Legislative Finance Christmas Reunion

Sunday evening Alison Browne had a bunch of us old Legislative Finance hands over for pizza. It was quite fun...many old stories retold. And the crew looked pretty damn good - all things considered.

The Juneau contingent of the old Legislative Finance Division crew and their associates

Our hostess Alison Browne - lookin' mighty fit.

And Uncle Miltie is as chipper as always

Other Christmas preparations continue apace. Yesterday I finished all my cards and will pop them in the mail today. The folks' place is now decorated. Another UPS consignment should arrive today although I still need to do some shopping downtown.

On the culinary front, today is beef stew day...will whip-up a batch for the elders. I made beef stock over the weekend and I should use the portion I did not freeze. And perhaps the first batch of Christmas cookies...I am feeling Snickerdoodle-ish. Or maybe lemon bars.

Gotta hit the road...running late. My damn computer is full...it did NOT like downloading the pics from my camera this morning and I am feeling frustrated. Serious digital indigestion. I will order a new computer with mega disc space after the first of the year.

TallyHo!

Bettie Page, Queen of Pinups, 1923 - 2008

Ms. Bettie Page was, to quote the New York Times, "the most famous pinup girl of the post-World War II era, a centerfold on a million locker doors and garage walls." Indeed Bettie was so popular that she soon attracted the attention of the quacks in Washington and was a subject of Senator Estes Kefauver's anti-pornography investigation of the mid-1950's. I confess I had never heard of Ms. Page until I read her obituary this morning - she had already entered into a long period of seclusion before I reached puberty and thus I had no occasion to fully appreciate her art.

Ms. Page lived a long and troubled life. And despite her emergence later in life as a born-again Christian, she refused to renounce her career as a pin-up girl. “I want to be remembered as I was when I was young and in my golden times,” she told The Los Angeles Times in 2006. “I want to be remembered as a woman who changed people’s perspectives concerning nudity in its natural form.”

And there is little doubt that the people's perspective has changed. Indeed as one surveys the smoldering ruins of the U.S. economy that is the legacy of the Bush Administration, it is interesting to note that the porn industry is one of the few that has not, to my knowledge, announced massive layoffs.

The New York Times story is available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/arts/12page.html?hp

Ms. Bettie Page, 1923-2008. R.I.P.

In other news, it is as clear as a bell this morning and the forecast is for dry weather for the next week or so. I will endeavor to get plenty of exercise out-of-doors. Doesn't sound like it's supposed to get too cold; but it will be blowing Taku downtown, I'm sure.

I continue a series of ol' timey Christmas pictures with the exhibit below of yours truly on a cherished toy, a molded plastic tank that shot little plastic balls. The tank was particularly useful for annoying my teenage sister and her friends. I was a little brat. Another favourite pastime of this era was listening-in on Linda's phone calls (she had an extension in her bedroom in the basement and I would pick-up the phone upstairs). I would then rat-her-out to mom, e.g., "Big party tonight mom, you better ground her." I also recall standing outside on the front porch and yelling at the top of my lungs such newsworthy items as "Linda has a boyfriend!" It's amazing my sister even speaks to me...

Little Elmer as General Patton.

Big Ed

On Saturday Ed Dankworth, former Col. of the Alaska State Troopers, State Senator, and lobbyist departed this earth for the great unknown. If I was a believer, I would say he ought to be checking-in to hell about now...

Ed was responsible for the near demise of the Division of Legislative Finance when I worked there in the early 1980's. Jay Hogan, the division director, had the poor taste to accuse him of corruption when Ed, Co-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, slipped an item into the state budget to require the State to purchase a used pipeline camp that he happened to own at the time. Senator Dankworth was indicted but got off on a technicality. The Senate promptly eliminated the Division of Legislative Finance from their version of the budget. Jay left the legislative payroll to work for Governor Sheffield.

Notwithstanding the personal inconvenience that Senator Dankworth caused me in my professional development, I have, over the years, mellowed in my regard for him. He was, of course, corrupt to the bone; but he was also intelligent in a crafty sort of way and quite the charmer. I was apparently untainted in his mind by my association with Mr. Hogan and he always treated me cordially while he remained in the Senate. And afterward, when we both took-up lobbying - Ed in the private sector and yours truly for the Department of Health and Social Services - we would always exchange pleasantries and engage in chit-chat as we went about our business in the hallowed halls of the Capitol.

Indeed Ed really hit his stride as a lobbyist. He was the Kingmaker of several Senate organizations and made a boatload of dough. He was a friend and associate of Bill Allen of VECO infamy; although the two ultimately had a falling-out when they chose opposite sides in the telecom wars.

The Anchorage Daily News story on Ed's checkered career as well as some additional pics are available at: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/617473.html

Senators Eliason and Kerttula confer with Big Ed in the Senate Finance Committee Room. This picture gives me the serious willys. I wonder how many hours I spent sitting in this room?...

Lobbyists Sam Kito and Big Ed. Sam was VERY close to my boss of many years, Al Adams. Sam is still doing his thing in the Capitol...

Lobbyists Big Ed, Ashley Reed, and Dana Pruhs. Ashley still works the halls...it always amazed me that ANYONE would pay him ANYTHING to lobby. He was always, in my opinion, as worthless as tits on a boar (a favourite expression of good ol' Rep. Ernie Haugen). Pruhs lobbied for the North Slope Borough when I worked for Al. I think he was convicted of something...but my recollection of the details is dim.

In other news, I note in the Seattle Times that today is "call in gay" day. The idea apparently is for all gay folks to take the day off and volunteer at a human rights organization. Part of the California Prop 8 backlash (to be followed by a counter-backlash no doubt). Comment from a reader: "If you're bi, does that mean you take half the day off?"

Well, time to go chop some wood...

SantaCon and the Pirates of Portlandia

You learn something new every day...

In my case, on Saturday, I was fascinated by an article in The Oregonian describing this year's SantaCon in Portland. For the uninitiated, Santa Con originated in San Francisco a little more than a decade ago and has become an event in several other cities. SantaCon is described in the Oregonian as "an adult combination of Halloween and Mardi Gras, involving silly parading around in Santa costumes and serious pub crawling."

This year the event began in Hillsboro drinking establishments "to avoid trouble with the Portland police, who had issues with some of last year's revelers." Although by mid-afternoon the assembled Santas had apparently sampled all Hillsboro had to offer and staggered to the Max station for the trip downtown to continue the crawl.

"It's just a fun way to socialize," said Alan Jabin of Milwaukie, who attended with his wife, Debbie. "We participate in a lot of dress-up events," he said, "including the monthly Pirates of Portlandia."

Sadly, no additional information was provided on the monthly piratical events...

SantaCon has apparently received mixed reviews in other communities. The following comment was posted by a gentleman from Seattle:

"What a bunch of losers...I was living in Seattle two years ago when these creeps blocked traffic and the sidewalks on 1st Avenue...that was until about ten local gang bangers decided they had enough of the blockage...and we applauded as they knocked the crap out of these drunken bozos."

Bah Humbug!

In other news, Juneau is now under a Winter Storm Watch - the snow should start to fly by 6 PM and continue for up to 24 hours. Storm snow total up to 20 inches. And then rain for a couple of days. And then clearing-up with temperatures getting down into the teens.



Grandpa and Grandma Newman, Aunt Emilie's daughters Janis and Sandra, and yours truly circa 1965. Grandma Newman was a very serious Christmas afficionado. I suspect I got my Christmas gene from her...

Winter Arrives

I awoke to about four inches of new snow this morning and it's still coming down. It's supposed to turn to rain this afternoon...so it will be a sloppy day.

Yesterday was quite nice. I walked the new Auke Lake trail which meanders along the east side of the lake from the main highway to the Back-Loop Road. The trail's not completely finished - most of it is still fairly large rock which makes walking difficult. But it's going to be a great trail once completed. It will be very popular with bicyclists (including myself).

Not much to report otherwise. I'm going to work on a Photoshop project for an hour or so and then shovel snow here and at the folks. And then a workout, of course. I bought some fresh cranberries the other day and this afternoon I think I'll make cranberry scones. Pretty exciting, eh?

I think I mentioned previously that I had hoped to provide Christmas tunes on the Blog for the holiday season; but I have been completely flummoxed by the free software I have attempted to install on several occasions. So...instead I will provide you with a series of ol' timey holiday pics featuring one of my favourite people - me.

Big Elmer and Little Elmer circa 1963 at 622 West 11th. I loved my PJs with feet. Pretty cool doilies too!

A Most Wonderful Day

Finally! A dry day...with some sun. I did the usual elder gig this morning, had my normal workout, visited the elders again, spoke to Amanda who was in a quite jovial mood, and THEN...I GOT TO TAKE A WALK OUTDOORS!!

It was a most amazing thing. Filtered sunshine, a lot of high clouds, about 30 degrees, no wind - HEAVEN. I walked the dike trail by the airport. Lots of folks with hounds enjoying the day. Chatted with all of them - two-legged and four-legged - everyone was in high spirits.

Having said all that...I still need to kick it up the proverbial notch for the holidays. I've been suffering from whatever you might call the photoshop equivalent of writer's block - just can't seem to get my photo projects the way I want them. AAARRRGGGHH! I have a very strong suspicion that I just don't have much talent. I think I need some professional training. Although, if my golf game is anything to go by, the professional help may not help all that much.

On the other hand...so what? Hah!

I put up my tree yesterday...a day long ritual that I always enjoy very much. The tree in question is an artifact of the early 1990's - it's actually made in America - although I suspect the same cannot be said for most of the decorations.

Assemblage is as follows. First, open a good bottle of Pinot Noir. Second, fire up the iPod Holiday ensemble. Third, drag the bloody tree in its box from the closet to the front room. This doesn't sound like much of a challenge; except for those of you who know the dimensions of my apartment. Then you curse the fact that you have, once again, somehow misplaced the document that will easily allow you to attach the color-coded branches in ascending order.

Whew! You've once again assembled the tree in a fashion that most nearly allows the poor thing to resemble an actual tree. And then you decorate said tree with lights and baubles...singing Christmas Classics like Louis Armstrong's "Christmas Night in Harlem" at the top of your voice with the hope that the landlord, landlady, and landkids can't hear you. Then you sit at your dining room table, finish the Pinot, and think about the ghosts of Christmas past. Bittersweet yes. But still sweet.

I truly love the holidays!

People all feelin' mighty good
In that good old neighborhood
Let it now be understood
It's Christmas night in Harlem

C'mon now every Jane and Joe
Meet your sweet b'neath the mistletoe
With a kiss and a hi-de-ho
It's Christmas night in Harlem

"...people kind of looked at us regulators as old-fashioned."

The above quote from Mr. Jeffrey Brown a former top official at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency excerpted from an excellent story in the Washington Post this morning on the history of the mortgage meltdown.

Back in 2005 several federal agencies issued draft regulations to tighten mortgage lending practices - especially for adjustable rate loans and other exotic (now toxic) mortgage products.

The proposed rules were subsequently watered-down and many provisions dropped at the insistence of the banking industry. Exemplia gratia:

"These mortgages have been considered more safe and sound for portfolio lenders than many fixed-rate mortgages," David Schneider, home loan president of Washington Mutual, told federal regulators in early 2006.

"An open market will mean that different institutions will develop different methodologies for achieving this goal," Joseph Polizzotto, counsel to now-bankrupt Lehman Brothers, told U.S. regulators in March 2006. The goal in question was to verify that borrowers actually had jobs, assets or other income.

Countrywide Financial Corp., at the time the nation's largest mortgage lender, agreed. The proposal "appears excessive and will inhibit future innovation in the marketplace," said Mary Jane Seebach, managing director of public affairs.

The proposal that banks should independently verify information provided by brokers was met with much indignation. "It is not our role to be the regulator for the third-party lenders," wrote Ruthann Melbourne, chief risk officer of IndyMac Bank.

The Chief Credit Officer of (now defunct) Downey Savings Bank stated that "To conclude that 'nontraditional' equates to higher risk does not appropriately balance risk and compensating factors of these products."

Diane Casey-Landry, of the American Bankers Association, said the industry feared a two-tiered system in which banks had to follow rules that mortgage brokers did not. She said opposition was based on the banks' best information.

"You're looking at a decline in real estate values that was never contemplated," she said.

Such was the reasoning of America's Titan's of Finance as recently as 2006. Many of these individuals are now out-of-a-job which I suppose should bring us some satisfaction. And while criminal investigations are ongoing, the Wall Street view that stupidity, incompetence, and greed are not - in and of themselves - criminal offenses, may at the end of the day prove correct. It was all just a big misunderstanding...sorry about that America. Oh yeah, and thanks for the 700 billion - which, by the way, may not be quite enough to tide us over...