Greg's Horrible Waste of Internet Bandwidth

I note that James Maloney and his peers are upset about Stanley Works reincorporating offshore ("Maloney Rips Stanley for Relocating Abroad, May 19, 2002 CT Post), even going so far as to compare the corporation to the infamous Benedict Arnold. I suggest that Maloney and his fellow legislators stop blaming others and take a look inward to find the reasons - and solutions - for that relocation. Stanley is a for-profit corporation. It has a responsibility to its shareholders - especially those among the working class - to produce a profit. Without that profit the shareholders lose their investments, and not only are large financial investors (such as the mutual funds in which much of our individual 401k and pension plans are invested) affected, individual shareholders, such as Stanley employees, would be hurt as well. With the profligate tax levels to which our legislators are becoming accustomed, most corporations are starting to see those profits quickly dwindling, ...

Author's name withheld, to protect the (mostly) innocent.. Rule #1: Never fly with "Bob". I have an R-22 time slot on Saturdays, 4:30 to 6:30. This past Saturday Bob & I decide we want to fly down to the Miami downtown heliport. I'd fly down, Bob would fly back. Simple enough. The flight down was most enjoyable and precisely flown. The downtown heliport is a real neat trip, as you come in at 500ft or less, right over the cruise ships and south beach. We shut down and grabbed a quick soda. It's now getting pretty dark, the sun having just set over the skyline. "Bob" - not his real name - does a quick pre-flight then fires up. We do a max performance takeoff departing down Government Cut, right next to the cruise ships, hit the coastline and turn north. As we approach Ft. Lauderdale's airspace I tune in FLL tower getting ready to request transition. Just as I come on freq, I hear, "Ft Lauderdale tower, this is Coast Guard three four six zer...

Remember the "Dat pipe's not foh watuh, dat's pipe's foh GAS!!!"? Well, it seems to never end... I'm at home this week, not working. I was in Salt Lake City on business last week, and Thea calls to tell me the pipes are overflowing downstairs. Seems that while the toilet and bathroom sink are working fine (and the bath tub still drains slow), the driveway side of the house is plugged up. Running the dishwasher, kitchen sink, or washing machine results in a pretty geyser gushing up from the washing machine drain. Sigh. So, Saturday night we tried dropping in a gallon and a half of drain cleaner (after Thea did a gallon on Friday) and by Sunday morning I can see that it's not working. So, I volunteer to stay home and call Roto Rooter, and see if I can make our troubles go away down the drain... "Elmo" drives up mid-morning on Monday. He's a tall black guy, "from the Islands, mon", and seems a nice guy. I give him a walk arou...

The numbers racket, protection, gambling. Looking for more ways to make money for the organization, they're now using fear and extortion to gather the income needed, making you an 'offer you can't refuse'. Am I talking about the latest episode of "The Sopranos"? Maybe one of the movies from "The Godfather" saga? How about your Uncle Herbert's 'business partner'? Nope, I'm talking about our very own State of Connecticut. If you owe Connecticut back taxes, Tax Commissioner Gene Gavin is making you an offer you can’t refuse. [1] Surely I'm not the only one that is concerned with the latest money-making scheme that "The State" has come up with for finding a way to pay for the bloated government? Radio and TV commercials aired for most of this past Fall describing CT's "tax amnesty" program, where 'they' were giving you the opportunity to 'come clean' on your taxes. While not being one to endo...