Another pro athlete gets into trouble. Why can't some professional athletes stay out of trouble?

Can someone help me out w this one? You can read the article about Plaxico Burress here.

You won the Superbowl last year. You make millions of dollars. Why cant you just stay out of trouble? Is this too much to ask?

In all fairness, Plaxico Burress did say he was accidentally shot in the leg. What I wonder is how you exactly get into a situation that would even allow you to have a remote probability of actually getting shot.

For all the money and talent professional athletes have, some of them act so foolish. You would think they would be smart enough to do whatever they needed to do to stay out of trouble.

Then you hear of another pro athelete getting into trouble.

Movie recommendation - Watch The Transporter movies for some good fight scenes!

So last week someone recommended we watch The Transporter and Transporter 2. I didnt really know Transporter 3 was going to be released in theaters this week. For some reason I had never seen the first two movies.

You can check out the basic storyline of these movies at the Yahoo! Movies website.

Let me just say that I consider myself to be fairly critical as a movie watcher. The acting in these movies leaves something to be desired. But the action anf fight scenes make up for it! I am definitely looking forward to seeing Transporter 3.

Jason Statham who is the lead in these movies and has also been in other movies recently like The Bank Job.

When is the world going to take the terrorist threat seriously? When are we going to stop this?

American consumerism gone MAD! Wal-Mart worker trampled to death on Black Friday.

This is horrible. It's makes me sad to thnk we live in a society where something like this can happen.

What does it say about me if...

I get more calls and emails from friends and family about Black Friday deals during the week of Thanksgiving than at any other time during the year?

It seems I have developed a nice little reputation as someone who knows where all the good deals are on Black Friday.

Friends and family who I rarely talk to during the year called or emailed this week asking where the Black Friday deals were. All this stop and made me think about what other people think of me.

Odd. Perhaps not. Interesting? For sure.

When do people call or get in touch w you the most?

These guys at Princeton threw a keg party but didnt tell the Freshman they were drinking O'Douls!

When is the world going to crack down on terrorists training and hiding out in Pakistan?

For the past two days, I have been watching the news about out the terrorist attacks that happened in Mumbai this week. One thing is for sure - I am not surprised it happened.

The fact is that terrorist attacks have been going on in India for years now. And they have gotten more and more deadly over the past several years. You can find the history of terrorist attacks in India all over the internet. India is a natural target b/c it is the largest democracy in the world and is developing closer ties w the west.

Another dirty little secret in all of this is that many of the world's terrorists and their leaders get their training and/or hideout in Pakistan. Yet no one is really willing to acknowledge this fully. Why?

Because if you acknowledge something, then you also have to take action to stop it. That is a daunting proposition for the rest of the nations of the world.

I never really understood why India's relationship w the west was so icy for years. It's the largest democratic, capitalistic country in the world. I also never really understood why the US had a better relationship w Pakistan than it did w India.

Maybe this will be the event that finally forces the world to acknowledge the dirty little secret that some of us have know for quite some time now. International terrorists are training and hiding out in Pakistan and the Pakistani government is not dedicating enough resources to stop their activities.

The rest of the world may end up doing it for them.

Gas is $1.78/gal in my neighborhood. What's the price where you live?

Dont get me wrong, I like low gas prices just like the next guy.

But we shouldnt let the current low price of oil fool us into not doing anything to increase our fuel efficiency over the long-term. Otherwise, we havent learned anything.

And if as a society we lack the conviction to do this on our own as individuals, then I would go so far as to say the government should heavily tax gasoline and use the proceeds immediately to develop alternative fuel technologies.

If we dont do this, OPEC will do it for us by cutting back supply and driving the price of oil higher. The Saudis have openly stated they would like to see the long term price of oil much higher than it is today.

Would you rather spend more money on gasoline and keep the money here in the US or would you rather send the money over the middle east?

It's our choice.

Market Perspective 11/25/2008

Here is my take on the markets this week -

• GDP number for Q3 2008 was revised down to -0.5% from 0.3%. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
• Most other data revealing the state of the economy right now (i.e. 4Q 2008) suggest SERIOUS negative economic growth. Think something like -5% annualized. The last time we saw data this bad was 1980-1981.
• Unemployment data deteriorating at an accelerated pace. Peak unemployment very likely to be 8.5-9% in the first half of 2009. This number is moving fast. Keep an eye on it. We are in a heap of problems if the peak number moves past 10%.
• Most economists now saying 2009 is lost which means it will be 2010 before the economy even thinks about getting better.
• Watch out for what happens w the automakers. They will likely get the $25bn they need from Congress, but not w out strings attached. We should all hope they get this money right now if for no other reason than not giving them the money at this very moment in time will literally send the economy into a death spiral. This is not what we need right now. Long term, we should focus on the problem of the automakers as a country but we cant just let them go cold turkey. We have to downsize the automakers in an orderly fashion over the course of several years.
• One big thing the market was looking for was for Obama to step up to the plate and take more control over the economic situation. Previously he said he wasnt the President until Jan 20. The market didnt like that. We want him to announce his economic team which he did this week and last. Since W is pretty much a lame duck at this point, everyone was loking to Obama to be more vocal about his intentions on Jan 20. Obama got the message and has been more active about communicating his intentions on how to deal w this economic crisis. Market rallied on this news.

If you have been watching the stock market recently, you know the market has been forming something of a bottom at recent levels. This bottom is a very delicate one in my opinion. Any news that the deterioration is accelerating is going to be a problem for the markets to handle. Automakers need to get their money w strings attached.

Cross your fingers...

Parents Need To Find Ways To Teach Their Kids How To Contribute To Society

All of the things going on in the world recently have got me thinking a lot about our children and their future. The election, economic crisis, the holidays...

We have got to find a way to leave this world a better place for them.

One of the biggest ways we can do that is by teaching them how to contribute to society by helping those who are less fortunate than we are. I find this to be lacking in a lot of people these days and I am so afraid I will fail as a parent to teach instill this quality in my kids.

That's why this holiday season I am going to try and emphasize helping those less fortunate than us just as much as I think about spending time w my own family and sharing gifts, etc.

Maybe I am getting wiser as I get older.

I Like American Idol Too But This is Ridiculous

You might understand this video if you are an American Idol fan. You will probably understand it better if you are female which I am not. You have to turn up the volume to hear the beginning.

These kids are crazy fans. I like American Idol too, but you have got to be kidding me...

I'm Back...

I'm back like the Terminator.

It turns out blogging is a more effective way of communicating thoughts than I expected. Some of you may have noticed I took down this blog. Now it's back up again.

For some reason when I first started this blog I was putting pressure on myself to constantly make new posts. It was taking the fun out of what I thought was going to be an excited activity.

So I quit blogging cold turkey for several days thinking I would never do it again.
I was confused about a lot of different things... what should I name the blog, what should I write about, will people actually care to read it.

I figured maybe blogging isnt really for me. I thought maybe the best thing for a guy like me is to keep a gold old fashioned diary to document my thoughts. I just needed a place where I could write w out pressure.

Then some people mentioned to me they were actually this thing. Cool!

So here we go again...

The Old TARP Bait and Switch

Yes, ladies and gentlemen the Bush Administration has once again pulled the old "bait and switch" on the American people.

A couple of months ago, this administration was talking about the troubled assets on the bank balance sheets. They wanted to create a market for those assets by purchasing them. One last time, they resorted to fear mongering by telling the public of serious consequences if we didnt do anything. They said this was critical. Congress gave them what they wanted to the tune of $700 billion dollars.

Then, they figured out what everyone already knew. There was no way to figure out what the assets were worth b/c the market for them was broken in the first place. So, paying market price wasnt going to work b/c it would put the banks out of business. And this is what they were trying to avoid. When they finally realized this they decided to change the plan and provide the banks w/capital at overpriced valuations.

Then last week Paulson changed the plan completely to now focus on consumer assets. What this really means is more free money for the automakers. More artificially easy financing for US consumers so they can buy US autos from companies that really should fail. For all of you who are against the bailout, you should be ticked about this. For all of you who supported the bailout b/c it was needed to save the financial system, you should be ticked b/c the automakers could very well get another freebie via TARP w no strings attached.

Watch out. This is not what most people thought the TARP was going to be.

Yes, Kashkari Is A Chump (?)

Take a look at this video of Neel Kashkari, who is the person currently in charge of the TARP program for the federal gov't. By now, most of you have seen the video. In case you were wondering, yes I would classify Kashkari as an American Desi.

Regardless, Kashkari was definitely not prepared to testify before Congress. There were several occasions during the testimony when he didnt know what to say. Perhaps he was caught off guard by the reception he received. I wonder what he expected.

At one point during the interview, he said he didnt think taxpayers money should be used to support banks that were going to fail. Huh? I thought one of the reasons the gov't bailout is in existence was to save the banking system! So if these banks weren't going to fail, then why did they need the money in the first place?

He didnt have any good responses to questions about why AIG execs were taking govt bailout money in one hand and then going on expensive business trips at the same time. Taxpayers should be outraged their money is being used to save companies where the execs are going on expensive business trips in exotic locations.

It was an ugly session for Kashkari.

The Automakers Should Be Forced Into Bankruptcy

The automakers should all be forced into bankruptcy. There I said it.

Someone mentioned to me earlier today that if GM were forced into bankruptcy today the immediate impact would be an unemplyment rate of 9.5%. To me, this does not seem too high a price given that we would be able to fix the auto industry as a result.

Every 10 years or so, the CEOs of all the US automakers go to Congress w hat in hand and ask for billions of dollars w no strings attached. And Congress gives it to them. This is ridiculous.

Here is what I think they should do:

• force all 3 US automakers into bankruptcy
• force them to combine to make 1 automaker
• cut capacity by 50%
• provide funding to the company under the above conditions
• fire all executives and replace them - these guys have proven they are not capable of running their companies
• provide additional benefits to all displaced workers for a period of 4 years so they can go back to school, pay the bills, relocate etc.
• nullify all contracts that dont makes sense in bankruptcy including union contracts that overpay workers for what they do.
• create the most fuel efficient fleet in the country.
• develop alternative fuel sources and these sources must be a certain proportion of all vehicles produced.

The average assembly line worker at a US auto plant makes $65/hr. The average assembly line worker at a Honda/Toyota auto plant in the US makes $25/hr. This ridiculous situation is the direct result of unions that insist on too much pay/benefits at the expense of the employer. Dont get me wrong, I think unions are useful but in this case they brought about their own demise and they should get what they deserve.

This is the only way to fix the problem. Let me know what you think.

Help Me Name This Blog!

(This Flickr photo can be found here.)

Help me come up w a cool name for this blog!

Apparently the current name of this blog has confused some people. When I started this site, I had thought about the name for just a few minutes before I named it. I wanted it to be catchy, easy to remember, etc. but apparently it has also confused some people.

I am looking for suggestions on the name. Dont be shy! Leave a comment!

Cheers!

Video of Woman Who Thinks She Won't Have to Pay Her Mortgage If She Votes for Obama

Watch this video and leave a comment to let me know what you think of this. Maybe I am missing something here or interpreting what she is saying incorrectly. But it sounds like she thinks she wont have to pay for gas or pay her mortgage if she votes for Barack. I am an Obama supporter but I have to admit this is strange.

Market Perspective 11/7/2008

Today the unemployment rate for October 2008 was announced at 6.5%. As I said in previous post, I would have been pleasantly surprised if the number was below this and disappointed if the number turned out to be above this. To me, this number shows the pace of the deterioration in the economy has accelerated a bit. We are probably on pace for a peak unemployment rate of about 8%. I would expect this to occur sometime in the first half of 2009. I would expect an unemployment rate of 7% by the end of 2008.

There has a been a lot of news recently about the CEOs of the big 3 U.S. automakers going to Washington looking for bailout money. Basically, they will go bankrupt if they dont get some kind of monetary assistance from the government. Obama responded appropriately by saying he would support assistance but not w/out strings attached in the form of higher fuel efficiency standards, retooling for alternative energy, etc. I do not support handing over money to the U.S. automakers w no strings attached. These companies have proven time and time again they are not capable of running themselves. This industry is a real disaster. It's a real shame this industry is too big to fail b/c that's exactly what I would let it do if the consequences were not so disastrous. We really have no choice but to help. In return we should inflict some real consequences on the incompetent management at these companies and also force them to transform themselves into an industry that helps the country reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The failure of the U.S. automakers is a disgrace given they are asking for money yet again.

As you might tell, the issue of the U.S. automakers is a sensitive one for me.

My $0.02. on that one.

Finally, the Dems have been talking about a second stimulus package for the economy sometime early next year. The size would be something like $500-600 billion w 50% in the form of middle class tax cuts and remainder as public infrastructure projects. I support this idea. Most studies show money from tax rebates is saved not spent on consumer goods so the money most likely would not have the desired effect on the economy, but the govt usually applies this method b/c it's the most direct. And if they spend the money it's probably on foreign-made consumer goods which means the most of the money will not stay in the U.S. if it's spent. The infrastructure spending is good b/c it keeps the money here, creates jobs, and helps to keep our roads, bridges etc. working but the drawback is that it takes a while to have the desired effect. I still support the money for infrastructure as I think it would be more effective at this point. In the end, there will be a mix of both types of stimulus, but the size of the package seems like it will be big.

Fall in North Carolina

This is a photo from Flickr.

This is a really nice photo I found on Flickr of the mountains in western NC. It's a great time of year down here. The weather cools off nicely and the leaves are almost finished turning colors. Makes you feel rewarded for suffering through the summer.

Indian Group on Britian's Got Talent

Thank you to Nemishh for pointing this out to me.

You have got to check out the three videos below! They are from a show called Britain's Got Talent which airs in the UK. Simon Cowell is a judge on the show so you know its legit. Anyway, these are videos of two Indian guys who call themselves Signature. These guys are awesome!

This first video is the first round of competition.



This is the second round of competition.



This is the final round.

Another Election Thought

I am particuarly surprised at some of the election results from yesterday. For example, there were some local county commissioners who by all accounts were actually doing a good job but were ousted simply b/c of their party affiliation. I do not agree w/this but I suppose it is a consequence of an election w a high Dem voter turnout.

Also, I thought John McCain delivered a really great speech last night. He was well aware of the significance of what happened yesterday and addressed it appropriately.

Thoughts on Obama Victory

(I found this awesome pic of Barack Obama on the Flickr website at the following location.)

Let me take a few moments to reflect on Barack Obama winning the Presidential election yesterday.

I agree with everyone that this is a great moment in American history. It really is. Prior to this year, I honestly never really thought we would see a black President in my lifetime but I am so happy to live to see this day. Just to be fair, I should say that I did vote for Hillary in the primary and I did hold out to the end of her campaign to support throw my support behind Barack. I had my doubts about him. Until more recently, I never really saw the Obama movement in full force. Then the crowds kept getting bigger and bigger. In St. Louis 100,000 people came to see him. In Berlin (Germany), 250,000 people! Last night, over 250,000 people came to see him deliver his victory speech in Chicago. Awesome. Just awesome.

To be honest, I feel like I underestimated the idea of an Obama Movement. I never really considered it a movement until I saw the crowds. They adore this man. They see him as a symbol of all the things that America can become. Last night, I realized it when someone on the news started talking about how this was the first time since the Civil Rights Movement that young people got together and tried to create change in the country. This time however, they didn't try to create change outside the system, they did from inside the system. They used the democratic process against the establishment. What a beautiful thing. Perhaps this is all fantasy and nothing will ever happen, but let me believe it for now because it feels great. Part of me feels good b/c finally we get what was taken from us 8 yrs ago when we were robbed in 2000. We will never get these past 8 yrs back but maybe we will be able to fix what went wrong.

Finally, I am now ready to openly admit that during the past several weeks as election day was coming closer, I too started feeling like I was getting swept away by the Obama Movement. I will call it a movement because its just as much about the idea he is selling as it is about him. That's the beauty of the whole thing. It's an idea. The more I think about it, the more overwhelmed I become.

But in the next breath, let us be real about one thing - he has a lot of work to do. I hope he is up to the task.

If It's November That Means Black Friday

This may sound strange to some people, but for some reason there is a bit of a tradition that developed over the years in my family as I was growing up. It has to do w Black Friday which as you know is the day after Thanksgiving which typically signals that the holiday shopping season is in full swing.

Anyway, I think maybe I get a little fired up b/c I like the rush you get when you know you just got a great deal on something. So, the point of all this is to share the websites I look at to find good deals both during the holiday season and throughout the year.

I also keep these sites on my favorites list to the right on this page.

Slickdeals - one of the best sites on the internet to find deals on pretty much anything

Black Friday Info - one of the best sources for whats on sale specifically on Black Friday; this site really gets useful as the month of November progresses and the retailers begin making their Back Friday sales public. You have to keep checking back throughout the course of the month for updates.

Obama Rally Video and Notes

Here is a brief 30 second video clip from the Obama rally I went to at UNC Charlotte tonight. There were probably about 10,000 people there although the exact number was difficult to estimate. I waited in line for about 45 minutes before security started letting people just go right to the second field behind the main area for the event. Rajul and Sophia did not come and it's a good thing b/c I was on my feet the whole time and for a while it was raining really hard.

I went since Barack was coming only 1 mile from our home and it was the day before election day. I didnt know what to expect and for the most part he repeated everything he had been saying since the convention. I suppose at this point it's challenging to say anything new.

With regards to the election itself, my personal opinion is that we will know who the president is before we go to bed tomorrow night. It is not going to be a close race. Obama will win at least 325 electoral votes. I think the media is trying to convince everyone the election will be a closer race b/c they need us to watch tv for the ratings. I think NC will go Democrat for the first time since Jimmy Carter I believe.

Hopefully the lines to vote will not be long tomorrow.

Market Perspective 11/1/2008

The market rallied this past week basically b/c the economic data was not as bad as everyone thought it was going to be. At least it wasnt bad for now. Most people, including me, think the news is going to get worse. The question is how much worse and this past week it seems the market found a reason to be optimistic.

Q32008 GDP only came in at -0.1% and I say only b/c the consensus estimate was 0.5%. The really bad news was that consumer spending was something like -3.0%. The last time we saw numbers like this was 1990-1991, 1980, and 1974. If you are a student of economics or remember these times, you know what I am talking about.

Anyway, for next week the market will be focused on jobs numbers including the unemployment rate for October 2008. I will be pleasantly surprised if the unemployment rate remains below 6.5% and disappointed if the number is higher. A higher number would indicate to me the pace of deterioration is perhaps faster than we thought. However, I am expecting 7% unemployment by the end of the year.

My $0.02.

You Will Find Some Really Good Deals in the Next 12 Months

Let me say a few things before I begin this post: I do not have tons of money sitting around waiting to be spent. There are a lot of people who are struggling right now and millions of people will lose their jobs in the upcoming year.

All that being said, if you are not one of those people and were planning to purchase anything over the long term and dont need to borrow money to do it, you might be able to save yourself a lot of money by planning carefully. In the past several weeks, I have noticed the first signs that good deals may be coming.

For example, this week I saw a 7 day Norwegian caribbean cruise on sale for $299. I am pretty sure this is a good deal. The last time I saw something like this was the fall of 2001. This also happens to be the last time I went on a cruise as prices increased dramatically once the economy got going again. I am betting that deals like this will be plentiful this holiday season on everything from vacations to consumer electronics.

The only catch is you have to feel comfortable spending money at the very time when the economic news is bad. For many people, this is a difficult if not impossible thing to do. Always save first and then spend wisely.

There are many sites on the internet where people share info about getting products/services for less. The one I look at the most is Slickdeals.