Off to Texas

Off in the RV to Texas, home about the 10th of December.

Sam and Sharon for Dinner

Had Sharon and Sam over for dinner last night.
A good time was had by all and Sam definitely approved the menu of spareribs and beans with apple pie (homemade) for dessert.

Prank On

Pranksters distributed over a million copies of a prank copy of the NYT nationwide today. Pretty vast prank. They also have a web edition of the paper copy here, so you can enjoy the headlines for the 7/4/09 edition. Troops Home. Bush Indicted. USA Patriot Act Repealed.

New York Times Special Edition Video News Release - Nov. 12, 2008 from H Schweppes on Vimeo.

Backdoor Bailout

In 1986 Congress enacted a law that cut back on tax shelters by not letting companies so easily write off the losses of a subsidiary business or newly acquired business against the profits of the main business.

But Treasury just wrote a five sentence statement repealing Section 382 of the tax code.

The notice was released on a momentous day in the banking industry. It not only came 24 hours after the House of Representatives initially defeated the bailout bill, but also one day after Wachovia agreed to be acquired by Citigroup in a government-brokered deal.

The Treasury notice suddenly made it much more attractive to acquire distressed banks, and Wells Fargo, which had been an earlier suitor for Wachovia, made a new and ultimately successful play to take it over.

The rewrite was probably not legal. But to undo this would have big ramifications for many recent mergers, not just Wells Fargo.

Overall this little statement has cost taxpayers about 140 billion. Just one more bit of subtle looting of the US of A by the outgoing regime. Read the full story here.

I had sent an email to the CEO of Wells Fargo at the time registering my displeasure as a customer with the bank's acquisition of Wachovia which was full of very bad debt. I got a message back saying that they felt it was a good business decision.

They knew about the "Wells Fargo Ruling" as soon as it took effect and took advantage of it.

The total amount of the "Bailout" in one form or another is now about 2 trillion.

Recycling

Problems have come up with recycling. 1. Because we are buying less junk from China. 2. China is buying less recycled plastic and paper to make containers to contain junk to ship back to us. 3. So recyclers are paying little or nothing for recycled paper and plastic. 4. So pick-up services may start charging more for recycling as recycled items build up. 5. So we either start generating less plastic and paper waste or we start learning how to use recycled waste in the US.
There are small companies that make useful products out of recycled products. We need to patronize these companies, allowing them to grow, and provide some small business subsidies to other innovations for the use of recycled plastic and paper.
For example, I just found a company that makes 50 year guarantee plastic lumber in Shingle Springs that may be a good choice for our deck and railings.

Garrison Mocked You

Garrison Keillor mocked those who would have moved to France, if the election had not turned out to their liking. He ended the very funny bit with "I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message." A Prairie Home Companion is my favorite radio show.

Boys Celebrate

Girls do have Cooties per University of Colorado at Boulder researchers. The obvious dirt on boys must have antibacterial properties.

Go Green

Or really Hot with your own backyard nuclear reactor. Per this Guardian article, they are safe and easy to use. If 20K households share the expense, the cost for electricity would be about $125 per year. Very interesting and very innovative. more here

Pics from Val

Robert in his band uniform and
Sweet Jasmine.
Ben at Halloween

What to do with Lieberman?

Lieberman is a problem for the Democrats. Most of them want to throw him under the bus for his stab in the back behavior during the campaign. Most do not think he should have the plush chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. Harry Reid is trying to get Lieberman to step down without fuss. He doesn't want to. So the talk is that the entire caucus will vote to throw him out.
I think this is where Obama could step in. Appoint Lieberman to a cabinet position in an area that he has competence and is in agreement with Democrats. Like Interior. Which is a mess and Bush is making messier. Like let's mine for uranium in the Grand Canyon and pollute the Colorado.
Then Connecticut can appoint a Democrat to replace Joe.

The Fat Lady Sings

Kate Smith sings for a United America under Barack Obama.

Palm Beach Ballots

Everywhere else in Florida you just blacken a box next to the candidate of your choice. In Palm Beach of butterfly ballot fame, you have to blacken the area in between two boxes. The same Bush/Gore lawyers are watching the checking of every ballot. Bunch of crazies who run the elections in Palm Beach.

Simulation of a Palm Beach Ballot.

Everything is Broken (Bob Dylan)

I hope Obama can heal our country.

Boulder Cup Nov 1

From Jon:

I was in the lead group for most of the race, till I flatted and wound up 6th. Today will be even better!

-Jon

From Cycling News:

One of the nice surprises of the race was Boulder's own Jonathan Baker (Vitamin Cottage) making it into the early selection. "I've been with those guys before - I have the speed to stay there, but not the endurance. I made a bobble in the sand pit and was gaped. I dangled for the next lap but then flatted. But tomorrow is two blocks from my house so I am excited!"

Them and Us

A diamond studded gold inlaid MasterCard for high rollers. Issued by a bank in Kazakhstan. With a 1k annual fee, you only get a credit limit of 50k. Seems like a rather low credit limit. I thought Cindy McC could run up >100k per month. I think those Kazakh billionaires are going to need more than 50k.

My Workplace

Worked today and there were a lot of people there doing phone banking and other tasks. Over 40% of residents have already turned in their absentee ballots. Nevada County usually has >80% voter turnout for a presidential election. Reflects the fact that we are an old county demographically and the old vote. Although I did have one 95 year old woman tell me that she was not voting as she was tired of it and felt that she had voted enough. Maybe.

Melamine

If you thought that the melamine crisis in the US ended with dog food, you are wrong. It is in any food or food ingredient imported from China. Though experts say that there is not enough melamine in foods to hurt an adult, what about an old dog. We thought that the cheap canned food that we bought Teddy as a supplementary treat was OK, but we have discovered that she has only 25% kidney function left. We will have to have her put to sleep before we head to Texas, as we cannot leave her to die with the pet sitter. Eat no processed food. I don't think any of is safe.

Though China has vowed to boost inspections for melamine contamination, it will be difficult to monitor the countless small, illegally operating manufacturers found across the country, other experts said.

"It could take five or even 10 years" before some companies stop adding the chemical to food products, said Yan, of the U.S. Grains Council.

Halloween?

I planned for Halloween and no one came. Not a single Trick or Treater came to the door. There are a few kids on the street. I don't know why no one came. William will have to eat the raisins. Leah will recognize the crayons. I thought I might get rid of the rest of those Halloween crayons. So Sad.

Winners and Losers

Judy Muller explores the day after the election.

Make History