JimSwift.net

So yesterday I drove over to the House side bars on Pennsylvania Avenue for the House Softball League tournament announcements at Capitol Lounge. I parked on the street, and went over to the green machine to pay for my permit for two hours ($3.00 for two hours.)

The green machine says I have to pay to park until 9:30, so I buy my ticket at 5:39, select the two hour maximum, and my permit will go until 7:39. Right? Wrong. I paid $3.00 for a ticket that lasted approximately 51 minutes. How can this be?

Only in Washington, D.C. would two conflicting parking orders be actually less than five feet away from each other.

Let my picture illustrate:

As you see on the left, the green machine that issues tickets informs you that you’re expected to pay until 9:30pm. However, the sign five feet to its right instructs you that you’re only expected to pay for your parking on that street until 6:30pm.

Which is it?

A little certainty would be nice, but how messed up is that? What’s further, is I feel like I am being jipped by D.C. Not because if I follow one, and the other is true I’d have to fight a ticket. That’s the major reason this needs to be addressed. Nobody should have to put up with fighting a ticket because signs say two conflicting things.

I’m not happy about paying the maximum for 51 minutes of parking time either, but I’ll let that slide for now.

D.C. and DDOT, fix this.

UPDATE: I called the folks at DDOT and they were very nice. I left them a message with the link to the post. Comments welcome from everyone in the comments section. If/when DDOT responds, I’ll update the post.

What better place to enjoy Cheerwine than at work?

[Wonder why I am posting cans of Cheerwine? Read this. I am such a great friend!]

Here’s some interesting info from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

2nd Quarter 2010 NDS

This is what I feel like at work today.

My friend Ben recently has been suffering from some insomnia. Apparently, I, too, now have some of it. Is insomnia contagious? Seems like a question some idiot would ask online. I know it’s not contagious, but it’s weird that now I can’t sleep.

My friend Ben recommends Sim City 2000, which I love, but I think that’s less of a cure, and more something that will only exacerbate the situation.

It doesn’t help that the coffee I made this morning tastes like ass.

For this blog, it’s no contest in the D.C. Democratic Mayoral Primary.

Vince Gray would move D.C. schools backwards, not forwards. He cares more about teachers unions — not kids. Fenty, for all his faults, has made two great appointments in Cathy Lanier and Michelle Rhee, particularly Rhee.

I would totally learn the theme to Fletch.

What’s an excellent way to start your Friday, Bobby?

Cheerwine.

[Wonder why I am posting cans of Cheerwine? Read this. I am such a great friend!]

Mary and I saw our first Cardinals Nationals game of the year tonight, which went 13 innings.

We saw Pujols hit #400, and I had a cheer wine after the game. Unfortunately, the Nationals did NOT give Albert any recognition. Low class. If the opposite had occurred in St. Louis, you know they would have said something.

Mary correctly points out that we saw one in July of last year. Obviously I did not forget that, but merely didn’t fully and accurately type out the post!

The front of today’s WSJ notes a recent SEC action that is intended to give more power to shareholders. While I love voting on the shares of stock I own, put me down as skeptical that this change will be a good thing.

The thing I am going to focus on in the article is this:

For now, shareholders will have greater sway over who is eligible for election to a corporate board. Those powers mean that investors, including hedge funds, pension funds and unions, could eventually have greater influence over the strategic and financial choices of U.S. companies.

Now don’t get me wrong. I like voting against idiots who somehow make it on to boards of corporations I own stock in. When I get my ballot in the mail, I carefully vet each director, and often vote against half the board. You should try this some time, there really are some yahoos and total token placements on boards. But, I digress.

Many of you have maybe seen the epic letter from T.J. Rodgers — if you haven’t, go and read it and come back. It’s worth the time.

This change is, basically what I would call “T.J. Rodger’s nightmare.” In Mr. Rodgers awesome missive, he highlights a bunch of pet issues that so-called activist investors have with companies. They are, according to him, whether a company:

is “green,” or environmentally conscious.

does or does not do business with certain countries or groups of people.

supplies the U.S. Armed Forces.

is “involved in the community” in appropriate ways.

pays its CEO too much compared with its lowest-paid employee.

pays its CEO too much as declared by self-appointed “industry watchdogs.”

gives to certain charities.

is willing to consider layoffs when the company is losing money.

is willing to consider layoffs to streamline its organization (so-called downsizing).

has a retirement plan.

pays for all or part of a health-care plan.

budgets a certain minimum percentage of payroll costs for employee training.

places employees on its Board of Directors (you forgot this one).

shares its profits with employees.

Now, imagine that multiple groups with these interests — nuns, labor unions, environmentalists, what have you, can nominate up to 1/4 of a company’s board?

My prediction is that, if these changes stands, American companies are going to be less like Cyprus, and more like GM, which conceded many of these demands long ago, and they are doing absolutely great. Right?

Is everything politicized these days? I don’t remember seeing George W. Bush in Madden 2009…..