Tomorrow is my birthday. I must prepare. And so to bed.
Good night.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Between Now and Tuesday
I don't know anything about Rick Santorum but I'm already reading and hearing more about him than I really need to know.
He's running for the Republican presidential nomination.
He has friends.
He has enemies.
He came in second (or was it first?) in the Iowa caucuses, whatever that means.
Mitt has more money than Rick (or most people, for that matter).
He doesn't like liberals.
Liberals don't like him.
He professes love of God and Country (but who doesn't?)
He is the image of the modern American political candidate. He stands for everything and nothing but getting elected.
New Hampshire speaks next.
He's running for the Republican presidential nomination.
He has friends.
He has enemies.
He came in second (or was it first?) in the Iowa caucuses, whatever that means.
Mitt has more money than Rick (or most people, for that matter).
He doesn't like liberals.
Liberals don't like him.
He professes love of God and Country (but who doesn't?)
He is the image of the modern American political candidate. He stands for everything and nothing but getting elected.
New Hampshire speaks next.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
A Run on Goldman's Socks
Goldman was alone in his socktuary admiring his collection of hosiery. He had pairs from all over the world. Surely this was a valuable assortment. Museum quality, perhaps.
Although he had never put a price tag on the collection now someone had. Just today he received an offer to buy his socks. He did not view it as a friendly gesture.
Nevertheless it started him thinking. How much is my sock collection worth? And even if the price was right did I want to part with them. Goldman held up a pair of long, white, silk stockings. George Washington himself might have worn something like this, he thought. More likely, his treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, who was known as a fashion plate.
Goldman realized everyone wore those silks then. They were the standard over-the-calf’s of their day. They'd be worth only what some collector would be willing to pay for them.
Though he'd never before considered selling his collection, Goldman thought he'd put it on E-Bay to see how much it might bring. He could always pull it off the market if he didn't like the valuation.
Online marketing was new to Goldman. He knew he needed someone who could turn pairs into profits. He hired a fashion firm specializing in hosiery sales: “Heel&Toe, Here We Go, No Sole Left Behind.”
Goldman thought he had made a darned good choice. He smiled his cashmere smile and sat back to await results.
Although he had never put a price tag on the collection now someone had. Just today he received an offer to buy his socks. He did not view it as a friendly gesture.
Nevertheless it started him thinking. How much is my sock collection worth? And even if the price was right did I want to part with them. Goldman held up a pair of long, white, silk stockings. George Washington himself might have worn something like this, he thought. More likely, his treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, who was known as a fashion plate.
Goldman realized everyone wore those silks then. They were the standard over-the-calf’s of their day. They'd be worth only what some collector would be willing to pay for them.
Though he'd never before considered selling his collection, Goldman thought he'd put it on E-Bay to see how much it might bring. He could always pull it off the market if he didn't like the valuation.
Online marketing was new to Goldman. He knew he needed someone who could turn pairs into profits. He hired a fashion firm specializing in hosiery sales: “Heel&Toe, Here We Go, No Sole Left Behind.”
Goldman thought he had made a darned good choice. He smiled his cashmere smile and sat back to await results.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
New Hampshire? Been There, Done That
We were in New Hampshire once. We were vacationing in Vermont when we decided to drive over to see Mt. Washington, which, as you know, is the highest peak in the northeast U.S. not visited by politicians running for President.
The weather is so erratic at the top that a photo op is more likely to be a fog op. Unfortunately there will be enough verbal fog throughout the state before next week's presidential primary.
But back to Mt. Washington. The weather was clear when we arrived in the morning and boarded the cog railway. You can drive to the top but getting back down is a real challenge. Some people walk to the top but you have to dress for all four seasons to survive.
The railway is fun. It is so steep that if you try to stand in the aisle you have to lean forward at a 45-degree angle. On this ride you can't tilt to the right or the left. It's perfect for a centrist.
It's also very slow, three hours round trip on the steam engine train which is really the only way to go. This engine runs once a day at 8:30 a.m. It gives you an opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery while it's still visible.
On our trip the view started to disappear slowly about halfway up. By the time we got to the top it was pouring freezing rain and you could barely see the gift shop. After some browsing and hot coffee we headed back. And sure enough, it was dry down below.
So that's how I remember New Hampshire: quiet at the bottom, full of sound and fury at the top.
Sound familiar?
The weather is so erratic at the top that a photo op is more likely to be a fog op. Unfortunately there will be enough verbal fog throughout the state before next week's presidential primary.
But back to Mt. Washington. The weather was clear when we arrived in the morning and boarded the cog railway. You can drive to the top but getting back down is a real challenge. Some people walk to the top but you have to dress for all four seasons to survive.
The railway is fun. It is so steep that if you try to stand in the aisle you have to lean forward at a 45-degree angle. On this ride you can't tilt to the right or the left. It's perfect for a centrist.
It's also very slow, three hours round trip on the steam engine train which is really the only way to go. This engine runs once a day at 8:30 a.m. It gives you an opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery while it's still visible.
On our trip the view started to disappear slowly about halfway up. By the time we got to the top it was pouring freezing rain and you could barely see the gift shop. After some browsing and hot coffee we headed back. And sure enough, it was dry down below.
So that's how I remember New Hampshire: quiet at the bottom, full of sound and fury at the top.
Sound familiar?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
My Iowa
My Iowa was a lot quieter than tonight's caucus cacophony. For one thing it was years ago when I went to Davenport on business. It wasn't election time therefore there wasn't a politician in sight.
It was a lovely day and during a break I sat on the banks of the Mississippi River for a while, watching the world go by.
I was there to coach a group of young people who were about to go on tour promoting Oscar Mayer Franks. I was counseling them how to deal with verbal assaults (or worse) from representatives of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The PETA people were/are known for aggressive actions.
The youngsters were enthusiastic and attractive and serious about their quest. I knew they would comport themselves professionally or as well as can be expected when riding in a vehicle shaped like a hot dog.
For my tastes, they were the only hot dogs who cut the mustard in Iowa.
It was a lovely day and during a break I sat on the banks of the Mississippi River for a while, watching the world go by.
I was there to coach a group of young people who were about to go on tour promoting Oscar Mayer Franks. I was counseling them how to deal with verbal assaults (or worse) from representatives of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The PETA people were/are known for aggressive actions.
The youngsters were enthusiastic and attractive and serious about their quest. I knew they would comport themselves professionally or as well as can be expected when riding in a vehicle shaped like a hot dog.
For my tastes, they were the only hot dogs who cut the mustard in Iowa.
Monday, January 2, 2012
A Singular Caucus
I caucused myself tonight to get a jump on Iowa and claim the “first in the nation” presidential nomination contest.
I'm still counting the vote so I can't tell you who won. There was one poll watcher keeping a close eye on the tally but she went to bed before the final count.
I was disappointed at the media turnout. No one showed up. Guess they were too busy breathing hard elsewhere. Here it was very quiet. Free ice cream and cookies but only one taker.
I'll phone in the result to the county seat in the morning. They'll be glad to hear from me. After all, I call only once every four years.
Have to keep up my “first in the nation” tradition, you know.
See you at the poll.
I'm still counting the vote so I can't tell you who won. There was one poll watcher keeping a close eye on the tally but she went to bed before the final count.
I was disappointed at the media turnout. No one showed up. Guess they were too busy breathing hard elsewhere. Here it was very quiet. Free ice cream and cookies but only one taker.
I'll phone in the result to the county seat in the morning. They'll be glad to hear from me. After all, I call only once every four years.
Have to keep up my “first in the nation” tradition, you know.
See you at the poll.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Got GOP?
Gee, the Iowa caucuses are the day after tomorrow.* Wow! Am I excited! Not.
I've made it a practice not to read the all the words written about the Republicans running for their presidential nomination.
I've got a great idea for the news media, which (who?) is always complaining about losing money and cutting back on staff. Since all the candidates say the same things all the time, with slight variations depending on who they're sucking up to at the moment, why not just give us a weekly summary of their utterances.
Oh, I remember, they used to do that in weekly news magazines. I didn't read them either. Are they still around?
Chances are most people have already decided who they're going to vote for in November. It's either Obama or the other guy. Then it will start all over again, after the back-patting on the winning side and the recriminations among the losers.
I've always thought the British had it right – set a date for an election, six weeks to campaign and then vote.
That won't happen here. There's too much money in election campaigns. Media aside, consider all the other parasites that feed off our elections: lobbyists, consultants, pollsters and so on.
There's a lot right about our country but an awful lot wrong with the way we decide who's going to run it.
Here comes Iowa. Brace yourselves.
*corrected Monday afternoon. Sorry.
I've made it a practice not to read the all the words written about the Republicans running for their presidential nomination.
I've got a great idea for the news media, which (who?) is always complaining about losing money and cutting back on staff. Since all the candidates say the same things all the time, with slight variations depending on who they're sucking up to at the moment, why not just give us a weekly summary of their utterances.
Oh, I remember, they used to do that in weekly news magazines. I didn't read them either. Are they still around?
Chances are most people have already decided who they're going to vote for in November. It's either Obama or the other guy. Then it will start all over again, after the back-patting on the winning side and the recriminations among the losers.
I've always thought the British had it right – set a date for an election, six weeks to campaign and then vote.
That won't happen here. There's too much money in election campaigns. Media aside, consider all the other parasites that feed off our elections: lobbyists, consultants, pollsters and so on.
There's a lot right about our country but an awful lot wrong with the way we decide who's going to run it.
Here comes Iowa. Brace yourselves.
*corrected Monday afternoon. Sorry.
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