Maggie's Farm

There is a serious issue with development and sustainability.

The question is who gets to define what constitutes development and sustainability. Your definition differs from mine I'm sure and both our definitions are probably 180º out from the official definition. Eschenbach's one statement I do agree with 100% is “Sustainable Development” is just an airy-fairy moonbeam fantasy, a New Age oxymoron".

I was impressed by the pure chutzpah of some small island government in the Pacific (can't remember which one at the moment) in which the Prime Minister was demanding an increase in his people's standard of living at the expense of "developed" nations while maintaining their 600 year old "culture". The fact that his 600 year old "culture" was basically fishing from wood outriggers everyday and living in grass huts escaped him.

Is Obamacare Stopping Businesses From Hiring?

I had to laugh at this one. Last week I was sitting on the dock at the bay fishing for crappie and listening to my portable Sirius which was tuned to CNBC. There was a discussion about Obamacare and one of the Democratic leaning business men being interviewed expressed his view that this was nonsense - and produced some study/statistics/survey which "proved" his point.

As it happened, I was listening in the afternoon in which a different business man was interviewed who, as it happened, produced a different study/statistics/survey which "proved" his point that is was hurting hiring.

Personally, I think it is obvious - it can't help but hurt small business - you can put all the waivers, exclusions, restrictions you want, there is still a great amount of uncertainty (meaning that it is either a good or bad law) and that always leads to reluctance to hire. As it is, they understand that their backsides are hanging in the wind and they don't like the breeze.

“Painless” Plasma Brush

It is very interesting that the uses of plasma tools is the new thing. It is amazing how many uses for different levels of plasma production and what they can do - everything from metal cutting to bone surgery and I've heard that there is a low temp plasma Lasik surgery coming soon - with none of the side effects of Laser Lasik.

End of the 9-to-5 Workday?

I don't think I ever worked a 9-5 job in my entire life. Usually 45/50 hours a week until I became a upper level executive when the work week expanded to 60/70 hours a week. Heck even the Mrs who was a school teacher for 40 years never worked a straight 8 hour day - more like 10.

Obama: There's a laziness in me.

No - really? What the hell kind of admission is that? We're all "lazy" to a certain extent - some more than others. My definition of lazy is forcing myself to do 18 holes instead of 9, walk the course instead of a cart, keep throwing lures at non-existent fish, sit on my front porch and play music rather than sit down and watch television.

PS: Playing "Ace Combat: Assault Horizon" on my Xbox does not count as lazy - that game is seriously kicking my butt. :>)

Merry Christmas to all the Field Hands.