The Best Bond Ever:

I haven't been so excited to see a movie since, well the Dark Knight ironically because I see the same sway towards adult realism in both films--and it's about time. The franchises were getting cheesy---with Pierce Brosnan, debonaire -Yes, but not the lethal killer that Ian Flemming envisioned. That is not a problem with the Daniel Craig - buffed out, killing machine that really fell in love, got hurt, and is now on a rampage that I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

So tonight I am going to see Quantum of Solace and say "be damned" with the L.A. Times review - which sucked, and I will as I normally do, find out for myself.

I'll post the review later.

The Folgers Investment Theory:

I have a friend that does not put a large majority of his money into banks. The reason is not because he fears they will fail, its because he doesn't want the paper trail---get it? His side business is cash only and even though I would consider this enterprise completely non-dangerous, I empathize his desire not to let Uncle Sam get a piece of it. Through this low key but moderatly lucrative venture the past ten years or so, his investment strategy with all of his cash has been as follows (Year To Date Figures--Calendar Year 2008):

Buy a can of Folgers coffee, consume that coffee, place hard earned tax free cash into empty can and bury strategically throughout rented property.

Costs: One can of Folgers per month @ $12.89 per = $141.79
One Spade Point Shovel @ $34.00
Total Costs Year To Date = $ 175.79

Savings: Not needing coffee at Starbucks
(2 Venti per day X 5days per week @ $2.15 per)
Coffee Consumption savings year To Date = $946

Percent Difference (Folgers Costs and Savings) = 438%

So by not investing into the DOW Industrial (-37% YTD) he has created, a conservatively estimated by the way, positive 475% Rate of return Year To Date.

This of course is a minimum rate of return this year because it does not include added brokerage fees, vigs, hidden fees, front loads, back loads, and the mere fact that more folks than not lost a higher percentage than that of the DOW year to date (Such as my veteranarian friend who has lost 48% of his portfolio YTD, the one which he has steadily been building since 1988.) And by renting the property he lives in -he has not lost %30 percent of his home value this year either.

Guess which friend is ready to put $100k down on a house right now? Guess which friend is college educated? The smart one is the welder---realistically ahead over 500% YTD. And I think he's ready to write a book called : Folgers is cheaper than a brand new mattress-- how to be a super cheapskate tax evader and come out on top!

Missing him already!

My Veterans Day Off

So I had the day off thanks to the Holliday we call Veterans Day. How did I use it? I slept in, played video games with my kids, went golfing, ate at McDonalds, and watched a movie at home with my wife, then went to bed.

Do we ever pause to think why we are calling a day of the year "Veterans Day?" I think I did, and I can honestly say that in the back of my mind, subconsciously, the knowledge of the greatest of sacrafices peruses through my awareness but reality of the REAl Deal that goes on in war, that Real Veterans faced, lived and died -- that can never be fully appreciated unless you were in yourself.

So maybe this is the day that the veterans whom each personally withhold this kind of Real Knowledge of what the hoopla is all about from the rest of us, can kick back, go down to the Bar and have a few laughs, or go the Golf Course, or the Memorials and look each other in the eyes and accept this Holliday as their own--and be forever proud, because if not for them - I would never be able to sleep in, play video games with my kids, go golfing, eat at McDonalds, and watch a movie with my wife every 2nd Tuesday of November.

Thank You Veterans.

I think Trey Parker and Matt Stone are cool. Thats not gay is it?

Similarities: See the argument he was up against?

When Joe Pesci looks at Danny Glover and says "You Are...He is" I about pissed myself laughing.

Thats what makes it so sadly funny, but for us, the ones that get the joke, this victory makes me feel as happy as they were in the car laughing at that asshole from South Africa.

For the first time in my life....

I am really, really, super-duper, Proud Of My Country.

Now do you understand the context of what Michelle Obama was conveying when after the victory in Iowa, she saw that this country could actually be as open minded truly as Dr. King envisioned, and that this particular year -maybe Iowans are truly reflective of the country's desire with this candidacy?

This is the most patriotic moment in my adult life that I have yet, or possibly will ever experience. The kind that we now know, a majority of us have been waiting for.

But it could only come from the perfect confluence of the Right Stuff. These kind of people--the ones willing to sacrafice everything selflissly for the betterment of mankind takes (A.) a ton of hubris, but (B.) Perfect personal awarenesss. That he actaully convinced himself that he is the only person right now best fit for this job. You know, the easy job of being President of the United States of America.
Obviously convincing the rest of the country was much more difficult a task to be decided.