talbotlucas.org: a word to the wise is sufficient

Cobalt R.I.P.

There ya go, baby! I did read that right.

Following up on my post of 30 November, Sun did pay $2B (in stock) for Cobalt and they did EOL all the products. Huh.

christmas kittens

A few unexpected additions to our neighborhood made themselves known this morning: three small kittens, meowing loudly in the gangway between the back of our building and our neighbors to the west. We knew that a cat was living in their basement, getting in via a space between the outside wall and a capped pipe, but we didn't know it had become a mama cat.

Our (human) neighbor caught one of the kittens, and is trying to catch the other two to take to her vet or a shelter for placement. In the meantime, we'll have kitten antics to amuse us. The gravel and low hanging branches seem to provide great fun for the little ones, who were hopping around in the rain when not crying for their mom. Wallace is not amused, however; he seems to believe it's his job to guard the back of the house (and the garden in front, and the street, and our friends' cars...), so any intruders--of any stripe--are unwelcome.

Otherwise, it's a quiet Christmas. We've been trying a few new recipes lately, but this afternoon we're going to warm the kitchen by making a batch of ratatouille, which will accompany tonight's dinner. Old favorites are on the menu--no haute cuisine, just comfort food for a rainy holiday.

Merry Christmas!

cardinal martino's thoughts of cows

I'm not a fan of the war in Iraq--I can't help thinking that the billions of dollars being spent are badly needed here at home--but I was particularly peeved by the article in today's New York Times about Cardinal Martino's view of Saddam Hussein's capture, likening American's treatment of him to how one would treat a cow.

Putting aside my speculation on what Cardinal Martino might think is an acceptable way to treat a cow, I thought his statements were foolish. The Vatican seems to have a blind spot when it comes to dictators who torture and kill thousands (nay, millions--shall we consider the Vatican's response to Hitler's treatment of Jews and Eastern Europeans?). I don't begrudge a message of compassion, but I wish the Vatican's mouthpieces would think before speaking. Or maybe that's the problem--he did, and this accurately reflects his thoughts.

More interesting comments on this subject from Professor Bainbridge at UCLA. (If you don't agree they're interesting, at least check out his wine tasting notes.)

thinking ahead to dinner

We picked up some D'Artagnan Wild Boar and Pork sausages on a recent outing, and thought it might be nice tonight with parsnips, leeks--kind of an autumnal meal. It's rare to find a product that boasts that it includes "meat from feral swine." We like D'Artagnan's duck sausage with armagnac, and thought we'd give the wild boar a try.

D'Artagnan's mail order service has not scored any points with me, though. A few years ago I had ordered foie gras for delivery in late December. The order never arrived, and when I called to inquire, I was told I wouldn't be getting any--they were out of stock, but felt no need to inform customers who had provided a credit card number and received a confirmation of their order. Perhaps I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and try ordering directly again, but for the time being, our location has the advantage of several good suppliers who carry, at retail, what we're looking for.

The noise outside is no longer as intrusive as it was...here's hoping for a few hours of productivity this afternoon...

I'm sorry, did I just type that sentence above? The car horn honking has just returned, as has the cheering. Who knows, maybe the plan is to upset the entire afternoon? Perhaps my sympathy will sink into the negative numbers. It certainly has for the workers at the stores nearest our home, who screamed at me even though I wasn't going into the Ralph's (which is located in a complex with several other stores), and who use the area around their picketing site as a combination garbage can/urinal. I'd like to think striking doesn't have to equal destruction, but how people conduct themselves is a topic for another day...

odd kinds of excitement (or, we just want to work in peace)

Today's turning into a busy day, and it's just past noon. Parking has been prohibited on Olympic Blvd, creating confusion and more traffic problems than usual, due to a large Teamsters' rally at Roxbury Park in support of striking Ralph's/Von's grocery workers. (It seems the Ralph's corporate office is in Century City, which is a few blocks away; the park is one block over from our house).

Traffic's in a snarl, tempers are flaring, and there are motorcycle police trying to keep things moving and dealing with the fender bender that just happened at our intersection. (For whatever reason they seem to be conducting their conversations over loudspeakers--perhaps a feature of their nifty police helmets.) It wouldn't be quite so disruptive if there weren't news helicopters hovering over our house...

Actually, let me correct that: the assembled throngs are now marching east on Olympic banging drums, cheering, and screaming. Supported, in part, by motorists who feel compelled to lean on their horns as a show of support.

That dentist appointment at 5:00 today is going to be an oasis of calm...

1:17pm UPDATE: A thundering group of Harley-Davidsons has joined the march to make things even louder. And buses are now being detoured down our residental street. What sympathy I had for those involved in the dispute has fizzled.

Exams are finished! Next up:

Exams are finished!

Next up: finishing the first complete version of the Comment for submission by 4:00pm on the 19th. But first...a proper celebratory dinner. Some sort of potato dish, steak, perhaps a mushroom sauce or a sauce au poivre, and one of those bottles of lovely red wine that have been calling my name.

a change for SF

When we lived in San Francisco I bemoaned the city's politics. Although we had met with disappointment when trying to buy a home, I started to think someone was watching out for me as the dot-com era turned into a big dot-bomb, and as the city let opportunities walk--and run--away. Meanwhile, the city's homeless problem grew shockingly worse. Had we been property owners, I would have cried at the thought of having my property taxes flushed down the municipal toilet.

Today may be the start of a new era: with 98% of precincts reporting as I type this, Gavin Newsom has been elected major in the run-off election, and Kamala Harris has unseated Terence Hallinan as District Attorney. (Results and links via the SFGate.)

I had long ago grown tired of being told SF and the Bay Area generally was the greatest place on earth. Several years ago, during our first stint in the city, I stopped watching one of the local news channels because it constantly promoted itself as "the greatest place for news in the greatest place on earth." I mean, if you have to keep telling me how great something is, that only suggests to me that it really isn't so great. If it were, perhaps you wouldn't have to work so hard to convince me. I thought that was a shame, because the Bay Area, broadly speaking, is a part of California with great resources. Perhaps this signals the beginning of a new era for San Francisco, a city which deserves much better management than it's had in recent years. I hope so, and I'll stay tuned.

being tested: federal income tax

Another day, another exam...this one for federal income tax. As our professor said, it's not going to be a "ring the bell" kind of test, identifying applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code. Much more, so the next three hours should zoom by. Perhaps they should give us seat belts instead of scratch paper with our exams...

After this, it'll be time for lunch, then preparation for tomorrow's financial analysis exam. And then...a day's respite before returning to the Comment with an eye toward turning it in on Friday the 19th. And then...the rest & relaxation of reorganizing bookshelves over the holiday season. Whoo-hoo!

ONE OTHER THOUGHT: Following up on Terrence's musical suggestions to accompany my tax studying, I wanted to point out the Marvin Gaye does mention tax troubles (or potential troubles) in "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)." Singing about a long list of difficulties, he notes "I can't pay my taxes." Not surprising to find that sort of admission in a song with "Blues" in the title, hmm?

AFTERNOON UPDATE: It was a great exam--well-written, provocative, timely, and sparking lots of ideas. I hope my responses met the challenge. Wallace is resting at my feet, so I'll turn my attention to tomorrow's test topic, financial analysis.

onto the next one...

OK...one down, two more exams to go. This afternoon and evening will be devoted to federal income tax, and at this point a switch from Mozart to Marvin Gaye seems appropriate.

UPDATE: Terrence suggests I should cull my listening selections from entertainers who've had run-ins with the I.R.S...clever, but I think I'll save that research project for another time...

being tested: business associations

OK... we're in the red zone in terms of counting down to the Bus Assoc exam, which is scheduled to start at 9:00am Pacific. Just checked all the computer stuff, reviewing some notes on capital contributions to partnerships and seeking additional financing/partners, listening to a little Mozart (Symphony No. 40 in G minor, for those who care to hum along). This is a closed book exam except for our copy of code extracts from the revised Uniform Partnership Act, the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, the Model Business Corporation Act, and the Restatement (Second) of Agency and the draft of the Restatement (Third) of Agency. Fingers crossed...back to the last-minute review...

free the grapes! pt 2: history

Just noticed that the New York Times highlighted the repeal of Prohibition as a major part of its "On This Day" feature. I often find this interesting, even though I think the feature is aimed at younger students and their teachers.

Today's feature includes a reproduction of the Times' front page, and links to the text of related articles.

Sometimes the Web can be a really neat place...

free the grapes!

Today is a red letter day here at talbotlucas.org, for it’s the 70th anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment, which served primarily to repeal the 18th Amendment and bring an end to the Prohibition era. The 21st Amendment was ratified—amazingly quickly—in 1933, but the effects of that quick ratification and lack of deliberation live on today in the battles being waged to overturn state restriction on direct shipment of wine to individual consumers.

One of the primary motivations for the original Constitutional Convention was to provide a governmental framework that would prevent economic Balkanization and ensure the free flow of interstate commerce. The development of e-commerce has made the economic boundaries between states even more transparent, and the Web provides an ideal means for small wineries to make their products available to any adult consumer. Obstructing the free flow of wine are many state laws that strictly limit the importation of alcoholic beverages (including wine) to a three-tier system established decades ago.

Some people believe the 21st Amendment is an exception to the Commerce Clause, and is the one area in which the states have full regulatory power. They argue that states have to restrict direct shipping in order to protect minors and tax revenue. Other people—myself included—don’t believe that the 21st Amendment trumps the Commerce Clause, but instead believe that the interpretation of the two provisions should be harmonized to maintain the free flow of interstate commerce while giving states leeway to address the core concerns of the Amendment. Personally, I think the fear that the Web will present a "virtual vending machine" of alcohol to minors is not only incorrect, but amazingly blind to the problems states currently face in this area with retail establishments which sell to minors and to the fake ID industry that assists minors in their efforts to obtain alcoholic beverages illegally. I think many of the proponents of direct shipping bans are trying to protect their livelihoods, and if they really wanted to "protect the kids" they'd work to toughen the penalties for those who sell alcohol to minors. But I digress, a bit...

My description of the debate is only the tip of the iceberg, and I’m writing at length on this subject as part of my research requirement at the law school. Although it was already a subject of great interest to me at the start of my project, my interest has grown now that I’ve learned more about the legal, political, social, and moral elements of the topic. All those angles make it a richly textured problem, but I don’t think it’s an unsolvable problem, and I plan to throw my hat into the ring of debate shortly when I submit my Comment—and suggestions for problem-solving—for review.

If any of this is of immediate interest, I recommend the following for more information on my perspective:

Free the Grapes! provides links, industry information, and updates specifically on the "wine wars" cases.

The Coalition for Free Trade also provides an overview of litigation (completed and ongoing) in this matter. Many cases have been successfully litigated by the Institute for Justice, a libertarian organization which is not only fighting restrictions on the direct shipment of wine to consumer, but other issues like the sale of caskets.

For overviews with a business perspective, the Wine Spectator has devoted significant space to the issue, and the Wine Institute has loads of information and links about this issue and others related to the wine industry.

The Goldwater Institute sets out many of the issues in a short, readable report recently issued to coincide with the challenge to Arizona’s direct shipping statute.

And lastly, for fun (or what fits my definition of fun reading these days), a guide to wine labeling. Interesting to see how regulated those few square inches really are.

I’ll raise a (small) glass tonight to mark the occasion, but for now...back to the books. My Business Associations final is on Monday morning; my knowledge of Federal Income Taxation gets tested on Tuesday morning; and on Wednesday, my morning will be spent showing what I’ve learned about Financial Analysis over the semester.

Cheers!