Economic Relevance: Complexity, Manipulation, and Instability

Expert Economist: U.S Is Heading Toward Financial Ruin - Infowars - August 7, 2014




Youtube Commenter quote: Government is like fire. If you control it it will give you light, keep you warm, cook your food, warm your bath water etc. but if you let it go out of control it will burn everything within it's reach feeding itself.

(Wikipedia) - Bill Bonner is an American author of books and articles on economic and financial subjects. He is the founder and president of Agora Publishing, and author of a daily financial column, Diary of a Rogue Economist.^[1] Bonner is also co-founder and regular contributor to The Daily Reckoning. And he has written articles for the news and opinion blog, LewRockwell.com.^[2] and MoneyWeek magazine.^[3]

 Bill's latest work is entitled Hormegeddon (the word comes from the scientific process of hormesis---which is what happens when a small dose of something produces a favorable effect, but anything larger makes one sick ... the process that is tearing America apart today.


Why the Government Views You As Collateral Damage - Daily Reckoning - Bill Bonner - July 29, 2014 - The illusions, mistakes and misconceptions of central planners take their toll in a great variety of ways — mostly as costly nuisances.                  Occasionally, when they are particularly ambitious, they make the history books.                     Napoleon’s march on Moscow. Mao’s great famine. The Soviet Union’s 70-year economic experiment. These fiascos are caused by well-meaning, smart public officials. They are the Hell to which the road paved with good intentions leads...                              errors that might have been revealed and corrected are not discovered. The future has to wait.                          Even when they are applied with ruthless thoroughness, central plans inevitably and eventually go FUBAR. No ‘workers’ paradise’ ever happens. The War on Drugs (or Poverty… or Crime… or Terror… or Cancer) ends in a defeat, not a victory. Unemployment does not go down. The ‘war to end war’ doesn’t end war. The Domino Theory falls; the dominoes don’t.
Or, if any of these grand programs ‘succeeds,’ it does so by undoing previous plans often at a cost that is far out of balance with the reward. World War II is an example of central planning that seemed to work. But the Allies were merely nullifying the efforts of more ambitious central planners in Germany and Japan.                         Generally, life on planet Earth is not so ‘rational’ that it lends itself to simpleminded, heavy-handed intervention by the naïve social engineer...                        
Large-scale central planning can be effective, but only by pulverizing the delicate fabric of evolved civilized life. It is a future that practically no one wants, because it means destroying the many different futures already in the works — marriages, businesses, babies, baptisms, hunting trips, shopping, investment, and all the other activities of normal life.                  Not all central planning produces calamities on that scale, of course. But all, to the extent they are effective, are repulsive. The more they achieve the planners’ goals, the more they interfere with private goals, and the more they retard or destroy the progress of the human race.                             Still, this view I am putting forth is hardly accepted wisdom.

Sociopaths at the top - Wanda Arnold

Hound notes: Wanda Arnold wrote the following to me in relation to my article from this past Saturday, August 2, 2014 - The Master BSer

Thom, I want to share with you two articles I read yesterday along the same lines as your post. In the first by Paul Rosenberg on July 24, 2014, “They Walk among Us,” Rosenberg describes the sociopath. Two percent of the human population are sociopaths (psychopaths in the clinical literature). Of these 75% are male and 25% female. Plenty of research has been done on these people and it has been proven that they have different brains, thus their difference is organic and can’t be cured. The part of the brain associated with emotional reactions and decision making is abnormally small.

The sociopath cannot feel empathy for other people, thus they feel no remorse. To a sociopath, remorse is weakness. They can readily do whatever gets them what they want because they have no conscience. They understand that they are different and will try to hide this defect by faking emotion, but if you are alert you can detect that something is not quite right about their responses.

They are also excellent liars. They are so good at lying that often they pass lie detector tests. They do not have the internal feedback system that most people have. They never feel embarrassed. A sociopath will work in calculated ways to maintain other people’s good opinions of him and often maintain a group of people around them who believe wholeheartedly that he is a good, kind, honest person.

Like most people, I had the tendency to think that all people have some good in them, but now I see that while this is true of 98% of the population, there are those that have absolutely no good and should be thought of as evil. I was also unaware that there are so many sociopaths in the general population. We should expect one person in 50 to be this way.

The part of the article that really struck me was this: “Governments, like all hierarchies, are havens for sociopaths. And governments, over the last century, killed approximately 260 million people.” This is a rational explanation for those willing to send our young people to war for profit, who kill millions and call it “collateral damage,” the cowards who send drones to do the dirty work, the people who offshored all of our jobs for bigger profit and ruined the employment for Americans, the people who tax the poor and middle class but exempt themselves, the people who poison our food and water, the people who are destroying the American Constitution to pull more and more control into their own hands.

The second article explains why our government is currently in such a state. “No Matter Who Wins, a Sociopath Is Elected,” by Doug French, a contributing editor of the Doug Casey newsletter. He states the obvious, that politicians don’t seek office for the money. Most of them already have money. Even those who start with the best of intentions and are clearly outstanding in other fields of endeavor will soon see that success in politics will require lying, cheating, manipulating, stealing and killing. All ethics are suspended and good sense departs.

So why do these people seek office? Over-sized egos, desire for public adulation, control over other people, need for status, fame, recognition, attention…the ends justify the means. French goes on to say, “What Doug Casey calls the “moral rot” in Washington, DC and every statehouse around the country is due to, as Casey writes, ‘a certain class of people—sociopaths—being fully in control of major American institutions. Their beliefs and attitudes are insinuated throughout the economic, political, intellectual, and psychological/spiritual fabric of the US.’

So it won’t do us much good to naively search for just the “right candidate.” Maybe we need to concentrate on other ways to keep the sociopaths on the sidelines: small government, term limits, transparency, strict enforcement of the Bill of Rights, getting money out of politics, protection of whistleblowers, freedom of the Internet, and educational control at the local level.

In conclusion, we need to remember that 98% of the people around us are good people. We far outnumber the 2%. Only when we come to understand what the problem is (sociopaths are running our government at the top) can we begin to do something about it. Only when we refuse to cooperate with evil can any progress be made.

Thoughts about the Hickory City Council meeting - August 5, 2014

Rolling right through it. Halfway through the public hearings. All the referendum issues flow through with zero debate.

Larry Pope gets shut down speaking about a housing issue, because it was a departmental report.

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1) Tonight's meeting flowed pretty fast. Alderman Zagaroli had Item I removed from the Consent Agenda -  I. Approval of a Contract with Varrow, Inc. in the Amount of $367,114.50 for Data Center Upgrades to the City’s Network. - his question related to how the bidding process worked and was awarded. There was a limited discussion before the Council voted unanimously to approve this contract.

2) All of the Public Hearings were through in minutes with no debate. This includes the items related to the Sidewalk and Startown Business Park referendums. The Mayor had a few comments.

3) Public Hearing #2 - The Newton/Hickory property is in the City Manager's neighborhood. It has been told to me that the only reason that property was ever annexed by Hickory is because City Manager Berry owned the property there and when the Council decided they wanted Mick, then they had to annex his property, because the City Manager has to live in Hickory Proper. If Mick had not lived there, then that neiborhood was in Newton's ETJ and would have been annexed by Newton. Subsequently the properties there are now annexed into Hickory with a Newton address.

4) Public Hearing #3 - Captain Thurmond Whisnant stated that they have been accessing the State's criminal database already to look into issues with ABC permit applicants. New legislation mandates that the city pass an ordinance in order to be granted access to the Division of Criminal Information (DCI) system for the purpose of obtaining criminal history information on ABC permit applicants to determine their suitability to be an ABC permit holder within the City of Hickory.

5) Departmental Report #1 about language for the upcoming referendum was through in moments.

6)  Departmental Report #2 considered Hickory Housing Authority’s request to have the City of Hickory make Application for a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. - Assistant City Manager  Andrea Surratt made the initial presentation about this grant. Her information was pretty vague. The council granted Dr. Sidney Myles the right to speak and he essentially said that the housing authority is going to essentially change Public Housing to where it is no longer Public Housing. They are going to tear down the current housing and disburse housing in the city. That is what the grant monies would be used for. To develop a plan to do that.

When Dr. Myles was through, Larry Pope wanted to speak, but the Mayor would not allow Larry to do so. They called him and voted him out of order. The Mayor said that Larry had had his chance to speak (during Persons Requesting to Be Heard).

Hound Note: I couldn't help it when I saw where the Mayor was taking this once again and I asked why they couldn't grant Larry the ability to speak during Matters not on the Agenda. The Mayor would not listen and said I was out of order. 

It pretty much disgusted me, because I have seen how Rudy's Decorum is constantly arbitrarily administered.  I have seen them allow people to speak out of turn before, but it is when that person supports the City's position/agenda. 

A couple months ago Ray Hunt gave me a "Taxes are legalized stealing" t-shirt. I was setting up my camera and I look up and the Mayor is barking at me, "We don't allow that in here." I look up and see it's directed at me. I'm like, "What?" The Mayor gets all bug eyed and is like, "We don't allow signs in here!!!" I look to my right and Ray had draped that t-shirt across the seat to my right between me and Richard Garrison. I thanked Ray for getting me in trouble. Point is that it wasn't a sign and besides there aren't any such rules against t-shirts. Rudy makes the rules up as he goes and if he doesn't like you. then he will try to intimidate you. Go back to the last meeting and look how he shows deference to the Ross's compared to how he treats Larry. And I think highly of the Ross's too, but it was obvious that this council has decided to make an example out of Larry.

Some of y'all might think that is alright, but what if you lived in a community where the shoe was on the other foot? What if some of you "Conservative Christians" lived in a "Liberal" community where the town council aimed to shut you down and made comments in a public forum related to every comment you make and then they won't allow a discussion. 

In this world, some of us aren't going to get along. It isn't the authority of the government to bully people they don't like. That is what despots do. The Mayor has said that he doesn't want anyone leaving these meetings feeling like they had something to say, but they weren't allowed to be heard -- huh? This could have been handled a lot better. That isn't second guessing.

I'm not saying that Larry is always right and that I always agree with him. In talking to him, I have told him when I don't agree with him. I've asked him not to go and get himself arrested. I listen to him and he listens to me. It is called respect. It is called courtesy.

7) In Departmental Report #4 Warren Wood basically gave rave revenues about Hickory Inc.'s budget and the local economy.

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- August 3, 2014

*** Hound Notes: Have put this out a little late, because over here where I live the power was out Saturday night into Sunday morning past 4am. Seems a couple cars got into an accident up at Galaxy on Springs Road, here in Hickory, and took out a transformer pole. That, along with other obligations, had me putting out the City Council Agenda Monday morning and today. I am putting out Economic Stories of Relevance.

Economic Stories of Relevance includes two very significant interviews. One interview is with Dr. Paul Craig Roberts relating to the current state of the economy and the fraudulent numbers that have been put out by the government. The second interview is with Andrew Huszar, who is a former Federal Reserve Member & former Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. He helped to create the initial Quantitative Easing program. He talks about the dark days of September 2008 when the banks were literally insolvent. If you want an eye opening experience, then you should listen to these two interviews. You really need to study these two interviews. These gentleman know what has happened, is happening, and what most likely is going to happen in the future.


Andrew Huszar - King World news Interview - August 3, 2014 - Former Fed Member & Former Managing Dir. At Morgan Stanley - Until June, 2012, Andrew was Managing Director and U.S. Head of OTC Derivatives Client Clearing for Morgan Stanley. In this role, Andrew reorganized and managed a business encompassing sales, financial planning and analysis, product development, on-boarding, and client service functions. Previously, Andrew managed for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York ("FRBNY") the $1.25 Trillion Agency MBS Purchase Program (the centerpiece of "QE1"). In this role, Andrew managed the program's portfolio design and trading strategy, as well as the creation of a permanent, in-house Federal Reserve MBS business platform, encompassing front, middle and back office components. By way of additional professional background, Andrew was previously a Senior Vice President at RBS Greenwich Capital and co-head of the Transaction Advisory Group, specializing in the Basel II Capital Rules. Prior to RBS, he was an Examining Officer in the FRBNY's Bank Supervision Group, leading a Market and Liquidity analytics team assessing financial risk exposures of large U.S. financial institutions. Andrew began his career at the FRBNY as a lawyer supporting various business lines.

King World News Audio Interview
He was responsible for QE1 to access emergency funds. Had left the Fed in early '08 was on Wall Street. 2008 were harry days. Every U.S. bank after Lehman were done. They couldn't fund their operations. Fed was under the gun. This has clouded their judgment. Standards were changing by the minute - fitting square pegs into round holes - No cash they were done.

The Fed has done extraordinary moves over the past 5 years. Balance sheet has grown from $800 billion to $4.4 trillion. Major issues with the Fed going forward are internal. Fed has printed a lot of money. It is a the banks (liquidity). Instability can be created by trying to use unprecedented tools to reel that money back in. The Fed owns 30% of the Federal Governments debt and 15% of the U.S. housing market. This instability can lead to a loss of confidence in the dollar and lead to inflation. The leverage that created the crisis in 2008 is still there, but instead of being with the banks, it is now at the Fed.

We are in line for tough times in the financial markets. Federal Government money has been pumped into the stock market and this is going to come to an end. The last 5 years have been a missed opportunity. 2008 revealed an overly financialized U.S. economy. Banks are 16x more concentrated than in 2008. We haven't built and developed human and physical capital. Individuals grew 2 1/2 times more indebted from 1998 to 2008. Credit bubble has popped. Main street is not thriving. Last five years have been the Fed pumping money into the economy when there has been gridlock in Washington and a lack of structural reform, What we see not is that the can has been kicked down the road and the problems from 2008 still exist.

Our economy is 5th in the world terms of competitiveness and in 2008 we were 1st. We are addicted to easy Money. There has been no change in Wall Street... denial and no accountability. Up to the late 90s, 90% of JP Morgan's portfolio were loans, now it is 60% and the rest is derivatives. Wall Street is not properly pricing risks. Six big banks are at the center of the system. Money printing can't go on forever. We aren't making investments in human and physical capital. We need to confront reality.

Paul Craig Roberts - King World News Interview - August 2, 2014 - From early 1981 to January 1982 he served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy. President Ronald Reagan and Treasury Secretary Donald Regan credited him with a major role in the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, and he was awarded the Treasury Department's Meritorious Service Award for "outstanding contributions to the formulation of United States economic policy."

King World News Audio Interview
4% growth number in the GDP, released last week, is a hoax. Nothing that has happened in the economy that would cause such a strong turnaround. What the number reflects is unintended growth in inventory. What would support such a strong performance.

Discount stores are hurting. Dollar Tree buying Family Dollar. Low income (poor people) stores can't continue. Middle class stores have already been hurting. Stock Market perceived to be doing well because of prices/indexes. Corporations are single largest buying source for U.S. stocks 9buy backs). 2006-2013 corporations authorized 44.1 trillion worth of stock. Corporations are borrowing money from banks for these buybacks to drive up the stock price to obtain bonuses based on stock price.

Manufacturing coming back to the U.S. is a hoax. In the first 12 years of this century, the imports of offshored manufacturing has grown by 9%. The inflation adjusted net worth of the U.S. household in 2003 was $88,000. In 2013, it is $56,000... a 36% decline in wealth. If inflation were correctly measured, then we would see that there has been no recovery since 2008. Internationally, countries are ceasing to use the dollar for trade. All of this is putting downward pressure on the dollar. Will have devastating effects on trade.

If the Fed's money had gotten into the economy, then we would have see hyperinflation. Banks are too broke to lend. Consumers are too broke to borrow. QE purpose only supported the banks balance sheets. No corrective action has been taken. Fed buying derivatives has risen their price to support the banks' balance sheets. Eventually something will break and this will lead to a crisis. The currect situation isn't tenable.

Dollar is a cooked currency. Imports will become more expensive. Consumers will be pushed further to the wall. This will lead to massive social instability. People will starve. Banks control the Fed, the Treasury, and regulatory agencies. The Financial system has protected the banks by creating a bigger crisis for the future. We have never seen this before.

War on Gold continues. Price is fixed in the futures market. Manipulating price. Daily attacks with naked shorts. Asians are gobbling up physical. What happens when fiat currencies crash? You won't be able to purchase.

Things continue to worsen. GDP falls in the first quarter, but Stock prices rise. Bonds are at negative real interest rates. Dr. Roberts is surprised how long this has gone on. None of this makes sense. Would never have happened at any point in time in past history. Derivatives can't be covered -- several multiples above world GDP. What you see is insanity. No accountability. Have not corrected issues of deregulation that caused the crisis. Complete and total failure of the U.S. government. What will happen? He doesn't know, but we are going to find out.

David Stockman: The Collapse of the American Imperium - A perfect storm of policy failures - Adam Taggart - August 3, 2014 - David Stockman, former director of the OMB under President Reagan, former US Representative, best-selling author of The Great Deformation, and veteran financier is an insider's insider. Few people understand the ways in which Washington DC, The Fed, and Wall Street work and intersect better than he does.                          He's extremely concerned by the "perfect storm" he sees of concurrent failures in US policy across foreign, monetary, economic, and fiscal fronts:

If you look at the entire radar screen of things developing both domestically and internationally, we are plunging deep into a perfect storm of policy failure. The American Impirium is collapsing. There is blowback everywhere. The wreckage of prior policy mistakes of our intervention with foreign policy is coming home to roost, and the Ukraine is one area at ground zero for that.                            But second, monetary central planning is now coming to a dead-end. It is inflating the third financial bubble of the century and the Fed is now clueless as to how it will manage to unwind the massive balance sheet expansion it has been undertaken.                             And third, the fiscal doomsday machine continues to crank on. Washington is ignoring the fact that we are six years into a business cycle expansion and we are still running massive deficits and there is no cushion for the next upset that comes to the economy.                             Now, why is all of this important? Because I think the foreign policy failures -- the collapse of the American Impirium as I call it -- is at the center of this, and it will push all of these things in the wrong direction.                             We are now becoming much more aggressive in our foreign policy than ever before. We can't afford it by any means. And the potential for this to create black swans to roil or dislocate these very fragile markets that have been created by this massive central bank balance sheet expansion -- it all makes what is happening in the Ukraine, or in the Middle East in Gaza, or in the collapse of Iraq, even more dangerous in terms of what it could trigger. So we are in a real pickle here and I think it is compounding by the day...

Agenda about the City Council meeting of August 5, 2014

This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that took place on the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.

You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.

City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center


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 The Hound's Notes: 
1) This is going to be a really long meeting. I have never seen an agenda this long. The Consent Agenda goes to Double D. There are 5 Public Hearings and 5 Departmental Reports.

2) (Consent Agenda Item U) I like the idea of allowing Police Dog Handlers to adopt the dog they were responsible for.

 3) the second public hearing looks odd to me. Why is a piece of property with a Newton address being annexed into Hickory?

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Invocation by Pastor Jack McConnell, Director of Grace House


Consent Agenda:
A. Special Event/Activities Application for Patriots Day, Fred Hollar Fire Chief, September 11, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Union Square.

B. Special Event/Activities Application for Improv Night, Partnership with Hickory Arts, Mandy Pitts, Hickory Communications Director/Brand Manager, August 29, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sails on the Square, on Union Square.

C. Special Event/Activities Application for Christian Concert Night, Partnership with Hickory Arts, Mandy Pitts, Hickory Communications Director/Brand Manager, August 31, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sails on the Square, on Union Square.

D. Special Event/Activities Application for A Hickory Holiday, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director, December 11, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Union Square

E. Approval of School Resource Officer Agreement with Hickory Public Schools. - The Hickory Police Department has placed School Resource Officers in Hickory Public Schools for many years and continues to have a great working relationship with Hickory Public Schools. Hickory Police Department places a School Resource Officer in each of the High Schools and Middle Schools. Also, the School Resource Officers in the Middle Schools teach D.A.R.E. classes to the 6th grade classes, and are also assigned as a liaison officer to each of the Elementary Schools. The School Resource Officer Agreement is for school years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. Hickory Police Department will provide four Police Officers as School Resource Officers and Hickory Public Schools will pay $90,000 per school year to the City of Hickory.

F. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of Closing an Unopened Portion of 4th Street NE. (Authorize Public Hearing for September 2, 2014)

G. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of Closing an Unopened Portion of 20th Avenue NE. (Authorize Public Hearing for September 2, 2014)

H. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of Contiguous Annexation of Startown Road Right of Way. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 19, 2014)

I. Approval of a Contract with Varrow, Inc. in the Amount of $367,114.50 for Data Center Upgrades to the City’s Network. - The City’s network has reached their effective and end-of-life cycle. Included in the upgrades would be to replace the outdated Firewalls, Virtual Private Network (VPN) Services, Core Network Switches, the network hard drives (SAN), the Virtual Desktop demands (VPI) of the library, and expand the functionality and benefits to other departments in the City. Request for Proposals were submitted to evaluate different solution to replace critical network infrastructure. After thorough review of the proposals Staff is confident that Varrow, Inc.’s EMC storage solution offers the most complete package and best value to cost. Staff requests approval of a contract with Varrow, Inc., in the amount of $367,114.50 for data center upgrades. These funds are budgeted in the FY 2014/2015 annual budget.

J. Approval of a Joint Resolution Approving the City of Hickory’s Construction of the Parking Deck Improvement for the Hickory Metro Convention Center. - The Hickory Metro Convention Center is owned by the City of Hickory, but operates under the Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority (TDA) board. Hickory Metro Convention Center has experienced a shortage of parking spaces during large scale events. A Joint Resolution was prepared so all parties could recognize that the proposed financing for the parking deck intends to utilize current and future proceeds of the Hickory-Conover Occupancy Tax Revenues. Staff recommends approval of a Joint Resolution approving the City of Hickory’s construction of the parking deck improvement for the Hickory Metro Convention Center.

K. Approval of an Interlocal Agreement for Construction of Improvements for the Hickory Metro Convention Center Parking Deck. - The Hickory Metro Convention Center is owned by the City of Hickory, but operates under the Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority (TDA) board. The TDA has accumulated, and continues to collect revenues from the Occupancy Tax to assist in the construction of a parking deck to accommodate the overflow of traffic during larger scale events held at the Convention Center. An Interlocal Agreement was prepared by the City of Hickory and Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority to agree with certain expenses and terms and conditions of the park deck construction. The City of Hickory will obtain financing, and the TDA agrees to reimburse the City of Hickory for all project costs associated with the project. Staff recommends approval of an Interlocal Agreement for construction of improvements for the Hickory Metro Convention Center Parking Deck.

L. Approval of First Amendment to Memorandum of Lease between City of Hickory and Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority. - The Tourism Development Authority (TDA) remits payments to the City of Hickory and Catawba County for existing debt owed on the Convention Center building. Based on the current debt repayment schedule, the original Convention Center building debt will be paid in full in fiscal year 2018-2019. The building expansion debt will be fully paid to both the City of Hickory and Catawba County in fiscal year 2019-2020. The original lease term in the Memorandum of Lease was begun December 29, 1998 through December 29, 2018. The First Amendment to the Memorandum of Lease extends that time for lease and option to purchase the Convention Center until 2031. Staff recommends approval of the First Amendment to Memorandum of Lease between the City of Hickory and the Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority.

M. Approval of Second Amendment to Lease between City of Hickory and Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority. - A Second Amendment to Lease was prepared to amend the changes to the lease term extending the lease to December 31, 2031 and to confirm the remaining terms of the lease. The Tourism Development Authority may exercise its purchase option for the Convention Center on and after December 31, 2031. Schedule A of the Second Amendment to Lease is a restated payment schedule which will be attached when the parking deck construction is complete and amended lease payments begin. The construction budget includes repayment of amounts estimated to be $4,000,000. Staff recommends approval of the Second Amendment to Lease between the City of Hickory and the Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority.

N. Declare Fire Department Reserve Engine 12 as Surplus for Use as Extrication Training Aid. - The Fire Department requests City Council declare Reserve Engine 12, a 1989 Emergency One pumper, asset number 53000587, as surplus for the purpose of a heavy equipment extrication training aid before being recycled. In February 2014, the department removed the apparatus from further use as a response apparatus due to internal engine problems. The engine problems would be cost prohibitive for the vehicle to be used even as a reserve apparatus. Staff has removed all salvageable equipment from the apparatus, and will only be used as temporary replacement of broken equipment or will be assigned to other apparatus. All functional parts that can be used to maintain the remaining 1989 E-One apparatus have been removed and will be set aside until this reserve unit is no longer serviceable. Staff recommends that Reserve Engine 12, a 1989 Emergency One pumper, VIN 46JBBAA82K1002766 be declared as surplus for use as parts and training for the Fire Department.

O. Approval to Submit an Application for a Grant Available through American Forests for an Assessment of Hickory’s Urban Tree Canopy. - Staff was recently informed about a grant available through American Forests. The grant includes a three phase process where selected cities are provided an average of $100,000 in financial and technical resources including an assessment of urban tree canopy, funding to implement tree planting, and management resources to improve long term management of the areas urban forest. This grant is 100 percent funded with no matching funds needed.

P. Approval of a Contract with Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., through the Houston-Galveston Area Council Interlocal Contract for the Purchase of a Fire Apparatus Custom Pumper. - Hickory Fire Department requests approval of a contract for the replacement of Fire Engine 3, a fire apparatus that was placed in service in 1995. The apparatus will be purchased through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Interlocal Contract. The fire department Apparatus Committee began the process of identifying the needs of the City in the design of the new apparatus in January of 2014. Smeal Fire Apparatus was deemed the most cost effective and service-reliable vendor. The fire department recommends the acceptance of the proposed contract, in the amount of $430,748, for the purchase of a 2014 Smeal Fire Apparatus Custom Pumper. These funds are budgeted in FY 2014/2015 annual budget.

Q. Approval of a Contract with Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., through the Houston-Galveston Area Council Interlocal Contract for the Purchase of an Aerial Apparatus. - Hickory Fire Department requests approval of a contract for the replacement of Fire Ladder 3, an aerial apparatus that was placed in service in 2000. The apparatus will be purchased through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Interlocal Contract. The fire department identified and reviewed ladder truck requirements for the City of Hickory in November 2012, and defined numerous criteria. The fire department’s Equipment Committee reviewed the capabilities of numerous manufacturers of apparatus, and have determined that Smeal Fire Apparatus designs and builds emergency vehicles that meet or exceed the minimum standards set forth by the fire department while remaining within the department’s capital budget. The fire department recommends the acceptance of the proposed contract, in the amount of $828,167, for the purchase of a 2014 Smeal Fire Apparatus 105’ ladder truck. These funds were originally budgeted in FY 2013/2014 annual budget and will require a budget amendment to reappropriate.

R. Approval of Bid Award for 2014 Vehicle Fleet to Asheville Ford Lincoln and Everett Chevrolet. - The Purchasing Department advertised for competitive bids for the purchase of eight vehicles. A public bid opening was held to comply with the General Statute. A total of four dealerships bid on each of the vehicles requested. The vehicles were bid as base models with various options added to meet the needs of the City departments. The lowest bidders were Asheville Ford Lincoln and Everett Chevrolet. Staff recommends award of the bid for seven vehicles to Asheville Ford Lincoln in the amount of $177,450.85, and for one vehicle to Everett Chevrolet in the amount of $24,435.15. These funds are budgeted in FY 2014/2015 annual budget.

S. Approval of Request to Amend Vacant Building Grant Agreement from Jack Sipe Construction Company. - Jack Sipe Construction Company received a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $23,000 to renovate the building located at 844 Highland Avenue SE. The original grant agreement was signed on December 16, 2009. The project came under budget, which reduced the allowable grant amount to $19,834. Fifty percent of that amount, $9,917, was processed for payment on December 15, 2010. According to the agreement, in order to receive the second half of the grant amount, the building was required to be occupied by December 16, 2011. The building currently is not occupied, but has been leased to Lenoir-Rhyne University to house its Physician Assistant Program. Hickory City Council agreed, at the City Council meeting held on July 15, 2014, to amend the agreement in order to extend the occupancy deadline. Staff has drafted, and recommends approval, of an amendment to the agreement which would permit payment of the remaining $9,917 upon occupancy of the building.

T. Acceptance of Bid and Award the Contract to James River Equipment Charlotte for the Purchase of a John Deere 130G Excavator in the Amount of $135,551.04. - The Public Utilities Department operates various types of equipment in the practice of operating, maintaining, and managing the infrastructure. Existing equipment was purchased in the early 1990’s and has reached its useful life. Staff requests acceptance of the bid and award of the contract to James River Equipment Charlotte in the amount of $135,551.04 for the purchase of a John Deere 130G Excavator. These funds are budgeted in FY 2014/2015 annual budget.

U. Approval of an Agreement to Allow Police Canines to be adopted by their Handlers. - Staff requests Council to consider the implementation of an agreement that will allow police canines to be adopted by their handlers. The Hickory Police Department will retire police canine, Vulcain, from service in September of 2014. His handler, Officer Mike Rollins, would like to adopt him after his retirement and would like to assume responsibility and care of the canine. The police dog is considered personal property subject to the property disposal requirements of Article 12. If the dog is determined to have no value, then the City may discard him under General Statute 160A-266(d). Vulcain has a special skill set due to his previous training as a police dog, and because of this training he is a danger to public welfare, and may be adopted by his handler. The only two options would be euthanize Vulcain or allow him to be adopted by his handler at no cost. Staff recommends approval of the agreement.

V. Approval of a Resolution between Charter Communications and the City of Hickory. - On June 17, 2014, the City of Hickory was notified that Charter Communications, LLC, a licensed franchise holder of Charter Communications, Inc., would become CCO Transfers, LLC and will become a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. As a result of this transfer, the City of Hickory’s franchise agreement with Charter Communications, LLC will now be with Comcast Corporation, as the parent corporation of CCO Transfers. The proposed resolution letter will detail consent to Comcast becoming the owner of Charter and will note the issues in the original agreement. In addition, an amendment will be drafted showing that the City will agree to the proposed resolution, barring that the amendment is added and that no changes to the original agreement will be made. Staff recommends consenting to the resolution, so long as Charter agrees that it will not alter the original franchise agreement.

W. Approval of Award Adjustment Block Grant/NPE Agreement for Project 36237.66.4.3 from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. - On July 15, 2014 City Council approved Block Grant/NPE Agreement for grant 36237.66.4.3 to rehabilitate Taxiways “B” & “S” and the North Apron in the amount of $1,496,667. The City of Hickory requested North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) consider additional pavement rehabilitation work in this project. By letter dated July 24, 2014 the NCDOT concurred with this request and made an award adjustment to said grant in the amount of $675,907 with a Federal share of 90 percent equal to $608,316 and a local share of 10 percent equal to $67,591. Remaining Non-Primary Entitlement funds from Federal Fiscal Year 2013 will cover the remaining project needs in the amount of $39,911 (Federal 90 percent - $35,920, Local 10 percent - $3,991). Based on the adjusted allocated funds of $715,818 for this project, the Federal share of 90 percent will be $644,236 and the required local match of 10 percent will be $71,582. Staff recommends Council’s approval of the award adjustment to Block Grant/NPE Agreement for Project 36237.66.4.3 from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

X. Award Bid and Approve Contract with Midstate Contractors, Inc. to Rehabilitate and Overlay Taxiway “B”, Taxiway, “S”, and North Apron at the Hickory Regional Airport in the Amount of $1,979,866. - Staff requests approval to award the construction contract for Project 36237.66.4.3, to rehabilitate and overlay Taxiway “B”, Taxiway “S”, and North Apron project to Midstate Contractors, Inc. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has awarded the City grant 36237.66.4.3 in the amount of $2,212,485 (Federal 90 percent - $1,991,236 and Local 10 percent - $221,249). The grant award funds will be used to cover the Midstate Contractors, Inc. construction contract as well as engineering professional services provided to administer the construction phase of the pavement project. Staff recommends Council to award bid and approve the construction contract with Midstate Contractors, Inc., in the amount of $1,979,866 for Grant Project 36237.66.4.3.

Y. Approval of Work Authorization 1401 for the Construction Administration Services of the Construction Phase to Rehabilitate and Overlay Taxiways “B” & “S” and North Apron, NDCOA Grant 36237.66.4.3. - Staff requests approval of Talbert, Bright & Ellington, Inc.’s Work Authorization 1401 for providing construction administration services in the amount of $201,298.20 in accordance with Grant 36237.66.4.3. This work authorization will provide professional
services for construction administration, resident project representative construction observation, quality assurance testing and an as-built survey during the rehabilitation of Taxiway “B”, Taxiway “S”, and the North Apron, and will be paid out of North Carolina Department of Transportation Grant 36237.66.4.3 funding in the amount of $2,212,485 (Federal 90 percent - $1,991,236 and Local 10 percent $221,249). These professional services are being provided to administer the construction phase of the project and verify compliance with the Contract Document requirements. Staff recommends approval of Talbert, Bright & Ellington, Inc.’s Work Authorization 1401 in the amount of $201,298.20.

Z. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 2. 
1. To budget a $40 memorial donation from the Library Advisory Board in the books operational line item. This donation is for Louise Humphrey’s mother, Bessie K. Spicer.
2. To budget a $43,530 donation from the Library’s foundation endowment in the programming, non-asset inventory, books and supplies line items. The funds will cover programming at Patrick Beaver and Ridgeview, children’s resources, adult collections and general operations.
3. To transfer $8,000 of General Fund Contingency to a multi-year grant fund. The NC Department of Cultural Resources Office of Archives and History State Historic Preservation Office has granted federal funding to update the city’s survey of historic properties. The contract allows $15,000 in federal funding with an $8,000 required match for total project costs of $23,000.
4. To re-appropriate $80,770 that was budgeted in the FY13-14 budget for the SALT Block. The final invoice from the SALT Block for the city’s commitment was not received until after the close of the fiscal year. This appropriation will fulfill the city’s commitment for FY13-14.
5. To budget a $20,160 State Library grant funded with Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds in the amount of $20,160. Funds will be used to hire a consultant and pay other related expenses involved in the development of a new strategic plan during FY14-15.
6. To appropriate $149,667 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance and transfer to the Airport Rehabilitation and Overlay Taxiway B and S, and North Apron project. This appropriation represents the 10% local match required of the total $1,496,667 project amount.
7. To appropriate $71,582 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance and transfer to the Airport Rehabilitation and Overlay Taxiway B and S, and North Apron project. This appropriation represents the 10% local match required of the additional $715,818 funding for the project.
8. To re-appropriate $828,167 that was budgeted in the FY13-14 budget for the purpose of a replacement ladder truck. This truck was originally going to be purchased in FY13-14 through American LaFrance who failed to deliver due to bankruptcy. The city ultimately received full monetary reimbursement for this truck from an insurance company through a performance bond. The new truck will be a Smeal.

AA. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment Number 2.
1. To budget an additional $715,818 of funding for the Airport Rehabilitation and Overlay Taxiway B and S, and North Apron project. The North Carolina Department of Transportation-Division of Aviation is funding 90% of the Federal funds ($644,236) with a 10% required local match ($71,582).

BB. Grant Project Ordinance Number 1.
1. To budget a $15,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources Office of Archives and History State Historic Preservation Office in the projects Community Development Other Professional Services line item. This grant provides funds to update the city’s survey of historic properties. This grant requires a local match of $8,000 funded by General Fund Contingency for a total budget of $23,000.

CC. Grant Project Ordinance Number 2.
1. To budget a $50,000 2014 Urgent Repair Grant from the North Carolina Housing and Finance Agency in the Economic and Community Development URP Hard Energy and Soft Costs operational line items. This grant required a local match of $5,000 funded by Miscellaneous Revenues/Program Income line item within the operational budget for a total budget of $55,000.

DD. Grant Project Ordinance Number 3.
1. To budget a $1,347,000 of North Carolina Department of Transportation-Division of Aviation Federal Funding Grant in the Airport Rehabilitation and Overlay Taxiway B and S, and North Apron project. This grant requires a 10% local match of $149,667 funded by the General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance for a total project of $1,496,667.


New Business - Public Hearings
1. Resolution Confirming and Levying Assessment Along a portion of 8th Street Drive NW, Petition Number 01-14 (Curb and Gutter). - The City Clerk received a petition from the owner of property along 8th Street Drive NW to install curb and gutter along a portion of their street per Section 29-2 of the Hickory Code of Ordinances. The City Council adopted a Resolution Directing that Street Improvement Project be Undertaken on April 1, 2014, and the project was completed on June 12, 2014. The Preliminary Assessment Roll for Petition No. 01-14 has been prepared based on the curb and gutter constructed along 8th Street Drive NW. Staff recommends that Resolution Confirming and Levying Assessment be approved. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on July 18, 2014.

2. Consideration of Rezoning Petition 14-01 for Property Located at 1218 Bugle Lane, Newton. - The City of Hickory has petitioned for rezoning of .479 acres of property located at 1218 Bugle Lane. The petition is to rezone the property from Catawba County R-20 Residential to City of Hickory Low Density Residential – 1 (R-1). The requested rezoning has been put forth to assign City zoning to a property that was recently annexed. Hickory Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the petition on June 25, 2014, and voted unanimously to forward a recommendation of approval to Hickory City Council. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on July 25, 2014 and August 1, 2014.

3. Consideration of Adoption of ABC Permit / Local Opinion Ordinance. - Hickory Police Department requests adoption of an ordinance authorizing access to State Bureau of Investigation / Division of Criminal Information (DCI) system for the purpose of obtaining criminal history information on ABC permit applicants to determine their suitability to be an ABC permit holder within the City of Hickory. North Carolina Administrative Code requires the City of the local law
enforcement agency to have an ordinance in place authorizing access to criminal record information on all persons applying for ABC permits for proposed locations within their jurisdiction for the agency to be granted access to computerized DCI information for this purpose. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on July 18, 2014.

4. Issuance of General Obligation Bond Order for $25,000,000 of Streets and Sidewalks Bonds. - The public hearing is conducted to authorize the issuance of each general bond order and to discuss all matters concerning the proposed general obligation bond orders. The proposed bond referendum consists of $25,000,000 of Streets and Sidewalks Bonds. Funds will be used to construct, enlarge and improve certain streets, roads and intersections including the costs of studies, plans and designs. The improvements will include streetscape and pedestrian improvements, signage, landscaping, pedestrian/bicycle paths and relocation of utilities. Funds will be used to acquire land, rights-of-way and easements as necessary for each Inspiring Spaces project. Authorize the issuance of a general obligation bond order for $25,000,000 of Streets and Sidewalks Bonds. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on July 25, 2014.
a. Request City Council adopt the Bond Orders without change or amendment and direct the City Clerk to publish a notice of adoption, as prescribed by the Local Government Bond Act, of the general obligation streets and sidewalks bond order entitled, “Bond Order Authorizing the Issuance of $25,000,000 General Obligation Streets and Sidewalks Bonds of the City of Hickory, North Carolina,” which was introduced at the meeting of the City Council held on July 15, 2014.

5. Issuance of General Obligation Bond Order for $15,000,000 of Economic Development Bonds. - The public hearing is conducted to authorize the issuance of each general bond and to discuss all matters concerning the proposed general obligation bond orders. The proposed bond referendum consists of $15,000,000 of Economic Development Bonds. Funds will be used to provide land and improvements suitable for industrial and commercial purposes, including the acquisition of land rights-of-way and easements for industrial and commercial purposes and providing public infrastructure and facilities in order to make land and improvements suitable for industrial and commercial purposes. Authorize the issuance of a general obligation bond order for $15,000,000 of Economic Development Bonds. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on July 25, 2014.

a. Request City Council adopt the Bond Orders without change or amendment and direct the City Clerk to publish a notice of adoption, as prescribed by the Local Government Bond Act, of the general obligation economic development bond order entitled “Bond Order Authorizing the Issuance of $15,000,000 General Obligation Economic Development Bonds of the City of Hickory, North Carolina,” which was introduced at the meeting of the City Council held on July 15, 2014.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Approval of a Resolution Setting a Special Bond Referendum, Directing the Publication of Notice of a Special Bond Referendum, and Providing Notification to the Catawba County Board of Elections. - The bond orders will be submitted to the voters of the City of Hickory, North Carolina for their approval or disapproval in order to comply with the constitution and laws of North Carolina at the November 4, 2014 Special Bond Referendum. A Notice “City of Hickory, North Carolina Notice of Special Bond Referendum” will be published in the Hickory Daily Record at least twice by the City Clerk to notify qualified voters of the November 4, 2014 Special Bond Referendum. The City Clerk will deliver a certified copy of the Resolution setting the Special Bond Referendum to the Catawba County Board of Elections. The Board of Elections will print and distribute the ballots and provide equipment to hold the November 4, 2014 Referendum. Staff recommends approval of a Resolution to set a Special Bond Referendum, publish notice of a Special Bond Referendum, and notify the Catawba County Board of Elections.

2. Consider Hickory Housing Authority’s request to have the City of Hickory make Application for a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. - Hickory Housing Authority contacted City Staff June 30th about applying for a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant. This Federal program through HUD provides up to $500,000 in funding to eligible municipalities to develop comprehensive neighborhood transformation plans in areas that contain distressed public housing. The project will emphasize revitalization of public housing sites, develop a plan for new mixed income housing in the target area and in other locations across Catawba County, and address other needed infrastructure improvements. Hickory Housing Authority has contracted with the Wooten Company to assist in the preparation of the grant application. The required grant match will be provided by Hickory Housing Authority. The City of Hickory would be the main applicant for the grant with Hickory Housing Authority as the co-applicant. The grant is for planning services only. A future application would need to be made to HUD for implementation of funds.

3. Park 1764 Option Payment. - With County Commissioner approval of zoning of the 178 acres, Park 1764 progresses to the step of the first payment of the option agreements. The option costs are shared 50-50 with Catawba County and tie up the property for seven years. Hickory’s share of the first year option payment is $103,189 and is recommended to be transferred from General Fund Contingency.

4. Quarterly Financial Report

5. Appointments to Boards and Commissions

The Master BSer

Hounds Note: An article I have read from Psychology Today delves into the Characteristics of the Master BSer. They use the actual word, but I try to tone down the language on this site.

We all know these people. They don't mind lying to get what they want. Obfuscation and embellishment are the tools of their trade. But the real key to their success is that they depend on you to allow them to get away with their indiscretions. You empower them. You embolden them. If you did not acquiesce to their BS, then they would be mere mortals.

The worst part is that the BSers are the enemy of honesty and integrity. They are the arch-rivals of those who like to keep it real. The BSers have brought you the current economic climate. They have brought you the lack of trust we see in society today. The world could be a lot simpler, but who has muddied the water on just about everything we deal with?

Some people find the BSers to be charming. You see it all the time in the media. Who gets all the attention???

The article is excellent:
BSing: Lessons from the Masters - BSers pull it off. - Psychology Today - Published on May 15, 2009 by Stanton Peele in Addiction in Society

The Excerpts I am pulling from the article relate to how the Master BSer pulls it off (gets away with it).

1. Always remember - people are afraid to challenge you. Both because it violates social propriety, and because of their fears that their own secrets will be found out, people don't question others to their face. So simply count on being allowed to mouth off and make outrageous claims with no fear of being contradicted - or with objectors themselves facing ostracism.

2. Point to your legitimate successes or bona fides. Stanford was a genuine knight (mediated by Antiguan authorities). Madoff had been president of the NASDAQ stock exchange's board of directors. There are big buildings with Trump's name gaudily plastered all over them.  So simply trot out your past successes (magnified as much as possible) at every opportunity, and add on whatever bullshit you wish.

3. Act arrogant - keep it up. Although arrogance might seem to work against you by offending people, it is the supreme intimidation technique - people are readily cowed when someone acts like he is better, smarter, more powerful than they are (ergo, the Donald Trump phenomenon). The only danger is if you act modestly or question yourself, because people WILL attack weakness. In fact, even when you are being arrested (as in Stanford's case), attack your accusers.

4. Claim esoteric knowledge or techniques. It doesn't matter if the formula you use to explain your success makes no sense - people aren't secure enough to challenge something they can't understand. In fact, it pays to make the secret to your success as incomprehensible as possible while linking it to something beyond questioning, like say relativity, quantum physics, evolution or, for the old fashioned, God.

5. Always delay the day of reckoning. Contrary to the idea that, if your are standing on a foundation of bullshit, you will being to sink, send questioners and doubters away. In the interim, they will become re-intimidated by how highly your bullshit is regarded. When they return (if they have the guts), simply go back to square one, making the same claims with the same evidence, and in the same arrogant, don't-question-me tone.

Hound's Final Notes: So putting it all together, the Master BSer believes that they can lie with impunity, because most people are uncomfortable with calling them out on it. Most people aren't Master BSers, because their conscience won't allow them to be. The Master BSer's ego always outweighs their conscience.

The Master BSer will use circular logic to quantify their achievements. The legitimate achievements are usually attained with the help of others, but the Master BSer will exaggerate/overstate their role in the action that led to the achievement... They created it...  They were responsible... Without them it would never have happened. Embellished Achievements hold little merit, but the Master BSer will attempt to conjure up and sell fantasies.

The Master BSer will simply carry themselves in a manner that presents themselves as being special. Being humble is considered a weakness with these people. They have never been wrong in their life. And this arrogance feeds off of itself and grows until it becomes monstrous. They use this as a tool to intimidate others and most people will allow them to get away with it... Some will even show deference and help them, even when they know the person is full of --it.

The Master BSer will tell people 'you are wrong, because you don't have the information that they do,' but they aren't going to help you understand. They aren't going to provide you the information you are seeking. They will do everything in their power to control information about themselves or their projects. Like the Man Behind the Curtain in the Wizard of Oz, when you push hard seeking the truth, then they will bully you with the bluster associated with the power they have obtained through public acquiescence. The public gives authority by remaining silent and not objecting to abuses of power, even when such power is illegitimate.

Finally, as previously stated, they get through life as a BSer by being allowed to. Eventually, and most do, they hope that you will give up and just go away in frustration. If you do, then they have won. But, the reality is that they usually get busted, because people (someone) will get tired of their BS and people will eventually get their torches and pitchforks out and decide "No More!"

My Grandmother, Martha Shell's 100th Birthday

Today would have been Mammaw, Martha Shell's, 100th birthday. She was born on July 30, 1914. She passed 2 years and 51 weeks ago today. She lived one week past her 97th birthday, I always hoped that she would see this day, but God decided to take her spirit and I am just grateful that she was a part of my life, our lives, as long as she was. I am grateful for all she did for me and I cannot help but think about her every day. It is an understatement and the words really aren't worthy, but she was definitely one of my all-time Heros.

I have spoken of her along with other members of my family on this blog. I went to Pappaw and Mammaw's graveside today and somberly placed flowers in there. Season's change... people come and go, but I have never forgotten those who have had a significant impact on my life. Time is relative and fleeting here on Earth. I have tried to hold on to people, memories, and moments. The harder you grasp them, the easier they slip away, and the more anguish that results. You have to learn to accept reality.

Mammaw was the ultimate in strength and perseverance.  She had rheumatic fever as a child and was confined to bed rest for two years and she survived it. She was born two days after the beginning of World War I and, along with my other grandparents, she had many stories to tell about the trials and tribulations of the Wars and the Depression. Mammaw by all accounts was a great nurse and she certainly helped take care of all of us and move us through life. We all certainly miss her.

I hope you like my flower arrangement. Pretty good for a guy.

Here is a picture from nine years ago at Mammaw's Birthday Party at 1859. Ulysses sang for her and we had a grand party on Sunday, July 31, 2005.

Mammaw and her cake.