A Very Merry Christmas

My partner and I have described this Christmas mostly as "smooth." That Christmas went smoothly this year is the greatest gift of all, next to the Christ child. Now here comes the shocker; I Love Christmas. That is how this Christmas all began to unfold this year. The biggest change over last year for me is that this year I love Christmas. And it is not just because Jerad is in my life. Christmas has found its place in my heart because it is a time for beginings and I need some new beginings. I want to pick up some old projects and work at them a while. The movie "Under The Tuscan Sun" says that we should take one of those bad ideas and work on it. I want to take one of those bad ideas, like moving on with my education, and work on it (a bit). Change happens in your life when you invite in a renewal of the good that has happened before. Nothing is beyond you because you choose your attitude. I chose a very different attittude this Christmas and I am a happier man because of it. I deceided to make the most of what I have this christmas.

I also did my best to try to extend the invitation of Christmas to others this year. Christ invites us all, and I mean all, to the table with him. It should be a very Holy day. This being said it has a pratical application, Christmas means including everyone. You do not just invite those people you really like, you invite everyone who will come. Christmas is for everyone.

I wish everyone this year a very Merry Christmas. Please join in the celebrations!

LastManOut

More Jokes

What do you call two lesbians in a cannoe?
-Fur Traders

What do you get when Elton John and Super Man have kids?
-Super-duper Men

Recitals

This afternoon Jerad and I attended his very first organ recital at the Abbey. The series is put on by an endowment from the late Canon John O. Bruce. The organist is British performer Christopher Herrick and this is his third time playing at the Abbey. The concert was splendid aside from a few small technical difficulties. The final encore was Ueber Fantastisch. He played 'Festival Musik,' well at least I think that is how it is spelled. The piece was composed by a Norwiegen. If any one knows who, I certainaly would appreciate it as I lost the name. Anyway, the experience was just what I needed and Jerad is still spinning from the excitment.

Yesterday evening we also went to Lynn Griebling's receital at St. Norbert. Lynn is formerly my voice professor and currently is organist at St Anne's, where Jerad and I go to church. The recital was entitled 'Songs my Teachers Taught Me.' The program was a wonderful collection of songs that she has learned from her various teachers through the years and even around the world. What facinates me is that you wouldn't think that Lynn is so well versed simply in meeting her. Her natural charm stems from the loving and caring attitude that she greets you with. Her recital had much the same character. The attendants were most all people that she knew. A huge crowd of us had gathered from church and as is usually the case it was more of a family event than a prim and proper affair. I think it is wonderful how almost everyone we are in choir with at church was there to support Lynn. We have such a wonderful connection. What I enjoyed most this evening was getting to know my teacher a little bit better. There is something to be said about her program notes. She divided the recital up into phases of her life. And I do mean phases more than periods. There is in Lynn's life a reliaztion that music and singing is who she is and where she should be. Obviously there were side paths that took her away from music at some points notably right before she came to St Norbert. I was one of her first students at SNC, we were freshmen together. She had a way of welcoming me to SNC that I now know is unusual for someone who is also new. There have been more difficult times in our "relationship." Lynn has a very strong sense of will. As most people will tell you, so do I. The few confrontations we've had are perhaps the most life changing for me. Lynn has taught me the value of being yourself. The value of being yourself is so much different than "being yourself." While many people have tried to teach me that it is ok to be yourself, no one has lived it out like my dear friend Lynn.

Many Congratulations!

Lastmanout

H. R. 2317

Recently I sent a letter to my Congressperson Mark Green - R, WI about an important issue affecting the banking industry, in which I work.

July 23, 2005

Dear Mark Green,

The following is a standardized letter voicing my opposition to H.R. 2317. However, I would like to add a few additional items. First off, to put this letter more succinctly, if credit unions desire to do more lending in the commercial sector, let them become commercial institutions. If they are big enough to function like a commercial bank, then they can afford to pay taxes just like everyone else. This is not a matter of tax relief, it is a matter equity. It is wholly unfair to everyone when an institution reaches to grab a greater share of the market and then pays nothing back to the structure that made that growth possible in the first place. Increasing the commercial lending capacity of credit unions, positions us to have institutions that are veritable leaches of the system.

Second, I am a banker at a medium sized community bank. We are in fact about the size of many of the below listed credit unions. It is Baylake Bank's specific goal to enrich and empower the communities in which we live and work. This fundamental goodness of an institution such as my employer is not characteristic of many of the large national banks. Our community for profit intuitions will inevitably struggle, suffer, and potentially collapse if they have to compete with an institution that does not bear the burden of taxes. If such a phenomenon should happen as a community bank closing, the customer would be left with only 2 alternatives. 1) Large national banks whose sole purpose for existence is bottom line profit. These institutions rarely do what is best for the customer in the long run. 2) Credit Unions who enjoy all of the benefits of operating as commercial bank without giving back any of the revenue that they generate. The institution for which I work is the best mix of these two extreme. A medium sized community bank can still provide all of the full service of large bank at a competitive rate, as well as the service and community focus of a credit union.

Lastly, as we all understand, Credit unions were chartered for those of modest means. This is a particularly important point and has strong repercussions for the financial industry. Credit unions focus should be on those customers and situations where lending the lending risk is greater. Many of the customers who bank with a credit union do so because they are able to obtain a loan they would not otherwise qualify for. It is credit unions not for profit status that allows them to take on these additional risks. The question remains to be answered as to whether or not credit unions will continue to lend to these needs or if predatory lenders will usurp these needs. There is a rise of predatory lenders in every community in our state. They are a fundamental danger to our way of life in America. Credit unions and small community institutions are in the best position to combat these businesses. However, I feel very strongly that change in the structure of lending at credit unions will adversely affect this very important issue.

As a member of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, I am asking that you oppose H.R. 2317, the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act of 2005.

Today, there are more than 100 credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets across this country. In Wisconsin, Landmark Credit Union in New Berlin, has $935 million in assets, the UW Credit Union in Madison has $760 million in assets, and the Community First Credit Union in Appleton has $675 million in assets. These are big institutions, many of which offer a full range of financial products. It is extremely difficult for community banks to compete with these giant tax-exempt credit unions. Disguised as a regulatory relief bill, H.R. 2317 increases credit unions’ business lending authority from the current cap of 12.25 percent to 20 percent of total assets. The bill also excludes all business loans of less than $100,000 from the cap, up from the current $50,000 cap.

Credit unions were chartered to serve individuals of modest means – not to make commercial loans. This major expansion of business lending authority would benefit only the largest, most aggressive credit unions, while putting both smaller credit unions and tax-paying financial institutions at a greater competitive disadvantage.

In addition, H.R. 2317 would change the definition of “net worth ratio” for the purpose of determining required minimum capital levels for credit unions. This minimum capital system was developed by Congress to ensure that adequate funds are available as a cushion against unforeseen losses. The bill would change the definition of net worth ratio in a way that would artificially inflate the capital cushion, thus reducing the actual funds available to protect depositors and taxpayers if credit unions were to experience financial difficulty.

I hope you will take my views into consideration and oppose H.R. 2317.

Sincerely,

(Last Man Out)

Michael Jackson Jokes

Here's the latest of the MJ jokes.

How do you know when it's bed time at the Neverland Ranch?
-When the big hand touches the little hand.

Why are Michael Jackson's pants so tight?
-Cause they ain't his.

Why does Michael Jackson like 29 year olds?
-Cause there's twenty of them.

Why does Michael call little boys on the phone?
-So he can reach out and touch someone.

New Job

Some of you know that I've started a new job in the last couple months. Taking time to reflect on the experience some simple truths have emerged.

(1) Relearning the same old thing a different way is far more difficult than learning it the first time.

(2) A second chance at something is the oppurtunity of a lifetime.

(3) The people you work with make it or break it.

(4) We make far too many judgements about others.

(5) Aside from people, the bottom line is still the most important.

(6) You never know what you're gonna get.

(7) Good things happen every day.

(8) Be thankful for what you have.

(9) Your effort determines your success.

(10) Changing up your lunch spot couldn't hurt.

The new position that I am in, and in the process of learning, is called a relationship manager. I work for a local bank now that has a community oriented focus. I think it is profound when you consider that the primary purpose that we exist as a buisiness is to improve the lives of everyone around us. The company I work for takes that to heart and really means it. I think that when you make people and fulfilling their needs the bottom line of business you end up with a company that is not merely a good neighbor but a partner who supports you and others. In our day and age the major focus of most banks is the numbers on the bottom line. Their corporate existence is based solely on profit. What is the biggest problem with this senario accross the board in any industry? You end up with second rate crap that you can't get service for worth a damm. That does not happen where I work. I'm proud of who I am.

Recent Jokes

My co-workers are totally awesome and totally good for a few jokes now and then. Here's the latest.

What do you call a gay bar with no stools?
-A fruit stand

What is the difference between a blonde and a washing machine?
-When you put in a load in the washer it doesn't follow you around for a week.

What do you call a gay man with the shits?
-A juicy fruit

What do soy and a dildo have in common?
-They're both meat substitutes.