COLLECTIVE MADNESS
“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."
Hayek is confident that if Keynes had not died, Keynes would have changed his mind and theory based on facts that were changing at the time of his untimely death.
ReplyDeleteIf this thread becomes a Rap between DR and WIO, I will take down every one of their comments. The both of you are boring us to distraction with your inane quibbling.
ReplyDeleteMetals and other commodities suffered steep losses last week, when silver tumbled 27 percent and oil sank 15 percent because of fears of weaker global demand and higher margin requirements that were meant to lower the influence of speculators whose strategy of buying on margin is considered to be a reason why commodities have risen so steeply over the last year.
ReplyDeleteBenchmark crude for June delivery was down $1.70 to $100.85 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $5.37, or 5.5 percent, to settle at $102.55 on Monday.
The dollar was little changed at 80.39 Japanese yen. The euro dropped to $1.4286 from $1.4336 late Monday in New York.
Debt Woes
Hayek's doctrine does not empower politicians. Keynes does.
ReplyDeleteKeynes wins.
The influence of economist John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) is still profound in government circles. I say government, instead of economic, because economics is involved with human behavior, and government is about the regulation and control of that behavior. An economist who can provide the rulers with a plausible justification for their control of the population is a valuable asset to any government, as Keynes was to his.
...
In short, Keynes foresaw exactly the problems which would afflict the countries whose governments adopted his theory. Of course, he may have believed that gold would provide some sort of brake to rampant inflation, although he was hardly an advocate of a gold standard. In any event, doing away with any tangible form of money opened wide the door to the economic problems he anticipated. Governments continue to accept his belief that they can spend the country into prosperity, while ignoring his earlier warnings of disaster if they attempt to do so.
The first thing to understand is that they are all wrong, quite often. They try to predict human behavior, and humans don't always "behave" like they're supposed ta.
ReplyDeleteLet me give an example. Both Keynes, And Hayek would tell you that when inflation is running 13%, and CDs are paying 7% people will spend their money, immediately, upon receiving it, and not save. Sounds perfectly logical. It's in everyone's theories.
Problem is, the 70's showed us that it is false. During times of high inflation, People Save. Period. If they can't get something so basic, correct, what is the hope for the rest?
Now, as for WWII, and the period, thereafter. Both camps ignore the most salient point. ie We were the only country in the world that had its assembly lines intact. We had bombed everyone else back into the stone age. Of course we boomed.
ReplyDeleteKeynes writes:
ReplyDelete"But while these currencies enjoy a precarious value abroad, they have never entirely lost – their purchasing power at home. A sentiment of trust in the legal money of the State is so deeply implanted in the citizens of all countries that they cannot but believe that some day this money must recover a part at least of its former value. To their minds it appears that value is inherent in money as such, and they do not apprehend that the real wealth, which this money might have stood for, has been dissipated once and for all."
Our Federal Reserve System assures us that it is the people’s confidence in it that makes our money useful. There certainly isn’t anything else, as Keynes observed eighty-three years ago.
As DR is fond of pointing out, at some point you have to "taste the pudding." We have pretty much embraced "Keynesianism;" how has it worked out? I would say, overall, pretty well.
ReplyDeleteMy vote for "Nobel Prize for Economics" goes to the "Writers of the Constitution of the United States."
ReplyDeleteOur political freedom allows both the Austrians, and the Keynsians to be heard. That's critical, because, although, the truth can lie with one camp, or the other, at any given time, it usually alternates between the two.
Let me give another ex. Last week showed an uptick in "Consumer Credit." About 80% of that was Not car loans, or Credit Card loans, or whatnot; it was Student Loans.
ReplyDeleteThe Government is making Large Sums of money available to "non-creditworthy individuals" to go to public, and commercial schools to develop new skills.
This program is "Austrian" in that the individual decides whether, or not, they wish to attend school, and what they intend to study, and it's "Keynesian" in that it's a Government "Stimulus" Program in its inception, and implementation.
Everyone likes to choose a team, and become a "fan." It's just the way we are. We're "Tribal" by nature. BUT, it's not a good "economic model" for a nation.
ReplyDeleteThe most logical course is to take one theory, or the other, and follow it to its logical conclusion. In the case of these economic theories it doesn't take long to realize that you're arriving at a destination at which you don't want to be.
If you follow "Austrianism" to its logical end you will arrive at a "Feudal" State pretty mos' skosche. Okay for the "LOrd of the Manor," but not so hot for everyone else.
Keynesianism, on the other hand, will get you to "Orwell's 1984" within a generation, or two. Also, not a very desirable end result.
"Americanism," however, keeps you semi-free, and prospering, but at a price of constant bickering, and conflict. "Americanism" is hard. But, it works.
About half my renters pay me from those student loans. Without them, with tuition even here skyrocketing I might be 'out of business'. So I can't bitch much.
ReplyDeleteI've never bought into the idea that the human race is moved much by economics anyway. That's the fallacy of Marxism. Whatever we are we are more than that. You can talk to the !Kung forever about economics, they don't want to change their ways. And the Nez Perce here have a joke about how they ran things - men fished, women did everything else :)
Not a bad setup.
It wasn't economics that I fell in love with when I was farming. If it was, I was crazy.
dwr
NFIB (small business) number not so hot, again. The folks ain't spending.
ReplyDeleteThe other half get their money from 'mom and dad'. Of all my folk, only Jason actually works, and I've now got him on Idaho Housing.
ReplyDeletedwr
And, then there is the gambling to consider. Not a good economic choice, but dang near everyone does it.
ReplyDeleteThey don't call economics the dreary science for nothing.
dwr
Silver, which dad used to play around with, took a hell of a hit last few days.
ReplyDeleteSilver was what got the Hunt Brothers.
dwr
.
ReplyDeleteWhat Rufis II said...
Ditto.
I shall make a copy of it to save for the next time I'm arguing with him and prepared to say to myself "What trnip truck did this guy fall off of."
:)
.
.
ReplyDeleteThat's Rufus II
and
turnip
I haven't had any coffee yet.
.
My work here is done.
ReplyDelete:)
Ditto from me too on Rufus II's comments.
ReplyDeletedwr
Now, a Mall developer is on, and he says the Mall Bizness is booming.
ReplyDeleteI think most of his Malls are of the "Upscale" variety.
Wholesale Unleaded back to $3.34.
ReplyDeleteAdd $0.70 and you're at $4.04 retail.
.
ReplyDeleteIn referring to Rufus' term Americanism, it's good to remember where the term "American Exceptionalism" came from originally.
Many bemoan the rise of 'socialism' in this country over the past century. However, the term American Exceptionalism was coined to describe the fact that the American labor movement as a whole was never radicalized along the socialist "ideal" to anywhere near the extent that those in many other countries, especially in Europe, took over the last century.
Of course the meaning of the term has evolved and now claims to represent the ideals embodied in our Declaration of Independance and everyone uses it to defend whatever real or whack-job theory they may come up with.
On the other hand, just saying it makes me feel good.
.
Yeah, Q, if you "step back," and look at the effect America has had on the world, it's hard Not to say, "Damn, that is Exceptional!"
ReplyDeleteWas it Burgoyne who, at his surrender, looked up at the Colonial Troops, loitering on the hillside, leaning on their muskets, dressed in their buckskins, and farmers' clothing, and, said, "I think I've witnessed a New Breed of Man?"
ReplyDeleteOner other thing about "Keynes," and WWII: People seem to forget that the People were incredibly Motivated, and Mobilized.
ReplyDeleteThey forget about the "Victory Bonds," and Scrap Metal Drives, and Collections of rags, and old clothing.
When you can get a nation such as ours, "On Board," to such an extent, virtually Any economic scheme will work, but one such as Keynes' will work especially well.
.
ReplyDeleteA Libyan Idyll
Aid agencies: Refugee boat carrying hundreds sank off Libyan coast...
More recently, Boldrini said, larger ships have been making the voyage, and they are often overloaded. She said that the ship that arrived immediately before the one that sank was carrying 655 people and that the one that followed was carrying 798 people...
Ships in poor condition have made fleeing Libya extremely dangerous. The Guardian, a British newspaper, reported Monday that 61 people died after their boat ran out of fuel and was left to drift in the Mediterranean for 16 days at the end of March. The newspaper reported that the migrants made contact with a NATO aircraft carrier and a military helicopter, but that they were not rescued. NATO said it had not received any distress calls...
[NATO: "We Know nothing"]
Early Tuesday, planes and explosions were heard over Tripoli, and the Libyan government took journalists to the site of a library and school that it said had been bombed by NATO. It was the same site that had been bombed just over a week ago and is 50 yards from a large communications tower, which was not hit...
[NATO: Mere collateral damage. Nothing to see here. Move along.]
NATO: Trust us. We are NATO and we are here to help.
.
.
ReplyDeleteWorld War II.
The good old days when wars were paid for and the American public undestood the actual costs of war.
.
Actually, Q, we were Hugely in debt after WWII. The war Was fought with borrowed money.
ReplyDeleteThe Southern Arizonians, mad at their governor, want to secede and form a new state called Baja Arizona. Now that's funny.
ReplyDeletePut the border at Picacho Peak, site of Arizona's only Civil War battle.
ReplyDeleteArizona has been split, ideologically, since well before its inclusion into the Union, as a State in 1914.
The residents of the southern half of the State, well, they've always been "different".
No difference between Keynes and Hayek...
ReplyDeleteNo difference between
a Honda and a Harley...
No difference between
Socialized Medicine and doctor-patient free market based medicine...
No difference between Democrats and Republicans...
The EB Geniuses tell me so...
Rufus II said...
ReplyDeleteActually, Q, we were Hugely in debt after WWII. The war Was fought with borrowed money.
---
AND,
The Earth was Round...
.
ReplyDeleteActually, Q, we were Hugely in debt after WWII. The war Was fought with borrowed money.
All wars are paid for with barrowed money. There was still the understanding that it would eventually be paid back.
Today. There is no suffering that is understood to be directly related to the war except by the military families that are directly affected by it.
All volunteer army.
No pictured of coffins.
No tax increases.
No sacrifices being asked for that can be directly tied to the war.
The worst we get is video of the fighting. Most video games are 100 more gruesome.
It's all been sanitized.
But at least it's for humanitarian purposes.
.
.
ReplyDeleteThe EB Geniuses tell me so...
But when will you learn Grasshopper?
.
You can't be that dense, Doug. I didn't say there was "No Difference" between the two. I merely said, you don't want to MARRY either one.
ReplyDeleteMedicare, doug, destroyed the free market in medicine.
ReplyDeleteAll that is being debated, now, how the Federals manage the money spent, while providing medical care for over 45 million residents now locked out of the system.
The "Free Market" relationship between doctors and patients has failed 15%, or more, of the residents of the United States.
The Federals have taken it upon themselves to "fix" that.
The Republicans, going down the trail hand in hand with the Democrats.
As that GOP Presidential aspirant, Rick Santorum tells US:
"Number one, we made it universal," he said. "In other words, we had a problem that was about 15 percent of seniors didn't have prescription drugs. And we -- and the president compromised with the Democrats, President Bush, to provide a universal benefit."
Even Rick Santorum voted for the expansion of Medicare, despite what he says now were objections to the legislation.
Look at what they do, not what they say, dougo.
There is a difference between the front and the back of a dime, but even still, they are one and the same.
ReplyDeleteTea Party heartthrob broke their "itty bitty hearts," yesterday when he said, "it's time to quit messing around with *repealing Obamacare* and get serious about fixing the economy."
ReplyDeleteOh, the bitter tears, and rending of garments was terrible to behold.
On the other hand, the Obama Administration has just opened a large amount of land in Wyoming to coal mining.
ReplyDeleteNow, it's gnashing of teeth, and self-flagellating from the Other side of the aisle.
Wails of Despair all around.
ReplyDeleteMusic to my ears.
It was RM Nixon, a Republican, who declared:
ReplyDeleteWe are all Keynesians now"
Exemplifying that there is no real difference 'tween the Republicans and Democrats.
Just different notes in the margins.
The February 2009 cover of Newsweek played on the phrase with the headline,
ReplyDelete"We are all socialists now,"
referring to the growing trend of American politicians of both parties to favor the centralization of power through the mutual expansion of government.
.
ReplyDeleteYou have to look at reality Dougo not the talking points coming from the mouths of the pols.
It wasn't Medicare that destroyed the freemarket in medicine, only the pols, Dem and GOP, who wrote the rules.
You cited the drug industry in the US as an example of a free market.
Laughable.
Under Bush, competition was restricted when Medicare was told they couldn't negotiate drug prices.
Under Obama, the drug companies 'pledged' to come up with $80 billion in savings over 10 years. No details on where the savings would come from or how they would be measured.
Under both administrations, it is illegal for a US citizens to purchase their drugs in Canada or any other country that actually negotiates prices with Big Pharma.
The cost to the US? We pay 25% to 55% more for individual drugs than other industrialized countries in the world.
R&D. Big Pharma writes off R&D and doesn't pay taxes on it yet they cite the high cost of R&D as a main driver on US prices, saying someone (ie the US) must pay for it. However, Big Pharma pays more for advertising and marketing than they do for R&D.
In 2009, the CPI dropped 0.3%. Drug prices in the US went up between 8 and 9%.
Spend a little less time reading the American Thinker and more actually trying to pick up some facts.
Free market medicine. What a joke.
.
The TARP Program, the bailout of "Banks to big to Fail"
ReplyDeleteRepublican to its' core.
Unless, of course, you are going to tell us that GW Bush and his entire Administration were not "Real Republicans".
Or that RW Reagan was not a "New Deal Democrat". Even though he said he was, even while he was running for President, as a Republican.
.
ReplyDeleteSay Dougo, sorry about the American Thinker comment.
I used to think in lock step with you up until about 10 years ago when my views started to change.
Dhwr recently suggested that I take up fly tying. And as unlikely as it may seem (coming from him I mean) it may not be a bad idea.
I'm retired and don't expect to have to work anymore. I get by ok. And lets face, for most of the people over 55 none of the things we are arguing about are likely to make much difference anyway, at least, not financially.
The thing that really frosts my ass is the arrogance, condescension, and hypocrisy we get from our elected officials. They talk to us like children, offering talking-point bromides that, all evidence to the contrary, haven't worked. At least, they haven't worked for the average citizen.
But perhaps I should cut back on the hypocrisy charge. Maybe these guys are just too stupid to know the difference. It's not like they read the bills they sign. And they are isolated in their D.C. echo chambers. Maybe they just don't get it.
As I said, it's kind of frustrating.
However, I am now off to buy a copy of Field and Stream. And I may just pick up some hooks, monofiliment, wire, and feathers.
.
Why Wind "Intermittentcy" is Not a Big Thing
ReplyDeleteInformative little article. It comes out that "intermittentcy" adds about half a penny/kwhr to the cost of Wind electricity.
You are making progress dhquirk, start with something simple, a single colored fly. A Royal Coachman done right is too much for you at this early stage. You'll need tying glasses, don't forget.
ReplyDeleteGlenn Beck had a bet with his security staff he could go raw vegan for 21 days, made it to 20 before he broke down over a Big Mac or something. We all understand the economic meaning of this.
There were two people from Canada that thought to do a little off road exploring just south of the Idaho/Nevada line south of Twin Falls and it rained and they got stuck in a wash. Seven weeks later some hunters (bless them) rescued the woman almost starved to death and now recovering in Twin Falls hospital, her husband however is still missing having wandered off after some help. They will find his bleached bones one day.
1) Don't listen to the wife when she says, "That looks interesting let's go over there, Bob"
2) Stay with the car out in that country.
The economic meaning of this is clear - stay in the Casinos unless you are really really prepared, down in that country. It is deceptive.
Outdoor Life used to be good too, dhquirk, if it is still published.
dwr
For dhquirk -
ReplyDeleteFly Tyer Magazine
My right arm sure is stiff, and aches today.
dwr
Twenty Patterns for Mastering the Spring Runoff in the Rockies
ReplyDeletedwr
Runoff-fly theory encompasses a wavering line of logic sprinkled with diverse attitudes about the impact of murky water on visual acuity, the effects of the stress on fish behavior, and the mysteries of light in off-color water.
ReplyDeleteRead on, city slickers.
dwr
DETROIT (WWJ) – Be careful of what’s being sold under the counter.
ReplyDeleteCrack pipes are being sold at neighborhood stores from Detroit to the suburbs.
That’s according to former Detroit police officer David Mahalab, who says the pipes are disguised as novelties.
“To avoid police detection and to try to avoid the law, they put a pen insert – (in) a glass tube, and try to evade the law, which talks about paraphernalia and stuff that has a second use,” says Mahalab.
Mahalab says they’re also disguised as a ballpoint pen or small glass vases with a rose sticking out of them.
Mahalab says people may be surprised where the pipes are being sold.
“Dollar stores, gas stations, liquor stores, virtually every store in the 6th Precinct that I did enforcement with, were given a ticket and found guilty. I’ve seen them in Allen Park, Dearborn Heights and Garden City,” says Mahalab.
Mahalab says the pipe sales are lucrative, but bring crack addicts and crime to neighborhoods.
Keynes or Hayek?
dwr
.
ReplyDeleteThey will find his bleached bones one day.
Unless he is taken in and nursed back to health by a wolf pack. I understand they do that a lot.
The nurturing is in their natures.
.
.
ReplyDeleteRunoff-fly theory encompasses a wavering line of logic...
This explains a lot.
.
.
ReplyDeleteGreen energy technologies and crack pipes.
With the auto industy hurting, we are re-tooling to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
.
.
ReplyDeleteMy right arm sure is stiff, and aches today.
Try spending a little more time with your wife.
.
Contributions of various renewable energy technologies to California's Electrical Grid Yesterday
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing, Thermal (coal, and nat gas) is down to about 1/3 of California's electricity, now.
I have an email in to the guy that does the website to try and pin down the percentage of "imports" that are thermal/renewable.
Romulus and Remus wouldn't a made it without the wolves, we know that.
ReplyDeleteFirst Wind is trying to build 65 wind turbines outside of Oaksdale, Washington and they are having the final hearing before the hearing examiner, who is going to approve it, if I read the tea leaves correctly. The enviros have come up with a new twist in their objections on this one though - gonna disturb the flight paths of the midnight bats. heh, with their radar if a bat can't miss those three bladed monsters, they deserve to get chopped up.
Da White House is havin' da potree rap readin' nite put on by lady michelle an da rapper Mr whoever is gonna be there do his song/monotone tune goes da cops be watchin' us we be watchin' dem dey be fuckin' with ma con sti tu tion we pop cop .......
etc
Should be a high cultural evening in America.
dwr
They've turned the White House into a cultural cess pool and the outlook be filterin' down to the masses -
ReplyDeleteMy right arm sure is stiff, and aches today.
Try spending a little more time with your wife.
jeez, dhq, it aches from spear throwing practice.
dwr
May 9: In the past week, corn growers nationwide hit their fields in earnest and planted more than a quarter of their 2011 crop, finally enjoying a break from cold, wet weather. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that, as of May 8, 40 percent of the 2011 corn crop has been planted, compared to 13 percent May 1.
ReplyDelete“It’s great to see our farmers get the chance to get out and plant,” said NCGA First Vice President Garry Niemeyer, a grower in Auburn, Ill., who reports that he is virtually finished with his corn planting. “We have several key corn states where our growers were able to take advantage of good weather to start catching up. It’s amazing to see how much they were able to accomplish in one week, something that would have been unheard of not too many years ago.”
The prime example, Niemeyer said, was Iowa, where 61 percent of the corn crop was planted last week, followed by Nebraska, where 42 percent of the crop was put in the ground. In addition, good progress was made in Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.
Growers Make Amazing Progress
They buy them big, old tractors for a reason. Giv'em a coupl'a days, and they can plant the world.
"Common" Culture Comes To The White House
ReplyDeleteMy uzi done weigh a ton....
raparapataptaptap
dwr
That's right, Rufus.
ReplyDeleteThis new machinery is truly amazing.
They used to worry about getting the harvest in at Nez Perce, elevation around 3,200 feet.
No more grain left standing wet now, I can tell you.
What amazing beautiful machinery we are lucky to have.
dwr
First Wind
ReplyDeletedwr
The Fossil Fuel Companies are looking at good times in the short run, but a nightmare coming dead at them. Wind, and Solar are proving all the nay-sayers wrong in Iowa, California, and Europe. (Bush had Texas on a great trajectory, but Perry has reverted back to Anachrony.
ReplyDeleteEthanol is providing 10% of our private transportation fuel, and gen II will be here before you know it.
It turns out it was "all so easy" once the price got right, and the government ran a little interference for the renewables.
Dear Quirk
ReplyDeleteSome time ago you gave us notification on your departure, saying not to worry because you would occasionally stop by for a quick visit. Your quick visit has lasted quite a few weeks like a nagging mother-n-law just staying for the weekend. I'm not complaining mind you, your smiling face is always a pleasure to have around the bar. My concern is the reason you came to the bar in the first place which led to the joyous reason you left.
I hope your hanging around isn't for the same reason you came the first time.
A concerned patron.
Having missed last Tuesday's Two Dollars on Tuesday hair cut at Mr. Leon's School of Hair Design I went back just now, place was crawling with the beautiful people, I can't get you in right now she says, how about later says I, she looks at her appointment book I can squeeze you in at four you look like one of us your hair is sure long, been horse racing gambling and spring bear hunting says I, how do you hunt she asks, spear, says I, my husband does that too, see you at hour four, bye. You need a manicure, pedicure, full body make over? nah
ReplyDeleteSo I have time to ask Rufus a queston from my wife - does ethanol/gas harm the lawn mower?
dwr
ReplyDeleteRufus II said...
My work here is done.
:)
Tue May 10, 08:09:00 AM EDT
I'm on board with that. Good thread. Y'all keep taking your medications.
Quirk was out on temporary work release, is all.
ReplyDeletedwr
By MATTHEW COLE, JIM SCIUTTO (@jimsciuttoABC) , LEE FERRAN and BRIAN ROSS (@brianross)
ReplyDeleteMay 10, 2011
Pakistani officials said today they're interested in studying the remains of the U.S.'s secret stealth-modified helicopter abandoned during the Navy SEAL raid of Osama bin Laden's compound, and suggest the Chinese are as well.
The U.S. has already asked the Pakistanis for the helicopter wreckage back, but one Pakistani official told ABC News the Chinese were also "very interested" in seeing the remains. Another official said, "We might let them [the Chinese] take a look."
A U.S. official said he did not know if the Pakistanis had offered a peek to the Chinese, but said he would be "shocked" if the Chinese hadn't already been given access to the damaged aircraft.
The chopper, which aviation experts believe to be a highly classified modified version of a Blackhawk helicopter, clipped a wall during the operation that took down the al Qaeda leader, the White House said. The U.S. Navy SEALs that rode in on the bird attempted to destroy it after abandoning it on the ground, but a significant portion of the tail section survived the explosion. In the days after the raid, the tail section and other pieces of debris -- including a mysterious cloth-like covering that the local children found entertaining to play with -- were photographed being hauled away from the crash site by tractor.
Aviation experts said the unusual configuration of the rear rotor, the curious hub-cap like housing around it and the general shape of the bird are all clues the helicopter was highly modified to not only be quiet, but to have as small a radar signature as possible.
European PressPhoto Agency
Photographs taken after a Navy SEAL team... View Full Size
European PressPhoto Agency
Photographs taken after a Navy SEAL team raided Osama bin Laden?s compound in Pakistan show the wreckage of one helicopter that clipped a rotor on a compound wall, was abandoned and destroyed. Osama Bin Laden Dead: SEALs' Stealth Helicopter Watch Video
Osama Bin Laden: Fact or Fiction? Watch Video
Navy SEAL Who Shot Osama Bin Laden Watch Video
READ: Top Secret Stealth Helicopter Program Revealed in Osama Bin Laden Raid, Experts Say
The helicopter's remains have apparently become another chip in a tense, high-stakes game of diplomacy between the U.S. and Pakistan following the U.S.'s unilateral military raid of bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, more than a week ago. The potential technological advancements gleaned from the bird could be a "much appreciated gift" to the Chinese, according to former White House counterterrorism advisor and ABC News consultant Richard Clarke.
"Because Pakistan gets access to Chinese missile technology and other advanced systems, Islamabad is always looking for ways to give China something in return," Clarke said.
dwr
Your quick visit has lasted quite a few weeks like a nagging mother-n-law just staying for the weekend. I'm not complaining mind you, your smiling face is always a pleasure to have around the bar.
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law was a darling. She had the sensible habit of always agreeing with whomever she was talking with about anythng at all. Everydody thought she was great.
I think I'll mosy over to Mr. Leon's, see if I can get in a little early.
In other news somebody crashed their car into the dumpster at the condo, totally destroying the retaining wall, but, thankfully, missing our convertible which was a few feet away.
dwr
Regular unleaded E10 will be fine, Bob.
ReplyDeleteHigher concentrations will cause it to run a little lean. For E85 you would have to replace the jets, or (most likely) have the fuel jets drilled out a bit.
.
ReplyDeleteMy concern is the reason you came to the bar in the first place...
You're a lovely girl Mel. Thanks for the concern.
In truth, I did have a little setback. Nothing serious or worth mentioning though.
The truth is I said "...or if something new or interesting came up." Libya was pretty interesting to me. And of course Osama. And Doug is always good for a laugh.
However, as you may be aware, I will be leaving in about a week for an assignment for Soldier of Fortune Magazine. There is the possibility you will not hear from me for about three weeks.
They are sending me and a photo journalist to report on the growing unrest between the socialists and the Islamist in England and Scotland. We will also be taking a short trip to Paris which the magazine refuses to pay for.
However, they wanted me to run up a color piece on soccer thugs so I am trying to use it as a bargaining chip on the Paris trip.
Now they may frown upon it but I had hoped to send the bar some details while I am over there. It will depend a lot on the equipment they provide us.
I got an e-mail indicating UPS should be delivering everything tomarrow, Thursday at the latest. I'm kinda expecting satellite gear, phone and video. The latest computer technology. The photo guy is wetting his pants in anticipation of the state-of-the-art camera and video equipment he expects them to send him.
Will keep you advised.
.
Mr Assange was given the Sydney Peace Medal at a ceremony at the Frontline Club in central London today.
ReplyDeleteBusinesses have reported requests from one in five people to have time off work and many are also keeping children away from school and heading to the beach or country for the day.
ReplyDelete...
The panic has been fanned by Facebook, Twitter and text messages around a prediction by Raffaele Bendani, a seismologist who forecast in 1915 that a "big one" would hit Rome on Wednesday.
The deal is the largest yet in Microsoft's 36-year history and also represents a remarkable return for the group of investors who acquired Skype from eBay in 2009 in a deal that then valued the company at $2.75bn.
ReplyDeleteCan my trained bear have your bar seat while you are away?
ReplyDeleteheh, turned out it was the Moscow cops that collapsed the retaining wall after attending to some altercation in the condos. Backed a cruiser into it, full force. If only they had hit convertible instead! All to be discussed would have been the amount of the tort claim.
I'm clipped, trimmed, and part of the beautiful people now, and she is heavily tipped, nice farmer's daughter from Morristown, S.D., she knew all about Steiger in Fargo. Her father won't let her touch his hair though, not till she get her license.
Are you getting your hair cut this year, Quirk?
dwr
She even trimmed my eyebrows.
ReplyDeletedwr
Launching Aircraft
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDeleteAre you getting your hair cut this year, Quirk?
Twice.
And I tip big.
My brother-in-law is a barber. I've been going to the same Italian shop for over thirty years.
Afraid if I stop he will give my sister back.
Just kidding. He worships her. (And she makes about three times the money he does which helps).
But the guy is a damn good barber. Not like amatuer night at the chop shop where you go. Of course, I go for the haircut not the scenery.
I guess they used to have state competitions for barbers at one time (maybe they still do). He's got a lot of trophies.
I said I go for the haircut but it's also for the conversation. The same five guys have been there since it opened with one floating chair. All Italian. You want to know what's going on with the mob or the local politicians. It's all there. A lot of the local sports stars come in for cuts, especially the Red Wings players. Not much PC about the place. Although they did try bringing in a lady to give manicures a few years back. She was lesbian and did drugs. I think they were kinda excited about the lesbian part. Thought it gave them some cache back in the late nineties; however, the drugs kinda did her in. She didn't last too long.
Now the place is a passing institution. The original owner sold the place to one of the guys but he still comes in on weekends to work. My brother-in-law bought into the place a few years back. Another guy is semi-retired but comes in a few days a week.
As the crew gets older the hours get a little shorter and the customers die off. I expect it will shut down altogether when the last barber gets too old to use the scissors or the last customer dies.
It's a great place. I always take them bagels and cream cheese when I go in.
.
PAKISTAN will allow the US to question the three wives of Osama bin Laden who were with him in the compound where American commandos killed the al-Qaeda leader, granting a measure of co-operation amid tensions following the raid.
ReplyDeleteDoes sound like a good place. Good barber shops are getting few and far between. There used to be one at the old hotel here with spitoons and you could get your shoes shined too. All gone now.
ReplyDeletedwr
Mr. Leon's is for all sexes, thank you very much, and some of the students were males. I just lucked out to get a nice farm girl from Dakota. And the instructor said she did a fine job. Instructor had blue, green, yellow and red hair all done up, so she knew whereof she spoke :)
ReplyDeletedwr
I hope Deuce does a post about the rapper Michelle is having in the White House, hint, hint, hint.
ReplyDeletedwr
NATO said overnight that it did not know if Muammar Gaddafi was alive or dead but insisted one of its heaviest nights of bombardments was not aimed at killing the Libyan despot.
ReplyDeleteThe 'c' in rap in silent - third comment.
ReplyDeleteCommon
grrrnite
dwr