My Larry Story

 Back around 2007 to 2010...I worked in a (just at the secret level) vault....as a contractor.  My office had 4 desks, but there were just two of us there.  One day....my military 'boss' came up and said 'such-and-such' organization (in a top secret vault) had a new contractor to arrive but his clearance wasn't ready yet.  He asked if we'd house 'Larry'.  I said sure.

The next day....'Larry' arrived.  He had retired out of the Army (20 years) and been hired as a contractor.  

I got 'Larry' set up....desk, phone, computer account.

For about a week...'Larry' would show up at 7:30 AM and work till around 4 PM....then quietly exit.  

The 2nd week...'Larry' would arrive at 8 AM, and exit around 2 PM.

The 3rd week....'Larry' would  arrive at 8 AM and leave for the German cantina for a beer or two for lunch....but never come back (period).

The 4th week, 'Larry' would show up around 9 AM...stay for an hour and leave for home.

My co-worker and I discussed this each morning....especially the whole 2nd and 3rd month....where he never showed up.

Around the end of the 6th month....this organization that had been paying 'Larry' (he probably cleared $8k a month)...suddenly woke and realized that they had a guy to fill a billet and they just never had done the clearance paperwork.

So they called over to the company office, and they called me....where is 'Larry', and I responded he's probably at his cellphone.  

The next day....'Larry' went back to work....real work.

The bitter side of this story?  Well...'Larry had developed alcohol problems over six months of hanging out daily at the German cantina on base.  He'd leave the real job around noon....drink two beers and some some German schnapps.  He'd show back at real work after 90 minutes...smelling of booze.

After about two months of warning him....the company wrote up papers...firing 'Larry'.  

It's  hard to know who to blame....either Larry, the company, or the Air Force....for just allowing him to goof off. 

Flag Story

 Based on 1,000-odd flag ceremonies I've attended while in the Air Force and working at the Pentagon....this flag episode at Trump's  speech on Saturday came to be an odd thing.

In the hour prior to him arriving....wind picked up and flipped the flag into an unusual pattern....some say it was like an angel spreading it's wings.

To be honest, in all the flag episodes I've ever seen.....it just never turns up....flipped like this....in the shape of a bird's wings or angel.

A sign?  There's probably been about a dozen times when I've seen something occur or develop....like a sign, and I've typically stood there for a minute....thinking.  Yeah....in most cases....I've eventually decided something ain't right and just walked away. 

In this case?  Maybe it is just the wind.  But things like this typically don't happen. 

A Little Suspicious Story

 For those who aren't into the finance world....a 'short' is where you analyze data....going  into a special market, and you 'bet' that X-price (say $40) for a stock will be dropping in a period of time (there are no limits).  So you might create a 'short'  where the $40 stock in one month will drop to $37.  Or you might be favoring a high-risk situation and saying the $40 stock in two weeks will drop to $17.  

Yeah, it's a legalized betting....on commerce.

Do regular investors do 'shorts'?  NO.  

Most people I know....who do 'shorts'....will tell you they spend 20 hours a week analyzing data...as a minimum.  They might only do two or three 'shorts' a year, and they will always say there is maximum risk and minimal risk behind this stuff.

So here's this little odd story.  A investment company called 'Austin Private Wealth' who came up in early July, and put around $7-million down on a 'short' with $DJT (Trump's social media stock)....that it would drop...with a end date of 15 July (last  Monday).   

Twelve-million share involved.

On risk?  Well....7-million is an awful lot.

Who is connected to Austin Private Wealth?  Blackstone, Vanguard, the Bush family and the Baker family.  

What the company says?  Clerical error.....they just accidentally did the 'shorts'.

7-million lost?  More or less.   Trump didn't pass on....stock on Friday was around $31 a share....Monday, it pumped UP to $40 a share.  Today, it's near $36.

So, what happened?  Unknown.

I'd rather not believe that some conspiracy unfolded, and some CIA guys knew a operation would occur on Saturday.   

Some time-machine situation?  Well...one would laugh over the idea, but you have to wonder about this.