If you're keeping score, today is 21212.
The New York Times headline says:
I just don't see any way out. Certainly, there is fraud, abuse, excess, and waste in the "safety net". Even if we could remove all of it, it wouldn't be enough. We're going to have to pay more and accept less. It will be unpleasant in any form it takes.
RIP, Whitney Houston. You were not my cup of tea musically but 48 is entirely too young.
For what it's worth, the Saints' Sean Payton is already the most aggressive, least conservative, least predictable coach in the NFL. Still, it's tantalizing to wonder what his offense could do with even just a few more chances. If they make even minor improvement on defense, I say go for it from his 40 on out every time.
Hard to believe some players are reporting for spring training camp today in Oakland and Seattle. Baseball is just around the corner. The LSU Tigers open baseball season this Friday night at Alex Box Stadium versus The Air Force Academy.
About today's QOTD: Some people call those "trash fees". That is the extreme G-rated version of what I call them. Costs the bank the exact same amount of money whether I initiate the transfer or whether the computer does it and that is NOTHING, ZIP, NADA, ZERO ...
I offer a divergence of opinions from the CrabAppleLane backyard. The fig tree is convinced it's Spring and the lemon tree is still bundled up for Winter. The corners of the image are rounded off because the dummy photographer forgot to remove the clear filter. We had a hard freeze here at CrabAppleLane last night and are expecting one tonight. The fig tree is on its own.
CrabAppleLane Fig Tree - February 12, 2012
CrabAppleLane Lemon Tree - February 12, 2012
5 song iTunes shuffle:
- Welcome to the Machine - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
- Day Of The Eagle - Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs
- You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Dusty Springfield - AM Gold 1966
- Boys Wanna Fight - Garbage - Bleed Like Me
- Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby - Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris - Oh Brother, Where Art Thou
Quote of the Day
If you do not advance the money yourself, the Handyline will automatically advance the money for you. There will be a $10 overdraft transfer fee assessed to your checking account for each day that funds are automatically advanced. Remember, if you initiate the advance yourself, there is no fee.
Bank Newsletter
Blog of the day is here.
Quote from said blog: "High wire acts aren’t as common as they once were, and that’s really too bad. Those of you fortunate enough to have ever seen one live may recall the crowd-wide gasps when the performer would seemingly make a misstep while negotiating the chasm between platforms."
I think NFL teams should go for it more often on fourth down*, but I'd like to take a closer look at that data that supposedly would justify being really aggressive about it. If any coach can make it work though, it's Payton.
I hope all of your trees make it through the hard frosts. When's the average last frost date down there?
*Except Brad Childress coached teams. They should never go for it on fourth down.
I would bet what little data there really is backs up not punting. Bringing that philosophy to every game would change how teams played 3rd down defense against you. I think it's a fascinating strategy.
The chance of last frost around here is about April 1 but I plant tomatoes sooner than that. Realistically, I always use St Patrick's Day as my reminder to get the garden going.