New Year's Eve-ning

For the first time in my life, I believe I am going to a movie on New Year's Eve. It is The Life Aquatic, which I have been waiting over a month to see, so there is a fair level of anticipation embedded. Review/comments to follow.

Update: I enjoyed it very much and got a lot of the jokes, however the other members of my party described it as both "odd" and "very boring." When I explained some of the jokes after the film to the other members of the party, the comment was "I would have understood it better had I known what the joke was." It appears to be likewise on some of the viewer comment sites, either 'A' or 'F.' Here's my personal test as to whether you will 'get' the movie: Would you recognize David Bowie tunes played acoustically? Yes, then go see it; no, don't waste your time (of course, unless, you just like to bitch; and we know who you are).

Music City Bowl

The U wins!!! Listened to the game while driving. A nailbiter to the end.

New Year's Eve

We are headed towards Nashvegas and will miss the Progeny's alma mater's Bowl Game. However, the American-equivalent of the Japanese photograph (a t-shirt) for representation of visiting a site or event can be had.

Today's big decision is where to stay. Whether to impose on family or go to a hotel and risk "disturbances" this evening with the attendant lack of a good night's sleep?

Birmingham, Birmingham

I suddenly remembered that old Randy Newman song just sitting here. Yesterday was a travel day from north Georgia to B'ham, with a stop in ATL along the way. Yesterday was also my birthday so I chose the spot for my lunch. I lucked out and was able to get in Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian steak house. If you haven't eaten at one of these spots and there are several competitors, run and do so tonight. Fifteen different kinds of meat brought and cut at your table. Yum!

Today, the Familia will be having lunch with an old high school chum and, hopefully, his family. Which reminds me of Tuesday afternoon, I was walking through an auction barn in NE Georgia and turned a corner and there was my high school math teacher. Lesson to be learned; assume you are going to see someone you know or someone is going to see you doing what you are doing, i.e., there are no secrets!

Sumatra Earthquake Part 2

I am in awe at the death toll numbers. Last night checking the web, the sister, Espousa and I at different times announced to the others increasing numbers. 22,000, then 23,000 and finally 24,000. Like Mission Control reading a dial or pressure gauge, but this time with macabre implications. Now this morning, Drudge has 45,000. I can't imagine something like this. On Sunday, I wrote it would be days until the full toll would be known. It may be months.

Reggie

In Wisconsin, all you have to say is 'Reggie,' and everyone knows of who you're speaking. Reggie White had been on my A-List of speakers I wanted for my association's annual convention for the last five years.

I am pretty certain there are tears being shed in Wisconsin tonight. I wonder what the Packers organization will do to remember him.

My Blessed Christmas

Tomorrow morning we head off to the Mall of Georgia and environs. I plan on hitting the Saks and Neiman outlets. As I have grown older, I realize the bene of my birthday being four days after Christmas. I get to pick up on the sales. as a kid, I hated it, mainly because I didn't get 'Happy Birthday' sung to me in class, while kids with birthdays during the school year did. And there was that incident about my Mother on Christmas morning announcing that the present I was about to open counted for both Christmas and my birthday, a fate which never befell my sister, having been fortunate enough to be born in the latter part of January.

I was especially gratified to see the Progeny's excitement at receiving a new French (i.e., portable) easel. The sister was equally delighted to receive a painting by the Progeny of the chapel where her wedding occurred. The Espousa received the JoY (begins with 'J' and ends in 'Y') for which she hoped and wished. We'll see if my package arrives from Turkey prior to our departure.

Waiting on the Next Attack

I had an interesting conversation with my brother-in-law this afternoon. I told him of the sad story of how a St. Louis TV station staged an undercover sting attempting to purchase ammonium nitrate (a fertilizer and one of the active ingredients in the Oklahoma City bomb) from dealers in MO. The sting operators used every "red flag" you can think of to make the dealers say no to a sale. Unfortunately, two of the three dealers they filmed sold anything and everything that was requested no questions asked.

I then related the story of the "photographers" in Wisconsin that I was aware of, who were taking still and motion pics of an agronomy center and the accompanying fertilizer storage areas. The county mounties were called and when told that neither anything was stolen or broken, the incident was dismissed. When I was informed of the incident the next day by the manager, I immediately called the FBI and they were on site within two hours. (Incidentally, the FBI says don't even bother calling the locals if you see anything suspicious, call the FBI first.) My b-i-l was pretty amazed at this story and all that is going on that they general public doesn't know or isn't aware.

The question came about when did I think the next attack would come. I don't know, but my guess is the bad guys won't do a big term, slow developing thing like poisoning the food supply, because that doesn't play well on CNN International. Instead, they want smoke and fire. It's a better visual for their purposes.

Bottom line is there have been dozens, maybe hundreds, of attempts which we are not aware and for which, we need to thank our government staffers working in silence to protect us all.

Sumatra Earthquake

This is pretty amazing and we won't know the total devastion for several days.

This is the fifth largest earthquake in the world since 1900 and is the largest since the 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska earthquake.

To put it in even more perspective:

"All the planet is vibrating" from the quake, said Enzo Boschi, the head of Italy's National Geophysics Institute. Speaking on SKY TG24 TV, Boschi said the quake even disturbed the Earth's rotation.

Christmas Morning

We arrived safe albeit late to my sister's home. We missed the Eve service at her church and seeing the Progeny's friends from two summers ago when he stayed for the entire summer.

The interstate travel in Kentucky east of Paducah until northwest of Nashvegas was the worst winter travel I have ever experienced. I sincerely doubt if KY DOT ever plowed an inch of their roads. (Perhaps relying on convicted cocaine possessor and former DC Mayor Marion Berry's famous snow removal plan, "Wait until spring.") TN DOT at least had road graders out even if they were ignoring the roads themselves and plowing only the shoulders.

This morning was amazing as I have to go back to my childhood to remember anytime seeing that many presents in one place. Mind you they weren't for our family back then, it was at a neighbor's house. And I remember just being in awe at the stacks of presents.


All in all, it has been a wonderful time so far. We met my sister and her husband at a restaurant in their town and had an excellent meal. The place was surprisingly packed on a Christmas Eve night.

If you haven't heard it yet, Merry Christmas and have a wonderful time with your family and be sure to hold each and every member dear and tell them you love them.

Safe, Snug & Getting Warmer

Made the decision to avoid Cincy and southern Indiana. Parts of interstates in southern Indiana are still shut down and according to radio reports while driving, The Indiana governor is asking people to delay driving in that portion of the state.

I decided discretion was called for and stayed in Illinois for as long as possible and am cutting into Kentucky and then down through Nashvegas.

Once again the definition of a nice room includes DSL, much to the humor of the Espousa and Progeny.

BTW, got an email from the seller of my Christmas pressy Barbour coat. It's not coming from Germany as I thought. It's coming from Turkey. Go figure.

Safe at Home

After breakfast at the hotel in which two eggs, toast and bacon were not on the menu, (I had to ask if they served that selection and yes, they did.) I used downtown Minneapolis' wonderful Skyway system. For those who have never been to the Mpls., there is a very extensive, interconnected web of walkways at the second-story level. Given this morning's 20 below wind chill, it was wonderful to walk to Target to Neiman Marcus (around six blocks) and never once step outside. I could have done it in shirt sleeves and that's the way everyone in the Skyway was dressed.

I wonder if the Skyway was mandated or did it come from the businesses downtown themselves. Incidentally, the Nicolett Mall is closed on Sundays as Mpls. is one of the only, if not only, major cities with a Sunday closure law.

Incidentally, how far Saks on the Mall has fallen. The Saks corporate office has closed a number of underperforming sites across the country and the Mpls. site was one of them. However, it was closed as a Saks 5th Ave. store and reopened as an Off 5th store. The store immediately upon opening was disheveled and in disarray. I've seen TJ Maxx stores better organized and more ordered.

Anyway, packed up the Progeny, ate lunch at the Union at a Chik-Fil-Let and hopped in the car. The Progeny almost immediately went to sleep. I remember those days following finals, so I turned the music down a couple notches and let him go for the four hours home. It's nice having him home.

A Good Night's Sleep

Driving up last night was the right idea. I got the best night's sleep that I've had in a too long of a time.

The one interesting occurrence (No, there weren't any workmen like I experienced in Denver.) was housekeeping awakening me at 7:45. My room is in the middle of the hall, so I imagine I wasn't their first room. Being awakened by housekeeping at anytime is a first for me. And I see the Progeny in a few short hours.

Safe and Snug

I went through some blowing snow and new snow showers on the way to the Cities this evening. It wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Thank God!

I decided to try my luck at a hotel near downtown, which is also near campus, to accomplish the two birds of a) not having to fight the morning commute crowd and b) start out right on the Nicolett Mall in order to kill a couple hours in the morning and perhaps pickup a Christmas pressy for Loved Ones.

I am, as the title says, safe and snug and have free broadband access. The new definition of comfortable.

LED Christmas Lights

The Wisconsin Department of Administration has a press release regarding the use of LED instead of incandescent lights on the Capitol rotunda "holiday tree." (My quotes.) A couple years ago when I attended the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas there were literally hundreds of vendors with every shape and design imaginable in Christmas lights done in LED. The LEDs burn substantially cooler and are vastly more energy efficient as the article states. The neatest part for me was seeing all the things that could be done with the LEDs. How long will it be until you won't be able to buy "regular" Christmas tree lights?

And that whole "holiday tree" biz is a whole other story. Arnold Schwarzenegger's press secretary's response to a question about Arnold's calling their Capitol's "holiday tree" a Christmas tree: "Well, that's what it is." I am unaware of any other religions that sing "O Tannenbaum." Do they decorate a tree for Kwanzaa on self-determination day or was that on economic cooperation day? (I'm not making those days up. Google them.)

Gaming & Being Out of It

It's not that I don't know any of the songs or groups in the Top 40 that makes me feel not clued in. It's the implication of a Wall Street Journal article (sorry no link) on video game sales outperforming movie ticket sales. Microsoft sold $125 million dollars worth of its "Halo 2" video game on it opening day. That's more than any film has ever made in an opening weekend.

And I wouldn't even know this game existed were it not for the TV commercials I have seen. That's what makes me realize there is a parallel universe of which I am completely unaware.

Baseball, Sex and Budget Requests

All in the timing. Today's Wisconsin State Journal has a story about how the UW shortly will be the only Big 10 school not to offer benefits to same sex partner employees.

Health insurance for domestic partners is not allowed for state employees, including at the university, under Wisconsin law. Coupled with the state's long-standing, lower-than-average salaries, it hurts the university's competitive edge, school officials said.

The university does offer other incentives that are legal under state law, such as dental insurance. But officials say it's not enough.

"The absence of domestic partner benefits is really a serious recruiting issue for us," said UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear. "We know of instances where we have lost outstanding candidates because of it."

Just wait until the budget cycle is complete and watch how quickly the move is made to remove the UW from this ban.

It's Not the Money

The full text of one of my favorite quips is "When they tell you it's not the money that matters, it's the principle. It's the money." One of my favorite writers, Dorothy Parker, wrote that back in the 30's. A case in point is in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel regarding one of Wisconsin's largest ag products, Christmas trees.

They are Wisconsin's happiest crop, millions of Christmas trees growing on thousands of acres, strung across the state like garlands.
But they are also a crop under stress. Not biological stress, but the stress of globalization and free markets in the form of an increasing flood of cheap, artificial trees from Asia. Since at least 1990, more people have displayed artificial trees than live ones, according to data collected by the National Christmas Tree Association in St. Louis. Between 2001 and 2003, sales of artificial trees grew 32% while sales of real ones fell 16%.

In Wisconsin, which ranks No. 5 nationally in Christmas tree production, that translates to a drop of more than 25% in the number of trees harvested in the past 20 years.

Read a little further for the real reason for Christmas tree production and the cut back.

New regulations recategorized profit from a harvested tree as farm income, not the previous long-term capital gain. As farm income pays a higher rate than capital gains, that pruned profits from the tree trade and caused some farmers to cut back production.

So is it foreign competition or tax laws that are the greater disincentive for Christmas tree growers? Back in my commodity trading days, there were players always looking to bury money and one of the best ways was to buy land and then grow Christmas trees on it. I knew people who let churchs or Boy Scout troops harvest the trees and sell them for themselves, while the landowner took an even bigger charitable deduction. I don't doubt there are some growers in it because it's a "happy crop," but I'll side with Dorothy why the majority are in it or getting out of it.

Progeny Pickup

I'm scheduled to travel to the Twin Cities to collect the Progeny "Be There or Be Square" at 1PM Wednesday. I'm debating going up this afternoon and spending the night and then spending a little time on Nicolett Mall or driving up tomorrow morning and doing a flip/flop right on back to Madison.

I'll pack and take my gear to work so I can leave from work should I decide to go.

A Christmas Carol or Not

I surprised the Espousa with tickets for the Children's Theatre of Madison's production of A Christmas Carol this evening. I picked her up at home and went downtown toward the UW campus. We had a nice, quiet dinner at one of our favorite Italian spots and then proceeded to the theatre.

The Children's Theatre is a misnomer regarding this production. There are children in the Cratchitt family and these children also played street urchins, but it was largely an adult cast. I was first surprised to see the show done as a musical. In my ignorance, I was unaware that Carol has been done as a musical. It went downhill from there. The Espousa was every other line leaning over asking what had just been said onstage. The actors sometimes delivered their lines with their backs to the audience. Others seemingly whispered. The musical numbers dragged on. They seemed like absolute fill and stretching. The numbers didn't add anything, they just seemed plopped down because it was time for another music and/or dance piece. The actor playing Fred, Scrooge's nephew, either had or affected a lisp doing his best Gussie Finknottle impression of Jeeves and Wooster fame.

Intermission arrived, the Espousa wanted a drink of water, so we headed to the lobby. Upon returning, to my dread, I uttered words I have never said before in my life. "Do you want to leave?" "Yeah...let's go home."

I have only walked out of one other production of any kind in my life and that was a film back in the 70's, The Life of Brian. The Espousa's critique walking back to the car was brutal. "Talking with their backs to the audience...no projection...dead silence for unnatural lengths with actors onstage."

I did a fair amount of community theatre back in high school and I kept wondering what one of the directors that I had worked under would have said during rehearsals about the sloppiness of this production. Yikes! I thought I had blocked that all out.

When We Don't Learn From Our Mistakes

It begins when someone runs their small white car into the bay.
Simple enough, let's just pull it out
Easy does it

Oh !@#$

OK, so now what?!

We'll get a bigger truck to handle the problem

First things first

Easy does it


Oh !@#$ Now what?!


Hat tip to DFL.

Deadbeats, Now and Then

There is a column in the Sunday Madison paper (sorry no link) by Susan Lampert Smith telling how John Kerry is only now paying five-figure bills from his pre-debate stay in Wisconsin back in September. The Kerry campaign is blaming the payment delays on incorrect billing information and some of the bills have been paid, but only after the original story appeared online last week. The author ties the Kerry payables to Frank Lloyd Wright's notorious late payment history here in Madison by virtue that Wright's home was just down the road from the hotel where Kerry stayed and owed a bill.

Here's the author's punchline:

Maybe the persistence of those stories (Wright's debts) is our way of having a little claim on the lives of the famous. ... It's the same with Kerry. It's doubtful his jet set life will ever sweep him through these parts again. But it was nice to have him owe us.

What a bunch of crap. A deadbeat is a deadbeat. Obviously, the writer has NEVER been in business in which you are responsible to your creditors and making your employee's payroll. I'd be interested in her response if one of the paper's managers told her she'd have to forego a paycheck or two because the Kerry campaign hadn't yet paid their debt owed to the paper. Maybe then maybe, just maybe, she'd get the point of it being "nice to have him owe us" if her paycheck depended on him coughing up the cash.

A Wonderful Cold Night

I have had a difficult time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I assume it has been because I have been very busy and distracted. I realized during this morning's church service that it was six days until the Day. I think it caught me by such surprise I actually jolted in my seat.

This afternoon, I worked on cards and, with it being very cold out, got some firewood and now have a roaring fire. Writing the notes in the cards and reflecting on our year, I now really am in the holiday mood. I almost wish there were carolers so I could join them this evening. That would be the cap to a wonderful day and evening.

Hypocrisy

It's my pet peeve. Well, even more than that, because it's essentially lying. What brought this to mind was a situation a couple days ago in which I was in my car following a car which had all manner of "Save the Earth" and anti-Bush bumper stickers on it. (That's a whole other topic regarding covering you car with bumper stickers.) The driver of the car subsequently threw a cigarette out the window. Save the earth, but litter the earth is OK. I am all for environmentalism. Really. It really comes down to a different philosophy and focus: I really believe if we individually take care of the little things environmentally, a whole lot of the big things will be taken care of by default. That same focus can be applied to other situations.

Yesterday, the Espousa and I went to Whole Foods Market. For the uninitiated, it's a chain that specializes in organic and chemical-free products (an oxymoron if there ever was one). They even sell kid's t-shirts that say "I don't want chemicals in my lunchbox, I want food." Incidentally, I don't do organic; being in ag, I know about this stuff and it really doesn't matter. Just buy quality and you'll be fine. Any way, they also carry specialty items, and are often times the only place that will, by definition, have such items. In our case, it is Cafe du Monde French Roast coffee. It is our favorite and we will step into the Groovy Grocer to get it. But walking around the place if you have in your mind's eye what central castings version of Kerry voters look like you'll understand. The Espousa and I were the only ones that any money could be bet on reliably assuming we were Bush voters. Sore thumbs, you understand. I also noticed quite a few folks who appeared to enjoy recreational drug use (dreadlocks, marijuana tattoos, etc.). I know I'm stereotyping, but even if I am wrong in 50% of my assumptions, there was a whole secondary market going on there, too.

Well, that got me thinking about the driver who threw the cigarette out the window. Here are all these folks paying up for organic, because they don't want "chemicals in their bodies," but then turning around and intentionally introducing all manner of other chemicals into their bodies for the specific purpose of producing alterations. Like I stated earlier, hypocrisy is my pet peeve.

The Wonders of eBay

The Espousa has been after me to tell her what I would like for Christmas from the Progeny and Herself. I have been watching and waiting on eBay for a suede coat made by a particular Italian manufacturer. A seller (in Italy) from who I have bought in the past has had the item I desire but not in my size. I have emailed and asked when he might have one in my size and he has responded, "Just wait."

Well, I've waited and told the Espousa not to do anything for me, lest my coat show up the day before Christmas. Well, nothing yet, but the Progeny and Espousa both have Barbour coats and the Espousa said she wanted me to have one also. Looked on eBay and there was a Barbour coat in my size and the style we could agree on. The point of this is I bought the coat from Germany, having it shipped to the sister's place for Christmas and am doing it at less than 40% of the comparable cost that I could get one here in Cheese Country. The wonders of eBay. I think this is where I came in.

Initiative

The world bestows its big prizes, both in money and honors, for but one thing, and that is Initiative.

What is Initiative? I'll tell you. It is doing the right thing without being told.

But next to doing the thing without being told is to do it when you are told once. That is to say, carry the Message to Garcia: those who can carry a message get high honors, but their pay is not always in proportion.

Next there are those who never do a thing until they are told twice: such get no honors and small pay.

Next, there are those who do the right thing only when Necessity kicks them from behind, and these get indifference instead of honors, and a pittance for pay. This kind spends most of its time polishing a bench with a hard luck story.

Then, still lower down in the scale than this, we have the fellow who will not do the right thing even when some one goes along to show him how and stays to see that he does it: he is always out of a job, and receives the contempt he deserves, unless he happens to have a rich Pa, in which case Destiny patiently awaits around the corner with a stuffed club.

To which class do you belong?

Elbert Hubbard wrote that about a century ago.

I was reminded of it the other night after speaking with a friend regarding a person formerly in his employ about whom my friend remarked, "Both supervising him and counseling him weren't in my pay grade." I responded with the advice I have given the Progeny since an early age.

Simply show up and you're ahead of 75% of your competition, do your job and do it with your best effort and you'll be in the top 10% of that second group. Then apply some initiative to your efforts and you'll never be let go by your boss, because you will be the most rare and valuable asset in their business.

The problem with a lot of folks is they think they are in that last "valuable asset" class, when they can't even be depended on to show up for work.

Another Hubbardism comes to mind: Why not try to be the best, there is so little competition.

You Have To Be Here

to understand Packer Mania. I graduated from the University of Georgia and have dear friends who are Auburn and Florida alums. But what fans in Wisconsin feel about the Packers is a multiple of anything I have ever witnessed in the SEC.

Case in point: I heard a radio ad this morning for a book signing by Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre's mother. Her book is a Favre family cookbook. Now I assume Mrs. Favre is a wonderful cook, but were it not for her son and the Packer fan base, I sincerely doubt she'd have a book deal. And, inquiring minds want to know, yes, you can get a cookbook signed by both mom and son for a mere $125.

Is This News?

In the seemingly continuous waterfall of what passes for news, I ran across one that stopped me in my tracks. It was an actual news article regarding the outcome of the reality TV show, The Apprentice.

Is this really newsworthy or was it simply a real slow news day? Given my general level of skepticism of the MSM, I'll bet on a lower bar almost everytime.

Wireless Mergers

When my non-techie sister-in-law has disconnected her landline telephone and the only phone in the house is a cell, I know it's more that an isolated case, it must be a "movement." (Cultural reference to Arlo Guthrie and Alice's Restaurant.) The Sprint/Nextel merger is predicated on exactly this "movement" and is a deal to seal up as much wireless spectrum as quickly as possible under one roof.

Spectrum is the new "real estate." As has been said regarding real estate, they aren't making anymore. That'll be true unless and until, there is a quantum leap in technology. Until then, expect more of the mergers.

iPod Shortage

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on the continued incredible demand for my beloved iPod. I have been asked, "What's the big deal?" I can answer very honestly it has changed how I listen to and buy music. I simply don't use CD's anymore and my radio listening has been severely curtailed. And I don't imagine either changing back to prior behavior.

What's the Over/Under

on how many airline passengers will have to be told by flight attendants that cell phone use is not yet approved while the plane is in flight, after misleading headlines like this one: FCC to Allow Wireless Access on Planes? When in reality, the FCC has only "voted to solicit public comment about ending the ban on in-flight use of cell phones. Among the issues to consider are whether passengers want to be surrounded by cell phone conversations." I'll take the over and I'll take it for several more days.

Phosphorous Ordinance

Madison's surrounding county recently passed an ordinance which banned lawn fertilizers which contained phosphorous based on the contention that the chemical "fed" the algae bloom and aquatic weed growth in the surrounding lakes. I was aware that sister trade groups to the one of which I am Exec were planning a suit to strike down the ordinance. Here's the bit from today's Madison paper.

A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday that seeks to mow down city and county ordinances banning the use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus. The lawsuit, filed by a group of fertilizer retailers, lawn care businesses and trade groups, alleges that the ordinances, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, are pre-empted by federal and state laws and violate the equal protection and free speech clauses of the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions. The group wants U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to declare the ordinances null and void and stop the city and county from implementing and enforcing them. Spokesmen for Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk vowed to fight the lawsuit, saying the reduction of phosphorus is important to the restoration of Dane County lakes.

It'll be interesting to watch this one proceed. I have, ahem, personal interests.

80 Gig iPod

I am an avid iPod user/hacker/promoter (doctor, lawyer, Indian chief). The following announcement was made yesterday:

Toshiba has announced that it will be adding an 80GB model of the 1.8" hard disk Apple has been using in the (non mini) iPods. Currently the highest capacity drive in this form factor is 60GB, which is the drive found in the iPod Photo.

Your correspondent has a lowly, two-year-old 15 gig and has plugged it. In fact, I have had to remove songs in order to house my current holdings. I questioned when I purchased mine, oh so long ago, whether I would ever fill it. After all, we're talking 4,000 plus individual songs. Obviously the answer is yes. And I do listen to it all in rotation.

Still, the whole marketing idea behind the exceedingly successful iPod Mini is that most folks listen to only a very small amount of their music. And that's what makes a 5 gig Mini so marketable and viable. However, I think I could make a serious run on plugging a 40 gig, given half a chance.

Of course, the Espousa has maintained from the beginning that my personal goal was to plug my Pod.

Dazed and Frazzled

I led a six-hour Board meeting, then returned to the office and answered phone messages for two hours, fixed my office manager's email, had dinner with the Espousa and then went to the Los Straitjackets show. The show let out at 11 PM, half hour home and then opened mail, etc. Espousa was up (against her will) at 6 AM. This is not either of our routines.

It sounds a lot like the progeny's; given his recent engineering school projects. I spoke by phone him Monday evening and he told me of his robot project demonstration. His worked 90% of the time, but there was real happiness in his voice. He did it on his own. Design and build. The Espousa was on a phone in another room and I told her last night, I wish she had seen me because I was beaming I was so proud of him.

By the way, the show was a blast. Where else would you ever hear "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" done surf-style? The Espousa even enjoyed it. I would put it up in the top five shows I've ever seen. It was that good.

Wal-Mart Angst

A story in today's Madison paper tells of a proposed Super Wal-Mart about 100 yards from my office, but on the other side of a four lane highway. It will include underground parking, a first for a Wal-Mart in Wisconsin, and will occupy the site of a closed KMart.

I can't wait to hear the protesters come out and be in favor of a closed store and no employment rather than an increase in the tax base and an employer in a depressed area. It will happen with all the moonbats in Madison. Just wait.

Risk Management

Just left an advisory committee working with the state Department of Ag regarding an indemnity fund designed to protect farmers selling in their crops in the case of a buyer defaulting. The state folks have taken the position that they intend to cover almost all risk in case of a default, i.e., virtually everything.

The regulators feel it is their duty to protect the farmer. My position is if one doesn't have a sense of risk involved in a transaction, prudent business parties will disappear and farmers will not concern themselves with making sure buyers are "good." Instead since the state is covering their risk, they will deal with anyone with the best price. The long term effect, I believe, will be (barring outside factors such as bankers) for "good" buyers to lower their creditworthiness to the lowest acceptable level, simply because it won't matter, the state will cover the loss and being any better will not gain market share or profitability.

I just worry that policy makers don't consider long-term impacts.

Los Straitjackets

I am psyched. I missed Los Straitjackets on their last pass through Madison. I can't remember what the conflict was, but I missed them. Well, no fear and under the "when a window closes"- dictum, I will be attending the Christmas Pageant with Los Straitjackets and the World Famous Pontani Sisters here in Madison.

Yippee!

If you don't know America's Greatest Instrumental Rock n' Roll Combo, you need to hear them and you need to get out more! Seriously.

State Street

The Espousa and I decided to run down to the Loop to do a little shopping and sightseeing. We arrived at 11.30 AM and the Espousa informed me we were to eat now! And we were to eat in the Walnut Room at Field's. Many moons ago the Espousa took my Mother to eat there and, I believe, that was the last time the Espousa had dined there.

When we exited the elevator we saw a line at had at least 40 people simply waiting to be seated and, in a flash, made the decision to get right back on the elevator and ponder Plan B.

We ate in a cafeteria in the Field's basement. They even screwed up a Chicago hot dog. I know, I know, but they did it. Out on State Street, the main attraction is the Field's windows. People were five and six DEEP at EACH window! We never caught a glimpse of them but one. And a glimpse was it!

Bought a present for the Sister and that was it. Ho hum.

Sideways

I have a certain level of sensibility and value to my time such that I do not go to see every movie that comes out. Only those those that provide an interest level to me. Last night,the Espousa and I went to (Dragged her to some extent. "I haven't heard of this movie. Why this one?") Sideways.

It's the story of two middle-aged guys touring the California wine country for a week before one of them gets married. The Espousa thought it was a ripoff of the Odd Couple. I thought more Hope and Crosby. Anyway, I was asked the Q in the car driving home, "Is that how guys really talk?" (Real meaning, I believe, "Is that how guys really are?") Yes and yes. I know of examples of both genotypes displayed in the film. That said, if you are of a certain age, go see the film. You'll enjoy it.

The Espousa remarked over dinner after the film that one of the leads wasn't particularity handsome. My reply was that it's nice to see a film about adults in the real world in which not everyone is a candidate for starring on Baywatch.

Agit-Porcelian

There is an exhibition currently in the UK, Circling the Square
Avant-garde Porcelain from Revolutionary Russia.

The exhibition celebrates an extraordinary moment in the history of 20th century art and design. It presents, for the first time in this country, a comprehensive survey of the porcelain produced at the world-renowned Lomonosov Porcelain Factory in St Petersburg, formerly the Imperial Porcelain Factory, during the years following the Russian Revolution of 1917.

This is a rare opportunity to consider the achievements of a group of radical avant-garde artists – Futurists, Cubists and especially the abstract Suprematist painters in the circle of Kazimir Malevich – within the wider context of Russian revolutionary porcelain.

The exhibition is jointly organised by The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, and the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. The exhibition and catalogue have been made possible by the generous support of the Russian financial corporation URALSIB.

The exhibition travels to the US after this stop, but I haven't yet found out where it will be. I can guarantee I may have to take a little trip in the 2005. Why am I so excited? Lomonosov is the place I skipped out to while visiting St. Pete on a US Grains Council trade mission two summers ago. I went to the factory with a driver who spoke NO English, bought three 22-piece tea sets and made it back safely. I am also intrigued by the idea of the Soviets using dinnerware to further the education of the proletariat. Besides the stuff just looks cool.

Driving at Night (And Not)

In my trips to visit the offspring at UMN, I pointedly avoid driving at night. The reason is car-deer accidents. In fact Wisconsin DOT and the UW have a website deercrash.com. Let's see if your state can beat that dubious honor. (Although, in truthfulness, the site does capture regional data.)

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on a market-based approach to reducing the likelihood of collisions and the resulting alarmingly high death rate (of humans). If you dig through the deercrash.com data notice that about 16% of ALL reported Wisconsin traffic accidents are car-deer incidents. Yikes!

Blogs From a Certain Perspective

I just returned from a task force meeting of academia, government regulators and industry that discussed our collective response to soybean rust. One of the big topics of discussion was how best to get notice of a positive detection in the state out to producers and agronomy centers in order to respond. I spoke during a break to the state Department of Ag's PI staffer and suggested perhaps a blog on the department's website. That way persons checking the site could see the string of info as it was made known and could look back to see prior information releases. A listserve, I felt, required the action of signing in before the detection occurred and had the potential to flood your in-box. A blog has none of these issues.

An academic type overheard our conversation and weighed in. "I wouldn't use a blog to distribute information. It has too much of a negative connotation among certain people." (Emphasis added.) What?!

How can the medium have a negative connotation when delivering a message about soybean rust!? A handwritten letter or a fax or an email or a website would be better because they don't have a "negative connotation?" My guess is this person is suffering from PEST (no pun intended) and is still upset.

The Next Big Thing

While I was in Denver, I had a chance to chat with the national sales manager of a company that interviewed me for a position about seven years ago. I declined the position for a variety of reasons (money was not one) and we have remained cordial ever since. I see him every year at the convention that I attended. He always picks my brain when I see him and this year greeted me by asking, "So, John, what's the next big thing?"

I then explained blogs to him and how I believed they could be used to streamline and improve his company's tech support. In addition, he could probably cut survey costs because the blogs would be providing instantaneous feedback. "So what's the catch," he asked. You have to be willing to listen and accept criticism. Everything you'll hear won't be warm and fuzzy, but if you listen you'll be able to make your product better and more valuable to your customers.

That is admittedly a big attitude shift for some in management, but a necessary one, IMHO. I then explained podcasting to him with the admission that I really can't think of a real commercial app to it all just yet. Then I read this article this evening. If the advertisers are getting hip to it, it'll be the next big thing. Just as the way blogs impacted the MSM, it'll be interesting to see what podcasting does to its counterparts.

Four Star What?

Wanted to touch base with my sister, so I called her. She was in the middle of packing for a girl's weekend in Atlanta. They got a deal at the InterContinental in Buckhead and will be doing some shopping at Lenox. Her "in" at the Four Seasons has gone on to another job, so no more deals there. She asked what I thought of the InterContinental and my only brush has been the one on Michigan Ave. She asked if it compared to the Ritz. I have never stayed at a Ritz (no call to), so I had no comparison.

Her comment was that she preferred the Four Seasons and was not impressed by the Ritz. To quote: "For what you're paying at the Ritz, you would expect not to find peeling wallpaper in your room. You would think they would notice that sort of thing." I commented that my hotel in Denver, the Adam's Mark, for all its awards, shouldn't have peeling paint in the bathrooms and a worse jumble of powercords and extention cords than are in my son's dorm room.

I try and stay in smaller hotels whenever I'm traveling just to avoid the hype of "Four Stars" and besides if I am willing to put up with four star peeling paint, I'll do so at a Hotwire price.

The Dells

I have a board meeting to attend today in the Wisconsin Dells. If you're not from Wisconsin, Chicago, or Minneapolis, you may not know the Dells. Wisconsin has two main vacation spots; Door County and the Dells. Door County is generally upscale and a sort of Midwestern Maine coast. It's penisula that separates Green Bay (yes, actually there is a bay) and Lake Michigan. And then there is the Dells. Generally considered tacky and low rent, it's a town of t-shirt and trinkets shops and all-you-can-eat buffets and waterparks.

A change began to occur about five years ago, when a hotel built an indoor waterpark. The rush was on and several hotels followed suit. But one stands out. It's the Kalahari. It's got the world's largest indoor waterpark at 125,000 square feet under one roof. The Kalahari has something like 375 rooms and they are sold out at rack rate every single weekend of the year. The place is just amazing to see even if you don't participate in the activities.

A Nightmare

Have been thinking about a nightmare that woke me up last night. Back story. Several Christmases back I bought my son a bike. Not just any bike, an exact dupe of the 1978 Tour de France winner's bike. A pristine beautiful royal blue Peugeot PY-10 (lower right corner). Custom order & build only. (We both like old style, steel frame road bikes.) He says it has been the best Christmas present he has ever received and can't imagine anything ever beating it.

Anyway, the dream. Somehow, an unknown neighbor had the bike and had spray painted the entire bike. Over the chrome, the enameled badges, the french language decals. I saw it and lost my breath. "What have you done?", I kept shouting. They replied they had seen a couple minor paint chips on the bike and wanted to fix it for me and why was I upset, they just wanted to help.

I awoke, breathing heavily. I have no idea what, if anything, it means. Just believe me that bike is not going anywhere out of my sight!

Gin Snob

While I was in Denver, I attended a dinner at the Capital Grill, an upscale Morton's, Ruth's Chris-competitor. I was seated next to our host. The waiter asked for drink orders and our host asked if the bar stocked Hendrick's. What! I thought I was the only one who asked for Hendrick's in the remote chance they might have it.

When I related my thoughts to our host he responded that a lot of people are "wine snobs, but I guess I'm a gin snob." He also expressed surprise at finding someone who even knew of Hendrick's.

I remembered the conversation on my way home and detoured to snag a bottle.

I guess if it walks like a duck...

BTW, a tip of the sombrero to the folks at Hendrick's for the fine swag. Thanks.

"We're just arguing over price now."

That punchline to an old joke seems very appropriate in regards to the following story.

Marquette University's Board of Trustees could decide Wednesday whether to change the university's athletic nickname back to Warriors after a decade as the Golden Eagles....Marquette dropped the Warriors nickname in 1994 after concerns it could offend American Indians. The nickname had long been accompanied by logos featuring American Indians and an on-again, off-again American Indian mascot.

In May, Marquette trustee Wayne Sanders said he and another trustee would give the school $1 million apiece if it reinstated Warriors. The university declined the money, but Sanders' offer, made during a commencement speech to Marquette graduates, forced the school to revisit the issue.

It'll be interesting to see this one play out and watch the gymnastics competition begin.

Bobby Jindal

Memorize that name, because you'll be hearing a lot more of it to come. The current Weekly Standard has a great article on this incoming Louisiana congressman, who happens to be the only Indian American in Congress. His expertise is health care and he intends to have an impact on the debate from the get go.

I am personally really taken with the guy because of a quote in the article that sums up my approach to issues. "If you focus on policy, you can make a difference from the first day."

How To Get The Straight Dope

Heard a speaker this morning talk on biz planning yada yada. One point he made was that in order to get someone to tell you how they think their biz is doing and the state of the environment they are working in, is to simply ask the individual biz manager how their competition is doing.

It reminded me of a sage old HR person that I trained under 25 years ago. In the ag field at that time 99% of all applicants were male so the advice relates only to males. The advice was if you only have one question with which to size up your candidate; simply ask them to tell you about their father. The mentor said the interviewee will spill their guts telling you the good and bad about themselves that would never be told if you asked the same question directly about them.

My experience is the advice works. I have never really seen an instance that the answer didn't jibe with my long term assessment. But the thing I've always wondered is whether the converse works for women. I simply don't know. If it doesn't, is there a question that does?

Airport Security

I'm writing from the Denver airport. Got out here way early because the notorious rep this airport's screening has for always being horrendous. Wasn't that bad, but I used the check-in procedure to test a theory of mine.

The ticketing agent asked for photo ID. I have two photo IDs side-by-side in my wallet, one my Wisconsin driver's license, the other University of Wisconsin issued. I intentionally placed my thumb over the driver's license and showed the UW one. The agent then asked me for a "government issued " ID. I'm sure the Wisconsin state legistlature would be surprised to hear that a federal agency doesn't consider the UW a government agency. Aren't all those UW employees getting state benes?

Anyway, I then showed the driver's license and was on my way. My thought is that in Wisconsin you do not need to show any ID to vote. Nothing. To register to vote all you need is a envelope or bill with your "name" and an address in Wisconsin. The argument to allow that is that voting is the greatest right and people should not be disadvantaged just because they don't have a driver's license. Fine, but those folks without a driver's license obviously aren't getting on any airplanes or renting a movie at Blockbuster or paying by check anytime soon.

Update: Add to that list of things you can't do without a photo ID, buy liquor or cigs at any of the 128 Roundy's company supermarkets in Wisconsin or Minnesota. Read about the new policy, believed to be the first such in the nation, here.

I'd Love To See The Sales Data

Among the odder biz concepts I've ever seen is a kiosk here in the Denver airport selling Ferrari and Maserati swag exclusively. T-shirts, key fobs, the usual stuff. How many people going through an airport see this and say "Gotta have it.?"

Then again, one of my biz profs long ago told our class, "If you learn nothing else from my class, learn this. If you cater to your own sensibilities and tastes, it is a sure recipe for failure."

Incidentally, I resisted being an Aston man myself.

Mom Was Right

In a whole of things, but in this case specifically, "If you haven't got anything good to say about someone. Don't say it."

The backstory. Yesterday afternoon I received a cellphone call from a dear friend that I known for 20+ years. He lives far away from where we met and now manages, long distance, the inherited family farm. He had a question regarding the marketing of his crops. We chatted and I passed on the tidbit that was returning his call from Denver. He asked what I doing here and I told him a grain & feed convention.

OK. We got back to the marketing Q and he told me who he sold to. I replied I sat in a meeting the morning before directly next to that buyer and that I knew him. My friend asked me to say hello for him to the buyer. This morning I saw the buyer come in and asked him to step into the hall with me. I related the story and in astonishment, he remarked how small the world really is.

Bottom line: If it's not the espousa with whom you're speaking, assume the hearer of your words KNOWS the person of whom you're speaking.

Wish I Had a Camera

Out walking this morning, before a slew of meetings, I went past the Denver City-County Building. I saw a life size creche, complete with three wise men, angel above the manger and a baby Jesus! On government property! What made it acceptable, I am fairly certain, was all the additional displays. At each corner of the creche are four inflatable snowmen. On the other side of the steps from the creche is a rather large Santa in a sleigh with reindeer display. And behind that is what I can only describe as a garden gnome version of Santa's workshop.

I guess all the additional trappings make the creche PC. It was really weird. Like I said I wish I had a camera to show you.

Punishment or Policy?

Reading in this morning's edition of the Denver Post an article via the LA Times, "Pro-Kerry states hit by GOP tax plan." The gist of the article is that Bush is working on a "possible overhaul" of the tax code. One proposal being floated is to eliminate the federal deduction for state and local income taxes.

The whole basis of the "pro-Kerry states hit " argument is that California and NY have state income taxes, while Texas and Florida do not. Rep. Matsui , D-CA, is quoted, " There's no question this effort would punish blue states."

Public policy debate is now viewed as a tool for "punishment" for state's voting records. I wonder what Rep. Matsui's view of criminal sentencing is if a public policy debate is reduced to "punishment."

Dims, keep up the attacks and don't engage in sincere political debate, just pander to your moonbat fringe. It'll make you look so much more appealing to that whole set of swing voters and all those red states.

My Usual Haunts

I had a boss at a previous job (in which I traveled around the US quite frequently) who made the observation that you always could find me in a strange city. "Simply call the local art museum and have him paged, he'll be there." Pretty accurate observation, I must say.

So I walked over to the Denver iteration. Lots of Native American and modern. A couple Monets, a Singer Sargent. Small decorative arts exhibit, nice display of furniture that showed the evolution of styles from the 15th century up to the 20th, rather than having each century encapsulated by itself with no frame of reference. Nicely done.

The real treat came in the museum shop. It's always interesting to me to see how different curators or whomever is in charge stock the shop. Well I saw an item I've never seen anywhere before. Hand embroidered pillow shams, 14 or 16 square, done in India. Lots of funky designs and there it was. A straight CFA Voysey knock-off. Google the name if you don't know. Gorgeous and relatively inexpensive. It's going on the back of the Morris chair seat. They also had a kinda odd Rennie Macintosh knock-off pillow too. Had three roses; square, round and oblong. And then leaves from the door design for the Willow Street Tearoom thrown in. Wasn't balanced, just seemed slapped together. But the Voysey! Looks just like it came off a tapestry. I'm a happy camper.

Funny thing was when I asked the 20-something staffer about the pillows, I was referred to an older gentleman who I was told "knows everything." Voysey. "Who?" Rennie Macintosh. "Who?" I guess "Early 20th Century UK Arts & Crafts" would not be his best subject on Jeopardy.

What Was Their Second Choice?

Saw this ad in a magazine yesterday. Kobold even references public with the comment on their website that the ad "has raised some eyebrows." I wonder what demographic they are going after? The crude jerk element?

Where Does This Stuff Come From?

In this morning's Denver Post there is a review of Can't Find My Way Home : America in the Great Stoned Age 1945 - 2000 by Martin Torgoff. The review by Steven Rosen States:

At a time when most Americans were optimistically celebrating our victory in World War II, the first of the contemporary drug acolytes saw the horror of a ravaged world that had barely survived the catastrophe.

And those seers - people like Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, the Denver-raised Neal Cassady and a few others who eventually would become known as the Beats - wanted a spiritual alternative. A new vision to what they saw as "the Great Molecular Comedown" of the post-war world.

"Others had fought in the battle, but it would become (their) peculiar lot to perceive and digest the meaning and magnitude of the Second World War, the Holocaust, the dropping of the atomic bomb and the bitter, uneasy peace that followed, as they experimented with drug-induced altered states of consciousness," Torgoff writes. "From the outset, there had been strong intellectual and artistic motivations behind their pursuit of drugs - what Ginsberg would later call 'the ancient heavenly connection' in 'Howl."'

Their particular lot to perceive and digest the meaning and magnitude?! These are the "acolytes" that are leading us into what?

The review then does touch on some of the "problems" associated with drug addiction such as:

And check out this nightmarish passage about a crack-addicted woman undergoing cocaine psychosis and hallucinating about bugs under her scalp: "Suzie's (bugs) would never crawl out, so she had to dig them out with sharp objects: paper clips, metal nail files, letter openers, the smallest blade of a Swiss Army knife."

But that is one paragraph out of a review that refers to Timothy Leary as a pioneer. Well, I guess anyone that technically is the first is a pioneer, but is the connotation really to include individuals as "pioneers" of self-destruction.

There was an article that perhaps explains the real reason behind the "acolytes" actions. Here's an excerpt:

"All substance abuse is frequently marketed as enhancing sex life or making you more attractive or a better social companion," said John Walters, the drug czar for President Bush.

My Time in Denver So Far

Yes, I landed fine and on time, but from there.....

It took one hour and 45 minutes to get to the hotel from the airport on the shuttle because most of downtown Denver was blocked off for a Christmas parade. I ended up walking with the bags the final four blocks to the hotel as that was as close as the driver could get to the hotel.

In my room the internet connection wasn't working. Called hotel tech support and asked them to work on it while I had dinner (9 PM stomach time).

The dinner was another journey with the waiter not comprehending what anchovies are. It took 45 minutes to receive my G&T after ordering it. The bright spot was the conversation I had commiserating with a gentleman seated next to me that was enduring the same dinner difficulties as I was. He heads a software company that is involved in the grain industry (my day job) and we spoke of coming tech and trends at large and specific. Delightful conversation. Meal was passable. Should have been a WHOLE lot better for the rep of this hotel. Set up a meeting for Monday to continue our conversation.

Came back to room, internet not up. Called front desk, they didn't know anything of the problem. They said they would work on it. At 12:30 AM a knock on the door, "Technical services." In my undies, I decided this post could wait until morn. At 4:30 AM I was awaken by what I first thought was workman hammering something. Silly me. Paul Simon had a lyric about this. Something about setting a record, but I may be mistaken.

Couldn't go back to sleep, so I tried the puter and Hosanna! the connection is up.

I hope breakfast is better.

Music in Your Head

Something that has always amazed me is how a musical hook repeats in your mind. What is the trigger that catches it and causes the repeat, i.e. why can't we get some music out of our head? The current musical pinball bouncing around in my head is an obscure instrumental surf rock piece entitled, "Tranquilizer" by The Lively Ones.

The bit that makes the whole even more interesting to me is what I read in a Brian Wilson interview. Mr. Wilson said all he did was write down the music playing in his head. Django Reinhardt (see earlier post) could neither read nor write musical notation. When he composed a tune, he had to have someone else write it down for him. I guess that's the difference between them and me, I hear two or three measure bits and they had whole compositions pour out of them. Mine are copies of what I've heard and theirs were new and original. Easy for them, difficult for me. Still I do things such as public speaking (which comes naturally for me) for which I have had people speak to me after a presentation marveling at what I've done and tell me under no circumstances could they even get up in front of their family at Thanksgiving and tell everyone that dinner was ready. In the words of Sly Stone, "Everybody is a star" in their own way.

Iris Chang

Somehow, I missed the death of Iris Chang last month. Probably the news was buried in the pile of post-election ballyhoo. I learned about the death in my catch-up reading of The Economist in their Obituary column. (You may have to register or view a brief ad to read the column.)

In 1997, Chang wrote a book on the Rape of Nanking. She was not a historian by training, but spent two years researching her book. She was currently working on a subsequent book about the Bataan death march. I don't want to go into everything here, just suffice it to say that you need to read the article. Ms. Chang apparently committed suicide; despondent due to her immersion in research of sadly an all too frequent example of the worst of humanity.

I spoke with the 14 year-old son of a well-educated friend of mine last summer. The teen asked if I supported President Bush. (His mother was a very vocal and active opponent of Bush.) I told him a did and was then asked why. I responded that while there were some policies of Bush that I did not agree, I believed that he was the better choice to handle the terrorism threat. The teen then said that the problem was that we just hadn't sat down with Bin Laden and heard his grievances and if we did that (which Bush refused to do) everything would be fine. I responded that Bin Lade's et al. stated goal was to establish a worldwide fundamentalist Islamic order either through conversion or death of the infidels. Didn't he see that as something that must be resisted as evil?" No, there is no such thing as evil in the world, just different points of view." So, Hitler was not evil? "No, but Bush is because he won't work with people."

I realize I was discussing world politics with a 14 year-old, (and I certainly am glad audio tapes don't exist of me at 14) but here is young man who doesn't believe one of the people responsible for the greatest massacres in history wasn't evil, but Bush is. OK , so murder is a debatable issue, but "not working with people" is not. I'm considering emailing the Iris Chang obit and asking if the Rape of Nanking was a bad thing? Or maybe it was just a "cultural difference." Or perhaps it's all Bush's fault.

Go West, Young Man!

I'm heading out this afternoon for a national convention being held in Denver through Tuesday of next week. Yes, it's ag-related with some work being done on some fairly big (for ag issues) work being done while the clan is gathered.

Political Science 101 for the uninitiated: Most work is done on issues, i.e., the framing of the problem and potential solutions, long before the public has any idea that something is even in the wind. The stuff you see on TV is literally that, done for TV. This is not to say the "die is cast" or that deals are cut excluding people from the process. Instead, there are and will be policy differences between factions, and people can agree to disagree, but how an issue is defined will provide the path to a solution and eliminate others. "What is the base problem that is trying to be addressed?" The answer to that question is as important, if not more important than the solution to the problem.

The New USDA Secretary

I am, in my day job, the Director of an agricultural trade association, so to some degree I am also an ag policy wonk. As the Bush cabinet is shuffled and reformed, it's interesting to see who comes in. The CEO of Kellogg's (of Battle Creek fame), a Cuban-born American by way of Mexico to be Secretary of Commerce. You can't get more outside the beltway than that!

The oddsmakers had lists of folks to replace outgoing Secretary Veneman and the names were largely former Hill staffers or Congressmen. When the announcement came yesterday that Bush was nominating the sitting governor of Nebraska to be Ag Sec, it came as a surprise to everyone I know. But given Bush's current penchant for going outside the regular spheres, should it have been that big of a surprise. Not the exact who, but more of a from where- type question. In that case, no surprise.

This episode reminds me of my days back as a divisional SVP from agribusiness giant ADM. There were constant trade rumors involving ADM involving ADM buying or selling or acquiring this company of entering or leaving this or that line of biz. In my five years there, I can, without doubt, state any rumor I ever heard on the street regarding ADM never proved true. Were there plans and machinations constantly ongoing? You bet! But never ever , did I ever hear of those on the street. Tons of other stuff, but never the real goings on. Kinda like the new Ag Sec's name not being on any of the "guess lists."

Thought of the Day

A few weeks ago the espousa was at an estate sale in Madison and picked up an item that she thought was interesting. It was what appears to be a sheet out of an old autograph collection. It consists of a phrase and a signiture. She had trouble reading the handwriting and had no idea what the sig was. When I was shown the piece I read the sig as that of John Masefield, the former poet laureate of England.

I googled the phrase and Masefield's name and bingo! a gif of his sig on an appreciation site matched and I found a Masefield attribution for the phrase on the card. Everything matched.

Oh, the phrase. The days that make us happy make us wise.

I have it framed on my desk and see it every day multiple times. Here's to hoping each of us become very wise.

Djangology

I found a video at iFilm.com and was immediately taken by it. It is an old movie short (an early music video) of Django Reinhart, Stephane Grappelli and the Hot Club of France. I had my sister listen to the piece and she described it as "happy music." I have since then bought (yes, people do still buy music) three Django/Hot Club compilations out of the UK. Some of the best music pound for pound I have heard in a loooooong time.

The wow part of the story is Reinhart's fret playing with only two usable fingers on his left hand. It's big band music played with a guitar and a violin as leads. Just wonderful music and how it took me this long to finally hear it!?

Anchors as Rock Stars

I can not watch any of the retrospective or who-haa going on regarding Tom Brokaw's "retirement." It stuns me at the adulation and self-promotion that a simple retirement has generated. People are behaving like it is the death of a close friend, admittedly I never understood the whole Princess Di thing with the teddy bears and flowers. If the self-promotion by NBC is peeled away, are people really that interested in a multi-millionaire's "news reader's" retirement?

I just can't get the image of Jack Nicholson in Network out of my head. This multi-million dollar annual salary anchor (Nicholson) sniffs (doing his best Marie Antoinette impression) his way through a newsroom that is being devastated by cost cutting layoffs; never so much as considering that a single one of his annual millions could have spared a dozen jobs of his co-workers. Or is this just more the cult of celebrity that popular society has devolved into? In the words of proto-thug Ron Artest, "Where's the camera?"

Chocolate and Cheese

Just returned from a reception for various Wisconsin state legislators given by the dairy industry of the state. Wisconsin, cheeseheads, and the ugliest state quarter design so far. Yes, they all go together. (I can't imagine anyone beating us for the bottom rung in that competition.) Anyway, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Assoc. had a real killer cheese table set out. Aged and smoked everything. One cheese had whole peppercorns in it. Yum. But the hit of the night was a Cocoa Cardona from Carr Valley. It is made from 100% goat milk, aged and then rubbed with cocoa powder. It won 1st Best of Class at the 2003 US Cheese Contest. And yes, we have cheese contests here in Wisconsin. After all, how else would we be able to abide by the unofficial state motto; Cheese: We eat the best and sell the rest.

eBay and Buying

The postman just delivered an item I had recently bought on eBay. The item was cheap and mainly a gag gift for the family. It started me wondering about how my buying has changed with the this new opportunity to purchase items I never even had thought of owning before eBay. My sister jokes she is a "preferred member" of QVC. She lives in a relatively remote area and maintains she has all the selection available to someone in a metropolitan area via QVC, which she would not have otherwise. But in my case, eBay gives me items that aren't even generally available.

A case in point is my collection of Philosopher Press books from the turn of the century. They are generally impossible to find and when you do find them at a bookseller they can be VERY expensive. eBay solves that, at least partially. "If it's out there, it will eventually be on eBay," is my mantra. Lo and behold, recently a book that I didn't even relaize they had done, not on any biblio I have seen, turned up, and I got it. My point is it just amazes me how literally the world and everything in it is now available to anyone with an internet connection (and a PayPal account.)

"So what are you planning?"

I normally sit back and study a situation (AKA lurk) and after a while , I feel some level of competence or confidence, I jump in with both feet. Well....that's what I'm about to do. Jump in that is. I plan on commenting on news stories, events and personal happenings.

And where did the title come from? Back in HS days, I was dating the editor of another HS's newspaper. She commented to me at the time that she needed a column to fill out the op-ed page and couldn't find anyone with which she was happy to do the column. I suggested that I could do it because she had commented she liked my writing. She said I couldn't do it because I didn't attend her school. Duh. Why not an anonymous column by me, letting me write about anything that struck my fancy and call it ...mmmm, Petty Wit & Wisdom? I did the column the entire school year and my girlfriend/editor kept the secret. I even won an award from the faculty advisor that was never picked up. Somewhere in the bowels of North Ft. Myers High....

Just Starting

We'll see how this goes, but at least it's a start.