On the benefits of (low) inflation.....

Tim Harford roots for 2% inflation.  Hard to argue with his logic, especially since a deflationary economy is way more scary to those of us who have all our assets in real estate.  A wee excerpt:

Hyperinflation does not strike at random, and it does not happen because central banks briefly slumber. It must be manufactured by the relentless printing of money, generally as the last resort in the face of political dysfunction alongside a severe fiscal crisis. Perhaps it is rash to say so, but I think we can set aside fears of hyperinflation in an advanced economy today. If it ever does happen, it will be only one element in a far more comprehensive economic disaster.

Gone..........................

............................but not forgotten.  It was good sports writing that first got me hooked on reading.  In the 1960s, nobody was writing better than Dan Jenkins.

One of this blog's favorite labels is "Life Its Ownself."  In case you ever wondered where it came from, here it is:

Faithful readers...................

.............will know that I have been reading, and excerpting from, Martin Gurri's Revolt of the Public.  Noah Smith offers this comment from his generally favorable review:

So the Revolt of the Public might not be such a new thing under the sun. Instead, it might be a recent manifestation of a recurring phenomenon – a periodic eruption of popular discontent. Such a cycle might be driven by improvements in information technology – the printing press, telephones, radio, blogs, and now social media. Each time information technology improves, it might lead to an explosion of chaos and rage while elites and institutions struggle to adapt. But each time in the past, the slow-moving engines of government, business, and media have eventually figured out how to put the lid back on public rage. It may turn out similarly this time.

Ah, history.......................

Priced out of the housing market.............?

......................Choices people, choices.  Try something radical, like moving to Ohio where housing is affordable and jobs are aplenty.   Just saying.

Hmmm........................................

"Remarkable work is usually accomplished by people who have non-typical priorities."

-Seth Godin, from this blog post

Life tips..........................

47.    Halve the TV viewing, double your reading. Triple your brain power.

-One hundred more tips may be found here

Fifty years ago......................

Johnny Cash.....................................................Daddy Sang Bass

Fifty years ago...................

The Originals...................................................Baby, I'm For Real

A happiness weapon....................

Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon.  A happiness weapon.  A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air — explode softly — and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth — boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn’t go cheap, either — not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in.  With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination. 

-Robert Fulghum

Perspective.......................

 We're living "Envy in the Time of Tedious Petty Outrage." John Brennan and Adam Schiff are symbols of our time, not Botticelli or Lorenzo de Medici.

-Roger Simon, cut-and-pasted from this blog post looking over Machiavelli's shoulder

Fifty years ago.........................

At the cinema...................Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid

On books................................

“Well there's these things called books.... They are like TV for smart people” 

-Robert Redford

Puts back..............................

“We are such spendthrifts with our lives, the trick of living is to slip on and off the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I’m not running for sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer, who puts back into the soil what he takes out.” 


-Paul Newman

Fifty years ago...........................

B. J. Thomas.......................Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Fortunately, both circles are pretty small..........

thanks Jess

Fun with the language.............

via

Our pal Michael...............................

..................................................makes the cut at Yahooey's Blog.

A plea for diversity......................

..............................................................................of thought.

Excellence personified.....................

One of main benefits of blogging is just being able to hang around his neighborhood and check out those who influence him.   It will make you a better human being.

Common Good...................

"I don't think there's anything exceptional or noble in being philanthropic. It's the other attitude that confuses me."

-Paul Newman

    My favorite Kroger carries a decent selection of Cabernet wine.  Recently I started buying the Newman's Own brand.  Reasonably priced, easy to drink.  Sort of a win-win.  Just passing on information here.