It’s Friday.  It’s Feb 29.  Do you know how often that happens?   Well Feb 29 rolls around every 4 years, but how often does it fall on a Friday?  Every 28 years!!  Well, we at the office figured that the date and the event deserved a party, or at least a TGIF (Thank God its Friday) for those who don’t do shorthand. A good time was had by all!  Can’t wait for the next Friday 29th Feb….it is nice to think that I will still be around (just??)

Here I am giving the lecture. I talk about what it takes to build up a successful business.  The pitfalls, the traps, the $$$$$, the lack of $$$$ the planning and all of the other stuff that goes into putting it all together.  The students are seniors and some are graduate students.  I was asked to present because the Professor wanted them to hear what it takes from a practical standpoint, not from a theoretical view.  There is no doubt that I live in the everyday practical.  Not much theory is involved from where I sit…I think I get that message across.  I am always genuinely thanked after the talks.  I think it is fact that I present the real world view.  It’s what faces them as they graduate and step out into the wide world.

And then I heard today that the silly season has reached a new level…

I loved this TV picture.  Here we have a picture of Barrack Obama with the caption underneath describing him as a Presidential candidate?  DUH!!!

We are in the silly season of Politics.  Being in Texas during the “showdown Debate” between “you know who” and the other one,(The one who was not supposed to show up and then when he did he started to win everything) is interesting.  The place is abuzz with political opinions.  Never has a political event been so closely followed.  It all goes back to blackberry’s, texting, utubes, cell phones, computers and 500 channel TV’s.  You cannot get away from it.  It is everywhere.   John McCain seems to have all the Elephants tied up.  The Donkeys are still running around braying like crazy.

Dallas in the early morning. A heavy mist enveloped the city. The tops of the buildings were lost in the haze.  It was worthy of a shot, and it turned out to be a good picture. 

I have written before about the aging fleets of the American Airlines.  They are mostly narrow bodied, single aisle, work horse planes.  Weary, tired and well worn.  I have written about how they are kept in the air by skilled mechanics, rigid QA programs and rigid maintenance schedules.  Still, it came as a shock when I saw a slot in the bathroom set-up for RAZOR BLADES! I tried to think when that type of razor blade was marketed and I think it was the mid 60’s?  So that would make these airframes and bathroom set up over 43 years old???!!!  Lord I hope they replaced the engines and made sure the wings still work!