CapitalistMarks

Cat fights are never good!

Posted on 05. Mar, 2009 by scott.

One of the things I really can’t stand about our society today is the constant cat fighting among so-call ‘news personalities’.? What good do these people do for our society? ?They play on baser emotions, fears,threats and wildly inaccurate speculations (did you hear yesterday about the?Russian Scholar who predicted that the U.S. will fall within a year and devolve into several autonomous regions?).

I’m going to flat out name a few of the very worst offenders of this incessant cat-fighting.? These folk are not gad-flies, they are crap-flies.? They are attracted by and to crap.? I am absolutely certain that they do NOT do what they do for the good of society nor the good of the country nor the good of their neighbors (well maybe not nieghbors, ‘cuz they all might live in the same socially crippled but rich nieghborhood–paid for by the royalties from their selfish,?’blinders-on’?books etc.).

So here goes:

Rush Limbaugh — the worst of the worst.?

O’reilly — all you need is the last name — can anyone take this guy seriously?

Kieth Olberman — probably hasn’t even nodded to a conservative since junior high.

Ann Coulter — gosh, gotta back up, she’s the worst of the worst a total shock-jock.

Rachel Maddow — double gosh, gotta back up again, she’s the worst of the worst and hasn’t had a noble or original thought since second grade.

Why do these people do what they do?? Money, fame, Money, attention, Money, ego, Money, and oh, yeah, Money.

They want to sell ads on their shows, sells their books on the internet, sell t-shirts at the state fair . . .

And do they do any good?? NO, NO, NO!

They never talk to anyone except their own choir.? What good is that?? With no original thought how can we get out of the mess we are in?? Same old same old – yeah that’s gonna help.

This social-economic-political cat-fighting has got to stop.?

These knuckleheads are not doing anyone any good except themselves.? Don’t even get me started on the ‘moral’ highground.? These folk can’t swim well enough mentally to get close.

They sure don’t change any minds with their mindless,?first grade? wit, one-sided, angry, blaming, myopic view of the world.? They sure as heck don’t offer sound arguments, or competitive alternative — just unsound and damaging vitriol.?

It is absolutely impossible that every republican (or every democrat, as the case may be) is incapable of intelligent thought and worthwhile discourse.? But not according to them.? Wow, I know I have said that our elected officials are not the ‘cream of the crop’ — but they make these talk-show folk look like rocket scientists.? Maybe that is why?they never find ANY value in opposing thought?

Who cares if? O’reilly has sold a few million self-serving books?? Or that Coulter has peddled a few thousand words of ridiculous lop-sided personal impressions.? And the same go to the others — does anybody but liberals ever listen to Olberman and Maddow without puking???? Can anyone with a social conscience bear to hear O’reilly or Limbaugh talk?? I am flat out scared to think about what actually goes on in their minds.

Hey, even the enemy sometimes gets things right.? Give the other guys some credit every once in a while.? Listen for a while, then think about it.? There just might be some nuggets there to help a few of us common folk.

But the big thing here is that we are NOT each other’s enemies.? We do NOT have to snip, bite and scratch at every word from someone whose ideas don’t fit perfectly into our ‘leibens-welt’.?

Why give these trouble makers the attention they so desperately seek?? Can’t the so called news channels give us the news without the one-sided commentary and ugly rhetoric?? America, aren’t we smart enough to be the ‘deciders’ if we are given unfiltered information?

Fair and balanced?? What a joke.? O’reilly, Rush and Coulter are personally responsible for making me anti-republican.? Oberman and Maddow are personally responsible for making me anti-democrat.? We need more independents who consider all the views.? Dare we call them (us) moderates — if so there is hope.

I had, and still have (see yesterday’s blog) hope for BHO.? But, if he doesn’t start setting a better ‘open-dialogue’, ‘non-partisan’, example, then how can we expect the overpaid ‘talking-heads’ to start doing it?? Come on, Mr. President.

Goes thrice for you talking-heads.??Open?mouths?less. Listen more.? Good advice for all of us in fact.

Our country was founded on the ‘good-will’ debate and arguments of thirteen very disparate colonies and their representatives.?? It took compromise to create the Constitution–wasn’t written by one guy.? Didn’t happen with hateful and damaging rhetoric either.? I just remembered what my dear?sweet mom told me so many times over the years.? “if you don’t have something good and worthwhile to say then don’t say it.”

I promise not to watch, read or pay attention to people that won’t even consider that their views might be wrong or that there might be other ways to do things that could work.? Hey, the world is NOT flat.

So long . . . O’reilly, Olberman, Coulter, Maddow, Rush . . . hello . . . who??

Me??

Hope so, you won’t ever find me fighting another cat (not even a cool one).

Stop the cat-fighting.? Let’s make progress and not war or conflict.

thanks for the photo goest to flickr and general wesc

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Can cuba be different?

Posted on 06. Jan, 2009 by scott.

Here’s the deal.? Obama is promising change over the next four years.? THe real problem is? that we need change today.? Immediately!??

To start , he can make a change right here in our hemisphere without spending untold taxpayer $$.??It?would be?easy and it is the right thing to do.

Give full recognition to Cuba.?? OPen the doors.? Welcome the neighbors.

And do it now.? Tell the press and the world.? Even?before he takes office he can?get the change ball rolling.

Communists?? Who cares?? Socialists?? Who cares?

We deal with China, Russia, Uzbhekistan, France and Canada don’t we?? Some are communists and some are socialists and some are both — but so what?? We’re all capitalist today it seems (China is, Russia is, maybe even Iran . . . but don’t let me leave the impression they are democratic ‘cuz they aren’t).

Our good island neighbors to the south have suffered too long due to the archaic policies of a failed past.? Give the?deserving people of Cuba a chance to see what democracy and openness can do for us and they will want it for themselves.? Treat them like good nieghbors (my apologies state farm) and make some new friends.

The people in this country aren’t afraid of Cuba.? How can the government be unless they are completely and totally out of touch (oh, I forgot . . . of course they are).? Do it Obama-man help them and help us.?

This big step?will?change lives for?the good…for?millions in Cuba.? It will help millions here? in the U.S. too, those who want what Cuba has to offer like: Cuban cigars (though iIpersonally don’t get the appeal of smoking), or carribean food (everything but the crazy spicy stuff), or (and here is my favorite ) the great beaches we have been denied from enjoying for as long as I can remember.

Maka Fidel a happy many before he passes on.? Give him some props Obama, after all he was an incredible leader for his people (at least a vast majority of them practically worship him).?

Think of what the rest of the world would think of us if we did.? They might even start liking us again — you know, the ‘we are all God’s children’ thing.? That makes us brothers and sisters.? The choice is easy.

Change could start right now with the stroke of a pen, a simple invitation, a cup of

thanks to flikr’s factor for the photo

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Gaza. The mideast powder keg.

Posted on 04. Jan, 2009 by scott.

This is short today.? Out of respect.? People are dying out in Gaza.? Hundreds have been killed by Israeli bombs (made in the USA?)?and now there is a ground attack and even more are going to suffer.

What did hamas expect?

They have been raining rockets down on innocent civilians in Israel for years.? 6,464 rockets in just the last three years according to Charles Krauthammer in his Washington Post editorial today.?

Why haven’t there been thousands protesting those acts of terror conducted ?by an elected government in Gaza?? How can anyone expect Israel to live with that kind of hatred?? Even Obama said that he’d do anything to stop rockets from falling on his kids bedrooms.

You reap what you sow, Hamas (or any other terror group).? Google the editorial above and read more if you’d like (Krauthammer usually has a pretty even-handed perspective).? You?ought to?be shocked at the painful stupidity and selfish idocy of Hamas.? Who pays the price?? civilians on both sides, not the ‘genius’ leaders that promulgate the insanity.?

Soldiers and militias expect the risks.? Women and children and other innocents do not and should not IN ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD expect to be killed at any second by random bombing, suicide attacks?or rockets.?Who are these people?? Their own Q’uran is against killing innocents, the Bible too.? Where do these idots get off??

Where is the religious outrage, the demand from governments, protesters, scholars, the?UN for crying out loud?

Golda Mier hit the nail on the head?years ago.? She said, and I quote as best as?I can remember:? “the mideast will be in a state of war and terror as long as Palestinian mothers hate jews more than the love their own children.”?

What kind of people think like that?? Can they be sane? Moral? Stupid?? Heck, I?can’t imagine.

I?hate to hear of anyone dying violently . . . anywhere in the world.? But selfish, stupid people bring it on themselves with hatred and lust for vengeance.? Its gotta stop.

Don’t even suggest such acts are approved by God, any God.? Impossible.? Everyone?should know better.

why? why? why?

*thanks to flickr user farshadebrahimi for this post’s image

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Obama’s first priority!

Posted on 03. Jan, 2009 by scott.

There are a lot of problems around the world.? Heck, there are a lot of? problems here in the good ol’ U S of A and a bunch more right in my backyard (hate the Racoons that chew up my lawn!).? Most of the problems are generational things that can’t be solved in weeks, days or months: straight forward things like, religious intolerance, terrorism, racism, poor education . . .?you get the idea.

There is one big problem that the new president can?solve right now.? Yep, even before he gets ‘oathed’ into office.? Fix the dang bcs system that allows a few knuckleheads in easy chairs decide?who will win?the national college football championship without actually playing the real game!?

Take for example.? Last night a great Utah team humiliated a supposedly even better Alabama team.? the Utes are the last undefeated team standing (and?I disclose here . . . one of the two universities I attended).

I?won’t bore you with the myriad of arguments against bcs but how the heck does Utah not get to be champion?? They beat a team that was #1 for about half the season and they beat other teams who beat teams that are ranked ahead of them.? Florida? Oklahoma? Usc?? Texas? Come on folk, good teams all sure, but for crying out loud they have all lost this year!?

One and only one major team hasn’t . . . and that team played 4 top 25 teams and whomped ‘em — well at least beat ‘em!

This crazy Rube Goldberg system has been going on too long–doggonit, even Congress has looked into the ‘deeply flawed’ system called the bcs.?

So, back to the Pres. elect and how he can right this awful wrong.? This is a sytemic failure (same words as our top minds have been using to refer to the economy) and one?he can fix?now.? Besides the fact that it is unfair, undemocratic, highly unAmerican, and a travesty to boot–the bcs is a bad joke in a Route 66 dive on a rainy Saturday night.

How to fix it now??? Hope you are reading this BHO.

Mr. President, have a very brief press conference and announce that right now you want the bcs changed.? Say, you want a playoff game between whoever wins the so-called joke of a championship game next week and the Utes.? A real final?game and?winner takes all.??

Then,?BHO my fellow sports fan (the best kind too . . . he likes basketball and mainly to play not watch!), tell the folk that run this screwed up and unjust system (is there a guy in that group named Stevens? Or Blogojevich? Or Cheney?) that next year there will be a 16 team playoff .? It will be?single elmination to determine the real champion without giving totally unfair and undeserved preference to a few cocky conferences who aren’t that good anyway.

Give ‘em three days to make the change or call them ‘enemy combatants and send ‘em to Cuba.?

If they don’t agree at once, let ‘em know that their preferential treatment will end by decree.? Tell?’em you’ll?raise their taxes, sic the IRS on ‘em, invade their schools with homeland security, or whatever you need to do.? Just?don’t let ‘em get away with this communist, socialist, elitist travesty!

Lets start the year off right BHO.? Fix something easy and then go to the hard stuff like: the mideast, Afghanistan, renewable energy and the reallhy big one — the final independent tests to determine once and for all if the Whopper really beats the Bigmac (oh, and by the way, of course it does).

See ya next time!

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Who says we gotta celebrate?

Posted on 01. Jan, 2009 by scott.

A real happy new year today.? Stayed up until midnight and then unenthusiastically pounded on a pot and shouted ‘yeah’ on our front porch.

I?beat most of the neighborhood revelers by a few minutes. then at 12:02 there were shouts, screams, fireworks and a whole lot more pounding on various instruments of the culinary variety.

Truthfully, by then I?was asleep. Now in the clarity of morning light (well early afternoon anyway)?I see how ridiculous our celebrations are. Americans, love to celebrate . . . a bit too much?I think.

Seems we forget why we have holidays to start with. Mostly to remember and appreciate people or events?and (surprisingly) NOT to be a retail bonanza for Target and Walmart.

Remembering things like:? the past year (painful as it was) and then look forward to creating rather new memories of the ‘feel good variety.?

And Veterans day, to honor those who sacrificed for liberty.

?and? Christmas, originally Christ’s Mass, but now just an economic bonanza (usually but not this year) for retailers.

And the list goes on. We can learn a lot from history and if we remember we can make better decisions today.

Bottom line?? We should think and reflect on the holidays more and spend and party less.?

There is of course, one exception and that is July 4. That one we can (and should) celebrate like the cows are coming home.? Like crazy.? That holiday should be remembered and celebrated because it is?why we are here and still free to do as we please (within reason).

‘Nother bottom line? Spend a few moments today reflecting on how you could have made your last year better. Then make a list of how you are going to make the next 365 days better for you and those around you.

The next step is easy?. . . and you’ll hear this refrain a lot from me . . . go out and do it!

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Bye bye ‘08 . . . ‘09 can’t be worse!

Posted on 31. Dec, 2008 by scott.

With a degree in economics and an MBA I?can’t help but follow the markets (stock not grocery) . . . and ‘08 has been a black hole for investors of almost all persuasions.? I’ve agonized through it.? but there is hope on the horizon.

The market is a discounter of future expectations . . . some say 6 months others as much as 24 months in the future.? I?am of the ?6-12 month persuasion.

Why the hope?

To start, some bad marks for the adminstration this year relative to markets.? Paulson and Bernanke were slow to wake up and slower still on the uptake with regards to how to fix the problem(s).? But the hope is in the broad brush approach.? With trillions thrown at the problems from many governments and confidence at an all time low things can’t get much worse, for long.? Hence the suggestion that it is time to start picking up the pieces and make some $$$.

Not gonna find me making stock picks but?I can tell you that?I really believe 2009 will be a ‘rocker’ in the market.?

Here are some of the reasons why.?1– much lower oil prices that are being followed (at an ever quickening pace) by? (2) — lower commodity prices (think corn, wheat, steel, chicken, eggs — or which ever comes first) and a whole bunch more.? Then (3) confidence will rise and Madoff will get what is coming to him.?

Spring will bring warm temps and some really good opportunities . . . entreprenuers need to think ahead and be prepared.? America is about to take the lead again!!? The new adminstration will (4) work at?making friends, not enemies, and the world will take notice.? ‘Buy American’ will become vogue again.

You can hold my feet to the fire on this but here is what I predict for 2009.? The dow will reach 12,000 at some point, the nasdaq 2400, and the s&p 1,200.? There is a lot of pent up demand for things people don’t have the confidence to buy now . . . but they will within 6 months of Obama taking office.? I?didn’t vote for him (and not Mccain either) ?but change is usually good and?BHO gives the impression of intelligence and concern (something woefully missing for the last 8 years).

Sure we face a grundle of problems but capitalism has been on hold for over a year and in the toilet for the last 6 months.? It will rise again with a vengeance as Chavez and Putin and that knucklehead in Iran realize they bet on the? twice losing horse of socialism and complete gov’t control (and of course perpetualy high oil prices).?

Specific details don’t tell the whole story this early in the game.? But, come back to me in a year and chew me a new one if I’m wrong.?? Still,?don’t bet the farm on it for a few months.? ‘09 is going to be interesting, historical and fun (‘08 was all of that except?the fun part–unless you are a masochist).

This seems a serious and seriously imprudent direction to predict, but?I mean it all.? And don’t think?I lack a sense of humor . . . heck?I voted for bush in ‘00 . . . what’s funnier than that?

As my daughter is fond of saying, “whatever!”?

Yet, be wise, be funny, be cautious, be optimistic and be yourself, then you are all but? guaranteed to have a?GREAT 2009!!!

thanks to *clairity* at flikr for the photo

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Whose fault is it?

Posted on 27. Dec, 2008 by scott.

I used to love going to sporting events. Not anymore. Heard that 9 players in MLB (that’s pro baseball for the uninitiated) have signed contracts worth more than $100 million . . . yeah, darnit . . you read right — the GDP of about a third of the countries in the world, for a Ball-Player??

And guess what? Nope, wrong! Seven of those nine were signed by the Yankees. Holy crap, batman, I didn’t think any TEAM was worth that and they signed 7, aahuh, 7!! for more than that. Were they on dope? something stronger . . . maybe EGO the worst drug of all? The entire annual payroll at both the fine Universities I attended is less than that!!

Its tough to stomach frankly. Far too many players are covered with advertisements for who knows what (they call ‘em tats) and talk and act like they didn’t make it through 4th grade . . . don’t think any of ‘em are smarter than a 5th grader (sorry FOX network). I used to think that?Magic Johnson?was cool, that?Michael Jordan?was even cooler and that?Payton Manning?was . . .?well, the man(ning).

The way things are now I don’t want any kids (mine or yours) watching most pro-atahletes on-field (or court or whatever) antics let alone the crazy, crass, stupid and self-centered things they do on their own time.

?Heroes??? You gotta be kidding me. Pay money to see them play (work)???? Hear school kids talking trash and dressing like retarded pirates to imitate their favorites??? Nope, not me or mine.

These dopes are worse than pirates (sadly, I fell compelled to?apologize to the starving Somali’s who kidnap vessels and crews ‘cuz there just isn’t much else for them to do–bet they would love to play for the Yankees–or the Celtics–or gosh, even the Jets).

You get the idea. So, I don’t go to professional sporting events anymore (wouldn’t even if I was given a free ticket?and free Hot Dogs). And, who do we blame? The knuckleheads who pay themso freakin’ much? I’m talking more in a month than teachers make in a life time, more in a year than our best scientists (or physicians) make in a life time. More, dangit than they are worth, that’s for sure.

But the owners . . . and no I don’t buy into the slavery reference . . . pay ‘market’ price because the public (that used to be you and me but now is only you since I quit cold turkey) demands it.? Our fault folks.

Dang if that doesn’t prove Adam Smith wrong! The invisible hand of the market is NOT always the best thing.? We, the people, get it wrong sometimes.

What do we do?? Stop watching the crap in person or on TV (some other day I’ll go off on television executives and ‘entertainers’) and demand something better (could it be college sports or are they tainted as well?).

Join me in 2009. Say NO NO NO to professional sports and the molly-coddled and spoiled rich athletes who play for $$$ and not for fun or competition or the joy of the game.

There is a better alternative. Do it yourself.?

Go play. Have fun. Compete.

Hey, if I’m in your neighborhood I’m up for a quick game of basketball, football, foosball, hockey, baseball (softball really since I hate fastballs after getting beaned in highschool), golf (don’t get me going on that although I play wayyyy too often according to people that love me . . and proof is?I have scored two hole-in-ones!), or any other sport. All I need is the invite.

PLAY DON”T WATCH! Good for you too! Save your money for something important (like a Whopper fresh off the grill . . . since its the only thing I can afford when eating out in this economy –and then only with a coupon).

Do it!? Get healthy so you can ‘fight’ for your job at the next round of layoffs.

Thanks for indulging . . . can’t wait to hear who won . . . does it really matter??

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