While we did have rain, it was only in the morning and by 10AM it was done. Sunny skies and warm temps were the rule for the rest of the weekend.
The WP Parents and I made the trip down into the People's Republic of Taxachusetts to celebrate the graduation of one of my nieces from college. Unlike many of her peers, she's graduated debt free. While her parents helped defray some of the cost of college, she covered the rest herself, between scholarships, grants, and working part time during school and full time between semesters.
It helps that she's “wicked smaht”, matriculating with two degrees, one in economics and the other in mathematics.
**************
The WP Parents have been having problems with their computer, in this case it's been acting up and refusing to boot. I'm headed over a little later today to see if I can resurrect it.**************
I have to confess that I have not really been paying attention to what's been going on around the country, let alone the rest of the world. I've been busy with other things, primarily making a living and taking actions to ensure I can continue to make a living. I have also been paying a lot more attention to what's been happening here in my home town as well as some of the surrounding towns as we approach summer. Frankly it's a lot more appealing to focus locally than having to deal with the BS in Washington or on the other side of the world. It's a lot less complicated and has a more immediate effect than something taking place in Nigeria, Ukraine, or East Nowheristan.**************
It's amazing what you'll find when you open up an exterior wall to do some renevations, or in this case what you won't find.**************
The News Junkie is willing to take bets whether or not Miami will be under water in 10 years.Considering the 'prediction' is based upon some of the same models that have so far turned out to be woefully inaccurate, I'd be willing to wager Miami will be just fine in 10 years.
**************
This is something I've known for some time, courtesy of Farmer Andy: Organic farming is not sustainable, at least not outside of First World nations. Because crop yields are anywhere between 20% and 50% less than 'standard' farming, it puts a greater strain on the soil and water supply, meaning you get a lot less food for the input of labor, water, and 'organic' fertilizer. If everyone went back to organic farming there would likely be a worldwide shortage of food and what food there was would be much more expensive.But there is one upside to organic farming the proponents fail to mention: there would be fewer poor in the world because they would have all starved to death. I'm surprised they haven't mentioned that considering many of the same folks seem to be for reducing the human population on Earth. Then again, it would be politically incorrect for them to do so.
**************
I've mentioned the ever increasing rates cable TV companies have been charging for video programming and that they have little control over those rates. That lays entirely in the laps of the video content providers. But what I didn't know is that rate of fee increases charged to the cable companies, and hence to subscribers, has gone up at four times the rate of inflation.Somehow I find it hard to believe the quality of that programming has increased by that same factor of four. Is it any wonder there's a push by consumers to go to á là carte programming? It should surprise no one that the content providers will fight that tooth and nail as the present system provides them with one heck of windfall. But the down side to the present system is that the number of subscribers has been falling as prices increase and that trend isn't likely to change unless prices come down.
**************
Jeff Carter asks “Why is there such high unemployment in Illinois?” The answer is simple, something Carter tackles with ease, that being state government. As he puts it, “Sometimes Illinois even goes out of its way to shoot itself in the foot,” passing legislation that everyone except the legislature and the governor knows will stifle economic recovery.One might say the same malaise has infected California as well, with over-heavy regulation of every aspect of life and business.
The next question is whether either will realize it is the cause of the very problems they are trying to solve.
**************
Why is it the media thinks it's only Republicans who have mansions? From the series of reports from the Washington Post, the AP, Politico, and the San Francisco Chronicle, David Boaz posts that it appears the Democrats do not lack for mansions of their own. Or is the media just conveniently ignoring the multi-billionaire Democrat donors hosting fundraising parties at their mansions because, after all, they're supporting the correct political party?**************
Like David Starr, I remember back when you could pull into any gas station and up to the air pump, dial up the pressure you needed, and connect it to your tire(s), and it was free.Those days are long gone and now you'll be lucky to find a gas station that has an air pump, free or otherwise.
We have our own air pump here at The Manse, obviating the need to find one out there. But there will still be times when one will be needed at a moment's notice and we'll fun trying to find one.