Jim

Not a Walker fan, but given that the recall failed and he won by 10%, they are back to where they were before. If the majority of folks don't agree with his policies they sure didn't cast their ballot that way. So I'd say yes, in fact it is a vote for his agenda. How can you interpret it any way else?

Where did this crazy challenge to the notion that government should be organized as a guaranteed pay, benefit, and pension dispensing mechanism with a sideline in providing essential services come from? While we're at it - where did these people get the idea that their primary function in life is something other than providing for the financial needs of unionized government employees? I'm ok with some re-tooling. It's juxtaposition to the 1% getting more tax breaks and no consequences for the financial sector (except greater profits) that is disturbing. If we were hacking away at both ends of the problem we could make some progress. But as usual, the least powerful groups are taking the hit.

Used something called Mueller(sp?) Euro Tape when I was in Moab. It seemed to stay put better than the normal stuff I was using up here. Haven't seen it anywhere else.

Well that was quick. 55 - 45% Walker. Not even as close as predicted. Guess voters are ok with trimming state work pay/pensions.

Walker may squeak out a victory in WI, due in no small part to the $30M+ provided by the flood of support from outside conservative groups. He out-spent the oppositon 7 to 1. Shows what money can buy and the continued ramifications of the Citizens United case.

And there lies the problem. Why would you tromp up those boring slogs sans boards??

You can easily get the cellulose based flagging these days that is biodegradable and edible. Well maybe not for you. I've had the bears and elk munch away in the past. Now, generally use GPS in the field except where topo and canopy don't allow it.

AQ types - certainly. But the arm waving was about a list of Americans the president was planning to kill. So I guess there's always the possiblility that there is another AQ staffer who is an American - but then again, maybe not.

And you know this how? I recall one US citizen that got flammed - who was the AQ PR guy. Yes, that action is debatable. Others?

Is there a button to nominate someone for assassination?

Irrelevant. One man's willy, is another man's life and when nilly is sitting at a predator console there isn't much exaggerating going on - just a lot of convenient apologetics. Well, how about reading the article for a start, rather than the hyberbole link to the petition. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/obamas-leadership-in-war-on-al-qaeda.html?pagewanted=all While I think this, and the condinuted use of detentions is problematic, I didn't see anything in the article about targeting US citizens. Where did that come from?

Older news. FERC granted a preliminary permit to explore the option last September. It's a inflatable bladder dam that can be deflated to pass sediment, gravel, and fish. Still, generally seems to be a stupid idea for a river that was recommended for W&S Status. http://www.savetheskyriver.org/?page_id=40

I would agree that there is money to be made in advertising - good point on the old Madison Ave mafia. But I'd also say the hype about it being a sustainable public company, or at least anywhere the valuations currently, is doomed. And no, FB doesn't have my number - I've no need to be a member. I'm busy enough. Probably someone like Google is selling my data to someone out there, however.

In general, I find FB a very odd business model, particuarly for a public company. No product other than advertising dollars - keyed to personal information and without studies to show that it is effective in steering customers to clients. Seems rather misplaced fascination with a business model that is not sustainable. Amazon and Apple are on the bubble as well, but at least the have a product. I suppose there will always be some portion of folks that find the social media intriguing, personally I find it amazingly banal and a waste of time. But, whatever (now CC.com on the other hand....at least it's not trying to go public). It's an economic blib and another naval gazing fad.

Yea, skimming 1% of a lot of stuff ends up being - well, a lot of stuff! Read an interesting article in the NYT on Sunday how the poppy crop over there is on the verge of exploding. Hard to see any long-term good outcome here. Would be interesting to hear the inside view of all this over a beer when you return.

Thanks for the posts. Plus I keep sending links to the GAO to make sure my dollars are being spent efficiently over there. Whatever that means!!

My gym partner bailed this evening so on the ride home I stopped for a couple laps of the tower in Volunteer Park. I hadn't been there for a year or so and was surprised to find five bolts scattered around about seven feet off the deck. WTF? This is a historic structure in a city park. The Park's folks are not too crazy about the accumulated chalk dust but manage to shrug it off - this will make them cough up a hairball. Seriously, what is the point? I was here? Please, go practice on the I-5 underpass or some other out of the way structure instead.

There is an elegant solution to this crap, bring back the Glass-Stegal Act. The Volker Rule, which is under consideration not, is trying to something similar but it is now vastly too complicated and riddled with loopholes thanks to the bank lobby. Just friggin' go back to seperation of investment and commercial banks. You want to gamble, have it in investment banks and if you fail you close. Commercial banks are backed by FDIC for a reason. Not investment banks.

Oppsey!! Bump that estimated loss by 50%. Dang these things can get away from you quickly. NYT ---The trading losses suffered by JPMorgan Chase have surged in recent days, surpassing the bank’s initial $2 billion estimate by at least $1 billion, according to people with knowledge of the losses. When Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan’s chief executive, announced the losses last Thursday, he indicated they could double within the next few quarters. But that process has been compressed into four trading days as hedge funds and other investors take advantage of JPMorgan’s distress, fueling faster deterioration in the underlying credit market positions held by the bank. A spokeswoman for the bank declined to comment, although Mr. Dimon has said the total paper trading losses will be volatile depending on day-to-day market fluctuations. Opps

Maybe I'm trying to get higher pay the conventional way. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Even as he apologized for a $2 billion trading loss, shareholders approved JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon's $23 million pay package Tuesday at the bank's annual meeting. Ka-ching!

Agreed - but there was a lot of corruption in the loop as well. One example - In AL the locals went to a known finicial wizard for advice and he said, yea, go for it. Little did they know the bank got to him first and paid him a huge sum to approve the deal. And there was all sorts of complicity. Moodys rated the CDFs as AAA!!!! How the hell can that be? You're not sure, you look it up, and it's rated investment grade safe! I don't understand how the bankers can sleep at night making a living by ripping off people. Time to reinstate Glass-Stegal.

So wait, you're there a couple weeks and the president shows up to make sure everything is working well. Coincidence - I think not!

People make mistakes, hope he pulls out. I volunteer and rebuild at this place - they have a temp position but could lead to something - great place. http://bikeworks.org/about_jobs.php

Yea, but if these guys can't get it right what chance do I have? http://money.usnews.com/funds/mutual-funds/rankings/commodities-broad-basket Where's JayB when you need him?

Gold or Canadian pork bellies?