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Impressions of Detroit

November 13th, 2008 No comments

John Michael Greer shares his impressions of Detroit:

I spent the flight staring out the window at half a continent’s worth of scenery while trying to fit my head around Bateson’s take on systems theory or the tangled syntax of some scrap of atrocious medieval Latin, and spent the ride from the airport to the hotel in suburban Auburn Hills taking in glimpses of Detroit: long-abandoned factory buildings in ruins, gritty slums with colorfully named churches and every third house boarded up, posh suburban neighborhoods with ostentatious yards, huge office buildings breaking the skyline, and then the huge mass of Chrysler’s headquarters complex looming up beside the freeway like a pharaoh’s tomb. I half-expected to see an inscription out of Shelley’s Ozymandias there:

My name is Iacocca, CEO of CEOs;
Look on my works, ye bankers, and despair!

I'm Shocked, Shocked to Find…

October 23rd, 2008 No comments

Captain Renault, I mean, Alan Greenspan “shocked” at credit system breakdown

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress on Thursday he is “shocked” at the breakdown in U.S. credit markets and said he was “partially” wrong to resist regulation of some securities.

Categories: The Stupid Economy Tags:

Economics

October 22nd, 2008 No comments
Categories: The Stupid Economy Tags:

Clear Sign of the End of the World

October 21st, 2008 No comments

Yankees, Cowboys become business partners

The Yankees and Cowboys, along with Goldman Sachs and CIC Partners, have formed Legends Hospitality Management, LLC, “a new company that will be focused on operating catering, concessions, retail merchandising and other facility management enterprises for major sports and entertainment facilities,” according to a release issued by the Yankees.

God have mercy. Hide the women and children! This much evil just should not be concentrated in one organization!

Categories: Silliness Tags:

End Poverty… Fund Justice

October 17th, 2008 No comments
Categories: Episcopal Church, Silliness Tags:

I'm so glad I never turned my scientific genius to evil

October 14th, 2008 No comments

… because if I had, I’m sure it would have turned out something like this:

“The world is a mess, and I just … need to rule it.”

Categories: Silliness Tags:

Party Like It's 1929

October 6th, 2008 No comments

“I was dreamin’ when I wrote this
Forgive me if it goes astray…”

Sharkû

October 5th, 2008 No comments

Well. I had a definite “how did I get this old so soon?” moment this week.

At our homeschooling co-op, this semester there is a fencing class. The instructor knows that, back in the day, I did a bit of fencing. So, this week he says to me “Come on, Zach — my equipment’s your size, you can suit up and help give the kids a workout.”

How could I resist?

But, then I made my mistake. I started to make my disclaimer, that I hadn’t actually fenced épée much ever, and beside, I hadn’t actually been in a bout since …

And realized that the correct ending of that sentence was “… since before any of you kids were born.”

Ah, well. As the saying goes, “old age and treachery beat youth and skill every time.” The results? Let’s just say that for these young padawans, “much to learn, you still have.”

Restoring Confidence in the Economy

September 25th, 2008 No comments


(Hat tip to Steve for the original image.)

Categories: Silliness, The Stupid Economy Tags:

Wall Street Bailouts

September 23rd, 2008 No comments

It is well understood that nothing so excites the glands of a free-market capitalist as the offer of a government subsidy.
— Wendell Berry, Conserving Forest Communities