23 June 2011

We're Not Greece; We're Not Portugal!


Presented without comment.  (But a background for those that don't follow, Greece is in an economic meltdown, Portugal is not that far behind them, and Ireland is in very similar position). 

07 June 2011

Busy Week

It's a busy week this week (at least for the first three days).  I have a big push before being off, and then I'll get you some posts worth reading. 

Until then...Drudge yourself on over to places like this, this, or this

03 June 2011

A Small Business Owner's Outlook On the Econ

A small business owner whom considered himself the eternal optimist, discusses his outlook upon the US economy.  Just a hint, it isn't very good (just like today's jobs numbers).

Basically, it's a brace for impact as this sucker slooooooooooows down.

Need a House? Hit Up Your Grandparents!

Need to avoid the inheritance tax?  Perhaps you are looking to make some return OF your money (note the not "on" your money) and you are considered old enough to be "retired."  The best investment?  Buy your grandkids a house!  At least that's the mantra in England.

It seems as though that is what all the hipster g-ma's and g-dad's are doing these days, never mind that house prices are falling faster in Britain than in nearing debt default Spain!  You are guaranteed a good return if you lend to your grandparents (or just buy the house outright).  What is bound to go wrong?  At least with this model, the big banks don't get fatter, and it might put a floor under prices, but what happens if the grandparents default?  Chances are grandma and grandpa just might need those funds tied up in a grandkid's house to cover medical expenses for something like say, oh, cancer?  I bet that will support the housing market for the old country, huh?

Obviously, this is so ludicrous it isn't funny.  The whole idea is to encourage investment, and thus savings for retirement is so that every generation of citizen is self reliant and self sufficient.  With this model, we've completely blown up the traditional cycle of economics, and created a systemic problem waiting to happen (like say, morally worse and on a greater social scale than even mortgage fraud and the housing collapse that started this whole mess).

But ya know, it just means that as we plug along in our debt, deflation spiral, what's a little more gasoline on the fire?

Finance Friday Funny

Whom ever started and maintained Economists for Obama realized long ago, it was a failed venture.  The last post coming all the way back in February of 2009.  I guess there wasn't much "consensus" for "recovery" by then, even though "recovery summer" wasn't for another year and four months. 

Something tells me, as we complete the third year and head into the campaign year, there won't be too many more "Economists for Obama."

Effective Tax Rate: -67%

From Zero Hedge, only a chart that shows the top ten (or bottom ten?) lowest tax rates for US companies.  Guess whom happens to be the leader in this category?  Yup...Mr. Imagination @ Work!  (AKA, Mr. Adviser, AKA Mr. Waiver). 

Herm...a negative tax rate of 67% for a company with profit (and who received bailout money)?  Perhaps GE can effectively change its slogan to "we bring crony capitalism to life." 

02 June 2011

Peoples vs. Bank Robber

What happens when a combat vet home on leave encounters a bank robber who then threatens the vet's kids?  Typically, the robber gets the spank down, and that's what happened.  

Army Staff Sargent Eddie Peoples stopped at a bank before taking his boys on a fishing trip where said thug was encountered.  Thug was dumb enough to threaten the kids of a soldier who has probably cleared rooms in the bad areas of Baghdad and disarmed insurgents, meaning that a man with a fake pistol wasn't all that difficult to spank into submission.  (Read the article for the detailed take down, as the thug certainly qualifies for a Darwin award for stupidity, only difference was he didn't die). 

I'm sure somewhere, some sad panda pacifist is crying in their Wheaties thinking that this guy took a chance he didn't need to and that he could have been a statistic.  It is just a shame he can't even be counted amongst the concealed carry permit holders in helping to thwart crimes in progress.  Certainly Peoples' actions deserved a commendation from the police department, and not to detract from his bravery, but does the same thing happen for those who pack?  I doubt it. 

Machine Gun is Bus Stop in Soviet Russia

Stealing from the comments on this vid, I couldn't help but not post it. 

Hot Damn, THIS GUY for MD's US Senate Seat!

This guy doesn't sound like a politician.  He even comes from an agency that frowns upon anyone looking to make the leap to politics quickly after retirement. 

That is exactly what Daniel Bongion is planning upon doing, and hopefully taking and smacking the snot out of sitting Senator Cardin.  Anyone has to be better than someone who votes with his party 99% of the time (no lie). 

I have to wonder though, how a former Secrete Service member would do in the political arena, knowing a lot of the players and having to been "absently minded" ignorant of the discussions that occurred in front of them.  I guess that is why the agency dislikes people leaving and heading straight into politics, as they don't want the "ugly" to be used against their opponents. 

Like the Col. Cooper has stated...
If you're in a fair fight, your tactics suck. 
Hopefully Mr. Gongion will consider using better tactics against Mr. Cardin.  The state of Maryland certainly deserves better.  

New Meaning to Jailhouse Rock

Not that I ever want to be in jail, but if I was and I had my choice, I'd choose here.

That said...isn't cantina just another name for jail in Mexico?  I mean

Oh That's Why!

That's why there wasn't a release of the OBL burial at sea vid?!!!!  Makes sense now. 

Mr. Holder, Shouldn't You be Running the Justice Department?

And shouldn't you be managing your own BATFE and getting to the bottom of project Fast and Furious instead of running HBO and pitching new episodes (or perhaps a movie) of The Wire

This man heads the justice department but is kind enough to consider himself the latest CEO of a cable subscription channel?  If Mr. Holder wants The Wire back on the air, perhaps he could start writing the script and casting the acting slots.  Certainly he has enough time to multi-task between Fast & Furious gate or Black Panther gate to write the scripts, no?  If that's not the case, shouldn't he be helping states rid themselves of the illegal immigration problems they have?

If it is not apparent to you now, it probably never will be, but it is quite obvious that the current executive branch administration is only in this for two things: 1) Personal gain, both financially and political power wise, 2) To absolutely destroy anything with any shred of our founding as to remake us into their ideals. 

Now, Mr. Holder, would you please leave the Justice Department and start directing that new The Wire movie?  I'm sure the BATFE would thank you for getting the heat off of them that way they can go back to more Waco's and Ruby Ridge's like their sister organization instead of the current international incidents. 

01 June 2011

QOTD: Debt Limit Smackdown

There isn't a person outside a mental hospital or an Ivy League faculty who believes the federal government can continue on its current fiscal trajectory, even with tax increases. Change is inevitable. Real change. Bone-deep, re-write the social contract, no more free lunch, learn to live within our means change. What is the political wisdom of demanding that it can only happen over your party's dead body?
Bill Frezza had that to say a week ago as the debt ceiling vote drew nearer (the no strings attached version of which was voted on last night and went down harder than a DC hooker).

Obviously, Mr. Frezza is correct in that Washington is so delusional with regards to spending that they can (and should) be grouped with the Ivy League nut jobs and the psychos whom belong in white padded rooms.  Thus, it's imperative that some how, some way, the putzes inside the beltway get their shit together and find a way to cut the federal budget now (and not for next year, or the next 10 years) and forever to allow our country's finances to remain in tact (or at least functional).

The Law, Its Objective, and What It's Not

An interesting three part article (here, here, and here) that explains just how the law is supposed to function as an order of defense of individual freedom and property.  Also, this series explains how the individuals is entrusted to make as much of himself as possible, and anything to the contrary is nothing more than a perversion of the natural rule of law (and thus a perversion of founding). 

Of course, the author does an excellent job in describing how politicians have motives expressly to the contrary of those objectives of the rule of law.  Read it, because it says what we think!

Morning Laugh: Out of the Car!


Passed along via email to me from a family member and too funny not to post.

Another lesson to ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings, and cut little old ladies some slack.