The Colonel's Forum

I’d really like to be able to say that I’m not worried about the “recession” (or whatever we’re calling it) that seems to dominate the news these days, but that would not be completely accurate. While it’s not something I worry about, it is something that is on my mind a lot these days. Specifically, I think this is the first time in my life where I’m actually wishing things were a bit more like the environment my parents enjoyed when they joined the workforce. You know, back when you could count on some degree of loyalty from your employer, back when pensions were still common, back when you couldn’t get a mortgage for a home you couldn’t afford, back when everyone paid off their credit cards each month… Ella and I are just now getting on our feet. She’s making real money in real estate these days, after we’ve spent several years investing in her career. I’ve finally landed a job that I enjoy and that pays really well. We’ve spent 3 years fixing up our home and it’s finally gett...

I'm absolutely done with CNN. They've been annoying me for years, and today they finally pushed me over the line. "Outbreak Fears Spread" was their banner for most of the day. The swine flu is coming to get us all. Aren't you panicked? All my friends, family and co-workers are. Oh wait, that's not the case at all. In fact, I don't know a single person with "outbreak fears." I remember in 2001 when the introduced the permanent ticker. I hate the permanent ticker, mostly because other news agencies felt obligated to follow suit. You're nothing in the news business these days if you don't have a ticker. CNN uses these ridiculous pseudo-headlines ending in question marks like "End of the world coming on Tuesday?" and "Dick Cheney actually a robot?" OK, so maybe Cheney is a robot but whatever. You need the ticker in case there is some piece of news that's so insanely urgent that you have to get it out there...

It was one of those beautiful spring days that makes life in the Bluegrass so nice. Jason and Kim.5 came down with Leo, and we all tailgated at Keeneland with the Parrotheads. I say Kim.5 because they're having another kid! With many of my friends two kids would concern me, but these two are probably the most grounded set of parents I know. The Budweiser Clydesdales were at the track and boy did Leo think that was cool. Well it was cool, actually. Seeing a Clydesdale next to a dinky little Thoroughbred makes you wonder why they don't race draft horses! I'll bet the average Clydesdale poop weighs more than the average Thoroughbred jockey. We walked Leo around the barns to visit some of the big money horses racing this weekend, then I went inside the track to do my great grandfather proud by losing some money at the track. He's probably up there somewhere wondering why I was making those measly $2 bets. Ella and I were going to do Thunder over Louisville, but her ...