IT JUST BLEW UP - THAT'S ALL!

It's almost impossible to skip over a headline on your computer that "pops up" unexpectedly and reads: "Man dies while trying to blow up condom machine, police say" - as I did this morning, (Monday) only to find out it took place in Germany where condoms are either in large demand - very expensive - or rather porous.

My first reaction was that the incident must have occurred in Baltimore - where everything else was blowing up for the Pittsburgh Steelers football team yesterday.

If you haven't been keeping track - once more (as they had done in the last three years ) the Steelers have allowed a badly mismatched opponent, in this case the Baltimore Ravens, with a 4 and 10 won/loss record to catch them either unaware or victims of completely unsuspected chicanery. 

 Baltimore posed a legitimate stumbling block that most fans were aware of based upon previous three point game outcomes - and their capability to interrupt a pretty good quest by this years Steeler team who were seeking legitimate playoff status.

Apparently Coach Tomlin did not as he opted to pass on the first three point field goal made available to him.

Unfortunately,  losing under these circumstances is not an infrequent occurrence for the Steelers, but attempting to determine it's causation is like trying to get someone to come forward and identify the kid with the illegal gun who murdered an innocent child in a gang related shooting.

 It's also apparently like a "hot potato" for the local Pittsburgh sports media) and seniors like me who are old enough to remember the old parlor game as a legitimate macho option for "spin the bottle" and "post-office."

It  -"Causation" -  begs for an in-depth journalistic investigation involving  interviews with past and present Steeler players - opposing coaches who may wish to remain anonymous (and deservedly so) - and actual feedback from the Steelers present GM, coaches, owners, as well as  people directly involved with the Steelers prior misfortunes. If that doesn't work let's hire a good sports psychologist.

If it needs to be "off the record" so be it. We definitely need to find an answer if we ever hope to gain the status that made the town so rightfully proud of it's football team and their ethics.

A failure to investigate causation  by the Pittsburgh sportswriters and editors may have finally caused the fans to ask the legitimate questions: "Has Mike Tomlin become another 'bank" that is too big to fail"? and:

"Do we have to wait for ESPN or Sports Illustrated to supply the answer?"

Listening to Steeler personnel who after yesterday's game were supposedly baffled by this continuing turn of events and gave us responses like: "We just didn't play our game." or the thoughts of a future prospective NFL HOF quarterback who was quoted as saying:"I  just couldn't find my rhythm" is equally troublesome.

While suggesting the possibility of a large family this last response simply doesn't make it in a world where "folks want to know" regardless of the importance of the subject matter.

Tomlin's record against good teams - those winning ten or more games - is truly impressive, but this same fact baffles even the most casual sports observer when comparing his success level there with his apparent inability to get his team up for games they should have won. It's scary.

Unfortunately, there appears to be sufficient representation by other professional sports teams in Pittsburgh who apparently believe that the sole goal for their organization is to get into the post season, also.

It would seem that the Pittsburgh fans definitely can't let one more local team not only continue to practice that philosophy, but who may - worse yet - adopt an attitude even more puzzling by failing to the extent that they may not even reach that post-season honor for three out of the past four years.

Failure is not the end of the earth - but failure with no apparent follow-up as to why you failed - as well as a lack of dedication to the gathering and sharing of information that may make it possible for a new game plan to be developed is usually the only "true failure."

With apologies to those involved: "A couple who is desperately trying to have a baby - and spend a considerable amount of time and money for in-vitro treatments or whatever else may be available to them, receive little solace in determining they  "almost  became pregnant".

 But, usually hope springs eternal, and rightfully so.

In most instances the medical experts can hopefully explain what went wrong, suggest other possible solutions  and the couple can continue to try with God's blessings.

The Steelers woes are definitely not in that life giving category and God may have quit Pittsburgh when he left his angels in Forbes Field's outfield back in the 50's.

The Steeler problems are not nearly as serious! It's about a game folks - not a living organism - and I've failed to figure out just what God's involvement might be in the game of football - if at all - despite all the chest crossing and fingers pointed toward the sky.

But despite that surprise revelation by me to the serious Steelers fanatics - where the Steelers ARE concerned in all of this is that it is becoming abundantly apparent that the bottom line is that "nobody in a position of responsibility - either team wise - or involved with the local media", really seems to care enough about this puzzling major sports wart to seek a valid explanation - let alone work on achieving future success in that regard. (OK, readers - catch your breath)

 Seriously, does it take well educated experienced football folks this long to come up with a logical conclusion? Poor planning? Poor coaching?

I know! I know! The fans are filling up the seats - the waiting lists increase in size - the seat license payments are up to date, this coach guy has an admirable winning record - and the guys sitting at the sports desks are not seriously concerned about being moved over to "obits."

Unfortunately,  it's the old Brooklyn Dodgers cry: "Wait till next year." which begs the question, "So, how did that all turn out for you?"

Okay, one more "I know".  I'm aware the new business philosophy is now "it's all about the money, dude", but I, perhaps foolishly, am stuck with believing in the oft repeated motto I learned years ago: "It's not the Steelers way".

In addition and adding to the puzzle is the fact that no sane individual could possibly understand the disconnect between winning the division, the conference, and the Super Bowl and accomplishing today's ever present God of "Making Money".

However, I guess there is one consolation.

That is, if you're a thin skinned professional football coach who may be without a team at the end of the year  - Pittsburgh is definitely the type of coach friendly environment where you may want to plant new roots should the present one vamoose.

Just saying, Chip & Lovie.

IT'S CHRISTMAS FOR SULLY

IT'S CHRISTMAS: Time to celebrate the day- and reflect on the Christmas's of old.

They start with my earliest memories as the oldest of three Sullivan boys residing at 120 Sumner Avenue in Forest Hills; a suburb east of Pittsburgh and which we called home. This was only after dipping our toes in the water at 119 Sumner and  23 Sumner - also rentals.

We Sullivan's were obviously Irish Nomad's - but apparently also extremely cautious due to our innate fear of  becoming  lost by straying too far away from the 87 Ardmore streetcar line that ran on Route 30 at the foot of Sumner. 

It was the 40's . My brother Jim was born when I was 4 and we lived at 23 Sumner . Tom, the youngest was born about 3 1/2 years later, following our pilgrimage all the way up to 120 Sumner from 23 - when I was about 5 or 6 years old.

Our home at 120 was the source of my first Christmas memories, me nestled  in an upstairs bedroom on Christmas Eve trying to fall asleep, but kept awake by muffled shouts below leading to my puzzlement as I attempted  to determine why Santa Claus was cussing.

Unfortunately, I was hampered in my research by my solemn promise to my mother not to leave my bed for any reason including the imagined sound of hoofbeats on our roof.

I soon learned as the years went by that the words I heard were not coming from Santa but another guy whose name started with an "S" - my dad  - affectionately referred to by friends, neighbors, and co-workers as "Sully."

"Sully", a very strong but compact Irishman, was not  blessed mechanically and attempting to keep an old 27 gauge Lionel - 5 car train on the track surrounding the Christmas tree - was a real challenge for him. "O" gauge would have definitely put him over the edge.

His lack of ardor for the task may have also been influenced by his "possible" intake of a few shots of "Three Feathers Rye" which he kept hidden in the high kitchen cupboards. The rye was normally private stock for his own fathers' occasional forays from the railroad style flats in uptown Wilmerding, Pa to graciously babysit his grandkids - when Marge (my mom) and Sully went out on the town.. 

As I became older and now in my late teens ,Mom had deemed me mature enough to accept the assigned but thankless task of assisting Sully, at our annual Pre-Christmas ceremony of "the holding the brads" for Sully. In brief, I had graduated to becoming "The Sorcerors Apprentice."

Each previous year Dad tried in vain  - by himself -  and despite  Marge's specific directions from the warmth of the living room ,  behind the safety of the rugged heavy glass storm door. to complete our outside Christmas decorations.

This had required my Dad  to convince  his unyielding stubby semi-frozen hands to hold the brads while he also "operated" the hammer.

His assigned task was to be completed  in order to accomplish Mom's annual goal of affixing the thick colored Christmas light cords into the weathered yellowish door frame in a symmetrical pattern - whose predestined shape was revealed and known only by her.

But, change was a coming.

Now, while Sully, under the tiny and bent overhead metal awning outside the doorway of our only owned Forest Hills home on Avenue F- was puffing on his ever present pipe - and still filled with greatly misguided determination - he yielded the ax (hammer) in the general direction of the brads, and I (with my eyes tightly closed) carefully placed one or two sacrificial fingers around the chosen brad.

I was able to do this by keeping my mind occupied - as I attempted to determine which I liked the best: becoming a new participant in our holiday lighting preparation or studying for my  final exams.

Needless to say, Sully  - a good man -would rather have outsourced both of the physical tasks involved in Mom's "annual decorating scheme."

Judging by his own continuing "annual non-Santa like" choice of words to describe his state of unhappiness to my Mom; it soon became obvious to one and all that Sully was not going to receive  the Christmas present he sought this Christmas either. 

As I got older, and had kids of my own - I became happy that Sully never had to deal with the challenge of inserting the razor sharp  tab "A" into slot "B" of my daughter Beth's metal stove, refrigerator, and whatever; particularly following her dad's "obligatory" celebratory Christmas Eve attendance a mile down the road at our popular neighborhood bar, MARTINI'S. 

One year, the Christmas Eve celebration there lasted so long that my best friend, another Irishman, John Tubbs and myself had to break away from our neighbors and friends - leaving both complimentary drinks and change on the bar - in a hasty but unsteady pursuit of a Christmas tree for yours truly - whose mission it was several hours before to accomplish this apparently daunting task all by my lonesome self.

John and I ended up "stealing" a tall but lop sided fir tree from a now empty and apparently closed Christmas Tree lot (only because the attendant had gone home and carelessly left no cash deposit box for latecomers.)

Actually, the tree looked not only straight - but perfectly proportioned at the time, as the two of us, reveling in our good fortune in finding one so close to home, were appropriately curious as to why it had been passed over.

Selecting it was only half of the battle. The real challenge was wrestling it on top of my company car as we both held it down on the roof by clinging to it's straggly branches through the open front door windows. 

Meantime,  I slowly headed home, despite the lack of traffic -carefully watching the road, but still working on my lengthy explanation for Beth's mother as to why it took so long for me and my pal to locate and select that "perfect tree." 

(I checked the following day, Christmas - on my way to our local "Stop-N-Go" convenience store - with a couple of  my kids along for protection - in order to make sure our new "perfect" tree had not previously been occupying a neighbor's front lawn. 

 But,  I soon realized neither John nor I  had taken along any sharp implements on our mission, and therefore I could drive back home and enjoy Christmas with a clear conscience.) 

My current Christmas Eve celebrating has been reduced to about a half- glass of Pinot Grigio - if that- and it no longer includes experimenting to determine that "just right"  combination of egg nog, rum and whipped cream, that I'm convinced I had perfected when I was much younger.

Time, age, and maturity tend to change a lot of old habits..

However, the spirit of Sully - lives on - as I still have scars on my fingers from those #$%^ metal tabs as well as "those hanging brads" - most of which are probably still stuck in the wooden door frame or red bricks surrounding that front door on Avenue F.

Merry Christmas.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH

Rather than concentrating our anger with repetitive frustration regarding Washington politics - let's say something positive (at least for a while):

This is the time of year when folks stop and demonstrate a recognition that what they see as their lot in life pales - when compared with other folks - some of whom they do not know and are hurt and suffering - and are definitely worse off than themselves.

When the "nutsos" in the world are busy scribbling graffitti on mosques as a demonstration of their misplaced ire with ISIS, ISIL  etc - there are others blessed with the ability to walk and chew gum simultaneously and who are actually able to see the whole picture.

Now, before I go any further I feel a need to share this political cartoon:

OFFICIAL REVISED OBAMA TERROR ALERT SYSTEM

Level 1 : Isis is the JAYVEE team.

Level 2 - ISIS is Contained

Level 3 - Isis is not an existential Threat

Level 4. OH , #@%^&

Thank you. Now I can continue.

I used to argue that if Muslims truly do not want be associated with whatever the term is that our President cannot bring himself to repeat - they need to publicly disassociate themselves from this horror that has been unleashed upon us and argue against it.

Then I realized, perhaps this also means that in rural America those who do not support beastiality have an obligation to make it clear they do not condone such behavior  and publically condemn what they know is happening on their neighbor's farm, as well.

Now, I will admit that excludes those folks who have first hand knowledge of  the accuracy of  the punchline in the once  popular joke that ends with one of the jurors whispering to another juror at a beastiality trial :"You know if you get a good one - they'll do that sometimes". 

I'm now living in the South and believe it or not  have made friends with folks who admit they once had neighbors or friends down here who were burning crosses on  lawns -typically located on Martin Luther King highways etc but they also did not feel compelled to identify them when the "Feddies" came around poking their nose into what obviously was none of their business.

My point is that even though you would not conduct yourself as your neighbors are willing to do - nor share their philosophy - this does not force you to defend your own beliefs even when they differ from those of the "nutsos"who claim they share your religion and are maiming and killing folks at random.

Now, if the "good guys" regardless of their personal philosophy see a couple of "nutsos" pulling up to their driveway in a half ton pickup with a truck load of materials suggesting they may be hoarding the raw material necessary to make a zillion pipe bombs  - that's a whole different matter  -and you might understandably change your approach.

After all, even those who are not among the sharpest knives in the drawer may recognize  there's a possibility that something may go wrong in their neighbor's basement  -and they could end up blowing up your house too.

What is it that causes good teachers to protect bad teachers, good attorney's who are unwilling to turn the bad ones into the bar associations - politicians or hedge fund managers who refuse to expose the bad apples in their associations or organizations - and doctors who are unwilling to report the "hackers" who take up the time of seniors serving as jurors at a malpractice trial? 

I suspect it's a case of "this really doesn't involve me - I'm the good guy and "I'm" certainly not doing that."

But, if so, then what the hell causes people to take days off from work to rebuild churches for which they are not members , take up collections to replace a whole truckload of presents for young  kids who are indigent and whose possibly "only" Christmas gift was carted away with the truck, those still fleet of foot who are still willing to chase down thieves who ripped off an elderly woman's purse and perhaps even the guys and gals who are willing  help the folks in the mosque scrub off the graffiti - despite the fact they do not agree with the religious tenets of  folks who may not see life the same way they do - even if they're not sure?

And let's not even get into those still sending a check to a Children's Hospital even when they misspell your name on those convenient return address stickers and tiny tablets. 

Even if you're the guy who folds up the $1 bill so as to cover the denomination before placing it in the Salvation Army kettle - - - and won't put that same amount in the tip jar of the restaurant until they bring you the $75 takeout food order and can then provide first hand witness to your generosity: 

" I still view this as a 'Different Approach' regardless of what the rest of the world is doing" - and maybe - just maybe - something that we need more of as we're trying to make sense of the less important  mundane topics like politics.

Have a Merry Christmas.

PUZZLES AND MIRACLE WORKERS

I find it hard to understand how  political decisions are made by either of our two political parties.

It seems to me to be rather apparent that barring some unforseen development Hillary will be moving back in to the White House, Donald will have had his fun and ego stroked , Ben will have discovered it's easier to work on brains than appeal to them, and little will have changed within the Republican Party or the way our Congressional politicians do business other than some Republican geezers  in Congress will be pretty PO'd by the fact that Cruz was willing to sell out attack them out of his desperation to get nominated.

There is a reason that only 58% of eligible voters made it to the polls in November 2012 and it had nothing to do with an early Christmas sales conflict. They see nothing positive happening in our electoral , legislative,  judicial, or executive system and I'm slowly starting to join their ranks because I'm concluding.

-- the tax code will not be revised.

- the pharmaceutical companies will still be jabbing us by selling drugs whose    patents have expired to other drug companies who will raise the price of these same drugs by 400% or more.

-Some  politician from Michigan who heads up the Congressional safety committee by dint of his being around for a while - and obeying without questioning the dictates of the more influential members of his party - will continue to hold automotive safety hearings - but do nothing to force the American auto manufacturers to make their vehicles more safe - apparently and simply because he does not want to take the risk of not being re-elected to office - by voters whose incomes are dependent on their automotive employers.

- those Trump supporting voters who feel they have been  bruised and abused by former GOP policies and candidates will some day return to their recliners and try to sell the merits of watching Fox New for 6 or more hours a day to their neighbors and family.

- the NCAA and NFL will continue to be trampling the civil liberties of their employees while being dictated or influenced in their decision making by anything that resembles paper currency and is accepted by large financial institutions - most of whom who - like them - have been deemed "to big to fail"

- we will continue to pay our federal prosecutors a miniscule compensation to battle corporate defense attorneys who are making almost as much as the size of the golden parachutes their lying, thieving clients are receiving in exchange for making unethical business decisions without the impediment of having to fear they will ever serve any time in the pokey or offend anyone on their corporate boards. 

Look, I understand the need for someone to shake us out of this lemming like conspiracy called "political correctness" - and that someone may have to be an individual like Trump who has established a large enough financial security grubstake that he need not follow the dictates of the special interest groups. 

These would be the same interested parties who have determined by simply blackmailing our elected officials by a refusal to support their re-election aspirations regarding their lobbying causes that make no sense to anyone who has ever read a book about anyone besides Harry Potter, these special interest guys and gals can achieve financial gains of 4000% more than their lobbying costs to achieve those gains. 

"Until" we see some signs of a defined effort to make some positive changes in the way we do business - conduct our banking decisions - price our drugs - approach and make sensible decisions with immigration challenges - or demonstrate an awareness and willingness by our politicians to recall that the goal of those 42 percenters  willing to go to the polls was that their only intentions in doing so were to elect folks who might finally demonstrate a willingness and plan to put the interests of their voters above their own  - I can assure those who are spiritually motivated that we could elect one of the 12 apostles and see little change.

(Hey, religious people with beards are not "necessarily" bad; but not all of them are necessarily miracle workers either.)

 I'd settle for some incremental but consistent progress in bringing us back to the days of morally and financially responsible business and political leaders. and a measurable action plan with specific timelines we could all monitor.  

How about you? 

  

   

"THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW"? - SO HOW'S THAT ALL WORKING OUT?

Years ago, there was a two panel comic strip entitled "There Ought To Be A Law" from cartoonists Al Fagaly and  possibly Harry Shorten, who were also involved with the "Archie" comics.  The strip ran from 1944 until the 1980s - after being taken over by others who survived Fagaly.

In the "Law" strip the cartoonist(s) would use the two panels to show the contrasts between what a person said at one moment - and what they actually did or said in the second panel. (Personally, I think it "oughta" be revived.)

Here are a few comic examples: A baby won't stop crying in the first panel - so the exhausted and concerned parents call a doctor. In the second panel the doctor is holding the baby who has stopped crying by that point - and he turns to the couple and says, "That'll be $10." - (which was a lot when this strip was running in our papers.)

Another one depicted a guy who was so upset by shoveling snow in the north that he proclaims: "That's it. We're moving to Florida!" The second panel shows him on a beach - this time busy shovelling sand to construct a castle or bury someone under the hot Florida sun." 

A third  - and final example - shows a guy who has just moved into a new development. In a display of friendship, and wanting to belong, he is seen as a new resident gleefully signing a petition offered to him by a neighbor.

 In this first panel  the "newbee" declares "This is my civic duty" However, the second panel shows him so completely outraged when the city fathers notify him of several building code violations that he quickly changes his original position.

"There oughta be a law" was a common exclamation back when I was a kid.

It was  usually heard when someone was upset regarding an unexpected misfortune that befell them; and for which they were SURE another was responsible. 

One source regarding  the comic which I found in my research  was  a "Postino" which/who suggested the correct title for the comic should have been called, "There ought 'Notta' be a law"; because many laws that we have on the book are ridiculous and need to be removed. 

 I agree with "Postino" but not just because there are entirely too many laws and regulations on the books that make no sense.

The real problem ,as I see it, is that there are not only too many of them, but that the nexus of our concern should be that our politicians appear to be reluctant to enforce them ( or do so only selectively).

One such belabored - but obviously timely example was the law - or series of l thoughtful and well researched laws - we passed long ago - but in the past few years decided not  to enforce. This failure resulted in an guesstimated 11 million people presently occupying this country illegally.

My prediction is that any of your protests of this failure to govern event made to your local politician was met with their studied defense mechanism of  politicians everywhere employing the oft heard promise: "Trust me, We're taking a long look at this and I promise you we will be taking action very soon".  (Sound familiar?)

Politicians seem to believe (and maybe accurately) that this approach will stave off the groundswell of opinion that many (but sadly - possibly not most) folks in power still fear.

Their final "new" revised approach (if we're lucky) is due to a reluctant realization that "something drastically needs to be done" - if they are to continue to occupy Capitol office space and party in Georgetown or Avenue K. 

On a smaller scale, this process is not entirely dissimilar to one we often use as parents and/or grandparents. 

We've found it works so well as a technique that we've repeated it for years with our kids and grand kids.

We swing into gear with this one when those many issues of our progeny seek a concession from us that we really don't want to grant; particularly if it is an exception to our well worn  - but unpublished  "house rules".

Our usual response to these demands  - if not one of outright refusal - is usually the classic parental defense mechanism: "WE'LL SEE!" 

To which, only the most assertive "rug-rat" will reply with something like: "Drat - or double Drat! We all know what "we'll see" means!" 

It's also at a time when the most or the more intimidated or vulnerable adults among us hastily reply, "No, we Really Will think about it."

The most practiced pro-active move we can make at home, and which usually leads to a modicum of success is - upon the kids arrival at Gramma and Paps - we-pro-actively  establish:  "These Are The Rules and there WILL NOT  be any exceptions".

The more  practical of us (who are so inclined) then immediately go into the garage and enjoy a "private moment" shot or two of "Old Overcoat" that we've carefully stashed away from Gramma's purview. 

Using this admittedly questionable cheesy comparison - I argue our problem is not dissimilar to the one on our country's books now -  regarding our problems with immigration reform.

There is a distant possibility that -as part of the act of "thinking about it"-  Congress may at some time  pass yet another law - that I continue to  fear also may or may not be enforced - based on past examples. 

This miracle will no doubt also happen at a time while our President, Congress, and the Chamber Of Commerce conveniently ignore the really valid question from many of us: "What was wrong with the old one Congress passed?" (But, that's a matter for another blog). 

Passing a law or regulation is something our governing bodies do with impunity - "Without Punishment"; as they say and followed by, "It's the way it's always been done."

Usually, this unexpected departure from Rip VanWinkle's historic slumber by our politicians is only because there was such an outcry from potential voters (them is us!) or organized groups, that their reluctant decision to finally face the music and do something is seen as the lesser of evils that may impact their future political futures. 

This unexpected non self-starter was usually preceded by what used to be a smoke filled room conclusion that to do so will not result in the loss of a significant number of votes. 

It is a temporary remedy to all of their own "We'll sees" - that now have rightly caught up with them and should have long ago except for our own procrastination. 

Our problem as citizens of this great nation is it appears that this is a well practiced routine by our politicos and only works  because we, as voters, do not insist on a three step approach to the passage of  major laws similar to those practiced by and established during the formation of  business decisions. 

In most instances (think "classic coke") when established businesses go through the preferred 4 step problem-solving module and arrive at a well thought out solution, they then add a fifth step - "monitor the results".

 It would be nice some day if no law could be passed without an accompanying plan attached to those proposed laws that requires the mandatory monitoring of  the results on a scheduled basis. This should also include the selection by us as to the identity of someone who is appointed to report the results of that monitoring in a timely fashion.

 We as concerned citizens then "goose it up" if neither the law or regulation is found  effective nor practiced by anyone .

Unlike the questionably effective "Sunset Laws"  - politicians reluctantly put on the books occasionally - we need to discover a way - a leverage - (maybe via our votes regarding a second term) - to "demand" of our politicians that no laws can be passed without these accompanying steps being followed.

It is admittedly a "pie in the sky" approach, but change has to start somewhere - so why not by us? If we're seriously thinking of electing a Trump to our highest office - why rule anything out? Times are "a changing".

If you believe this is not a viable proposal  or lacks specificity, (which it purposely does) think back to the times that financially under supported consumer groups have cried out for our action on some drastic foolish and unethical act they have uncovered and we've turned our backs on them.

 Instead of supporting their efforts, we've chosen to rely on our media to step up and drive it home - even those periodicals who are more interested in the size of Kim Kardashians butt.  

Still not convinced?  In about  90 days it's going to be time to shift our attention from Ryan Secrest and the New Years Eve bunch, and turn it toward the more sober act of  "filing our taxes".

if you're doing it yourself - make sure you pick up a copy of the 2016 filing regulations - all 3,458 pages - twice the size of the Bible - and examine the rules for same - before spending hours of consternation and nail biting.

This would be, of course,  prior to sending your forms into the State and the IRS who due to non-funding staffing problems - as a result of  a GOP political pique -  will result in a delay in processing your refunds when applicable - and a massive loss of revenue due to tax cheats - but, whose remaining personnel will still definitely schedule you for a audit. 

Then before seeking out the "Old Overcoat"once more,  please ask yourself:

"So, how's that all working out?" 

THE "WHAT IF" - AROUND THE CORNER

The other day I was perusing the Money section of  USA Today and I found an article that provided confirmation of something I've previously shared with my patient readers.

Now, for those of you who really know me and wondered "what the hell is he doing reading the Money section?", I'll explain.  First of all it wasn't a "bad news" article like so many that I refer to. 

Actually, it was an article that promoted the idea:"We might just be turning the 'corner' in the field of education". 

A bloke, from Scotland named Angus Deaton - whom I've never met - and whose 2010  publication I'll probably not get around to reading any time soon - won the most recent Nobel Prize in Economics. 

It's not the fact that he won. It's that, until he found out from the Royal Swedish Academy of Science why he won - he wasn't quite sure what he did to win because, as he put it: "I've never really had a field"

Upon hearing their explanation his thoughtful response was, "Oh, that's what I have been doing!"

You gotta love this guy.

Angus is 69, an Economics  Professor at Princeton, who, obtained his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees from The University Of Cambridge and was a professor of econometrics at the University of Bristol before  joining Princeton in 1983. 

I can't believe I never ran into him!

So, besides the all expense paid trip to Sweden and the increased cash flow - what else makes our Angus so unique?

Happy to explain. You see what caught my eye and that of the RSAOS  was that he dared to think out of the box.

A mathemetician at the start, he claims he sort of drifted into the field of Economics. "It shows" due to his unusual approach to statistical studies and economic theory.

Most treatises on the study and predictions of economics involve either the classical theory or the Keynesian.

 The latter is  better known to us now as 'trickle up" economics as opposed to the "trickle down" theories of the "one percenters" - which has become very popular as well as worthless in today's economy.

But, this is not about either subject, nor politics - both of which leave much to be desired if you're a statistical purist. 

In addition, I should confess, what I recall about economic theory from the three or four Economics courses I took, so far - could probably be jammed into the open end of the classic thimble.

No, what August Deaton did was to link his study of macroeconomics with a study of detailed individual choices

In addition to all of the theories out there, Deaton wanted to frame those economic models with human behavior, ie, how consumers distribute their spending, how much is saved vs spent, and ways to measure both welfare and poverty.

He insisted that the "big picture can't be framed without first understanding individual behavior and the differences among people." To do this he developed detailed surveys to compile data on households, including  poverty-stricken sections of India.

He arrived at some fascinating conclusions such as in 2010 when he determined  "Americans need a salary of $75,000 a year to be happy, but amounts above that do nothing to improve well being."

He also concluded that taller people are happier - but the excellent USA Today article by Paul Davidson did not indicate if August was just referring to the NBA players who may have even been able to track that $75,000 threshold clear back to their college days; when supposedly the dreams of sugar plumbs first danced in their heads.

Deaton also did a study on the relationship between income and calorie consumption, which, while it may have been connected in some way to the perceived smaller bags and increased price for a bag of Fritos we currently confront in our local grocery, the article unfortunately did not go into more detail. 

To wrap this up, and as has been stated many times in previous blogs, the statistical studies and their conclusions we are being expected to blindly abide by - quite often fail to go that extra mile - and validate the results using the habits of real people - not computer generated projections that are also often seduced by inductive logic - not deductive.

I have long been convinced - and have also welcomed the confirmation of a teacher whom I much respect - that the question which should be asked most often of our students - from grade school up through graduate studies - is the simple: "What If?"

Trust me, that will draw out more different thought provoking discussions and tools for life than the Romantic Lit professor's class requested spoken interpretation of the poems of  Keats, Shelly, and Lord Byron. Unfortunately, "W.I.?" has often been discouraged by the limitations of a lesson plan and syllabus which can be audited at will.

I believe that simple "WHAT IF?" is what led August Deaton to capture the Nobel prize for Economics.

Now, let's see just how big that "corner" really is.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!

The ink was hardly dry on my last blog when another media source, AOL News, enlightened me with a no doubt well researched political story.

Hillary Clinton , presumed by many to be able to overcome her email problems * and become the leading democratic candidate for President, has per AOL ,"recently joined the long list of people that have been targeted by Donald Trump, and she's finally firing back."

In a preview of an interview with MSNBC to be released on Sunday, Secretary Clinton was asked to give her thoughts on GOP presidential rival Trump.

Again, per AOL "She didn't hold back." 

She said to the interviewer, "You know, he has been stoking prejudice and paranoia (after making a noise of disgust).

He's been really appealing to the worst instincts of human nature. I think it is dangerous, his demagoguery is no longer amusing."

The interviewer then allegedly "stoked the fire" by reminding  Clinton, that Trump had previously called her "shrill", to which Hillary responded, "He's called me a lot of things now that he's running against me"

"Before, he called me a great Senator and a great Secretary of State. That's what a demagogue does. They say whatever they need to say in order to stir up the passions of the people."

In Trump's (questionable) defense, one cannot help but wonder whether or not Trump had experienced yet another epiphany, this time about  Hillary's qualifications as the Democratic candidate. 

This would be as opposed to the one he had that occurred when he revealed to us during the second Republican debate he was now pronouncing Carla Fiorina as  "beautiful."

Regardless, I did not take the time to preview the actual video of the instant interview, but one presumes that her MSNBC interviewer, the Reverend Al Sharpton  (who she referred to as Reverend Al) completely understood and was most empathetic of Clinton's complaint. 

Presumably,  he no doubt was shaking his head in agreement with her perspicacity as the interview progressed.

Like, I said. . . . .

* The piece on the interview also contained this allegation: "2 Hillary emails confirmed to be top secret"