I suppose the real students will find this disappointing

School opening delayed until next Wednesday. I was one of those who didn’t enjoy school until college and, later, law school, so this would have been the kind of news that I’d have rejoiced at, but I’m sure some bright kids are sorry. Oh well.

Get back to work, Brendan Loy!

My favorite weather nerd has retreated to his usual blog now that Irene’s past us, but damn it, I want his insight on Katia!

UPDATE: Sometimes Brendan just needs a little nudge.

Here’s a relief

Our power came back on last night at 9, just in time to learn that the Yankees had defeated the Red Sox, and I worried that I’d unwittingly made a pact with the Devil, when I would gladly have suffered another day, were that the price. But apparently it was mere coincidence, because the Bronx Bombs lost tonight 9-5. Whew!

Pathetic and delusional

Bernie Madoff accuses Steve Cohen of being corrupt. I have two friends who at different times, worked for SAC. Not only did they never mention any wrong doing at SAC, they’re both absolute straight shooters who would never, ever engage in or tolerate bad acts. They both thoroughly loathe Cohen as a person and a boss, so I’m pretty sure they’d be happy to dish out the dirt if it were there. But Bernie Madoff complaining about someone else’s business ethics? Priceless.

Bad news for Raj

Craig Drimel

A relative small fry gets 5 1/2 years in prison for his  role in the Galleon Group insider trading scheme.  Looks like Raj will get the full 25 years the government’s asking for. That’s a sentence that, at 25, might, maybe, be bearable, but speaking as someone roughly Raj’s age, you’re looking at losing what’s left of the good part of life.

Several us were discussing this over the weekend – why would a billionaire risk all this just to maybe add a couple of million to his wealth? Conclusion: ego and the desire to win. Even dumber, as the feds drew close, why didn’t he flee to his native Sri Lanka, where they worship him and would never extradite him? We couldn’t figure that one out.

Encouraging news on Katia

But you never know, so don’t return that generator just yet.

I sympathize

Venus Williams has to withdraw from U.S. Open after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. I have such a problem myself – it sucks when your own body turns against you. And besides, I admire the Williams sisters – they grew up rough and overcame tremendous odds to achieve their success.

What will be left of AOL when it’s sold off?

Not much, according to this analysis. The most valuable asset is probably Tim Armstrong’s house in Riverside but I don’t think that’s part of any deal. Looks like “Patch” will get axed, which is too bad because I think it’s just getting going and could succeed, given time.

I’m actually off to show houses!

Post storm, still have buyers who are ready to go and if they are, then so am I (I accompany Cathy Farricker because she can actually be nice to people – I’ve always considered myself a pussy cat but I’ve learned over the years that I sometimes come across as a little harsh – not to clients, but occasionally to other agents. I just had to reassure an agent that if she’d check with her current and my former boss, she’d learn that I’m all bark, no bite. Cathy has this down so much better than me.

What am I, chopped liver?

State Senator Scott Frantz gives Greenwich Time reporter a tour of Irene’s devastation in Frantz’s six-seat turbo-prop. Scott did run Bradley Airport, so he knows what he’s doing, but come on, six seats and no room for a blogger? Damn. But no hard feelings – in fact, I’m opening up this blog to voluntary contributions for a new hairdo for my favorite politician (the only one who’s ever offered me use of his boat if I ever again can return to St. Bart’s). Send money or suggestions. I can’t guarantee the money will reach him, but the suggestions will be passed on.

What are we gonna do with this knucklehead hairdo?

I’ve always maintained that western civilization will commit suicide but it’s happening sooner than I thought

Germany, a manufacturing country, kills nuclear plants immediately and will rely on propeller beanies to power its industries.  Even environmentalists are appalled.

Oops again

California solar panel plant, touted by Obama just months ago as proof of the success of his “green’ job program, shuts its doors and goes bankrupt. They’ll be shifting operations to China, no doubt.

Oops!

China backing away from its electric car initiative. No one wants them, just as no one wants the Chevy Volt. (125 sold in July).  Warren Buffet is undoubtedly a genius, but he sunk $200 million into the Chinese venture when if he’d only asked a dumbass like me, he could have saved a ton of money.

Katia’s probably not coming our way

Should, with any luck, be turned east, out over the Atlantic. That’s what most models predict but it’s early days. We’ll know better by the weekend. In the meantime, it’s 112 degrees in Phoenix. For those of us without A/C or electricity these past days, things could have been worse.

I do hope Dr. Jeff Weinberger on Miltiades got his power back. When i saw him yesterday his major domo Nancy had only entrusted him with that little ear-inspection flashlight – he deserves better.

One bright spot about last year’s storm

I’d been thinking the same thing but here’s an expert’s opinion: Greenwich meteorologist Bill Evans says last year’s nor’easter took down a lot of weakened trees that might otherwise have fallen this past Sunday. Using that same theory, if Katia does hit us next week, she’ll have even less material to work on. Keep this up and, while we may resemble Little House on the Prairie, we’ll escape hurricane damage for years.

Poor Vermont

Check out this photo of Route 4 in Killington, VT (Associated Press, credit).  While I skied there many times as a teen, I don’t remember the approach route, but there’s bound to be a lot of road work to be performed up there before ski season if there is to be a season.

We’re back!

At least in Riverside (Ole’s Creek and Shoal Point, anyway, but I’m hoping the whole area), as of 9:00 PM. Tomorrow comes the stinky task of tossing out everything in the refrigerator but that’s okay. And the generators of my neighbors have shut off, restoring quiet. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t begrudge them their machines and in fact I’d like to have one myself, but my Lord, they’re noisy. Now let’s just hope Katia moves out to sea and we avoid this same mess next week.

I adore Pal Nancy, but I don’t think we’ll be wearing these

Divorce rings?

We had this discussion last year but the U.S. Open is once again upon us

Maria Sharapova and her peers should just shut the f*** up. Their grunts, screams and squeals make women’s tennis completely unwatchable.

But Eric Holder is still in office

The ATF botched sting operation that resulted in hundreds, if not thousands of automatic weapons winding up in the hands of the Mexican drug cartels has resulted in its first political casualty, the head of the ATF. But all indications are that this operation was approved at the highest level, including U.S. Attorney Eric Holder. Until he goes, this is just eyewash.