Medical Marvels It is scary out there in the world of surgery. Scary for those on the table, if only routine for the experts wielding the scalpels. Recently, two close acquaintances underwent major procedures only to be sent home the same day. Each was as groggy as a mortally wounded soldier but managed the stairs […]
Service in a Service-based Economy
Service in a Service-based Economy The service industry now makes up 70% of the US economy. Why, then, are some of the services so poor when some are so good? In the latter category I would include the likes of Chewy.com and Amazon. In the abysmal class, a recent Saturday morning experience illustrates a problem […]
No Vacilating with Vaccinations
No Vacilating with Vaccinations Covid is a year old now. The treatment regime was: shutdown, mask up and social distance until the vaccines arrived. Rollout was perhaps a little tardy, but the old US of A is leading the field. At first we were all at sea— nowhere to book and no vaccines in evidence. […]
Serving Civilly
Serving Civilly Many of us recall the days of loyal, traditional governmental service. My mother worked as a civil servant for a decade: ceaselessly, loyally, reliably, and relentlessly. Now here we are in the 21st Century in Boulder County. We citizens own the land, pay taxes to provide for the acquisition thereof and are then […]
Beware: Workers Ahead
Beware: Workers Ahead Rather: work is ahead. February is all but past and soon farmers will be coming out of the proverbial woodwork—burning ditches, fertilizing, and spraying, as necessary. But will there be water? The heaviest snowfall month is ahead but the mountains are looking bare from below. Sitting on water rights is of no […]
Caught with our Pants Down
Caught with our Pants Down I speak for myself and Texas here, but both parties were ill prepared for the Artic blast we have just experienced. In my case it was on account of pure slothfulness that had a pipe freeze, but fortunately we caught it before anything burst. Our sympathies go out to other […]
Valuation of Rural Properties
Valuation of Rural Properties First-time rural-property buyers are often unaware of the complexities that determine a property’s value. There are three basic methods. The Broker Opinion. This is an opinion of value under current market conditions developed by the broker using all the tools available, not least being experience in the field. It is not […]
After the Storm
After the Storm Mid January already and while the weather storms have been passing us by and leaving us dry, the political equivalent has dumped on us. Rural activity in the real estate market stalled around the time of the vote counting shenanigans but true to form, people bounce back quickly. Buyers are like bees […]
Planning For The Future
Planning For the Future Some things are inevitable. One is that human population pressure on the planet is inexorable and we are feeling it along the front range. Some authorities are beginning to adjust to the circumstances, but a notable exception is Boulder County where the regulations are constantly being revised without any input from […]
Restaurant Re-invention
Restaurant Re-invention Sadly, the Level Red public health order may have a serious impact on restaurants, especially if it becomes a drawn-out process. What, then, can restaurants do to re-invent themselves? While alcohol sales contribute much to the bottom line, perhaps the focus needs to be placed elsewhere in the short term. How about high-quality […]