Shrimp costs have Red Lobster in hot water: Associated Press

Shrimp costs have Red Lobster in hot water: Associated Press



I know. I said no more rants. But this article from Microsoft money is just another prime example of Microsoft trying to shoot  itself in the foot.it is article about Darden restaurants. the stock symbol is nowhere to be found in the article. I wonder how much longer Microsoft is going to get away with not considering its customers. Hey, Microsoft! I am typing this on my Android tablet.

I promised but ...

What is it with Microsoft?  I have a Hotmail account, but Microsoft decided it wasn't good enough, so they had to do a web-based Outlook. So my ELEVEN CHARACHTER password got hacked, my Hotmail account closed.

What part of New and Improved do they not understand? How is it improved that my email got hacked?

I promised no more rants, but let me set a topic for discussion: Is all the new technology really "better"? I had a recent conversation with some young folks what it would be like to explain to someone even in the 60's that most people would have a hand-held device that could make phone calls, access the world's brightest minds (and dumbest ones), make and watch movies in high definition, and store all your LP's to listen to, send audible map directions to your car, read your mail ... you get my meaning. We are really way ahead of the science fiction guys. Dick Tracy's watch? pfui .. just a Skype app (remember to turn your camera around). Those little book thingys on Star Trek? Mini disks are old technology. Tricorders? Pretty clunky when you consider the cellphone. At least they got the Bluetooth insignias right. But of course we are a long way from the year 2245 (Star date 1314.5) when the Enterprise will launch. Who knows what improvements we will have by then? Maybe we will have personal tricorder tattoos bio-engineered the diagnose and treat every thing from hemorrhoids to Alzheimer's.

I wonder how slowly we will advance with Microsoft in the vanguard?

Snow

They are forecasting snow for this part of the world. i haven't seen anything about it being a super storm or anything ... BUT I have had warning email from my insurance company and the electric company. I'll probably get one from the town too. I am so glad that our infrastructure is so woebegone that a simple New England snow storm sends us running for the hills. (or in my case, my parents' house ... they have a generator).

Fear is a powerful motivator. My brother has found a news feed from an extreme survivalist who is predicting the fall of the dollar, gold through the roof yadda yadda.

I cannot spend my life running around collecting bags of corn and hoarding assault rifles.There is music and dancing everywhere.

Enjoy it.

Silly Question

If you are made Vampire, what happens to your life insurance? Is is now payable because you are dead? or is it still in effect because you are walking and talking?

Punishment/Reward

We have a very odd set of laws. Generally if you do thing "x" you will get a penalty. I have a friend who actually did jail time for dumpster diving.

I was thinking about this with all the downpours we are having today, and how few people actually turn on their headlights with their windshield wipers. For those of you in the know, it is actually required in many states including Connecticut. And I have to admit, it is actually annoying when a little grey car suddenly appears from behind a wall of water.

Now I do not know how many people have been ticketed for this, but it is certainly damn few.

And comes the question: what should be the fine for hurling a deadly weapon at oncoming traffic? I actually think that a $10 ticket would actually be sufficient. It is annoying enough to have to plead "nolo contendre" and send a certified check to the Superior Court for the first offense. If you can't remember to turn on your wipers after that, then you are ... an idiot and you deserve a harsh punishment.
 
Traffic inspections could set up for lights and also catch the no lights guys, the no seat-belt guys, the texters, the DWI's, the no insurance guys, and the unsafe/prohibited right on red guys. ( please note, I am using "guys" as a non-gender specific word).

I don't believe this is a quota system. Traffic stops are usually announced in the paper. So the only people that are actually caught are the people who have so little consideration of their community that they can't be bothered to keep up with the local news.

But heaven forbid a Police Union employee be assigned to stand a post in the rain.

And Hartford, please take note: If you are going to pass a law that says something that is just common sense include enforcement rules or else stop wasting my freaking tax dollars talking about stuff over which you choose to take no control.

****

The reason I bring this up, is that there is going to be big election noise about subsidizing alternative energy projects. Isn't it awful that the Government invested taxpayer dollars subsidizing renewal energy sources. It is also my understanding that Big Oil also gets federal funds. Or at least tax breaks in the for of "depleted reserves". Thank you Big Oil for figuring out a way to get the government to help you pay for using up and burning a legacy from the rain forests of the dinosaurs that took millions of years to crush under tectonic pressure. It has been just a little over 100 years since Spindletop gushed crude oil, and it took 30 years to burn all that oil. Even if you are a Creationist,that means that all the oil that God gave us 6,000 years ago is getting burned up in 120 years.

So, how do we organize this in a more sensible way? Our Federal budget is decimated, and cannot afford another Solyndra. Or even a bank bailout.

How about this: we slowly take away the depletion credits, we add a little to the gasoline taxes and add this cash to the general fund. I believe we are approaching peak oil as the world population approaches 7 billion.
Then, let alternative fuel become part of the capitalist system! Let it compete head to head with Big Oil.  Reward the good behavior and take away the credits for bad behavior. More cash flow to pay off our debt, and new business to hire people with. Gee gosh golly, you don't suppose Government would work better with positive cash flow? Or at least breakeven?

Where is the downside?

Face Book

A quote from Morningstar:

"More than 500 million people use Facebook on a daily basis, spending more time there than any other  website, according to most third-party reports."

In 88 days, world population will reach 7 BILLION individuals.

A little quick math tells me that that is a 7% world wide market penetration. And I am actually beginning to believe it. I just got a Facebook Friend request from someone I thought did not even remember me. 20+ years ago, we used to hire nannies for our children. One of the most capable and memorable was a lovely young woman from Åland. (If you don't know, look it up). Most of her timeline is in Swedish, but ... hooray for Face Book, they translate it.

Can it get bigger? Certainly. May there be spoilers?  Possibly. But how really immensely hot must the spoiler be to get to 500 million users and growing.

I don't like Face Book, I hate the games. The timeline stuff is weird, and the latest iteration actually posts where you are if you allow it. My first take on it, it was a sort of unconscious voyeurism.

But I use Face Book. Go figure.

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

I spent 6 days altogether at Dodd's Farm in Hillsdale, NY at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. I arrive before the gates open to secure a good place in line when the gates open on Wednesday.

Rather than repeat myself, in sum it was the rainiest festival I have been to. And among the most fun.

I had the good fortune to be in great company at Pirate Camp, originated by the late Jack Hardy, and the tradition is dutifully carried forward by Stuart Kabak, a very creative and thoughtful guy in his own right. He and I set up the basic part of the camp and awaited the arrival of a myriad of talented people.

One of the more interesting additions to our camp was Michal Kornfeld, not much of a camper, but a great publicist.and promoter under the sobriquet Acoustic Music Scene. He was able to schedule late night shows in our little tent that drew large crowds and a lot of compliments from nearby campers. And the tent was always open for musicians stopping by and sharing something new. If this is your first look at this festival, there is a "quiet" camping area. And in any case, the music is acoustic only with the occasional battery-powered piano turned low so as not to cover over dulcet voices.

As for the rest of this magical festival, see the web site http://falconridgefolk.com/ and see what you missed!

Maybe I'll see you next year.