Standard bet

The markets opened mixed today.

Put up your penny against my penny: I say the Dow ends up at least .01 pont up on Friday.

Gamblers: Tell me why I chose that number?

Dick Cheney

Click here: Cheney Visits Hospital for Examination - New York Times

Vice President Dick Cheney has come in for heavy doses of criticism recently.

But he is one tough hombre --- and knows that if you can't stand the heat --- get out of the kitchen.

He is probably the most experienced man ever to serve as V.P --- with the possible exception of LBJ.

Cheney denies it vigorously --- but I have seen stranger things happen --- he may run for President in 2008 !!!

Smart people

I keep running into smart people who say things like:

"It's very clear that we will lose in Iraq," or...

"It's very clear that (Barack) (Hilary) (McCain) will --- or will not === be nominated.

Even I can't predict the future === how do they?

PS: Check out the new issue of Vanity Fair.

As we begin the weekend ===

As we begin the weekend --- I think things are going well --- all things considered.

Do you?

I love blogging over the weekend when I have time.

What is it that I "Scooter" Libby

Exactly what is it that "Scooter" did wrong?

How do they really know he "lied?"

And about what?

That the wife of a loud-mouth braggard very-partisan Democrat --- stationed in WashDC --- was endangered?

Give me a break.

Pres WJC + Newt + Howard K

Click here: - Media Notes Extra - washingtonpost.com Newt "played around" while he was married. He was a high elected official --- but not head of the Executive Branch. He can answer to himself --- period. President Clinton was the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Land and a former law professor. Clinton --- clearly --- committed perjury --- for which some people go to jail. I think Clinton pretty well got what he deserved --- impeachment but not conviction. (It's not exactly treason --- is it?) Howard Kurtz frequently --- doesn't always get it does he?

Computer Wizard.

I am now very adept at the computer game.

What I cannot figure out is how to sit alone at a dinner table for four with a lap-top --- 2 cell phones --- and eat my meal at the same time.

How do you define "scarf" ?

AG --- right on !!!

AGreenspan says a recession is "possible not probable."

Way to go AG. We don't know much short term --- all we really know --- almost surely --- in to follow the cliche' :

Never sell America short.

Illustrate: Weird polar projection, stratospheric , rear-view, Mercator map of the US of A.

The Dow went up by 157

The Dow went up by 157 ---

ahem !!!

Some of my associates over 50...

Some of my associates over 50 think some of our associates over 30 don't work hard enough and that their minds are on other things.

What do you think?

Barron's got it right

Still Betting on the Bull
By ANDREW BARY, Barron's

anyone for another buck the Dow goes up again ?

Experts

Some experts said the Dow would tumble 1,000 points before "correcting" --- as those who understand the Real Economy know. (RE is the title of a forthcoming Think Tank multi-part series)

It didn't.

Abba Eban --- Israeli foreign minister

Click here: Al Jazeera English - News

Abba Eban said: "The Palestinians never miss and opportunity to miss an opportunity."

Alas --- I think it will so again

Anyone who thinks

Anyone who thinks that a public opinion poll taken about a year before the primaries begin --- is nuts in the head.

Anyway, Rudy or John ought team up with Sen.Joe to run as a third party --- a surprisingly successful modality to win. See ALincoln

Check out Giuliani up 25 points over McCain: poll Politics News Reuters.c

I am reading "Nutrition for Dummies"

I am reading Nutrition for Dummies.

The "For Dummies" books --- like "USAToday"

were scorned for being too simple and simplistic.

I may be a dummie --- but I think they are great.

Hummm

Just as "you are what you eat" --- so too "you are what you hum."

Humming a happy tune means you are happy.

Perhaps you can improve your mood by purposefully humming a tune.

Right now I am humming that grand old tune "Oh sweet and lovely, oh lady be good to me"

I am in

I am at the Politics & Prose --- one of America's unique bookstores --- with Eunice Greer who works for the National Center for Statistical Analysis --- and Donald Taylor who work for a translation service.

This machine really works !!!

Illustrate: with pictures of Eunice and Donald --- if they send me their pictures.

A super-tekkie

A super-tekkie named Wallace Cole tells me that Big Blue and some Brits are developing a chip that is 250x more powerful than anything now in existence, violating "Moore's Law."

What on earth will we do with that?

Illustrate: Pic of WCole or UK or IBM logo.

Wow !

The Think Tank program is now live on the 'Net.

It can be seen world-wide.

I think I am rather good --- and the staff is excellent.

If you like the program send a message to pbs.org or your local station --- a single message can go a very long way to secure carriage --- which generates buzz --- which generates a greater viewership for this unique program ---

Which generates $$$ which makes the whole thing go 'round.

If you know someone with $$$ --- or if you have bucks, even a small amount,

write to this blog and I will give you personal EMail address

Illustrate with logo from Hedy L movie Ecstasy...

I am seated at the Holiday Inn

I am seated at the beautiful Holiday Inn in beautiful downtown Chevy Chase MD.

Robert "Bob" Kennedy is giving me a tutorial in computerese.

He is a remarkable young man --- not really so young --- 45 but he looks 29. Although that is not his job, he is a great Ambassador for the Holiday Inn.

He has three children.

The dining room in the Holiday Inn looks like this:

Pic of Holiday Inn to come and one of Bob.

I would like to offer him some freelance work to help me.

I hope the Holiday Inn allows such moon-lighting. They certainly should.

Bob is younger than me --- but he knows so much more about the modern world.

But I guess I know some things that he doesn't know...

My understanding...

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "This sounds crazy...but": That story you heard sounds apocryphal. Women's kimonos don't seem to lend themselves to easy sex. They are billowy, full of folds and creases and layers of fabric. They have been around since about the fourth century, A.D., so it's likely that the story of how they were invented is lost to the ages.Read more about the kimono on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimono

Ben's response:

My understanding... is that all those billows conceal blankets and pillows... handy items for ... the reproductive act.

2 X

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The market opens": i hope no one took your bet, for your sake.

Ben's response:

A (:) is followed by a capital letter.

Wanna bet 2 cents for Friday?

A h --- college days...

Two of my favorite poems come from weiserheimers during my college days:

From Blake:

Tiger, Tiger burning bright, in the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could brush away the blue-tail fly.

Or:

Twinkle, twinkle little star.
Way up in the sky so far.
Just like a f-------ing eagle

Illustrate:

Blue-tail fly on eagle's beak --- doing

what?

When USA Today

When USA Today was established it was scorned by many old-time scribes as "McPaper."

I've always thought it covered demographic news --- in a "McNuggets" format --- better than any paper in the world.

It is the paper in the USA with the largest circulation.

Perhaps the joke is on those old-time scribes.

Illustrate with photo of Al Neuharth --- journalistic pioneer --- whoe always wore a black suit, a white shirts, a black tie --- except perhaps when he slept or went swimming.

The market opens

in 1 minute.

Anyone want to bet me 1 cent --- I say it goes up further.