Why our economy is failing

Lots of people have  theories about the origins of our current economic woes: subprime mortgages (blamed either on banks, George Bush, or Barney Frank), credit default swaps, deficit spending, stupid coffee mugs, or Barack Obama as the Anti-Christ. Here's mine: Retailers think that we're idiots and we don't work very hard to prove them wrong.
Here, to illustrate, are a few ads from the Sunday papers:

By the way, the word repellancy refers to the ability to repel water, or being hydrophobic; opposite to water wettability,, or, even, better, extreme hostility and dislike. But maybe the good folks at Bounce want allergy-sufferers to wear dryer sheets around their collars as you would wear garlic to keep vampires away.

You, too, can have a meal that equals the caloric intake of a Zimbabwean village.

Cereal pieces? Because you're too whatever-you-are to put your own cereal into the yogurt.

Getting ready for 'key product verticals' on the Island

We learn from The ("Covers Prince Edward Island like The Dew") Guardian that Tourism PEI is launching their 20009 marketing plan. Their plans include "New initiatives targeting key product verticals of golf and culinary...." Featured events include Golf Channel’s Big Break Prince Edward Island and the 2009 Canada Games.
Oh, and, don't forget a visit to the Station #2 fire station where there had been explicit photos of a topless girl leaning next to, inside, and on top of a Charlottetown fire truck. (The initial story included a pixelated picture of the young woman in question, but the photo was removed after public complaints.)
And, of course, finally, please remember to pack your Buzz Off Mosquito-Repelling Socks.

RoasterBoy's Plan to Save America's Health Care System

Product Features

* Works like magic, smells like heaven, cleans like soap and water without the sink.
* Contains no alcohol, mousses brilliantly, moisturizes gently and feels great.
* Fits in small spaces and travels effortlessly anywhere that you do.
* pH balanced, biodegradable product and recyclable packaging.
* Easier to use and easier to install than plumbing. It's the wipeless wipe.


Amazon.com: MomSpit No-Rinse Cleanser for Hands and Face 2oz Unscented: Health & Personal Care

But, wait, there's more.

Wall Street Journal seeks new readers

Do you think that the WSJ might be a bit off the market in their advertising plan?

Worcestershire Journal - News, not news, rinse, repeat - Part 1

Worcestershire Journal - News, not news, rinse, repeat - Part 1 : Real Worcester - Worcester News and Blogs: "And I am sure that I never read any memorable news in a newspaper. If we read of one man robbed, or murdered, or killed by accident, or one house burned, or one vessel wrecked, or one steamboat blown up, or one cow run over on the Western Railroad, or one mad dog killed, or one lot of grasshoppers in the winter — we never need read of another, …To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.
Henry David Thoreau - Walden, Chapter Two, Where I Lived, and What I Lived for"

This is not from The Onion: IBM to laid-off staff: Go to India

A good friend was recently laid off at IBM, so we've been having a discussion about a) how big companies make the decision to jettison people who are smart and good at what they do, but whose specific job or project has been canceled and b) how those companies can find just the right amount of salt for the particular wound that they've inflicted:

• IBM to laid-off staff: Go to India- Software & Services-News-Indiatimes - Infotech: "The memo said former workers will be put in contact with hiring managers at IBM in countries including Slovenia, Romania, Brazil, Nigeria, the Czech Republic, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates."
  
• Worldwide companies are fearful that when the Boomers retire, said companies will not have enough qualified leaders. The survey by IBM's (IBM.N) consulting arm interviewed 400 human resources executives from 40 countries and suggests companies are putting growth strategies at risk if they cannot identify and develop the next generation of leaders.
  So, laying them off before they retire will help?
  
• Meanwhile, in an effort to develop alternate revenue streams, instead of just selling products and services, IBM has threatened the fabric of space-time by attempting to patent profiting from patents.

And, in the case that their strategies for shipping laid-off workers to India, Romania, or Nigeria doesn't work out so well, IBM has filed a patent for bullet-dodging bionic body armor.

Please leave your politeness at the border.

`Say please' at U.S. border nets Canadian pepper spray.: ``Is that illegal in the United States, asking an officer to be polite?''

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden

Monday, February 23

7:10 a.m. Sander backed into police car in lot
8:34 a.m. Branches in road on Bullard St.; branch removed
9:35 p.m. Walk-in to speak with officer about possible marijuana found in rental car
2:03 p.m. Stray beagle on Main St.
2:57 p.m. Inquiry about Nigerian scam
7:35 p.m. Report of possible unattended detail on Main St.

11:50 p.m. Light just went out at business on Main St.

Tuesday, February 24

11:22 p.m. Caller from nursing home reports resident across the hall had TV too loud

Wednesday, February 25

4:45 p.m. Suspicious person selling meat on South Rd.
8:07 p.m. Suspicious person shining laser light into passing vehicles
11:22 p.m. Scent of oil in basement on Holden St.

Thursday, February 26

9:25 a.m. 911 Caller reports water coming through the ceiling on Cranbrook Dr., unable to shut off water
11:19 a.m. Walk-in reporting damage done at country club by snowmobiles
11:49 a.m. 911 Request for lift assist on Fairchild Dr.
12:13 p.m. Suspicious male party off to side of road on Reservoir St.
2:17 p.m. Report of large group of youths loitering in parking lot on Main St.
6:34 p.m. Male party hitchhiking on Shrewsbury St.
6:54 p.m. Suspicious letter from sheriff's office

Friday, February 27

2:40 a.m. Suspicious person on Main St.
4:22 a.m. Repossession of motorcycle on Main St.
9:53 a.m. Report of "X" spraypainted on her lawn on Armington Lane
12:12 p.m. Caller concerned that husband's daughter's grandmother will think she's being abducted
3:01 p.m. Small disturbance at high school
3:26 p.m. Kids throwing snowballs on Somerset Lane

8:33 p.m. Boulder in middle of Wachusett St.

Saturday, February 28

3:50 p.m. Caller for Mass State Police regarding mattresses on Rte. 290
8:17 p.m. Report of child with four-wheeler that drives up and down Manning Street 9 p.m. to midnight

Sunday, March 1

8:54 a.m. Report of dog lost in Webster
9:41 a.m. Gardner animal control regarding possible quarantine order
11:42 a.m. Icing reported on Wachusett St.
12:31 p.m. Sinkhole in front of Heather Circle
10:48 p.m. Caller reports someone called Mason Rd. resident repeatedly; advised not to call again

Paxton

Monday, February 23

4:02 p.m. Disabled Waste Management Truck, Reservoir Rd.

Tuesday, February 24

2:43 p.m. Party in station re: burglar alarm activation at residence.
9:01 p.m. Party reporting that glue gun may have been left on in library.

Thursday, February 26

9:47 a.m. Caller from Worcester advising his brown Labradoodle is lost without a collar.
5:43 p.m. Suspicious male, asking for directions to local address, Black Hill Rd.

Friday, February 27

2:22 p.m. Loose wire reported by motorist, Pleasant St.
3:01 p.m. Disabled auto, Grove St. Caller is just using cell phone.
3:16 p.m. Caller advising of loose pitbull on Grove St.
5:25 p.m. Overheated car, Pleasant St.

Sunday, March 1

5:21 p.m. Caller reporting gunshots in woods near his house, Hemlock St.

Princeton

Monday, February 23

6:08 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Whitaker Lane

Tuesday, February 24

5:15 p.m. Narcotics, Mountain Rd.

Thursday, February 26

3:09 p.m. Requests for animal control officer, Laurel Lane

Rutland

Wednesday, February 25

3:03 p.m. Report of trash dumped beside 122A near Holden town line
4:00 p.m. Disabled motor vehicle, out of gas, Main St./Maple St.
4:39 p.m. Person came to station to talk with officer about a man hanging around the horse barn, Main St.

Thursday, February 26

12:23 a.m. Person wants to speak with officer about ongoing problem, Maple Ave.

Friday, February 27

10:33 a.m. Person upset about tree crews taking wood off his land, Pleasantdale Rd.

Saturday, February 28

4:23 p.m. Individuals into station to speak with an officer regarding ongoing issue at Holiday Acres, Main St.

Sunday, March 1

4:42 p.m. Person came to station to pick up an item that had been found, Main St.

Sterling

Monday, February 23

11:51 a.m. Disabled motor vehicle, car in median, I-190
12:25 p.m. Second disabled motor vehicle trying to assist another disabled vehicle, I-190
5:20 p.m. Report of lost Boxer dog, Main St.

Tuesday, February 24

6:37 p.m. Report of golden retriever wandering around Rugg Rd.

Wednesday, February 25

5:20 p.m. Animal control officer transporting dog to animal rescue league in Worcester
5:29 p.m. Report of set of keys lost at church, Leominster Rd.

Sunday, March 1

1:45 p.m. Complaint about neighbor's dogs running through yard on Clinton Rd.
3:21 p.m. Report of bobcat in yard, Pine Woods Ln.
7:22 p.m. Report of lights not working at Rte. 140/62

the universe does indeed exist when it is not being observed

According to The Economist, there's good news about reality. "The good news is reality exists. The bad is it’s even stranger than people thought."
By observing the behavio(u)r^[1], of photons, without really observing them^[2], scientists were able to determine "the universe does indeed exist when it is not being observed."
OK, now that we know that, we can and should go about our business; the Universe will get along just fine without our needing to supervise it.

^[1]The Economist is a British magazine.
^[2]See Observer effect

Props to Daily Worcesteria for fire coverage

Daily Worcesteria did a nifty job of delivering minute-by-minute reports on yesterday's Pleasant Street fire.

Calm skies above

This morning, a contrail went from horizon to horizon and lasted close to a half hour, indicating calm winds at 35,000 feet or so.

The wireless world - the view from here

Here are the wireless signals that my laptop can pick from my house. Note that only two configuration (mine and one other) are configured with any security. The others are wide open, including two that still have the default names left over when the wireless routers were first installed.
Folks, you're leaving your front door open and your wallets on the kitchen table.

A half century of bricks

The New York Times is reporting that free throw statistics in professional and college basketball haven't changed (for better or worse) in 50 years. With all else that's improved in the sport over the years, you'd think that the easiest shot would have gotten easier. Wilt Chamberlain, by the way, a guy who could score a 100 points in a game was so bad at free throws that he resorted to a two-handed underhand shot that improved his scores only slightly.
When I was in high school, our basketball team was behind by one point with about two seconds left to play. Our star player was fouled and had two free-throw shots.
"Don't worry, coach," he said. "I'll make 'em both."

That's a strange expression, Bruce

In an article about protests against school closures in eastern Prince Edward Island, The Guardian (Covers Prince Edward Island like the dew) reported that "Superintendent Sandy MacDonald got rubbed like the bottle here Tuesday night..."
What's even more remarkable is that this article is is the only source in the Googled world for this prase "rubbed like the bottle".

Reminder: Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend

A few years ago, in a misguided attempt to save energy, Congress fixed daylight savings time, in much the same way that Marley is fixed. As a result, computers and similar gadgetry had to have special patches installed to handle the new rules. The ripples continue even a couple of years later.

So, if you're in most of the U.S., don't forget to turn your clocks ahead an hour at 2 A.M. on Sunday.
And change your

• Baking soda.
• Smoke detector batteries
• Windshield wiper blades

Or not.

I kinda didn't want to have to post this, but ...

Core Dump: "A handful, smugly sure that they know the rules, use their rote learning of the rules as an ad hominem attack, nitpicking at typos and small errors to discredit writers without disproving their viewpoints."

A good day to stay in

We've had much worse storms before and will again, but it still makes sense to leave the highways to the people who really need to go places. I have plenty to do, all of which can be accomplished with travel no further than the coffee pot. Sandra will work from home, so we are a happy and warm trio.
At this writing, we have about eight inches of snow and should have north of a foot before it ends this afternoon.
A few juncos have fought the strong winds to visit our feeders.

The capital markets are *really* stingy these days

From the Worceser Business Journal Daily Report email on Friday, Februayr 27: "Westborough Firm Tries Novel Investment Strategy"

Note: The article on the WBJ web site has the corrected amount.

Judgment is not a job skill

While this analysis is narrowly focused on a Social Security disability case, it does have the interesting point that judgement is not a transferable job skill. The ruling in this case doesn't take us to the next step of explaining where or how judgment might be useful for an employee.
It does, however, help us understand how an allegedly smart guy like John Thain, then-CEO of Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, would say:

"Right now we believe that we are in a very comfortable spot in terms of our capital." (July 17, 2008 -- Thain on a conference call after posting Merrill's second-quarter results)

WeatherMA - Worcester County

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: EmergencyEmail.ORG <bounced@emergencyemailnetwork.net>
Date: Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 7:51 AM
Subject: WeatherMA - Worcester County
To:

 National Weather Situation Page
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AN INTENSE HEAVY 12 TO 18 HOUR SNOW STORM IS ON THE WAY FOR
MOST OF S. NEW ENGLAND EXCLUDING THE COASTAL SOUTHEAST.

RI.CT & THE SE TWO THIRDS OF
MASSACHUSETTS WILL SEE A DUSTING TO 2 INCHES OF NEW SNOW TODAY

WITH SLEET & FREEZING RAIN ALONG THE SO. COASTS OF RHODE
ISLAND & MASSACHUSETTS.

HOWEVER.THE BIG DEVELOPING STORY WILL OCCUR PRIMARILY BETWEEN
10 PM TONIGHT & 10 AM MONDAY.WHEN A NOREASTER DEPOSITS A 5 TO
15 INCH SNOWFALL ACROSS MUCH OF S. NEW ENGLAND.EXCLUDING
THE COASTAL SOUTHEAST.

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>017-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>004-006-012100-

/O.CON.KBOX.WS.W.0006.090302T0200Z-090302T2200Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CNTL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN & CNTL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
WA RI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.HARTFORD.WINDSOR LOCKS.UNION.
VERNON.PUTNAM.WILLIMANTIC.CHARLEMONT.GREENFIELD.
ORANGE.BARRE.FITCHBURG.FRAMINGHAM.LOWELL.LAWRENCE.
GLOUCESTER.CHESTERFIELD.BLANDFORD.AMHERST.NORTHAMPTON.
SPRINGFIELD.MILFORD.WORCESTER.FOXBORO.NORWOOD.
CAMBRIDGE.BOSTON.QUINCY.TAUNTON.AYER.JAFFREY.KEENE.
MANCHESTER.NASHUA.PETERBOROUGH.WEARE.FOSTER.
SMITHFIELD.PROVIDENCE.WEST GREENWICH.WARWICK.
NARRAGANSETT.WESTERLY

749 AM EST SUN MAR 1 2009

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING
TO 5 PM EST MONDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING
TO 5 PM EST MONDAY.

THIS WARNING COVERS N. CT.SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE. MOST OF RI & MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT THE
SOUTHEAST SECTIONS WHERE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT

TODAY & A WATCH STILL EXISTS TONIGHT & MONDAY.

TODAYS SNOW & FLURRIES IN S. NEW ENGLAND IS JUST A TEASE
FOR WHATS COMING TONIGHT.

SIX TO 12 INCHES IS FORECAST FOR SO. CNTL NH WITH
5 TO 10 INCHES IN THE CT RIVER VALLEY.

THE JACKPOT.10 TO 15 INCHES.WILL PILE UP IN THE HEAVILY
POPULATED BOSTON PROVIDENCE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR.WESTWARD

INTO NE CT & NORTHWARD THROUGH WORCESTER COUNTY

INTO THE MERRIMACK VALLEY OF NE MASSACHUSETTS.

SNOW.WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES BETWEEN 10 PM TONIGHT & 10 AM
MONDAY CAUSING NUMEROUS DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS IN ALL SORTS OF
TRANSPORTATION DEPENDENT BUSINESS.

SNOWFALL RATES OF 2 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED FOR A
COUPLE OF HRS NEAR OR JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT IN MASSACHUSETTS.

CT & RI. THUNDER MAY ALSO BE HEARD.

SNOW WILL TAPER TO LIGHT ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS LATE MONDAY
MORNING OR AFTERNOON.

THE MON MORNING COMMUTE WILL BE QUITE SLOW & HAZARDOUS DUE
TO A COMBINATION OF STILL HEAVY SNOW.RESULTING IN POOR

VISIBILITY & RAPID ACCUMULATION ON ROADS. TEMPS WILL BE

IN THE TEENS TO LWR 20S WITH GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS CAUSING
BLOWING & DRIFTING OF THE SNOW & WIND CHILLS IN THE 5 TO
15 DEGREE RANGE.

SLEET MAY BE MIXED WITH THE SNOW FOR A TIME ALONG THE INTERSTATE
95 CORRIDOR.

SAFE TRAVEL IN S. NEW ENGLAND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BETWEEN

2 PM & 8 PM TODAY WHEN A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL WITH

LITTLE IF ANY SNOW FALLING.

TRAVEL SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY AVOIDED BETWEEN 11 PM & 5 AM.

A MAP OF EXPECTED SNOW FALL IS POSTED ON THE NATL WEATHER
SVC TAUNTON HOME PAGE.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN AN AVERAGE OF 6 OR MORE
INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD.OR FOR 8 OR MORE
INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AT BEST ON WELL
TREATED SURFACES.& QUITE DIFFICULT ON ANY UNPLOWED OR
UNTREATED SURFACES.

$$

MAZ018>023-RIZ005-007-012100-
/O.CON.KBOX.WW.Y.0011.000000T0000Z-090302T0000Z/

/O.CON.KBOX.WS.A.0006.090302T0200Z-090302T2200Z/
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-BRISTOL RI-NEWPORT RI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.BROCKTON.PLYMOUTH.FALL RIVER.
NEW BEDFORD.MATTAPOISETT.CHATHAM.FALMOUTH.PROVINCETOWN.
VINEYARD HAVEN.BRISTOL.NEWPORT

749 AM EST SUN MAR 1 2009

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS

EVENING.
WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS

EVENING. A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING
THROUGH MON AFTERNOON.

THIS ADVISORY TODAY COVERS SE SECTIONS OF BOTH MASSACHUSETTS
AND RI AS WELL AS THE CAPE & MARTHAS VINEYARD. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH FOR A POTENTIALLY MORE SERIOUS WINTER WEATHER EVENT
CONTINUES TONIGHT & MONDAY.

SNOW HAS ALREADY OVERSPREAD MOST OF THE ADVISORY AREA THIS MORNING
AND MAY FALL HEAVILY FOR 1 TO 2 HRS BEFORE TAPERING TO FLURRIES
DURING MID AFTERNOON.

AN INCH OR 2 OF SNOW & SLEET IS EXPECTED TODAY..

AS THE SNOW DIMINISHES THIS AFTERNOON IT MAY MIX WITH SLEET.

THE WATCH CONTINUES TONIGHT & MON SINCE THERE IS UNCERTAINTY
AS TO THE THERMAL PROFILE WHEN HEAVY PRECIPITATION ARRIVES. AT
THIS TIME.FREEZING RAIN.SLEET & SNOW IS EXPECTED OVER THE
WATCH AREA.EXCEPT PROBABLY MOSTLY RAIN & SLEET HYANNIS TO
PROVINCETOWN.

SNOW FALL RATES OVER INTERIOR SE MASSACHUSETTS MAY BE 1 TO
2 INCHES AN HOUR AROUND MIDNIGHT.

A SLIGHT EASTWARD SHIFT IN THE STORM TRACK WOULD RESULT IN A WIDESPREAD
HEAVY WIND DRIVEN SNOWSTORM WITH POWER OUTAGES. DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY
OF THE AMOUNTS OF SNOW.SLEET & FREEZING RAIN TONIGHT & MONDAY.THE
WATCH IS CONTINUED.

THOSE WHO MUST TRAVEL TO THE SO. COASTS OF RI AND
MASSACHUSETTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT A NASTY WINTER STORM IS
EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT WITH HAZARDOUS TRAVEL & 35 TO 45 MPH
NORTHERLY WIND GUSTS BY MON MORNING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF ACCUMULATING
SNOW OF 6 OR MORE INCHES IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD.OR 8 OR MORE
INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. ANYONE TRAVELING IN THE NEXT 24 TO
36 HRS SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS & BE PREPARED TO MODIFY
TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD WINTER WEATHER DEVELOP.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS
FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD MAKE DRIVING AND
WALKING DIFFICULT.BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS
AND SIDEWALKS.  WHEN TEMPS ARE BELOW FREEZING.MOTORISTS
NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES & OVERPASSES WHERE
SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP.

$$


DRAG





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