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Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs
Beaulieu, Georges De Latour Cabernet 1995
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, La Paulée, 2006
Woodbridge, Chardonnay
Paranga, Kir-Yianni 2005
L. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Rose 2007
Newman's Own, Cabernet 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley Merlot 2005
Monte Antico, Toscana Red 2006
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Vins Auvigne, Macon-Fuisse 2007
Vina Gormaz, Tempranillo 2007
Chandon, Brut Classic
Dom Martinho, Tinto 2005
Chateau St. Jean, Cabernet, California 2007
Kirkland, Napa Cabernet 2007
Revelry, The Reveler, 2007
Joseph Drouhin, Chablis 2006
Altos Las Hormigas, Mendoza Malbec 2008
Alodio, Ribeira Sacra Mencia 2007
Charles Smith, Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2008
Kiona, Lemberger 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley Merlot 2005
Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma Brut
Kirkland, Napa Valley Meritage 2006
Abacela, Tempranillo 2006
Woodward Canyon, Columbia Valley Red
Santa Margherita, Pinot Grigio 2007
Mas Donis Barrica, Celler de Capcanes Red, 2005
Three Rivers, Merlot 2006
Raptor Ridge, Pinot Gris 2008
Lezaun, Rosado, Navarra
Lezaun, Red, Navarra
Hedges, Three Vineyards, Red Mountain 2005
Raptor Ridge, Pinot Gris 2008
Vega Sindoa, Cabernet-Tempranillo 2006
Inama, Soave Classico 2007
Alois Lageder, Lagrein Rosato 2008
Broglia, Gavi 2007
Marqués de Cáceres, Rioja Rose 2008
Spaltagna, Riserva Pinot Noir 2008
Portuga, Rose 2008
Warre's Warrior Port
Lange, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Guiraud, Le G, 2007
Falset, Garnacha Rose, Montsant 2006
Castello di Bossi, Chianti Classico 2004
Domaine Chandon, Pinot Noir, La Riviere Sonoma 2006
Brazin, Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi 2006
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2006
Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet 2007
Gentil Hugel, Alsace 2006
Mesoneros de Castilla, Ribero del Duero, Rosado 2008
Cor, Momentum 2007
Santa Margherita, Pinot Grigio 2006
Rubico, Lacrima di Morro d'Alba 2007
Gilstrap Brothers, Reserve Merlot 2003
Conundrum 2007
Chandler Reach, 36 Red
Santa Rita, Reserve Cabernet 2005
Marietta, Old Vine Red Lot 47
L'Ecole No. 41, Recess Red 2006
Dom Martinho, Red 2004
Beaulieu, Georges Latour 1994
Caymus, Cabernet 1995
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2005
Bergevin Lane, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2005
Savigny-les-Beaune, Les Lavieres 2003
David Hill, Reserve Merlot, Rogue Valley 2006
Educated Guess, Cabernet 2006
Maquis Lien, Red 2005
Charles Smith, Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2007
David Hill, Farmhouse White
Robert Mondavi Solaire, Cabernet 2005
Castello Monaci, Liante, Salice Salentino 2006
Ricardo Santos, Malbec 2006
Quinta da Espiga, Tinto 2006
Charles Smith, Holy Cow Merlot 2006
Charles Smith, Boom Boom Syrah 2006
Charles Smith, The Honorable Pinot Gris 2007
Santa Rita, Cabernet Reserva 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2007
Gloria, Douro, Tinto 2002
Bogle, Petite Sirah Port, Clarksburg 2005
Cardwell Hill, Pinot Noir 2004
Silkwood, Red Duet Cabernet-Syrah 2004
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006, 2007
Osborne, Solaz 2004
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Reserva 2005
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill, Shiraz Cabernet 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2004
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Hannah Nicole, Red 2004
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2005
Protocolo, Red 2005
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2006
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1996
Kirkland, Roogle Shiraz 2004
Garda, Classico Chiaretto
A to Z, Oregon Pinot Gris 2005
I Giusti & Zanza, Nemorino 2006
Treana, Marsanne-Viognier, Central Coast 2005
Fife, Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2005
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Miles run year to date: 0
At this date last year: 0
Total run in 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (12)
Yes, truer words were na'er spoken than when Harry S Truman said "If you want to live like a Republican, vote like a Democrat."
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | November 4, 2009 7:49 AM
My wife & I have planned our retirement as if SS didn't exist. (We began this about '82.) From the looks of things, I'm extremely glad we did.
Posted by HMLA267 | November 4, 2009 8:45 AM
It'd be more interesting to see how the ratio of payees to recipients has changed over time (with PERS also.)
That's going to affect the over/under on SS going down or not.
Posted by Steve | November 4, 2009 8:54 AM
As a younger person, I perceive SS as the single greatest Ponzi scheme ever propogated upon a populous. I already put in for several greeter jobs and said I would be able to start in 2040.
"The Greatest Generation" of...entitled robber barons.
Posted by Z | November 4, 2009 9:10 AM
This sort of reminds me of the union movement. People complain a lot about unions and how awful they are but just look back in history to before they were around.
My father's people came out of the coal-mining towns of Pennsylvania and the way miners were treated in the early days of America was beyond shocking.
I believe in a social security safety net and if you go back to before it was around there was some horrendous stuff for elderly people.
I'd prefer changing the empire component of the equation. Get out of Iraq and Afghanistan and trim the "defense" budget so it isn't bigger than the defense budgets of all other nations of the world combined.
Providing for the elderly and sick? I'm okay with that.
Posted by Bill McDonald | November 4, 2009 9:34 AM
This sort of reminds me of the union movement.
You're quite sure it doesn't sort of remind you of the Middle East, eh?
It sort of reminds me of the union movement too.
Both began with the best of intentions and both are now corrupt failures.
I wonder what these two have in common...?
Posted by cc | November 4, 2009 10:08 AM
Interesting. I've paid in three times as much as she received, yet I'll be lucky to see $22.54 back out of it....
Posted by RANZ | November 4, 2009 10:41 AM
My grandfather was one of those coal miners that Bill referenced. Yes the unions did improve some elements of work for them but he still died in 1944 at age 63 of a heart condition likely connected to Black Lung. Back in the day, if you broke the strike the mines became a dangerous place. My dad said they usually placed a couple of union enforcers at the mine entrance who would dump out your lunch and water as a reminder that a strike was on and what might furhter await you should you decide to descend and work as a scab.
My father collected social security after a successful career and didn't need a penny of it. He felt guilty collecting it but he figured it wasn't welfare since he paid into the system.
Remember when brave politicians actually talked about means testing for social security. But that requires the relatively sophisticated view that we have no absolute rights to money--whether legitimatley earned or otherwise.
Posted by spud | November 4, 2009 11:50 AM
Sam Smith reports on a great one-line summary of our skewed priorities:
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | November 4, 2009 12:37 PM
The keeping old people out of bread lines part of Social Security is good. The retirement savings part - not so good.
Posted by dg | November 4, 2009 12:41 PM
It sounds like the death panel idea has a tight little constituency here.
Posted by Allan L. | November 4, 2009 2:26 PM
The Soc. Sec. system would not be a such a Ponzi scheme if the federal government had not systematically removed (I'd like to use the word "stolen") funds from the earnings of the trust fund. But they needed to pay for wars and other such things.
Posted by LucsAdvo | November 5, 2009 4:04 PM