Our 2011 vacation was a big hit. After our trip home from Louisiana in 2007, we spent one night in Moab, UT and barely touched the beauty of Arches. We vowed then to return for a "real" stay and fulfilled our vow this year. We scheduled our get-away to leave the day after the kids finished school to beat as much of the summer heat as possible, and we did it! We enjoyed the upper 80s at Arches, which hit the 90s the day we left, and is certainly in the 100s during this summer's heat wave (which we, in the NW, have most certainly missed!)
The kids loved climbing all over the rocks, leaving the trail, and climbing high -- right along with my (Karen's) blood pressure! But it was a beautiful exploration of majesty for us all.
Since we were already in Utah, we decided to head over to Colorado as well, so that Melanie could see her best friend, Lexi.
Then, since we were in Colorado, why not head back through Yellowstone National Park? Yep. Whew! It was quite a vacation through seven states that gave the kids three new states to add to their growing list of states they've been to. They also added two new Junior Ranger badges for two national parks.
We've told them this will likely be the last full family vacation we have for a while, as Chris will be pursuing his education next year. They're okay with that and are still glowing in the experience.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Out of Egypt
Egypt is free! The power of the people to overthrow their 30 year control-hungry dictator in 18 days is absolutely amazing.
I posted the satire below two days ago, the day Mubarak was expected to announce his resignation. I felt at the time an introductory comment was in order, but I was quite tired and wanted to post the satire when it was still timely. Sure enough, by the very next morning, it would have already been outdated! So let me set it up now with my own heart of prayer for Egypt, Israel, the Middle East. May Egypt’s tremendous display of democracy bring forth full democracy; may it s sweep throughout the Middle East; and may it bring forth an awakening of light that shines brighter and brighter. May peace with Israel continue, and may Israel live into its Torah command to “love foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt.” Finally, may Egypt’s freedom bring about a moment when Egypt, Israel, and the Middle Eastern world sheds the notion of “foreigner” and instead embrace the notion of “brother.”
Regarding the satire itself, it is not an LOL satire. In a more blatant way, it pokes fun at Mubarak, but the real tease is at the world’s response to Mubarak’s “surprising” decision not to resign, in light of reports by those who work for him that he “might resign.” Thursday morning, NPR made three announcements: (a) that Mubarak’s administration had held a meeting at which Mubarak himself was not present; (b) that highly important officials within Mubarak’s regime and within his army were announcing his possible resignation that evening; and (c) that CIA Director Leon Pinetta announced a “strong possibility” Mubarak would resign that evening. I put (a) together with (b) and (c) and thought “brilliant!” Sure enough, events transpired as ought to have been expected: Mubarak did not resign (check!); the people of Egypt were enraged (check!); the international community responded in astonishment (check!); the next day, Mubarak resigned (check – but an astonishingly quick check!) I would have expected more resistance before the secret meeting’s brilliant strategy worked. I also would not have expected everyone in the media to continue with their clueless questions regarding “the ‘contradiction’ in Mubarak’s communication.” They themselves had reported that a meeting had taken place of top officials without Mubarak present, so why did they think his officials were speaking for him? In any case, what I think transpired, as alluded to in my satire, turned out to be a fully brilliant strategy. Feel free to see it in the post below. Blessings to Egypt.
I posted the satire below two days ago, the day Mubarak was expected to announce his resignation. I felt at the time an introductory comment was in order, but I was quite tired and wanted to post the satire when it was still timely. Sure enough, by the very next morning, it would have already been outdated! So let me set it up now with my own heart of prayer for Egypt, Israel, the Middle East. May Egypt’s tremendous display of democracy bring forth full democracy; may it s sweep throughout the Middle East; and may it bring forth an awakening of light that shines brighter and brighter. May peace with Israel continue, and may Israel live into its Torah command to “love foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt.” Finally, may Egypt’s freedom bring about a moment when Egypt, Israel, and the Middle Eastern world sheds the notion of “foreigner” and instead embrace the notion of “brother.”
Regarding the satire itself, it is not an LOL satire. In a more blatant way, it pokes fun at Mubarak, but the real tease is at the world’s response to Mubarak’s “surprising” decision not to resign, in light of reports by those who work for him that he “might resign.” Thursday morning, NPR made three announcements: (a) that Mubarak’s administration had held a meeting at which Mubarak himself was not present; (b) that highly important officials within Mubarak’s regime and within his army were announcing his possible resignation that evening; and (c) that CIA Director Leon Pinetta announced a “strong possibility” Mubarak would resign that evening. I put (a) together with (b) and (c) and thought “brilliant!” Sure enough, events transpired as ought to have been expected: Mubarak did not resign (check!); the people of Egypt were enraged (check!); the international community responded in astonishment (check!); the next day, Mubarak resigned (check – but an astonishingly quick check!) I would have expected more resistance before the secret meeting’s brilliant strategy worked. I also would not have expected everyone in the media to continue with their clueless questions regarding “the ‘contradiction’ in Mubarak’s communication.” They themselves had reported that a meeting had taken place of top officials without Mubarak present, so why did they think his officials were speaking for him? In any case, what I think transpired, as alluded to in my satire, turned out to be a fully brilliant strategy. Feel free to see it in the post below. Blessings to Egypt.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Let yourself go!
“Let yourself go!” cried the people to Pharaoh, “So that we may be free!” “Who are the people,” replied Pharaoh, “that they know better than me? I will let everyone in my Cabinet go, but I will not let myself go.”
Using tools of communication, the people planned a great gathering to cry with a very loud voice. Together, the people shouted, “Let yourself go! So that we may be free!”
“What are these tools of communication?” asked Pharaoh “that they work better than me?” That day, Pharaoh gave the order to break all the tools.
The people returned, “Why have you treated us this way?” and they cried again, “Let yourself go!” “I have felt all the pain you felt,” Pharaoh replied. And he sent the army into the streets.
The world’s most powerful king called Pharaoh and said, "I think that you need to write a letter of farewell to your people." "Why?” Pharaoh replied, “Where are they going?"
Under violence and chaos, the people grew in numbers and in strength. Louder than ever they shouted, “Let yourself go!” “I will deliver Egypt and its people to safety,” replied Pharaoh, “in seven months.”
Behind the scenes, the army, the world’s most powerful king, the kings of neighboring nations, and even Pharaoh’s own team shook their heads, scratched their hair, and huddled in confusion about what to do.
After seventeen days, a meeting of Pharaoh’s team was called, and all came, except for Pharaoh. “We’ll tell the world he will announce his departure,” they plotted. “With the people and the world expecting him to announce his departure, he will have to do it,” they whispered. A call was made to a leader working for the world’s most powerful king.
That day, announcements were made by a general in the army, a leader in Pharaoh’s team, and a leader working for the world’s most powerful king. They all spoke in a single voice: “Pharaoh might let himself go.” The people were elated.
When Pharaoh came before the people, he announced, “I will give my work to my assistant, but I will not go. Outsiders will not tell me what to do. Nor even will insiders!” The people threw shoes at him.
The people under Pharaoh, the reporters in all countries, and the people of the world marveled at the contradiction. Why would all the leaders say Pharaoh would announce his departure when he did not announce it? “Why,” they wondered, “did Pharaoh change his mind?" They knew the people speaking for Pharaoh had to truly be speaking for Pharaoh -- no one could question an assumption so clear. Therefore, Pharaoh changed his mind!
Meanwhile, in hearing the cacophony of calls for a good-bye, Pharaoh muddled in the deepest confusion of all: "Where's everybody going?"
Using tools of communication, the people planned a great gathering to cry with a very loud voice. Together, the people shouted, “Let yourself go! So that we may be free!”
“What are these tools of communication?” asked Pharaoh “that they work better than me?” That day, Pharaoh gave the order to break all the tools.
The people returned, “Why have you treated us this way?” and they cried again, “Let yourself go!” “I have felt all the pain you felt,” Pharaoh replied. And he sent the army into the streets.
The world’s most powerful king called Pharaoh and said, "I think that you need to write a letter of farewell to your people." "Why?” Pharaoh replied, “Where are they going?"
Under violence and chaos, the people grew in numbers and in strength. Louder than ever they shouted, “Let yourself go!” “I will deliver Egypt and its people to safety,” replied Pharaoh, “in seven months.”
Behind the scenes, the army, the world’s most powerful king, the kings of neighboring nations, and even Pharaoh’s own team shook their heads, scratched their hair, and huddled in confusion about what to do.
After seventeen days, a meeting of Pharaoh’s team was called, and all came, except for Pharaoh. “We’ll tell the world he will announce his departure,” they plotted. “With the people and the world expecting him to announce his departure, he will have to do it,” they whispered. A call was made to a leader working for the world’s most powerful king.
That day, announcements were made by a general in the army, a leader in Pharaoh’s team, and a leader working for the world’s most powerful king. They all spoke in a single voice: “Pharaoh might let himself go.” The people were elated.
When Pharaoh came before the people, he announced, “I will give my work to my assistant, but I will not go. Outsiders will not tell me what to do. Nor even will insiders!” The people threw shoes at him.
The people under Pharaoh, the reporters in all countries, and the people of the world marveled at the contradiction. Why would all the leaders say Pharaoh would announce his departure when he did not announce it? “Why,” they wondered, “did Pharaoh change his mind?" They knew the people speaking for Pharaoh had to truly be speaking for Pharaoh -- no one could question an assumption so clear. Therefore, Pharaoh changed his mind!
Meanwhile, in hearing the cacophony of calls for a good-bye, Pharaoh muddled in the deepest confusion of all: "Where's everybody going?"
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Gold Man Sacks Little Guy
A version of the following was originally posted elsewhere the day after the Fed Chairman announced more "qualitative easing" (printing money). It recently posted on a spoof news site like this. Given that this blog is far behind on family updates, we'll post this satire Karen wrote.
New York: Just while stocks reached record highs in the Great Recession, investigators revealed today they discovered the secret formula of Gold Man Sacks (GMS): 2+2=5. According to investigators, GMS trained its employees to turn two 2s into 5. GMS Financial Advisor Bo Whistle told investigators GMS's use of its secret formula explains the company's record profits, as well as its use of personal jets, luxury cruises, and meetings at deluxe resorts.
Investigators discovered that in July 2005, Little Guy Union (LGU) complained to company executives: "While you lounge on resort beaches, your workers are turning your 2s and 2s into 5s, and we can't pay our bills!" "Injustice!" cried LGU members. "We want job security! We want strong salaries! We want health care! We want more vacation and sick leave!" GMS was hesitant to pay its workers more, but LGU had a trump card: "We'll announce your secret formula: 2+2=5." Under such a threat, GMS signed contracts to avoid lay-offs, increase wages and leave benefits, and offer stronger health coverage. The workers were happy, but they wanted more. GMS was happy, but it wanted fewer workers. Many more 2s and 2s were turned into 5s, and both GMS and workers increased in wealth.
Whistle told investigators that in August, 2006, GMS executives met to develop a plan "to release excess employees and pay the remaining ones less." However, Whistle said their plan back-fired. Not only were they unsuccessful in negotiating with LGU, but the union announced GMS's plan to the nation, which led to a public relations debacle.
In November, 2007, Whistle said GMS's secret formula broke down. No longer could the company turn two 2s into 5. Within a year, the company had lost half its fortune and had laid-off thirty percent of its workforce. Meanwhile, Little Guy Union's hands were tied, as it could not argue against GMS's dismal balance sheet. Not only did GMS finally succeed in laying off workers, but it also increased the workloads of those who remained. In short order, the company reduced their salaries and diminished their benefits. LGU Leader Mia Turn told investigators the union knew if it tried to stop this trend, GMS would present its balance sheet and ask, "Would you prefer more lay-offs?"
Investors saw the balance sheets and sold mountains of GMS shares. Thankfully for the company, GMS was too big to fail, and the United States Treasury came to the rescue. In time, with the Treasury's money, production resumed and the balance sheet turned positive again. By now, GMS had discovered it could produce just as much at a much lower cost. It had released its excess employees, and it had demanded more for less of those who remained.
Meanwhile, the company had also re-invented its secret to the formula 2+2=5. In its Annual Report, GMS proclaimed "productivity" had "increased" and profits were on the rise. Stockholders rejoiced and rewarded GMS with more buys. Armed once again with its secret formula, top executives returned to their lavish lifestyle in personal jets, on luxury cruises, and at deluxe resorts.
Turn said the union wanted to complain, but it could do nothing. GMS was one of many corporate giants, and all had laid off workers. Workers wanted jobs and were willing to work for small salaries. GMS delighted in this new freedom to profit with ease. Investors agreed and rewarded GMS mightily. Together, the rich and the powerful regained their wealth.
While economic recovery arrived for large banks and corporations like GMS, the official unemployment rate was nearly 10% and the actual underemployment rate was nearly 20%. Whistle reported that by the third quarter of 2009, investors began to express concern the recovery was a façade, and they threatened to withdraw the profits they had earned. Whistle reported his company and its main competitors arranged a secret meeting in November in order to respond to the discrepancy between corporate profits and rising unemployment. The attendants at the meeting agreed to simultaneously send out official economic reports with the same announcement for the type of economy the United States was experiencing: "a jobless recovery."
The codeword succeeded for the nation's investors, and GMS and its corporate competitors all enjoyed record profits and soaring share prices. At the Annual Shareholder's Meeting in August of 2010, GMS CEO I. M. Rich is reported to have said, "We love record earnings at a low cost! What could be better than a jobless recovery?"
New York: Just while stocks reached record highs in the Great Recession, investigators revealed today they discovered the secret formula of Gold Man Sacks (GMS): 2+2=5. According to investigators, GMS trained its employees to turn two 2s into 5. GMS Financial Advisor Bo Whistle told investigators GMS's use of its secret formula explains the company's record profits, as well as its use of personal jets, luxury cruises, and meetings at deluxe resorts.
Investigators discovered that in July 2005, Little Guy Union (LGU) complained to company executives: "While you lounge on resort beaches, your workers are turning your 2s and 2s into 5s, and we can't pay our bills!" "Injustice!" cried LGU members. "We want job security! We want strong salaries! We want health care! We want more vacation and sick leave!" GMS was hesitant to pay its workers more, but LGU had a trump card: "We'll announce your secret formula: 2+2=5." Under such a threat, GMS signed contracts to avoid lay-offs, increase wages and leave benefits, and offer stronger health coverage. The workers were happy, but they wanted more. GMS was happy, but it wanted fewer workers. Many more 2s and 2s were turned into 5s, and both GMS and workers increased in wealth.
Whistle told investigators that in August, 2006, GMS executives met to develop a plan "to release excess employees and pay the remaining ones less." However, Whistle said their plan back-fired. Not only were they unsuccessful in negotiating with LGU, but the union announced GMS's plan to the nation, which led to a public relations debacle.
In November, 2007, Whistle said GMS's secret formula broke down. No longer could the company turn two 2s into 5. Within a year, the company had lost half its fortune and had laid-off thirty percent of its workforce. Meanwhile, Little Guy Union's hands were tied, as it could not argue against GMS's dismal balance sheet. Not only did GMS finally succeed in laying off workers, but it also increased the workloads of those who remained. In short order, the company reduced their salaries and diminished their benefits. LGU Leader Mia Turn told investigators the union knew if it tried to stop this trend, GMS would present its balance sheet and ask, "Would you prefer more lay-offs?"
Investors saw the balance sheets and sold mountains of GMS shares. Thankfully for the company, GMS was too big to fail, and the United States Treasury came to the rescue. In time, with the Treasury's money, production resumed and the balance sheet turned positive again. By now, GMS had discovered it could produce just as much at a much lower cost. It had released its excess employees, and it had demanded more for less of those who remained.
Meanwhile, the company had also re-invented its secret to the formula 2+2=5. In its Annual Report, GMS proclaimed "productivity" had "increased" and profits were on the rise. Stockholders rejoiced and rewarded GMS with more buys. Armed once again with its secret formula, top executives returned to their lavish lifestyle in personal jets, on luxury cruises, and at deluxe resorts.
Turn said the union wanted to complain, but it could do nothing. GMS was one of many corporate giants, and all had laid off workers. Workers wanted jobs and were willing to work for small salaries. GMS delighted in this new freedom to profit with ease. Investors agreed and rewarded GMS mightily. Together, the rich and the powerful regained their wealth.
While economic recovery arrived for large banks and corporations like GMS, the official unemployment rate was nearly 10% and the actual underemployment rate was nearly 20%. Whistle reported that by the third quarter of 2009, investors began to express concern the recovery was a façade, and they threatened to withdraw the profits they had earned. Whistle reported his company and its main competitors arranged a secret meeting in November in order to respond to the discrepancy between corporate profits and rising unemployment. The attendants at the meeting agreed to simultaneously send out official economic reports with the same announcement for the type of economy the United States was experiencing: "a jobless recovery."
The codeword succeeded for the nation's investors, and GMS and its corporate competitors all enjoyed record profits and soaring share prices. At the Annual Shareholder's Meeting in August of 2010, GMS CEO I. M. Rich is reported to have said, "We love record earnings at a low cost! What could be better than a jobless recovery?"
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Melanie loves Misty!
Melanie & Natalie
Melanie & Natalie
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