Just thinking out loud....

I guess I'll give chastising Congress a break for a while.  I think they know how I feel.  

My to-do list today included balancing the checkbook, and I'm happy to report all the numbers are still a dull, monotone black.   Otherwise, all is quiet here.

I did notice yet another building crane going up across the street.  Speaking of birds ("cranes", get it?) shouldn't there be millions of them flying south for the winter by now?  Thinking back years ago, by (or before) this time the sky would be filled with what seemed like millions of birds doing their annual migration.  Do birds just avoid big city airspace these days?  Are they scared of all those cranes?  That's probably a good thing, come to think of it....it keeps the little shitters away from my car.

Our next door neighbors have packed it up and moved.  I saw them a couple of days ago loading a U-Haul.  I had noticed their terrace furniture missing and thought something was amiss.  Turns out they're moving back to New Mexico....I guess they aren't Big City types.

Met another neighbor in the elevator yesterday.  She's an American Airlines flight attendant, Sherlock Holmes here deducing that by her suitcases and American Airlines flight attendant uniform.  Just making small talk, I asked where she was returning from, and she said a London trip.  

I commented, "Oh, then you must have some seniority", and she said, yes, 25 years and she was STILL "junior" on that flight.  Some quick mental math told me she must be 45-50 yrs old, yet she looked to be a stunning mid-30'ish.  Now I'm wondering how much of her was "real", or if my eyesight is failing me.

This weekend promises to be Chamber of Commerce / picture-postcard autumn perfect.  K is playing hookie this afternoon from work, so we're planning a leisurely lunch somewhere alfresco....one of those 2-hour meals with maybe an adult beverage or two.

Bon Ape Tit, y'all.

Here's hoping you're having a pleasant day, too.  :)

S

Will we never learn?

We seem to have it in our mind that "bigger is better".  We Americans like things BIG.  We Texans like thing REALLY BIG.  Trouble is, as we're always prone to do, we take things too far.  


Once this country's largest air carrier American Airlines is today in bankruptcy.  Now comes word that Delta Airlines and US Airways both might make a play to buy American.  We're supposed to have anti-trust laws to guarantee competition, but IMO meaningful anti-trust regulation / oversight  fell by the wayside long ago.  In just the last few years, Delta absorbed Northwest, United absorbed Continental, America West merged with US Air, Southwest snatched up AirTran, and pretty obviously American will be swallowed up by somebody, TBD.  


The same with banking.  I remember hearing experts say 20 years ago that some day there would be only a handful of mega-banks left.  As there was a local community bank on every corner at the time I thought this a ridiculous prediction, but look were we are today.  We're well on our way.  Homebuilding:  Today a handful of national homebuilders control over half the market, and their share is growing.  Retailers:  Think Wal Mart.  'Nuff said.


A hundred years ago we broke up "big railroad" and "big oil", rightly proclaiming it would be good for competition, and therefore for the people.  I understand the principle of "economy of scale".  I also understand the reality of "too big to fail" and "moral hazard".


Once again we're getting run over, and we just sit here and meekly take it.  The people we've elected to look out for our interests are failing us.  I guess we're getting what we deserve.


(Sorry for the boring post.  I guess I read / think too much.) 


S