Obama's promises . . .

Is someone keeping track of the Presidential campaign promises? While I didn't watch all of last nights speech in Denver, I did hear many promises of what Mr. Obama is going to do for the American taxpayer and citizen (not always the same). But if he wins, who will be holding his feet to the fire if he doesn't fulfill these promises . . . . . blaming congress won't be an excuse in my book.

Housing market at a bottom ????

well, probably not but let's look back a few years and see what what was being said in December 2006 -

"The worst of the U.S. housing slump is over, according to the National Association of Realtors . ."

This group is arguably the most optimistic bunch of bozos. I heard some guy say today on CNBC (during the 60 seconds I watched it) about Las Vegas . . . . "The market is great!" oh yeah, he did follow that with "unless you're a seller". Brilliant.

Paul Anka rants

Listening to NPR, Fresh Air's Terry Gross' interview with Paul Anka I learned about this recording of Paul Anka really giving it to his band . . . click here to listen to it

It's called The Guys Get Shirts . . .

Understanding Graduates

The graduate with a science degree asks,' Why does it work?'
The graduate with an engineering degree asks, 'How does it work?'
The graduate with an accounting degree asks, 'How much will it cost?'
The graduate with an arts degree asks, 'Do you want fries with that?'

Happy Birthday to Vic Harber

I am reminded that my brother in law, Victor Harber is also celebrating his birthday today.

Happy Birthday to my brother Andy

Andy, now 62, on the left with me while we were enjoying a cerveza in Mazatlan. He's a great guy, good father and loving husband to his wife Helene.

Appraisal Fraud

It's not new. No it's been happening ever since we bought our first house in 1976 and probably for as long as appraisals have been required for qualifying for a real estate loan (refinance or new). More and more, the current housing slump is being laid at the door of appraisal fraud. Amazing that anyone would believe that there wasn't something amiss when the appraiser is being paid by the lender.

I found this article from CNN Money from 2005 where people were testifying in congress about fraud but guess what? No one did anything about it. Here's the last line of the article -

"The cumulative effect of appraisal fraud is you may have investors holding mortgage debt that's backed by real estate worth less than they think it is," said Martin. "It's a train wreck waiting to happen."

No one did anything. read more here

How people got into financial trouble

most people believe they must do something to have something to be something

The average person thinks you win the wealth game by acquiring a lot of things. If you have a bigger house and a more expensive car then you are considered to be wealthy. What happens is, the average person attempts to acquire "more and better" by getting deeper and deeper into debt. This is exactly the opposite of what I mean by wealth, but people are psychologically driven to do it.

Real Inflation

Ever wonder what the actual CPI is? Here's a chart that show what todays CPI would be using the same basket of goods and services of 1990. Wow, it's 8% more than the "official" rate the government tells us today. Learn more at Shadowstats.com

Troube right here in ________ City

In New York State, the 16 largest banks sent taxes totaling $5 million in the most recent reporting period; that compares with $173 million from the same period a year ago.

Taxes paid are down an astonishing 97%!

And this is going on throughout the United States . . . . ouch!

"It will be a number of years before Wall Street starts paying taxes again,'' the mayor said at a press conference yesterday in Manhattan. "They will carry forward all of those losses.''

The Way of the World

From Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author Ron Suskind comes a startling look at how America lost its way and at the nation’s struggle, day by day, to reclaim the moral authority upon which its survival depends. From the White House to Downing Street, from the fault-line countries of South Asia to the sands of Guantánamo, Suskind offers an astonishing story that connects world leaders to the forces waging today’s shadow wars and to the next generation of global citizens. Tracking down truth and hope within the Beltway and far beyond it, Suskind delivers historic disclosures with this emotionally stirring and strikingly original portrait of the post-9/11 world. In a sweeping, propulsive, and multilayered narrative, The Way of the World investigates how America relinquished the moral leadership it now desperately needs to fight the real threat of our era: a nuclear weapon in the hands of terrorists. Truth, justice, and accountability become more than mere words in this story. Suskind shows where the most neglected dangers lie in the story of "The Armageddon Test" —a desperate gamble to send undercover teams into the world’s nuclear black market to frustrate the efforts of terrorists trying to procure weapons-grade uranium. In the end, he finally reveals for the first time the explosive falsehood underlying the Iraq War and the entire Bush presidency. While the public and political realms struggle, The Way of the World simultaneously follows an ensemble of characters in America and abroad who are turning fear and frustration into a desperate—and often daring—brand of human salvation.

Sidney Pollock's favorite line

Sidney Pollock used this line in 3 different films :

You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth.

quotes from Jamie Dimon, CEO JP Morgan

History doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes.

Buying a house and buying a house on fire are two different things (referring to Bear Stearns).

Problems don't age well.

Gaining a little control

"Wear your best for your execution and stand dignified. Your last recourse against randomness is how you act — if you can’t control outcomes, you can control the elegance of your behavior. You will always have the last word."

Nassim Taleb

Golden Retrievers in the Park

There were over 100 Goldens in the park click here

This is a picture of us a few years ago with Brutus, one of two goldens we had for 14 years. The other was Brittany.

the World Food Crisis

the entire system of Western food production is in need of radical change according to the following books :
Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System - Raj Patel
Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood - Taras Gresco
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto - Michael Pollan
The End of Food - Thomas Pawlick
Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser

Jack Elam

He once described the career of a character actor. It went like this: "Who's Jack Elam? Get me Jack Elam. Get me a Jack Elam type. Get me a young Jack Elam. Who's Jack Elam?"

Blowininthewind.org

On a hillside between Cayucos and Cambria heading north to Big Sur you will find a memorial to the 4000 soldiers killed in Iraq . . . learn more click here