Pesky Bailouts for Dummies

This is a great article if you want someone else to explain what's happening with the world financial markets.

Kyle and the Carolina Low Refuse to Marry

Came home in the rain on the bus, somewhat damp by the time I walked in the door....and there was a nice little fire in the woodstove to take the edge right off.

Now it's 9:26 and it's raining like hell. It sounds like being under an M&M factory when the bag breaks. Looking at the radar, there is just a big nasty red splotch over Portland.

Looking at the National Hurricane Center, however, it looks like that low in the Carolinas isn't even making the cut for their interactive map, and Kyle is steering more to the east.

I love a good storm, but I'm relieved for Maine, because if we got a hurricane, the fall leaves would get blown away before the leaf peepers even showed up and that puts the good Mainers out of cash.

So rain on, gentle low! Rain to your heart's content. And see ya later, Kyle!

Donuts: Occupational Hazard?

Today I'm at the office in the Old Port district studying the Occupational Safety unit I need to complete toward my massage school requirements. Boring but important. Headed out at 3 for a massage that never happened due to a scheduling glitch. So, I walked back down the brick sidewalk in the rain.

BUT....as some like to say, it all happens for a reason.

As soon as I got my (still hypertonic) bum in my chair at the office the phone rang. "Special delivery coming up in a moment," said my husband's voice. Minutes later the boys walked in bearing brown wax paper bags with home made donuts in them. Four of them. Homemade. Enough to get fat on.

Thanks, guys!

That Pesky Bailout Bill

Please understand that I'm registered as a Green, and believe in taxing the rich and giving to the poor. OK, now get out the capers, cuz you're probably going to fillet me for some of what follows!

I was feeling pretty depressed about the $700 billion housing bailout bill, until I read comment #44 on this article:
Buffett Calls Bailout Bill ‘the Right Thing’

Commentator #44 has a good point....do we really want foreign investors to bail us out instead?

However....OTOH, must we blame the regular folks in America who are desperately trying to make ends meet? I agree that a bailout is critical at this point. But HTH did we get here to the point of needing it? Maybe we can learn from this and not make this mistake again??? We expect that from ourselves and our children--why not Wall Street?

On a nearly random and unrelated note: I did some research and $700 billion is roughly what we've spent on the Iraq war to date. Coincidence?

Kyle + That Carolina Low

Today's studies include the weather....as usual. We're watching www.nhc.noaa.gov for updates on Tropical Storm Kyle, due in Maine perhaps on Sunday. Might decide to marry the low pressure area over the Carolinas, in which case we could have a helluva storm.

This weeks topics have included (but are not limited to): fighter planes (F-15s, F-16s, Corsairs, and a lot of other ones Baxter made up); atoms, molecules, and their relationship; soccer; power tools; building; and how it feels when you accidentally hit your thumb with a hammer.