On The Fallacy of the "Greater Good" and a Great Song

Hey all.

Don't mention the Patriots. An ugly show last week that left me scratching my head. I don't think the Pats could have beaten San Francisco anyway, but still, a no show in the second half last week. That window is getting so small now for them.

I wanted to take a second to say something, something without spelling it all out for you. I think anyone that has read me over the years will understand, others not so. Here goes.

On The Fallacy of the "Greater Good" 
So the financial "crisis" is over.

My friend Josh Brown has a great piece up this week, aptly titled "The Word is Out, Just So You Know" and it's solid and spot on. I don't know for myself if this is another 2003-2007 never ending run up or another fake out. Honestly, I don't care.

No matter what happened, things were going to be ok after a bit. That's the truth.

It's the fallacy of "The Greater Good" that kills me. Doing wrong to get to a right. I mean, do you all teach your kids that? All I hear is how everyone wants to provide a future for their kids, bla bla and all that. You teach them to cut corners, cheat, lie, and steal to get to an endpoint? The glory of the greater good gets hollow.

I don't want to spend a bunch of time on this.

How you get somewhere is just as, and maybe more so, important than getting there. My problem with all this, and it's a big problem, is that it was all a fucking handout. The Fed, the Treasury, two Presidents gave the biggest handout to the worst criminal rip off in America history. It does not sit well. But hey, money is getting made right?

Ever sit by your Dad and know he is a vegetable after a massive heart attack? The most powerful railroad man you have ever seen? The fuck do a few dollars mean then? Know your sister is a full blown Bi-Polar nut case and you can never see her again? See your mother crumble through all this, and only your effort and integrity carries her through?

You stand. You hold up.

But no one that is a cheat can stand, and some that need handouts can never walk.

I don't sell stuff. I don't provide services. Whether the world ended in 2009 or we are now on track for a S&P 500 run to 2500 I don't have a real vested interest.

There is no honor, and no integrity anymore. You may think a few bucks make things 'right' but it only blunts the feeling to do what's right. Any student of history knows what happens when the core of a society gets eroded. If you can turn your head for criminals to rob you, so your 401k comes back, you will turn your head for most anything. That's the truth.

So turn your head.

Great Song
I forgot about this song, but I do love it. The fiddle gets played almost to a high note, yet comes back down and so the song seems sad. Check out The Waterboys with "Fisherman's Blues":


Have a good night.

Buy This Book: "Gun Machine" by Warren Ellis

Totally blown away by this new book by Warren Ellis, a new era classic. I cannot review it because I don't want to give details. Just a great read:

Amazon link is here.

Spectacular.

Have a good night.

Amazing Picture

Hey all! Football playoffs so far have been somewhat not competitive. I think next weeks divisional round will be quite different indeed. Expect some unbelievably hard fought, tight games. GO PATRIOTS!

Amazing Picture
Ran across this picture from 1942 by the famous Ansel Adams and thought I would place it here. Titled "The Tetons and the Snake River" (click for larger view or go here):

Have a good night.

In July 2013 "Pacific Rim" Recaptures the Old Days of Mecha

Hey anyone that still reads!

I am well and things are great. I can highly recommend getting away from things financial (if you are able), you may find it refreshing. Some of the absurd comedy over the last few months makes great theater. Just wanted to leave a quick note.

In July 2013 "Pacific Rim" Recaptures the Old Days of Mecha
Back when I was a kid I did not want to be President, an Air Force Pilot, nor one of the rich and famous. I wanted to pilot the robot "Grendizer":

And yes, I wanted to be Orion Quest:

Well it seems someone hit on this idea, at least to some degree, with the new film coming in July of 2013; "Pacific Rim":

Here is the trailer:

I gotta say, I have some high hopes!

Have a good night.