A Quick Story About Gran

My Grandad recently passed away in his sleep at the age of 88 from the side effects of chemotherapy.  My Gran (pictured with my brother and I) has dementia, and had to be moved to an assited living environment.  She has always seemed to be a proper grandmother.  Kind, gentle, mannerly, & frail.

One day last week at 1:30 am she decided she must go to the market.  Her dementia was severe enough that she couldn't see how bad an idea this might be, but not severe enough for her to forget that the attendents would not let here leave.  Sologically, she decided to climb out her window.  Although it was just over a 10 foot drop, she came through with flying colors.  Despite her subtrefuge, the nurse realized that she had left the room, and came out to steer her back inside.  A struggle ensued, and ended with the nurse being thrown down the hill.  My mom spoke to the flustered nurse on the phone, and she was supposedly covered in mud from head to toe.  Eventually law enforcement and emergency services were called, and Gran was taken to the hospital for liability reasons.  

As far as I know Gran will be allowed to stay, and no charges were filed.  When my aunt commented on the bandages covering the bruises on Gran's wrist, she simply said that she had gotten into a fight.  They asked her who won, and Gran replied, "Well, as far as I'm concerned I did."  I'm not one to use this phrase often, but I can't help but say..."YOU GO GIRL!"

A Quick Word about the Economy

One of the main ideas in my undergraduate class on investment was the balancing concepts of “fear and greed” as motivators for investment.  My imagination still plays back this scene:

Dr. Martin - “The stock market is motivated by what…Mr. Ross?”

Me -     “Fear and greed…”

Dr. Martin – “Fear and greed indeed”

People, by nature, want stuff, and in some cases that stuff can be purchased with money.  This gives money value, and is the basis for all capitalistic economic theory.  As with anything of value, money can be rented out for a fee to those who have a greater immediate need.  This is call investment, and it is done to make more money, those with a surplus rent out (invest) their money.  This is the greed motivator or the reason to invest; more euphemistically known as self-interest.

The problem with letting some one else use your money is simple.  You risk that the money may not be given back.  This is the fear motivator, or reason not to invest.

The U.S. government openly admits that it regulates so that investors will have more confidence renting out their money which will stimulate business, and ideally make almost everyone (including the government) more money.  They are decreasing the fear factor for people who want to invest.  This promotes investment in things that most people never see or even understand because they feel comfort that the government has their back. 

Unfortunately, these regulations give a false sense of security for two reasons.  The first is that complexity in business and life makes it nearly impossible for these regulations to be enforced. Second, the creation of these regulations is influenced by powerful institutions simple seeking their own interests.    

The solution:  remove many of the cumbersome, complex, and ambiguous regulations, and allow the natural fear of losing what you have to balance out the desire to obtain more.  This equilibrium will promote personal investigation and responsibility which will encourage people to invest in what they know and in what they trust.  This will challenge those seeking investment to be more transparent and more trustworthy if they desire those funds.  When individuals struggle to make more informed personal business choices it produces a better economy, and builds a stronger people.    

It's a...BABY!

As previously stated, I try to keep personal information off the blog. However this one is a biggie. My wife and I are expection our second child on July 15th, 2009.

Profanity

Last week I heard my two year old son clearly and emphatically say the word, "Crap", but he was only repeating what he had just heard me say. Most people probably don't consider that word "profane", but it really got me thinking about the nature of profanity.

I have come to the conclusion that whether I said "crap", "flim-flam", or "Fuck" (yeah, I dropped it right in the middle of my blog; feel free to comment.) it would not have mattered. The issue is not the syllables that my mouth forms, but the fact that I have allowed words to come from my mouth without thought or proper contol. This problem is perfectly described in the Bible by the James:

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." James 1:26 ESV

Flying Cars

My wife can verify that when I am stuck in traffic I complain about the empty promise of flying cars. I mean...it's almost 2009, and still no flying cars. I'm starting to think it just isn't going to happen. So, while driving in the recent week I began thinking about the incentives for and against flying cars, and I finally determined why we don't have them.

The government has built us so many nice roads to drive on there just isn't sufficient demand for them. (I still work for the transportion cabinet so don't just assume I'm lobbying for less government involvement in road building...but that is exacly what I am doing.)