I managed to get back to my lovely Las Vegas home last night around 4pm. As nice as it was to be back in NY for a couple of weeks and it seemed like I had never left, once back amongst my stuff, it was like I had never had Las Vegas.
Except, I didn't recall leaving the funky smell. I swear I didn't fart on the way out, shutting the door behind me when I left two weeks ago. I came home to find that at some point while I was gone the bathroom sink overflowed onto the carpet. The smell of my upstairs neighbor's shower water wasn't terrible or overpowering, but unenjoyable nonetheless.
It was too late last night to get maintenance on the matter, so I aired out the apartment. The current temps in Vegas are the same as NY, mid 60's. Very cool and refreshing. It's supposed to get back into the 80's next week, but for now, I'll take the fresh crisp air that is replacing the stagnant water smell.
My next surprise involved my computer. My 500GB SATA hard drive doesn't appear to be working. This is really obnoxious as I had about 450MB of data on the drive. Nearly all of it is replaceable, but there is one folder that has no back up and is loaded with a bunch of personal letters and such that I keep. Like the documents that hold all of my blog entries. Again, at particular data is still available to me online, but if I want a convenient record of it again, I'll have to go through the entire blog page by page and copy it all over again. Naturally, there are plenty of other files that are not so easily replaced. I haven't looked at it yet to see if it is fried completely or if something else is wrong, but I am not enjoying the prospect of sending the hard drive out to be salvaged, but I may want to do just that enventually.
I should point out that none of my writing data was compromised and the hard drive that contains the partition where windows is installed remains fully functional, so my computer is otherwise fine. I simply cannot access the storage drive where I hold all the mass data that I store.
This morning, I went to the rental office to file my complaint about the overflowing sink. A maintenance guy just happened to be passing through the lobby as I was discussing the problem with one of the secretaries. Ten minutes later he was pumping out crud from the pipes. I pointed out the crack in my shower head. I cover it with a wash cloth as I shower or else water shoots over the curtain and onto the floor and he replaced that right away as well. Thus all is right with my apartment once again and before 10:30am no less. Too bad my computer hard drive won't be so easy to deal with.
After the maintenance guy left, I sent in my registration for the joint meetings in January. I was amazed that there was a separate registration category for unemployed mathematicians. The fee was $43 as opposed to the standard members fee of $216 (nonmembers are $335). Leave it to mathematicians to actually set up a fee schedule that makes sense.
Today's next most important duty involves grocery shopping. After that, I guess I better get back to work on the job stuff.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
OLU
I've been tired the last few days. Unfortunately, it has kept my motivation low. So yes, this means my job hunt has suffered, but at least I can report that I have finally gotten all of my references on board. When I get back to Vegas next week, I guess I'll have to put things into hyper mode. I feel as though I have let myself be too lazy for too long and need to get my butt in gear.
Because of my tiredness, I decided to check out WebMD.com. It is one of many sites that allows any good hypochondriac the opportunity to determine what ails them. After an extensive search I think I can safely assume that I have OLU. I hadn't heard of it before, but then these names are always latin based, so no one knows what they mean. If I remember correctly, it's spelled Oldi Lazius Uckfay.
It seems to be pretty common in people approaching middle age with sedentary lives. It can also appear in people who are slightly more active, but they tend to be passing middle age. In fact, the likelihood of getting this disease is directly proportional to a person's age. As yet, there does not seem to be any serious correlation as a hereditary disease, but I don't think enough studies have been done. My own personal opinion is that it can be nurtured as much as it appears naturally, but opinions are not very scientific.
Stimulants have been shown to be effective in battling this fatigue-like disease on a day to day basis, but they tend to be addictive and the body quickly becomes adjusted to the affects. In fact, it is not uncommon for the stimulants to keep the person from sleeping regularly only to add more fatigue later. Not surprisingly, regular exercise and healthy eating habits seem to be the best way to combat this disease. Under such a regimen, OLU will slowly fade away in the same way that pneumonia will fade away under proper treatment.
I would like to think that if this disease takes me at too young of an age, a rare happenstance, but a possibility nonetheless, my friends and family will start a foundation in my honor to combat this dreadful affliction. They'll have to. I'm too poor and diseased to take on such a task myself.
Because of my tiredness, I decided to check out WebMD.com. It is one of many sites that allows any good hypochondriac the opportunity to determine what ails them. After an extensive search I think I can safely assume that I have OLU. I hadn't heard of it before, but then these names are always latin based, so no one knows what they mean. If I remember correctly, it's spelled Oldi Lazius Uckfay.
It seems to be pretty common in people approaching middle age with sedentary lives. It can also appear in people who are slightly more active, but they tend to be passing middle age. In fact, the likelihood of getting this disease is directly proportional to a person's age. As yet, there does not seem to be any serious correlation as a hereditary disease, but I don't think enough studies have been done. My own personal opinion is that it can be nurtured as much as it appears naturally, but opinions are not very scientific.
Stimulants have been shown to be effective in battling this fatigue-like disease on a day to day basis, but they tend to be addictive and the body quickly becomes adjusted to the affects. In fact, it is not uncommon for the stimulants to keep the person from sleeping regularly only to add more fatigue later. Not surprisingly, regular exercise and healthy eating habits seem to be the best way to combat this disease. Under such a regimen, OLU will slowly fade away in the same way that pneumonia will fade away under proper treatment.
I would like to think that if this disease takes me at too young of an age, a rare happenstance, but a possibility nonetheless, my friends and family will start a foundation in my honor to combat this dreadful affliction. They'll have to. I'm too poor and diseased to take on such a task myself.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Rotting Off My Back
It's been a tough year.
Specifically, it's been a tough year on my wardrobe. I don't buy clothes that often and it seems this year a lot of my older more reliable clothing is wearing out. I did manage a sizable purge of clothing prior to moving out to Vegas, but since a lot of my shorts are 5-6 years old and I wear them daily, the warn spots have slowly become tears. My pajama pants are mostly 2-3 years old. They really aren't made for daily use and they are similarly wearing out. Of course, I buy cheap and I get what I pay for. I guess I should be surprised that I can get them to last so many years.
I do have a ton of t-shirts. My friends tend to buy them if only because they know I'll wear them. Oddly enough, or actually not so oddly, they also last longer than my shorts. I have quite a few shirts over 7 years old and a number that are close to 10 years old. I'll let the readers perform their own gedanken experiments to explain why the shirts last so much longer than the shorts.
I have bought socks and underwear during the last year, so I'm fortunate enough to have warm feet and plenty of protection for the next generation of Browns that will probably only come from my loins via sperm donation. But then, underwear is counterproductive when it comes to procreation.
Actually, my clothes aren't the only thing that is old and ought to be updated. My computer is approaching 5 years of age (in January). Of course, it still does everything I ask of it so I have no need to update just yet. I also, have two other computers to utilize: the workhorse computer and the laptop I am using right now. Can a person really claim to be "roughing it" when they own three computers?
Hmm, I guess it's getting busy 'round here. I'll wrap this up.
Specifically, it's been a tough year on my wardrobe. I don't buy clothes that often and it seems this year a lot of my older more reliable clothing is wearing out. I did manage a sizable purge of clothing prior to moving out to Vegas, but since a lot of my shorts are 5-6 years old and I wear them daily, the warn spots have slowly become tears. My pajama pants are mostly 2-3 years old. They really aren't made for daily use and they are similarly wearing out. Of course, I buy cheap and I get what I pay for. I guess I should be surprised that I can get them to last so many years.
I do have a ton of t-shirts. My friends tend to buy them if only because they know I'll wear them. Oddly enough, or actually not so oddly, they also last longer than my shorts. I have quite a few shirts over 7 years old and a number that are close to 10 years old. I'll let the readers perform their own gedanken experiments to explain why the shirts last so much longer than the shorts.
I have bought socks and underwear during the last year, so I'm fortunate enough to have warm feet and plenty of protection for the next generation of Browns that will probably only come from my loins via sperm donation. But then, underwear is counterproductive when it comes to procreation.
Actually, my clothes aren't the only thing that is old and ought to be updated. My computer is approaching 5 years of age (in January). Of course, it still does everything I ask of it so I have no need to update just yet. I also, have two other computers to utilize: the workhorse computer and the laptop I am using right now. Can a person really claim to be "roughing it" when they own three computers?
Hmm, I guess it's getting busy 'round here. I'll wrap this up.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Time's a Wastin'
Kim talked me into staying in Albany for another week. I was supposed to take a flight back to Vegas early this afternoon, but we moved it to next Monday. I haven't really accomplished anything since I got here. I figured it was the benefit of being on vacation, but I really do need to start my job hunt a bit more in earnest. The only mitigating factor that gums up the works is my resume is still on my computer back home. (Kim doesn't like it when I call Vegas home, but as they say, home is where the stuff is.)
Staying is a mixed blessing. I was really enjoying seeing my friends again, but I really do need to get back to my "work". I can't say as I miss my stuff just yet, but I am sure it will become more pressing as the week goes on. Because I decided to stay, I did insist upon myself that I get some work done, even if it is just sorting through job listings. Of course, I will try to get in a few blog posts during this week, if for no other reason than to see if any of my friends notice that I am blogging about them while I'm right under their nose.
Speaking of wasting time, last night I went out with Kim, Amanda, and Matt to get my first pedicure. It was pleasantly relaxing. It wasn't too difficult to convince Matt into getting his toenails done. I had already known that I would. I figured if such things were already included in the price then you may as well take full advantage of the experience.
I had my toes painted a pleasant neon green. Very gay if I do say so myself. At least now I can die knowing what it's like to have my toenails painted. If I were to do that again, it'd have to be black, though I doubt I'll do it again. My slacker days are a thing of the past. I'm getting too old for that sort of thing. Besides, black nails is more of a goth/emo look these days and I am certainly not either of those. I'll stick with the facial piercings even though I'm past those days as well.
I've managed to maintain my west coast timing. I seem to be getting up most days around 11am to noon, i.e. between 8-9am Pacific. I didn't really want to be sleeping that late while here, but since there is little reason to get up earlier, my body and soul hasn't seemed overly eager to "improve" on the matter.
The Knickerbocker Luau was one of the main focuses for my return trip, so I suppose I should say a few words about that affair. As with any catered event at the building, the food was overly plentiful and delicious. Why the friends I have outside the building always seem to blow them off when I invite them is beyond me. This time, the event had a bit smaller crowd than usual and there was no karaoke. Nevertheless, I had a great time meeting up with all the people I haven't managed to keep in touch with. In particular, my friend Sharon showed up out of the blue. I hadn't seen her in a couple of years, so that was a nice treat. It's a shame I will probably never see her again. She's moving to Utica. That is the way life goes. We don't all manage to travel in the same direction.
My actual birthday dinner took place the first full day after my arrival. It was very understated and nice with just Kim and Charles accompanying me to Delmonico's, a local steak house. They very rarely offer up a bad meal, their chairs on the other hand.... (An inside joke, sorry to those not in the know.)
As I said, it was a very relaxing week, but it is time to get a little bit done. Let's see how unlazy I can be for a change.
Staying is a mixed blessing. I was really enjoying seeing my friends again, but I really do need to get back to my "work". I can't say as I miss my stuff just yet, but I am sure it will become more pressing as the week goes on. Because I decided to stay, I did insist upon myself that I get some work done, even if it is just sorting through job listings. Of course, I will try to get in a few blog posts during this week, if for no other reason than to see if any of my friends notice that I am blogging about them while I'm right under their nose.
Speaking of wasting time, last night I went out with Kim, Amanda, and Matt to get my first pedicure. It was pleasantly relaxing. It wasn't too difficult to convince Matt into getting his toenails done. I had already known that I would. I figured if such things were already included in the price then you may as well take full advantage of the experience.
I had my toes painted a pleasant neon green. Very gay if I do say so myself. At least now I can die knowing what it's like to have my toenails painted. If I were to do that again, it'd have to be black, though I doubt I'll do it again. My slacker days are a thing of the past. I'm getting too old for that sort of thing. Besides, black nails is more of a goth/emo look these days and I am certainly not either of those. I'll stick with the facial piercings even though I'm past those days as well.
I've managed to maintain my west coast timing. I seem to be getting up most days around 11am to noon, i.e. between 8-9am Pacific. I didn't really want to be sleeping that late while here, but since there is little reason to get up earlier, my body and soul hasn't seemed overly eager to "improve" on the matter.
The Knickerbocker Luau was one of the main focuses for my return trip, so I suppose I should say a few words about that affair. As with any catered event at the building, the food was overly plentiful and delicious. Why the friends I have outside the building always seem to blow them off when I invite them is beyond me. This time, the event had a bit smaller crowd than usual and there was no karaoke. Nevertheless, I had a great time meeting up with all the people I haven't managed to keep in touch with. In particular, my friend Sharon showed up out of the blue. I hadn't seen her in a couple of years, so that was a nice treat. It's a shame I will probably never see her again. She's moving to Utica. That is the way life goes. We don't all manage to travel in the same direction.
My actual birthday dinner took place the first full day after my arrival. It was very understated and nice with just Kim and Charles accompanying me to Delmonico's, a local steak house. They very rarely offer up a bad meal, their chairs on the other hand.... (An inside joke, sorry to those not in the know.)
As I said, it was a very relaxing week, but it is time to get a little bit done. Let's see how unlazy I can be for a change.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Luncheon
I had a bit of an adventure yesterday. I occasionally post to a writer's message board called Absolute Write. Mostly, I just post to cheer people on in their efforts to get their own writing done as they cheer me on to as I do my own work. On there, one of the other regulars mentioned that she and her husband were coming to Vegas on account of her husband attending a work related function. We exchanged a couple personal messages on the board and set up a lunch meeting which we had at the South Point Hotel. I had never been to this casino as it is about 4 miles off the southern end of the strip.
She obviously saw how pathetic I am at first glance and insisted on paying for lunch. Why is it none of my friends ever let me buy? Even strangers I've never met can see it. I didn't even tell her my birthday was impending. Surely, the word "loser" is tattooed on my forehead in ink invisible to my own eyes. Fortunately, some of my guilt was abated due to the fact that the buffet at South Point is quite cheap. I was really impressed with it's quality for less than $10.
Anyway, we discussed our writing projects and other various forms of small talk. Mostly, I am impressed she can accomplish so much while taking care of two young children. I have grown too old and lazy to even contemplate having to deal with children while writing. So good one for her!
It is actually the second time I met with an online acquaintance. A few years ago, when I was in Ireland, I made a quick detour to Scotland to visit a friend that I had done a few online projects with. I got to meet his whole family and even stayed with them for a couple of days. It was a great experience. Both events reaffirm my belief that 99% of the people out there are really kind and generous when they can be.
There was a small downside to the day. Having to use the public transportation was crazy! The buses were not difficult to navigate, but I was traveling under 9 miles. I still had to walk about a mile of that and (including the walk time) it took me over 2 hours to get to the South Point Hotel. Coming back was just under 3 hours and again, I had to walk about a half mile. Paradise road, my road, is a major road, but I couldn't find any routes on it that took me where I needed to go. The result was a lunch that had about 2 hours and 15 minutes of face time taking 7 hours for the round trip. I'm glad the public transportation is not so bad in Albany.
I did get plenty of time to listen to another audio book, Stephen King's, "Cell". Many of his stories are usually simple homages to the 1950's scientific ignorance horrors and this book is no exception. But even though his stories are simple, he does have a knack for creating very well crafted and easily identifiable characters. And readers will forgive a lot of things if the characters are well done. I'm kind of hoping that this is what will sell my story since the over arcing plot moves so slowly due to the political structure that I've built up. We'll see.
Anyway, yesterday was a good day. I was able to meet an interesting person, listen to Stephen King build up some good characters for my own personal critique, and I was able to determine that I can still deal with humans face to face.
She obviously saw how pathetic I am at first glance and insisted on paying for lunch. Why is it none of my friends ever let me buy? Even strangers I've never met can see it. I didn't even tell her my birthday was impending. Surely, the word "loser" is tattooed on my forehead in ink invisible to my own eyes. Fortunately, some of my guilt was abated due to the fact that the buffet at South Point is quite cheap. I was really impressed with it's quality for less than $10.
Anyway, we discussed our writing projects and other various forms of small talk. Mostly, I am impressed she can accomplish so much while taking care of two young children. I have grown too old and lazy to even contemplate having to deal with children while writing. So good one for her!
It is actually the second time I met with an online acquaintance. A few years ago, when I was in Ireland, I made a quick detour to Scotland to visit a friend that I had done a few online projects with. I got to meet his whole family and even stayed with them for a couple of days. It was a great experience. Both events reaffirm my belief that 99% of the people out there are really kind and generous when they can be.
There was a small downside to the day. Having to use the public transportation was crazy! The buses were not difficult to navigate, but I was traveling under 9 miles. I still had to walk about a mile of that and (including the walk time) it took me over 2 hours to get to the South Point Hotel. Coming back was just under 3 hours and again, I had to walk about a half mile. Paradise road, my road, is a major road, but I couldn't find any routes on it that took me where I needed to go. The result was a lunch that had about 2 hours and 15 minutes of face time taking 7 hours for the round trip. I'm glad the public transportation is not so bad in Albany.
I did get plenty of time to listen to another audio book, Stephen King's, "Cell". Many of his stories are usually simple homages to the 1950's scientific ignorance horrors and this book is no exception. But even though his stories are simple, he does have a knack for creating very well crafted and easily identifiable characters. And readers will forgive a lot of things if the characters are well done. I'm kind of hoping that this is what will sell my story since the over arcing plot moves so slowly due to the political structure that I've built up. We'll see.
Anyway, yesterday was a good day. I was able to meet an interesting person, listen to Stephen King build up some good characters for my own personal critique, and I was able to determine that I can still deal with humans face to face.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
My Horoscope
**I figured for kicks, I would critique my own horoscope. I'll let you decide if it is right about me, or if I am right about me, or are we both wrong? My comments are in italics and prefaced with the double asterisks.
Balance is the keyword for this sign, and when it comes to keeping everything on an even keel, a Libra will lead the pack. Peace loving and judicial, this sign abhors being alone. Partnerships are very important for the Libra, especially those on a personal level. With their winning personalities and cooperative style, they aren't apt to be alone for long!
**Balance maybe, but a leader? I kind of try to avoid all that responsibility/politicking nonsense, what with my abhorring being alone and all.
Friends and Family
Fun loving and willing to help out, the Libra makes an excellent friend. Even though they can be late and indecisive, once they're on the scene, they're ready to go. This flexible sign loves to spend time with friends and family and doesn't hesitate to initiate gatherings. Sociable and suave, Librans naturally draw people to them. They have a way of creating a compelling aura of harmony around them. When it comes to challenges, this balancing sign can see both perspectives in a disagreement, making them excellent problem-solvers. Companionable, they're apt to keep their friends and family busy.
**I like to think I'm a good friend. How could they have known that about me? Just like my penchant for being late and indecisive. Assuming we define being late as typically being the first to show up to a party and indecision as trying to wait to pass judgment until all the facts are in. This is actually the cause for my ability to see all sides to an argument, not the balancing sign that creates my compelling aura. Does my companionability keep my family and friends busy? Must be all that sociable suaveness.
Career and Money
Harmony is the keyword for this sign. For the Libra, maintaining this is of the utmost importance. They can be excellent leaders and will work hard to earn and deserve the privilege. Truth and justice always prevail for Librans as they go about their days. Working with others or in a partnership is ideal for this social sign. Artistic and persuasive, these folks are gifted talkers who do well in any position that provides a platform for them to chat.
**I thought the key word was balance? I read this paragraph three times. It doesn't say anything until the last sentence. I am not artistic in the traditional sense. My sister is though. Is that close enough? She's not a Libra. Will that be a problem?
Persuasive, maybe, but I don't really choose to alter people's opinions. I offer mine when asked. Sometimes, when I'm not asked.
Careers that involve justice such as police officer, lawyer, or judge are excellent choices for Libra. They will also succeed at such occupations as diplomat, civil servant, interior decorator, composer, and fashion designer. Group settings pose no challenge for Librans - in fact, the more the merrier. Their strong sense of diplomacy serves well in almost anything they do.
**Mmm'kay... Did most of that paragraph sound really gay? Or is it just me.
If you go shopping with a Libra, best to plan some extra time! This sign can be terribly indecisive when it comes to purchasing. Balancing their money, however, is a snap for Libra. Keeping a good balance between savings and spending money is a real talent for these folks. Their love of fashion and housewares can see them out and about in stores quite often. One of Libra's favorite pastimes is to shop for someone special.
**If you cut out everything but the third sentence and make it a little more concise, like, "Hoarding money and not spending a dime is a real talent for these folks." Then they've nailed it. This passage was definitely gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Love and Sex
Finding the right partner will be a priority in the Libra's life. For those already in a relationship, maintaining the peace and harmony takes center stage. A Libra alone is a sad thing indeed, not to mention unnatural. They need to connect with others. As lovers they are expressive, creative, and balanced. They love to make their partners feel completely and thoroughly satisfied from conversation to lovemaking. Librans' charm and dedication to striking the perfect balance with others makes them wonderful partners.
**Oh this is soooo true.
LIBRA TIDBITS
Health
Each sign has a part of the anatomy attached to it, making this the area of the body that is most sensitive to stimulation. The anatomical areas for Libra are the kidneys, lower back, adrenal glands, and appendix.
**My appendix is an erogenous zone? Isn't it useless until stimulated and then it tries to kill you?
Ruling Planet
The ruling planet for Libra is Venus. This planet's action is gentle and harmonious. It governs beauty, charm, emotional contacts, possessions, unions of all kinds, singing, art, culture, sweets and sugar, and moral character.
**You know I have to admit. I've always felt a real connection with that planet, and not just from it's gravitational pull.
Color
The color of choice for Libra is blue.
**Green
Gemstone
Libra's star stone is the sapphire.
**I didn't get to choose this...
Lucky Numbers
Libra's lucky numbers are 1, 2, and 7.
**Close, 52 and 212.
Compatibility
Librans are most compatible with Aquarius and Gemini.
**It's so hard to keep track with all the partners I have trampling in and out my door.
Opposite Sign
The opposite sign for Libra is Aries.
**This is obviously true.
The Perfect Gift
The best gifts for a Libra are music and items that create relaxation.
**Is that code for porn? Because officially, I deny that porn is the best gift.
Likes
Pleasant conversation, beauty, balance, fairness, romance
**Doesn't everyone kind of like these things? Why isn't masturbation on the list? Everybody likes that too.
Dislikes
Being treated unfairly, ugly places, rough people, making a final decision
**I don't know. I'm kind of into ugly places with rough people, but definitely not rough places with ugly people.
House
Natural sign of the Seventh House. This house focuses on marriage, partnerships, public relations, open enemies, and other people.
**Huh?
Famous Librans
Will Smith, Gwen Stefani, Matt Damon, Eminem, Sting, Viggo Moretensen
**I so don't care, but in an equitable, balanced, scales of justice kind of don't care.
Best travel destinations
Tibet, Japan, Burma, Austria, Johannesburg, Copenhagen, Vienna
**I'll take lists created by monkeys throwing darts at an atlas, for one thousand Alex.
Strengths
Social, fair-minded, cooperative, diplomatic, gracious
**Phew! And I thought they'd just give me a list of things everyone likes to hear about themselves.
Weaknesses
Indecisive, will carry a grudge, avoids confrontations, self-pity
**Indecisive? I don't know...
**I'll carry a grudge, but only for a medium length of time, say 1-3 years. I don't forgive quickly, but I don't internalize it forever. So I guess that one's true!
**Avoids confrontations? Hmmm, I guess I only do it when I have to. I don't let them impede my life in any way. Is that avoiding them? I would rephrase it as I don't go looking for confrontation. I'll let you decide.
**Self-pity? Now they're just not following the rules. They've got to be smoking something and Mrs. Manners always says it's puff, puff, pass in a social setting.
Charismatic marks
Attractive, graceful, medium build, no sharp features
**For the record, I sanded down my sharp features one night while venting my teenage angst. As for the others, they must not be ready to pass just yet.
Best environment
Any place that is beautiful where the company is harmonious. Very social and happiest doing things in the company of another.
**Where all the little children have gumdrop smiles as they frolic next to a river of chocolate.
Balance is the keyword for this sign, and when it comes to keeping everything on an even keel, a Libra will lead the pack. Peace loving and judicial, this sign abhors being alone. Partnerships are very important for the Libra, especially those on a personal level. With their winning personalities and cooperative style, they aren't apt to be alone for long!
**Balance maybe, but a leader? I kind of try to avoid all that responsibility/politicking nonsense, what with my abhorring being alone and all.
Friends and Family
Fun loving and willing to help out, the Libra makes an excellent friend. Even though they can be late and indecisive, once they're on the scene, they're ready to go. This flexible sign loves to spend time with friends and family and doesn't hesitate to initiate gatherings. Sociable and suave, Librans naturally draw people to them. They have a way of creating a compelling aura of harmony around them. When it comes to challenges, this balancing sign can see both perspectives in a disagreement, making them excellent problem-solvers. Companionable, they're apt to keep their friends and family busy.
**I like to think I'm a good friend. How could they have known that about me? Just like my penchant for being late and indecisive. Assuming we define being late as typically being the first to show up to a party and indecision as trying to wait to pass judgment until all the facts are in. This is actually the cause for my ability to see all sides to an argument, not the balancing sign that creates my compelling aura. Does my companionability keep my family and friends busy? Must be all that sociable suaveness.
Career and Money
Harmony is the keyword for this sign. For the Libra, maintaining this is of the utmost importance. They can be excellent leaders and will work hard to earn and deserve the privilege. Truth and justice always prevail for Librans as they go about their days. Working with others or in a partnership is ideal for this social sign. Artistic and persuasive, these folks are gifted talkers who do well in any position that provides a platform for them to chat.
**I thought the key word was balance? I read this paragraph three times. It doesn't say anything until the last sentence. I am not artistic in the traditional sense. My sister is though. Is that close enough? She's not a Libra. Will that be a problem?
Persuasive, maybe, but I don't really choose to alter people's opinions. I offer mine when asked. Sometimes, when I'm not asked.
Careers that involve justice such as police officer, lawyer, or judge are excellent choices for Libra. They will also succeed at such occupations as diplomat, civil servant, interior decorator, composer, and fashion designer. Group settings pose no challenge for Librans - in fact, the more the merrier. Their strong sense of diplomacy serves well in almost anything they do.
**Mmm'kay... Did most of that paragraph sound really gay? Or is it just me.
If you go shopping with a Libra, best to plan some extra time! This sign can be terribly indecisive when it comes to purchasing. Balancing their money, however, is a snap for Libra. Keeping a good balance between savings and spending money is a real talent for these folks. Their love of fashion and housewares can see them out and about in stores quite often. One of Libra's favorite pastimes is to shop for someone special.
**If you cut out everything but the third sentence and make it a little more concise, like, "Hoarding money and not spending a dime is a real talent for these folks." Then they've nailed it. This passage was definitely gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Love and Sex
Finding the right partner will be a priority in the Libra's life. For those already in a relationship, maintaining the peace and harmony takes center stage. A Libra alone is a sad thing indeed, not to mention unnatural. They need to connect with others. As lovers they are expressive, creative, and balanced. They love to make their partners feel completely and thoroughly satisfied from conversation to lovemaking. Librans' charm and dedication to striking the perfect balance with others makes them wonderful partners.
**Oh this is soooo true.
LIBRA TIDBITS
Health
Each sign has a part of the anatomy attached to it, making this the area of the body that is most sensitive to stimulation. The anatomical areas for Libra are the kidneys, lower back, adrenal glands, and appendix.
**My appendix is an erogenous zone? Isn't it useless until stimulated and then it tries to kill you?
Ruling Planet
The ruling planet for Libra is Venus. This planet's action is gentle and harmonious. It governs beauty, charm, emotional contacts, possessions, unions of all kinds, singing, art, culture, sweets and sugar, and moral character.
**You know I have to admit. I've always felt a real connection with that planet, and not just from it's gravitational pull.
Color
The color of choice for Libra is blue.
**Green
Gemstone
Libra's star stone is the sapphire.
**I didn't get to choose this...
Lucky Numbers
Libra's lucky numbers are 1, 2, and 7.
**Close, 52 and 212.
Compatibility
Librans are most compatible with Aquarius and Gemini.
**It's so hard to keep track with all the partners I have trampling in and out my door.
Opposite Sign
The opposite sign for Libra is Aries.
**This is obviously true.
The Perfect Gift
The best gifts for a Libra are music and items that create relaxation.
**Is that code for porn? Because officially, I deny that porn is the best gift.
Likes
Pleasant conversation, beauty, balance, fairness, romance
**Doesn't everyone kind of like these things? Why isn't masturbation on the list? Everybody likes that too.
Dislikes
Being treated unfairly, ugly places, rough people, making a final decision
**I don't know. I'm kind of into ugly places with rough people, but definitely not rough places with ugly people.
House
Natural sign of the Seventh House. This house focuses on marriage, partnerships, public relations, open enemies, and other people.
**Huh?
Famous Librans
Will Smith, Gwen Stefani, Matt Damon, Eminem, Sting, Viggo Moretensen
**I so don't care, but in an equitable, balanced, scales of justice kind of don't care.
Best travel destinations
Tibet, Japan, Burma, Austria, Johannesburg, Copenhagen, Vienna
**I'll take lists created by monkeys throwing darts at an atlas, for one thousand Alex.
Strengths
Social, fair-minded, cooperative, diplomatic, gracious
**Phew! And I thought they'd just give me a list of things everyone likes to hear about themselves.
Weaknesses
Indecisive, will carry a grudge, avoids confrontations, self-pity
**Indecisive? I don't know...
**I'll carry a grudge, but only for a medium length of time, say 1-3 years. I don't forgive quickly, but I don't internalize it forever. So I guess that one's true!
**Avoids confrontations? Hmmm, I guess I only do it when I have to. I don't let them impede my life in any way. Is that avoiding them? I would rephrase it as I don't go looking for confrontation. I'll let you decide.
**Self-pity? Now they're just not following the rules. They've got to be smoking something and Mrs. Manners always says it's puff, puff, pass in a social setting.
Charismatic marks
Attractive, graceful, medium build, no sharp features
**For the record, I sanded down my sharp features one night while venting my teenage angst. As for the others, they must not be ready to pass just yet.
Best environment
Any place that is beautiful where the company is harmonious. Very social and happiest doing things in the company of another.
**Where all the little children have gumdrop smiles as they frolic next to a river of chocolate.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Forced Clarifications
Due to happenstance, I managed to speak to Charles today about my last blog post. He said I was wrong about my assertion that deregulation was to blame for the latest stock market hiccup. And I should stress that as far as the stock market is concerned it is just a hiccup because the total market drop, though severe, is not as bad as "real" crashes that occurred in 1929 and 1987. The drop was about 4.4% of the market, which is nothing compared to the low twenty-some percent from '87 and I have no idea, but I'm sure it was pretty bad in 1929. I'm not going to look up the exact percentages. I'm sure we can agree there is a huge difference percentage wise from those two events as compared to recent events.
Charles claimed that the current situation is due to the banks being forced by the government to lend money to poor people who would not ordinarily qualify for mortgage loans. As a result, it was governmental interference which caused the problem and the government should have stayed out of it. I told him I would look into it because I had never heard anything about it. He called me a liar (without actually using those words) in regards to my promise to look into it.
Anyway, this post is my response to his criticisms. First, I should remind people that I am neither a Democrat, nor a Republican as I feel both organizations are two halves of the same coin. So I don't blame one side or the other for deregulation. It has primarily occurred under Republican Presidencies, but this is due to the fact that the deregulation process has dominated the political scene over the last 28 years and Republicans have controlled the Oval office 20 of the last 28 years. Deregulation is, however, a cornerstone to conservative thinking, but both democrats and Republicans vote the nonsense through. This is why they are two halves of the same coin. (It's a matter of looking at actions and ignoring their words.)
Second, Charles also has an unfortunate habit of doing what most people do (even myself) of oversimplifying and blaming one or two key points for a problem. In reality, problems, especially economic ones, have much more complicated causes. Many factors contributed to the recent hiccup. I know, everyone's thinking, "Gosh golly Patrick, you're trying to blame deregulation, a single issue, as the cause." Admittedly, it looks that way, but deregulation is a rather broad excuse. If anything, people should say I am not being specific enough when I point to it as a cause.
Now, as for Charles's criticisms, I couldn't find any info directly relating to government agencies forcing lending institutions to make loans to low income individuals, but that doesn't mean it's not out there. It probably is, alas, the internet is a big cesspool of information and if you don't get your search criteria just right, you may not find the information you're looking for, or it may not land in the first three pages of search results. Who really goes any further?
So for the sake of this discussion, I'll assume Charles is correct and there were governmental influences in lending to low income crowd. It would not surprise me since the government made a big push to encourage people to keep spending after 9-11, despite all the accounting scandals that were going on at the time and getting pushed to page 12 because of the terrorist attack. Incredibly bad advice in my opinion. Telling people to go out, spend money, and pretend the economy is okay to show those dang terrorists that they can't beat our way of life, when at that very moment our economy was in a pretty serious down swing. Only a politician (or Texan?) could come up with bullshit like that, but I digress.
Naturally, forced lending to the poor are not the only influences on banking procedures. Here is a good article from the Motley Fool (an investment advisor website) entitled, "The Financial Crash in Plain English", by Cliff D'Arcy.
I'll summarize the article: The low interest rates gave banks the prime opportunity to take more risks in their lending practices and they gave out loans to higher risk people (Note it says nothing about being forced to do so by the government). Banks then took these loans and created bonds and other derivative instruments (a security that "derives" its value from another source) and sold them off to other banks and insurers after giving them a stamp of approval as a highly rated security.
The article doesn't mention derivative securities, as they are a bit of a mystery that neither Charles nor I fully understand. The article does mention the banks waving a magic wand to create them. When I get to my argument, we'll see why they're a deregulation problem.
The article also fails to mention the rise in the interest rates and only mentions a decrease in housing values. This is a serious omission in my opinion because these low interest mortgages weren't fixed rate mortgages. They were variable rate mortgages and when the interest rates went up, so many people that were "on the bubble" had been given loans they could no longer afford. Couple that with the drop in house prices that the article does mention and you have people defaulting on loans for property that is not worth the amount of the loan or at least not the proper "industry standard" in terms of the percentage of the loan.
Eventually, investors realize they have been duped. The shitload of bad loans winds up hampering the lending ability of many institutions and a credit crunch starts beginning last fall (about a year ago) and is evidenced by a decrease in loans being made between banks. In short, they don't trust the solvency of each other. Over the last year, housing prices have slipped further and more loans have been going bad. The article actually goes through and lists all the companies that started failing because of this decline starting with a UK company last September, through Fannie Mae, et al this spring, and on up to the present. (Basically, this shows the problem is not restricted to just the U.S. and gives me further cause to doubt Charles's claims that government involvement caused all this.)
After that, the article goes on to speak to the investor and what all this means to them. Knock yourself out. It's not germane to this discussion.
Okay, so far we have Charles's hypothesis that is not terribly supported by a professional , but as I also pointed out, Mr. D'Arcy picks his battles in over simplification and doesn't get into other details I felt were important, so I still can't disregard Charles's claims altogether, but I don't think I can agree that government regulation caused the problem. It's clear greed had much more to do with it. What a surprise!
Now I'll get into my deregulation argument as the primary cause. A tedious task no doubt, but when I get into these types of discussions I am forced to actually look up the names of these things, so I guess this is good practice at reinvigorating my knowledge base. Start with this article, The Long Demise of Glass-Steagall. It's not so much an article as it is a timeline of the primary regulations set into place after the Great Depression to aid in avoiding another Great Depression. The law was called the Glass-Steagall Act. I'll use highlights from this to prove my point. I could use more resources, but I'm already getting sick of writing this, no doubt you are getting sick of reading.
We start in 1933 with this act, according to the article, the legislation sought "to limit the conflicts of interest created when commercial banks are permitted to underwrite stocks or bonds." This legislation forced "banks to choose between being a simple lender or an underwriter (brokerage)." An underwriter is a company that assesses risk on investments. Hopefully, you can already see where I'm going with this based on my earlier comment.
The law is actually strengthened in 1956, not much happens in the '60s and 70's, but banks and brokerage firms begin their lobbying attempts to get Congress to relax the law. That appears to not have worked out so well, so in 1986 & 87, the Fed steps in and "reinterprets" some key passages that allow banks to start acting as brokerages, but limits them to 5% income on such matters. (The first signs of deregulation!)
The law is loosened to a 10% limit in 1990.
In '91 and again in '95 legislation is nearly passed to repeal Glass-Stegall altogether.
In '96 & '97 the Fed raises the underwriting limit to 25% of the institutions income. (According to the article this renders the Glass-Steagall Act obsolete as "Virtually any bank holding company wanting to engage in securities business would be able to stay under the 25 percent limit on revenue." I don't personally know enough about financial markets to make this assessment. I'll leave that determination up to the reader. I can say that that is, obviously, a rather significant percentage of a company's income. Certainly enough to get banks interested in the practice.)
In 1999: "After 12 attempts in 25 years, Congress finally repeals Glass-Steagall, rewarding financial companies for more than 20 years and $300 million worth of lobbying efforts. Supporters hail the change as the long-overdue demise of a Depression-era relic." (A law signed by Clinton! And nobody believes me when I call him a snake. But again, deregulation is not a Democrat versus Republican issue.)
The timeline stops there, but let's recap with what was said above.
Banks started bundling their bad loans together into bonds and other magical derivative instruments. They then used their underwriting priveledges to over assess their value and pawned them off onto other institutions. A priveledge obtained through the deregulation of the laws put in place just after the first great stock market crash of 1929. Laws that were made to prevent this very circumstance.
Thus, we had the laws in place to keep this EXACT thing from happening and they were deregulated out of existence throughout the '80s and '90s. So how exactly is the current problem not due to deregulation? Given these facts, there is no way anyone can claim deregulation is not to blame.
Charles claimed that the current situation is due to the banks being forced by the government to lend money to poor people who would not ordinarily qualify for mortgage loans. As a result, it was governmental interference which caused the problem and the government should have stayed out of it. I told him I would look into it because I had never heard anything about it. He called me a liar (without actually using those words) in regards to my promise to look into it.
Anyway, this post is my response to his criticisms. First, I should remind people that I am neither a Democrat, nor a Republican as I feel both organizations are two halves of the same coin. So I don't blame one side or the other for deregulation. It has primarily occurred under Republican Presidencies, but this is due to the fact that the deregulation process has dominated the political scene over the last 28 years and Republicans have controlled the Oval office 20 of the last 28 years. Deregulation is, however, a cornerstone to conservative thinking, but both democrats and Republicans vote the nonsense through. This is why they are two halves of the same coin. (It's a matter of looking at actions and ignoring their words.)
Second, Charles also has an unfortunate habit of doing what most people do (even myself) of oversimplifying and blaming one or two key points for a problem. In reality, problems, especially economic ones, have much more complicated causes. Many factors contributed to the recent hiccup. I know, everyone's thinking, "Gosh golly Patrick, you're trying to blame deregulation, a single issue, as the cause." Admittedly, it looks that way, but deregulation is a rather broad excuse. If anything, people should say I am not being specific enough when I point to it as a cause.
Now, as for Charles's criticisms, I couldn't find any info directly relating to government agencies forcing lending institutions to make loans to low income individuals, but that doesn't mean it's not out there. It probably is, alas, the internet is a big cesspool of information and if you don't get your search criteria just right, you may not find the information you're looking for, or it may not land in the first three pages of search results. Who really goes any further?
So for the sake of this discussion, I'll assume Charles is correct and there were governmental influences in lending to low income crowd. It would not surprise me since the government made a big push to encourage people to keep spending after 9-11, despite all the accounting scandals that were going on at the time and getting pushed to page 12 because of the terrorist attack. Incredibly bad advice in my opinion. Telling people to go out, spend money, and pretend the economy is okay to show those dang terrorists that they can't beat our way of life, when at that very moment our economy was in a pretty serious down swing. Only a politician (or Texan?) could come up with bullshit like that, but I digress.
Naturally, forced lending to the poor are not the only influences on banking procedures. Here is a good article from the Motley Fool (an investment advisor website) entitled, "The Financial Crash in Plain English", by Cliff D'Arcy.
I'll summarize the article: The low interest rates gave banks the prime opportunity to take more risks in their lending practices and they gave out loans to higher risk people (Note it says nothing about being forced to do so by the government). Banks then took these loans and created bonds and other derivative instruments (a security that "derives" its value from another source) and sold them off to other banks and insurers after giving them a stamp of approval as a highly rated security.
The article doesn't mention derivative securities, as they are a bit of a mystery that neither Charles nor I fully understand. The article does mention the banks waving a magic wand to create them. When I get to my argument, we'll see why they're a deregulation problem.
The article also fails to mention the rise in the interest rates and only mentions a decrease in housing values. This is a serious omission in my opinion because these low interest mortgages weren't fixed rate mortgages. They were variable rate mortgages and when the interest rates went up, so many people that were "on the bubble" had been given loans they could no longer afford. Couple that with the drop in house prices that the article does mention and you have people defaulting on loans for property that is not worth the amount of the loan or at least not the proper "industry standard" in terms of the percentage of the loan.
Eventually, investors realize they have been duped. The shitload of bad loans winds up hampering the lending ability of many institutions and a credit crunch starts beginning last fall (about a year ago) and is evidenced by a decrease in loans being made between banks. In short, they don't trust the solvency of each other. Over the last year, housing prices have slipped further and more loans have been going bad. The article actually goes through and lists all the companies that started failing because of this decline starting with a UK company last September, through Fannie Mae, et al this spring, and on up to the present. (Basically, this shows the problem is not restricted to just the U.S. and gives me further cause to doubt Charles's claims that government involvement caused all this.)
After that, the article goes on to speak to the investor and what all this means to them. Knock yourself out. It's not germane to this discussion.
Okay, so far we have Charles's hypothesis that is not terribly supported by a professional , but as I also pointed out, Mr. D'Arcy picks his battles in over simplification and doesn't get into other details I felt were important, so I still can't disregard Charles's claims altogether, but I don't think I can agree that government regulation caused the problem. It's clear greed had much more to do with it. What a surprise!
Now I'll get into my deregulation argument as the primary cause. A tedious task no doubt, but when I get into these types of discussions I am forced to actually look up the names of these things, so I guess this is good practice at reinvigorating my knowledge base. Start with this article, The Long Demise of Glass-Steagall. It's not so much an article as it is a timeline of the primary regulations set into place after the Great Depression to aid in avoiding another Great Depression. The law was called the Glass-Steagall Act. I'll use highlights from this to prove my point. I could use more resources, but I'm already getting sick of writing this, no doubt you are getting sick of reading.
We start in 1933 with this act, according to the article, the legislation sought "to limit the conflicts of interest created when commercial banks are permitted to underwrite stocks or bonds." This legislation forced "banks to choose between being a simple lender or an underwriter (brokerage)." An underwriter is a company that assesses risk on investments. Hopefully, you can already see where I'm going with this based on my earlier comment.
The law is actually strengthened in 1956, not much happens in the '60s and 70's, but banks and brokerage firms begin their lobbying attempts to get Congress to relax the law. That appears to not have worked out so well, so in 1986 & 87, the Fed steps in and "reinterprets" some key passages that allow banks to start acting as brokerages, but limits them to 5% income on such matters. (The first signs of deregulation!)
The law is loosened to a 10% limit in 1990.
In '91 and again in '95 legislation is nearly passed to repeal Glass-Stegall altogether.
In '96 & '97 the Fed raises the underwriting limit to 25% of the institutions income. (According to the article this renders the Glass-Steagall Act obsolete as "Virtually any bank holding company wanting to engage in securities business would be able to stay under the 25 percent limit on revenue." I don't personally know enough about financial markets to make this assessment. I'll leave that determination up to the reader. I can say that that is, obviously, a rather significant percentage of a company's income. Certainly enough to get banks interested in the practice.)
In 1999: "After 12 attempts in 25 years, Congress finally repeals Glass-Steagall, rewarding financial companies for more than 20 years and $300 million worth of lobbying efforts. Supporters hail the change as the long-overdue demise of a Depression-era relic." (A law signed by Clinton! And nobody believes me when I call him a snake. But again, deregulation is not a Democrat versus Republican issue.)
The timeline stops there, but let's recap with what was said above.
Banks started bundling their bad loans together into bonds and other magical derivative instruments. They then used their underwriting priveledges to over assess their value and pawned them off onto other institutions. A priveledge obtained through the deregulation of the laws put in place just after the first great stock market crash of 1929. Laws that were made to prevent this very circumstance.
Thus, we had the laws in place to keep this EXACT thing from happening and they were deregulated out of existence throughout the '80s and '90s. So how exactly is the current problem not due to deregulation? Given these facts, there is no way anyone can claim deregulation is not to blame.
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