“A” for Honesty
freeze damage to plumbing and boiler heat systems!
–excerpt, new MLS listing
Normally, you associate exclamation marks in real estate marketing with superlatives.
Such as:
“Gorgeous new Kitchen!”
“Amazing lot and setting!”
“Beautiful built-in’s and mill work!”
So, “freeze damage to plumbing and boiler heat systems!” comes across as a bit . . . off-key (but honest! — exclamation mark intended 
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Four Two for the Price of One
Checking online for a rental car in the Bay Area this summer, I’ve been shocked at what appears to be the going rate for a minivan for a week: anywhere from $850 to more than $1,200(!).
Really.
Which inspired Plan B.
Namely, rent two economy cars instead.
The advantages of such a manuever?
–The rental car companies appear to have a glut of these — and are pricing them accordingly ($200 a week or less).
–My wife — who gets motion sick whenever she’s a passenger — gets to be a driver, too.
–We get to apply two, $50 coupons instead of one.
–My family of five can split up: I can take our two boys hiking in Muir Woods while my wife takes our daughter to a museum.
–We can rent one car at the airport — by far the most expensive location to rent — and shuttle to a cheaper, off-site location for car #2.
–And last but not least: if my temper tantrum-prone daughter has a melt-down at one of the social functions we’re invited to — we have a “getaway car” (now that’s what I call leverage).
The Bottom Line
Yes, I know we’ll have to pay more parking and tolls — but we’re staying in a motel with free parking.
And yes, we’ll have to gas up two cars — but factor in the mediocre mileage that minivans get, and I doubt we’re spending much (if any) more.
Bottom line (literally)?
My family and I are going to have a nice vacation this Summer, inflation be damned!
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Obama: More Like Kevin Garnett — or Kwame Brown (Kwame who??)
[Editor's Note: this post originally ran a year ago, right after the 2010 NFL draft. The day after the start of the 2011 draft, it still seems topical -- plus, I'm too swamped to otherwise post right now. And yes, I saw that Auburn QB Cam Newton went first, and that the Vikings drafted Florida St. QB Christian Ponder 12th.]
Even after all the interviews, debates, and due diligence, the choice is ultimately still a crap shoot, taking years before it’s apparent whether the choice is a Hall of Famer or a bust.
The NFL draft?
Try, picking U.S. presidents.
Just as in pro sports, sometimes consensus first picks turn out to be busts — and sometimes lowly ranked players (or walk-on’s!) end up being Hall of Famer’s.
At least in my view, here are the four categories that (most) U.S. Presidents fall into:
1. Consensus 1st Pick: ‘What You See is What You Get’
George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower: both highly regarded national leaders who literally were drafted to serve as President. Their successful Presidencies were characterized by the same leadership skills, judgment, etc. they exhibited prior to their election.
2. 1st Round Busts: U.S. Grant, Warren G. Harding.
Both men were central casting’s idea of what a U.S. President should look like — and disappointments (or worse) in office.
Call them the “Ryan Leaf’s” of presidential politics (Leaf was chosen second by the San Diego Chargers in 1998, right after Peyton Manning — and never heard from again).
3. Late Round (or undrafted) Hall of Famer: Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman.
Lincoln had achieved some measure of fame debating Stephen Douglas, but was largely unknown nationally prior to his election. He emerged in 1860 only because the leading Republican contenders (William Seward, Salmon Chase) deadlocked.
“Plain-speaking” Harry Truman emerged from FDR’s shadow to become a near-great (and favorite underdog) President.
4. Late Round (or undrafted) Bust: Jimmy Carter. Obscure former Georgia Governor with a squeaky clean image that was especially appealing after Nixonian sleaze.
Great ex-President, mediocre President.
So where does that leave Barack Obama and George W. Bush?
Obama is like the high school phenom so talented that they skipped college and went directly to the pro’s — as the very first pick, no less.
Time will tell whether he turns out be another Kevin Garnett or LeBron James — or Kwame Brown (Kwame who?).
George W. Bush, meanwhile, is like the walk-on who got installed as starting NFL quarterback not because of a stellar college career — but because he was the owner’s son.
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