Engaging in a horrible chore all day, one that I should have completed 152 days ago.
**Sigh**
I am almost done.
Category: Meta
Bad Hair News
Upon his indictment about 7 years ago
Leaving Prison with hair in a pony tail.
Corrupt Congressman James Traficant has been released from prison after serving 7 years.
Normally, I would not note this, but when I first found the web, I decided that it was impossible for me to create a particularly useful web page, so instead I attempted create the most useless page.
It was dedicated bad hair days, and it’s been kind of moribund for years, but Mr. Traficant is there front and center.
Economics Update, Yesterday’s
And actually Tuesday’s too.
Between helping my kids try out recipes for a cooking contest, and general laziness, I’ve let it slide.
In any case, the big news is that consumer confidence beat expectations, and actually went into “optimistic” territory, though as Dean Baker observesmost of the increse in the index is, “Attributable to a 10.1 percentage point increase in the expectations index,” which, “is much more volatile than the current conditions index and has little relationship to spending,” so the numbers are not about hopped up consumers bringing on a recovery.
We also have reports that home sales and durable goods orders have increased, and the American Trucking Association’s Tonnage Index (top pic) all increased in July, though I will address how the home sales/prices may be a Chimera in a later post, and the durable goods orders are not as good as they appears, ex-Boeing and defense, they actually fall:
Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a barometer of business investment, fell 0.3 percent in July after rising 3.6 percent in June.
Additionally, the Philadelphia Fed State Coincident Indicator numbers came out (bottom pic), and all but 4 states are still contracting.
It should be noted that mortgage apps were up slightly this week.
We also had a major downgrade of an insurer, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance, which had its rating cut from AAA to AA+ by S&P.
I expect there to be more of this in insurance.
Despite a near record auction, US Treasuries were basically unchanged.
Meanwhile, the consumer confidence drove the dollar up, though oil fell, on the expectation of increases in inventories in today’s report.
A Bit of Meta, and Philosophy
Portrait of the Blogger as a Young AardvarkI post in my own name, with my own face, albeit a face* from 30 years ago.
I came to the decision not to use pseudonyms when I was at school, and I realized that everyone was calling me by my computer ID, Cerebus, as in Dave Sim’s comic book Aardvark, so I spent 2-3 years getting people to call me “Matthew” again.
So, now I stick with my name. It is a matter of personal aesthetics, not integrity, and no level of truth or integrity is intended by my use of my own name.
If you think that I am right, follow the links, and confirm.
If you think that I am wrong, follow the links, and confirm.
In any case, one of the writers (probably multiple writers, according to Felix Salmon) who posts as “Tyler Durden” at the blog financial zero hedge, got outed by the New York Post.
I figure an anonymous blogger who generates enough buzz to have someone hunt them down and out them deserves a look by me.
Zero hedge is now on my blogroll. They have an attitude, and I like attitude.
*And hair, which I miss.
I’ve Added a Friend to My Blog Roll
Tech Drek. Lots of kvetching about software poorly executed, which should give him a wealth of material.
I’ve Added a Friend to My Blog Roll
Nick, who is a wonderfully profane Englishman, is now posting on his experience with tech support and clueless users at Tales From The Server Room.
The picture, from his profile, gives a glimpse into his sense of humor.
Recommended.
Looks like a replacement for my computer
Luckily, there is a computer show at the Timonium State Fairgrounds over the weekend.
Doing job search and (very) occasional posting through my wife’s machine when possible.
My Role in the Scheme of Things
When I started out, I considered myself a “Z-list” blogger, but considering the fact that I’ve gotten 2 checks over 2 years from Google™ Ads, and that I got a condemnation from Ramesh Pannuru, I now consider myself a “Q-list” blogger.
That is all.
It Appears That the Storm Took Out My Computer
So not much posting until resolved.
Crap.
At least I can get my data off of it.
Power Back On
Light posting though, until I catch up on my delayed job search work.
No Power Today
There were straight line winds of up to 100 mph, and the power is still out at my house.
ETA for power is 6:30 pm.
Posted via mobile.
Well, Today Sucked
It pretty much started out as a normal unemployment day, I was calling recruiters, and just before I was about to make myself lunch, I get a frantic call from my daughter, Natalie.
Camp had ended early, noon instead of 2:00 pm, because they are having an afternoon/evening outing, so I had to rush out to pick her up, which I did.
Unfortunately, in the rush, I did not look at the gas gauge, and on I-795, I ran out of gas, and I called Sharon* to pick up the Jerry can from the shed that I use to fuel the lawn mower.
So I spent an hour on the shoulder, in the sun, having had nothing to eat or drink since I woke up.
I still don’t think that my blood sugar or electrolytes have recovered, so I’m not posting any more today.
I’d be even more incoherent than usual, which is saying something.
*Love of my life, light of the cosmos, she who must be obeyed, my wife.
What the Frack is Wrong With Google Ads?
Srsly. They just served up this Ann Coulter advertisement.
I wouldn’t read her if you paid me.
You Can Now Follow This On Twitter
Using a utility called Twitterfeed, which allows RSS feeds to be fed into twitter.
You can see the feed here, and it’s called “40_Years”.
I’ve also put the link into the Feeds/RSS box on the upper right.
This post will remain on the top for a few days.
No, Coke is Not Supporting the Creationism Clown Show Museum
Generally, it’s pretty on the ball, but in this case, PZ Meyers is wrong. There is no corporate sponsorship of the Creation clown show Museum, there is a merchandising deal which means that, in exchange for selling only Coca Cola® at their clown show Museum.
That’s what the clown show Museum’s bold claim of corporate partnership means.
It’s kind of like the controversy with the Smithsonian “hosting” an “Intelligent Design” some years back. It turned out that the group rented the space from them.
A Correction
In an earlier post, I quoted the late Edwin Newman, when I said that something “buggers the mind.”
It’s from his book, Strictly Speaking, Will America be the death of English?
The quote is accurate, but the reports of Mr. Newman’s demise, to quote Mark Twain,* “Are greatly exaggerated.”
He is 90 years old, and still very much alive.
*Who actually is dead.
Great Google Moogly!
So, I go off to hear the Franklin High School strings festival, which includes stuff from Franklin Middle, where my daughter goes, and plays violin, in addition to Timber Grove and Chatsworth elementary schools, and when I get back, all hell has broken loose.
Looks like about ½ dozen things developed.
Go figures.
A Note on Comments
I see the comments as primarily a service to my reader(s).
As such I use a light hand, pretty much only deleting obvious spam.
As such, opinions stated in the comments are ENTIRELY those of that specific commenter.
Posted via mobile phone.
More Google Ads Mishugas
So I come across this add when I bring up my blog, an add offering “Ann Coulter Free” (no link, I don’t want to drive her traffic).
I do not involve myself in what Google® Adsense® serves, I just make fun of them when it they get it wrong, and this ad is very, very wrong.
Truth be told, I don’t want Ann Coulter free, I want Ann Coulter in jail for vote fraud.
I Want BlogAds
So, I’m reviewing my post on GGP going bankrupt, and my schadenfreude regarding NY Times columnist Thomas “The ‘Stache of Banality” Friedman’s wife’s family’s net worth has gone from $4 billion to $25 million, and I see this Google ad in the left column:
Umm….Once again, it looks like Google Ads has chosen to serve up ads that are selling something that I am lambasting.
Anyone know anyone at BlogAds?
Actually, I really don’t generate much revenue, about enough to treat my wife to a dinner and babysitting about twice a year, which still makes me the most overpaid writer in the blogosphere, but I reserve the right to bite the hand that feeds me.