Here's the money, no pun...


The source for this chart is this dude: Stephen V. Muro
He argues (me too) that we broke the seal on $80, and we're going back through again soon. This is good (short-term) for the stock market.

If your country (well ours, actually) devalues the currency, then what to do?
I mean what can you do that's not too cooky... like buy Krugerands or something like that.
Well, I'm not quite sure.

• Buy commodity ETFs... or at least make them a part of your portfolio
• Buy international ETFs... but I'm not sure if their returns are in $$$ or local currency
• Buy stocks... the stock market will go up, but probably not as much as you lose in your dollars
• Sell bonds/cash... this is the pariah in a dollar meltdown

Or, just open a bikini-themed coffee shop in Georgia and relax about all this nonsense:

QOTD

"I’ve had eight people contact me about franchising."
- Josh McClain, owner Bikini Beani Coffee and Drink Hut

I love that guy.
he he... yow, bill

Labels: fun, investing

QOTD

"57 - The number of people who went to the 'psych tent' on Sunday at the NY City triathlon because of pre-race panic."
- WSJ this morning

Theory: half the battle for most people is to just not hurt themselves.

Can you imagine having the discipline (and time and energy) to train for a triathlon (1500 m swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run) and then have a panic attack before the race?!? My advice: spend a little time training your mind next year. Maybe some meditation. Maybe read a book or two.

BTW, the same guy won the NYC Tri for the 4th time: NYC Triathlon Wrap-up.

Oh, I just saw this: NYC Tri Goes Green.
He he he.
Oh, the inanity.

QOTD2

"... portable toilets will be certified green so when you need to go, you can rest assured that you're not harming the environment."
- NYC Triathlon site

Dammit, that's funny.
Speaking of funny...

Movie: "The Hangover"
Review: 4 bill-stars (out of 5)... really good!

This movie was very funny; my sides literally hurt afterward. It was a weird, uneven little movie. I think it works for me because, unlike other recent gross-out fare, it's a fairly positive movie, all things considered.

"Hangover" is right there between 3 and 4 stars, but since the movie physically injured me, I went with the 4 bill-star rating. I peeked at (re. searched) other 4 bill-star movies on the blog. Every other 4 bill-star movie on that list is better than "Hangover", so this would be a 4- rating... if I did such things.
he he... yow, bill

Labels: 4stars, movies, qotd

I like goofy, ole Steve Forbes. Mister flat tax.
In these days of anti-freedom, anti-capitalism, Steve Forbes is a cool, refreshing ocean breeze.

To be honest, I don't even know how or why I'm getting Forbes magazine, but here it is. I hope I'm not paying for it. He he. My Aug 3, 2009 edition is chockful 'o common sense on the issues of the day.

The health care stuff is a home run. Read on.

1. Health Care
Steve Forbes has a beautiful, succinct argument against Obamacare in this opinion piece:


Forbes' simple answer: remove the barriers to personal freedom and choice.
Shocker.
Let me summarize Forbes' most powerful points:

1. Tax credit for health insurance expenses
2. Remove laws/regulations that prevent buying health insurance across state lines
3. Remove laws/regulations that prevent routine medical care at places like Walmart
4. Remove laws/regulations that prevent entrepreneurs from opening new clinics/hospitals
   
5. Expand Health Savings Accounts

Forbes cites two great examples of procedures that are commonly paid for out of pocket by consumers:

• Lasik eye surgery costs 1/3 of what it did 10 years ago.
• Plastic surgery has had no inflation since the early 90's, even though demand has risen 6x.
  

The last paragraph is QOTD.

QOTD

"Genuine free-market reforms in health care will slash the number of the uninsured and lead to the same kinds of innovations and efficiencies that are experienced in most of the rest of the economy."
- Steve Forbes

2. Other Forbsey Stuff
Health care is the big kahuna, but here are some other goodies from Forbes Aug 3.

More facts rebut the cap and trade bill: Waxman-Markey Flunks Math

Facts again debunk another green myth, buying locally-grown food. "Transportation accounts for only 11% of food's carbon footprint." The Locavore Myth

Transforming the that grandaddy of socialism Sweden from "a boring, stagnant society" into a vibrant growing one. How? Capitalism and free markets. Swedish Delight (can't find this link yet on forbes.com... I'll update later when they post it)

The Swedish guy is finance minister, Anders Borg (photo to the right). Crazy Swedish with their stubbily, p0ony-tailed, earring toting politicians. He he.

3. Wrap
Since I'm such a big shooter (cough), I believe I have the fanciest, bestest insurance available via Blue Cross. I have high-deductible health insurance for me and the boy. My policy lets me go to any doctor/hospital I want. I think it's about $3K a year.

So fixing health care... two basics:

1. Open the flood gates to free market competition and personal choice and entrepreneurs
2. Help subsidize the poor to pay for high-deductible insurance if they can't afford it
   

President Obama. The emperor has no clothes.
I ain't no repub... cause they suck too.
But 2010... maybe we can get a little balance back into the game.
Even better, a 2012 presidential candidate who believes in personal freedom and choice.
Someone who believes in the American dream.
We shall see.
freedom baby... yow, bill

Labels: healthcare, politics, qotd

QOTD

''He's my closer, and if people don't want him to be my closer, don't come to the goddamn game."
- Ozzie Guillen, defending closer Bobby Jenks

He he. I heart Ozzie. How does he get away with this stuff? Oh yeah, World Series win a few years back.

Here's "the catch" from Mark Buerhle's perfect game today:

Awesome!
Ozzie put Dwayne Wise into the game in the 9th as a defensive replacement.

We have the two best managers in baseball... though I'm wavering on Lou these days. Getting old?


QOTD2

"I'm always bored. I'm not playing. You're sitting around for seven innings. My game starts in the sixth [or] seventh inning. That's when you see me look around the stands a lot, because you play this game for that many years and coach it and be there for that many years and you're just managing, it's a boring game all day for me."
- Ozzie

cub win... yow, bill

PS - cubs bikini... he he.

Labels: qotd, sports

Here's a fun Bill-photo from Lincoln Park Zoo yesterday... ROAR!

QOTD

"I am dumbfounded that the representatives of a nation whose economic fortunes—more than that, whose fundamental culture and identity—are entwined with the spirit of entrepreneurship can contemplate so carelessly wrecking the structure of incentives which have served us so well and for so long."
- Rita Gunther McGrath, WSJ letter to the editor, source

"Our fundamental culture and identity"... well written, Rita baby.
Google "rita baby bikini"

Dang, how about this great idea... defer capital gains in mutual funds until people sell their shares: Tax Changes Urged For Mutual Funds

This is the kind of reform that spurs investment, savings, and growth. Cha!
peace out... yow, bill

PS - OK, my tiger was actually yawning, not roaring, but it looks good.

Labels: investing, politics, qotd

I think that President Obama's socialized health care plan may very well be the worst, most destructive piece of legislation in my adult life. Shit, what's second place?

QOTD

"I want everybody to have maximum care at the best price. And that's why I want the government out of it completely."
- Ron Paul, congressman, source

Sure, it's uncomfortable being aligned with goofy Ron Paul, but so be it. The logic of these two quotes is ironclad.

QOTD2

"The government is involved in health care and education and that's where you have the greatest amount of inflation."
- Ron Paul

I guess I'm officially a crackpot. Woo-hoo!

This is a nice summary article: Universal Health Care Isn't Worth Our Freedom

An observant (and hot) young lady pegged it yesterday, "The real effect of this stuff won't be felt until 5 years down the road or so." True. And when somebody argues that the solution to our health care problems is to expand Medicare and Medicaid, they lack any credibility. Such a statement doesn't make a lick of sense.
jeez... yow, bill

Labels: healthcare, qotd

Here are three creative products that synchronicity threw my way.


Mercedes new drowsiness detector:
http://auto.moldova.org/news/mercedesbenz-new-eclass-addresses-drowsy-driving-201812-eng.html



And for you dog owners, the (amazing) Potty Patch: www.pottypatch.com

QOTD

"Is your house one big doggie bathroom?"
- Potty Patch ad

I just got spammed by Circuit City (I guess they're just a website now) selling a 1 terabyte hard drive for $90. That doesn't make a lick a sense to this ole tech dinosaur!
run faster... yow, bill

Labels: fun, qotd

Excellent op-ed on President Obama's cap-and-trade tax:


The House announced their version of President Obama's socialized health care plan:


QOTD

"Obama’s current forecasts envision 3.2 percent growth next year, 4 percent growth in 2011, 4.6 percent growth in 2012 and 4.2 percent growth in 2013."
- Laughable GDP growth estimates in the Obama budget plan, source

Cap-and-trade tax on energy, socialized medicine, and trillions of additional debt.
The next 10 years are going to be interesting.
dop... yow, bill

Labels: politics, qotd

QOTD

"Rent, don’t own stocks."
- The Mad Hedge Fund Trader, source

I like this Mad guy (TMHFT). I don't agree with all his politics, but he's got some great investing advice... one of the best blogs I follow.

And yes, TMHFT, I'm working every day to become a good renter of stocks. Huzzah!

Politics
Prince Charles, The Pope, special surtaxes on the wealthy to pay for socialized health care, 10% unemployment, CA bankrupt... my, my, how the worm turns.

Sarah Palin quit as AK governor... basically claiming harassment. She counts 19 separate bogus ethics complaints as her proof (source). I believe her; the left is not anchored by ethics. But that's the price of admission, baby. I hope she cashes in and raises her family.

Good WSJ op-ed today: Europe Should Hope Obama Fails
The point: Europe has been buoyed by American growth via capitalism.

QOTD2

"Bull markets move in perfect 18 year cycles, and we are only half way through a generational washout in equity ownership that started in 2000. “Buy and Hold” is dead. An S&P 500 trading around a 13 multiple means will be stuck in a 650-950 range for years, and that’s being generous."
- TMHFT again

I'm heading out now to Dean's Dugout... buy some cards for Ty. Our Naperville Cub got bounced from the playoffs last night; I couldn't be prouder of the boy. Ty faced this monster of a mutant 12 year-old pitcher in the 4th inning. This kid was the hardest thrower we've seen all season. Ty got a good foul ball off the kid, and eventually struck out, but he battled. He stuck his nose right in there... 10 years old and keeping that ass right in the box and taking his hack. Man, that's something. Like I said... couldn't be prouder.

cub win... yow, bill

Labels: investing, politics, qotd, sports

You think this blog sucks?
Here's the worst blog I've ever read: http://fiverulesforlife.blogspot.com/

OK, OK, I'm a bit negative here, but shit, spend 2 minutes reading the thing. People send in their 5 rules for life to this guy, and he posts them. It's surprisingly horrifying... like everyone is channeling Oprah or something.

Worst of the bunch is a guy who has a life rule to "Live in the Dash", with this saccharin QOTD.

QOTD

"Your Birth and Death dates are etched on your tombstone. They are separated by a dash ( - ). Use the dash, the in-between, to live your life."
- Gawd awful submission to Five Rules For Life blog

Argh. Let me find a bikini out there to recover.
Ah, here we go... a bunch-a bikinis!

Five Rules sucks... bikinis rule!
later... yow, bill

PS - Here's the opposite of "5 Rules"... a fun (doggy) link completely lacking pretense:

Labels: fun, qotd

Looks like the Market is heading south again. How far? We shall see.

QOTD

“We are almost two years into a financial and economic crisis which is still far from over. We cannot even say that we are past the worst or that the way out of the woods is clear.”
- HSBC (a big bank) CEO Stephen Green, source

Marathon times are up this year... unemployed people are training more: Fast Times for Jobless Runners. This is a great shot of the (crowded) Boston Marathon:

I missed all the Michael Jackson nonsense. Yeah.
The WSJ posted the top 10 TV shows this week: America's Got Talent, NCIS, Mentalist, CSI, Two and a Half Men, 60 Minutes.
I don't watch any of these... except the occasional "2 1/2 Men" rerun late at night. Yeah, again.

Finally, a photo I actually took myself. This contribution comes, in beautiful synchronicity, from a pickup truck in the parking lot of a bowling alley:
Left to right: one of those "don't give me a ticket, I support the po-lice" stickers, Dale Earnhart, Nascar, Jesus rules, and Dale Earnhart.
That about covers it.
yee-haw... yow, bill

Labels: investing, politics, qotd

Yow!


Sarah Palin in Runner's World Magazine

QOTD

"Give me an hour for my run and I'll be happy."
- Sarah Palin

Jeez.
hot hot hot... yow, bill

Labels: fun, qotd

He he.
I'm moving to Costa Rica... Costa Rica tops happiness, 'green living' poll
Some environmental nabobs list Costa Rica #1 on their "Happy Planet" index.
You see... Costa Rica is the place to be because they have a small carbon footprint and no army. Cha.

Hmm... I wonder how many of the reporters and nabobs involved in this highly scientific endeavor will be moving to Costa Rica? Get themselves a snootful of the happiness and green goodness. He he.

QOTD

"I'm very happy today. It's been a long time."
- 42 yo Tim Wakefield on making the All-Star team for the first time, source

Look at the cool grip on that knuckleball.... excellent!

catch... yow, bill

Labels: politics, qotd, sports

We saw these glass balconies way up there at the Sears Tower yesterday, walking from Union Station to the el.

Excellent Cub win yesterday afternoon... with the whole family (Bill, Ty, Brad, Bobbie, Moz, Mark, Brian, Julie) in tow. Cub win 2-1 in the 10th inning. Sounds dramatic doesn't it. Not so much though. Does this look like ball four to you?


All the Wrigley faithful were standing... 10th inning, 2 out, bases loaded, 3-2 count... the ball went right down the middle and we sighed. Then the ump (dinner reservation) called ball four and we all half-cheered and went home. Kind-a weird.

The most exciting play of the game was actually Fukudome throwing a guy out at home to preserve the tie.

QOTD

"I wish I was a little bit faster, to be honest with you."
- Brewer pitcher Jeff Suppan on being thrown out at home

strike three... yow, bill

Labels: fun, qotd, sports