makes it so there are a lot of displaced people out there.
A man who couldn't find steady work came up with a plan to make it through the next few years until he could collect Social Security: He robbed a bank, then handed the money to a guard and waited for police.
Bowers said he had been able to find only odd jobs after the drug wholesaler he made deliveries for closed in 2003. He walked to a bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash in an envelope.
Bowers handed the money to a security guard standing in the lobby and told him it was his day to be a hero.
13 October 2006
Holy shit! Giant wha..?
I know it's a little circular here, but you gotta go to super duper cool KatieG's entry.
12 October 2006
Case in point
I just received an email from someone on my team:
SUBJECT: Don't kill me
...I was not able to get the following ... [you requested].
PLEASE DO NOT KILL ME TOMORROW. I will have it [done] first thing in the morning once [everyone is in the office].
My response:
Don't sweat it. :-)
Her response:
Ok thank you for understanding!! See you tomorrow!
Seriously. WHY WOULD SHE THINK I'D BE UPSET ABOUT THAT???
Not only am I an asshole, but I'm also have an undeserved reputation for being a hardass. At least I think it's undeserved.
SUBJECT: Don't kill me
...I was not able to get the following ... [you requested].
PLEASE DO NOT KILL ME TOMORROW. I will have it [done] first thing in the morning once [everyone is in the office].
My response:
Don't sweat it. :-)
Her response:
Ok thank you for understanding!! See you tomorrow!
Seriously. WHY WOULD SHE THINK I'D BE UPSET ABOUT THAT???
Not only am I an asshole, but I'm also have an undeserved reputation for being a hardass. At least I think it's undeserved.
Oh crap, I'm a bureaucrorat
I can't put a finger on when or where it happened, but it happened. Slowly, I'd say. One moment, I was clearly and solidly standing in the safe gray area of indifference, and the next, it had become very evident that I had reached the point of no return. You know, the point beyond which one must either see a series of events to the end or continue forward because it is physically impossible to turn back. Yes, I had crossed over to the dark side.
You guessed it. I've become an asshole.
You know the asshole. You probably know him well. He's the guy that you promised yourself you'd never be when you grow up. If you grow up. The kind of asshole that tells people what to do. That uses words like competitive landscape, time management, constructive criticism, work-flow, value-added, take-aways and actionable items. The kind of asshole that delegates, manages expectations, has strategy meetings and speaks only in sound bytes.
It became painfully apparent to me what an asshole I've become when I turned to someone during our weekly staff meeting today and asked her to write down some important points so I wouldn't forget them. Or, when someone on the team was trying to explain something and I cut her off and asked her to prepare a flow chart. She thought I was joking at first -- because it's one of those things the un-asshole would probably find humorous -- until I qualified it with, "I'm serious," and she noticed I wasn't smiling. Or, at the end of the meeting when I asked for a "roundtable" where each person on the team gives an update of the items on their radar this week. I mean, short of airplane controllers, who talks about "things on their radar"? Assholes like me.
It only gets worse. After the meeting, I asked members of the team to compare notes and pull together meeting minutes along with takeaways, actionable items, and agenda items to be discussed for the next meeting. Our team has never had meeting minutes before. I don't know how far up my ass I had to go to come up with such an asinine idea, but clearly, it was the asshole in me talking.
As ADub is on vacation for the next two weeks, I plan on compiling everyone's meeting notes so she and I can discuss the takeaways, actionables, and agenda items in preparation for her absence and the next team meeting. Short of Chinese food, I've not heard the word "takeaway" bandied about with such frequency. Last I remembered, back in the non-asshole days, the only thing I had to do for meetings was to show up. None of this preparing or compiling business that assholes do.
Yup, I've become one of them. I've become an asshole, and I don't know what to do about it.
Jeebus, save me from myself.
You guessed it. I've become an asshole.
You know the asshole. You probably know him well. He's the guy that you promised yourself you'd never be when you grow up. If you grow up. The kind of asshole that tells people what to do. That uses words like competitive landscape, time management, constructive criticism, work-flow, value-added, take-aways and actionable items. The kind of asshole that delegates, manages expectations, has strategy meetings and speaks only in sound bytes.
It became painfully apparent to me what an asshole I've become when I turned to someone during our weekly staff meeting today and asked her to write down some important points so I wouldn't forget them. Or, when someone on the team was trying to explain something and I cut her off and asked her to prepare a flow chart. She thought I was joking at first -- because it's one of those things the un-asshole would probably find humorous -- until I qualified it with, "I'm serious," and she noticed I wasn't smiling. Or, at the end of the meeting when I asked for a "roundtable" where each person on the team gives an update of the items on their radar this week. I mean, short of airplane controllers, who talks about "things on their radar"? Assholes like me.
It only gets worse. After the meeting, I asked members of the team to compare notes and pull together meeting minutes along with takeaways, actionable items, and agenda items to be discussed for the next meeting. Our team has never had meeting minutes before. I don't know how far up my ass I had to go to come up with such an asinine idea, but clearly, it was the asshole in me talking.
As ADub is on vacation for the next two weeks, I plan on compiling everyone's meeting notes so she and I can discuss the takeaways, actionables, and agenda items in preparation for her absence and the next team meeting. Short of Chinese food, I've not heard the word "takeaway" bandied about with such frequency. Last I remembered, back in the non-asshole days, the only thing I had to do for meetings was to show up. None of this preparing or compiling business that assholes do.
Yup, I've become one of them. I've become an asshole, and I don't know what to do about it.
Jeebus, save me from myself.
Cool beans
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/10/11/laptops.for.libya.ap/index.html
I was kind of bummed that India didn't buy into this project as much as everyone thought they would. This is cool. I love stuff like this.
The government of Libya reached an agreement with an American nonprofit group to provide inexpensive laptop computers to all of its 1.2 million schoolchildren, The New York Times reported in Wednesday's editions
One Laptop per Child, which has the support of the United Nations Development Program, aims to provide laptops to school-aged children worldwide at a cost of about $100 per computer. It has also reached tentative purchase agreements with Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand.
I was kind of bummed that India didn't buy into this project as much as everyone thought they would. This is cool. I love stuff like this.
The government of Libya reached an agreement with an American nonprofit group to provide inexpensive laptop computers to all of its 1.2 million schoolchildren, The New York Times reported in Wednesday's editions
One Laptop per Child, which has the support of the United Nations Development Program, aims to provide laptops to school-aged children worldwide at a cost of about $100 per computer. It has also reached tentative purchase agreements with Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand.
There should really be a test for potential parents
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/10/12/boy.tortured.ap/index.html
This is inhumane.
I'm certain the father thought he was being a good parent to his son. What was the boy's mother doing? She should have stepped in and put a stop to this. This goes beyond parental responsibility -- it's everyone's job as people with consciences to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
Piercy was arrested Wednesday on charges of aggravated child abuse in the torture, malicious punishment and unlawful caging of the boy.
The home of Randall Warren Piercy, 41, was like a prison that had cameras in almost every room, with the father monitoring the boy on television and computer screens, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Annie Smith said.
During the past three years, the boy has not attended school, received medical attention or had contact with people outside his family, Smith said.
This is inhumane.
I'm certain the father thought he was being a good parent to his son. What was the boy's mother doing? She should have stepped in and put a stop to this. This goes beyond parental responsibility -- it's everyone's job as people with consciences to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
Piercy was arrested Wednesday on charges of aggravated child abuse in the torture, malicious punishment and unlawful caging of the boy.
The home of Randall Warren Piercy, 41, was like a prison that had cameras in almost every room, with the father monitoring the boy on television and computer screens, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Annie Smith said.
During the past three years, the boy has not attended school, received medical attention or had contact with people outside his family, Smith said.
11 October 2006
rain rain rain
getting home always takes a little longer in the rain. and, not to sound like a total girl (which i occasionally am), but may have ruined camel claudia and shoes.
ah well, that's the way the ball bounces.
hmmm. cognac is close to the camel... although have been eyeing Be & D and a few others of late. Marj thinks it might be too big for me. (Lockamy, now is the time for you to weigh in.)
going to try and make a 5am run, since have been a fat ass lately. ask me tomorrow if i make it.
ah well, that's the way the ball bounces.
hmmm. cognac is close to the camel... although have been eyeing Be & D and a few others of late. Marj thinks it might be too big for me. (Lockamy, now is the time for you to weigh in.)
going to try and make a 5am run, since have been a fat ass lately. ask me tomorrow if i make it.
He said what?
from B:
i told you about c, right? she told that guy that she wasn't going to have sex with him until he wasn't seeing other people (i guess he was seeing other people) and he broke up with her for it. that's SHITTY. guys are ASSHOLES.
Language, B! Language!
As to the rest of what you wrote: Um,wow...?
(C is B's old roommie from two roommates ago)
(if you look at how language is spelled enough times, it starts to look weird.)
i told you about c, right? she told that guy that she wasn't going to have sex with him until he wasn't seeing other people (i guess he was seeing other people) and he broke up with her for it. that's SHITTY. guys are ASSHOLES.
Language, B! Language!
As to the rest of what you wrote: Um,wow...?
(C is B's old roommie from two roommates ago)
(if you look at how language is spelled enough times, it starts to look weird.)
10 October 2006
I'm been toying with the idea of buying some farmland. Not that I'd know what to do with it.
I have no desire to farm. I know next to nothing about farming. I wouldn't even know what to do if I owned a yard, much less over 10 acres.
Where would be a good place for a farm?
Know anyone I can talk to about the realities of owning a farm?
09 October 2006
24.5
Will there be / is there a backlash to the thin craze, or is the recent JPG show in Paris just him being ironic?
Madrid came down hard on the fashion world when a model died of heart failure. To strut its runways, models must now have a body mass index (BMI) of 18 or over. Most models don't make that cutoff. London, Paris and Milan haven't exactly jumped on Madrid's bandwagon.
My BMI measures 24.5, which is considered marginally overweight by many standards. In the world of fashion, I'd be considered outright obese. God forbid.
Madrid came down hard on the fashion world when a model died of heart failure. To strut its runways, models must now have a body mass index (BMI) of 18 or over. Most models don't make that cutoff. London, Paris and Milan haven't exactly jumped on Madrid's bandwagon.
My BMI measures 24.5, which is considered marginally overweight by many standards. In the world of fashion, I'd be considered outright obese. God forbid.
How awesome is this?
The 2006 Nobel Prize for Economics goes to an American.
American Edmund S. Phelps won the 2006 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Monday for furthering the understanding of the trade-offs between inflation and its effects on unemployment.
In his research the 73-year-old Columbia University professor showed how low inflation today leads to expectations of low inflation in the future, thereby influencing future policy decision making by corporate and government leaders.
In its citation announcing the award, the [Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences] said that Phelps had advanced the understanding of the trade-offs between full employment, stable pricing and rapid growth, all of which are the central goals of any sound economic policy."
"He has emphasized that not only the issue of savings and capital formation but also the balance between inflation and unemployment are fundamentally issues about the distribution of welfare over time," the academy said. "Phelps' analyses have had a profound impact on economic theory as well as on macroeconomic policy."
Phelps also pioneered the analysis of the importance of human capital, or workers themselves, for the diffusion of new technology and growth in the business and corporate world, the academy said in its citation.
American Edmund S. Phelps won the 2006 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Monday for furthering the understanding of the trade-offs between inflation and its effects on unemployment.
In his research the 73-year-old Columbia University professor showed how low inflation today leads to expectations of low inflation in the future, thereby influencing future policy decision making by corporate and government leaders.
In its citation announcing the award, the [Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences] said that Phelps had advanced the understanding of the trade-offs between full employment, stable pricing and rapid growth, all of which are the central goals of any sound economic policy."
"He has emphasized that not only the issue of savings and capital formation but also the balance between inflation and unemployment are fundamentally issues about the distribution of welfare over time," the academy said. "Phelps' analyses have had a profound impact on economic theory as well as on macroeconomic policy."
Phelps also pioneered the analysis of the importance of human capital, or workers themselves, for the diffusion of new technology and growth in the business and corporate world, the academy said in its citation.
07 October 2006
Mongol boots season
When I was in Mongolia two summers ago, I picked up a pair of Mongolian boots that look similar to the ones pictures below except that the ones I own are more plain. The boots are made of a durable leather with felt insides. There's a felt socklike lining that goes with the boot.
Mongolians wear them for everything -- riding horses, protection from the harsh winter cold and the tall grasses of summer. They're extremely warm and comfortable. I think I like them because they're so different from what I'm used to seeing.
(Did you know that the Star Wars costumes were in part inspired by traditional Mongolian dress? Other links: Production Notes, Mongolian influences in fashion, Traditional Mongolian Garb in Star Wars)
There some crazy people wearing some crazy shit in this city. And now, there are people out there who think I'm one of those crazy people.
With colder temperatures just around the corner, I've broken out the boots. I wore them running my typical Saturday morning errands-- dry cleaner, laundry, grocery, bank, etc.
For the most part, the public was tolerant and ignored me. Some were curious. Some stared. Some pointed amusedly. And then, there were some who were less friendly and did the trifecta: stare, point and laugh. (As an aside, I found it interesting that the trifecta tend to be younger women -- college or high school age -- in groups of two or more. Can a sociologist get back to me on this?)
Good thing I'm crazy (obviously) and dress only to please myself (also obvious -- just ask B), or else I don't think I could have worn the boots.
My favorite response was the Frenchman. "Eh, nice boots," he says with a heavy accent as he walks up alongside me.
I flash my cheshire cat grin. (This is my I'm-being-polite-because-when-I-don't-know-what-to-do-that's-what-I-do-best-but-why-are-you-talking-to-me-do-I-know-you smile, which is not to be confused with my wow-you're-supercool-and-I-want-to-hear-what-you've-been-up-to smile.) "Thanks, they're from Mongolia." I'm on the phone with WW and am wondering why he's talking to me, since I don't know him.
"You are Mongolian, then?" Still on the phone, I shook my head no.
"Korean?" At this point, we're standing at an intersection waiting for the light to change. I'm still on the phone with WW. I shook my head no.
"Japonais?"
I put my hand over the mouthpiece, "No, but nice try." I flash my teeth again.
He shrugs and gives a gallic, "Well, at least I tried." The light changes. He crosses the street.
Mongolians wear them for everything -- riding horses, protection from the harsh winter cold and the tall grasses of summer. They're extremely warm and comfortable. I think I like them because they're so different from what I'm used to seeing.
(Did you know that the Star Wars costumes were in part inspired by traditional Mongolian dress? Other links: Production Notes, Mongolian influences in fashion, Traditional Mongolian Garb in Star Wars)
There some crazy people wearing some crazy shit in this city. And now, there are people out there who think I'm one of those crazy people.
With colder temperatures just around the corner, I've broken out the boots. I wore them running my typical Saturday morning errands-- dry cleaner, laundry, grocery, bank, etc.
For the most part, the public was tolerant and ignored me. Some were curious. Some stared. Some pointed amusedly. And then, there were some who were less friendly and did the trifecta: stare, point and laugh. (As an aside, I found it interesting that the trifecta tend to be younger women -- college or high school age -- in groups of two or more. Can a sociologist get back to me on this?)
Good thing I'm crazy (obviously) and dress only to please myself (also obvious -- just ask B), or else I don't think I could have worn the boots.
My favorite response was the Frenchman. "Eh, nice boots," he says with a heavy accent as he walks up alongside me.
I flash my cheshire cat grin. (This is my I'm-being-polite-because-when-I-don't-know-what-to-do-that's-what-I-do-best-but-why-are-you-talking-to-me-do-I-know-you smile, which is not to be confused with my wow-you're-supercool-and-I-want-to-hear-what-you've-been-up-to smile.) "Thanks, they're from Mongolia." I'm on the phone with WW and am wondering why he's talking to me, since I don't know him.
"You are Mongolian, then?" Still on the phone, I shook my head no.
"Korean?" At this point, we're standing at an intersection waiting for the light to change. I'm still on the phone with WW. I shook my head no.
"Japonais?"
I put my hand over the mouthpiece, "No, but nice try." I flash my teeth again.
He shrugs and gives a gallic, "Well, at least I tried." The light changes. He crosses the street.
06 October 2006
Full fat milk
My team celebrated a birthday today with fat free milk and brownies. As one of the analysts reached for the milk, she announced that she had never had fat free milk before.
I responded, "What do you normally drink, full fat milk?"
There was a small pause, and then someone said, "You mean, you always drink whole milk?"
I realised that there's no such thing as full fat milk - I had made that name up in my head.
Then, someone in the back piped up, "Yeah, if that was what they called whole milk, milk would be spoiling on the shelves. It's not exactly the best marketing ploy..."
Yeah yeah yeah. I make up my own words. It comes from the third grade, when I suddenly realized that compound words were compounded for a reason. You know, words like playground -- ground children play on. Although I'm still scratching my head over toadstool. I've yet to see a toad use a stool.
I responded, "What do you normally drink, full fat milk?"
There was a small pause, and then someone said, "You mean, you always drink whole milk?"
I realised that there's no such thing as full fat milk - I had made that name up in my head.
Then, someone in the back piped up, "Yeah, if that was what they called whole milk, milk would be spoiling on the shelves. It's not exactly the best marketing ploy..."
Yeah yeah yeah. I make up my own words. It comes from the third grade, when I suddenly realized that compound words were compounded for a reason. You know, words like playground -- ground children play on. Although I'm still scratching my head over toadstool. I've yet to see a toad use a stool.
05 October 2006
HAHAHAHA!
I'm sorry, I know it's not funny, but it kind of is! It's HI-larious!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/04/people.hilton.moakler.ap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/04/people.hilton.moakler.ap/index.html
The frustrations of travel
Normally, I don't think The Onion is that funny, but I kind of like this one.
04 October 2006
Twice a week
Twice a week, I go home by the same subway station. It happens to be a particularly busy one, so there's always a performer on the platform (one of the best things about living in this city is that it realizes that support for the arts is important). Some nights, it's a man with a chinese violin, other nights it's an opera singer, and on others it's a drummer. My personal favorite is the violinist.
There's something incredible about the way a good violinist plays. Perhaps it's because I used to play myself so I understand how difficult it is to make something sound so beautiful while making it look effortless. Whatever it is, whenever it's the violinist's night to play, I can't help myself, I stare. Mesmerized.
He's good. Really good. Every movement is elegant, spare and efficient -- just enough to get out the right vibrato or trill but nothing more. There's no waste of energy, no unnecessary flourishes, no unneeded space between the fingers from one note to another or too much air or bounce between the horsehair bow and sheep gut strings. Everything movement and note is consistent, yet filled with feeling that varies depending on the music being played.
Then, there's the violin music itself. I think all instruments have their own beauty (yes, even bagpipes), but next to the piano, the violin is the most versatile of strings. A wide range of music can come from the same tiny thing -- the latest barn stomping square dance to exotic hungarian folk music (think gypsy) to jazz to classics (think Bach, Stravinsky, Mozart, etc). Without violins, you're missing a story line.
In may ways, the violin reminds me of the challenges that draw me to windsurfing. The best windsurfers don't fight the wind. They intuitively know how to move with the wind and use it to their advantage. Great windsurfers have an ability for making the most difficult moves seem easy and effortless. Blink, and it's easy to miss the tiny tiny weight shift or hand movement that makes for an awesome trick.
As for myself, I have the finesse of a clunky elephant on a 2" x 4". Windsurfing is a pastime that forces me to slow down, to be and take in my surroundings -- the waves, the wind, the sun, my bearings. I know I'm doing something wrong when simply hoisting my sail becomes difficult, and I have to fight or struggle to make my move. I sail at my best when I remember not to overthink or force things into place, but to relax and go with it.
Anyway, it'll be another few weeks before I see my violin friend in the subway again, but I look forward to hearing his violin's story and putting my few dollars in his case.
There's something incredible about the way a good violinist plays. Perhaps it's because I used to play myself so I understand how difficult it is to make something sound so beautiful while making it look effortless. Whatever it is, whenever it's the violinist's night to play, I can't help myself, I stare. Mesmerized.
He's good. Really good. Every movement is elegant, spare and efficient -- just enough to get out the right vibrato or trill but nothing more. There's no waste of energy, no unnecessary flourishes, no unneeded space between the fingers from one note to another or too much air or bounce between the horsehair bow and sheep gut strings. Everything movement and note is consistent, yet filled with feeling that varies depending on the music being played.
Then, there's the violin music itself. I think all instruments have their own beauty (yes, even bagpipes), but next to the piano, the violin is the most versatile of strings. A wide range of music can come from the same tiny thing -- the latest barn stomping square dance to exotic hungarian folk music (think gypsy) to jazz to classics (think Bach, Stravinsky, Mozart, etc). Without violins, you're missing a story line.
In may ways, the violin reminds me of the challenges that draw me to windsurfing. The best windsurfers don't fight the wind. They intuitively know how to move with the wind and use it to their advantage. Great windsurfers have an ability for making the most difficult moves seem easy and effortless. Blink, and it's easy to miss the tiny tiny weight shift or hand movement that makes for an awesome trick.
As for myself, I have the finesse of a clunky elephant on a 2" x 4". Windsurfing is a pastime that forces me to slow down, to be and take in my surroundings -- the waves, the wind, the sun, my bearings. I know I'm doing something wrong when simply hoisting my sail becomes difficult, and I have to fight or struggle to make my move. I sail at my best when I remember not to overthink or force things into place, but to relax and go with it.
Anyway, it'll be another few weeks before I see my violin friend in the subway again, but I look forward to hearing his violin's story and putting my few dollars in his case.
Bringing back the concept of civic duty
I love stuff like this. The idea of giving back as opposed to self-interest, of meritocracy as opposed to who you know, making decisions based on long-term interst rather than the latest polls. If only all politics were like this. Seriously, Alexander Hamilton was on to something...
They did not have any government experience. They did not have any political connections.
When the three political novices were selected by Gov. Jon S. Corzine earlier this year to fill some of New Jersey’s most important cabinet-level positions, what they did have was the experience of working at Goldman Sachs when Mr. Corzine was co-chairman of the investment firm in the 1990’s.
One, Gary D. Rose, is the architect of Mr. Corzine’s blueprint to expand the state’s business strategy, and a major participant in Mr. Corzine’s new initiative, announced last week, to make independent governmental authorities more accountable. Another, Barry L. Zubrow, played a crucial role last month in urging the Legislature to approve $3.25 billion for school construction projects. And during the budget stalemate this summer, it was Bradley I. Abelow who impressed lawmakers with his calm attempt to map out the state’s long-range fiscal problems.
“They aren’t necessarily Corzine people — they weren’t necessarily brought up by him at the firm — but Corzine has always sought out quality as opposed to who was in somebody’s tribe,” said Philip D. Murphy, a former partner at Goldman Sachs who is now finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
The three are investment bankers by training, as opposed to their boss’s roots as a bond trader, but they share his belief in the primacy of numbers, data analysis and long-term planning. They appear to be detail-oriented managers focused mostly on policy, not politics, and are accustomed to quick action.
“I think they’re going through the same thing that I went through four years ago,” said Andrew M. Alper, a former Goldman Sachs partner who was chosen in 2002 by another businessman-turned-politician, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, to be president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. “In the private sector, A to B is more of a straight line, and people are motivated by economics, or economic rationale. In politics, people can often block something because they want something else, and that’s the kind of three-dimensional chess that takes a while to get used to.”
Legislators and lobbyists here say the former Goldman people are less partisan than typical appointees, and they often use words like “refreshing” and “open-minded” to describe them. State Senator William L. Gormley, a Republican from Atlantic County, said dealing with them on the budget and on the economic growth plan was akin to watching people prepare a business prospectus rather than a political document.
“They’re not like an insecure politician who’s failed at another career,” Mr. Gormley said. “They’re long-term thinkers, and they’re not driven by that week’s press release — that’s just not their style. It might be boring, but it’s substantive.”
They did not have any government experience. They did not have any political connections.
When the three political novices were selected by Gov. Jon S. Corzine earlier this year to fill some of New Jersey’s most important cabinet-level positions, what they did have was the experience of working at Goldman Sachs when Mr. Corzine was co-chairman of the investment firm in the 1990’s.
One, Gary D. Rose, is the architect of Mr. Corzine’s blueprint to expand the state’s business strategy, and a major participant in Mr. Corzine’s new initiative, announced last week, to make independent governmental authorities more accountable. Another, Barry L. Zubrow, played a crucial role last month in urging the Legislature to approve $3.25 billion for school construction projects. And during the budget stalemate this summer, it was Bradley I. Abelow who impressed lawmakers with his calm attempt to map out the state’s long-range fiscal problems.
“They aren’t necessarily Corzine people — they weren’t necessarily brought up by him at the firm — but Corzine has always sought out quality as opposed to who was in somebody’s tribe,” said Philip D. Murphy, a former partner at Goldman Sachs who is now finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
The three are investment bankers by training, as opposed to their boss’s roots as a bond trader, but they share his belief in the primacy of numbers, data analysis and long-term planning. They appear to be detail-oriented managers focused mostly on policy, not politics, and are accustomed to quick action.
“I think they’re going through the same thing that I went through four years ago,” said Andrew M. Alper, a former Goldman Sachs partner who was chosen in 2002 by another businessman-turned-politician, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, to be president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. “In the private sector, A to B is more of a straight line, and people are motivated by economics, or economic rationale. In politics, people can often block something because they want something else, and that’s the kind of three-dimensional chess that takes a while to get used to.”
Legislators and lobbyists here say the former Goldman people are less partisan than typical appointees, and they often use words like “refreshing” and “open-minded” to describe them. State Senator William L. Gormley, a Republican from Atlantic County, said dealing with them on the budget and on the economic growth plan was akin to watching people prepare a business prospectus rather than a political document.
“They’re not like an insecure politician who’s failed at another career,” Mr. Gormley said. “They’re long-term thinkers, and they’re not driven by that week’s press release — that’s just not their style. It might be boring, but it’s substantive.”
For their part, the former Goldman officials say they have no intention of following the common practice of parlaying their positions into high-paying lobbying or government jobs after they leave the State House.
“This is my shot at it, and I hope that I help to contribute to something that’s bigger than me,” said Mr. Rose, who, like Mr. Corzine, is accepting a token salary of $1 a year. “It’s not like I’m going to go out into the private sector, and make money off of this. I’m going to disappear.
The indirect effects of global warming
Holy cow!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/10/02/iceberg.cracks.reut/index.html
A bad storm in Alaska last October generated an ocean swell that broke apart a giant iceberg near Antarctica six days later, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
The waves traveled 8,300 miles (13,500 km) to destroy the iceberg, said Douglas MacAyeal of the University of Chicago and Emile Okal at Northwestern University.
"One of the things we're debating in the world right now is whether global warming might increase the storminess in the oceans," MacAyeal said in a statement.
"The question we then pose is: Could global storminess have an influence on the Antarctic ice sheet that had never been thought of?"
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/10/02/iceberg.cracks.reut/index.html
A bad storm in Alaska last October generated an ocean swell that broke apart a giant iceberg near Antarctica six days later, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
The waves traveled 8,300 miles (13,500 km) to destroy the iceberg, said Douglas MacAyeal of the University of Chicago and Emile Okal at Northwestern University.
"One of the things we're debating in the world right now is whether global warming might increase the storminess in the oceans," MacAyeal said in a statement.
"The question we then pose is: Could global storminess have an influence on the Antarctic ice sheet that had never been thought of?"
03 October 2006
The Needless Markup Holiday Book is out
The annual Needless Markup Christmas Book is out. Among the gifts listed this year: $1.8m trips to space, $40,000 hybrid vehicles, $56k ATVs, membership at an exclusive club in Tuscany, your own backyard waterpark, and more trappings of consumption. Gotta love it.
Wait, it's not over yet!
I just got a call from building maintenance.
The man the phone wanted to know when someone could stop by to remove the arms on my chair.
Unless I am living in an alternate universe where I have an evil twin that has an equally evil chair, the arms on my chair have already been removed. My head hurts.
"Oh yeah?"
"The man who initially stopped by to action the ticket happened to walk by, and took the arms off because he had some free time."
The man said, "Ok, I'll close out the ticket."
Hopefully, this is it.
The man the phone wanted to know when someone could stop by to remove the arms on my chair.
Unless I am living in an alternate universe where I have an evil twin that has an equally evil chair, the arms on my chair have already been removed. My head hurts.
"Oh yeah?"
"The man who initially stopped by to action the ticket happened to walk by, and took the arms off because he had some free time."
The man said, "Ok, I'll close out the ticket."
Hopefully, this is it.
02 October 2006
Yemi and Shannon
Here's a picture of Yemi and Shannon that was taken on Labor Day. Because I'm a lazy bastard, Yemi and Shannon are only now getting this picture.
Yemi is a good friend from a past life in Washington DC. He and Shannon were passing through on Labor Day and did me the honor of stopping by for brunch.
Yemi is a good friend from a past life in Washington DC. He and Shannon were passing through on Labor Day and did me the honor of stopping by for brunch.
Head-butting chairs
"You know, if you want your chair to slide under your desk, you could just lower your chair," said the man who had walked past my desk, put on the brakes and backed up so he was standing right before me.
This was a different person from the person who stopped by my desk a few days ago to agree with me that my chair arms were immobile before walking off.
I gave him the bewildered look of an idiot who's just taken a large bite out of a lemon because she was told it was chocolate, "Wha...?"
"You put in a work order a few days ago for the arms on your chair to be lowered so you could slide it under your desk. I was the person who got that work order. The arms on your chair are immobile, so I lowered the chair and slid it under your desk. If you want, I can show you how to lower your chair."
Oh, this was the person who stopped by while I was away from my desk.
I gave him the most pleasant look I could manage. Then, in the sweetest voice possible without resorting to sarcasm, I said, half-joking, "Well, I know how to lower my chair, but I have elbow problems. I need my chair at this height, so I was wondering if I could get the arms lowered or removed so I could slide my chair under my desk when the chair's at this height."
"Well, the arms don't move."
Again, I had to bite my tongue. "Well, do you think they come off?"
"If you want to slide your chair under your desk, they'll have to come off."
OK, we were several seconds in coversation behind each other, but at least we were on the same page. "Great! Can you take them off?"
"Well, I'm here for something else, but I guess I could take a few minutes and see if I could take the arms off."
"Awesome." Suddenly, this guy was my bestest friend ever.
He takes the chair away from my desk and calls someone else over. He takes out a power drill. At this point, I would like to point out that my bestest friend ever is quite unique, because I don't know too many people who carry power tools on their person at any given time. I guess that's why he's my bestest friend ever.
Together, the two guys brought the Aeron to the ground like gay steer wrestlers. (PLEASE NOTE: This is not a statement regarding my bestest friend ever's sexual preferences or even those of his friend. It's merely a observation that bringing an Aeron to its side looks much like gay steer wrestling because the only rodeo I've ever attended was the Gay Rodeo when it passed through Washington DC. As such, I cannot opine on how straight cowboys wrestle steer.)
After a brief tussle and some whirring of drill bits, my bestest friend ever stood up and announced, "Looks like someone's tried to do this before, because the screws have been stripped."
There were two thoughts and feelings that ran simultaneously through my mind: 1.) an absurd sense of relief that I wasn't the only schmuck who thought immobile arms on a chair that's adjustable in every other aspect was an asinine idea, and 2.) brief panic because if the screws were stripped, how was he going to remove the arms?
Thankfully, it came out like this, "So, what does this mean? Can you still take the arms off?"
"Yeah sure, but it'll take a second and be a bit noisy. Let me take it out to the hallway so I don't disrupt your work." What a considerate bestest friend ever. He returned a few minutes later, and before him trotted my docile, newly tamed chair. Armless.
I sat. I spun around. I bounced. I propped my feet up. It felt just right.
Score 0 to The Man.
To the short guy, 1 + a bestest friend ever.
This was a different person from the person who stopped by my desk a few days ago to agree with me that my chair arms were immobile before walking off.
I gave him the bewildered look of an idiot who's just taken a large bite out of a lemon because she was told it was chocolate, "Wha...?"
"You put in a work order a few days ago for the arms on your chair to be lowered so you could slide it under your desk. I was the person who got that work order. The arms on your chair are immobile, so I lowered the chair and slid it under your desk. If you want, I can show you how to lower your chair."
Oh, this was the person who stopped by while I was away from my desk.
I gave him the most pleasant look I could manage. Then, in the sweetest voice possible without resorting to sarcasm, I said, half-joking, "Well, I know how to lower my chair, but I have elbow problems. I need my chair at this height, so I was wondering if I could get the arms lowered or removed so I could slide my chair under my desk when the chair's at this height."
"Well, the arms don't move."
Again, I had to bite my tongue. "Well, do you think they come off?"
"If you want to slide your chair under your desk, they'll have to come off."
OK, we were several seconds in coversation behind each other, but at least we were on the same page. "Great! Can you take them off?"
"Well, I'm here for something else, but I guess I could take a few minutes and see if I could take the arms off."
"Awesome." Suddenly, this guy was my bestest friend ever.
He takes the chair away from my desk and calls someone else over. He takes out a power drill. At this point, I would like to point out that my bestest friend ever is quite unique, because I don't know too many people who carry power tools on their person at any given time. I guess that's why he's my bestest friend ever.
Together, the two guys brought the Aeron to the ground like gay steer wrestlers. (PLEASE NOTE: This is not a statement regarding my bestest friend ever's sexual preferences or even those of his friend. It's merely a observation that bringing an Aeron to its side looks much like gay steer wrestling because the only rodeo I've ever attended was the Gay Rodeo when it passed through Washington DC. As such, I cannot opine on how straight cowboys wrestle steer.)
After a brief tussle and some whirring of drill bits, my bestest friend ever stood up and announced, "Looks like someone's tried to do this before, because the screws have been stripped."
There were two thoughts and feelings that ran simultaneously through my mind: 1.) an absurd sense of relief that I wasn't the only schmuck who thought immobile arms on a chair that's adjustable in every other aspect was an asinine idea, and 2.) brief panic because if the screws were stripped, how was he going to remove the arms?
Thankfully, it came out like this, "So, what does this mean? Can you still take the arms off?"
"Yeah sure, but it'll take a second and be a bit noisy. Let me take it out to the hallway so I don't disrupt your work." What a considerate bestest friend ever. He returned a few minutes later, and before him trotted my docile, newly tamed chair. Armless.
I sat. I spun around. I bounced. I propped my feet up. It felt just right.
Score 0 to The Man.
To the short guy, 1 + a bestest friend ever.
Lockamy checks in
Lockamy is enjoying a successful semester back in college as a model student and a campus leader. Her sisters are doing great - one was just asked to be the president of her class, and the other is going to start drum lessons soon. I'm sure they'll all be just as great as Lockamy is at whatever they put their minds to.
Lockamy's comments:
1. Regarding the US Open pictures: You don't look fat in that picture! (you do look a little old though... like a chinese tourist or something)
Why yes, most people often confuse me for an 80 y.o. chinese tourist. It's very convenient, as I can often pretend I have no clue what's going on around me. Why, that doesn't happen to you?
2. Regarding my ticket problems: I love how you enter a blog about unfair/unlawful parking tickets and then you get a speeding ticket! (a typical move)
It is a little Seinfeld-esque, isn't it? Story of my life.
Lockamy's comments:
1. Regarding the US Open pictures: You don't look fat in that picture! (you do look a little old though... like a chinese tourist or something)
Why yes, most people often confuse me for an 80 y.o. chinese tourist. It's very convenient, as I can often pretend I have no clue what's going on around me. Why, that doesn't happen to you?
2. Regarding my ticket problems: I love how you enter a blog about unfair/unlawful parking tickets and then you get a speeding ticket! (a typical move)
It is a little Seinfeld-esque, isn't it? Story of my life.
Go Ethanol!
Another example that change is best driven when it comes from the private sector. America needs more people like this to wean it off its dependence on oil.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/22/news/economy/ethanol/index.htm?postversion=2006092212
Famed venture capitalist, Sun Microsystems co-founder and ethanol investor Vinod Khosla outlined four steps he said would help the country use more of the plant-derived fuel.
Specifically, he called for a government mandate that 70 percent of all cars sold in the U.S. be flex-fuel - which is having the ability to run on gas, ethanol or other alcohol-based fuels - by 2014, and that 10 percent of all major-branded gas stations in the U.S. sell E85, a fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol.
In related news, crude dropped below $63 today.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/22/news/economy/ethanol/index.htm?postversion=2006092212
Famed venture capitalist, Sun Microsystems co-founder and ethanol investor Vinod Khosla outlined four steps he said would help the country use more of the plant-derived fuel.
Specifically, he called for a government mandate that 70 percent of all cars sold in the U.S. be flex-fuel - which is having the ability to run on gas, ethanol or other alcohol-based fuels - by 2014, and that 10 percent of all major-branded gas stations in the U.S. sell E85, a fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol.
In related news, crude dropped below $63 today.
01 October 2006
Z, Stu, the whole gang and more
Stu's back Stateside for a short period of time. He was able to join us for Z's surprise birthday celebration at Mamlouk.
Z getting down with the belly dancer
The food was great, but the best part of the night was seeing people I haven't seen in a while.
Birthday boy and girlfriend, B
SL, WW and KG - beautiful as always
KG and Stu - someone must have said something funny here
Stu and yours truly - two very shiny people
The Turks - you know who you are
The whole gang and then some
Z getting down with the belly dancerThe food was great, but the best part of the night was seeing people I haven't seen in a while.
Birthday boy and girlfriend, B
SL, WW and KG - beautiful as always
KG and Stu - someone must have said something funny here
Stu and yours truly - two very shiny people
The Turks - you know who you are
The whole gang and then some
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
