The Red Brick Times

I just got one of these!

(Spruce Green, in case you were wondering.)
Posted 5:05 PM by whatley (5) comments

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Car top? I see it has fishing rod holders.

# posted by  Andy : April 27, 2009 7:26 AM
 
Yup, car top, like this.

It's a "hybrid" meaning a cross between a canoe and a sit-on-top kayak.

# posted by  whatley : April 27, 2009 3:55 PM
 
How about a nice little float down the Huron River, starting at the Homer Page Farm.

# posted by  Ray : May 05, 2009 6:48 PM
 
I can get my hands on a traditional big aluminum Grumman canoe, but don't have a way to transport it.

# posted by  Andy : May 06, 2009 7:09 AM
 
My car top carrier is adjustable (though a bit of a pain) and could carry a canoe. It's also removable (a bigger pain) and can be attached to any car with a similar top rail.

The complete Yakima carrier that I have wasn't cheap. Close to $400 out the door. Solutions exist that are cheap (couple of glorified foam pads and straps) but you're looking at a real wrestling match when loading/unloading your craft, especially if it's more than 20-30 lbs. (mine is 60).

# posted by  whatley : May 06, 2009 3:39 PM
 
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Want to "combat" (wink wink) Somali pirates? Your choices:
1) Approach the U.N. - Nah, they'll just write a "strongly worded" letter.
2) How about NATO? - Nope, not really their cup of tea.

If you're serious and want action (ie. money) there's only one place to go. K Street! An investment that always pays off.
Posted 6:17 AM by whatley (1) comments

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As cool as sniping three guys from the deck of a ship in rolling seas is it is ultimately impractical as a general solution. Enhanced military approaches will have the same effect overuse of antibiotics has in creating drug resistant viruses and will soon come to appear more like spotlighting deer than high-end Special Ops.

Want to stop piracy, stop eating fish. Motorized foreign fleets have raped the fisheries off the Horn of Africa putting the local fishermen out of business. The land and government are worthless so they turned to the next most abundant crop.

The approach described in the article has a better chance in the long run than any ships and guns solution

# posted by  A. O. : April 27, 2009 11:55 AM
 
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In the last two months I've received three calls (blocked caller IDs) offering to lower my credit card interest rate. The calls differ a little bit but generally offer a "one time chance", or warn that the "window of opportunity is closing", to cut an existing rate by 60 to 70%. I went ahead and expressed interest once just to see what would happen. A person came on the line, female, very well spoken, and asked me to provide all my card data. I asked that she first tell me who she represented and provide a call back number. She hung up.

Being that this has happened three times makes me think that it's proving to be a profitable scam for somebody.
Posted 2:56 PM by whatley (3) comments

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Have you considered that this well-spoken woman is just a little bit shy. She may know who you are and is unsure how to approach you. She may have personal and prurient interests harbored within her. Perhaps you should keep her on the line just a little bit longer. Ask for her email address or facebook page. Carpe Diem.

# posted by  Ray : April 10, 2009 6:26 PM
 
Maybe if I try to involve her in conversation? I know! I'll ask her to guess what I have in my hand! I'll give her a hint by breathing heavily. That'll do it. A never fail ice breaker.

# posted by  whatley : April 11, 2009 4:53 AM
 
Always works for me!

# posted by  Terri S : April 13, 2009 6:41 PM
 
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What? Me worry?

Why We Shouldn't Worry If Banks Game The Bailout.
Posted 11:07 AM by whatley (3) comments

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Bonus "don't worry" link: My humble little deposits are FDIC insured!

# posted by  whatley : April 07, 2009 11:36 AM
 
My sister-in-law noted that they should probably start using "the bank of mattress." My brother responded that should they do so, he would be resorting to "the bank of shotgun" as an adjunct.

# posted by  Andy : April 09, 2009 7:17 AM
 
Since the insurance companies have found a way to 'get their share' by purchasing a bank or two then apply for assistance since said bank is in such dire trouble it will probably fail (no corporation that deals in abstract concepts like Credit and Defaults swaps is permitted to fail, only companies that actually produce jobs and products are allowed to do THAT).

I think RBT needs to seek a Federal Thrift charter so we can buy a failing bank or two (backed by gov't supported and financed toxic assets) , then we can get money from the Fed to 'save' us. We then, as a group, should take the money to finance an extended conference, over several sites, of course, (including at least three international venues, don't want to seem protectionist or parochial) to make sure we keep our perspective and stay in touch with 'Main St.'. We will discuss how we should restructure ourselves to avoid having to ask for more money... then do nothing for A LONG TIME while we consider the options ... get more money ... have another conference ... ad infinitum! RETIREMENT THE AMERICAN CORPORATE WAY !! All the while stimulating the economies of all the conference sites. We could be the bell-weathers to the recovery !!

Anybody know a lawyer or two with less than scrupulous ethics? (or is that an oxymoron?)

With enough study I'm sure we can help draft some legislation to insure this never happens again (AFTER our lifetimes and that of our children and their children, of course. Don't want to act hastily, brashly, or irresponsibly)).

# posted by  jeichenlaub : April 09, 2009 8:43 PM
 
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Twitter, Facebook, and the like have been getting a ton of mention in the traditional media for awhile now. Do any RBT'ers use these sites? Like 'em? Inquiring mind wants to know.
Posted 4:44 AM by whatley (3) comments

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Facebook .... lightly and have configured my options to limit access to my friends and a few special interest groups. No twitter ... don't need to be THAT tied in. Also use LinkedIn for professional networking but frankly it has not been very useful.
JOHN

# posted by  jeichenlaub : April 04, 2009 11:56 AM
 
Nope. Takes too much time to wade through the manure pile to find the undigested bit of grain.

# posted by  Andy : April 09, 2009 7:18 AM
 
I got faced 'entered the facebook world' last month. I like the way it connects me with friends and family. I don't know if Stephen regrets including me as a friend. I see pictures of his parties that shows me what a fun-loving guy he is.
There could be worse things than knowing too much about your family.

# posted by  Ray : April 10, 2009 6:31 PM
 
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