·:[ notetoself.us Blog ]:·
• • • • •

So on the way to the station a few hours ago I heard that the deal for the auto industry was shot down in part due to Republican demands that the UAW cut wages.

I realize I’m writing this pretty half cocked* but, what that seems pretty jacked up to me.

The banks (including BOA, who announced that they’re laying off the equivalent population of Ballwin next year) didn’t get any restrictions about executive pay and they got a ton more money, most of which is gone now.

The way I look at the lunacy is this.  It’s easier for me to grasp by taking away all those zeros:

Let’s say I call my Mom & Dad and ask for $750.  I allude to some sort of crisis that sure does seem imminent, they think about for a day or two, call me back, send a check, don’t tell me how to spend it, only knowing that I need it.  Then, let’s say Trish calls them a month later asking for $15.  Now they expect a full powerpoint presentation about why she needs the $15, how she is going to spend that $15, and how she is going to change her habits so that she never needs to ask for $15 again only to say, “Nope.” That’s stupid stupid stupid.

I’m not saying the industry didn’t screw itself.  It serves ‘em right in a way for shipping all those jobs away from America but come on!

Even though Republicans traditionally don’t support labor unions (labor cost $$, lowering corporate profits (earn a decent living? not on my watch)) but it took both Democrats and Republicans working in dedicated collusion to whore out that much money.

I was against the bank bailout.  Partly I have a “f*ck you” about spending tax dollars to bail out a business.  A complete overhaul is needed.  What makes no sense is the banks have no mandate to be responsible for the money.  No safeguards for you and I footing the bill and no oversight to make sure the money is used for ‘Main Street’ instead of padding company bottom lines. England’s bailout involved seats on company boards and all kinds of stuff to make sure the problem didn’t occur.  I’ll try to find a link later.

The other part, the bigger part, is that if the system crashes, things get rough, but the market will correct itself.

Money will always find a place to go.

*The guy who taught an Irish history class I took said:  You’re Irish.  If you can’t go off half cocked why go.

Quick one.

John Lennon died on this day in 1980.  I remember when it happened:  Mom cried and hugged me and it was an overcast day, cold, I don’t remember being school for some reason.

If driven to a choice I probably prefer Paul McCartney’s solo stuff.  I think it’s because Lennon’s solo stuff was preachy at times.  I don’t know. 

Moving forward, here are a couple of mp3′s from Lennon’s ‘Lost Weekend’ in California (@1974).  These are from a bootleg called ‘A Toot & A Snore’.  Can guess what fueled this particular jam session?

It features the only time Lennon and McCartney played together after the Beatles dissolved.  Macca played drums.  Stevie Wonder is there as is Harry Nilsson (whose album at the time was being produced by Lennon).   Other folks were there too but I don’t have who they are handy.

Stand By Me (Lennon being a whiny coked up little schoolgirl) 
Short Medley 

(note to self:  start posting Christmas songs) 

Yeah, I know it’s Christmas and all, but my beautiful baby friend (bka Trish) sent me this note about Porter on Friday and thought it was super cool.

Porter asked me this afternoon, out of the blue, “Is the Easter Bunny a real bunny?”  I asked him, “Do you really want to know?”  “Yes,” he answered.  I made sure: “Are you sure you really want to know?”  He did.  I thought for a second — reflecting on how much I’ve always hated lying to him about Santa Claus — and finally told him (thinking of the Polar Express), “The Easter Bunny is real if you believe in it.  And if you don’t believe it’s real, then it’s not.”

I remember at Carl and Spencer’s funeral, and one of his teachers was telling a story about 4-year-old Spencer*.  It was Easter, and one this teacher’s fellow instructor was dressed up like the Easter Bunny.  Spencer asked the teacher where the other teacher was.  She was speechless, and then Spencer glanced at the Easter Bunny and just kind of exchanged a knowing smile with the teacher.  I picture that happening with Porter one day — that we’ll be talking about Santa, and we’ll just exchange sweet, knowing glances… and that’ll be that.

When she told me the story I was reminded of the first day of Physics in 11th grade.  The first thing the teacher asked was , “What is real?”  After going through our senses and other stuff he said, “Whatever you believe is real, is real.”  Then we did word problems for 8 months.  Jerk.

*Spencer was a student at the Ethical Society Sunday School.