Bob Cramer's Blog

My loyal reader(s), I owe you a big apology for my extended absence.  It is a long story and I know you don’t want details so let’s move on.  

While I have been gone, the U.S. women’s soccer team has unceremoniously disappeared from sight along with the US economy, any reasonable political leadership and a good chunk of my stock portfolio.  As I told you, if we had only won the stinking game things would be different (click here).  But there is no crying over spilt milk and a stupid goal in the last remaining seconds when you had the game against Japan won so as a country, it is time for us to hitch up our pants, tie our laces and get back to business.

Poor President Obama.  After his extended vacation, he came back and has really confused all of us with his jobs program and then his shift to the left.  Of course, the other side seems to only know how to say no so we have a Mexican standoff (nothing against Mexico, except in Texas, if you come to the country illegally, you get a discount at UT, thanks to Rick Perry.   Having one child in college and another one soon on the way, I am very sensitive to the college tuition issues as is Mitt Romney evidently).

Speaking of college, etc., I have one major grip that I want to share.  I have noticed a trend in the taking of standardized tests.  It seems more and more students are getting extra time on the exams because they have been diagnosed with some sort of learning difficulty.  Now I am not against anybody with a disability being given a fair shake, but this extra time being awarded to kids who seem just fine and get good grades in school seems like somebody is gaming the system.  Please remember that colleges are not notified that a particular student received extra time so frankly that is a huge and truly unfair advantage.   If I were the King of the SAT and ACT, I would crack down on this abuse and making it extremely difficult to qualify to get extra time.  By the way, I also think these testing operations are great businesses and I wonder who exactly is the College Board and how do I get a piece of some of their action.  Anybody?

Now for a personal update:  there is less of me than there was when I last blogged.  Your dedicated writer has been on a training program trying to get in shape for winter clothing and the Holiday eating season.   You may see me whizzing by if you happen to be out by the Chattahoochee River at various odd time (yesterday I ran into ((not literally) my Yoga instructor (see funny, if I can say so myself, Yoga Blog) and I’m sure he was impressed with my pace and overall dedication).  Sometimes I can also be seen waddling up and down the hills of Chastain Park, ducking from errant golf balls, and trying not to get hit by a car as I watch all the pretty girls go by.  Usually I am going so fast that nobody sees me, but in the rare instance when I throttle back from the speed of light, please honk or wave.

Now I am beginning to remember why I cut back on this blogging thing.   I awoke at 4:52 this morning.  Maybe it was the Republican debate last night that caused me insomnia or it could be the precipitous fall of the Atlanta Braves as they fight tooth and nail with the Red Sox’s to see who can be the biggest choker this season.   A bold prediction:  Braves make it and stock market goes up today.   Like the New York Mets used to say, you gotta believe. 

Have a nice Friday and I look forward to talking with you again soon (I promise).