by dionysus on 2008/09/30
It’s rare that I quote Op-Ed pieces. That’s due in part to the fact that the greatest majority aren’t worth quoting, being more gas and hot air than valid commentary of editorial opinion. The exception is Thomas L. Friedman in the Opinion section of The New York Times. I read Tom Friedman for several reasons. We’re the same age, seem to think along broadly similar lines, (though he’s way more liberal than I am) and because he writes in a common sense balanced way, as opposed to the harsh and strident idealogical style of many in the media. I must also confess that I’m vaguely envious of his writing style, it’s fluid, seemingly effortless, compact, and combines fact with occasional humor when appropriate. In short, what I have been striving for myself for many years and have yet to achieve.
His ever thoughtful piece today about the bailout is not only topical, but is so characteristically Tom that it bears quoting here in its entirety;
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by dionysus on 2008/09/30
Well, we’ve done the waltz with banks, non-banks, insurance companies, hedge funds…and just about every other purveyor of financial products out there. The party is far from over, but let’s call this the early evening phase, because the all-night blast (when the parents go home and the teens break out the kegs) is just beginning.
Let’s consider the next phase.
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by dionysus on 2008/09/28
With grateful thanks to the Daily Express for the great cartoons of Paul Thomas
by dionysus on 2008/09/27
In response to some reader suggestions, we’ve decided to make this a regular Saturday feature, based on the success of last weeks’ post on this subject. Each week we’ll do a retrospective on how various investments performed in the markets overall – with ongoing grateful thanks to the Wall Street Journal for kindly providing such a neat summary. So for Saturday September 27th 2008, here’s what’s hot…..and what’s not;
by dionysus on 2008/09/27
by dionysus on 2008/09/27
The RGE Monitor Conference call in which Professor Nouriel Roubini summarizes the stages that lead us to the current economic and financial situation, and lays out a 10 step proposal to solve this most severe financial crisis. can be listened to here
If you prefer to jump straight to the 10 point plan, here it is; for readability, it has not been quoted as external content usually is, however it comes directly from the RGE Monitor site (Ed: [free] subscription required) to whom grateful thanks are extended for the source material.
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by dionysus on 2008/09/25
From the; “I-would-have-thought-this-was-blindingly-freakin’-obvious” department.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Governor Schwarzenegger has banned drivers from sending SMS’s while behind the wheel.
Now perhaps it’s just practical boring old me, but this seems like a no-brainer. Then again, I tend to assume that people will act in preservation of their own lives and best interests, which when I think about it is a completely ridiculous idea. The stark reality is that frequently, people need to be protected from themselves, or to be more excruciatingly exact about it; protected from the consequences of their own actions.
Perhaps one reason I thought that this was a no-brainer is that the mere idea of trying to type an SMS into a mobile while doing a slightly illegal 65mph on the San Diego freeway (yes, the infamous 405) is a terrifying idea. If you made it completely legal and free of all penalties, I wouldn’t even contemplate giving it a try. It takes me all my concentration and focus to make sure my automobile and the vehicles of others remain a decent distance from one another. Throw in the added complexity of trying to type a text message at the same time, and my brain locks up solid. I suspect I’m not alone in that, and therein may lay the key to many automobile accidents – likely as not for just that reason.
So while it seems common sense for most of us, here’s some legislation for the rest of us.
“And Quite Rightly So™“
by dionysus on 2008/09/23
by dionysus on 2008/09/23
Of late there has been far too much deadly serious content on this site. Day after day of relentless analysis, back-of-the-envelope calculations of national debt, mark-to-market value of assets, and endless deconstructing of Wall Street, and its latest folly or stumble.
Today, in honor of a new arrival in the world, Dr. Dogshit is going to throw a blog party. All are invited, and the beer is free. We provide transport home, just in case you’re too drunk to find your own blog.
So, just to kick things off…..
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2″ in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The students laughed.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. “Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest? ‘The rest is just sand.’ “
But then a student then took the jar which the other students and the professor agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Of course the beer filled the remaining spaces within the jar making the jar truly full.
The moral of this tale is: no matter how full your life is, there is always room for beer.
by dionysus on 2008/09/23
Dear Little One,
Welcome to the world, we’ve been waiting for you. It’s a strange world you’ve arrived in, but you have a loving family and an enormous community around you who will help you to make sense of it all as the years unfold. Some of it you’ll accomplish all on your own, without any help from us. There will be other times when you will be convinced that you have the answer, yet don’t. It will frustrate you, but that’s when we’re here to help when you need us.
You have two strong, brave, and utterly dedicated parents, who will nurture, protect and teach you. In time you will know that others around you are not so fortunate. Your parents will not always give you what you want, but they will always give you what you need. They are your strength, and your roots. Treasure them, and when the time comes, look after them with the love and care that they gave you, so that the circle is complete.
Be prepared to stake your claim to your piece of the world. No, I don’t mean land or possessions, I’m referring to your own intellectual position. Amid the noise, chaos, disunity and deceit of the world, there is a quiet place called conviction, nourished by the strongest force known to mankind, and that’s called faith. Know what you believe in, and make a conscious choice to quietly live by it always. Your Father has that, he is an example for you that you will do well to follow.
Be tolerant of others and their shortcomings: That won’t always be easy, and shouldn’t be confused with indifference either. True tolerance is learned slowly, by life experience. Sadly, there’s no way to learn it quickly, and there’s never a final exam to find out if you got it right or not. One day however, you’ll know if it was learned, by how you respond inwardly to others around you, who have wholly different belief systems, and standards that differ significantly from your own.
Seek excellence always: it’s a worthy goal. That does not mean perfection, which is by definition unattainable, it means excel in your pursuit of achievable goals. The balance is delicate, the path a difficult one, but you will be a happier person and a better citizen of the world if you make that part of your core structure.
Seek knowledge relentlessly: Not for the sake of power, although the acquisition of knowledge is itself empowering, the purpose of knowledge is to make meaningful contributions to the world around you – powered by what you have learned. Perhaps, along the way, you may collect insights into an essential truth in life here and there, and may have the opportunity to right a wrong every couple of decades.
Have dreams: Without dreams we drift along passively, as events unfold around us. With dreams come plans, with plans comes action, in action you travel a path you have defined for yourself. Do not be afraid of ambition, but do not let ambition control you. Live your dreams boldly.
Have fun: Here’s a small list to get you started, feel free to add to it with your own inventions and ideas as time goes by…..
- Dot all your “i”s with smiley faces.
– Sing into your hairbrush.
– Grow a milk mustache.
– Read the funnies; throw the rest of the paper away.
– Dunk your cookies.
– Step carefully over sidewalk cracks.
– Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich.
– Give someone a hug around the neck.
– Blow the wrapper off a straw.
– Refuse to eat crusts.
– Make a face the next time somebody tells you “No.”
– Ask “Why?” a lot.
– Have someone read you a story.
– Wear your favorite shirt with your favorite pants even if they don’t match.
– Eat dessert first.
– Say “duh” when stuff is obvious.
– Put an orange slice in your mouth, peel side out, and smile at people.
– Innocently say your prayers.
– Ride a roller coaster two times in a row.
– Run through the sprinkler with all your clothes on.
– Lick all the cream out of an Oreo before you eat the cookie part.
– Eat just the chocolate stripe out of your Neapolitan ice cream.
– Start thinking now about what you want for your next birthday.
– Lie on your back in a field and look at pictures in the clouds.
We’ll be watching, oh, and don’t hesitate to ask the difficult questions, that’s one of the reasons we’re here! 
