Once Again, Albert Hammond Will be Proven Wrong
For those who don't recognize the name of the singer in the headline, he's the one who sang the song "It Never Rains in California". Which it will be doing later today. In fact, the forecast from the hot woman on the late night news last night said we might even get hail. So let's hale the hail and stay safe during this period of inclement weather.
I have this friend who is in financial trouble and I am not in a position to do anything of consequence to help. His operation has been around a long time and for years now, revenues have been outpaced by rising expenses. He has been able to keep going by using credit facilities, even though the interest cost is now so high any hope of ever again balancing the books seems very remote. He could just call it quits and go out of business, but there are so many people who depend on him for their livelihood and the valuable products and services he provides; that's not an option.
We've sat down and tried a variety of budget models, triming of costs, ways to raise revenues and there just don't seem to be any real answers. If his ability to borrow were to suddenly disappear, or the creditors holding his loans were to demand payment, that would be it.
What makes this worse is that my friend's name is Sam. Uncle Sam. Even the coming sequestration isn't going to fix the budget mess in Washington. But the day of reckoning of spending more than we take in is coming and it will probably be reached in our lifetimes.
Other Tuesday morning ponderings include:
How great it is that the World Series of Poker is going to rename a 7-card stud event in honor of the late Dr. Jerry Buss. He loved to play 7-card stud and once finished 3rd in that event at the WSOP.
The issue of minority representation in cities that have "at-large" rather than "district" representation on their city councils is flaring up again in Palmdale. The charge is that the at-large representation denies minorities representation because they aren't able to vote as a bloc in a geographic district. There are other cities involved in lawsuits on the issue. This is a no-brainer. Geographic representation is much fairer. An elected representative can better serve a constituency defined by geographic boundaries. The City of Los Angeles has 3.8 million residents and 15 city council members. So each of the city council members represents roughly 250,000 people. Much easier than having to be responsive to any of the city's 3.8 million residents who choose a council member to approach with their specific problem.
I've had a Hotmail account forever, although I almost never use it. Now Microsoft is going to migrate it to a different email service? Why?
Was Ashley Olson aware that the big fur coat she was wearing made her look a lot like Chewbacca from Star Wars?
This date in History:
On this date in 1807, Former Vice President Aaron Burr is arrested for treason.
On this date in 1846, the new state government of Texas takes control after Texas is annexed by the U.S.
On this date in 1847, the first rescuers reach the Donner Party.
On this date in 1859, Daniel Sickles, a member of Congress from NY is acquitted of murder charges on the grounds of temporary insanity. First time this defense was successfully used in the U.S.
On this date in 1861, serfdom was abolished in Russia.
On this date in 1878, Thomas Edison patents the phonograph.
On this date in 1942, one of the lowest points in U.S. history takes place, as FDR signs the executive order that authorizes the detention and relocation of Japanese-Americans in so-called "internment camps".
On this date in 1945, 30,000 U.S. marines land on Iwo Jima.
On this date in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford rescinds FDRs executive order authorizing the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
On this date in 1999, President Clinton pardoned Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African-American to graduate from West Point. He'd been wrongly convicted at a court-martial.
Famous folk born on this date:
Nicolaus Copernicus
Florence Green (she was the last British survivor of World War I when she died in 2012)
Eddie Arcaro (he had to jockey for position on this list)
Lee Marvin (the man who is to blame for palimony)
Smokey Robinson
Homer Hickam (love "October Sky")
Karen Silkwood (RIP)
Amy Tan
Ray Winstone (you were great in the upcoming "The Sweeney")
Prince Andrew
Hana Mandlikova (holder of four Grand Slam tennis singles titles)
Seal (thanks for the phrase "fornicating with the help")
Benicio del Toro
I have this friend who is in financial trouble and I am not in a position to do anything of consequence to help. His operation has been around a long time and for years now, revenues have been outpaced by rising expenses. He has been able to keep going by using credit facilities, even though the interest cost is now so high any hope of ever again balancing the books seems very remote. He could just call it quits and go out of business, but there are so many people who depend on him for their livelihood and the valuable products and services he provides; that's not an option.
We've sat down and tried a variety of budget models, triming of costs, ways to raise revenues and there just don't seem to be any real answers. If his ability to borrow were to suddenly disappear, or the creditors holding his loans were to demand payment, that would be it.
What makes this worse is that my friend's name is Sam. Uncle Sam. Even the coming sequestration isn't going to fix the budget mess in Washington. But the day of reckoning of spending more than we take in is coming and it will probably be reached in our lifetimes.
Other Tuesday morning ponderings include:
How great it is that the World Series of Poker is going to rename a 7-card stud event in honor of the late Dr. Jerry Buss. He loved to play 7-card stud and once finished 3rd in that event at the WSOP.
The issue of minority representation in cities that have "at-large" rather than "district" representation on their city councils is flaring up again in Palmdale. The charge is that the at-large representation denies minorities representation because they aren't able to vote as a bloc in a geographic district. There are other cities involved in lawsuits on the issue. This is a no-brainer. Geographic representation is much fairer. An elected representative can better serve a constituency defined by geographic boundaries. The City of Los Angeles has 3.8 million residents and 15 city council members. So each of the city council members represents roughly 250,000 people. Much easier than having to be responsive to any of the city's 3.8 million residents who choose a council member to approach with their specific problem.
I've had a Hotmail account forever, although I almost never use it. Now Microsoft is going to migrate it to a different email service? Why?
Was Ashley Olson aware that the big fur coat she was wearing made her look a lot like Chewbacca from Star Wars?
This date in History:
On this date in 1807, Former Vice President Aaron Burr is arrested for treason.
On this date in 1846, the new state government of Texas takes control after Texas is annexed by the U.S.
On this date in 1847, the first rescuers reach the Donner Party.
On this date in 1859, Daniel Sickles, a member of Congress from NY is acquitted of murder charges on the grounds of temporary insanity. First time this defense was successfully used in the U.S.
On this date in 1861, serfdom was abolished in Russia.
On this date in 1878, Thomas Edison patents the phonograph.
On this date in 1942, one of the lowest points in U.S. history takes place, as FDR signs the executive order that authorizes the detention and relocation of Japanese-Americans in so-called "internment camps".
On this date in 1945, 30,000 U.S. marines land on Iwo Jima.
On this date in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford rescinds FDRs executive order authorizing the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
On this date in 1999, President Clinton pardoned Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African-American to graduate from West Point. He'd been wrongly convicted at a court-martial.
Famous folk born on this date:
Nicolaus Copernicus
Florence Green (she was the last British survivor of World War I when she died in 2012)
Eddie Arcaro (he had to jockey for position on this list)
Lee Marvin (the man who is to blame for palimony)
Smokey Robinson
Homer Hickam (love "October Sky")
Karen Silkwood (RIP)
Amy Tan
Ray Winstone (you were great in the upcoming "The Sweeney")
Prince Andrew
Hana Mandlikova (holder of four Grand Slam tennis singles titles)
Seal (thanks for the phrase "fornicating with the help")
Benicio del Toro
posted by me at 7:48 AM
<< Home