Socialism at it's finest

The house approved a $3,500 credit to new car buyers if new car gets at least 4 mpg more than your old one. But, Honda released a 51 mpg civic in 1986!?!? This isn't about gas, this is about keeping you spending and supporting government motors. SPEND SPEND SPEND!

‘Cash for Clunkers’ Car-Sale Plan Approved by House

Yelling at the TV

I know my girlfriend is tired of me yelling at the TV, so I'm writing. The idea of the U.S. becoming part owner of two auto companies is a brave new idea with which I am not comfortable. This comes in response to the news that is being fed to me. Not fed to me because of an agenda, but ignorance. Ignorance of specifics, history, logic? All three? I'm not sure.

Here is a quick example though. When the economy was "booming" and gas prices rose, it was viewed and reported as a detriment, a hindrance. Now that the economy has slowed, rising gas prices are reported as a sign of improvement (read: increasing demand). How could paying MORE for energy, at a time of historic unemployment, be a good thing?

We've also been told through the media that lending to GM and Chrysler is to help people keep jobs, save an industry, and more. Well, what if we invented a button tomorrow that could produce anything, just like a magic lamp? Would we then still save the auto companies to preserve jobs? Are we working to work, or working to improve our lives? If the government would have us simply work to work while they own auto companies, then I want no part of it.

In regards to GM, consider this, our country is investing $50B of our money into an auto company that can currently be BOUGHT for $800M. Now if you're bad with zeros, that's 6,250% more. Your share? Every man, woman and child? $164. How long will it take you to bring home $164?...and your children? Congratulations, you're an owner!

But, think about our magic lamp example. If there is a company in India who can build a car and sell it for $2K (the cost the added to U.S. cars by auto worker pensions), why would we make cars? Get it? We have magic lamps all around the world, why not use them? Their productivity can be our productivity. Especially if we are owners, if we invest in them, like China is doing with us and to us. If the Indians can build a decent car for $10K, what could we as a country do with the $20K we're no longer blowing on each car? Hmmmm.

The recent talk of economic improvements; "green shoots," "housing-bottoms," and so forth are also merely contrived foregone conclusions.

As I write this, I'm forwarded an email from by girlfriend from her employer's 401K manager..."Economy showing significant signs of Recovery" Shills. This one comes from Merrill Lynch. You remember Merrill, they went bankrupt in 2008 and were purchased by BoA for pennies on the dollar. You remember BoA, they were singled out last week by the fed for still needing $34B. Again, shills. Thankfully, we've been moving her money into foreign funds, and emerging markets.

On the other hand, talk of present day realities can lead to one being labeled as a doomsayer. Nevertheless. I believe our country's future obligations are bleak. Not our future, but our future obligations. Especially so, if we continue on this road of government spending and involvement.

We've borrowed from ourselves, we've borrowed internationally, and we've mortgaged a great deal of our assets and natural resources. Nearly every previous government forecast on social security, future spending, etc. took into account a growing economy. Unfortunately, now, it's not. Furthermore, it is very difficult to grow an economy at the same pace with which it shrinks. Especially with silly moves like GM, Chrysler, and Bear Stearns that preserve the broken status quo.

Hopefully the U.S. will inovate as we have in the past to right our current situation. Regardless, our country will need to find a way to continue servicing our debt, growing, and meeting her social entitlements. My guess is that we will print our way out. I believe the U.S. will print money like you've never imagined. In the future I hope to examine reasons to justify my case, arguments against it, updates in data, and possible ramifications of our policies.

In case you're wondering, the photo is one billion in hundreds. Imagine if they delivered 50 truckloads of hundreds to GM! I bet you'd be waiting at the gates too.

"It's Crazy Dog"

In my opinion, every day that I wake up breathing is a good day...

With that being said, I wake up nearly every morning (breathing) and say to myself, WHAT THE FUCK? The problem is; I'm retardedly confused by the issues that are put before me. It would be too easy for me to rant about the MSM (Main Stream Media), but I'm talking Ads, Facebook, pop culture. It's like watching Idiocracy. WHAT THE FUCK?

I watch the same Brian Williams-Katie-Couric bullshit as everyone else to know what it feels to be "infotained" and have my heart warmed with a "Eye on America" moment. I watch Jon Stewart to see everyone get satirically pelted equally. I watch the NFL, and like stories about pirates as much as the next guy, but WTF?

We as a culture, must have ADD and poor math skills or something. Suddenly conversations are 140 characters chunks floating down my screen in real time. The shorter the dismal U.S. has-been news stories, the more time to focus on "The Tot Mom Killer." We can get on with forgetting more quickly, we can forget about yesterdays news, a terrorist, a war, an economy, our future. The quicker we can forget.

The other day, a buddy said "I hope people start waking up." You can't imagine the contrast in our ideological views, but looking past those views, we often share the same feelings underneath. However, self-serving echo chambers on every side of an issue seem to work together from the top to divide and conquer. My friend mentioned the "tea parties" taking place around the country. This is primarily seen as a conservative movement, but I felt for the cause. I'm pissed about how my tax dollars are being spent. Spent under Bush, and Obama. Suddenly conservatives are pissed though? Where were the conservatives over the last eight years? Nevertheless, now that everyone is on the same page, maybe get something done?

What did we forget?

We forgot how much we should pay for a home compared to what we earn. We forgot about the conflict of interest in home appraisers being hired by bank salesmen. We forgot to call B.S. We forgot how much debt we - as a country - should take on, compared to what we take in (hint 1:1 isn't good). We forgot the cost of our entitlement obligations compared to what we take in (hint 5:1 is scary). If we operated the U.S. like a company...with a decent margin...It would take about 50 years to pay that off with no interest, and no new debts. Nah, forget that.

So look, I'm going to lay this out... You can call B.S. if you like and say I'm being extreme (people did a year or so ago), but hey.

The U.S. owes a lot of money. Like...get your legs broken kind of money. The Chinese are even slowing their lending to us. They're worried me might not be able to pay up. The issue is, they're probably right. If they bail now, they lose a lot. If they bail later, they might lose more than what they've put down so far. So we have two choices. As a country, we'll either collectively decide to stiff them, or print what we need to pay them and everything else we owe. Again, WE OWE 5 TIMES OUR YEARLY REVENUE. So far, we've just printed it as we need it, so i don't see why we wouldn't stay the course. But, you see, China and India, don't need us. China can make all that cool crap that we buy, remember? So...If they stop lending us money to piss away, and start spending it within China...think what might be possible. What the fuck does the U.S. have to offer at this point? Our sterling beacons of hope - failed financial service departments, failed automakers, and over-priced real estate? Yeah. So, unless something like technology can pull us out of the hole, we'll spend our way out, and into the world's working poor. Think about it... Right now, you're being lied to about everything is getting better. You think "the worst crisis since..." is going to be over in a few months? How will record breaking unemployment affect foreclosures and failing retailers? If you said positively, you're an idiot. Perhaps someone will lull the world and the U.S. into thinking it's OK again. Just shout from behind the curtain to go away... I doubt it. The cracks are starting to show, now wait till the ice freezes. Unemployment is about to start hitting prime mortgages, credit cards, retailers. More banks will fail, more retailers will fail. Our 70% service economy will spiral in on itself as our spending slows.

My tip to you? Your kids are cute, but quit taking pictures of them and think about their future. Tell me, and others what you're doing to preserve it. No, really? What have you done today to make their lives better tomorrow? Soccer practice doesn't count, but that's still your obligation too. You might not believe it now, but it's a brave new world. Did you know China graduates more HONORS ENGINEERS that we do engineers period. Think about how that affects little Johnny! Hell, the stock market may even go up because a rising tide raises all ships. However, it'll only be an illusion caused by inflation. If you leave your 401Ks and little Johnny's 529s in American companies, and American cash while you jerk off to American Idol, you're fucked! Stop taking quizzes and adding bullshit apps that no one is reading. Let's talk about something than one of the pre-defined quiz answers you were segregated into, or your five top whatever-the-fucks, and post some fucking news, some real links....and tell me why you're right when you do damn it.

Here, I'll get you started. Mint.com - This site is awesome, it automatically tells you exactly how you piss away (or save), your money. Next, google this and get some free cash when you open your new Roth IRA, Johnny's 529, or savings, account. Lastly, invest in something like this so you don't end up poor.

Don't say I didn't tell you, but remember me when I need to borrow some. :)
Josh

If the world's not ending...

Symbols to watch:
TRA - Low historical P/E, Rising despite indices
MON - Reasonable P/E, Rising despite indices
USO / USL - Falling dollar play? Watch global demand.
NE / DO - Probably correlated to oil. Low historical P/E. Holding despite indices. NE handles cash better.
SLB - Low historical P/E. Could be a good value if they keep up the profit margin.
BHP - Will be dependent on the world economy. Rising despite indices.
MXI - Will be dependent on the world economy. Holding despite indices.

Too Busy for Insight?

It seems that way. I keep thinking I'd like to sit down and write something poignant. For now, the insight must flow the other way. Into me.

Couple in the Rain, Pro Athletes, and Integration by Parts

Today started off a little odd as I rode to work with Chris. As we were driving on the overpass over the train tracks, we noticed a couple walking in the rain. They were carrying a decent amount of stuff, and one of them was pulling a rolling suitcase. Chris whipped a U-Turn to see if they needed a ride to the train station. They were headed north, trying to get the woman on a plane out of LA in 3 hours. Apparently they had missed the commuter bus to catch...something. Regardless, they were headed back to their hotel to make some calls. We offered them a ride. On the quick trip, the man was able to get a shuttle service on the phone. It seems the couple could also still catch a shuttle in Oceanside. What they hell, it's only a few miles out of the way.

As Chris and I soon learned, the young couple were both in the military. He, stationed nearby at Camp Pendleton, and her, stationed in North Carolina. He originally from Georgia. She hailed from Mississippi. At was clear now what the young woman was carrying. A bouquet of flowers with a bear, some snacks for the plane and her suitcase. She came to visit over Valentine's day, and now needed to get home.

We dropped them off under an awning by a shuttle van. The guy asked how he could get in touch with us, to say thanks. Chris fished for a card, but came up empty and said "A handshake will have to do." We wished them safe travels and drove away.

------------

I've had some cool opportunities because of work lately. I wanted to share a couple of them, but don't like to name drop. A friend from work had a birthday party at her house a few weeks back. Her roommate who owns the house, is a female Olympic medalist and an Ironman World Champion. Then again, after a round of playing "rock band" guitar with her on karaoke, you forget about the resume.

Lately some of my work projects have been going to cool places too. We sent out some tights for the Garmin Chipotle team. We had to rush an order of cold weather gear for a cycling team competing in the Tour of California. I worked on uniform for another Olympic cycling and world cycling champion.

------------

Lastly, math is eating my brain. Maybe in a good way, but it's too early to tell. Perhaps while one thing is integrated, another is disintegrated. Oh well, two more years.

Renovation, Taxation and Resusitation

With only about five minutes to write before class, we'll see how this goes. Again, things are as busy as always. Class has just started (first day back), Jessica and I were able to get through most of the office renovation, make some progress on our taxes, and begin to revive a dead business.

Now that our roommate has left, we began working on the office on Saturday with a trip to Lowe's. We were both a little bummed because the countertop color we wanted wasn't in stock, though the website said it was. However, when we were rang up incorrectly for the pieces we bought, things seemed to make sense. Nevertheless, we bought 20' of countertop to line two of the walls in the office. By Sunday it was all installed, with only some painting left to be done.

Since we both got our W2s, we decided to also tackle our taxes. It turns out my ideology of making little money this year payed off. Though she paid more taxes than me and made a little more than I, she ended up owing while I have a net return. However, being a slacker for a few hundred bucks was not my true intention. Because my income is lower, it should put me in a better position to apply for aid to UCSD. *bling*

Lastly, I've revived FourthAxis with a new name ReefOutdoor. The site is looking mangy right now, but a link can only help my google rankings. Right?

Almost the weekend

After a crazy week, it's almost time to unwind. Yesterday I rode to San Marcos to apply for a sellers permit, then by work to pick up my check. Surprisingly, I received my permit confirmation via email today. I've also signed up for a software account to manage my retail sales. So...I guess the retail site will be up very soon. We're already doing a number of closeout sales for a partner company so that's cool. Even if it were $10K a month, I'd still wouldn't be content so... Here we go.