Is busting in on my few days at the beach. Sigh. A blogger is never off-line.

Suffice it to say that we will know this week if Wachovia will remain an independent entity. I still believe Robert Steel at the helm buys WB time, but not at $6 a share, not if other financial players show quarters just good enough to allow one of them to swing a buy-out of a big money center bank.

Meanwhile, the FDIC takeover of IndyMac bank and the Fannie/Freddie meltdown have investors doing stupid things. What else is new. But there is no doubt the Age of Denial is over. Value cannot be whipped up out of thin air.

If that scares people, so be it.

Bonus Observation: Wouldn’t it be nice to hear some serious, sober words from the Charlotte Chamber, or Center City Partners right now? Something besides cheerleading, I mean.

Oh, and Mecklenburg County Commission — you sure now is the best time to put $250m. worth of land-grabbing park bonds on the ballot? We are heading straight toward the Age of Tax Hikes even in boom times if you do. Should 10K jobs go poof………