Ron’s Observations
Here’s to Old Friends
Who says “you can’t go home again?” About a year ago, a buddy of mine suggested we plan a college pledge class reunion in honor of our respective 40th birthdays. (See “Mid Life Crisis” August 2001.) While none of us were crazy about turning “middle aged,” a weekend in Las […]
Read more »Empty Seat at Breakfast Table
As has become somewhat customary over the past year or so, a few Saturdays ago I met some friends for breakfast at a neighborhood greasy spoon. Each week we choose a different restaurant to gather, catch up on each other’s lives, and solve all the problems of the world. Unfortunately, […]
Read more »Dear Ron Emails
So now that everyone is caught up with the positive developments in my professional life, let’s turn to the social side for a quick update. All in all, the gory details (maybe not that gory) can be summed up with one interesting email that I received a few days back. […]
Read more »A Bad Dream
When I went to sleep last night, all was good in my little world. The Astros were ahead by several games in the National League Central; the Texas Longhorns were 2-0 and primed to make a run at the NCAA Championship; one of my best friends (and niece) was preparing […]
Read more »What Recession
Each day I read the Wall Street Journal (or local business press) and get the feeling that the “sky is falling” as the domestic economy comes to a literal standstill. The unemployment rate is climbing as layoffs force more and more hard working Americans to look for jobs. Manufacturing is […]
Read more »The Blame Game
What do you get when you cross a plummeting stock market (with no end in sight) with countless “new” investors (with unrealistic expectations) with a litigious society (in which no one ever takes any responsibilities for their own actions)? Well, you’re about to find out. Over the past year, the […]
Read more »Do As I Say Not As I Do
What a difference a year makes. For those of you with short memories, go to your “For What It’s Worth” file and re-read the March 2000 issue entitled “Irrational Exuberance.” If you “misplaced” that file (or were not “lucky” enough to be on the mailing list back then), let me […]
Read more »Escape From Reality
Over the past month, I have been repeatedly reprimanded for my harsh condemnation of “Reality-based TV” and, in particular, the hit show “Survivor.” Friends and family members who I’ve always considered to be reasonably intelligent (until now) were criticizing me for my unfair assessment of what they believed to be […]
Read more »The True Millennium (Finally)
For many people, the new year 2001 could not get here soon enough. Just one year ago, folks across the country (and the world for that matter) were popping open champagne bottles, shooting off fireworks, dancing in the streets, and ringing in the millennial new year (366 days early). The […]
Read more »All’s Fair in Love & War(& Elections)
The events of the past few weeks reminded me of a very unfair incident that occurred back in my school days. I walked into class one day and was greeted with an unexpected pop quiz. Always the scholar (geek), I was actually excited for the quiz because I was confident […]
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