Monthly Archives: May 2010

Tomorrow’s Economic Forecast Decidedly Mixed

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You know how weather forecasters always hedge their bets with phrases like, "Tomorrow's forecast is decidedly mixed" which, to me, is like saying "You may or may not wake up tomorrow."  Anyway, all the recent economic news has me thinking that our economic forecast is, well, decidedly mixed.  In bullet point fashion:

Yep.  All in all I'd say our economic outlook is decidedly mixed, and I'll even go out on a limb and say that the markets will close either up or down tomorrow.  Tomorrow I'll tell you why the winner of the 2011 Super Bowl will most likely be a team that plays in the NFL.

I-95 Toll Roads: A Not So Welcome Blast from the Past

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Virginia has submitted an application to the Federal Highway Administration seeking permission to put tolls on I-95.  Oh, how fondly I remember the routine half-hour delays in Richmond when they had tolls there on I-95.  Not.

Yes, yes, yes I know that there are currently toll roads on I-95 at points north of Washington, DC, but at least the folks in Maryland and Delaware constructed massive toll plazas to expedite the traffic through the tolls.  I have NO confidence in Virginia constructing anything more elaborate than a couple of phone booths with peach baskets attached to the side, which means the bottle necks will be horrendous.

Jarvis: “A” Public Versus “The” Public

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Jeff Jarvis explores the hubbub over Facebook's (anti-) privacy moves and does the best job I've seen of explaining the recent angst of the digerati:

Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg seem to assume that once something is public, it’s public. They confused sharing with publishing. They conflate the public sphere with the making of a public. That is, when I blog something, I am publishing it to the world for anyone and everyone to see: the more the better, is the assumption. But when I put something on Facebook my assumption had been that I was sharing it just with the public I created and control there. That public is private. Therein lies the confusion. Making that public public is what disturbs people. It robs them of their sense of control—and their actual control—of what they were sharing and with whom (no matter how many preferences we can set). On top of that, collecting our actions elsewhere on the net—our browsing and our likes—and making that public, too, through Facebook, disturbed people even more. Where does it end?

Smitty Writes About Whoopi

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Found this at Smitty's Notes and thought it very worthwhile to share:

It's not too often an idea so simple and worthwhile takes a life of its own. In the past few weeks, I've watched something local on Facebook do just that. Many of you may know or seen the elderly homeless woman who rides a pink girl's bike around town. She can be normally found around the Stratford Rd and Peters Creek Parkway area. Often, many refer to her as "Whoopi" because she favors actress Whoopi Goldberg with her looks and long dreadlocks. The lady is Ester Deaver. She is 70 years old, homeless and survived on the streets of Winston-Salem for over thirty years. However, she is known all over town. Deaver has touched many hearts of people who live here or have passed through over the years.

A group of Facebook members have taken an interest in Deaver and created a "Where's Whoopi" group page. The purpose is to keep track of her around town. Since being started last month, the page has quickly grown to close to 6,000 fans. Yvonne Rorrer, a lifelong Winston-Salem citizen, is the group page owner who has taken an interest in befriending Ms. Deaver, and helping with her well being. So much, she has been able to have donated some medical care and made sure Deaver has made it to appointments. Much has come of this friendship that Deaver has asked for one thing. To get her "bus" back. Apparently, Deaver use to own a yellow conversion van years ago. It was "decommissioned" by the city for various reasons which is why she is riding her pink bicycle. Rorrer has set up the Ester Smiles Foundation to help Deaver get a used "bus" that will help transport her get around town and have a safe place to lay her head.  They hope to have it for her 71st birthday on June 9, 2010.  The goal is to raise $10,000.  The Foundation has applied for 501 (c) (3) status and over $1,500 already been donated. Monies raised will go toward the van, it's future upkeep and supporting the homeless senior citizen community in Winston-Salem.

You can get more info at Smitty's place, and/or visit the following Facebook pages:

Where's Whoopi

Esther Smiles Foundation  

The Difference Between Moms and Dads

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Everyone except Esbee will understand this: on Hallmark days people on Facebook will post things in their "status" that someone else has written for the occasion and then arm-twisted everyone else to post in their "status" too.  For Mother's Day we have this one:

Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. When you were born, I saw your face and knew I was in love. Before you were an hour old, I knew I would die for you. To this day, I will. With Mother's Day approaching, repost this if you have children you love more than life.

Here's what I predict will be written for Father's Day:

Before you were conceived, I had freedom. Before you were born, I could do whatever I wanted. When you were born, I saw you and asked if you were really done and wondered if maybe we should put you back in there for a week or two. Before you were an hour old, I knew that life as I knew it was over.  To this day, I've been proven right. With Father's Day approaching, repost this if you have children who've sucked the marrow out of your being, but what the hell, you have to admit you love them more than life.

Have a Little Hitch in Your Giddy Up? Blame the Economy.

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As if losing jobs and nest eggs isn't bad enough, apparently the Great Recession is also killing the libidos of the grey haired set:

Americans 45 and older are far more open to sex outside of marriage than they were 10 years ago, but they are engaging in sex less often and with less satisfaction, according to a major new survey by AARP.

What's the problem?

AARP's sex and relationship expert, sociologist Pepper Schwartz, thinks that financial stress is a prime culprit.

"The economy has had an impact on these people," she said. "They're more liberal in their attitudes, yet they are having sex less often. The only thing I see that's changed in a negative direction is financial worries."

Free Coffee!

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Disaster One had a seminar in the TAA classroom today and they had a little coffee left over. They put it on my desk hoping it would get me through lunch, but I'm thinking it's not enough.
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Free Lunch!

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It's official: I love Jimmy John's. We order from them quite a lot at our office and they always do a great job. This morning they stopped by and dropped off some free sandwiches to show their appreciation. I say again: I l-o-v-e Jimmy John's.
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