In recent days there has been an explosion of response from my faithful readers. And I must say, somewhat aggressively have they demanded further posts. As one enthusiastic reader wrote:
(Quoted)
Dear Weekend Intellect,
My day begins and ends with your blog. The rhythm of my life relies on your blogging, and I despair sullenly when the sun goes down without a new dabbling, a new diatribe, a new flavor of your tempered brilliance penetrating across the internet. Today I cried into my milk (during morning cereal) and regretted with solemn contempt that a new post had not been sacrificed to the blogosphere. Currently my life is a whirlwind of depression; you have not posted anything in over three days. I feel the livelihood of my soul resting in your (lazy) hands. Please renew your dedication, strengthen your resolve, and ride to our rescue!
Yours truly,
Loyal Reader
(End quote)
But please allow me explain, that the genius required to post these gems into the blogosphere is somewhat spontaneous - you can't just sit down and write something without an ocean of inspiration backing it up. And thus the most epic dilemma; How do I continue the prodigious, prolific work that has begun without compromising the genius quality behind it?
I'm on the verge of a breakthrough, but in the form of a sneak preview I can explain that I will be archiving some postings, and then enrolling a blog-automation program to upload them systematically. Loyal Reader, please relax. I shall not rest, shall not retire, until this effort is fully completed.
Dabblings & Diatribes
Friday, December 19, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Poetry Appreciation Day
The New Yorker once published a crafty poem every year-end, then stopped, and now have rekindled the tradition. Anyway, it's kind of a fun way to review the year. Greetings, Friends!
About Alice - Calvin Trillion
While I should be studying for my approaching final in systems accounting, I managed to find an interesting book review. The book, "About Alice" is brilliantly reviewed, and seems perfectly interesting - especially at this hour when compared to data flow diagrams and COSO framework components and ERM evaluations and detective controls and risk assessments and differential backups and, well, you get the point. The book review is also over a year old; don't ask how I found it.
New York Times Book Review
New York Times Book Review
you may know these...
"Sæglópur" (Icelandic for "lost at sea") is a song by Sigur Rós, released in 2006 as a single from the 2005 album Takk.... Parts of the song are in Icelandic, although a lengthy portion is in Hopelandic, a "language" of nonsense words selected by the band that sound similar to Icelandic. - Taken from Wiki.
This song is huge.
"First Breath After Coma" from an album entitled The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place. The band is called Explosions in the Sky. If you've never heard of this group, it's time you crawled out of your subterranean holding cell and have a listen.
This song, also, is huge.
This song is huge.
"First Breath After Coma" from an album entitled The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place. The band is called Explosions in the Sky. If you've never heard of this group, it's time you crawled out of your subterranean holding cell and have a listen.
This song, also, is huge.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
295
O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me,
And all things else recede;
My heart be daily nearer Thee,
From sin be daily freed.
Each day let Thy supporting might
My weakness still embrace;
My darkness vanish in Thy light,
Thy life my death efface.
In Thy bright beams which on me fall,
Fade every evil thought;
That I am nothing, Thou art all,
I would be daily taught.
More of Thy glory let me see,
Thou Holy, Wise, and True;
I would Thy living image be,
In joy and sorrow too.
Fill me with gladness from above,
Hold me by strength divine;
Lord, let the glow of Thy great love
Through all my being shine.
Make this poor self grow less and less,
Be Thou my life and aim;
Oh, make me daily through Thy grace
More meet to bear Thy name.
And all things else recede;
My heart be daily nearer Thee,
From sin be daily freed.
Each day let Thy supporting might
My weakness still embrace;
My darkness vanish in Thy light,
Thy life my death efface.
In Thy bright beams which on me fall,
Fade every evil thought;
That I am nothing, Thou art all,
I would be daily taught.
More of Thy glory let me see,
Thou Holy, Wise, and True;
I would Thy living image be,
In joy and sorrow too.
Fill me with gladness from above,
Hold me by strength divine;
Lord, let the glow of Thy great love
Through all my being shine.
Make this poor self grow less and less,
Be Thou my life and aim;
Oh, make me daily through Thy grace
More meet to bear Thy name.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Word of the Week
Effusive
ef·fu·sive
adj.
1. Unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy: an effusive manner.
2. Profuse; overflowing: effusive praise.
ef·fu·sive
adj.
1. Unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy: an effusive manner.
2. Profuse; overflowing: effusive praise.
my spirit
2 Cor. 2:13
I had no rest in my spirit, for I did not find Titus my brother; but taking leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.
2 Cor. 7:13
Because of this we have been comforted. And in addition to our comfort, we rejoice more abundantly over the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
I had no rest in my spirit, for I did not find Titus my brother; but taking leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.
2 Cor. 7:13
Because of this we have been comforted. And in addition to our comfort, we rejoice more abundantly over the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
Darwin was a Capitalist
Allowing Lehman to fail was perhaps the smartest thing Hank Paulson has done this year. Like other investment banks, Lehman was highly leveraged and had gorged itself on toxic assets. When any firm is leveraged at 30 to 1 and asset values drop, they quickly become insolvent. And insolvency, if you were wondering, is not good.
Blame is easy to spread around, and excuses come cheap in Washington. Maybe FAS 157 is the culprit, banking regulations were too weak; perhaps aliens interfered. The point of the matter is that poorly-run businesses need to fail.
Fast forward a few months and we have $700 billion sitting at Hank’s fingertips. They call it the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. That money may be able to free up the credit markets, revive the economy, and save the world – but only time will tell.
Eager to exploit the benevolence of American taxpayers, Detroit auto executives are now sprinting, palms-outstretched, to Washington with hopes to claim some of the TARP funding. Detroit, by the way, is home to General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.
While the financial crisis undoubtedly has affected American automakers, their issues go far beyond credit and the economy, and taxpayers should be concerned by any political movement to place Detroit on welfare.
Congress passed a $25 billion loan package for automakers in September; apparently that wasn’t enough. Now Democrats are working to grant another $25 billion of aid for the “Big Three.” But throwing money at our auto industry is not a solution.
Regardless how the economy is doing, General Motors cannot stay competitive. Their stock, for example, has been in decline for the past eight years. The sad truth is that our auto industry is crippled.
Detroit automakers have allowed unions too much power. And perpetuated by misguided government policies, unions workers have strangled their employers to the point of extinction.
Should the government step in to save this ailing industry? No, unfortunately it's too late. The course of evolution requires that Detroit become part of history. New companies have evolved - stronger and better equipped for the 21st century.
As Darwin would say, it's natural selection. "Survival of the fittest." Let capital be efficient, let the markets adjust our economy. It's going to happen, eventually.
Blame is easy to spread around, and excuses come cheap in Washington. Maybe FAS 157 is the culprit, banking regulations were too weak; perhaps aliens interfered. The point of the matter is that poorly-run businesses need to fail.
Fast forward a few months and we have $700 billion sitting at Hank’s fingertips. They call it the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. That money may be able to free up the credit markets, revive the economy, and save the world – but only time will tell.
Eager to exploit the benevolence of American taxpayers, Detroit auto executives are now sprinting, palms-outstretched, to Washington with hopes to claim some of the TARP funding. Detroit, by the way, is home to General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.
While the financial crisis undoubtedly has affected American automakers, their issues go far beyond credit and the economy, and taxpayers should be concerned by any political movement to place Detroit on welfare.
Congress passed a $25 billion loan package for automakers in September; apparently that wasn’t enough. Now Democrats are working to grant another $25 billion of aid for the “Big Three.” But throwing money at our auto industry is not a solution.
Regardless how the economy is doing, General Motors cannot stay competitive. Their stock, for example, has been in decline for the past eight years. The sad truth is that our auto industry is crippled.
Detroit automakers have allowed unions too much power. And perpetuated by misguided government policies, unions workers have strangled their employers to the point of extinction.
Should the government step in to save this ailing industry? No, unfortunately it's too late. The course of evolution requires that Detroit become part of history. New companies have evolved - stronger and better equipped for the 21st century.
As Darwin would say, it's natural selection. "Survival of the fittest." Let capital be efficient, let the markets adjust our economy. It's going to happen, eventually.
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