Welcome to the Soothsayer's Ball

Hey everyone, good news:

It's time for the Seventh Annual IcebergCarwash Stock Market Contest.

 You know the drill.

Using the comments section below, offer your prediction for the closing level of the S&P 500 Index at the end of 2015.

The entry which comes closest to the actual number, above or below, will be the winner.

Technically, there is some slight chance that a prize might be involved, but I doubt it.

My prediction is that we will see a carry-over of the volatility that we saw in December.

For a closing price, however, I will estimate that the S&P 500 will be essentially unchanged from yesterday's closing price of 2,058.00.  Rounding off, I'll officially set my prediction at 2,060.00.

Good luck to all contestants.

We Have a Winner!

Incredibly, I managed to go an entire calendar year, without posting anything to IcebergCarwash.
My restraint is unbelievable.

Actually, I wasn't sure that IcebergCarwash still existed. For some reason, I was under the impression that FBB had sold the name.

It turns out that IcebergCarwash is still up and running, so we need to announce the winner of the 2014 IcebergCarwash Stock Market Contest.

The S&P 500 closed at 2058.90, up 11.4% for the year.

Looking at last year's entries:

MBB: 1950.00

Wolfman: 2150.57

RabbiM: 1500.00

SLiM:  1622.89

The winner, for the second consecutive year, is Wolfman.

Congratulations.

As always, any prize-related inquiries should be directed to FBB.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

By now you all know my thoughts on the Summer. You also know what we do in the summer time, because we tend to repeat our activities.

This week was blueberry picking. So fun, so yum, so hot! On the way home we stopped at a nearby place with a "boardwalk trail" under a beautiful and cool canopy of trees. The kids had a great time, saw turtles, some interesting birds, and lots of outdoorsiness.

MBB channeled my sister by saying: "Anyone  who isn't outside today, really needs to have been given some sort of special dispensation."

When we got home tired and sun soaked (the adults), it seems it was time for backyard soccer, basketball, and some baseball. I watched, built something, and when they were done with all their activities they started cleaning the outside of the car. On 4th of July weekend.

After that was there any choice, but to have hot dogs for dinner?

Clip His Mouth Shut

The owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, has been  outed as a racist, after his girlfriend released private phone conversation with him (that she recorded) make racist comments.

There is a big cry, including from President Obama (learned nothing from Gates, huh?) that Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA do something to relieve Sterling of his status of an owner in the National Basketball Association.

Aside from that people are calling on the Clippers not to play-in protest.

I can see why the players, who are in the playoffs are not willing to forfeit a game. Even for the egregious statements and sentiments of the owner.

Also, I am, and always have been uncomfortable with speech being punished. (I include Marge Schott in that assesment). So, if sponsors want to pull out, and workers want to walk off a job, and fans want to walk away, or not buy concessions (since the tickets are already bought and paid for), and the situation is such that it becomes in the owner's best interest to resign or sell the team I am all for that.

But suspending or taking away something that someone owns for hateful speech and attitude seems wrong to me. I can hear the argument that the NBA as an organization has a code of conduct, but to be fair, they didn't ever get rid of him before, and apparently his racism was a known thing.

 Now it's just a more publicly embarrassingly known thing.

If his conduct was such that he wasn't removed until now, this was a private conversation made public. So if they have been fine with the way he has been until now, he didn't do anything to change his public conduct. I AM NOT EXCUSING THIS,but the whole thing is hypocritical on the part of the NBA, and really, apparently, anyone who knew him. So they can all be "SHOCKED!" (think Claude Raines)that he is who he is, but they knew.

It's So Simple to Just Agree

There is a new (ish) response when people are conversing (in an actual dialogue, but also in all electronic writing/conversation forms) that is starting to drive me crazy. Since we all know it's a short trip to Nutsville for me, that's not saying much, but let's see what you think.

If person A makes a statement that person B agrees with the conversation will go as follows:

Person A: "I really like that new cafe. Their coffee is better than everywhere else."

Person B: "I know. Right?"

Pardon me, but obviously Person A thinks "right," BECAUSE PERSON A SAID IT FIRST!!!!

Are we so starved for validation, or just so used to being validated that we need to be validated even though we know we will be validated, because the person who is speaking already validated  what you think, which is clearly evident to you by the "I KNOW," you are saying which in simple english means  "I agree." So what exactly is the point of the "right?"

I think it's the seeming self-centeredness of this that bothers me, or maybe it's the idea that Person B has to co-opt the thought or opinion, by turning it back on Person A as not an original thought.

So what do you think:


 I know, right?

That's What It Is!!

al*tru*ism

[al-troo-iz-uhm] 

noun

1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others (opposed to egoism ). 

I was at a wedding last night, and looking around at all the lovely styles on all the lovely bedecked and bedazzled participants and celebrants I had a grand realization.

 All these young  guys, slim as they are, are doing a service, a kindness if you will, to those both older and  more rotund then they. 

They have made wearing ill-fitting clothing not just OK, but the supposed height of fashion. So feel calm and collected going out even if you have gained a little weight since you last donned that dressy suit, or if your teenaged son is wearing a jacket that has suddenly become to short and too tight. Help is already here!

To those who bemoan the fate of Our People while looking at the fashion choices of the young and "in-the-know," FEAR NOT!!

They're just helping everybody out.

My Phone is My Shoes

I don't walk in my phone, and I tend not to put my feet on it, but that is one of only a few unsanitary places phones do not go.

From the seats and window sills of public transporation the counters, stools and dressing room floors of retail clothing, hardware, or grocery stores, to the benches,slides, and equipment at parks and gyms, is there really anywhere we don't put our phones down?

Most people bring their phones into the bathroom with them, espescially if they are not at home. And unless they are male, and possibly living in 2002, they aren't using a belt clip.

So why are we comfortable, after everywhere our phones have been, putting it on our tables, kitchen counters, and baby changing tables?

And ladies, if you think about it? The same holds true for your purse!