Monday, August 04, 2003
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life
Bob Monday, August 04, 2003
Sunday, June 29, 2003
I went to the Atheneum and did my Sesame Street Count thing.
Reality grabbed me by the head and forced me to spend only enough time
to look at June 1999 and June 2002. I am feeling a little silly about
only covering two years, but I learned a few things. the first was, as
always, that I know nothing.
1. The I&M always puts the go-carts and graduation on the cover,
unless there is a really large story to push it off.
2. During both the boom and bust years, the late June paper has about
74 pages. The paper before the fourth swells to 80+. 1999 had
slightly more pages overall and it also had one, inexplicable, 80 page
edition In 1999, the first July paper had 84 pages and the second had
94. No big deal there.
3. There are more Services Offered in 2003 than in the other two years,
but not by a lot. We had 67 this week, as opposed to 60 last year and
52 four years ago. Lots of tutors and housecleaners.
4. There are a lot less jobs. This week the paper lists 34, while last
year (at this time) there were 40 and four years ago, 74. However,
last year, the high water mark pre-season was about 70 jobs. (In 1999,
the high water mark in June was 120) This year, the high water mark is
45. Both 1999 and 2002 had a lot more dirty jeans jobs.
Also, the Nantucket peak for jobs this year came in the third week of
June. In 1999 and 2002, that peak came in the third week of May. I'm
sure weather has made people skittish about hiring, but I also think
that employers have been burned on the shoulder season since 2001. Our
summer season, at least from the spring, seems to be shrinking.
5. Summer Rentals are absolutely unremarkable. Even the same ads over
five years. If there is something there, it is that the summer rentals
have not dropped much. In late May there were 29 summer rentals,
roughly the same number as late June. In 1999 and 2002, the number
dipped by 10-15 rentals by July.
I so hoped that Summer Rentals would be a useful indicator from the
paper. I should ask why it isn't, but...
6. Year Round Rentals are also higher, although I don't know if the
number is particularly significant. In 1999, there were 2 (at 2500 a
month) and in 2002, there were 4. This year, we have 10. That ten
seem to made up of year round people with empty basements, but there
are only 10.
7. Cars and Boats. Cars are about the same over all three years,
although 2003 had a high of 31, which noone else gets close to. Every
year has about 25 cars for sale. Every year, someone tries to sell a
Land Rover for $35,000. Both last year and this year have featured a
lot of boats for sale, while there were only 10, tops, in 1999.
There you have it. In a nutshell, the classifieds seems to say that
this is a slightly tougher summer than last year. There are Fewer jobs
and more people looking for work, but the classifieds don't really show
and desperation.
> Pages: 72 (+6) Summer is here
> Services Offered: 67 (+9) Holy cats. I could get a slave. Really.
> Help Wanted: 34 (-6)
> Summer Rentals: 25 (-1)
> Year Round: 10 (+1) and 6 winter rentals. In June.
> Cars: 28 (+1)
> Boats: 27 (+4)
>
> The Atheneum is calling me again. I want to check out a few things.
> First, I bet that 72 pages is the shortest end of June paper in years.
> Second, 67 Services offered seems huge. And, of course, 34 Help
> Wanteds is paltry.
>
> In other news....
>
> BTW There is a yard sale on 13 Baxter Road. Barnett?
Nope, two lovely old ladies. I bought a Phish tape from them.
>
> Let's hear it for the Tuna. Golden Gloves stops meat theft. All sorts
> of inappropriate puns pop to mind.
Haven't seen him on the strip since.
>
> *******************************
>
> As for the editorials, I think Raskin is getting a little taste of the
> throw weight Grace and Flint have on Nantucket. This editorial, the
> article, the MV articles, and the past rudder articles. Sometime this
> weekend, the story should rise to the level of Globe and Boston News
> Outlets. I predict WCVB...Natalie pushes them to it. So, I think the
> communication issues is getting solved with the help of the airwaves.
> Maybe Geno can walk the camera through the Eagle in order to get some
> pretty pictures of graffitti.
>
> I wonder who the poor clerk was who treated the editorial writer
> rudely? Of course the editorial is correct, but I wonder why it pops
> up now, right before the Fourth. I suspect the editor is saying what
> we all fear: that the real season seems to be July 4 to August 15. But
> I am hoping for 10 weeks of beautiful weather followed by one
> hellacious, category 4 hurricane to make work for the winter.
>
I read an interesting editorial from the 6/24/99 paper. If anyone from
the Paper of Record reads this, maybe you should dig it up and put it
in front of the editorial writer? The editorial was a Top Ten list of
things to do this summer. #2 was not smoke cigars on the beach.
It would be worth updating for 2003. Much better than "Peace" or The
guidelines for submission.
B
> And what an odd quote. Praise for October? In June?
>
>
>
> Who is the picture of the day? Come to > href="http://www.barrsenglishclass.com">Class
>
I changed it yesterday to a picture of Tuckernuck. It's for you, Jim.
>
Bob Sunday, June 29, 2003
Rebecca Sayre has died.
I do not know the circumstances of her death, but I do remember the
circumstances of her life as a high school student. Becka was
energetic and confident, but shy. She was a gifted writer who enjoyed
developing and building metaphors and allusions into all of her
writing. She was very good at connecting all sorts of disparate ideas
and works together, and then bringing them into a new theme. In my old
recommendation, I noted that she was very sensitive to other people's
feelings and emotions. I remember her ripping into one of the many
mysoginists in my class that year and getting everyone's attention.
She and her sister were exceptionally close. When they were much
younger, they created a fantasy world on island called "Jewelweed
Castle." It was childish play, but it was her gift to be able to carry
that play into the "grown-up" world of adolescence. After high school,
she did not attend college, but travelled through Africa. She was
powerfully affected by what she saw.
No matter how she died, she is gone and we will all miss the person she
was going to be.
Bob Sunday, June 29, 2003
Note the last paragraph.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_82_2073981,00.html
Bob Sunday, June 29, 2003
Saturday, June 28, 2003
For most of my time on island, I forget that I am on an island. I
drive the triangle of death (Home-School-Stop and Shop) over and over
all winter, just as I would do if I lived in Hopkinton. The concretes
in my life, like food, electricity, medical care and the like seem
steady and dependable. The tunnel joke has its edge of seriousness at
this point; since we are pretty tightly tied into the American grid,
there could just as well be a tunnel.
Of course, there isn't. And we don't want one.
Travel to an from the island has become invisible to all of us. We
take it for granted, like telephone service, cable television, and
electricity. However, as I have written before, Nantucket is at the
end of the whip. If an economic butterfly beats its wings in
Washington or New York, we all get the gale. I think the wind is
picking up.
So, when I read that the SSA lost a million dollars already this year,
I got a little concerned. Traffic is down huge, with 10% less cars, 7%
less passengers, and 7% less trucks from last year's horrid showing.
In 1999, the SSA carried 38,000 trucks. That seems very unlikely this
year and probably didn't happen last year. So, there is less money
coming in.
I don't know the numbers precisely, but there is a new union contract
out there for the employees and I would bet that it includes pay
increases. If I remember correctly, the "overnights" clause was a
sticking point. The SSA crew would come over on the late boat and
stay, paid, on one of the islands. (I believe that the new Vineyard
schedule is designed to make this more efficient) Either way, the
labor cost for the SSA is going up.
I'm sure other costs are going up as well. Fuel prices have been
inching up, even with Iraqi oil returning to the market. Insurance
costs must be high for the SSA, as they are for just about everyone
else. Management ain't cheap, nor are bond costs, refitting, and all
the rest.
And let's not forget the valentine to New Bedford. Less than 5% of the
traffic that comes over the bridges goes to Nantucket or the Vineyard.
Most of that traffic comes from Boston or the Boston area. Why would
they drive further to go to New Beige? But it seems a good place for a
terminal.
Don't wait on help from the state. They have more than enough
problems. The feds gave us some Homeland Security money. That should
pay for some nice stickers and a couple of clipboards (and the guys to
carry them).
So, the SSA is in the financial weeds.
Now, this article
(http://www.mvgazette.com/news/2003/06/27/ssa_revenues_drop.php)
details steps the SSA is taking to decrease costs and increase
revenues. One of those steps is outright silly, They will now start
selling advertising on the big white boats in order to
raise....$25,000. Since there is a million dollar short fall in the
first five months, that would cut it to....$975,000. Let's charge for
the bathrooms next. That should raise a thousand or two. I suppose
strippers would help. We've already got the poles.
Advertising is Good Faith Codswallop. It's an argumentative set-up
designed to support a later argument for more substantive changes.
"We're doing everything we can...." Raskin would say "including
advertising, but we have to..." In the article, he claims that it is a
"big revenue producer" $25,000 is the revenue from 125 cars coming to
Nantucket. Less than two boats worth. Some "big revenue producer."
Kiki Roessel, the Vineyard Rep and a singular wit, really "applauds
this-I think we really need this." Strippers and Slots, here we come.
Where does the money to eat a 2 million annual deficit come from.
Well, on the Vineyard, it means tinkering with the wintertime schedule.
A couple more hours to wait between boats. Probably another fare
increase.
For Nantucket, at the end of the whip, there could be a lot more
substantive changes. The Eagle must be the most expensive boat the SSA
runs. More fuel, more staff, more maintenance, more annoyance.
Further. the Flying Clud has had an increase in ridership while the
Eagle sees more of a dip. The Clud charges double for a passenger than
the Beagle does.
So, if half-wit Barsanti is the manager looking at a 2 million dollar
hole, I would start thinking real hard about cutting down the Eagle
runs. An empty Eagle has got to be a Treasurers nightmare and the
current numbers, down even from last year's anemic figures, make that
case for me.
Next winter, could we be looking at one big boat a day? two?
Further, as we are at the end of the whip and can't do anything about
it, Raskin might as well raise freight rates. The freight boats have
got to be money makers.Those rates will go up, probably by a good,
healthy chunk. As long as we are out here, we have to eat and build
and do all of that good stuff.
I have other thoughts on this, but I need to take the boys yard-sailing.
B.
P.S. A version of this cost containment argument must be behind larger
planes.
P.P.S. The economics of this come from either Wall Street or the
Washington, depending on your political opinion.
P.P.P.S. Think of all of the SSA rates as an extra sales taxes you pay
for living here. Those taxes are going up.
Bob Saturday, June 28, 2003
For most of my time on island, I forget that I am on an island. I
drive the triangle of death (Home-School-Stop and Shop) over and over
all winter, just as I would do if I lived in Hopkinton. The concretes
in my life, like food, electricity, medical care and the like seem
steady and dependable. The tunnel joke has its edge of seriousness at
this point; since we are pretty tightly tied into the American grid,
there could just as well be a tunnel.
Of course, there isn't. And we don't want one.
Travel to an from the island has become invisible to all of us. We
take it for granted, like telephone service, cable television, and
electricity. However, as I have written before, Nantucket is at the
end of the whip. If an economic butterfly beats its wings in
Washington or New York, we all get the gale. I think the wind is
picking up.
So, when I read that the SSA lost a million dollars already this year,
I got a little concerned. Traffic is down huge, with 10% less cars, 7%
less passengers, and 7% less trucks from last year's horrid showing.
In 1999, the SSA carried 38,000 trucks. That seems very unlikely this
year and probably didn't happen last year. So, there is less money
coming in.
I don't know the numbers precisely, but there is a new union contract
out there for the employees and I would bet that it includes pay
increases. If I remember correctly, the "overnights" clause was a
sticking point. The SSA crew would come over on the late boat and
stay, paid, on one of the islands. (I believe that the new Vineyard
schedule is designed to make this more efficient) Either way, the
labor cost for the SSA is going up.
I'm sure other costs are going up as well. Fuel prices have been
inching up, even with Iraqi oil returning to the market. Insurance
costs must be high for the SSA, as they are for just about everyone
else. Management ain't cheap, nor are bond costs, refitting, and all
the rest.
And let's not forget the valentine to New Bedford. Less than 5% of the
traffic that comes over the bridges goes to Nantucket or the Vineyard.
Most of that traffic comes from Boston or the Boston area. Why would
they drive further to go to New Beige? But it seems a good place for a
terminal.
Don't wait on help from the state. They have more than enough
problems. The feds gave us some Homeland Security money. That should
pay for some nice stickers and a couple of clipboards (and the guys to
carry them).
So, the SSA is in the financial weeds.
Now, this article
(http://www.mvgazette.com/news/2003/06/27/ssa_revenues_drop.php)
details steps the SSA is taking to decrease costs and increase
revenues. One of those steps is outright silly, They will now start
selling advertising on the big white boats in order to
raise....$25,000. Since there is a million dollar short fall in the
first five months, that would cut it to....$975,000. Let's charge for
the bathrooms next. That should raise a thousand or two. I suppose
strippers would help. We've already got the poles.
Advertising is Good Faith Codswallop. It's an argumentative set-up
designed to support a later argument for more substantive changes.
"We're doing everything we can...." Raskin would say "including
advertising, but we have to..." In the article, he claims that it is a
"big revenue producer" $25,000 is the revenue from 125 cars coming to
Nantucket. Less than two boats worth. Some "big revenue producer."
Kiki Roessel, the Vineyard Rep and a singular wit, really "applauds
this-I think we really need this." Strippers and Slots, here we come.
Where does the money to eat a 2 million annual deficit come from.
Well, on the Vineyard, it means tinkering with the wintertime schedule.
A couple more hours to wait between boats. Probably another fare
increase.
For Nantucket, at the end of the whip, there could be a lot more
substantive changes. The Eagle must be the most expensive boat the SSA
runs. More fuel, more staff, more maintenance, more annoyance.
Further. the Flying Clud has had an increase in ridership while the
Eagle sees more of a dip. The Clud charges double for a passenger than
the Beagle does.
So, if half-wit Barsanti is the manager looking at a 2 million dollar
hole, I would start thinking real hard about cutting down the Eagle
runs. An empty Eagle has got to be a Treasurers nightmare and the
current numbers, down even from last year's anemic figures, make that
case for me.
Next winter, could we be looking at one big boat a day? two?
Further, as we are at the end of the whip and can't do anything about
it, Raskin might as well raise freight rates. The freight boats have
got to be money makers.Those rates will go up, probably by a good,
healthy chunk. As long as we are out here, we have to eat and build
and do all of that good stuff.
I have other thoughts on this, but I need to take the boys yard-sailing.
B.
P.S. A version of this cost containment argument must be behind larger
planes.
P.P.S. The economics of this come from either Wall Street or the
Washington, depending on your political opinion.
P.P.P.S. Think of all of the SSA rates as an extra sales taxes you pay
for living here. Those taxes are going up.
Bob Saturday, June 28, 2003
For most of my time on island, I forget that I am on an island. I
drive the triangle of death (Home-School-Stop and Shop) over and over
all winter, just as I would do if I lived in Hopkinton. The concretes
in my life, like food, electricity, medical care and the like seem
steady and dependable. The tunnel joke has its edge of seriousness at
this point; since we are pretty tightly tied into the American grid,
there could just as well be a tunnel.
Of course, there isn't. And we don't want one.
Travel to an from the island has become invisible to all of us. We
take it for granted, like telephone service, cable television, and
electricity. However, as I have written before, Nantucket is at the
end of the whip. If an economic butterfly beats its wings in
Washington or New York, we all get the gale. I think the wind is
picking up.
So, when I read that the SSA lost a million dollars already this year,
I got a little concerned. Traffic is down huge, with 10% less cars, 7%
less passengers, and 7% less trucks from last year's horrid showing.
In 1999, the SSA carried 38,000 trucks. That seems very unlikely this
year and probably didn't happen last year. So, there is less money
coming in.
I don't know the numbers precisely, but there is a new union contract
out there for the employees and I would bet that it includes pay
increases. If I remember correctly, the "overnights" clause was a
sticking point. The SSA crew would come over on the late boat and
stay, paid, on one of the islands. (I believe that the new Vineyard
schedule is designed to make this more efficient) Either way, the
labor cost for the SSA is going up.
I'm sure other costs are going up as well. Fuel prices have been
inching up, even with Iraqi oil returning to the market. Insurance
costs must be high for the SSA, as they are for just about everyone
else. Management ain't cheap, nor are bond costs, refitting, and all
the rest.
And let's not forget the valentine to New Bedford. Less than 5% of the
traffic that comes over the bridges goes to Nantucket or the Vineyard.
Most of that traffic comes from Boston or the Boston area. Why would
they drive further to go to New Beige? But it seems a good place for a
terminal.
Don't wait on help from the state. They have more than enough
problems. The feds gave us some Homeland Security money. That should
pay for some nice stickers and a couple of clipboards (and the guys to
carry them).
So, the SSA is in the financial weeds.
Now, this article
(http://www.mvgazette.com/news/2003/06/27/ssa_revenues_drop.php)
details steps the SSA is taking to decrease costs and increase
revenues. One of those steps is outright silly, They will now start
selling advertising on the big white boats in order to
raise....$25,000. Since there is a million dollar short fall in the
first five months, that would cut it to....$975,000. Let's charge for
the bathrooms next. That should raise a thousand or two. I suppose
strippers would help. We've already got the poles.
Advertising is Good Faith Codswallop. It's an argumentative set-up
designed to support a later argument for more substantive changes.
"We're doing everything we can...." Raskin would say "including
advertising, but we have to..." In the article, he claims that it is a
"big revenue producer" $25,000 is the revenue from 125 cars coming to
Nantucket. Less than two boats worth. Some "big revenue producer."
Kiki Roessel, the Vineyard Rep and a singular wit, really "applauds
this-I think we really need this." Strippers and Slots, here we come.
Where does the money to eat a 2 million annual deficit come from.
Well, on the Vineyard, it means tinkering with the wintertime schedule.
A couple more hours to wait between boats. Probably another fare
increase.
For Nantucket, at the end of the whip, there could be a lot more
substantive changes. The Eagle must be the most expensive boat the SSA
runs. More fuel, more staff, more maintenance, more annoyance.
Further. the Flying Clud has had an increase in ridership while the
Eagle sees more of a dip. The Clud charges double for a passenger than
the Beagle does.
So, if half-wit Barsanti is the manager looking at a 2 million dollar
hole, I would start thinking real hard about cutting down the Eagle
runs. An empty Eagle has got to be a Treasurers nightmare and the
current numbers, down even from last year's anemic figures, make that
case for me.
Next winter, could we be looking at one big boat a day? two?
Further, as we are at the end of the whip and can't do anything about
it, Raskin might as well raise freight rates. The freight boats have
got to be money makers.Those rates will go up, probably by a good,
healthy chunk. As long as we are out here, we have to eat and build
and do all of that good stuff.
I have other thoughts on this, but I need to take the boys yard-sailing.
B.
P.S. A version of this cost containment argument must be behind larger
planes.
P.P.S. The economics of this come from either Wall Street or the
Washington, depending on your political opinion.
P.P.P.S. Think of all of the SSA rates as an extra sales taxes you pay
for living here. Those taxes are going up.
Bob Saturday, June 28, 2003
For most of my time on island, I forget that I am on an island. I
drive the triangle of death (Home-School-Stop and Shop) over and over
all winter, just as I would do if I lived in Hopkinton. The concretes
in my life, like food, electricity, medical care and the like seem
steady and dependable. The tunnel joke has its edge of seriousness at
this point; since we are pretty tightly tied into the American grid,
there could just as well be a tunnel.
Of course, there isn't. And we don't want one.
Travel to an from the island has become invisible to all of us. We
take it for granted, like telephone service, cable television, and
electricity. However, as I have written before, Nantucket is at the
end of the whip. If an economic butterfly beats its wings in
Washington or New York, we all get the gale. I think the wind is
picking up.
So, when I read that the SSA lost a million dollars already this year,
I got a little concerned. Traffic is down huge, with 10% less cars, 7%
less passengers, and 7% less trucks from last year's horrid showing.
In 1999, the SSA carried 38,000 trucks. That seems very unlikely this
year and probably didn't happen last year. So, there is less money
coming in.
I don't know the numbers precisely, but there is a new union contract
out there for the employees and I would bet that it includes pay
increases. If I remember correctly, the "overnights" clause was a
sticking point. The SSA crew would come over on the late boat and
stay, paid, on one of the islands. (I believe that the new Vineyard
schedule is designed to make this more efficient) Either way, the
labor cost for the SSA is going up.
I'm sure other costs are going up as well. Fuel prices have been
inching up, even with Iraqi oil returning to the market. Insurance
costs must be high for the SSA, as they are for just about everyone
else. Management ain't cheap, nor are bond costs, refitting, and all
the rest.
And let's not forget the valentine to New Bedford. Less than 5% of the
traffic that comes over the bridges goes to Nantucket or the Vineyard.
Most of that traffic comes from Boston or the Boston area. Why would
they drive further to go to New Beige? But it seems a good place for a
terminal.
Don't wait on help from the state. They have more than enough
problems. The feds gave us some Homeland Security money. That should
pay for some nice stickers and a couple of clipboards (and the guys to
carry them).
So, the SSA is in the financial weeds.
Now, this article
(http://www.mvgazette.com/news/2003/06/27/ssa_revenues_drop.php)
details steps the SSA is taking to decrease costs and increase
revenues. One of those steps is outright silly, They will now start
selling advertising on the big white boats in order to
raise....$25,000. Since there is a million dollar short fall in the
first five months, that would cut it to....$975,000. Let's charge for
the bathrooms next. That should raise a thousand or two. I suppose
strippers would help. We've already got the poles.
Advertising is Good Faith Codswallop. It's an argumentative set-up
designed to support a later argument for more substantive changes.
"We're doing everything we can...." Raskin would say "including
advertising, but we have to..." In the article, he claims that it is a
"big revenue producer" $25,000 is the revenue from 125 cars coming to
Nantucket. Less than two boats worth. Some "big revenue producer."
Kiki Roessel, the Vineyard Rep and a singular wit, really "applauds
this-I think we really need this." Strippers and Slots, here we come.
Where does the money to eat a 2 million annual deficit come from.
Well, on the Vineyard, it means tinkering with the wintertime schedule.
A couple more hours to wait between boats. Probably another fare
increase.
For Nantucket, at the end of the whip, there could be a lot more
substantive changes. The Eagle must be the most expensive boat the SSA
runs. More fuel, more staff, more maintenance, more annoyance.
Further. the Flying Clud has had an increase in ridership while the
Eagle sees more of a dip. The Clud charges double for a passenger than
the Beagle does.
So, if half-wit Barsanti is the manager looking at a 2 million dollar
hole, I would start thinking real hard about cutting down the Eagle
runs. An empty Eagle has got to be a Treasurers nightmare and the
current numbers, down even from last year's anemic figures, make that
case for me.
Next winter, could we be looking at one big boat a day? two?
Further, as we are at the end of the whip and can't do anything about
it, Raskin might as well raise freight rates. The freight boats have
got to be money makers.Those rates will go up, probably by a good,
healthy chunk. As long as we are out here, we have to eat and build
and do all of that good stuff.
I have other thoughts on this, but I need to take the boys yard-sailing.
B.
P.S. A version of this cost containment argument must be behind larger
planes.
P.P.S. The economics of this come from either Wall Street or the
Washington, depending on your political opinion.
P.P.P.S. Think of all of the SSA rates as an extra sales taxes you pay
for living here. Those taxes are going up.
Bob Saturday, June 28, 2003
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Vacation Rental It's a tough summer now and it is just going to get tougher.
Bob Tuesday, June 24, 2003
John Edwards: I may have found a a new candidate. This is an unbelievably good speech.
Bob Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Poem
Bob Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Tranquility Bay
Bob Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Monday, June 16, 2003
Atwood on Orwell
Bob Monday, June 16, 2003
Sunday, June 15, 2003
Daddy Day Care
Bob Sunday, June 15, 2003
Week??
Bob Sunday, June 15, 2003
Unemployment
Bob Sunday, June 15, 2003
/// ///
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