I never got a chance to know my paternal grandfather very well. He died when I was 7 years old and lived in a far away city from me.

However, there’s one thing I, and my cousins will never forget about him. He would always give us a half of a stick of gum. It was Beechnut. I don’t think the brand exists anymore, but it was a big treat when we got it.

My grandfather, to me was a man of legend. He was the one that, as I like to say, made the boat. He was the one who took a chance and as Mao would say, “a great leap forward” and left Russia, in his teens to come to the land of milk and honey called America.

Because he arrived with hardly any money, (as did millions of others before and after him) and a very limited formal education and without any English, he was always frugal.

After starting out with a pack on his back, and then expanding his business, he got himself a horse and a wagon. This man Knew the value of a dollar and saw very few of them in his early years.

He went on to prosper, regardless of the panics of 1918 and the depression when he and his sons didn’t take a salary from the business for several years.

That teaches frugality. Through all of this he built a large enough business to have his five sons and a son in law join him in his enterprise that is still operated by his great grandson today.

When my mother visited him at his home for the first time, she mentioned that in the evening, it was cold in the house. My grandfather’s retort was, “so put on a sweater”

This continual self-discipline when it came to money was passed on to his sons, one of whom was my father. We too were told to put on a sweater if the house got chilly.

We were far from poor, but as I was growing up, my father would set the thermostat to turn off during the winter months after around 10 pm and then turn on again around 7 am when we all got up. He was in business with his family during the depression and he too knew the value of a dollar.

Why heat the house when we were all sleeping under a pile of blankets? On winter mornings, the frost would be thick on the windows it was no fun getting out of bed.

So why the half stick of gum? Why did my grandfather only give each of us only half a piece and not a whole one.

Why not? We were small children. Any gum was a big treat, and besides, why waste a whole stick when half would suffice?

Besides the very poor, and unfortunately, not all of those unfortunates, how many of us live that way today?

How many of us watch our pennies?

How many think about buying an everyday item before we just take it off the shelf, or give our credit card on line?

Do we weigh the value received for the money spent? Do we pause and say to ourselves, do we really need this? Will the smaller or cheaper one do instead of the best one? Can we buy 1 instead of two of these and get by?

My family was not unique. It was the times that have all been forgotten in our country where our savings rate were dismally low until the last year or two.

When I was young and had started my own family and living in our first house, I expressed concern to my neighbor how my mortgage payments of $232.50/month were worrying me. He said that he too was stretched.

He said don’t’ worry, we’ll both make more money next year and the next year. We’re both young and good at what we do.

He turned out to be right, but what if he was wrong. What if we had lost our homes?  Why did we go out on a limb?

Because we hadn’t known a depression, or even a recession like the one we’ve just experienced,

Because we had already forgotten the lessons our parents and grandparents and many of their generation had taught us. “Save for a rainy day” was a well used expression in those days.

My children’s generation is even worse. Credit cards are too easy to use, even now. What percentage of our population ever pays off their credit cards?

My advise to anyone:

Think twice before you buy a non-essential item. Don’t use the common phrase “ I need one of these.” Do you really? What would happen if you didn’t have it? Would it change your lifestyle? Deprive you of any health benefit or comfort level?

Now, if I could only follow my own advice!

 

Having raved about American Airlines in a recent Blog, I am happy to report another very good travel experience on Jet Blue this week.

As readers know, we had to scramble to find seats to New York from Phoenix for a funeral. Fares were sky high and the bereavement fares of old are generally history.

US AIR, which I find to be terrible, at least in coach (see early January blog on that trip) offers the most non-stop flights as do AA, UAL, etc but at sticker shock prices.

After some searching, we found about the lowest far, comparable to US Air at Jet blue. It was non-stop. No small thing in winter.

For about $40 more per seat, we also got their extra roomy seats for both butt and hoof. On a par seating wise with first class on some airlines like United and US AIR, or at least it felt like it.

Each seat comes with a good deal of live TV, a big list of movies, for $6.00 and other amenities at a small charge. One bag can be checked for free. Not as good as southwest where all bags are free, but still ahead of the competition.

The check in counter people both in New York (and this is saying something for New Yorkers) were excellent and friendly as were the staff in Phoenix. The flight attendants were quite good as well, especially for coach.

Their schedules are very good, but they don’t cover the whole country.

I would highly recommend coach travel on Jet Blue. Don’s rating: A.

 

My Fiancé’s former mother in law passed away this week and we flew to New York to go the Funeral. She was 93 and in relatively good health until about a year ago. Her mind was good up until recently and she died from a brain tumor.

What strikes me, and what is the purpose of this blog, is how we react to deaths in our family and amongst our friends. Unfortunately, as I get older, it happens more frequently.

Leaving on short notice to attend the funeral of someone we loved, liked, and or were related to, etc out of town is a difficult task. There’s all of the last minute arrangements to cover things at home while you’re gone, and all of the reservations etc to get to the funeral in a distanct city. It typically involves a good amount of driving and in this age of family Diaspora, quite often, long flights.

The expenses incurred are not insignificant regardless of your means. If you’re fortunate you can stay with a friend or a relative in the city of the Funeral, but more often than not, a hotel stay is required and a car rental as well.

It’s never something that we look forward to. Most of us feel awkward around the surviving spouse or children and even other friends/relatives. We have trouble finding the right words to console the survivor(s) who are often in varying stages of shock and are typically not thinking straight. I know how I was when my wife died well over a year ago.

Sometimes, although we were close to. or had a good relationship with the deceased, it may not have been the same with their spouse or siblings or other relatives.

More often than not, there is a tension between some family members and long simmering grudges, but all realize that they have to come together in this period of morning.

And what about for the bereaved? Even if the death of their loved one is expected, it still comes as a shock. Many times the survivor was focused on care giving or hospital visiting and all of a sudden, it’s over. That focus and biggest consumer of our mind and daily tasks, ends, just like that.

Then they have to make dozens of decisions about the funeral, hosting the assembled family and friends and just getting through the process, and their mind is not in its normal state.

We all have to deal with this sooner or later, regardless of our religion or custom and it’s always hard, to say the least.

So why do we go? Why do we run to a funeral?

Is it for the one who has just died, or for their friends, spouse, children or relatives? Is it because we feel it’s the right thing to do? Do we do it out of respect for the family and deceased?

Why do we hesitate to take the time and expense to visit these family/friends when they were alive?

Why do we too often find a rationale not to attend a graduation, wedding or anniversary or important milestone with these same people, and yet, when they die, we rush to the grave?

I think the answer is first that blood is thicker than water and if it’s family. We’ve just got to be there to console and support the survivors. Secondly, it’s to show the rest of family and friends that we thought enough of the deceased to show respect by being there.

At the funeral I’m attending this week, relatives enjoyed looking at old family pictures. I find this is common, if they’re available.

At the wake, party or whatever you want to call it after the burial, family and friends often reminisce about the good times and funny stories they had with the loved one. People go from abject sadness to humor immediately after which is why a wake is so customary and consoling to the bereaved.

Visitors come and this distracts the family who had the loss. People normally bring tons of food so that the bereaved won’t have to think about what to eat or to feed all of the mourners. Quite often these days, it’s often and appropriately called, a celebration of life.

I think that’s a good term and I also think this sums up why we go to funerals.

 

 

 

 

Senators Schumer and Hatch wrote the following editorial in Today's New York Times.

I think their idea has a great merit but needs an even greater benefit. It will probably not become law as there's no pork in it! Nevertheless, They write:

WITH the national unemployment rate at 10 percent, and more than 15 million Americans looking for work, ideas to spur job creation are at the forefront of everyone’s minds. While we may represent different political philosophies, we recognize that high unemployment — particularly long-term unemployment — is not a liberal problem or a conservative problem; it’s a national problem that takes a huge toll on families.

The idea for some sort of jobs tax credit is percolating again, but the jobs credit that existed in the late 1970s was of limited success, and it was excruciatingly complicated. Recalling this experience, members of Congress from both parties have been lukewarm to such a credit, and the idea was dropped from the stimulus package last year.

We have an idea that is simple, straightforward and easy to explain and administer. In fact, it is so simple that the legislative text of the proposal is only a few pages long — a rarity when it comes to tax policy.

Here’s the idea: Starting immediately after enactment, any private-sector employer that hires a worker who had been unemployed for at least 60 days will not have to pay its 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax on that employee for the duration of 2010. The Social Security trust fund will then be made whole with spending cuts elsewhere in the budget between now and 2015. That’s it. Simple to understand, and easy to explain.

The beauty of this proposal goes beyond its simplicity. Unlike a jobs tax credit of a specific dollar amount, this credit is “front-loaded” in that it provides an incentive for businesses to hire workers earlier in the year — because the tax benefit will be greater. A $60,000 worker hired on Feb. 1 will save a business about $3,400 in taxes, while that same worker hired on May 1 will save it about $2,500.

Unlike some versions of a payroll-tax holiday, which provide a much bigger benefit for higher-paid workers, this proposal is not biased toward either low-wage or high-wage workers. Yes, if you pay people more, you save more in taxes — but the savings as a percentage of pay remains constant. Under this plan, a business saves 6.2 percent on both a $40,000 worker and a $90,000 worker.

In the current environment, no business wants to wait until 2011 to receive a tax credit for someone it hires today. Another obvious benefit of this proposal to forgive payroll taxes is that it keeps money in a business’s pockets, since the tax is simply not collected in the first place.

In addition, because the benefit starts on the date of hiring and does not have an arbitrary cap, more businesses will want to use it. And since it is an elimination of the employer’s share of the Social Security tax for these workers — rather than a fixed or capped dollar amount — the complexities of making the incentive work with a firm’s payroll software are greatly reduced because employers will know simply to zero out the tax for these workers.

To promote long-term employment as the recovery gains steam, we would also add the following bonus: For any eligible employee kept on payroll for a continuous 52 weeks, the employer would receive an additional $1,000 credit on its 2011 tax return. (This would apply to any worker hired in 2010.)

Our two-pronged approach would be a far more efficient use of taxpayer dollars than other proposals under discussion, all of which could cost many times more with very little guaranteed improvement in unemployment.

Imagine that three million unemployed workers were to be hired this year under our plan. If they all worked an average of six months in 2010 at a salary of $50,000, and every single one stayed on payroll for 52 consecutive weeks into 2011, the gross cost of the Social Security tax cut and the additional credit would be only $7.6 billion. And that’s before we consider the offsets from income and payroll taxes paid by these workers.

There are some additional rules that would have to be put in place. For example, eligible workers would have to be hired for a minimum of 30 hours per week, and workers who are family members of the employer would not be eligible.

The payroll tax reduction would be for private-sector jobs only; new jobs that are created by tax dollars in the first place would not be eligible. And any employer with a lower total payroll in 2010 than it had in 2009 would have to forfeit the benefit — businesses shouldn’t be allowed to shed jobs and still receive a tax benefit.

We urge Congress and President Obama to consider this idea to help jumpstart hiring and turn our focus back on jobs.

They’ve tried stimulus, they’ve tried speeches, they’ve tried federal projects, and unemployment is still at the very least 10%.

Nobody mentions that in the best of times, unemployment is between 4 and up to 6% but that’s a story for another day.

However, in general, it means that unemployment is “only” twice as bad as normal. If you’re one of the unfortunates, or a family member of someone who is out of work, it’s a disaster whatever the statistics

So how do we get jobs for our population?

Everyone agrees that if we get these 4-6% of the unemployed employed again, our economy will start to flourish.

First of all, things are not as dire as some headlines read.

Those that are far smarter than me says that small business is the key to increased employment and I agree. There are signs of small companies starting to show some optimism.

In a recent survey, 87% of US small business owners say their business will perform the same or better in 2010 compared to 2009. In another survey 57% of small business managers say they are optimistic that 2010 will also see an end of the recession.

More importantly, 92% say they are considering proactive strategies to prepare for an economic upswing. 36% say that they think their business will grow this year.

Preliminary estimates for the GDP for the last quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010 are 4-5% growth. In addition, job losses are slowing down. One report said that the percentage of companies cutting payrolls fell to 28% from 3% in NABE's October 2009 survey. Also, 29% of those surveyed expect their companies to hire over the next six months, up from 24 percent last fall.

However, its interesting that 69% of those surveyed said the government's fiscal stimulus package enacted in February 2009 has had no impact on employment to date.

 

All this leads me to believe that in spite of the government stimulus (I’d rather say spending) programs, the economy is getting back on track.

 

According to the Pre State of the Union publicity, the President is going to announce some new jobs stimulus or spending program tomorrow night. That’s good politics and good headlines.

However, if I were King (too much trouble to become President!) I would not try to pass any new “jobs program” or whatever they chose to call it this time. Instead, I would work on legislation to rapidly find a way to create incentives for business, via tax cuts, to hire more people.

This would mean giving a tax credit to business that increase the number of employee’s or start new business that needs to hire people. It would have to be at some number that is meaningful.

Some people say the government needs more income to take care of our debt. Yes, the government does need more money.  However, in modern history, every time there is a tax cut, proceeds to the treasury increase. Not decrease.

This is because tax cuts stimulate business and personal spending as well. It puts more money in to business and individuals pockets who then have that money to spend and stimulate the economy that way

This will cost the government income at first, but it will reduce the unemployment benefits not being expended.

Additionally, the new employee’s will be taxed on their income putting more money into the treasury.

They will take their paychecks and buy consumer goods. It’s a win win.

Another way the economy could be stimulated is for the Federal Reserve to create a program (with a defined expiry date so we don’t build a new entitlement/bureaucracy to incentives banks to make loans. Not frivolous like in recent years, but loans to business.

I don’t have any concrete suggestions but it would no doubt have to be part of some sort of government guarantee to the banks. They’ve bailed them out already anyway, and have mostly been paid back, so maybe its time to re invest that money in a guarantee program. Much like the small business association has done for many years.

Business and the economy always needs credit. The banks are too timid and need a way to lend it. After that’s what their in business for. The government could charge a higher price so that it could profit by getting part of the point spread between what the bank pays for its money and what the borrower would pay. Then it would be a win win as well.

Speaking of interest rates, they’re gong to have to rise. It’s just a matter of when and my guess is it’s going to be sooner than later.

 

 

There are all forms of travel, but today I want to talk about air travel. Not just air travel, but air travel the way it ought to be for everyone but never will be again.

I’m writing this on my way to Sau Paulo Brazil where I have been invited to speak at a conference. I am going first class domestically and business class between the US and Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires to Sau Paulo.

Sound exotic. It’s far from it!  When I get to Buenos Aires, I will never leave the airport. Just hang around it for three hours waiting for my Sau Paulo flight.

Today, I traveled from Phoenix to Dallas and then from Dallas to Miami. Again, aside from a peek out of the window as we take off and land, nada – gournished, zip.  All told about 20 hrs of travel time. As I said, not a very eclectic experience

I am on American Airlines. I seldom fly American as I stick to United for my frequently flier status and point accumulation efforts. I must say I am very favorably impressed by American

First class, at least on the flights I had today were way above United’s typical domestic flights. The seats are about the same size but the leg room is better. The food is significantly better as well.

On United, even in first class, maybe your drink comes in a real glass, but on AA today from Phoenix to Dallas, they had a full array of drinks and their snack was far superior. On the flight from Dallas, they had the kind of meal you maybe can get on a United over sea’s flight. They both had hot mixed nuts- almost worth the price of the ticket!

To my amazement, and pleasant surprise, the Phoenix/Dallas flight had easy to use wifi. It cost $9.95 for the trip. I didn’t plug in but what a great thing to have available.

The attendants were better and more caring and devoted far more attention to passengers.

My Dallas/Miami flight had no wifi and neither flight had a port for my United type computer charger. They have a cigarette lighter type socket

I might add how nice the Phoenix airport is and when I got to Dallas, at least in the AA section, it was equally bight shiny and new. Then there’s Miami. They have a long long way to go to modernize and it’s like being in So America, but eventually it will get up to Dallas standards, or so it seems to me.

As I conclude this blog, and testimonial to American, on my way back, I left Sau Paulo at 1:00 am their time and arrived in Miami at 6 am. An 8 hour trip after calculating the time change.

Having flown lots of business class over-seas on United, and on a regular basis, there is simply no comparison to American. To begin with, the planes are far newer, and the seats work beautifully when you want to lay flat to sleep or move the back or leg portion etc. Not so on United. Half the time their broken – just worn out.

American gives you a comforter, not a thin worn blanket, and the crew is like in a different world, on all flights, compared to United.

I wish there was a way I could transfer all the miles/perks I’ve built up over the centuries with United and transfer them all to American.

One caveat however. American charges about $350 to use 50,000 miles for an upgrade. Is it worth the difference? Debatable but with all things being equal,  they sure have sold me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of us strive to have self-control. We are taught and learn though life’s experience to control our emotions and actions.

There are many ways to lose self-control and for most of us, situations arise during the day to test our resolve.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I try to exercise self-control when I am eating.

However, if I have more than one glass of wine, or a cocktail before dinner, the control starts to slip away. Ever happen to you?

Last night I had the pleasure of visiting another Churrasco steak house here in Sau Paulo Brazil. Brazil has a cattle population similar to the US and beef is very popular.

I was out with business friends who all like to have drinks before dinner (the traditional Brazilian aperitif is about all I need to get loosened up) and of course we did.

With the drink, tasty treats were served and we were all hungry, having not eaten in about 6 + hrs. By the time we finished the delicious aperitif, and the snacks, it was time to go for dinner and most of us were no longer hungry.

But this is Brazil and Churrasco, which is excellent, grilled meat.

First comes the ample salad bar with all types of delectable treats that are really another meal. This means that when combining the salad bar goodies and the appetizers, I became full and the meat was yet to come!

If you’ve ever been to a Brazilian steak house, or Churrasco?  There are, as I’ve previously mentioned, several chains as well as independent restaurants doing this in the US, it’s hard to pass up the skewers of meat as they keep putting slices in front of you. Portion control? Hah. They don' know from this!

“Try this, you’ve got to taste this, did you like this kind of meat?” “Wait till you see how this one is” and on and on and on

Of course, one must have something to drink and last night it was sharing Champaign followed by delicious Chilean wine (much better than Brazilian)

The alcohol did its usual trick on me and more self-control slipped away.

By now I was stuffed, but of course, everyone is having desert and I’m out of control! It was only fruit, and I couldn’t eat much. It was papaya, which is excellent in this part of the world, and supposedly good for digestion. Boy, did I need something good for digestion.

But the night wasn’t over. We all had to have an after dinner drink. They said it was a digestive. Since I was out of control by now, anyway, why not?

Did I mention that by now it was about midnight?

Back to the hotel, rolling into my room I realized that I still had an hour or more of work to do. I wanted to talk to my kids and fiance as well, who were in a time zone 6 hours behind me. (You can’t beat Skype for this)

My too long pants became too tight so I put on my pajamas and sat down in front of the computer and went to work.

Pretty soon it was 2 am and I had to get some sleep, but I was still full! Needless to say, I’ve had better nights of sleep than I did last night.

So how to combat this loss of self-control? Not to enjoy yourself and indulge? Is it just eating or drinking that we give in to against our better judgment?

Do we lose our self-control when we’d rather be doing something other than the work we know we should be doing? Do we stay up too late watching TV when we know we should be going to bed or we’ll be very tired the next day?

Do we not go to the gym when we should or take that run or walk?

Is it ok to not be so rigid? Will we die sooner if we don’t eat right all the time, or end up living on the street if we don’t work hard enough?

Where’s the limit between enjoyment and duty or obligation? Is it bad to relax? Will we regret it later?

I don’t have the answers, but would appreciate hearing what you think

PS. It’s now about noon, or 12 hrs after finishing the meal. Guess what – I’m still full

 

 

I’m in Sau Paulo Brazil this week attending an event called Couromoda. It’s a footwear Fair for all of Latin America.

I’ve been invited to speak on a panel of representatives from other countries about the US hide market in 2009 and what I portend we will see in 2010.

The overwhelming members of my audience will be from various Latin American countries, but mostly from Brazil. In Brazil, the national language is Portuguese. It’s a somewhat different Portuguese than one would find in Portugal but residents of both countries can understand each other.

All business executives at the Fair speak English to varying degrees. They also speak Spanish if they are from other Latin countries, and a fair amount of Portuguese if they do business here.

Currencies are different in this part of the world, like it used to be in Europe before the EURO and the formation of the European Community. The Argentine Peso is different from that in Chile for example, and so on.

But that’s no problem for business people. They know how to convert one currency from the other and are very conversant on duties on various leather items from one country to the other. They know freight rates; they know world affairs as well as regional affairs.

Last night I had dinner with the Secretary General of the International Council of Tanners, who is British, the Secretary General of an Association of European tanners (he’s Spanish) and the President of the Brazilian Tanners Association who is Brazilian.

To say the least it was a very interesting and fun evening.

All three of these gentlemen speak other languages. In the case of the EU representative, 10 different languages fluently. The President of the Brazilian Association speaks German, Portuguese, French and English. The “dummy” from the UK only speaks English and French, like I do. albeit poorly.

The point is that we in America never think about other currencies. We do our business in dollars. We never think about the need to know other languages. The world uses English as its official business and for that matter cultural language.

If you check into a hotel in Tokyo, or Sau Paulo, or Paris or Milan, the bellboy speaks English, and you can guess how far he went in school. Of course the desk clerk does and so does at least to some degree, the hotel maid.

This is not only true in major cities around the world, including Asia, but in smaller towns as well. Believe me, I’ve been there. They don’t put tanneries in big cities.

And we Americans? Residents of what I still think is the worlds greatest Country? You will typically hear; “Uh, another language? Huh? Well, I took Spanish in High School but I don’t remember anything,”

Currency calculations? No way for Americans. It’s a chore when we go out of the country but not for businessmen of other countries.

We, including me, continually find fault with our government. We are told our health care is the most expensive and our live birth rates are low compared to other countries and the costs involved in keeping us healthy are insane. Our taxes are onerous.

You can debate this all you want, but do you know any US citizen who wants to immigrate to another country? I’ve never heard of anyone.

Traveling here yesterday, between Dallas and Miami, 3 soldiers in fatigues were on the plane. They were on their way to Haiti with special equipment.

Our American flight crew made sure they got off before anyone else, and had special permission to collect their equipment from the cargo hold. As they walked up the plane to the door, many passengers said hello and wished them well.

On International flights, American Airlines asks passengers to contribute any extra change or foreign currencies in traveler’s pockets to UNICEF.

Before the flight attendants went down the aisles to collect, they said that due to the Haitian disaster, funds collected would now go there.

When they finished, they announced on my flight that this was the most contributions they had ever received. Makes you fell good doesn’t it.

Bottom line: We Americans still live in a golden age where our language, currency and culture are predominant in the world. We never realize this until we travel outside of our homeland.

 

 

Having been 6 ft 4 inches tall since I was around 17 or so, I am used to being the tallest person everyplace I go.

I must have the scars, at least internally, from the hundreds of times I’ve bumped my head on doorways, buses, airplane doors, and you name it. Some people call me “hardheaded” as a result!

I often had trouble buying pants that were long enough. People looked up at me -  (take that any way you like!)

About 6 or 8 years ago, I was out to lunch in Chicago with a bunch of friends of a friend, all of who were about 5 years older than me. All of these men grew up together.

A short, kind of old looking man, walked across the room on his way to a table. The guys excitedly explained, hey that’s …….(I forget his name).

I said why are you guys so excited about some old msn in a trench coat? That got an immediate reaction of indignity. “Do you know who that is?” They all cried out.

I, not having a clue said, no who. They said he was the greatest basketball player ever to grace the hardwood floors of Marshall High School in Chicago and the University of Illinois in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. I don’t remember exactly, but I think they said he even played in the NBA at the time.

I said, sorry, but he looks awfully short to be a big deal basketball player. They said," well, he shrunk. He used to be much taller but now he’s close to or 80 or so." They said they idolized him when they were kids.

I said, whadaya mean he shrunk? Who shrinks?

One of the men said, well I shrunk 1.5 inches. Another piped up and said he had shrunk two inches, and so on around the group.

In disbelief and smelling a rat, I said you guys are kidding me. No they said, we’re not.

The next day I was at lunch with another of my friends high school buddies who meet monthly at the famous Manny’s restaurant on the south side of Chicago (great place by the way). I asked if they had lost height and to a man they said yes and gave me their totals.

A short term later, I had my annual physical and related the story to my Internist who’s about 5.5 at best. He asked me get down off the examining table and stand straight.

 He then looked up at me and said; “when you can look me straight in the eye, you’ve got a problem!”

Well, I haven’t gotten there yet, but about 3 years ago I persuaded the Doctor to measure me. Sure enough I had shrunk two inches. A devastating blow.

I then started noticing how in crowds or public places I wasn’t always the tallest guy anymore. Since then, I find myself looking up to more than a few men, albeit most of whom are young, but still, it’s weird, to say the least.

When I’m standing in the aisle of a plane waiting to disembark, I no longer can see all the way to the back or front. There’s heads in the way.

When I’m at something like a big cocktail party, I can no longer look around and see whose talking to who.

Just this morning, as I was deplaining, a young women was in front of me and was taller than I am!

Just now I put on a pair of pants I hadn’t worn in quite sometime. The break in the cuffs was acute and I had to pull them up higher around my waist. The same thing happened with a pair of jeans when I put them on the other day.



Did you ever notice how old short guys wear their pants up so high? Now you know the reason

Have you ever heard of the tall old lady or the tall old man?

No, they’re old and short and now I think that one day, someone will say about me, “whose that little guy who just walked past? It couldn’t be Don. I haven’t seen him years, but he was a tall guy when when we last met.”

Well, it beats cancer, diabetes and a plethora of other ailments, but I have to admit, it still disturbs me. I guess I have to concentrate on standing up straighter from now on

 and get my pants shortened!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend who works part time in his own business at 72 along with his wife who is 66 and manages a large company will now be receiving over $45,000 year in social security benefits.

Another story I heard today was of another guy who has retired from the New York public schools from a high level position who receives something in the area of $70,000 or so as a pension. He doesn’t have to pay local or state taxes either.

State or government employees do not get social security nor do they pay into it. Instead they pay into their own state pension fund, as do federal employees.

There’s no magic. Government pension funds are far superior to social security. Members of Congress of course enjoy this as well.

Why can’t all of us?

When I first started working, I think my salary was around $7,000 and I paid for 43-44 years into the system at rising percentages of my income and more dollars as my income rose. Now I get about $22,000 from social security.  My employer also matched my contribution part of which went to the state unemployment fund.

Why won’t the government let all of us contribute and reap the benefits of paying into the same retirement fund that they do?

Had I been able to contribute to the same pension fund as government employee's, no doubt my retirement would yield around $70,000 or so per year as well.

My guess? Congress doesn’t want to lose all that income that never see’s the Social Security Trust Fund It’s all on paper.

The cash we contribute instead goes into the Congressional till for them to use as they “see fit.” We all know their level of “fitness” don’t we?

At the weekly lunch with my peers today, politics was discussed. This is not unusual.

Most of us are democrats but regardless, there was not one of us who said he wished we could throw out all Congressmen regardless of party and start fresh with new representatives.

We, as do many Americans, and as can be seen by their poll numbers, think that we would have a better chance of “change” with a whole new bunch.

I frankly doubt this. Most representatives are sincere about representing those that elected them when they first go to Washington. But then, they typically think of representing themselves first. Why not, it’s one of the best jobs in the nation!

 

 

 

It’s no secret that exercise is a major factor that contributes to good health.

At this time of year, those of us who ate too much over the holiday’s, or couldn’t get into last year’s holiday clothing, or who have just resolved to get fit in 2010, tend to join gyms It’s their their peak time for new members. Nothing wrong with that.

Problem is that most people join, go for a very short period of time and then give up on it.

Research has shown time and time again that regular exercise, as simple as a brisk 30- to 45-minute walk five times a week, can boost the body's immune system, increasing the circulation of natural killer cells that fight off viruses and bacteria.

Exercise has also been shown to improve the body's response to the influenza vaccine, making it more effective at keeping the virus at bay.

I have made exercise an important part of my week since I was in my 30’s and started gaining weight.

It’s been about 30 lbs. over 30 years, which means my fork got a better work out than the rest of my body!

However, I think I’ve had less colds and certainly less serious illness than most of my peers. I think this is largely due to exercise.

Regular exercise is not only good for health. It’s also very good for our state of mind and our over-all feeling of well being. It positively affects our attitude and our outlook.

It’s the best stress reliever going. If you exercise enough to get tired, you’ll find yourself far more relaxed.

To make it habitual, and it must be in order to do it often enough, I, as well as real experts who know what they’re talking about, recommend switching things up.

Don’t do the same exercise each time you work out.

I use the treadmill about 3-4 times a week. I turn on my IPOD and watch TV at the same time. If the TV is better, I just watch that and turn off the IPOD.

I used to jog until my knee’s protested too much. In my youth during the previous century, I played handball which I loved, but my body didn't.

Weights are important for muscle tone. I use the IPOD for that as well.

Spinning, or riding a stationary bicycle, is about the best cardiovascular exercise I know. When it’s done with a group and a leader who plays appropriate music, it goes fast. Sometimes, I just do it solo if I miss a class.

Whatever it is, a regular program that can be fun, or a break from everyday life is key.

This is why, although I’m really 110 years old, I don’t look it!

Oh, I almost forgot. My mother lived to be 89 and never exercised a day in her life. Smoke and drank too. Life of the party wherever she went.

Genes have lots to do with longevity but I prefer to help the odds by doing my best to stay healthy.

 

Have you ever wondered why time goes slow when you’re:

 

Waiting in line for the rest room

When you’re in school waiting for recess

Waiting in the car for your wife to “just run in and get something”

On an airplane

Waiting for an income tax refund

Waiting for a promised check in the mail

Waiting in the hospital for someone who’s in surgery

Waiting in a gondola at a ski resort

Waiting in a restaurant for the food you ordered and you’re hungry

When it's the middle of the night and you can’t sleep

You’re at some kind of performance you don’t like and you have to wait till its over before you can leave?

In the dentists chair

You’re stuck in traffic

When you’re a teen and waiting until you’re old enough to drive

 

 

 

Or why time goes fast when you’re

 

On vacation

On the week end

Sleeping

As your kid grows up

You have too much to do

You’re having fun

As you get older and wonder where the past year went?

When you want to see something, and you turn your head for a moment and you’ve missed it

You’re watching a great movie or reading a terrific book

Enjoying time with someone you rarely see

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I admit it. I’m a Phoenix Cardinals football fan.

 I am frustrated that the media does not give them any of the acclaim they are entitled to.

Last year after coming within a few seconds of winning the Super Bowl when during the playoff’s commentators said they were a disgrace to even be in the play off’s, nobody gave them any credit

Kurt Werner is up there with the very best the NFL or AFC quarterbacks that has ever been seen as his statistics show, and yet he’s never the headliner he should be. Yesterday he was 29 of 33. That's 29 completed passes out of 33 attempts. That's probably some kind of record in itself.

They did not have a good season but it was good enough to win the NFC Western division. This of course is taken by the Eastern or Midwestern sports media establishment to say, as they did last year, “we’ll they didn’t have much competition.”

Today I watched them dominate the much-heralded Green Bay Packers with the purported hottest rookie quarterback in football. Of the six commentators on the pregame show, all which were famous football players in their day, 5 of the 6 picked Green Bay to win.

I sensed that even the announces preferred that Green Bay win but maybe I"m just paranoid

Phoenix led for nearly the whole game until Green Bay came back in the late in the last quarter to tie. Incidentally, it was  the highest total points scored game in NFL Playoff history.

Then in the final seconds, the Phoenix kicker missed an easy field goal that would have won the game for them. It was a fluke.

The game went into over-time, and just when it looked like Green Bay was moving the ball to score the winning touchdown or field goal, a designed play by the Phoenix defense brilliantly got the ball away from the Green Bay quarterback and took it to the end zone to win the game.

Next week it’s New Orleans. That’s one tough team, and watch how the pundits knock Phoenix before they get a chance to prove themselves again, They’re one darn good football team and in my humble opinion, worthy of all they’ve achieved.

 

We are all paranoid at certain times in our lives. While not professing to have any psychiatric skills, I do know that it is a recognized mental disease.

However, I’m talking about Paranoia as a nation. Since 9/11, in my opinion, “most of us, and certainly our government, has become paranoid about another similar attack. Indeed, we first had “the shoe bomber”, and as mentioned in a recent attack, the “underpants” bomber.

None of us know how many attempts have been foiled by our armed services, FBI, CIA etc but I suspect there are many beyond what have come to light in recent years.

Now comes the but!  Our society and our Judeo Christian heritage values every life as precious. Nothing wrong with that, especially if it’s your own. However, at what cost to the rest of us do we value every life?

Paul Campos, a professor of law at the University of Colorado wrote an article in a recent edition of the Wall Street Journal on this subject.

His article noted that on any given day, 6,700 of us would die. Of those 1,900 will be under 65 and 140 of those will be children. 50 deaths will be due to murder and about 85 of us will commit suicide. Another 120 of will die in traffic accidents

We have no paranoia about the danger of driving do we?

So back to the cost to the rest of us of saving even one of us.

Millions of us are significantly inconvenienced, and our government spends inordinate amounts of money for airport security. How much productive time is spent going through security before we get on a plane? I would guess the cost is in the billions.

So I have some questions:

Should all who travel go through the security process now in place to save the lives of a minute percentage of our population?

If we didn’t have in place what we have, and as we all know, it’s far from perfect, would more planes have been blown up?

Why don’t we use the Israeli process of profiling and a human watching for passengers who look dangerous based on their experience who can be pulled aside for further inspection and questioning?

We have a system in place that frequent flyers can buy a pass to get through security based on their past histories and information.  Why can’t we make this more available and more economically viable?

Why can’t we find a way to create a system that only a small percentage of us have to through what we all do now to protect us from a pretty remote chance of being blown up on a plane?

Why do we actually enourage more terrorists attacks by showing our paranoia over future ones?

If I were the guy hiding in a cave, I'd tell my boys, hey, let's keep doing this? Look how we're hurting western society? Yeah!

I wonder which has the greater risk? A terrorist trying to kill us in flight, or an accident or mechanical malfunction that causes a plane to crash?

What about pilot error?

No Paranoia about risking our lives flying is there? Too few crashes over too many miles flown solved that problem.

Are we paranoid about an Iranian nuclear attack? Think how many of us would die then?

Israel deals with this on a daily basis, and there is no paranoia. Just a quiet confidence and astute security forces trained to protect them. Why can’t we learn how they do it?

Bottom line: Life is risky. Yes, it’s precious, but so is the short time we all have on his planet.

 

 

As you may or may not know, Congress is now meeting “behind closed doors” to bring together the Health Care bill first passed by the House of Representatives and subsequenty by the Senate.

While both have some of the same aspects, the majority of the points in the plan are different.

This is normal and which is why Congress forms a conference committee to compromise both bills into one and then vote on it.

This is all well and good except that this time, Congress will not allow C-Span or other media journalists to witness the proceedings. The latest I’ve heard is that they begrudgingly allowed one whole hour for C Span coverage.

A pending law that is said to affect over 15% of our economy is being done in secrecy by a relative few Democratic legislators.

You can be for or against this bill but don’t you agree that C-span or other media should be able to cover it and tell the populace what’s being discussed?

I can guess why they want to keep it secret, but that is beside the point.

Even if those having to vote on it may not understand it, maybe the public will be able to once they hear it being debated by those who are trying to pass it into law.

Media editorials are full of comments about the handling of the Detroit “underpants” bomber.

As one pundit recently noted, Al Qaeda must be having to dip down towards the bottom of the barrel to find suicide bombers based on the ineptitude of this latest attack.

We got lucky. So did Ramzi Yousef.

Our military risks its lives and spends billions of dollars to hunt down terrorists in far off parts of the world. They are very difficult to capture and as a result, nearly all are killed. The Drone’s have been especially effective at this.

Then, we get one of these guys in Detroit, thanks to some quick thinking by passengers, and the lack of adequate training of the bomber. The result; a trial.

I think that the criminal in this case, even more than the bomber, is our government policy on this.

It’s ok to try to kill if we can’t capture Al Qaeda operatives and their brethren in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and too many other places, but if we catch them here, they get a fair trial just like any citizen would.

The information previously gleaned from terrorists who have been captured has proved to be very effective in thwarting other attacks.

We send valiant volunteers to try to find out what our enemies are planning next or how they’re operating, and yet, when we catch one here alive, he gets free legal representation and a trial by what the courts call his “peers.”

I find this is not only unbelievable, but terrible.

I try to keep my political views out of these blogs and to be as neutral as possible. However, somebody in the Obama inner circle needs to tell the President who is pledged to defend us, that his policy has to be changed post haste.

We may not be so lucky the next time they attack.

In both the meat packing and tanning industries we have seen a great deal of consolidation. The same holds true for footwear and upholstery manufacturing

At retail, as one informed source recently advised, if you can’t sell Macy’s you’ve lost the department store business. The same can be true about Wall Mart, K Mart, and others.

Where even 10 years ago there were a multitude of enterprises competing in a given field, now there are only a small percentage left. 

They are bigger and more powerful to a large degree and can typically dictate their buying/selling terms if you are trying to deal with them

So what’s it done to markets? In hides, really nothing.

The number of hide producers has shrunken drastically. The supply of raw hides as opposed to wet blue hides from the same producers shrinks with amazing alacrity.

Just last year, the hide market fluctuated to an extreme not seen in more than a generation, and market movement before and after the wild swing, was normal.

The weak vanish, or merge in an attempt to reinvent themselves. This happens at all levels of business, and at the same time, in all levels of business, the markets still control pricing.

Supply and demand, whether there are dozens participating or just two, still dictate prices of everything we buy and sell.

In many cases if there is only one producer of a desired item, then someone finds an alternative and the one producer has to adjust their prices accordingly.

So business learns, not without some financial pain, to adapt and adjust, and the end user is served as well as they ever were.

A phrase coined long ago says; “Necessity is the mother of invention.” It continues to be true in these times as it ever was before.

 

 

 

I often say; “travel is an adventure!”

Having just taken a Red Eye for an all night 6 hr flight it’s been proven again.

There are some very fine international airlines and in my view, a few pretty good domestic carriers. South West and Jet Blue come to mind.

But there are far more very bad domestic airlines, and US Air is near the top of my “try to avoid list.”

On the flight last night, in addition to two broken seats (so that the large guy in front of me was practically resting his head in my lap), there was no soap in the lavatory, and the flight attendants acted like they were doing us all a favor.

On US planes to desirable or even exotic locations, more often than not, the female attendants are generally near the end of their careers (to put it nicely), are worn out, and typically run short of patience.

They are also fewer in number working too often with old equipment, too tight of schedules and now have to be cashiers on top of everything else.

Even when realizing what air travel has become, the very popular and often full Red Eye flights (full mostly because of the price) have to be the worst.

We all need a nights sleep, and on a plane, unless you’re under the age of 10, crammed in a seat, it’s almost impossible.

Yes, they have the neck pillows you can buy (forget about the nice pillows and blankets travelers in coach used to get), and you can recline your seat to lean back into the poor people behind you, but it’s tough for everyone.

Then of course there are the announcements, the shoulder/elbow knock as the carts/people go by on the aisle, and the nice cold breeze if you’ve a window seat.

Did I mention the $6.00 snack pack? Ok, I’m probably a fussier eater than most, but it was just about inedible. We asked for hot tea and got a look from the unhappy flight  “waitress”/attendant that made us feel guilty to ask!

As someone commented some years ago, air travel has now become the Greyhound of the skies. I think Greyhound may now probably be better.

Oh well, you’ve all been there.

But I sure long for the good old days, when planes couldn’t take off it the clouds were too thick, or a weather front was moving in, or it was icy or too windy.

You had to walk up hill to your big wide seat (I was smaller than too) on the DC 3’s with the noisy prop engines and bumpy long rides.

Men were expected to wear a jacket and tie, and women high heels and gloves and hats. That was just to go from Pittsburg to Peoria.

Free liquor and cigarettes were fostered upon passengers as well and the stewardess made you feel like a king. Of course the fare’s back then also made you have to have enough money as a King.

Bottom line: Just don’t consider the advertised fare if you want some reasonably comfortable travel.

On the other hand if you just want to get someplace at the lowest possible cost, then don’t complain if it’s not to your liking.

It’s just basic transportation – not too much unlike a subway ride without straps!

 

 

 

 

Perception, or how we perceive both others, and ourselves can make a huge difference in our lives.

Some of us take great pains to conduct ourselves so that others perceive us to either be what we really are or how we’d like them to see us.

Perception is a very important factor in sales. We want our customer to perceive us as being honest and reliable. This means delivering our product or service as we say it is.

Some only intend to make a sale one time, and then never again. Fortunately, what is more often the case, is that we want to induce our customer to buy from us by creating a positive perception and then have a chance to perform adequately again and again.

Perception is also important in advertising ourselves or a product or service. We want the target market to perceive what we are trying to sell in the most positive way that will help make the sale.

In a market where prices are negotiable, sellers want their buyers to perceive that they don’t really “need” to sell, but if the buyer will meet their price, they will take it under advisement.

Buyers also use perception to try to convince the seller that they will only buy the product/service if the price or terms of sale are more attractive.

They want the seller to perceive them as not really needing the product or that they can do equally as well or better from the sellers competitors.

In a social situation, say when boy meets girl etc., everyone wants to look and act their best. This applies throughout life as we try to create a positive impression on those we first meet.

Perception applies to all we do

So what’s to be learned?

In my opinion, never create a perception to those with whom you do business, or socialize with that is misleading or untruthful.

As PT Barnum once said, “you can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all of the time!” In other words, creating a false perception can destroy a business and social/personal relationship that you are likely to regret in the future.

Yes, try to put “your best foot forward” and create a most positive first impression. However, always keep in mind that it must be followed up with substance.