Abdominal surgery (cholecystectomy) is no fun, but at least it’s six days behind me now. Things are getting much better each day. Thanks for your thoughts.
A few days into my hospital stay, I noticed that one blogger was particularly upset that anyone, especially Glenn Reynolds, could possibly be thinking that maybe the federal budget is headed for balance, just maybe.
[Revised, 1/25/07:]
Keep an eye on my monthly feature, usually titled "Deficit Watch." I publish it within a day after the Treasury publishes its monthly statement. I'll be analyzing the trends in more detail, and adding some sensitivity analyses.
Traditional open surgery or laproscopic? I read that the former is quite not the fun at all. In any case, glad to see you on line again.
Instaoptimist?
Posted by: Bob | 23 January 2007 at 16:49
I think I want in on the action!
Very glad tidings that your recovery is going well.
-Gene
Posted by: hoffmang | 23 January 2007 at 23:16
Glad to see your everything went well. Hope you're 100% soon!
On the subject of the balanced budget...
CBO says that the deficit will be $172 billion this year and will turn into a $170 billion surplus in 2012. So at worst, the 2008 prediction isn't very far off.
http://tinyurl.com/yudo39
Its also worth noting that Clinton predicted the deficit to remain relatively stable in 1996 at $200 billion for the next 5 years. This was obviously wrong and it fell drastically that year and became a surplus in 1997. The opposite happened in 2000 when huge surpluses were predicted and never came as a result of the recession and higher spending.
http://tinyurl.com/3a3dtm
Regardless, the short term numbers are great, what we need to worry about is the long term.
Posted by: Syphax | 24 January 2007 at 14:04
Hmmm... "A few days into my hospital stay" would seem to indicate that you didn't have the laproscopic procedure (unless there were complications of some sort). I had the lap and was out the next morning, though things were pretty uncomfortable at home there for a few days. Anyway, it's great to see you back, hope you're back to 100% in no time AND I have to give you credit for attempting a prolonged exchange with you-know-who. Somehow I think I already have a sense of whose thoroughly well-reasoned logic will hold sway over whose off-hand, empty sarcasm. :-)
Posted by: goy | 24 January 2007 at 14:48
It was exploratory surgery; the gall bladder problem wasn't identified until they opened me up. Just in time, too.
Thanks for your thoughts, folks.
Posted by: Steve | 25 January 2007 at 01:19