Up, Down and Around Our Town

Here's hoping you remembered to set the clocks ahead for the onset of Daylight Savings Time. The transition is earlier and earlier, but the benefits are wonderful. While it is a tad darker in the AM, the ability to enjoy "after dinner" time outdoors is really the capper. Plus, it simply means that spring is truly on its way.

I had a chance to chat with a few seasoned citizens this week and they were talking about a lot of things, including this winter's weather. From a Thanksgiving weekend that was delightful, the brunt of our winter occurred during December. Ice storms, a little snow and some biting cold made for a miserable pre-Christmas celebration, but once the ice thawed, our January and February were pretty tame. Not that we didn't get a few skirting of snow, but for the most part, the first two months of the year were cold, but bearable. Some of the boys indicated a similarity to a couple of years in the 30's, which they also added produced some of the hottest summers on record. Stay tuned.

Sometimes I wonder if we really need 304 different TV channels. There are times when there is truly "nothing" on almost all of them. This was no more true than this week when a non-politician made more news about policy and politics than did the elected officials. It warranted a news story; not a national debate.

For the record, I have long enjoyed the commentary and information shared by Rush Limbaugh. Clever, innovative and downright funny at times, he has appointed himself as the backbone and guiding light of his beloved GOP. I have no problem with that and used to enjoy his interactions with similar personalities. Spirited debates during the Clinton years (not that there wasn't plenty to discuss then) and even a staunch defender of some fairly flawed Bush policies, he nevertheless was able to be a commentator. A visionary to some, an irritant to others, but the common thought was that he was just that - a step removed from those in play. Until 2009.

With the advantage of his built-in microphone and a wide listening audience, he suddenly was thrust into the limelight as the leader of the GOP. Something that was somewhat of a shock to the sitting Chair. It points out that in these days, the louder you are, the more attention you will get. FoxNews ate it up like candy and the rest of the more liberal reporters simply rubbed it into the GOP's open wound. It says something as to how far the GOP has fallen and is now somewhat of a rudderless ship. To some that may be good news; in my book, it is hardly that. A strong GOP is as important as a unified Democratic party. And just as Jane Fonda will never be the head of the Dems, there is little need to crown Rush as the leader of the GOP. There should be better things to consider. I hope.

50 days into the new administration and the problems just get bigger. Economists are now looking strongly at the fact that General Motors will soon be bankrupt. Citibank stock was selling last week for less than the cost of a sausage biscuit at McDonalds. Venerable General Electric was less than a Snuggie. Investment wealth is dropping like a rock. Yet, the leadership from Washington is steady. Not particularly effective yet, but we seem determined to dump as much money into the economy as it will take to restart the process. How these bills will someday be paid is up to all of us to ponder.

What we do know is that people are not spending. In fact, they are saving. That's not all good. What we also are finding out is a confirmation of an old economic proverb that says to make money, you actually have to produce something. Which we are not doing. Perhaps this mountain of money will kick the embers and folks will start to take a look at investing not only on Wall Street, but in other places.

The biggest fear is the growing unemployment numbers. Layoffs are everywhere and no section of the country is immune. It makes one think of the bad side of all of those sub-prime loans today; most of the lenders are gone, most of the homeowners are gone and the only thing left is the debt. No wonder the banks are struggling. When the safety of money becomes an issue that is discussed, we have major problems.

However, this week also brought the joy of watching my grandson thoroughly celebrate his 7th birthday. Gifts, friends and smiles. Not to mention that my litle hero and his baby sister got to play as well. The sun does shine in different areas and being part of that audience never gets old.

Finally, a tip of the cap to one of Quincy's true gentlemen. The Boy Scouts will be honoring Don Gnuse in April for his many years of labor on behalf of so many different causes. His steadying influence has cast long, long shadows in everything that he has touched, including yours truly. His 25 year leadership as the Chairman of the Culver Stockton Board of Trustees simply cannot be understated. Good guys do finish first and he has certainly earned his latest honor. And, by the way, don't expect him to slow down soon. It's just not in his DNA to do such.

As a postscript, the marvels of modern technology reunited me with a classmate from 40 years ago. Cheryl Sullivan Fox, one of the Yankees who migrated west four decades ago, brought me up to date with her work and family in New Jersey. Like many who made the plunge to the Harvard on the Hill, she has never returned. It was nice sharing the current view and hoping that she will return soon to see the contemporary side of the school. It also means that we're both 40 years older. Can't help that.

Perhaps a round of golf is in the offing locally. We'll have to wait and see. But, regardless, we'll discuss what's up and down next week. Drop us a note with your comments and we'll try to respond in kind. Till then and as always, I remain.....