A BLAME GAME & ALIEN BLOOMS

A DAY FOR A SWEET AND SOUR POST
THE SWEET COMES LATER

THE "TOLD YOU SO" FACTOR?

      The AP's Washington Bureau is out with an analysis that underscores what we all know.  The recovery from the recession is weak.

       It was about 3 years ago when economists and politicians were fretting over ways to recover that a dividing line was drawn.  A group warned that plans on the table were inadequate, but others were screaming about the cost of the stimulus on top of bank and hustler bail outs.  There was also the odd hysteria over the deficit.  What came out of the political stew was a plan that seemed to the best informed (as I define them) a recovery plan that was bound to be weak and weaken even more, several quarters out.

       A glut of housing, because of the "real estate idiocy" scam and crash meant that a normal recession rebounder-homes and building-was out.  On top of that government spending at the federal, state and local level continued to be cut. It is lower now than it was 3 years ago.  In addition the government has cut jobs, which on top of the already tall unemployment numbers is more bad ju ju. Three strikes against a robust comeback.

      Folks may not like to admit it, but government spending has always been a shot in the arm for recoveries from recession. Less spending, and well, you see where it is. Especially critical when real estate and credit quarters remain weak. The stimulus plan was too short and short sighted, but political realities being what they are, the better alternatives never flew. Austerity in the face of a staggering economy is silly.  We are seeing the effects of it now.

DAY FILE

SUCCULENTS

      A couple of my old broadcasting pals have chided me for including so many images of plants in these posts.  Before moving to the Central Coast, the only thing I knew about succulents was a cactus.

    Lana has loved them forever.  Her mother, a master gardener was into succulents.  This is a perfect climate for them, so I am gaining a rapid appreciation.  Their blooms, and some of the succulents themselves look other worldly.

    Lana was particularly excited about the frame below-a bloom on a burro's tale.  She says she's never seen one.

See you down the trail.