morning

no change in loner ranges..today short term is 1257 to 1237

Each year at this time as we all begin to think…at least those of us here inthe United States of the many joys of thanksgiving, those joyous reunions offamilies that damn near always end with cousin Roy and Uncle Bob bashingeach other about the head and face with turkey legs over some long forgottenslight and Aunt Edna tippling off the better part of your expensive whiskeystash, whilst those apples of our eyes, the wee ones fling mashed potatoesand peas at each other with great abandon, those delightful moments offalling asleep watching the pitiful Detroit Lions play on the onlynationally televised game they ever appear in, too stuffed with obsceneamounts of food to even reach for the remote, instead lying there, pantsunsnapped, a great turkey bloated island of a creature..this gloriousholiday of overeating, alka seltzer and grand hangover creation. To saynothing of the joy of getting to our destination…7 hour drives in snow andrain, bumper to bumper traffic and construction zones, airports seethingwith frustrated humanity and helpful personnel so delighted at working thisholiday they are only too pleased to assist by telling you EXACTLY whereto go; yes then, the Joy of the Season is upon us .In spite of these many happy journeys and gatherings it is a day or a timewhen it is good to reflect upon those many blessings and wonders that havebeen bestowed upon us, through friends, family, Democracy, markets and to begrateful for the spark of unbridled humanity that runs in all our veins Ispeak here more of the humanity that Ayn rand wrote of than the give tillhurts and the bleed some more that the word humanity seem to be defined astoday. Each of us has been a gift called life and a chance to learn,experience, achieve, fail, to taste both the dust and the glory that islife. That in and of itself is reason to be thankful.In addition to that, each of us have more to be grateful for..a and along
books, a particular moment or place that has touched out lives. I know I do.I am thankful that I grew up in a time and place where a 16 year old boy/mankicked out of his parents(with great justification I might add..look uphoodlum/idiot/heathen and you have the start of the story of my teen years.My mother threw me out. How she found the restrain not to beat me to a pulpand feed me to the neighbors dogs I ll never know) could work mornings as adishwasher, afternoons as a cook and go to night school and break the traphe had set for himself, take a job as a traveling salesman and leave theghetto behind, spend 5 years knocking on doors, learning about himself,about people, how to sell, to communicate, traveling one end of the countryto the other in an experience I would not trade today for anything as itformed the core of who I would become. I am grateful every day that I amblessed and graced by whatever powers the universe be it pure mathematics orthe Irish-catholic God ( I was much scolded for not typing the Deity’s namein caps in a previous post. I ask said Deity for her forgiveness and correctmy error here)of my youth with two children, a daughter of 21 years, abeautiful child whose laugh is so quick and smile so bright one would neverguess how bravely and fiercely she fought the illness that has plagued herthe last few years, a bright, determined young woman who for reasons thatescape me most day loves her father and brings much laughter and happinessto his life, and has impressed him with her determination to overcomeobstacles and steer a course through life that she has chosen and will notwaver from: the lanky shaggy haired 17 year old boy(how can they see withtheir hair like that) who is the proverbial class clown, too quick wittedfor his own good at times, who has proven to be a hard working young man of",1]
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the way, the earned gift of intellect family, friends, great music, greatbooks, a particular moment or place that has touched out lives. I know I do.I am thankful that I grew up in a time and place where a 16 year old boy/mankicked out of his parents(with great justification I might add..look uphoodlum/idiot/heathen and you have the start of the story of my teen years.My mother threw me out. How she found the restrain not to beat me to a pulpand feed me to the neighbors dogs I ll never know) could work mornings as adishwasher, afternoons as a cook and go to night school and break the traphe had set for himself, take a job as a traveling salesman and leave theghetto behind, spend 5 years knocking on doors, learning about himself,about people, how to sell, to communicate, traveling one end of the countryto the other in an experience I would not trade today for anything as itformed the core of who I would become. I am grateful every day that I amblessed and graced by whatever powers the universe be it pure mathematics orthe Irish-catholic God ( I was much scolded for not typing the Deity’s namein caps in a previous post. I ask said Deity for her forgiveness and correctmy error here)of my youth with two children, a daughter of 21 years, abeautiful child whose laugh is so quick and smile so bright one would neverguess how bravely and fiercely she fought the illness that has plagued herthe last few years, a bright, determined young woman who for reasons thatescape me most day loves her father and brings much laughter and happinessto his life, and has impressed him with her determination to overcomeobstacles and steer a course through life that she has chosen and will notwaver from: the lanky shaggy haired 17 year old boy(how can they see withtheir hair like that) who is the proverbial class clown, too quick wittedfor his own good at times, who has proven to be a hard working young man of
caused so many family dinners to turn into affairs of hysterical laughter ofthe table pounding, lung wheezing variety( this is occasionally problematicif said dinner is a public establishment),who in spite of his tough guydemeanor will still give his old father a hug in front of his buddies andtell his old man he loves him. He has inherited a tad too much of hisfathers love of the good times and long legged beauties but there isgreatness in him.I am thankful that in a world of second chances my father,, he of the StJohns degree and seven languages who walked out in a drunken stupor when Iwas six found the raw courage and sobriety to walk back in when I was 16.That a man whose fall from grace extended all the way to the streets couldfind a redemption that made him a legend among the drunks of Baltimore forhow many he eventually helped on the road to recovery before he died so damnmany years ago. He lost everything, even his very self but found his wayback, recovering his dignity, his family and his self. He has been gone forover 22 years now and I still regard him as the bravest man I ever met alongthe path of life.I am thankful that my mother lived in a time and a place where when findingherself alone with 4 children in a tenement, one dollar to her name, tooproud to take welfare or assistance, armed with nothing but her intelligence, determination and love for her children she could carve a life for us all.Where all the presents came from at Christmas time and birthdays on thesalary of a data entry clerk with all those mouths to feed came from I allnever know. She worked on through it all, a chronically ill daughter withasthma and assorted complications so bad Johns Hopkins Doctors made a careerof studying her case, a son with a wild streak who fought and stole, in and",1]
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a thrifty nature for all his tom foolery, whose impressions and antics havecaused so many family dinners to turn into affairs of hysterical laughter ofthe table pounding, lung wheezing variety( this is occasionally problematicif said dinner is a public establishment),who in spite of his tough guydemeanor will still give his old father a hug in front of his buddies andtell his old man he loves him. He has inherited a tad too much of hisfathers love of the good times and long legged beauties but there isgreatness in him.I am thankful that in a world of second chances my father,, he of the StJohns degree and seven languages who walked out in a drunken stupor when Iwas six found the raw courage and sobriety to walk back in when I was 16.That a man whose fall from grace extended all the way to the streets couldfind a redemption that made him a legend among the drunks of Baltimore forhow many he eventually helped on the road to recovery before he died so damnmany years ago. He lost everything, even his very self but found his wayback, recovering his dignity, his family and his self. He has been gone forover 22 years now and I still regard him as the bravest man I ever met alongthe path of life.I am thankful that my mother lived in a time and a place where when findingherself alone with 4 children in a tenement, one dollar to her name, tooproud to take welfare or assistance, armed with nothing but her intelligence, determination and love for her children she could carve a life for us all.Where all the presents came from at Christmas time and birthdays on thesalary of a data entry clerk with all those mouths to feed came from I allnever know. She worked on through it all, a chronically ill daughter withasthma and assorted complications so bad Johns Hopkins Doctors made a careerof studying her case, a son with a wild streak who fought and stole, in and
associate the all around great guy I am today with this misguided waywardyouth).She worked until eventual retirement as highly placed computer expertfor the State of Maryland Judicial system, just in time for my stepfather toslip into Parkinson’s related dementia. She cared for him as well until hedied. She is a woman of fierce determination and strength. I don’t know howin the hell she did it but all four of us are still here, and even when wedon’t thrive, we survive. She passed much onto her children, the chiefquality being that I cannot imagine one of us going quietly anywhere, muchless the good night.I am thankful for books, my loyal companion and friend for many a lazyafternoon and many a dark night. Without my deep love for reading andlearning I am still a dishwasher and fry cook living on the back edges ofBaltimore. Books taught me to want, to dream, and then provided me theknowledge and skill to chase down those dreams and desires. My small condois crammed with books. The garage would make a librarian swoon with desire.Much of who I am and what I have comes from books. One of my earliestmemories was Mom taking us all to the bookmobile when it came to the localgrocery store and loading up on books. The staff of the bookmobile hated us.They way my mom, sisters and I read meant the inventory had to be replacedmore often than any other bookmobile in service. Mom never edited ourchoices. Hemingway, dick Gregory, hunter Thompson, the Illiad,malcom x,Faulkner…I read them all before junior high(Harold robbins too but I alwayschecked those out when she wasn’t looking). Mom didn’t care what we read aslong as we read.I am thankful for music, that backdrop of our lives.For Mozart andBeethoven, for Johnny cash and merle haggard, for jimmy buffet and jerryJeff walker, for guns and roses and motley crue, muddy waters, pinetop",1]
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out of juvie facilities(yes that was me in case you find it as so many do toassociate the all around great guy I am today with this misguided waywardyouth).She worked until eventual retirement as highly placed computer expertfor the State of Maryland Judicial system, just in time for my stepfather toslip into Parkinson’s related dementia. She cared for him as well until hedied. She is a woman of fierce determination and strength. I don’t know howin the hell she did it but all four of us are still here, and even when wedon’t thrive, we survive. She passed much onto her children, the chiefquality being that I cannot imagine one of us going quietly anywhere, muchless the good night.I am thankful for books, my loyal companion and friend for many a lazyafternoon and many a dark night. Without my deep love for reading andlearning I am still a dishwasher and fry cook living on the back edges ofBaltimore. Books taught me to want, to dream, and then provided me theknowledge and skill to chase down those dreams and desires. My small condois crammed with books. The garage would make a librarian swoon with desire.Much of who I am and what I have comes from books. One of my earliestmemories was Mom taking us all to the bookmobile when it came to the localgrocery store and loading up on books. The staff of the bookmobile hated us.They way my mom, sisters and I read meant the inventory had to be replacedmore often than any other bookmobile in service. Mom never edited ourchoices. Hemingway, dick Gregory, hunter Thompson, the Illiad,malcom x,Faulkner…I read them all before junior high(Harold robbins too but I alwayschecked those out when she wasn’t looking). Mom didn’t care what we read aslong as we read.I am thankful for music, that backdrop of our lives.For Mozart andBeethoven, for Johnny cash and merle haggard, for jimmy buffet and jerryJeff walker, for guns and roses and motley crue, muddy waters, pinetop
and frank sinatra,waylon Jennings and david allan coe, handel and vivaldi Ihave cried bitter tears to a backdrop of sad music, celebrated victories toraucous rock and roll, romanced to the strains of water music, danced thenight away to hot blues, and reflected life’s mysteries to sweet rollingwaves of jazz. It has been a constant of my life and I cannot imagine lifewithout the ongoing soundtrack.I am as always grateful for the spec list and the chance to grow and learnthat my 5 years here have offered. I have learned much, grown much andprofited in more ways than can be explained form my participation in thisunique experience. Each of you have added to my base of knowledge andunderstanding and I am truly grateful.I am grateful for:James lackey, the wild free spirited kerouac of the list. The day trading,drag racing, tank driver, he would be dead in a fiery explosion while tryingto simultaneously race at 200 ph and day trade the spooz without thegentling touch of his wonderful wife Jennifer. A post from lackey is like aChristmas present. To sit and talk with him and his beautiful bride givesone a glimpse at life’s possibilities.Fred Crossman, the irascible opinionated Chicagoan who has become a fastfriend and partner, for all the shared nights we ll never remember withfriends we will never forgetFor Rush Street, 5th Avenue and the Vegas stripFor ed gross, the trader nee poker player who has taken all the chances Iwished I had when I was younger and made them work for him. Were I as smartand good looking as him I would own the damn world. We talk several times aweek and its like a glimpse at an alternative lifeDock bars and fast boatsFor Jason Thompson, he of lumbering grace and amazing intellect. I lookforward to spending time with Jason as I always walk away smarter and",1]
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perkins and john lee hooker, for miles davis and john coltrane, cole porterand frank sinatra,waylon Jennings and david allan coe, handel and vivaldi Ihave cried bitter tears to a backdrop of sad music, celebrated victories toraucous rock and roll, romanced to the strains of water music, danced thenight away to hot blues, and reflected life’s mysteries to sweet rollingwaves of jazz. It has been a constant of my life and I cannot imagine lifewithout the ongoing soundtrack.I am as always grateful for the spec list and the chance to grow and learnthat my 5 years here have offered. I have learned much, grown much andprofited in more ways than can be explained form my participation in thisunique experience. Each of you have added to my base of knowledge andunderstanding and I am truly grateful.I am grateful for:James lackey, the wild free spirited kerouac of the list. The day trading,drag racing, tank driver, he would be dead in a fiery explosion while tryingto simultaneously race at 200 ph and day trade the spooz without thegentling touch of his wonderful wife Jennifer. A post from lackey is like aChristmas present. To sit and talk with him and his beautiful bride givesone a glimpse at life’s possibilities.Fred Crossman, the irascible opinionated Chicagoan who has become a fastfriend and partner, for all the shared nights we ll never remember withfriends we will never forgetFor Rush Street, 5th Avenue and the Vegas stripFor ed gross, the trader nee poker player who has taken all the chances Iwished I had when I was younger and made them work for him. Were I as smartand good looking as him I would own the damn world. We talk several times aweek and its like a glimpse at an alternative lifeDock bars and fast boatsFor Jason Thompson, he of lumbering grace and amazing intellect. I lookforward to spending time with Jason as I always walk away smarter and
above himself gives me hope.Rainy nights and good brandyFor the Cheesehead by way of Cincinnati for reminding me at times themeaning of friendship and thatall life’s obstacles merely hide yet anotherchance for love and redemption.For Kris rock. One rarely thinks of kris and subtle in the same breath untilyou realize that his tirades and attacks have made you rethink, defend andremake your own thoughts and conclusions for the better.Steamed crabs and afternoon baseballFor Kevin Depew with his gamblers mind and graceful southern attitude. Onecannot spend a more delightful and entertaining time than in kevins companyat a Kentucky racetrack..unless his delightful wife Lila comes along.thenone approaches perfection in the dayFor all of you who lose to me so gracefully in spec list fantasy baseballeach year…For Kim zussman and his relentless though provoking research and elegantwayscolleg football and the resurgence of Notre dameKen Smith and his occasional reality checkthe armed forces of the US who gained and preserve my freedomsRoss Miller and his intellectual exuberancegood wine and better scotchThe voodoo prof for his intellect and sense of markets,economic and barbequeTom Ryan for his gracious friendship and excellent taste in whiskey. Tom andI usually only talk when one of us in crisi..then we re the first number weeach dial. A gentleman,scholar and true friendChesapeake bay sunsetsFor the current incantation of the one true love of my life who doesn’t giveup no matter what dumb ass stunt I pullFor the wizz with his sharp mind and razor wit. The scholar, mathematicianand trader whose staggering brain power hides a shared loved of pulp novelswith short barreled 38’s and long legged dames, back alleys and hip flasks",1]
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smiling. One cannot ask more from a friend. The fact that he married so farabove himself gives me hope.Rainy nights and good brandyFor the Cheesehead by way of Cincinnati for reminding me at times themeaning of friendship and thatall life’s obstacles merely hide yet anotherchance for love and redemption.For Kris rock. One rarely thinks of kris and subtle in the same breath untilyou realize that his tirades and attacks have made you rethink, defend andremake your own thoughts and conclusions for the better.Steamed crabs and afternoon baseballFor Kevin Depew with his gamblers mind and graceful southern attitude. Onecannot spend a more delightful and entertaining time than in kevins companyat a Kentucky racetrack..unless his delightful wife Lila comes along.thenone approaches perfection in the dayFor all of you who lose to me so gracefully in spec list fantasy baseballeach year…For Kim zussman and his relentless though provoking research and elegantwayscolleg football and the resurgence of Notre dameKen Smith and his occasional reality checkthe armed forces of the US who gained and preserve my freedomsRoss Miller and his intellectual exuberancegood wine and better scotchThe voodoo prof for his intellect and sense of markets,economic and barbequeTom Ryan for his gracious friendship and excellent taste in whiskey. Tom andI usually only talk when one of us in crisi..then we re the first number weeach dial. A gentleman,scholar and true friendChesapeake bay sunsetsFor the current incantation of the one true love of my life who doesn’t giveup no matter what dumb ass stunt I pullFor the wizz with his sharp mind and razor wit. The scholar, mathematicianand trader whose staggering brain power hides a shared loved of pulp novelswith short barreled 38’s and long legged dames, back alleys and hip flasks
Victor, first for creating this list, and for allowing me to be a part ofthis great community of minds. He has offered me access to ideas andphilosophies that have made my life better, my mind stronger and eventhickened my wallet. He has done more for me than time or space allow and inspite of our many differences has proven himself a friend of the highestorder on more than one occasion. His generosity of spirit and intellect isunlike any I have ever seen before. His story alone, of success, defeat andcomeback is inspiration enough. The fact that he has allowed me to walk inthe company of giants such as those found on the list leaves me speechlessin gratitude.For all those who I have not mentioned. All of you who shared ideas, shareddrinks, baseball games, football games, long talks, research reports,sportsthoughts,poker lessons arguments discussions,scholarly papers, jokes,smiles,hearts and minds. Each of you who takes the time to post your ideas,no matter how much I disagree with them. To all my spec list friends andacquaintances I say happy Thanksgiving.I raise my glass to all of you and to all the possibilities life offers.",0]
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Victor, first for creating this list, and for allowing me to be a part ofthis great community of minds. He has offered me access to ideas andphilosophies that have made my life better, my mind stronger and eventhickened my wallet. He has done more for me than time or space allow and inspite of our many differences has proven himself a friend of the highestorder on more than one occasion. His generosity of spirit and intellect isunlike any I have ever seen before. His story alone, of success, defeat andcomeback is inspiration enough. The fact that he has allowed me to walk inthe company of giants such as those found on the list leaves me speechlessin gratitude.For all those who I have not mentioned. All of you who shared ideas, shareddrinks, baseball games, football games, long talks, research reports,sportsthoughts,poker lessons arguments discussions,scholarly papers, jokes,smiles,hearts and minds. Each of you who takes the time to post your ideas,no matter how much I disagree with them. To all my spec list friends andacquaintances I say happy Thanksgiving.I raise my glass to all of you and to all the possibilities life offers