Kucinich on the bailout

HRYK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaF_MZVWM3E

Outsourcing

The primary driver for the wrecked economy is outsourcing.  A steady drop in US manufacturing jobs has led to massive unemployment and a recentering of the economy around the service center.

If the economy is to be fixed, we need good jobs at home.  That means punishing companies who send jobs overseas.  I'd like to see a law passed that says that any outsourced job must be payed industry median for that position.  If you think the most qualified tech support person you can find is in India, then fine, but you gotta pay them what you'd pay a U.S. employee - $45K.  

Greedy greedy bastards those big companies.

If you want a McJob, vote for McCain.

Bailout

I hate the idea of a bailout for big financial companies.  These companies were well aware of the risks associated with their investments - assessing risk is an integral part of investing.   What if I go to Atlantic City and play a game where I have a 7% edge (without going into how I can accomplish this, which is information I'm not willing to share, it is sufficient here to say that it is possible) and I manage to lose $10K?  I wouldn't expect a government bailout.  

Put another way, if there was no risk in an investment for some people, shouldn't all people be granted that no risk?  We'd've certainly bought a house beyond our means (we were approved for a loan twice as large as the one we took, which is barely affordable).  

People need to take responsibility for their financial decisions.

To put in perspective how much $700 Billion dollars is, you could use that money to provide safe drinking water for every man, woman and child on this earth (a huge problem in underdeveloped nations).  And still have enough money left over to fund the immoral war in Iraq for 20 months.

Another sectional swiss

A few problems (all imps):

NV, 4th seat

ATx, AKJxxx, xxx, K

P - P - P - 1H

P - 2H - 2S - ??

Unfavorable:

P - P - 1D - X

3D - 4S - 5D - ??

Is your auction a force?

A98, JT9, Qxx, KQxx, favorable 4th seat

P - 1C - 1S - 2S

P - 3C - P - ??

Problem 1, I had been planning on making a game try of 2S if RHO had passed.  3D is not really the right game try, as partner will think honor 3rd is good, when it really isn't.  3C is worse for evaluation.  Maybe I should try 2NT - if partner raises, 3NT is probably right.  In reality, I bid 3H, hoping no game was on, since NV.  I caught a total max and favorable breaks: J9, xxx, AKx, Jxxxx, so 3NT and 4H are both trivial makes.

Problem 2, I assumed we weren't in a forcing pass auction and passed with QTx, AKxxxx, x, xxx (by the way, it wasn't really a double, but a 1NT overcall for limited takeout, but for those unfamiliar with the methods, it simplifies the discussion to call it a double.  The reason I bid 1NT rather than 1H with the hand is that 2H would show 4-5 in the majors and I felt that 1NT might bury the opponents 44 spade fit effectively.  I didn't count on partner bidding the 5-level by himself with KJxxx, Qx, x, QJxxx.  I mentioned after the hand that when you and partner are both short in the same suit, the hand doesn't play so well.  Mercifully undoubled for -300, but a phantom save.

Partner also saved in 5D holding Jxxxx, Ax, Qxxxx, J on this auction:  

(1C) 1D (1H) 1S

(2H) P  (4H) ??

Also a phantom save; after a club lead, you can win the HA, cross in diamonds and get a ruff.  You can't take phantoms at imps.

Hand 3 I passed - right, no game makes as the overcaller had SKQJ and an outside ace.

Michael

So active

Walked into her room when she was upset and this is how I saw her:

Joe Biden

We took Sammie to see Biden speak in Media.  It was kind of a zoo getting in and out, probably 5000 people were there and there was just a 2 lane road going in.  Ed Rendel opened, and both spoke about the outright lies that McCain has been spewing.   The picture with Biden and his granddaughter was taken with 12x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom.  The digital zoom really trims the image, but allows for proper focus.  Considering we weren't particularly close to the stage, it is a pretty good picture.  

The wife was saying recently... "how can anyone be undecided when the candidates are so far apart?"

My thought on it is smart people have chosen (in my view between order and chaos and between good and evil) and that the dumb people don't understand what is happening.  They get caught up in symbols and catchphrases and are easily duped.

Problems from a sectional swiss

All at imps:

1)  A, xx, AQT9xx, xxxx; favorable, 3rd seat... P - P to you

2)  QJxx, xxx, --, AKJxxx, Unfavorable:

RHO  YOU  CHO  LHO

1NT*  X**   Pass   2C***   *=14-16; ** = major/minor 2-suiter; *** P/C for minor

2D      ???

If you bid 3C, LHO bids 3D, passed back to you - any further action?

3)  Qxx, xx, Qxxx, Axxx, none vul;  

LHO   CHO  RHO  YOU

Pass   2D*    2NT**  Pass

3NT

* = multi

** = 16-18

What do you lead?

Before the solution, some complaints:

Holding xx, KQT8x, Ax, KJT9 at all vul, RHO opens 1NT (14-16) in 3rd seat.  I pass it around to partner who doubles, showing a major minor 2 suiter.  I pass this to LHO who rescues to 2C.  Partner bids 2D in front of me (with Qxxxx, x, KQxxx, xx).  

Holding xxx, AJ98x, x, AJT8, RHO opens 1NT (15-17) and I make the questionable X to show a major minor.  Partner bids 2C, P/C and I pass this to LHO who bids 2H.  

Partner bids 2S on AQx, x, Kxxxx, xxxx.  I would think partner would either pass or double 2H (surely the X is pass or correct... shouldn't 2S show something like 6-1-3-3 shape?)

Holding:  KQJxx, x, x, QTxxxx unfavorable,  I hear RHO open 1D.  I questoinably overcall 2C, hoping to put some pressure on the auction (the side spade length makes their negative doubles awkward).  LHO bids 2H, partner cuebids 3D and RHO bids 3H.  I try 3S, LHO bids 4H and partner doubles.  I don't like it, but there is no reason to bid again here.  Partner holds xxx, xx, AKJxx, Kxx and leads the DA to see:  A98x, ATxx, Qxx, AJ.  He shifts to a club... I think he forgot the auction during the play.  By the way, LHO bid 2H on T, KQJxxx, xxxx, xx.  Probably right, but not everyone would have done that.

So on hand 1, I opened 3D and everyone passed.  I caught partner with Jxxx, xxxxx, Kx, AQ.  The club finesse was on, but the DJ offside in the crossruff, so I made 10 tricks.  Somehow they bid 3NT at the other table, which rolls home.

Hand 2, you are on for 4S.  Partner holds:  Kxxxx, xx, xxx, Qxx

Hand 3, you should lead a spade.  If partner has a weak 2 in hearts, you just aren't beating them.  Partner held Kxxxx, Qx, J, xxxxx.  since clubs are 2-2, you can beat it with the sneaky club lead too, but who would find that?