The glory of young men is their strength...

but the splendor of the old is wisdom and experience.

I am far from old but I think I am beginning to understand Shaw's saying "youth is wasted on the young".

Redistribute this!!!

In the words of Eva Gabor, "I just adore a penthouse view..."

Put that in your stimulus package!

Stand in the Gap...

I am trying to wrap my mind around the budget deficits that many states are reporting. New York, for instance, has projected a $16 billion gap. How can you be 16 billion short?

I looked for a man to stand in the gap but I found none...

Not the Chezman. Ready the pitchforks!

Rumblings...

One day I want to buy a Porsche. I don't think I ever will but maybe. Right now, I have to put that dream on hold, cause we are having a baby. We just finished registering this weekend. What did people do before Babies 'R Us? So much stuff...do we really need it all? I do see some value in the diaper genie. :)

I felt the first "kick" the other night. No, it wasn't from Laura...the little one kicked my hand and sent a jolt through my whole body. Unbelievable.

Over the past month I have been eating one grapefruit a day. I never ate them in the past but now prefer grapefruit to oranges. I would almost say I am addicted.

I am definitely addicted to Cholula hot sauce. We are hooked up to IV's in the Chez house. Thankfully IHOP has it cause with Laura's pregnancy cravings taking me there every weekend, my eggs over easy never tasted so good.

Experienced the “Dairy Barn” the other night. Every time Laura and I drive by one we point at it and laugh. What is it and who goes there? We drove right up, got our water and ice cream, and drove out. You can even get beer!

Gordon Brown got DVD's.

Doesn't it make sense that the quickest way to get money into people's hands is to cut their payroll taxes? Tax credits are like coupons to me. I hate it when I have to buy two to get one free, or buy a pack of hot dogs to get 20 cents off ketchup. Cutting rebate checks is ridiculous. Why mail out all those checks other than political PR?

When AIG executives get retention bonuses they build summer homes or renovate their townhouse. That gives me and many other people jobs.

Coca-cola…it's not really necessary. How much money is spent on it every year? What if we just stopped drinking it? What would happen? How much money would people save? How many people would lose a job? How much would shareholders lose? It is an interesting question to think about.

Can't wait for warmer weather. I need some sun on the receding hairline.

Gone...

So I was looking at various investments we have made over the years and it made me think of this proverb:

"Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."

Or just give it to this guy:

AI...

Unfortunately I have to watch American Idol because Laura needs to talk about it for her radio show. Sometimes I can get into it but usually I leave the room when the songs are bad. Here is my prediction of the order the contestants will be booted:

1. Kris

2. Megan

3. Adam

4. Jasmine

5. Michael

6. Alexis

7. Anoop

8. Allison

9. Danny

10. Scott

11. Matt

12. Jorge

And the winner will be Lil.

My formula for picking the winner is talent+looks+likeability+politics.

Chill vs. Crisp...

Someone said to me the other day that this is the winter that never ends. I am getting accustomed to bracing myself for the cold each morning when I walk out the door. The travel mug I use can't even keep my coffee warm. I like the snow but typically do not get to enjoy it. It becomes more of a hassle and mess in the big city.

What I am looking forward to is the change of the season especially when the warmer temperatures try to break through the cold. I love a chilly spring morning when the smell of new grass and flowers is in the air. There is something refreshing in that chill against my skin.

It is similar to the change from summer to autumn but when the warm temperatures become cold I like to say the air is crisp. I'm not sure which one is my favorite, the chill or the crisp. There is definitely more excitement coming out of winter, anticipating spring and summer.

This weekend we turn the clocks ahead. I noticed it is no longer dark when I leave work. Now it will be lighter later. Longer days...another thing to look forward to.

The Mob is Fickle...

So I watched Gladiator the other night cause I wanted to see what thoughts and emotions it would provoke five years later. Definitely a great movie and Russell Crowe is awesome. I love when he tells Commodus that the time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end.

That line went through my head as I saw all the politicians in the Congress on tv the other night.

When will the mob stand up? Or will we continue to suckle?

You gotta laugh at this...

See the video at iowntheworld.com/blog/

Do Nothing Congress...

We wish...

Yikes!!!

Promises, promises...

How???

Stimuli...

All-star husband...

Passed up the Clint Eastwood movie on Saturday to see "He's Just Not That Into You". Despite numb butt cheeks and being bored at times, it wasn't that bad. The character's personalities and their relationships provided some good conversation for Laura and me. Ben Affleck's character was my favorite because he seemed genuine even though unrealistic.

And I liked how the movie was set in Baltimore, MD.

Unfortunately that is my review.

Hopefully it will be a Gran Torino weekend.

Ayeeeee...

Okay, so it's Ponzi...

Who should decide???

Laura and I had an interesting conversation the other night that took shape from my recent encounters (more like avoidances) of the Children International workers on the sidewalks of Manhattan. I admire their dedication and persistence, enduring the cold weather, wind and snow flurries, trying to persuade people to stop and listen to their cause. Children International is a humanitarian organization similar to World Vision or Save the Children. I did some research to see if they were legitimate and they appear to be.

One of my findings in this search is that their CEO’s salary is over 300k. My immediate reaction was negative. This seemed quite generous to say the least. But the CEO salaries of the other similar charitable organizations (World Vision, etc) were comparable if not more. And I do not want to begrudge anyone’s salary capabilities. I don’t know if that is any of my business.

Neither Laura nor I know the duties and responsibilities of a CEO. Obviously it must be worth 300k or someone would offer to do it for less, right? We started thinking of some local charities and people we know who run them. What do they get paid? What is the job worth?

We didn’t really know how to answer. 50k? 60k or 70k? Long Island, NY is not a cheap place to live. Fifty grand goes pretty quick here.

This conversation is one I have been having with myself since Joe the Plumber brought the phrase “spread the wealth around” out of now President Obama. Is redistribution right? It already takes place in various ways so I guess the question is do we need more of it? If so who decides how much, who the beneficiaries are, and who pays? Another option I have read about is a maximum wage. Again, who will determine this?

Do we really want the government doing it? Elected and appointed officials who fail to report income and pay taxes? I do not think so.

I propose voluntary redistribution. It really is “better to give than to receive”. If enough people take initiative to help those in need, it will become contagious. This cannot be regulated by government, only inspired and made easier by easing the oppressive tax burden. Most of the men and women we elect are multi-millionaires (or their spouses are). They can set the example.

One thing I hope comes out of the Obama presidency is that people will really organize in community against the injustices in our society and a great place to start is with the local, state and federal governments. Oooo…was that a tingle up my leg or I am just Chris Matthews?

When is $1000 not $1000???

When you win it on the radio and the check only says $660.00 because of taxes...buzzkill!!!

In other news, I understand that the passengers who went down in the Hudson River on the US Airways flight were awarded $5000 for their ordeal.  Is one required to pay taxes on money received for pain and suffering?  

Look that up in your 1040 booklet!   :)

 

2008 Books...

I never was much of a reader, but for some reason after graduating college I started liking books.  At the beginning of 2008 I made a goal to read 4 books a month.  It was an ambitious goal but with a 70 minute train ride to work and another 70 minute train ride back home I thought I would challenge myself.  I didn't make it but I did manage to read 26 books.  Here is the list by subject:

Business 

The Four-Hour Work Week by  Timothy Ferriss

Saving the World at Work by Tim Sanders

Busted Budgets and Broken Buildings by Barry LePatners

Refabricating Architecture by Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake

Building Green by  Clarke Snell and Tim Callahan

Financial

Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received by Donald Trump

Building Wealth One House at a Time by John W. Shaub

Economic Facts and Fallacies by  Thomas Sowelll

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth by Ric Edelman

Applied Economics by  Thomas Sowell

Autobiography

Miles Gone By by William F. Buckley, Jr.

Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza

My Grandfather’s Son by Clarence Thomas

Religious

A Theology of the Built Environment by T.J. Gorringe

The Divine Omission by Dallas Willard

The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian Mclaren

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright

Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias

Everything Must Change by Brian Mclaren

Fiction

The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Politics

The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression by Amity Shleas

The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality by Jerome R. Corsi

Miscellaneous

A Field Guide to Buying Organic by Luddene Perry and Dan Schultz

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Each book I read was very enjoyable and worth the time (except Refabricating Architecture).  I did attempt to read Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility but just couldn't handle the personalities of the two sisters so I shelved it.  Last weekend Laura made me watch the movie and that was a waste of 2 hours and 16 minutes.  

I did not make any reading goals for 2009 but just ordered 5 or 6 that I want to read. Hopefully I can incorporate more fiction and politics(that is not meant to be a joke). One goal I have is to stop surfing the internet articles and blogs that react to the politics and events of the day.  I have stopped watching the political shows on the 24 hour news networks only to replace that time with the internet version.  This should free up more time to read.

If I had to pick a favorite it would be My Grandfather's Son by Clarence Thomas.  Very inspirational.  One book I would recommend especially with the "economic crisis" is Amity Shleas The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression.  

Great quote...

Thomas Sowell's latest column says this,

A reader suggests that members of Congress should wear uniforms, like NASCAR drivers, so that we will know who their corporate sponsors are. Many of those in Congress should also wear logos representing the teachers' unions, environmentalist extremists and other special interests.

Brilliant.

My mouth's bleedin' Burt!!!

One of my favorite holiday experiences is getting tears in my eyes at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life" when Harry Bailey toasts, "To my big brother George, the richest man in town."

I broke-a the juke-a box too!!!

Happy Holidays

Economic Downturn...

This summer I read a book about the Great Depression called The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes.  In it she says that the depression wasn't that bad if you had a job.  Unemployment numbers during the 1930's reached as high as 23% - today I think they are 6-7%.

Companies are laying people off and trying to make up for lost revenue. I think the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) is starting to sell booze on the trains to bridge their budget gap.  Yesterday there was a beer cart on the train in the vestibule!  How's that for being creative?  Most people I talk with say that their business is "slowing" down; I would say the same about my job.  We do not seem to be as busy.  Which is actually a little bit of a relief because an 8 hour day is much more feasible than six months ago.  

Today I read that California, the world's eighth largest economy, may be out of money in March.  How can this be possible?  Where does all the money go in that state?  I guess The Govenator can always put a windfall profit tax on Hollywood. Do Brad & Ang and TomKat really need all those millions?  Spread the wealth around a little in Cali.  ;)

I really do not know a whole lot about economics because in high school all we did in economics class was play the stock market with fake money.  (Not to go off on a tangent or risk offending people but I really think the public school system will be obsolete in my lifetime.)  My pseudo economics teachers are Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell.  Check out there columns if you have time.

Some do not believe the market can correct itself.  I am seeing an example of supply and demand at work.  A few months ago you couldn't find a contractor and if you did his price was extremely high.  Today you can easily find one and their prices are much lower.  Score one for the free market.

I'm not sure what I can do to help the situation.  This is what I will reflect on this weekend. 

Twilight - When you can live forever what do you live for?

Laura wanted to go see the movie Twilight because she heard a lot of buzz and hype - long lines, sold out shows, etc.  Neither one of us knew anything about it or seen the trailer.  I thought it was going to be about aliens for no other reason than the title is Twilight and aliens generally come out at night.

That was my only presupposition going in (however, I was a little miffed paying $21.50 for two tickets and 10 bucks for popcorn - in the words of my grandfather, "I'm not cheap but I know when I'm being ripped off"). Otherwise my mind was pretty open which can be a rare experience.

I am still reflecting on the movie.  It wasn't really about sitting there and being entertained.  I felt like there was a message - though I'm unable to articulate it at this time.

For what it is worth I recommend dropping the $10.75 on a ticket.