This is monorailmike.com, the personal Web site of Mike Devine since 2001.

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Mar. 15, 2010

In late 2008, I fretted about massive losses in the stock market, including a single-day 8.8% drop in the S&P 500 and the loss of $19 billion in six days. And things just kept getting worse — the S&P 500 continued to hemorrhage value until it hit a sickening 12-year low of 676.53 on Mar. 9, 2009.

I didn’t do anything about it, of course. My “stay the course” philosophy from my days at Vanguard never wavered; after all, I won’t actually need those retirement funds for about 30 years, and the stock market has a way of straightening itself out over the course of decades. But those dark days of late 2008 and early 2009 were still pretty scary, and my investments took a severe (albeit temporary) beating.

But now, I can celebrate the market’s improbable return to form. Exactly one year after its historic low, on Mar. 9, 2010, the S&P closed at 1,140.45 — a truly impressive return of 68.6%. Granted, the market index is nowhere near its all-time high, but I’m still grateful that the market has recovered so much value over the last 12 months.

[ # 568 | Link ]

Mar. 6, 2010

After three successful St. Patrick’s Day parties in 2007, 2008, and 2009, it’s time for a fourth!

This year, I threw the big bash a week earlier than usual to accommodate several friends who had already committed to my friend Carolyn’s bachelorette party. Thanks to my expanding circle of friends from work, the total of 62 guests was my largest-ever attendance by a wide margin. And a few shopping items really came in handy, including nested glass bowls and colorful wine stoppers from Crate & Barrel and a four-foot folding table from Target.

The sheer volume of food and beverages was simply amazing — I won’t need to buy a bottle of wine for several months!

[ # 567 | Link ]

Mar. 3, 2010

Took Joan to see one of my all-time favorite artists, Bob Mould, perform at the wonderful venue World Cafe Live, where we enjoyed some delicious sandwiches and drinks in addition to the show.

Bob took the stage with his signature blue Stratocaster and informed the audience that his set would be entirely electric, since his acoustic guitar had fallen victim to baggage handlers earlier in the week. The unexpected change might have flustered a lesser musician, but Bob actively embraced the different format. He smiled broadly throughout the evening, and mentioned more than once that he should consider playing all-electric shows more often.

Surprises included the scorching Sugar B-side “Needle Hits E” and an impromptu version of the anguished ballad “Thumbtack” in response to a request from the audience. Between songs, Mould candidly discussed the painful side effects of writing his autobiography (which is due out next year) and his recent move from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco. And toward the end of his blistering set, he graciously thanked the Philly crowd for their consistently loyal support at his shows over the years.

[ # 566 | Link ]

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Video clip of the moment

Most infomercials tend to irk me, but having already enjoyed the ad campaign for the ShamWow, I have to admit that I’m mesmerized by the frenzied, Brooklyn-accented showmanship of pitchman Vince Offer — yes, that’s his stage name — and his latest wonder product, the Slap Chop (running time: 3:10).

Previously featured clips:

1. Sesame Street’s Pinball Number Count, brought to you by the number 8 (1:07).

2. Family Guy patriarch Peter Griffin wears a mustache and tries to speak Italian (0:43).

3. The music video for Röyksopp’s “Remind Me,” a song from recent GEICO ads (4:15).

4. The superheroes from Super Friends perform key scenes from Office Space (2:54).

5. John McCain and Barack Obama star in JibJab’s “Time for Some Campaignin’” (2:30).

6. Derrick Williams scores a Penn State touchdown on a 78-yard punt return (1:58).

7. Homer Simpson demonstrates the theory of evolution through the ages (1:29).

8. A gorgeous VW Cabrio ad, featuring Nick Drake’s ballad, “Pink Moon” (1:00).

9. A clever, intricate Honda commercial that required 606 takes to complete (2:01).

10. Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang dance to OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” (4:07).

11. Old-school Sesame Street revisited: a lost boy finds his way home (1:38).

12. More classic Sesame Street: a pair of Muppets imagine shapes (3:22).