True grit -- Another first for Eric

Eric tried grits for the first time (ever) today. I don't think he likes them. He mixed them with butter and salt. My mother indicated that he might try them with cheese next time.

A $1 parking ticket? How cheap!

ABC News: $1 Parking Ticket From 1980 Paid Off

A $1 parking ticket from 1980 has been paid off, after the offender sent the payment along with a $3 late fee to police without giving a name.

When I left Memphis, I folded up a hundred dollar bill, stuck it in a library book, and dropped it into the night depository at the main branch of the library. I hope they're not still looking for me. A friend who worked there told me that at one time, my picture was taped to the circulation desk with "DO NOT LEND" stenciled across the top.



This story reminds me that my Dad got a parking ticket when he was in Memphis one time. I had intended to "get it fixed" but I never did. I wonder if the MPD is on the lookout for him? I can imagine that conversation now.





Technorati Tags: cities, stories, fines, parking tickets

Rats from a sinking ship -- but why did they get on?

Delta Air plans for stock to trade on NYSE in May | Transportation | Reuters

Existing shares of Delta will be wiped out when the company emerges from Chapter 11. Delta has said it expects to have a market value of $10 billion.

I've done some profoundly stupid things in my life... The most recent didn't involve a woman.

My father was sitting in my office the other day using a spare computer to check his email (he's not yet a gmail devotee' -- he's still on Yahoo, blech) and watching the market. Dad commented that Delta's stock was doing pretty well and was cheap that day... Yeah, it's DALRQ; the "Q" stands for Bankruptcy.

So, after watching the thing trade for a few minutes I absently hit the "buy" button and became the proud owner of 500 shares of this venerable air carrier. I bought at, I think, $.81... I got out at $.71, yesterday, and it's trading right now at $.52 with the bottom continuing to fall out

Now, my question is why in the world is anyone even still trading this thing? I know that there are a few idiots like me who didn't fully research the thing before doing a "Quick Buy", but that can't be all of it. It's destined to crash and burn, horribly, before May 1. At this late date, with its funeral already planned and the mourners having their suits pressed, why is anyone BUYING this thing?


Technorati Tags: delta airlines, stupid, stocks, finance, pink sheets

Gmail down -- someone send up a flare!

Dammit. I need my Gmail.



I like the idea of moving as much of my life as possible to web-based apps -- mainly 'cause I have access to them everywhere -- but when one of them breaks, it's a pain. I continue to applaud Google and gmail, though. I understand brief outages.





Technorati Tags: Gmail, google, outage,

Secular legislators?

God's dupes - Los Angeles Times

PETE STARK, a California Democrat, appears to be the first congressman in U.S. history to acknowledge that he doesn't believe in God. In a country in which 83% of the population thinks that the Bible is the literal or "inspired" word of the creator of the universe, this took political courage.

This is interesting. I wonder how it will impact his bid for re-election. We shouldn't be concerned about legislators who don't believe in God (or any god for that matter) -- one's belief in a higher power doesn't necessarily affect one's judgment or even one's morality. I suspect, however, that Representative Stark will face wide criticism for his admission.



Technorati Tags: politics, religion, congress, pete stark

You're every other beat of my heart

You're every other beat of my heart
An integral part of my pulse,
Regular and reliable
Pumping life and love and peace through each day
Even far, distant, this cadence brings you into my mind.

When I breath, I inhale and know
That somewhere, you breath also
As I exhale your name flutters, a whisper,
Across my lips.

I do not long for you as lover longs for lover
I long for you as the river longs for the sea
A tree, in full bloom, longing for the gentle breeze of spring
Your words, soft touch, warmth
Resonate, vibrate, reassure, sustain me
As you are every other beat of my heart.

-February 2007