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Our grand plans for a Labor Day picnic where thwarted by the SF fog this morning so we ended up hanging out at the Koidins as our backup plan. They not only have a great place with fun toys for the kids but also a really nice courtyard which came in handy when the sun finally came out. We had never successfully taken a picture of the group without one of the kids melting down until today - this one turned out great.
Another start to a Michigan football season and while I wasn’t so lucky to have my dad here again this year (they were in town last week) we did manage to catch a picture of Jake and I for posterity. I hope you all notice that Jake looks significantly older while I only look slight more “weathered”. Yesterday’s game was pretty odd with the weather delays and final termination but its fun to see Jake enjoying the activity even if he is still unable to sing “The Victors” or yell “Go Blue”
Great Sunday night dinner with the Millers. Dre made meatloaf, Josh made mac-n-cheese, and I made Manhattans. The great food and company softened the blow that they are leaving the city for bigger homes and warmer weather
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Having an undergraduate degree in Economics allows me to claim expertise the same way a low handicap golfer can claim he is as good as the pros. Regardless, I know enough about it to make marginally intelligent comments on how people who choose to view economics through the lens of biased political rhetoric always seem to get it wrong. A common point is tickle down, supply side, or voodoo economics - they are all basically the same thing… give all the money to the top earners and they will buy lots of things, invest in companies, hire workers, etc which injects money back into the economy.
My company had an great quarter and we rewarded our owners with a generous shareholder distribution. How did mine get spent?
Not much is “trickling down” from me into the economy and I bet I am the norm.
-sb
My grandfather, Marty Barrett Sr, passed away last week at just over 90 years and it has made me think about a number of things. One item in particular that has stuck in my mind these past weeks as his health was clearly failing is his definition of patriotism and its application to my generation. As a young man, he joined the Navy when his country called, learned how to fly, and was off to the Pacific on an aircraft carrier giving his life for his country. Did he waver and say things like “I’m not sure I trust those guys in Washington or the Admiral of my ship to make the right calls with my investment (life) so I think I’ll sit at home and complain”. No, he was willing to give his life for his country and luckily didn’t have to. After the war he married, raised four kids, and got to see multiple great grandchildren. Quite a life and one we should all asipre to
Fast forward to 2011 and what do we see? A tiny fraction of the population willing to fight our wars and the rest of us at home bickering about…. well… everything. Our country is in real financial distress but all we do is send spineless Democrats, arrogant Republicans, and clueless Tea-Party politicians to try to fix this (seriously… I wouldn’t let Sarah Palin be Jake’s nanny much less run our country). I think its time to look in the mirror and ask what you are doing to help fix it. The answer is simple and something every responsible adult knows - to fix our country’s balance sheet you need to cut spending AND raise revenue. Going back to tax rates under Clinton AND to have social services reduced should be seen as patriotic. You are helping the country through a tough time. We have been at war for 10 years and yet we have been asked to sacrifice nothing (nor have we offered). Bush cut our taxes and raised spending (arrogant) and Obama hasn’t done anything meaningful to fix it (spineless).
Next time some talking head on CNN says “no new taxes” or “no spending cuts” let’s question his or her patriotism and ask what they are doing to help our country as opposed to their own career. It must be awfully hard for our grandparents to see how we talk a big game of patriotism and pride in our country yet we do very little in the form of sacrifice to help it.
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A truely excellent Father’s Day (weekend). I did a terrible job snapping pictures to capture the good times but was able to get a quick one of Jake at the park yesterday. Thanks to Andrea, Jake, and the good weather gods for a great weekend
Was perfect!
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So fun to see Sophie in NYC while we are in town. Jake is having a blast with her on the steps of the Met
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