1. PC Wiz and Shadow, arriving with the refreshments, found Deliberator's driveway straddled by two vans. The seventh meeting of HVBS took place on December 16, 2009 at Deliberator's home, HVBS Meeting Central. Entering the premises, we greeted Deliberator and Geronimo, who had arrived earlier. Deliberator was having his furnace humidifier replaced by a heating contractor. Later Scott, the contractor, met us and brought Deliberator up-to-date on what he had done and instructions on the up-graded installation. Shadow asked him what territory he covers and we found they did commercial work from Pennsylvania to Maine. We also learned that Scott's daughter works for Mark at the Dunkin' Donuts on Route 7. She is, co-incidentally, attending SCCC in a hotel management course - the same as Ryan!
2. Shadow noted an error in the Agenda - PC Wiz had called the Center Stage Deli the "Stage Door Deli". With the sandwiches distributed, Geronimo's beer opened and the wine being "aired", Deliberator remembered to turn on the coffee maker. HVBS members toasted to the occasion and PC Wiz noted the agenda had an attached copy of the New York Post columnist on the most recent NY Giants debacle. Behind 14-0 after just 5 minutes into the game, the Giants fought back to a 31-30 lead, only to finally lose 45-38 . Shadow and Geronimo both remarked on the weakness of the secondary. Geronimo stated they were "bad" and turned the game off after the half. Shadow predicted an 8-8 season while Deliberator, not remembering his original prediction (9-7, Geronimo 10-6, Shadow 11-5) now thinks 7-9 probable. PC Wiz asked if injuries were a factor and Shadow said yes, the Giants were missing players who could have made a difference. Geronimo, considering the two undefeated teams, New Orleans and Indianapolis, said the match would make a special Super Bowl.
3. Of course the issue dominating the sports news came up, Tiger Woods accident and the women in his private life. Geronimo stated that the number was now up to 15; he and Shadow considered Tiger's career "done". PC Wiz noted that the golfing audience had tripled because of Tiger (Eldrick Tont) Woods. Shadow, not being a golfer, said he enjoyed watching Woods get out of trouble on the links by making sensational shots. Members concurred that his wife Elin probably beat him with a "nine-iron". Geronimo then mentioned that drugs, Ambien and performance enhancing, were now being inferred. His story is only getting worse as the facts come out.
4. With three HVBS members having attended RPI, Shadow brought up the issue of President Shirley Jackson's new house. She is the highest paid college president in the U.S.; the present residence will be used for housing VIP visitors. Deliberator referred to a Gazette article, which members had not seen, concerning the net worth of NY politicians. Scott Murphy was the richest at a "few million", Kirsten Gillibrand at over a million, "Chuck" Schumer less than $500,000 and, bringing up the rear, Congressman Paul Tonko with a negative net worth. This brought a few chuckles. Geronimo complained of supporting the MTA, with his taxes going to the Metro North trains for commuters to New York City. Evidently they collect one fare for all stops up to Poughkeepsie. Deliberator, quipping that Poughkeepsie is an "elite area", mentioned that the Washington D.C. subway system uses a "zone" pricing system. Deliberator's remark that this is the last year for our mechanical voting machines prompted Geronimo to comment that there was nothing wrong with them and Shadow reporting the new electronic machine's lack of privacy and various remarks about "floating chads", etc.
5. At this point Ryan appeared, home from SCCC. PC Wiz, noting his white coat with a double row of buttons, asked if it was a chef's coat. Depending on the varied duties of the course he has to wear various clothes. Preparing a menu he was wearing a chef's coat, on certain days he has to wear a tuxedo variant if he has to perform maitre-de services or, to suit the occasion, a business suit. Deliberator brought out a Gazette article by their bowling analyst, Bob Weiner. It was titled "Ryan a Real Straight Shooter" and was very laudatory - listing his outstanding 242 average and the number of perfect 300 games. Shadow remarked he would have been pleased to have Ryan's average for one game! Shadow asked Geronimo if there was anything new concerning Dan's job search. He said "no" but there had been a phone interview and two e-mail addresses.
6. The discussion turned to "carbon footprints" with the Copenhagen conference in the news. Geronimo said he had seen a huge wind-farm in California and found it an "eyesore", very ugly in the beautiful countryside. Deliberator did not agree and PC Wiz commented that, while he thought them useful, they could not solve our power problems which require large power plants for a growing population. Shadow thought nuclear power was the answer to using less coal and oil. PC Wiz mentioned a news item that GE is going to produce a high-efficiency clothes washer in Louisville KY, increasing employment by 480. The new machine uses approximately 1/2 the power of older washers. Shadow said they have copied his Fisher & Paykel "Ecosmart" washer which has these features (and that the Australian company uses a GE dryer in their line).
7. Deliberator asked if Geronimo's new computer is "cooking". He reported it is very fast and noted that he thinks a lot of the speed is the result of using the anti-virus, anti-spyware Norton Suite that came with the computer. He found that the AVG anti-virus and ZoneAlarm fire wall were definitely slowing down his old Dell. PC Wiz confirmed that he also found the AVG a "resource hog". Geronimo also likes the lighted keyboard and the feature that blanks the screen in about 45 minutes and goes to "sleep" (with the hard drive off) after 1- 1 1/2 hours. It resumes quickly and does not have the be turned off.
8. PC Wiz placed his "exhibit A" on the table, an old, rusty bit used to drive screws with an electric drill. Piercing his front tire, it resulted in his first flat in many a year. Borst Tire repaired the tire with an inside patch (and re-balancing) for $25. Deliberator then related his recent experience with a tire leaking air. The techs finding nothing wrong with the tire or rim, Deliberator solved the problem by buying two new tires. Geronimo mentioned a news item that Fiat had bought Chrysler, which prompted Shadow to remark that he will not buy or "even take free" a Chrysler product in the future. He admires Ford for their independent attitude in not requiring a government "bail-out". Asked how his work is doing, Shadow replied "not bad" but slow right now. PC Wiz remarked that the Crown Point bridge on Lake Champlain is going to be dynamited to bring it down. Shadow stated that it had failed because of not being maintained. The erosion of concrete of one of the piers went from 4" to 18" in the span of one inspection to the next.
9. With coffee served and desserts passed out (no takers on the carrot cake), the tab was calculated. Age evidently creeping in, PC Wiz divided by 3. Shadow caught the error and the correct amount was assessed. PC Wiz and Deliberator raised the issue of Geronimo having such a long journey that they proposed an allowance for, at least, the Thruway tolls. Geronimo refused to consider the proposal. PC Wiz having been cleaned out of $5 bills for Shadow and Geronimo, Deliberator was reduced to dollar bills and change. Geronimo helpfully made sure quite a few pennies were included. For our next meeting our HVBS Official Scheduler Deliberator suggested the second week of February - Wednesday February 10, 2010, weather permitting. It will, of course, celebrate PC Wiz's 80^th birthday. The meeting was adjourned.

HVBS Official Scribe Laureate PC Wiz