macomb County road. Instead of getting to my location early by ten minutes, I arrived ten minutes late - NICE! This was not before being held up on a east west road due to gawking at a pulled over out of a commission automobile.

Another spot that is a daily nuisance ends up being my usual way home from the Titanic on I-75. That will be tied up for a few months. I assume my trip to the Titanic will be disrupted soon enough. I will not complain though as my commute is about twenty minutes.

The worst part of this all is I see these cones out there and I see NO ONE working so I ask myself if this is just a cruel joke being played on all us drivers. This seems to be a very baffling system that the government has going on these days.

The Urinal Stories

2008-07-18T21:53:00.001-04:00

One day this past week, I had something happen twice in one day which is weird considering the circumstances. I have mentioned before I work at the Titanic. The facility is a very LARGE due to the number of people who work there. As a result, there are plenty of bathrooms with some with up to twenty urinals in a row. For the record I have not officially counted but I think that number is pretty accurate.

On one select day this week with in a few hours of each other, I was performing the process one man would if they were standing in front of those urinals. The first time there was eight urinals. When I entered the restroom, all the urinals were available. I went ahead and picked one in the middle. There was nothing strategic in the decision. I simply made a choice. With in a minute, a man entered the restroom with the same decision – Which urinal to perform his duty? Now if I were in his shoes presented with the choice of seven other urinals I would immediately not consider the urinals on either side of me. I would choose a urinal that will have one free urinal on either side. The man did not make that choice. Oh no!! He picked the one right next to me. Sure he could have given himself some space, but that was not good enough for him.

Of course this does not happen often I am sure you are telling yourselves but as luck would have it, it did in fact take place again. This took place in another bathroom which is split up into three sections each with four urinals, and three stalls giving a total or twelve urinals and nine stalls. I entered in at about late afternoon and found four available urinals in one section. I picked the right middle one and from the sounds of it, it was pretty empty. Another gentleman walked in and of course – as I am sure you anticipated – walked into the section I was located in and picked a urinal right next to me.

UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING – or so I thought.

I was of course floored by these circumstances happening in consecutively. It was for sure not “disturbing”, but for sure weird.

Summer evening random thoughts

2008-07-13T22:05:00.000-04:00

Some random thoughts this nice summer evening...
- Why is Angelina Jolie having some babies such a big deal? Just checking.
- I saw the latest Indiana Jones movie. My opinion - don;t rent it and Please Harrison- No more!!
- So let me get this straight. Alex Rodriguez wife left him for Lenny Kravitz and then Alex himself went looking for Madonna? It makes my world spin to think about even playing that "six Degrees of separation" with all these four people only concerning sex partners.
- I said Tigers - 85 wins. It looks good here at the half way point. Their fielding stinks and to be honest they cannot hit the ball. Seems funny from all the talk before the season.
- Brett Favre - go away...
- Who will pick their VP first? Are both McCain and Obama wishing the other would pick theirs and they can counter. I suspect that McCain will wait until after the Democratic Convention.
- If I were a betting man, I would NOT put my money on Hillary. There is too much baggage and Billy Boy will be too much for Barack to handle.
- Obama seems to have a bunch of land mines. Between his pastor, his mistake on how many states are in the US and now Reverend Jesse Jackson showing his discord with him, it may prove to be a very rough ride to November for him.
- With all the talk about change from his camp he will have to pick someone that reinforces that thought. The tough part is finding that person who is not part of that Washington DC machine and whose politics are along the same line. Best bet - Governor.
- The people in the know seem to think one of two people - Mitt Romney or Tom Ridge. Both guys are Midwestern guys for key swing states. Both guys counter McCain's Washington Ties.
- Is it possible that Iraq will not be an issue by the time November rolls around? The insurgence is working. Both candidates have publicly commented that pulling the troops may not be the best thing to right now. What would there be to argue about Iraq at that point?

Good summer things

2008-07-13T21:38:00.000-04:00

Some of the best things I like about summer:
- Wearing shorts regardless of where I go.
- Being outside on a nice night
- Being at an outside bar on a nice night.
- Sitting by the pool hoping you never have to leave and resume the normal life.
- The need to do outside work and the sense of accomplishment when it is done.
- Going to baseball games and hanging out. (I have to work on getting to one of those this season.)
- BBQ's
- Everyone's mood is better - or maybe it is just me.
- Rush hour traffic as a whole seems to be way better
- Longer days meaning more sunshine and daylight
- Fresh fruit

I may add more as time goes on.

Success

2008-07-07T23:10:00.000-04:00

I am blogging with some "pops"in my system so bare with me.

Let me preface that I am not a weeknight consumer of "pops"
but this is an extraordinary circumstance. Hopefully nothing
like this for many, MANY years!!!

Anyways I wanted to post something as I remember it right now.
When I go to a wedding or graduation, I like to put in the
card the following poem from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Success

To laugh often and much
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

It is a good barometer to go by in everyone's life.

Can't drive 55

2008-07-06T12:54:00.000-04:00

I don’t know who even suggested it. All I want to state is I have no interest and I wish who ever did bring it up would work on more significant issues. Please do not pursue the suggestion of lowering the speed limit to 55. Go on with your lives and work on something else.

Lowering the speed limit to 55 would not help much since those who travel we will say 75 will not slow up much. Plus why would you waste police forces time enforcing a law that in the end will only prove to be a waste of time and energy.

Please go away.

For more thoughts on this, I will let Sammy Hagar speak to this issue

Calamity

2008-06-29T22:38:00.000-04:00

I am to the point I am going to just start diligently putting in an entry at least three times a week., I am just not quite sure how exciting an entry about me dragging yet another five bags of yard waste to the curb will be after awhile. I seem to slowly but surely removing things from my yard one by one due much to overgrowth. I am wondering if the garbage men will eventually stop coming to my house.

One thing that got me this week is complete inefficiency that took place when I picked up an item from one of the retail places in here in the area. I bought a set of items from their clearance center back in mid-April. (I know for sure I bought it then because I did not do much shopping after that for some time). Anyways, the items, despite being in the clearance center were not available. They told me it would be about a month. Well a month passed by and the item I guess had not come in to the warehouse. I kind of forgot about it as it was not a big deal item for me as it was a big deal for others – like the women in my life who are not my girlfriend. (PLEASE NOTE – I don’t have one of those either) Well I got the phone call the items came in to the warehouse. I went to pick them up at the warehouse – which happens not to be the location I originally purchased them from. I have the receipt – which I miraculously still had which obviously amazed me. I drive to the location and go to the warehouse area. I give my receipt to the gatekeeper and he informs me I have to go get a bar code. “Huh?” I have to go into the “showroom” and get the bar code.

Well I go in and stand in line at the Customer Service area waiting for what seems like forever. Granted it was 8 o’clock at night but I looked at plenty of people behind the counter and they all simply looked back – GOOD TIMES!!! Finally someone offered to help me and I asked for the bar code while I handed them my invoice. This takes another ten minutes as it seems like some mystery what to do in order to get that bar code. Finally I get the bar code which appears to be close to the Holy Grail at this point.

I drive back to the Gatekeeper’s location and I drive back to drop off area. I back my car in and hand off the bar code. Now I am not thinking those who work in a warehouse would be Rhode Scholars but it yet takes another fifteen minutes to find the items in the warehouse. This as I look at one guy just sitting there “tuning” his mp3 player. Needless to say I am quite exacerbated at this point based on all the circumstances.

While nothing by itself in this experience was appalling, the whole thing put together was certainly a challenge for myself.

Myriad of items

2008-06-21T10:52:00.000-04:00

I have not blogged in some time because I have not been that inspired to write about much lately. I guess I could have blogged last weekend about the passing of Tim Russert from “Meet the Press”. We had a lot of similarities. We are both Irish Catholics. We are both big sports fans. We both follow politics though he obviously was way closer than this man. We both revere our fathers and the rest of our families. Lastly, I don’t think Tim was much into styling the hair. That is pretty much the case here. I don’t think I have ever had any gel or hair spray in my hair.

I could have blogged about this temporary diet I was on that did not allow me to eat anything that was dairy, bread or non fresh foods. It would have been even better had I lost a bunch of weight on it but that was not the case. I would have tweaked a few things, wrote a book and been on network television morning shows only using my name “Midwest Gent”. I pretty much maintained my weight. Please caution that I was not on this diet for any weight issues and the health implications are VERY TEMPORARY! We will refer to it as a short status check and all reports are VERY GOOD!

Lastly, I could blog about such things as complaining the Tigers are terrible but that is not the case anymore. I could have pointed out the Pistons should have been the NBA champs but that seems to be old hat and I have no desire to be negative lately. I could have written about Tiger Woods great performance but I am not sure I could put into words that performance he has last week at the US Open.

This all means that I will be probably ranting about something by tomorrow evening - HA!

This has made me wonder for some time

2008-06-12T21:18:00.000-04:00

I am not going to be long on this one.

Why does someone who lives in the Northern Midwest purchase a convertible and not have the top down on a sunny 80 degree day? You have about four months a year you can even think about it and when the time comes, you don't do it. If I did not see so much of it, I would not ask the question. My wonder never ceases.

The race heats up a bit...

2008-06-07T11:18:00.000-04:00

A few random political thoughts this Saturday morning…

I wish the Democrats would have been able to last through the convention as it would have quite the show we as Americans have not seen in years. IT would have shed more light on what in the past was a fascinating political process…

Obama has a real choice in front of him. Does he pick Hillary to be a running mate? If he does pick her is he alienating his own supporters? If he does not pick her, is he alienating Democratic party members that so much believe in Hillary? If he picks Hillary, what does Bill mean to the whole thing? The drawbacks of the primaries going on as long as they did was create a divide in the Democrat party and only the future will determine the width of that divide and the time it takes to close it up.
Other issues with picking Hillary – neither of them have ever lead anything. Hillary only elected office experience was in the Senate which she only really spent about two years doing before she was running around the country campaigning for this election. Obama is no different as his Senate record has no real political accomplishment that the public can deem his own work. Obama’s opponent has only congressional experience but a long history of getting work done which will be promoted during the race.

Another challenge in front of Obama is the limited number of people who don’t know what his vision for America is right now. Even after all the campaigning against Hillary much of it was words and not much else. We as the electorate have been told “Change” but that in the end will mean nothing. What do you tell the people who think there is nothing wrong with the US?

He has spoken about how he will treat the Iraq situation but in the end, the American people will want to know how their security will be maintained from Al Quada as well as other terrorists. Based on his series of comments, the American people for sure don’t know where he stands on this one. Something as equally important is how he will deal with Iran, North Korea, and to a slightly lesser extent, Brazil. Will he sit back and wait for an attack inside US borders?
Domestically, he will be looking to reversing Bush Taxes. This will not be a simple task due to a few reasons. One tax revenues are the highest they ever have been in our country’s history. Next, no one knows what Congress will look like when the next President goes into Office next January. Lastly, will the electorate want to hear from both candidates on how they will address spending?

People will look to Obama to see what he will do to save the economy. (Your author will not stop here to explain why people should not be looking at him or McCain to save the economy)Will he be looking to do a tax rebate again next year? Will he do anything with the sub prime mess? Will he rescind Sarbanes Oxley allowing businesses to operate with less restrictions and let them focus on their core business tasks?
Only time will tell how Obama chooses to handle the heavily focused upon health care issues. He has gone back and forth on what he deems will be the solution. He has stated at one point every American should have health insurance. He has since backed off from that statement simply stating something needs to be done.

Obama has a lot going for him whether it be the reinvigorated black voter supporting him or Young America looking at him to provide the vision they don’t believe they have been given in their life time. He speaks to those who have been going through hard times and gives them hope for the future.

McCain is a tough opponent for Democrats especially this go round. The Democrats have spent so much time pulling the carpet out from their opponent in the primaries they forgot to look to see who is on the other side. It has not been since Reagan that the Democrats have run against such a moderate Republican. Clinton in his years was lucky to some extent when he ran against the conservative Dole as well as Bush Sr. Both those candidates were favorites with conservative Republicans but did not translate well to the moderates as well as independent voters. Saying all that, Clinton barely won those elections, walking away with less than 50% of the votes.
McCain’s challenge will be appeasing to the conservative Republican who has quite never warmed up to him after all these years. At the same time, he will have to somehow distance himself from the Bush presidency which this country has so much disdain for right now. Playing this balancing act, he will have to also reach across the aisle to let Democrats he has a plan for this country that will fit their ideals.
Will Democrats value his military experience and believe in some way he will best for national defense? Will conservative Republicans be wary of what he will do with taxes?

Lastly, who does McCain picks as his running mate? His choice will be watched just as much as Obama since McCain is no spring chicken. Is it important someone is picked who can win the next election? Should be pick a former opponent like Romney? Should he pick someone that is a minority for his ticket?
Regardless of how flawed the process is and how gut wrenching the last few months have been we can now start taking the election of 2008 take shape. The games will begin and only time will tell who is making the right choices or simply at the right place at the right time.

Late Night - Destiny delayed...

2008-06-03T00:49:00.001-04:00

Should have gone to bed but what do I tell my grandkids? I went to bed early before history is about to be made. In a game that everyone would have been talking about for the ages. To have it end on a penalty...what a crime...

Lazy Journalism

2008-06-02T20:06:00.000-04:00

So after doing some things this past Saturday, I thought it was a fine time for a nap. I sat down with the remote control to see if there was anything on for a few minutes before I took a siesta. I flipped through the channels on the idiot box to find CNN with some talking head coming back from break. They started out introducing some story showing scenes from Santa Barbara and eluding to the fact that even there housing troubles had taken place. From there, a story was told of people who lost their home due to foreclosure. Specifically they follow a woman was a mortgage notary who is now living out of her car working for $8.00/hr and her monthly Social Security. She lost her condo a few months back when she lost her job and her daughter is living with friends. In her car, she is living with two full grown golden retrievers. There was quick side bar to this story when they showed another woman living in her car with four cats. She is asked what the toughest thing about living in her car and she responds hygiene.

I could sit here and criticize the subjects in the story on their decisions but that has nothing to do with this blog entry.
My issue – even more when I read the written story on their website is why this story was presented in such a sympathetic manner. On the particular program I watched, the host simply stated – with the field reporter next to her - what a sad story. Please note what I viewed is not shown in the linked in this entry.

Why was this presented in such a tale of woe? Of course I know the answer to this question and that is because people would rather be sympathetic to another’s cause especially on the idiot box where it makes for good viewing. Neither the host nor the reporter asked “Why doesn’t the woman move to another area that is not dropping like an economic balloon?” or “Why doesn’t she rid of the dogs?” They don’t inquire why the woman does not contact her children living out of the country know her living status but she goes on CNN. Did anyone inquire why that was the case?

This is a constant trend in television news which is one reason I don’t watch the idiot box. As much as there is on right now, I find it remarkable there is even a market for it based on this very lazy journalism.

Another City Letter

2008-05-31T14:58:00.000-04:00

Dear City – There are plenty of things baffling me right now on how your run your operation. The first thing is telling me my sidewalk needs to be replaced and oh by the way me the citizen that already drops a ton of money to you for property taxes relative to the land I own will need to flip the bill. This is despite there being no issue with the cement and it is simply uneven with what you as the city poured a few years back linking one house to another one. You tell me it is a hazard and I can’t figure out how it could be unless you are walking in the dark dragging your feet like a knuckle dragging cave man. You will undoubtedly get a visit from this citizen on that issue.

If that is not enough, I was diligent last weekend and was cleaning out the garage. While this took place, I discovered a fair amount of plastic bags – already bagged up but just sitting there serving zero purposes and a good amount of empty non-refundable bottles. This is all in addition to a fair amount of newspapers already bagged up but no place to go. Why ids that the case? You do not provide a recycling service with trash pickup. I am far from Mr. Green but this is 2008. Are you not twenty years late on offering such a service? Sure I can drive a few miles down the road and use the “recycling center” but that seems kind of cheap and lazy for a city your size. I do the responsible thing and put the recyclable items in the car. Come to find out I get there you will NOT accept plastic bags nor will you accept green glass. WTF! A fruitless trip that caused me to bring back well over half the garbage that needs to be recycled and might consider throwing away in the trash. I would love to know the rationale over the green glass as well as the plastic bags. I will figure out which department that is the day I stop by to discuss the cement.

You can rest assure if I was paying much more in taxes I would be a thorn in your side through several different methods.

Until next time – Midwest Gent

Note to all - Why does everything need to be an all out effort to get anything done in this world? It seems as time goes on the tasks grow as well as the time it takes to complete the tasks. The worst part is none of these tasks are really that outstanding other than the human factor involved with them putting up the psychological barriers. Who benefits from such barriers?

NEW PITA

2008-05-24T11:31:00.000-04:00

I have a new PITA in my life. WHY ...WHY must I get books and DVD's sent to my home that I have not asked for and they come with the "If you keep for thirty days, we will charge you $XX.XX" when I have never even requested to eve try out any of these unrelated services.

I am trying to contain myself from calling these clowns and losing it on the phone. That of course never is good because the phone person on the other end is EXTREMELY far away from the clowns that decide this could be a good practice.

To those clowns - Why must you inconvenience my life with your clutter and than in order not to pay for those items request I take time out of my day to send things back to you I NEVER even asked for in the first place. Those are AWFUL business practices.

I think I feel better.

PS - I hope all you know now what "PITA" stands for. I will help with "Pain in the"

Rings

2008-05-22T18:00:00.001-04:00

This is something that I have noticed for some time but it seems more prevalent than ever at least to this blogger. What you may ask? People not wearing their wedding rings/bands these days - both men and women.

I am slightly baffled why people have taken up this trend and run with it. Are they a pain in the butt to wear? Are they somehow different than they were twenty years ago per se? Are people ashamed or embarrassed for being married?

I am someone who owns zero jewelry and have not worn a watch in years. At the same time, if I were married you can bet that the wedding band would be on my hand at ALL TIMES other than unforeseen circumstances. I would want people to see my pride in being married through the wearing of my ring among other things. It is for sure interesting how people go about things.

You do not have to be a genius to have money

2008-05-21T20:56:00.000-04:00

When do you have too much money? When do you come across as a complete dope? When you don’t know you owe $400,000. It does not even come close to stopping there.

According to the hotel where the gambling took place, the debt was from October 2007 while Chuck claims it was from the 2008 Super Bowl which would be four months later.

Chuck later claims this did not have to go to court. He continues saying “All they had to do is call and say, 'Hey, you owe us this money’”. Now I have trouble thinking they did not make a phone call or two to Chuck or one of his people (I assume someone who has a debt of $400,000 he can blow off will have “people”) letting them know the debt was due.

The end of the article points Barkley claiming he last $10M gambling. He did not consider this an issue since he plenty of money. People – you lose that much money gambling you do have a problem – you are a bad gambler and those with Chuck should for sure bet against him.

"Chick Magnet"

2008-05-18T10:31:00.000-04:00

I feel like 2008 is moving at light speed. This may have to do with things that keep on coming up at a rapid pace in my life. I have not even submitted an entry in more than a week and it is like I am behind the times. I guess when your car dies and you run around looking for something while your health is far from 100%, you can excuse such things. Anyways – you have had enough of my blubbering and on to some random points.

Your humble blogger was wrong a month or two back when he told you the Pistons were out in the second round. They actually look like they give a damn. I actually look forward to seeing how they do in the next round.

I will admit it – I have lost total and complete interest in this town’s baseball team. I will not even dignify their existence by noting what their name is and commenting on them any further.

Kwame is having fund raisers for his legal funds. The best part – someone is actually attending and PAYING money to aid this cause.

To the guy that sold me the car this week – domestic used cars are not usually thought of as “chick magnets”. They are “modes of transportation” for those of us who can’t figure out where people have the money to even lease those foreign luxury cars when they look fairly younger than themselves.

I am thinking it is time for Hillary to step down to save face. She is losing super delegates at a rapid pace. The Democrats are not able to rest a bit before November. In the process, the longer she waits, the more she is risking losing any opportunities she may have whether it is a VP spot or a place in Obama’s cabinet were he to win in November. Do you think she wants to bow out but her buddy Bubba is telling otherwise? Needless to say he gives the campaign a strange dynamic.

All I think these days when I look at John McCain – Reagan Democrats.

If McCain does not say a word between now and November, I think Obama will do a good job helping John out simply by putting his foot in this mouth as he has done a few times recently. I think Howard Dean and the people have their work out for them. We will see.

All Over the Map

2008-05-10T22:59:00.000-04:00

Well, the Michigan Senate has voted to join the 21st century by passing a bill that would ban smoking in all Michigan work places. This will include such as clubs, restaurants and bars. The bill will be sent to the House who previously passed a similar bill but it allowed smoking in casinos, bingo halls, and cigar bars.

I openly admit this is a very good thing for me because I just don’t do well in smoky environments. As a result, I for sure like this bill and hope it successfully passes all the way to the Governor who has already said she will sign on the bill.

One counter argument is the government should not be passing laws that controls human behavior. One could say it is up to the bar/restaurant owners to determine if smoking will be allowed since it is they who own the operation. Some bar owners claim it will hurt business. Along the same line, is it not the right of someone smoking if they do it in a designated area to do what they please? That is something to think about as you see the bill passed into law.

One more while we are on a roll:

I lumbered by slightly ailing body to the Collection this afternoon to find an item for the big day Sunday. Before I went in I chuckled as I always do because I am told how bad the Michigan economy is and I am struggling to find a parking spot in the sea of $40K automobiles. Anyways, I knew what I wanted and where I could get it or so I thought. The first place I went we will refer to as “Bill S” (My readers are geniuses). There is a sea of people working here. I stated what I wanted to the gentlemen and he turned around and pointed toward the back of the store. I am thinking “DUDE – walk me back there. I am a man in a strange land who is already lumbering and have only so much energy to expend on my venture out of the house.” Low and behold I walked back there and figured something important – I need to note the item I want has to be electric, not manual. The woman who was assigned to help me showed me a few items but they did not fit the bill. I asked if they had anything through the Internet and I received a slightly bewildered look. I quickly looked at my clock to make sure we were in 2008 and not 1983. I left thinking that experience left quite a bit to be desired. You have fifteen people walking around with ear pieces and the experience was still terrible. I did not end up finding what I thought would be available. In the end, I only blamed myself because I did not do what I know I should have done – order the damn thing from the Internet. I will make sure the receiver of this gift is in agreement what should be ordered and deliver the item one week late.

Slightly Baffled

2008-05-08T22:19:00.000-04:00

I am trying to figure out why when I look at my search stats that I have a moderate amount of referrals from cnn.com. I went to the website - cnn.com - to investigate and have not been able to come up with the answer. Is CNN posting my blog? I would like to think other blogs are dealing with more news oriented items than this small blog. That is my one small thought this Thursday evening.

So today....

2008-05-05T19:31:00.000-04:00

I got an email from "1000's of Horny Singles" and the subject was "Get Your Rocks Off". First of all, I find it funny that any parent would call their child "1000's of" especially to go with the middle name of "Horny" and last name "Singles". The only thing more peculiar is the subject. I don't think rocks is a very good analogy as it just does not sound good. The last weird thing is usually such a message goes to the spam folder. Am I lead to believe I might even know this person who goes by the first name of "1000's of".

I have not opened the message. I will leave it there and may consider it if I receive some sort of related follow up message from "1000's of" or someone related to The "Singles" family.

Please note that after the last post which was probably too serious for my readership I decided to lighten it up. I digress

Success

2008-05-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

Saturday, I sat down as I do every year and watched the Kentucky Derby. I have thought in years past that I would want to go to the event but it has just never materialized. It looks like a fun event but I would have to be out in the sun all day and I know how I do with that – not good. That is completely immaterial to this post.

Yesterday saw a fairly quick race ran and won by the 5-2 favorite Big Brown, beating out the filly Eight Belles. Eight Belles made an attempt to be the fourth filly to win the Kentucky Derby. Big Brown ran a good race not using too much energy at the beginning and pull out to a definitive win. Big Brown, his jockey as well as the whole team were seen celebrating the day’s success. There was numerous personal interest stories were being told in relations to the winning horse. While all this was going on, the second place horse Eight Belles ended up suffering two broken front ankles. The decision was immediately to have her euthanized.

As I saw all this playing out on TV, I have to tell you it did strike a chord with me. A horse that was so close to winning the Kentucky Derby and still submitting a great performance regardless of the result was gone in a matter of moments. There was no enjoyment of the accomplishment of her efforts and obviously no opportunity to build upon it.

The lesson in this instance is simple. Success is something that is tough to come by and should be enjoyed when you are experiencing because it can be snatched away without notice. Success comes in many different flavors and how it is perceived is up to those experiencing it as well as those who are the successful person. Success to some is “nothing more” than having their health while others put success on bank accounts and luxury items. Of course there are numerous measurements for success that one can use.

It seems the timing of all this is interesting since recently I was given a small reminder to not take anything for granted. I have been given a small setback if you will that will be temporary but nonetheless have a long term impact on my life. While this was going on, I was offered a nice “vote of confidence” which is a byproduct of hard work and diligence- as well as opportunity - on my part. In the end, both the setback and “vote of confidence” will be perceived as good things because of their bi products. The setback is not positive but there were plenty of very nice attributes that came along with it. Failure is sometimes like that. Overall, much like beauty, success lies in the eye of the beholder.

An idiot is born every minute

2008-04-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

I saw down last evening to watch my home town baseball team on television. I had been flipping channels as the basketball team was also in action. The basketball game came to an end and I started focusing on the baseball game. All of a sudden I was completely annoyed by what I was hearing from the TV speaker. It was this “clank clank clank” noise driving me absolutely batty. It was catching the attention of the broadcasters too. It appeared that some dude in the crowd was taking a metal spoon and banging it against a metal frying pan. He is looking around smiling as if he was providing some fine service to the paying public. Mind you the few sitting around him in Yankee Stadium were merely shaking their heads. As the time went on I was getting more irritated. I start asking myself some critical questions like “Is this poor excuse for human being allowed in every night?” and “How did he get that frying pan in when people cannot take toothpaste on a plane?” and “When will someone take that frying pan from him and clean his clock?” What crosses the mind of someone when they tell themselves “I am going to the baseball game tonight – I should bring a frying pan with me”! I am done.

Smart People?

2008-04-28T18:50:00.001-04:00

I am trying to figure out what a smart person is in this age we live in today.

I encounter people who have spent their whole life educating themselves, earned titles but still not be smart. When they are faced with a situation, they don't do a good job of figuring it out. They even work in teams and no one from the team can come up with the right answer.

I know some people who are in grad school working on being a future CEO in corporate America and all I think as I talk to them is "I would not trust you with a bake sale." The Titanic is interesting because none of the obvious things are done to correct the ship and the focus is put on items that mean nothing in the whole scheme of things.

When all is said and done does smart measure really anything or is it all based on what you accomplish? Can smart people even get to do anything in this world? Does politics get in the way like construction cones during a Michigan summer?

This goes for types of organizations. Corporate America is riddled with politics. Government can bog things down and make innovation very difficult to even take place. It does not even matter what organization you are part of it is difficult to get good ideas through successfully.

What changes need to take place for really smart people to be allowed to navigate their way through things? Is it even possible?

End of April after a small "spring nap"

2008-04-28T17:17:00.001-04:00

Several items to comment on after an elongated period of sitting...

- My last entry got some weird comments. I am still not sure how that took place.- This story is great. Is it really possible that this person was that ignorant? Is it possible that the father was that much in the dark?
- Are the Democrats ever going to decide on a candidate? This has been going back and forth for months and I see no end in sight. I think it is possible that it may go to the convention this summer. Actually it is probably likely. I saw one commentator on TV this weekend (something I did a LOT of) this weekend even say it could go past the convention. I asked myself when I heard that when then does the candidate get selected if that is the case?
- In the meantime, John McCain, who a year ago was out of money completely, will have more time to collect more donation contributions from various Republican contributors. I am trying to think how the drawn out Democratic race hurts him?
- You wonder aloud if he will collect money from Democrats?
- I am getting close to spending sometime just Youtubing Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
- I have to think that Justin Verlander will be thrilled to see April come to a complete end. I am thinking the whole Tiger’s team will be happy to see April come to an end.
- One guy that is not funny in the least - Mo Rocca. He was on TV this weekend and I was amazed he even has a career in front of the camera.
- I have to admit that I have zero desire to see Yankee Stadium. Tigers will play their last set of games there this week. Yankees will get a new home next season and Yankee Stadium will no longer be used as their playing venue. I don’t know if my lack of desire has to do with the city, the team or combination of it all.
- I am feeling decent that 85 wins will be a good number.
- I am feeling REAL good about my Piston's prediction unless they lose in this round.
- Tax rebates supposedly will be delivered to bank accounts beginning today. I wonder if people have been logging into their bank accounts more than usual today? I wonder even more if people even know?

Pennsylvania Single Women

2008-04-21T22:32:00.000-04:00

I know you think based on the title this is a plea for single women in Pennsylvania but that is far from the case.

This CNN article outlines what women in Pennsylvania are looking from their Presidential candidate. It appears they are looking for a miracle worker with more powers than anyone on this earth possess.

The article points out that the voters who will factor in economics will be women who make less than $30,000. In other words, those people looking for free hand outs believe the President of the US will help out. Never mind there has only been two instances of this taking place in recent history of “free” handouts – FDR and LBJ. (On a side note, I will discuss one day why I love LBJ). The president will somehow change the fact that they don’t have an education. The President will change the fact they picked professions that were low paying. The President will change the fact they had children when they could hardly feed themselves.

The article continues saying single women earn less than married women and three times less likely to have health coverage. They add 20 percent of unmarried just happen to be single moms. So let me guess this is a plea for their children who are suffering from your lack of employment and somehow not using good contraceptives. (Before I continue on this rant I do want to point out in my book they are 50% responsible in this specific matter. It always takes two to tango.)

Now the article starts out with a single woman who is a lawyer in Philadelphia. She is stating her number one issue is the economy. She is a first time homeowner and she still owns her Nissan Sentra from college. She is 28 which means she just got out of law school. She is just starting out in her career but still owns her home. Is her life that bad? She is brand new in the legal field. Was she expecting to be balling with in seconds of leaving law school? Is she misinterpreting those friends around her driving $40K cars but debt up to their chins as being better than her? Sheesh – I have been out of grad school for almost four years and I am still driving my car I got coming out of undergrad.

She quoted in the article of saying there is little money left over after she pays her bills. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD! You have to make choices. OH MY GOD!! So she is looking for the President to help her out. How that is going to happen is beyond my comprehension.

I always find it funny when people think the middle class is taxed too much. One never looks at their spending habits. Does the government force the middle class into credit card debt? Does the government force citizens to buy things so they can keep up with the Joneses?

Even after saying all that, the funny thing is the article gives nothing but stats about those women making less than $30K but use a lawyer who I will go out on a limb and say she is making more than twice that amount.

When you look toward government to help and offer, in any shape or form, it is clear you are not looking in the right direction.

WOW!

2008-04-19T20:21:00.000-04:00

Allow me to ask the question – who in their right mind drops out of high school these days. Yes – drop out of high school in 2008. I heard of someone doing this recently and immediately responded WTF. In this day and age where people are filling out MBA programs to capacity across this country as well as other grad level schools and not finding employment afterwards, how stupid is that decision. More importantly -what parents allows that decision to even be considered let alone executed? I am not a parent but would be absolutely mortified if my kid thought it was even an option. I will be the first one to tell you the education process is tiresome but in the end it is necessary – or so I thought. Even when you have the education and you get a job, there is the continuous training and informational conferences you need to go to in order to maintain your status. What do you tell people when there is even an inquiry about what you are doing these days? What do you do with your time? Can you even find a full time job? My head is doing nothing but spinning.

BRUTAL!!

2008-04-12T15:27:00.000-04:00

I am typing this as the Detroit Tigers are about to go 2-9. Are you kidding me? All the talk, all the money, all the anticipation and this team is taking the freakin gas pipe. What an absolute debacle this all has become as we sit by and watch this team look like they have zero idea what they are doing out there. The effort seems low at best. The stars have done nothing as evidence they are currently being lead by baseball famous names like Clete Thomas and once potential cast-off Brandon Inge. We have not even got to tax day and history tells us the Tiger chances of even sniffing the playoffs is pretty close to zero.

I said they would win 85 games and did not even think they would make the baseball playoffs but not in my wildest dreams did I see any of this coming this way.

Deep talk

2008-04-11T22:51:00.000-04:00

I always find it interesting on how things work out. At the beginning of the year I told the parties involved that we should plan on going to Florida for a few days and enjoy the sunshine and all. The agreed upon weekend was this one we are in right now. As time went on circumstances came up making it slightly questionable whether it was a good idea for all parties. Before long it ended up being a good thing because I found out my time off had already been determined for me ie my vacation was determined for me. Once that decision was made for me, something unexpected came up that needs to be remedied and would have made going on the trip not a great idea in the least. Now I will tell you sure I would have liked to have gone on vacation but in this life you don’t always get everything you want and for sure it is sometimes a good thing.

There are a few things to be said that do get said often but need to be restated on an almost regular basis.

The first is you don’t always get what you want each and every day in this life. The result is we as people tend to focus on the few things we don’t have in our possession and ignore the MANY things we do have readily available to us. Look around at people and see how few are wearing a smile on their face. Never mind they drive $30K (or more) cars, have roofs over their heads, jobs in what they are being told not such a great economy, and countless non material benefits. Nope – you see people who seem to have zero ability to smile in their lives.

The next thing is rewards are best earned in this world. When you earn what you get, the value is way higher. I have met people in this life that want it all but don’t want to put the time into it. They always think there is a better (i.e. shorter) way to get where they want and end up disappointed when it all said and done. PEOPLE – you get what you put in when working toward your goals. I have mentioned in the past I have gone through a fair amount of training and education. IT was mentioned to me that I should be happy when the latest round of training and certification is done. I immediately retorted that my work is never done. I told them there is always something you have to learn or study. That of course it’s the case with life itself. If you don’t work, then things will become difficult. If you want to put in the minimal effort you will get minimal return.

Another lesson is bad things end up being good things. We have all had our share of lessons over time and for sure they were the worst things ever to experience. Looking back at those certain events, we discover though, despite how bad the events were surrounding those moments, the benefits were numerous and truly shape the people we are today.

The last lesson is worry about those things you can in fact change and let those items you cannot change be. Worrying about things that you cannot change is virtually wasted energy. Can you change the weather? If you can, let me know and we can market that ability to SOMEONE "fo sho". There are plenty of examples but you get my point.

Bottom line – smile as much as possible, live your life one day at a time, don’t take things for granted and learn to listen more than you talk.

P.S. I hope to post more blogs this weekend.

Education

2008-04-01T09:04:00.001-04:00

I heard on the news this morning that Detroit has a high school graduating rate of 25%. I am one of those people who when they hear off the wall stats try to find out what the real deal is with it. In this case, regardless if there is a real deal, that number is deplorable. It was so low that even if it was off it still is bad.

We live in a world that you need an education to individually support yourself. We live in a world where we need educated people to help this state succeed in getting past this economic slump. The country as a whole needs to figure out what to do because we are just plain losing in education's world wide battle.

Don't fool yourself and think that the Detroit School system is an isolated case. Schools around this country are struggling to educate the children. They are not getting the tax money they need to make it happen. They are not getting support from the parents. Teachers - despite the great effort and big hearts - are not the best of the best since teachers pay is so medicore. No one discusses the great benefits of an education.

Another thing we need to get across in this country is not only the education of the young people but adults as well. I am taking a class right now. I was told recently that once I am done with this class I am "finally done". My response - I will never be done. Education is an ongoing process. It will never end. I will maybe get a small break. I will then have to take another class and spend more evening and weekend hours reading the material. I will finally be done when I take my last breath.

Opening Day Random thoughts

2008-03-31T21:40:00.000-04:00

Tigers - 85 wins. Finding a ticket will be more difficult now than by August 1st. Their bullpen is awful and I think in the end, the Indians are a better team. They has the best offense in the major last season. They need pitching. They decided to get more offense. They traded away the farm and they have nothing else left to trade from the minors for relief pitching. It will be more than the "human roller coaster" Todd Jones giving me heart burn this summer at around 9:15 PM every summer evening.

People that say the ongoing bickering between Obama and HillBill is hurting the chances of the Democratic party make me chuckle. If the Democratic Representative were determined now, either candidate would be getting zero press time right now. Is McCain even alive? Does Huckabee have a chance still? Is Ron Paul still fighting? Who knows.

Kwame - Stand up, be a man and pay for your own defense.

Strange result of the subprime market failure - Kathie Lee Gifford is back to work.;)

Now have the airlines checked all their planes now?

I am thinking I am one of four people on this planet that will not see their life affected one way or another if Brad and Angelina get married. Even their link to the Democrats does not get me interested.

Easter Weekend Thoughts

2008-03-22T01:05:00.000-04:00

I have been pretty damn busy. Not posting for over a week from far from my intention when I began this blogging venture…

A potpourri of thoughts…

Every day the Democrats don’t decide who their person is another day lost to them and another day McCain can make more money.

That is a big leap for a guy who had no money several months before primaries.

Pistons will lose in the second round GUARANTEED.

Michigan State Spartans will probably lose in the second round. Otherwise they will well before the Final Four.

Snowstorm on Easter Weekend – I choose to embrace because I have NO way of controlling it. Who can beat my home state?

I would like to see the federal government take over the State government as well as the City of Detroit. State of Michigan can’t do anything because they cannot police themselves whether it be the budget and or cheating Attorney Generals. The city has a corrupt City Council who are just as guilty as the man they are trying remove. Whatever you do don’t tell me they did not know what was going on all along.

How is it Spitzer can see the writing on the wall in a quick manner and our boy is going to screw the city over twice because you know his case is going to trial and who will pay for it… Not the guilty SOB.

Enjoy yourself this Easter Weekend. I will be back much sooner.

Another viewpoint about Gas

2008-03-12T23:03:00.000-04:00

Gas prices are funny to me. They are funny due to everyone’s perception. Right now, everyone has an issue with the way prices have shot up specifically in the past week. You hear people say this is ridiculous and something should be done about it. The question is what should be done or could be done. I would even ask you if you know if things are bad at all. Take a look at the image at this link. You will see two lines. The black one represents cost which will represent the prices you have been pay for gas when you fill up. The other line (light blue) represents the price for the gas at the pump adjusted for inflation. In the end, we come to three conclusions. The first we have been getting a below market price for gas for quite some time. The second conclusion is we are at where we should be right now with gas prices.

The third conclusion is we need to stop focusing on the gas prices and looking at what we are doing with the gas. Two things make gas impact our pocket books. First, we drive cars that have improved very little in fuel efficiency over the same previously discussed period. Twenty five years ago furl efficiency was not much better with cars. Standard was 15 to 20 miles. Yeah sure you could go out and buy a car with closer to thirty miles per gallon but with technology the way it is I think it should be expected that 40 should be readily available. There has been no pressure on the car companies to make though because everyone is in love with their gas guzzling SUV’s that are getting even worse gas mileage.

To follow up with the first point – and I admit I have not looked this up – but I bet you would find the average American goes through gallons of gas WAY FASTER than they ever have in the past. We all drive long distances to work and find it necessary to drive anywhere and everywhere. All in all, due to those two factors the demand for gas has gone up which basic economics say that gas has to go up in price.

I think in the end, I am just letting people know that we are creating a case against ourselves due to our habits and decisions.

Growing up is a pain but a touch spring does a lot to help out

2008-03-03T09:12:00.000-05:00

It has occurred to me I have not blogged in a few days and much of that has to do with life moving at a very rapid pace. This is one reason why when my life is “boring” I do not complain. Those are the moments you sit back and listen to “calmness” of things as you move past them in this life.

The first weekend of March is gone and I am wondering per usual what the hell happened to January and February. For all the commentary about how long winter is, it does seem to go by very fast. When I was younger it seemed like those two months dragged incredibly slow and the spring would NEVER come. That is not the case now. When you are a “grown-up” there are things always having to be done. One did not have to organize all their paperwork for taxes. They did not have to figure out which tasks would have to be done in the house before the warm weather began and they had “no time”. Nope – the euphoria ended from the holidays and time passed by making days feel like months and minutes feel like days. If you have any “grown-up” drama in your life, it even moves faster.

I have a few tasks that remain incomplete but with good reason. I hope to get them done in the next few months so I can begin some warm weather tasks. This brings to mind that when you become a “grown-up”, everything you need to do cost some amount of money. Your life becomes very calculated and it becomes a game of chess. Every move you make must keep in mind the opponent as well as figuring out where you want to position all your pieces.

Saying everything there, for sure what happens in this life are those moments of bliss. This weekend it was when I was driving around with the sunroof open and turning on the radio to one of the beacons of spring. I will be writing something soon about that beacon of spring. Right now it is like a pot of water moments before it starts into a rolling boil. A few bubbles here and a few over there but there is no doubt the rolling boil is coming. Not a person in my town regardless of how they feel will be able to deny it. It will consume us and the expectation will be nothing but euphoria. It will cross all barriers - age, race, income levels, and any other divide that comes to mind. Is it possible I am overstating it? Possibly but I think most people failure is not an option. We will just have to wait and see.

Wednesday morning thoughts

2008-02-27T09:05:00.000-05:00

I have a couple of random thoughts I have been collecting through out the day…

I was walking back to my desk at the Titanic yesterday when I randomly commented to a young lady clearly on her way home that I hoped the roads were in good shape. She commented there was enough time to get the roads clear and she liked the fact we were at the end of winter. If you live in the Midwest, I would like to let people that because it is the end of February it is NOT the end of winter. How our memory leaves when not remembering the small little ice storm last Easter weekend which I braved (with a 360 I think before indulging) because I needed a few pops and I am sure at one point was shaking my booty. We still have March which can drop some of the worst that Jack Frost and Mother Nature have to offer.

I went to buy one of my two cups of coffee for the week yesterday. I went for the cash – before I got the cash register – and had $1 on me. I looked through searching the pockets and came up with nothing. I knew I had money and must left it in a previous set of pockets. I did what I dread doing – withdrawal from an ATM that I knew would charge me a fee. I thought, “Hey $1 will not kill me.” I put my card in there and it would not process my request. UGHH!!! I despaired for a moment until I saw another ATM. I put my card in but it wanted to charge me $2.50 for the transaction. Fricken Fracken. I did it as my coffee was sitting in the store chillin like a villain. As I sat their drinking the coffee I immediately tried to figure out what I was going to go without due to this unforeseen expense. Food for a week? Ride my bike to work in place of driving? We will see.

I will post some more in the following days...

Oh...What to do with the rebate?

2008-02-23T00:21:00.000-05:00

Well, as of a few weeks ago, it was announced many – NOT ALL - tax payers will receive a tax rebate. The amount would be dependent upon your income and marital situation along with some other small factors. If you are married with no children and make less than $150K, you will get back $1200. If you have any children you claim as dependents, you will receive $300/child.

For the sake of this entry, we will assume you are single, no children, and make less than $75K which would give you $600. Where I fall in to all this is not important to this blog though it would not take a genius reading this blog to figure out where I stand with some of the factors.

I will not advocate a choice in this entry because I don’t think it is my role to do such a thing. I will try my best to point out as many options as possible. These choices are in NO specific order as I state again I am not advocating any choice.

#1 – SPEND IT LIKE A ROCKSTAR – This is money that you were not supposed to have to begin with so you will never miss it. You may have something you have not been able to get for some time and this is the opportunity to go get it. You want those new golf clubs and this is the time to purchase them. You are ready for a nice shopping spree to purchase some shoes and other fashion accessories that will make you look ever better when going to work or shaking it on a Saturday night. You can buy some nice items and then buy a few rounds at the bar with your old and new friends. In the end, it would be a good time.

#2 – SENDING MONEY TO CREDIT CARD COMPANY PAYING DOWN DEBT – If right now you are carrying debt on your credit card which includes interest, you can make an additional payment helping you decrease that debt as well as decrease the amount of interest you are paying to the credit company. Shrinking or having no debt is always a good thing as the interest ends up eating away at your hard earned money. If you are paying interest, take a look at how much of your monthly payment consists is interest versus the principle – the money that actually went toward the item you bought with the plastic. Sending the rebate money right to the credit card company and following it up with charging more would make end up falling number #1 and taking away any benefit for this point.

#3 – DO NOTHING – Put the money in the bank for a rainy day. Every one is not invincible. Bad things happen and better to have the money on hand than try to scrape it out of the regular income. It makes life stressful and possible for you to breathe easier.

#4 – INVEST THE MONEY – There are different plans out there. You might have add some additional money – like a small stipend from your 2007 Income Tax returns to get a total of $1000. Please do not quote this blogger on that amount. As for possible scenarios, you might invest in a mutual fund. I am not going to suggest one specific mutual fund because that is a completely different blog site I would have to start in order to get into which choice is right. I will make a HUGE assumption – the mutual fund you choose makes 6% annually over 30 years. If you let the $1000 sit there for 30 years, you will have nearly $6000. In other words, it went up almost 500%.

#5 – GIVE MONEY TO CHARITY – It was not money you were supposed to get and there are plenty of worthy parties who would make the most with that money. You would be helping out the economy at the same time. It is always smart to look into charities to see how they work and figure out where their money would make the best impact.

#6 – SPEND MONEY ON “BORING” ITEMS – I don’t think I would need to create a list of those items. You have your car which needs those items you have been putting off done here soon. You can spend it on your living quarters whether it is appliances or some other necessities – like an IRON. I digress.

#7 – ATTEND CLASS – This can include different things. You can attend class which will develop professional skills going a long way in helping your career and lifting your pay scale. You can attend some fun class which may include exercise or learn more about a hobby. You may even meet a new friend.

I am not advocating any particular choice. I just wanted to make sure there were not any stones unturned when you got that check in your mailbox. I am sure there are more choices.

DISCLAIMER – I am not a financial advisor. I am not responsible for the results of your decisions that may be influenced from reading this posting.

Follow up to yesterday's post

2008-02-19T11:49:00.000-05:00

I received the text this morning - "no chemistry". Know this much - Midwest Gent always feels better with closure than without it. His brain is on over drive going through the 1001 different scenarios and thoughts. Did I have a booger hanging from my nose? Was my hair f'd up? Did my breath smell? Was I momentarily cross-eyed? Did I develop a brief period of Tourette's?

All calmness ensued upon the text and I realize I am just human with a standard set of issues. Good times!

I swear I will get back to non-personal issues soon.

Next - What to do with the tax rebate?

What am I missing??

2008-02-18T09:08:00.000-05:00

I am writing about one of the fine mysteries of our land – attraction. This blog is done by someone who has just got done doing a small stint into the online world with a well known service. I sent messages to twenty women who I felt fit what I was looking in a woman and based on the information they offered up felt like it would be a good match. He received exactly one response. That response was to say they appreciated the message but for one reason – a good one I will agree – it would probably was not a good idea to even get started. It was refreshing to know at least one woman respected the effort.

The remainder of the women did not even respond to the inquiry. This could be for no other reason than they are not members. You need to pay in order to read messages sent to you for this service.

All in all, I am trying to figure out loud what it takes to succeed in this dating world? Women say they want someone with a job- check. Women say they want someone with education – check…check. Women want someone who has their own transportation – check. Women want someone who does not want to play games – check (I don’t know how to play them and if I ended up playing them I would not realize it and I am sure there would be a good reason for my actions). I don’t think women would object to anyone who owns their own home- right? I could go on for a while here but I think you all are pretty smart. The bottom line – what am I missing here? I will openly admit that I am picky but not off the wall. It is not like I am asking someone to be a model and I eat fatty foods all the time.

Through another service I met up with a woman last week. I thought we had a good time and after one phone call and one text message there has been no response. I am beginning to think it may be wise for a camera crew to follow me so I can watch the instant replay. I don’t think I did anything wrong. Oh well enough from me. I may come back to these issues at a later point.

Sign me up for some Cougars and something strange

2008-02-14T22:51:00.000-05:00

I will start with the something strange. Along the way, and I am not sure when it happened, I think I have lost my taste for alcohol. I don't drink liquor. I have tried but the taste to me is terrible. My drink is beer and lately it all tastes bad. Weird.

On a rather mundane day which happened to be one where people wear lots of red I saw this video on the internet. SIGN ME UP!!!

Letter to the Road Commission

2008-02-13T08:40:00.000-05:00

Dear County Road Commission:

I thought I would write a letter to let you know that your neighbor is making you look very bad right now. This has been happening for years but this morning I thought I would write you.

I have been living at my location now for twenty months. Every snow fall has been no different. I start out thinking my drive will be a rough one because of the shapes of your roads.

Your roads have seen ZERO work done on them. I see no effort to get salt on them. I for sure have not seen evidence of a PLOW. The only removal taking place on that road has been the tire tracks from previous traffic. After I travel one-half, I head onto roads of your neighbor county. It is like NIGHT and DAY! There is NO SNOW other than a little from the curb. The roads are for all matter of purposes WET. Needless to say it leaves me confused as to how there can be such a dramatic difference.

What are your ROAD CREWS doing with in the twelve or more hour time span? Do you have five or six people on staff? Are you waiting for the snow to melt? HELLO!!

Sure I could go on with my list of questions for the road commission in general which ranks right up there with my long list of questions I have once I get to the pearly gates of Heaven but I think this letter will stop for now.

Regards:

MidwestGent

Essay on life

2008-02-11T22:57:00.000-05:00

I find myself pontificating again...
Do you ever ask yourself from time to time, “Who am I?” If your answer is reciting the information from your drivers license, I might tell you to rethink the question. Someone told me when I asked them the question, “I like to shop, boat, be outside and be 100% in a relationship”. Please keep in mind this has nothing to do with the responses of women as I know similar responses have been made by men.

We live in a world where I know a good portion of people define themselves by the car they drive, the house they live in, the hand bags they tote, the designer clothes and shoes they don and anything else in their possession. We all go out on the weekend and have a good time doing whatever it is that makes us happy whether it be shopping, bar hopping, or work on some hobby. The funny thing is none of those things will be brought up at your funeral. Please be clear that I don’t want people to live like peasants but to keep things in perspective. Can leasing the $500/month car/SUV make you happy? Will the 4000 square foot home make you a better person than someone who has 2000 square feet of living space? Does having designer clothes garner respect from your peers? (Please note - by all means wear clothes and don't turn to loin cloths especially this time of year!)

In other cases people use their relationships – specifically romantic - to define themselves and their worth as individuals. It is amazing to me how many people I know that have the same perspective of the woman above who is “100% into her relationships”. There is nothing but their romantic relationship and their job. I don’t mean to be crass but for some I am sure the job is only there to feed themselves. Otherwise they would only have the relationship.

Think about your life as two interlocking circles as pictured on top. Compare that to a relationship and even while you are it think about in terms of your life even if you are not attached right now. The middle section is what you share in the relationship with the other person. Where the circles don’t intersect is you alone and the other circle is your partner. If you are single think about the other circle as your job. Make sure you as a person does not completely cover the other circle. Make sure in anything you do you don’t completely cover it. You have plenty to give and to have it all go to one thing in the end is probably not good.

A person must be continuing to expand their horizons to not only improve their relationships with themselves but with friends, family, or spouse. If new things are not being discovered then life in general will stall and your relationships will not continue to advance.

People should always take inventory in their lives. They should to see where they have been, where they are right now, and where they are traveling to based on their current actions. Even before they do that, they need to continue to ask themselves the tough question like “What is it I want?” and “What can I do?”

Personally speaking I try to “take stock” in my life from time to time. I am not going to sit here and tell you I am living a fully purposed life. I am living a slightly self absorbed life but will admit my life needs a slight change. I am looking into it and now just looking to see what opportunities are available to me.
As you contemplate this more than a mouth full of words, I give you the poem I put into graduation and wedding cards from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Success
To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter

2008-02-09T00:49:00.000-05:00

The following blog is kind of all over the place. IT may get edited later….

Well just writing about Super “Fat” Tuesday, I thought I would follow up with Ash Wednesday. If people don’t remember what you did on that day and you live in the same metropolitan area as me, you probably spent your time in the car watching traffic truly go at a snail pace unless you were on the highway where you drove with pure white knuckles. My guess is many people did not make the Holy Day of obligation due to the weather. Of course on the other side, many people would not have made it if conditions would have been ideal for young and old alike. As for me, I will tell you I have been a Catholic all my life and attend mass pretty consistently. Despite that, I have NEVER been to church on Ash Wednesday. I am not sure why other than plenty of things got in the way of doing so and… oh well life goes on. I do make it to church about every other week.

For those who do not know, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent which is the period before Easter Sunday when Christians believe Jesus Christ rises from the dead. Most people use Lent to give up something or do something extra. Lent to Catholics is kind of like New Year’s resolutions but seems to have slightly more staying power. I have done a myriad of things for Lent. The past year or two, I have no done anything because I have become disenfranchised with the local Archdiocese. While most people do not attend church because they disagree with the teachings and standards, this was not my issue. It had to with some decisions that had taken place. I will leave it at that for right now. That is another ten blogs by itself. Do I agree with everything the Roman Catholic Church preaches to their people? Let’s put it this way – I don’t believe it is in my genes to agree with any person or organization 100%. Does the Catholic Church have its flaws? Absolutely! Do churches in general make me scratch your head? Sure – especially the ones that when you drive by they look like auto assembly plants more than churches due to their size. I have zero desire to join any religious place that would probably require some of your direct deposit to be sent to them. I may one day get started on non-denominational churches but that will be for another time.

I am not sure what I am getting at in this entry. I do know eventually I want to get back to going full time. I do know as I get older it will be important that if I end up getting married and having a family, I would like my children to be raised in the Catholic Church or something along those lines. I think in the end – like anything in this world – you will get what you want out of things if you put the time in and this is no different with church.

OF course the question I am sure those who are “Spiritual but not Religious” would argue that you don’t need to go to church to be close to God. I do agree with that but will tell you the reason to go to church is the ability to share your faith with other people. That in the end is the principle reason I hope to get my family involved because religion is so much easier to understand when you have to share with other people.

I guess the blog is coming kind of full circle. I will be using time during Lent to do some thinking. In the end the one conclusion I want to leave with is how to best share with people. Maybe it is in the church and maybe it is not but regardless some sharing needs to begin from here on out.

Joe must GO!! Joe must GO!!

2008-02-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

This week, I was given the opportunity to see this team play at their facility. I go to a fair amount of events but I have not seen this team live in sometime. Now before you continue reading this, I do want to tell you I had a very good time and do feel great I got the opportunity especially since it was with in my budget - $0. Ok - I feel like I can go on with my entry here with people not accusing me of being a whiner.

My thoughts during the game as well as the next day were the place is a dump. I could hardly move in the place with concourse being about the width of a sewing needle. If that was not enough, I went to sit down in my seat and found it to be…very uncomfortable. I felt smushed in my seat and for sure stood up from time to time just to stretch. Sure it did not help I had my winter coat with me, but that should not be a big deal. Now know I am a pretty average sized guy. I am not overweight, nor am I “tall” or “short”. Now would I feel the same way if it was an older arena or like Wrigley or Fenway? Probably not because you are where history takes place but this place is new in comparison and just seems just as dilapidated as arenas that have been around 3 times as long.

I have heard plenty of talk of getting a new place but I think it needs to change from talk to action in a city well known for texting right now. (There is that Action versus talk reference again)

Super Fat Tuesday

2008-02-08T20:58:00.001-05:00

Well, MG has been super busy all week and I have not had a chance to pen any of this thoughts. The following is a political one which I don't usually get comments on but I for sure like writing them. I hope that does not come across as soliciting for comments.

With all the talk going into Super “Fat” Tuesday, it ended up being anticlimactic since nothing real concrete came out of it. It was not until a few days later that Mitt Romney “suspended” his bid for the Republican nomination. Romney is a solid candidate but lacks the connection with the “real people”. He was much more into numbers and looking at running the country as a consultant rather than a leader of the people. Say what you will about the current Bush but he does a decent job of talking to the people leaving them with the feeling he genuinely understands what they are thinking these days. He certainly does not have the smoothness of Clinton. The point is Romney would go along way to learn something from the last two Presidents.

Of course the other thing is make sure that his initiatives are WAY more in line with the party he belongs to right now. When you see his effort for state wide health care in Massachusetts, it raises a series of flags to any member of the Republican Party, let alone those fiscally conservative ones. Whether it be the cost over runs with the process hardly even getting started or the reality that mandated health care will not work in the US let alone if done in each state. It is SO NON-Republican to force people to purchase health care when they have plenty of reason not to like...ummmm … say their right to choose. In other words, I will be happy when health care is no longer a topic. I have yet to see any solution that is remotely close to fixing the root of the problem. I will delve into the solution at a later point.

Know this much about Romney - the fact he was a Mormon had zero to do with the fact that he will not be getting the Republican nod. It came down to what he could offer the US in the position of President.

With Romney out, that means it is a foregone conclusion that McCain will represent the Republicans in the 2008 election. Sure Huckabee will hang out and spend more money but he is not much more than Barry Goldwater. He may win another state or two but he will for sure not enough delegates to overcome McCain.

Unfortunately for the Democrats there is not much to say with their side following Tuesday. It still seems like a dead heat between Obama and Hillary. The funny thing is one might ask whether it is Hillary that Obama is up against or both Bill and Hillary. That leads the next question – does it hurt or help Hillary the “interferences” from Bill? One would have to find out if Bill is as popular with the voting public as he used to be. Despite what you are lead to believe that he was a popular president it does bear repeating that both times he won the vote, he collected less than 50% of the vote. In other words less than fifty percent the voting public wanted him in office both in 1992 and 1996. It would be interesting to delve into the numbers more and try to get a clear reading what the country as a whole thinks about Bill and the Clintons as a whole. Of course, would this tell us how to measure the support for Obama? I am NOT that much of a number person. One thing is for sure – I look forward to seeing what will happen between these two as each will present a good challenger to McCain.

One last thing that probably did take place this week with McCain becoming the Republican candidate – there be no run for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. His base would be drawing from McCain’s group making it very difficult to get a majority of the vote sin the 2008 election. Bloomberg’s chance with his political views would have a chance to win if Huckabee would have got the nod.

Things are not always what they seem

2008-02-04T21:38:00.000-05:00

It has occurred to me that not only myself but many people in this world including a slew of retail management has made a grave error. That error is assuming that being a cashier is an easy task that does not deserve high pay nor does it take much mental capacity to perform on a daily basis.
This has all became pretty clear to me as a single man who goes through a lot of self check outs because I don’t buy a lot for myself despite not eating out a lot. It is absolutely brutal to see the brain cells that are being burned while people are perplexed with the act of scanning, and then placing their item in the bag. It appears to be a real mind bender when they are presented with produce which does not have a bar code. Something leads me to believe they may not even know the produce they are buying at that time.

A person blessed with the patience of a saint is the cashier who is responsible for answering the different questions of at least four stations. How tired is that person when they are done with their shift? People asking questions non stop like “What is this?” and “Why will this not scan?” or “Can you help me out because it will not let me scan this item?” You wonder if the cashier gets battle wages.
I would not think you would have to be a member of MENSA to be able to go through the self check out line but maybe that is not the case.

The lesson is simple – don’t evaluate someone’s job until you have been in their shoes because you may find out it ranks right up there with doing the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle.

Post Super Bowl weekend

2008-02-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Random points from the weekend –

I had an alcohol free Saturday even though I was healthy. That was weird. I am really not sure why I did it other than I had nothing to do – the first Saturday in 2008. Maybe it was because today was the Super Bowl but even then nothing real crazy took place. Maybe I am getting old as I came across the dreaded… gray hair. By writing this entry I will tell you I did survive an alcohol free Saturday and maybe I will throw all caution to the wind and have another one some time soon… or maybe I am getting ahead of myself.

I went to the mall Saturday to see if anything good was on sale. I went to an "upscale" mall because I thought they had a store where I purchase a good portion of my clothes and it was closest to where I live right now. The funny thing is I discovered my preferred department store where I find stuff is not at the "upscale" mall. LOL! Needless to say my shopping prowess leaves a bit to be desired but I continue. I did go to one department store that sponsors the New York Thanksgiving Parade. I will tell you that I don't have what it takes to be a metrosexual. I went in and the store was split into brand names. I am sure people would correct me and say it was split into "collections". Here I am just looking to see what is out there and I feel like I need a combination lock to figure out where the things are that I would like to buy. On top of everything I find it amazing what people are choosing to wear today. Men are PURPOSELY buying very wrinkled and not well made clothing. Am I missing something? The other thing that makes me chuckle is what people are spending on clothes? I saw some shirts for a $100. What comes with those shirts? Anyways, after spending some time trying to figure it out, I discovered I was not cut for it and need to probably leave. My head was spinning, I felt dehydrated and I knew I needed to go back to location where I usually go to the department store. While I walked out, I discovered the $100 shirt is midrange. I parked my car where I had to walk through another department store that must be located between fourth and sixth avenue. I saw I could get a tie for $250. If I got some expensive pants I could walk around in a mortgage payment. Anyways I will get back to my usual department store next weekend when I have gathered strength.

(Editor note - Please know the author is not cheap or low class and just poking fun at some of the luxuries in this world.)

For the purpose of full disclosure, I was going to blog before today’s game but ran out of time. I would have told you to take the points (Translation – Giants would have kept the margin of the Patriots winning under fourteen points). On the other side, I would tell you to bet that total for today’s game would have been – I am guessing what the Las Vegas total was – 45 points. That you would have lost. All in all, the lesson is simple – don’t wager your money.

As for commercials, I did not see one that would be considered great though putting jumper cables on one’s nipples makes you wonder about society. Yikes…

Media thoughts

2008-02-01T21:41:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else find the local news coverage to be totally useless in the snowy weather. I mean really useless. I heard some reporter this morning asking the county road guy “Is the county alright on their supply of salt or do you think the county will run out?” I think the guy from the county was snickering at the question. Does anyone give you know what in a warm place about the how much salt the county has on hand? It is freakin salt – if they run out they will go get more.

This is of course in the middle of wall to wall coverage of the “storm” that ended up being nothing. Can someone tell me the reasons showing the local news channels choose to fill up their air time with reporters who have nothing to report on except a standard snowfall instead of the national shows? I live in the Midwest where it snows at least five times year so it is common in my mind. We see it EVERY YEAR without fail. Every year it comes around like hot days in summer, the Christmas shopping season and the occasional blue sky. Why is the drawn out, over dramatic coverage necessary? When I could be watching national coverage of that crazy Brittney?

Speaking of Brittney, it brings me to ask the question – is there anymore useless of a job – even more than the weather man – that these paparazzi people? Let’s face it - there are different groups of people you would like to go up to and simply tell them that they are complete losers. Their life has zero meaning and they should smell the fresh air. I think one of the leading group of public people would be the paparazzi. They sit and wait to take pictures of well known people. Actually that is not representative – they get in the faces of famous people and obstruct their lives so they can get a mug at every turn. Do any of the paparazzi realize we – Jane and Joe Public - know what celebrities look like? We don’t need minute by minute tracking of every celebrities waking moments. For those who are out there that need that minute by minute coverage I would encourage you to reach out and give someone else your time. NOW I am not damning anyone who reads celebrity mags or whatever other media but it just seems it is over the top and more. What is going on in the heads of these paparazzi? What made them want to get into the business? Do they have families? Do they have reasons to live? Do they have any admirable qualities? How do they rationalize what they do day in and day out? How would they like their lives under such scrutiny – of course more than what I am laying down on them right now?