SWCAMBORNE

Wooden step ladders are going to become a collectible.  Metal and fiberglass stepladders are cheaper, lighter and more durable.  But the old wooden ones have a nice look and as they become rare will become collectable.

You read it hear first.

On the way back from our trip to Phoenix and Albuquerque last month we stopped at El Morro.  It was a beautiful day and we took some great pictures both as we approached and on the walk.

There is a year round water source at the base of the cliff and so people have been visiting here for thousands of years.  They have also been carving their names into the soft sandstone, leaving a record that shows how many immigrants have past this way.

Native American Sheep

I’m not sure if this is an argument for or against immigration.

A Spaniard in 1709

Perhaps it is as Mike the Barber says:  “Migration happens, Get used to it”

US Calvary 1859

Now of course we would call it graffitti.

The IRS reported Monday that there were 47,000 people with a net worth greater than $20 million in the USA.  This amounts to about one out of every 6000 people.  At the Democrat convention there are at least eight delegates with a net worth of over $20 million:

• Nancy Pelosi
• Bill Clinton
• Hillary Clinton
• Ted Kennedy
• Michael Moore
• John Kerry
• Al Gore
• John Edwards

There are about 5000 delegates at the convention so at least one in six hundred makes the $20 million list.  The math works out that Democrat delegates are ten times as likely to be rich as the average American.

My conclusion is that “helping the poor” is a good path to wealth.

Where to buy socks in Ashland, Oregon:

Brilliant!

John Edwards was right there are two Americas.

Those who can keep their pants zipped.

And those who can’t.

Two questions about soap:

What is French Milled Soap?

And why is it different than any other soap?

and

If you put bumps on a tiny bar of soap:

Can you call it “massage”

with a straight face?

“An idle brain is the devils workshop.”

English Proverb

There is a company in Birmingham, Alabama that makes wooden postcards. Lillian spotted them in a feature in the Southwest Airlines magazine. They claim that they cut the wood thin enough so that you can mail them at postcard rates. Unfortunately they cost $6.00 each. You can see their web site and buy their products HERE

Night Owl Paper Goods …excellent idea

I’m enjoying driving my new Smart Car.  At least partly because it is an attention getter.

I’m still not sure who will drive a Smart Car? Hip Geeks are driving Mini Coopers. It may end up being a car for Nerds. It is a marketing problem for the people who are trying to build a niche for it.  For illustration purposes I’ll call it the Geek-Jock-Hip-Nerd matrix. It may be necessary to also add the Young-Old-Rich-Poor matrix.  For Smart Car this is critically important. If their early adapters are in the wrong spots on the matrix they will fail. Time will tell.

In the meantime I can park anywhere.  In Pasadena that is critical.

It is the Olympics again. It seems like they happens every couple of years. We have been watching for a few hours every night. Thanks to whoever invented Tivo type devices.

As usual much of the judging of events like diving and gymnastics is questionable. In the spirit of trying to solve this issue I’d like to offer this definition of a sport.

A sport is

• a competition requiring athletic prowess
  
• the winner of which is obvious to an untrained observer.

By this definition:

• Basketball is a sport
• Synchronized diving is not a sport
• Pole vaulting is a sport
• Chess is not a sport
• Dressage is not a sport
• Beach volleyball is a sport
• Gymnastics is not a sport
• Darts is a sport
• Archery is a sport
• Rifle is on the cusp

Just because a competition is classified as an exhibition does not mean that it is not amazing or that the competitors are not wonderful.  They are incredible, but half the time I can’t tell which one is best and neither can the judges.  It is time to separate the sports and the exhibitions.

• Dancing With the Stars is an exhibition.
• Football is a sport.

There is room in the world for both types of events.  But perhaps the Olympics should only be for sports.