From Sunlight to Ash

...sending some prayers to those with homes and loved ones dealing with Mother Nature in Southern California.

...The recent fires did make me think of an interesting question/scenario:

What if you had 15 minutes to get what you wanted from your home or place of residence before it all burned down?  What would you save?

...Think of all the STUFF that we have.  It is all going to be gone in 15 minutes, what do you take, what can you take?  

...Reality says that, if I want to save my TV for instance, I am probably not getting much else.  Unplugging it, carrying it (it weighs like 23,000 lbs.!), getting it out to the curbside.  There is no way I get that TV out in less than 10 minutes and I may be wasting my time as it may take longer and then I get next to nothing else.

...For anyone who likes behind-the-scenes reporting, check out the article in Newsweek about the 2008 Presidential Campaign.

...I would like to formally put out Billy Beane's name for consideration as our next Secretary of the Treasury.  With our country in the throes of a devastating economic breakdown, the master of buy low and sell high would be perfect.  Here's a guy who maximizes his payroll (federal budget), focuses on scouting and growing young talent (middle class/education), and consistently finds ways to improve his team short-term all the while setting them up for long-term win-win situations.  

...Look at the recent Matt Holliday trade.  He gives up young players at positions which he has a surplus to get a young MVP-caliber player who will add an impact bat to his lineup for next year.  In addition, if the A's fall out of contention next year, he could trade Holliday to a contender for more young talent.  Or, if they are in the race till the end he could to Holliday for the season and then let him become a free agent and receive two compensatory draft picks from which ever team signs him.  Gives up something he doesn't need for something he does right now, and then replaces what he gave up.  Brilliant.  

Grammy's advice for November 15th:

"Most people say that as you get old, you have to give up things.  I think you get old because you give up things.

- Senator Theodore Francis Green

...LCV