HenriReynard.com

Or Does What Goes Down Always Go Up Again?

It is not only likely that when we make predictions we are wrong more often than we are right, it is probable. I like probability. Probability equations are fun. They tell you nothing much except what the laws of physics appear to be before you understand quantum theory. Quantum physics tells us that we make our own future. That’s right, you heard it here, we make our own future.

Or How Eight Years of Bush and Cheney Cured the Illusion of Prosperity

We never really recovered from the dot com boom and bust. Pretty much everything that happened in the eight years that just ended was due to an illusion. The illusion was maintained by a whole lot more government spending than taxing. We doubled our national debt in eight years to over nine trillion dollars. Some people think we escaped inflation. If you look at the way the cost of housing rose during those years you will see that we had a vicious form of inflation concentrated in one major area of human need. “The deflation hurts more Mommy; make it go away!!!”

Or Does Governing Require Fear as its Primary Emotion

Having lived through the Bush cycle of fear are we now to be treated to a new focus for our dread? Is the economic disaster worse than 911 and the threat of a nuclear weapon in the hands of terrorists? Maybe we ought to look at this from a different emotional context. No one has total control over their emotions, so lets just all tranquilize ourselves into acceptance.  

Or How California Went From Golden State to Broke in One Decade

I live in California for which I apologize in advance to those of you who do not. I moved here over twenty years ago. The culture shock was enormous and I nearly left before I adjusted. The weather kept me here. After well over forty years of Minnesota winters the warmth and beauty of California seduced me. Of course when Minnesota picked Jesse, “The Body” Ventura for governor I found it amusing. I am no longer amused.

Or How Spin Makes Liars Out of the Best and Worst Alike

It is sometimes fun to watch the pundits and politicos spin. These modern Dervishes are, after all, there for our entertainment; not to expose us to the truth. The strange Gods they worship have only one side, a right or a left, and little breadth and depth. Parody is almost always more fun than reality but it seldom serves as a sound basis for policy. This is especially evident in the outcry about the Stimulus Bill coming up for a vote today in both houses of Congress.

With Sincere Apologies to Bob Carleton and His Muse

Turning a nonsense phrase into a hallmark of this depression is dirty work but someone has to do it. If you were as old as I am you would remember that song from the golden days of radio. It was written way back in WWI, yep even before I was born. The jingle jangle notes and rhythm of the song fit what is happening in our commercial sector quite nicely if you just transpose my phrase for Mr. Carleton's.

Certainly there are media figureheads more worthy of ire than Dowd; plenty of them!  And as the advertising dollars continue to disappear a lot of them will simply disappear. I live for the day when the stockholders of the Mad Media Megasaurous Murdoch realize that he left his New Clothes on the closet floor and abandon him to his fate. In the meantime there is Maureen!

Or How the End of Civilization May Really Happen

Reading the prophecies of doom is an old hobby of mine. My kids and grandkids watch horror films for the same reason. Being scared when you are really safe is just another stimulating experience.

 Or How Young Scientists Lose Their Way on the Road to Funding

Science is a competitive existence that attracts a lot of people who want to make a difference. Unfortunately the higher you get in the hierarchy the less work you actually get to do that relates to your field of study. By the time you are totally in charge of your own projects your time is all consumed by raising money.

This is like taking a CEO of a major Corporation and making him raise cash on the street corner every quarter to pay his executives salaries.

Or Why the Frosting Ran off the Cake Left Out in the Rain 

We have slaughtered the golden goose one more time. All of those lovely shiny golden eggs are nearly gone and the nest is wet and cold and lonely and dark. The fairy tale of wealth for everyone and homes for free was too good to be true. Now, one more time we are left with the aftermath.