Don't Step on the Gas

 

April 21, 2026

 

I was watching vehicles speeding along the highway, cutting in and out in those daredevil moves where they cut into a lane in front of somebody, leaving no space, then whip into another lane to tailgate somebody else, before they change lanes again to get in front of another driver, and I thought, “Drivers, those moves just DON’T look cool when you’re driving a minivan.”

 

In related news:

 

A few days later I wondered if any of the people complaining about gas prices were considering slowing down in order to increase their mileage.

 

I’m not betting on it.

 

 

 

C'mon, Post-Dispatch, You're Better than This

 

April 21, 2026

 

A while ago, I wrote about the University of Missouri – St. Louis offering a second job to St. Louis police chief Robert Tracy, to help supplement his income. I was not sympathetic to the chief’s need to supplement his income, but apparently some people pledged to give the university money to help pay Chief Tracy’s salary for whatever he is doing there.

 

The Post-Dispatch ran an article yesterday saying that so far, only one person had made good on his pledge to donate funding to the cause. I’m not sure why they thought the public needed to know, but I’m sure that they had their reasons. I thought that maybe they were extolling the guy who was honoring his commitment, and maybe nudging the others who had pledged money to honor theirs. 

 

The article then proceeded to list other donations the person had made, noting various political causes and Republican organizations. 

 

Now, here’s the thing: It’s not a crime to be a Republican (even if you support people that I never would) and it’s not a crime to want to keep the chief of police in town. But what one has to do with the other is a mystery to me. So why make a point of the donor being Republican?

 

What really annoyed me, though, was that although this person supports the arts in a big way (Yes, I read the donor lists when I attend cultural events, and in the membership magazines I receive from cultural institutions I belong to), not one of those donations was mentioned in the article. Why not? Would that have ruined the implication that the donor was bereft of finer feelings, and indicated that he was maybe not a 100% bad guy?

 

I was very disappointed in the Post-Dispatch. They can do better than this.

 

 

 

 

We Told You So!

 

April 15, 2026

 

I just read about yet another supposed boon for the area that turned into a boondoggle. And several thousand people, including me, said, “We told you so!”

 

I have lived literally from the top of the country to the bottom, and from coast to almost-coast, and I have seen the scenario play out in every single area I’ve lived in.

 

So, I’ll say it again.

 

When someone comes to town with a brilliant idea about how they can bring economic prosperity to the area if the municipality will kick in a little in the way of tax credits and some cold, hard cash, be wary. There’s a lot that they’re probably not telling you.

 

Such as:

 

Their income projections are very likely based on 100% occupancy 365 days a year. What are the odds of that actually happening? If it’s a tourist attraction, the locals will only go so many times. Tourists will have their choice of many things to do, so they won’t all flock to one particular site. Chances are even smaller if it’s not the only one of its kind in a very large region.

 

They under-estimated the time to completion of site readiness. If you’ve ever done remodeling or had your home built, you know what I’m talking about.

 

They under-budgeted their construction costs. Construction costs rise the longer the project takes. Does their budget take that into account?

 

They haven’t accounted for the rising cost of operating expenses once the business is running. Those costs are never going to go down; do their income projections reflect that fact?

 

So, when I read about how ABC Company is going to be the economic savior of the region, I always do some simple math.

 

Income projection: Take 30% off the top.

 

Time to site readiness: Add 3-6 months minimum

 

Construction costs: Add 25%

 

Operating expenses once the business is running: Add 25% for a 5-year period

 

 

Then maybe, just maybe, you won’t have to listen to a chorus of people saying, “We told you so!”