Author Archives: tonyj126

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About tonyj126

I'm a 50+ married man who always seems to have a large backlog of work to do, but also a lot of flexibility in my schedule. Much of the work I do is volunteer or taking care of extended family members. I suffer from, as my priest calls it, "the sin of self-sufficiency," which means I can figure out how to do most things myself, and consequently, reduce the need for community to solve problems. As a logical extention (at least to me), I find myself called to comtemplate the country's and the world's woes and offer my observations. I hope someone out there will find them useful.

Short Term vs. Long Term Options

Posted on May 26, 2016 by tonyj126

I’m a little annoyed with myself. I wrote a post a month ago about how I thought Paul Ryan could win this year’s election if he ran as an independent (“Prediction: The Next U.S. President will be the Third-Place Finisher … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, U.S. Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Nooks ‘n Crannies Generation

Posted on May 21, 2016 by tonyj126

My wife and I are at the very end of the Baby Boomer generation. Because we’re at the tail end, we didn’t share the same experiences, nor do we have the same drives which typically describe that generation. There was … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Trump Twitter-Baiting

Posted on May 19, 2016 by tonyj126

It’s entertaining how the U.S. presidential candidates are using Twitter this time around. Four years ago, Twitter was used to appeal to Millennials using upbeat messages designed to show how each candidate was worthy of their attention and support. As … Continue reading →

Posted in U.S. Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Unintended Consequences – 401(k)s and RFRA

Posted on May 13, 2016 by tonyj126

It’s not uncommon for a program designed to help one group to get coopted by others and end up harming some people. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and 401(k) retirement plans are two examples of unintended consequences. 401(k) … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, U.S. Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Republicans for Clinton!

Posted on May 12, 2016 by tonyj126

You’ve probably heard of several prominent republicans who feel unable to support Donald Trump’s bid for the presidency and have stated so publicly. At least one claims that Hilary Clinton is the most conservative candidate left in the race. At … Continue reading →

Posted in U.S. Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Fitbit-Inspired Parking Manipulation

Posted on May 11, 2016 by tonyj126

On Christmas Eve a few years ago, I was trolling through a mall looking for a couple gifts for my wife. That’s a stressful situation. I only go to shopping malls once or twice a year and I don’t enjoy … Continue reading →

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Heaven and Hell

Posted on May 2, 2016 by tonyj126

I don’t actually have time to write a post today. I’m upgrading a bathroom in our vacation rental house in Traverse City, Michigan and have painfully little time to get it done. I also have to do a lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Prediction: The Next U.S. President will be the Third-Place Finisher from the General Election

Posted on April 29, 2016 by tonyj126

There’s a scene in Anne Tyler’s The Accidental Tourist that may apply to the selection of the next American president. While on a tour of Independence Hall, the protagonist, Macon Leary, attempts to make the tour a little more engaging … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Religion, U.S. Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Job Numbers Are Good. So Why Are People Complaining?

Posted on April 24, 2016 by tonyj126

There is a fantastic website: http://tipstrategies.com/geography-of-jobs/. Go check it out. It’s a geography of jobs map put out by TIP Strategies of Austin, TX, which is a privately held economic development consulting firm. Their map shows a running 12 month … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, U.S. Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Do “Religious Freedom” Laws Hurt Business and Cost Jobs?

Posted on April 23, 2016 by tonyj126

There’s an interesting fight happening in Missouri. Usual allies are at odds over SJR 39, a proposed constitutional amendment that, according to proponents, protects those who oppose same-sex marriage from being forced to take part in any aspect of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, U.S. Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment