Category Archives: Winston-Salem

More Pie-Eyed Optimism

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A couple of days ago I wrote about my hope that due to a decrease in foreclosure rates here in North Carolina we are actually a leading indicator that the nation's economy has hit bottom.  My friend Dan called me a pie-eyed optimist as a result.  I did temper my post with the news that home sales in Greensboro were down 38% in February from same month sales the year before, so I wasn't real shocked when I read today that Winston-Salem's home sales in February were down 30% from the year before.  Average home prices were also down, but given the number of foreclosures on the market that's not exactly a shock either.

So, am I still standing with my pie-eyed optimism?  Why yes I am.  My hope is that:
  • Foreclosures have peaked 
  • Our glutted housing inventory will start to clear 
  • House prices will stabilize (normalize)   
  • By some miracle the government's plan for the banks works (longest shot of all) and even if it doesn't that the "free markets" actually work the way they're supposed to and that we get through the painful period sooner rather than later.  
  • By some miracle the financial industry learns its lesson and starts acting like, well, like what we used to think bankers acted like. 
  • Americans continue with their newly-found frugality, but at the same time begin to emerge from their monastic existence of the last six months and begin to buy things within reason (and their budgets).
  • American companies begin hiring people once their businesses have stabilized and that the companies subsequently treat their employees well and perhaps think about spending a little less on executive "talent" and a little more on employee and customer satisfaction.
  • By some miracle I can retire before the age of 97 and live in a society where my grandchildren at least have the same standard of living that their great-grandparents and grandparents enjoyed.  Asking for them to have a better standard might be a bit much at this point.

Followed by a Foxx

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My Blackberry beeped.  I looked at it.  The message from Twitter: "Virginia Foxx (virginiafoxx) is now following your updates on Twitter."  As much as I've written about disagreeing with my Congresswoman I have to say that I'm flattered that she'd bother to follow me.  If I was in her shoes I'd have completely ignored me.  Welcome Congresswoman Foxx, and whether or not we agree on anything I'm glad to know you're listening. Now about that stimulus bill…

WSFCS Furlough Questions

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This morning I was reading in the Journal about the survey that the school system sent to teachers asking for their feedback about taking a one day furlough next year.  That one day would save the system $1 million, but the catch is that it would have to be taken on one of their professional days which is also known as "teacher work day" or in most households as "who am I gonna get to watch my kid today day".  That's because the school system is mandated to provide a certain number of instructional hours each year so they can't furlough the teachers on an instructional day.  After reading this I had a couple of questions:

  • The article mentioned a $9 million deficit so why wouldn't they propose two or three furlough days in order to save two or three million dollars?
  • The leader of the teacher's association said they are opposed to furloughs at this point because they know too little about next year's budget and they want to make sure that the schools have exhausted all other possibilities like program cuts. Good point, but when you read later in the article that employee salaries and benefits account for 90% of the budget you have to wonder exactly how much program cuts will add up to.  Given that it seems a reasonable question to ask about benefits.  In the private sector health benefits have been slashed over the last few years in order to better the bottom line.  How about for school system employees?  Would it make more sense to look at benefit packages for cost savings?

I don't want to sound like I'm ganging up on teachers because I truly admire what they do and having three kids in the system I truly appreciate what the good ones do every day (don't ask about the not so good).  Still, when you're looking at the economic realities you have to put everything on the table and I don't think it's unreasonable to look everywhere you can for savings.

Great Ways to See the ACC Tourney

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If you don't feel like watching the ACC tournament while nibbling on stale potato chips I have two recommendations for you.  First is seeing the game at the new Deacon Tower Grille which Esbee highlights over at Life in Forsyth.  Sounds way cool.  Second is to go by Unity Moravian on Saturday and partake of some fresh BBQ.  The doors open at 4:00 and close at 7:30. The games probably won't be on in the dining area, but there's carry out and you can watch the games from the confines of your own couch while horsing down the best BBQ in Forsyth County (personal opinion).  BTW, my oldest son and I will once again be chopping pork for the BBQ at Unity so come on by and say hi.

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Dell Shrinkage

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Dell lays off 300 from the Forsyth plant.  Dell has to repay certain incentives it received from various government entities if it doesn't employ 1,700 people by then end of 2010.  If I read the article right the layoffs bring Dell's employment numbers down from 1,400 to 1,100.  I wonder how many receipts and barcodes the city, county and state will have to send in to Dell to get their full rebate on January 1, 2011?

Snow Day and Why I Won’t Qualify as a Good Samaritan This Week

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Last night's snow was easily the most significant of my family's five winters here. There's finally enough white stuff to actually do some real sledding or snowball fighting.

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I have a sad admission to make: last night after we went to bed we heard a truck go by the house and then we heard some spinning wheels for a minute or two.  My wife asked me if I thought it was the neighbors and I said no that it wasn't one of their cars because I would have recognized the sound.  The sound went away so I figured that whoever it was had gotten firm traction and taken off and after that I didn't think much of it.  Then this morning I went out to get the newspaper (yes it was delivered on time this morning so big time kudos to our newspaper delivery folks) and saw that a pickup truck was stuck in my neighbor's yard.  Now I'm feeling guilty that I didn't get out of bed to check it out and see if someone did indeed need help.  Of course if they need help today I'll be all over it since guilt is a powerful motivator.