I heard this on my local news channel a republic representative says that if gas hits $5 a gallon Obama will loss the White House in 2012.
1.)Interfering in capital markets to fix or set prices is the opposite of free capital market system which I thought was a republic core value? It is actually a form of communism something that they are often accusing others of.
2.)Anyone who is telling you that drilling oil beginning right now will have any impact on what you will pay for gas this summer is lying to you.
3.)The president does not have control of gas prices. This is basic economics. Oil is a scarce resource. When the supply chain is threatened by things like civil wars in Libya, Africa, Iraq etc the supply and pipeline of gas gets more expensive. If anything this flux of prices should cause more people to support the president and his renewable energy programs to avoid these price swings in the future.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Be That Guy – Friday Update – Talk Really Loud on the Phone
In an effort to save all of us from the over indulgence of worrying about everybody’s feelings all the time and testing the bounds of the long held assumption that nice guys finish last I am giving everybody permission to be an asshole, tool box douche once a week.
This weekend’s challenge - Loud Talking in confined spaces.
Talk on your phone at a tone just shy of shouting. Pepper the conversation with terms like slut, construction costs, forecasting meeting, how much money you are going to make and whose ass you want on the line. Perfect spaces to do this are elevators, line for coffee in the morning, while you are going to the bathroom, etc.
People surprisingly think that the louder people talk on their phones in public the more powerful they are at their line of work.
Things not to do…..
1.) Never switch to an inside voice…you are that guy remember
2.) Don’t put someone on hold or change your conversation as you are paying for an item.
This weekend’s challenge - Loud Talking in confined spaces.
Talk on your phone at a tone just shy of shouting. Pepper the conversation with terms like slut, construction costs, forecasting meeting, how much money you are going to make and whose ass you want on the line. Perfect spaces to do this are elevators, line for coffee in the morning, while you are going to the bathroom, etc.
People surprisingly think that the louder people talk on their phones in public the more powerful they are at their line of work.
Things not to do…..
1.) Never switch to an inside voice…you are that guy remember
2.) Don’t put someone on hold or change your conversation as you are paying for an item.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
My Love State Senate
The people of Minnesota voted a bunch of people into office to fix the deficit and trim government.
What do they do as the first agenda point?
"Senate approves voter ID bill" Great now you need a valid id to vote just like before except it is going to add more expense to the voting process which is already good.
That is right they passed a bill that will require more government and do nothing!!!
Next on their agenda....Banning Gay Marriage.
Don’t we have real problems we could be fixing? Like Potholes or the 5 billion dollar deficit?
I think politicians should actually be public servants…and pick up trash, fix potholes, walk around at night with a flash light do something constructive. How about a community garden ? I am afraid if we don’t give them something to do they are going to come up with more and more useless stuff in their free time.
What do they do as the first agenda point?
"Senate approves voter ID bill" Great now you need a valid id to vote just like before except it is going to add more expense to the voting process which is already good.
That is right they passed a bill that will require more government and do nothing!!!
Next on their agenda....Banning Gay Marriage.
Don’t we have real problems we could be fixing? Like Potholes or the 5 billion dollar deficit?
I think politicians should actually be public servants…and pick up trash, fix potholes, walk around at night with a flash light do something constructive. How about a community garden ? I am afraid if we don’t give them something to do they are going to come up with more and more useless stuff in their free time.
Shampoo – Conditioner = Bald?
I have heard this from two different sources lately and I wonder if there is any validity to this case. The joke is that you never see a bald homeless person.
The logic here is that your hair produces natural oils that help nourish the roots and protect it against the environment. When you shampoo you strip your hair of these natural oils so harshly that you have to buy another product called conditioner to put the oils back into your hair.
The hypothesis is that homeless people don’t loss their hair because they don’t shower often.
That men lose their hair more often than women because they are more likely to shampoo everyday and not put conditioner in their hair.
What if going bald had just as much to do with whether you used conditioner as it does with your genes.
Can you imagine the class action lawsuit against shampoo companies?
What if baldness can be reduced just by washing your hair less and always using conditioner?
The logic here is that your hair produces natural oils that help nourish the roots and protect it against the environment. When you shampoo you strip your hair of these natural oils so harshly that you have to buy another product called conditioner to put the oils back into your hair.
The hypothesis is that homeless people don’t loss their hair because they don’t shower often.
That men lose their hair more often than women because they are more likely to shampoo everyday and not put conditioner in their hair.
What if going bald had just as much to do with whether you used conditioner as it does with your genes.
Can you imagine the class action lawsuit against shampoo companies?
What if baldness can be reduced just by washing your hair less and always using conditioner?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Memories That My Children Will Never Have
Trip to the movie store. I can remember being driven to the Mr. Movies when I was little and walking down the halls of tapes and being able to pick one off the shelf and bring it to the counter.
For some reason I remember this experience as being rather exciting.
I also remember going to the record store, Know Name, Electric Fetus, Sam Goody etc to stock up on music or get the latest single or album. I remember how cool I felt to be in the head shops filled with stuff I knew was bad but wasn’t quite sure how it worked. (Although I learned pretty quickly)
I was cleaning out my attic a while back and found boxes of tapes and then realized I had no tape player left in the house.
I remember the book store although my memories it as a child were more along the lines of kicking and screaming cause I didn’t want to go because reading was for dorks..although you would be hard pressed to find me these days without some kind of reading material. My only regret now is that I didn’t start younger.
I remember smoking inside of a bar – I know this is probably for the best but there was something about it that was fun and risky and dangerous that is a little sad that it is gone.
I wonder if there will also be a time I will say “There used to be real sugar in those and it tasted delicious”
For some reason I remember this experience as being rather exciting.
I also remember going to the record store, Know Name, Electric Fetus, Sam Goody etc to stock up on music or get the latest single or album. I remember how cool I felt to be in the head shops filled with stuff I knew was bad but wasn’t quite sure how it worked. (Although I learned pretty quickly)
I was cleaning out my attic a while back and found boxes of tapes and then realized I had no tape player left in the house.
I remember the book store although my memories it as a child were more along the lines of kicking and screaming cause I didn’t want to go because reading was for dorks..although you would be hard pressed to find me these days without some kind of reading material. My only regret now is that I didn’t start younger.
I remember smoking inside of a bar – I know this is probably for the best but there was something about it that was fun and risky and dangerous that is a little sad that it is gone.
I wonder if there will also be a time I will say “There used to be real sugar in those and it tasted delicious”
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Being Fake
I have been hearing a lot of this lately and I thought I would comment on it quickly. People call my digital cigarette (Which I am still enjoying immensely) fake.
I wonder why they call it fake and not an upgrade? Advancement?
Is an E-Book a fake book? Or an improvement?
Wonder where line is?
I wonder if people who saw TV for the first time said you got a fake play?
I wonder why they call it fake and not an upgrade? Advancement?
Is an E-Book a fake book? Or an improvement?
Wonder where line is?
I wonder if people who saw TV for the first time said you got a fake play?
Sunday, April 24, 2011
People on the Payroll
Can there be a real Resurrection of this Country?
There is a fundamental problem with the amount of people on the payroll.
When the amount of people on the governments payroll or that are receiving direct assistance from the government exceeds the amount of people who are not on the payroll there is a huge problem.
We live in a majority rules system and when the majority of people have a vested right in maintaining the system I will make 2 predictions.
1.) We will not see any significant change in our cars direction as we are heading over the cliff.
or
2.) The people on the dole will continue to look for ways to bleed the people not on the dole postponing #1 until we see some kind of exodus, revolt or utter collapse.
Either way I am increasingly believing we are past the point of no return with the number of people on the take...as the baby boomers become increasingly dependant on Social Security and Government Plans this will just keep pushing the scale the opposite way.
There is a fundamental problem with the amount of people on the payroll.
When the amount of people on the governments payroll or that are receiving direct assistance from the government exceeds the amount of people who are not on the payroll there is a huge problem.
We live in a majority rules system and when the majority of people have a vested right in maintaining the system I will make 2 predictions.
1.) We will not see any significant change in our cars direction as we are heading over the cliff.
or
2.) The people on the dole will continue to look for ways to bleed the people not on the dole postponing #1 until we see some kind of exodus, revolt or utter collapse.
Either way I am increasingly believing we are past the point of no return with the number of people on the take...as the baby boomers become increasingly dependant on Social Security and Government Plans this will just keep pushing the scale the opposite way.
Friday, April 22, 2011
So this is how the end begins.....
Bachmann among Time's 'most influential' for 2011
I think this is one of the signs of the Apocalypse or at the very least the scariest headline I have ever seen in my life.
I think the fact that she is gaining sway is terrible indication of where our country is at mentally and probably the biggest indicator that our education system is failing at an alarming rate.
http://www.startribune.com/local/120348989.html
I think this is one of the signs of the Apocalypse or at the very least the scariest headline I have ever seen in my life.
I think the fact that she is gaining sway is terrible indication of where our country is at mentally and probably the biggest indicator that our education system is failing at an alarming rate.
http://www.startribune.com/local/120348989.html
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Should be Net Expense of All Education Loans
Not being incredibly lucky or gifted by birthright I had few options available on how to make myself “successful”
The option I choice is the same option that is available to 95% of all Americans.
Takeout a huge ass loan and go to school, work really hard and finish.
However when most assessments take place they only look @ the gross income or in the very least they deduct the interest that a person pays on their student loan.
So if you spend $100,000 dollars on a degree and you work in a job that earns a $100,000 with your debt and interest, time invested to get there should you be taxed at a higher rate than someone who doesn’t have these expenses but only makes $40,000 a year?
Not really sure where I am going with this but I think all education expenses should be deducted interest and principal and any tax assessment that happens should be leveled against the net of debt and earnings.
Talk about a middle income tax credit that would reshape the country…
The option I choice is the same option that is available to 95% of all Americans.
Takeout a huge ass loan and go to school, work really hard and finish.
However when most assessments take place they only look @ the gross income or in the very least they deduct the interest that a person pays on their student loan.
So if you spend $100,000 dollars on a degree and you work in a job that earns a $100,000 with your debt and interest, time invested to get there should you be taxed at a higher rate than someone who doesn’t have these expenses but only makes $40,000 a year?
Not really sure where I am going with this but I think all education expenses should be deducted interest and principal and any tax assessment that happens should be leveled against the net of debt and earnings.
Talk about a middle income tax credit that would reshape the country…
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Quick Thought: High Taxes Kill Jobs?
Anytime you hear political rhetoric that includes terms like kill or death it has been created explicitly to scare you.
I am going to let you in on a little secret.
Come closer…
Taxes actually encourage small businesses to grow….
You see when a small business hires an employee, that employee becomes a deduction for the business. That is right a business can reduce its tax burden by hiring people. It can also reduce its tax burden by investing in machines, technology expansion.
When you hear a person saying that high taxes will kill jobs what they are really saying is I want more money coming into my pocket but I am not going to say that since you might not vote for more money coming into my pocket so I will scare you and say if you don’t vote for more money coming into my pocket you will lose your jobs.
I have been spending the better part of my formal education in my MBA program learning how to help business avoid paying any taxes at all; it is really fascinating to see so many people buy into the concept that businesses should not have to pay taxes at all. You done been duped.
Or as I like to say these days you have been FOXED
I have been using the word foxed as in trickery, fooled, hoodwinked lately it hasn’t quite caught on yet but I am sure it will.
I am going to let you in on a little secret.
Come closer…
Taxes actually encourage small businesses to grow….
You see when a small business hires an employee, that employee becomes a deduction for the business. That is right a business can reduce its tax burden by hiring people. It can also reduce its tax burden by investing in machines, technology expansion.
When you hear a person saying that high taxes will kill jobs what they are really saying is I want more money coming into my pocket but I am not going to say that since you might not vote for more money coming into my pocket so I will scare you and say if you don’t vote for more money coming into my pocket you will lose your jobs.
I have been spending the better part of my formal education in my MBA program learning how to help business avoid paying any taxes at all; it is really fascinating to see so many people buy into the concept that businesses should not have to pay taxes at all. You done been duped.
Or as I like to say these days you have been FOXED
I have been using the word foxed as in trickery, fooled, hoodwinked lately it hasn’t quite caught on yet but I am sure it will.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Being PC
Book Review and a Classic Example of the Books Subject
I just read Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks: . . . And Other Complaints from an Angry Middle-Aged White Guy, by Adam Carolla. Cause I like Adam Carolla. I like comedians in general because they always (Even if you don’t agree with them) get you to look at a subject in a new way.
What I thought was interesting about this books was not so much the subject of it but the reaction I got from people finding out I was reading it.
My linked in account reflects my current amazon.com reading activity. This book being one of them. I had no less then 5 emails saying I should delete this book from my linked in account or I was committing corporate suicide. All of these replies came from people who haven’t even read the book.
A book which globally is about the over Politically Correctness of our society.
Yes there is a lot of language in the book that is troubling, yes there is subject matter that I don’t agree with, but the whole point of learning or listening to multiple viewpoints is keeping a fresh perspective. Challenge assumptions. Curiosity, Think about things. All of which are highly desirable traits I would want in my co-workers.
I just read Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks: . . . And Other Complaints from an Angry Middle-Aged White Guy, by Adam Carolla. Cause I like Adam Carolla. I like comedians in general because they always (Even if you don’t agree with them) get you to look at a subject in a new way.
What I thought was interesting about this books was not so much the subject of it but the reaction I got from people finding out I was reading it.
My linked in account reflects my current amazon.com reading activity. This book being one of them. I had no less then 5 emails saying I should delete this book from my linked in account or I was committing corporate suicide. All of these replies came from people who haven’t even read the book.
A book which globally is about the over Politically Correctness of our society.
Yes there is a lot of language in the book that is troubling, yes there is subject matter that I don’t agree with, but the whole point of learning or listening to multiple viewpoints is keeping a fresh perspective. Challenge assumptions. Curiosity, Think about things. All of which are highly desirable traits I would want in my co-workers.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Tag Line for 2011
A little less fun and a lot more done. - Brian's Mission Statement for 2011
So far it is off to a good start. There is no feeling quite like the feeling of being completely organized and making visible progress to a goal.
Some other highlights as of late
1.) Started watching Archer Season One - that is funny I can only imagine how much more awesome family guy could be if it was written for cable.
2.) Saw Winters Bone - I liked it it was gritty and a little different and I appreciated that.
3.) Been kicking but on my goals for 2011 and it just feels good.
4.) Still using the Red Dragon and I haven't smoked an analog cigarette in over a month and it feels good.
5.) Been working out every day not super exerting mind you but enough that I feel better and have more energy.
6.) I have really good at not drinking during the week and it feels really good and saves a ton of money. And to tell you the truth I don't miss my two cocktails a night like I thought I would.
7.) Work is going good I have been digging in and my goal for this year is to keep turning up the heat and knocking stuff out to make more and more of a name here.
So far it is off to a good start. There is no feeling quite like the feeling of being completely organized and making visible progress to a goal.
Some other highlights as of late
1.) Started watching Archer Season One - that is funny I can only imagine how much more awesome family guy could be if it was written for cable.
2.) Saw Winters Bone - I liked it it was gritty and a little different and I appreciated that.
3.) Been kicking but on my goals for 2011 and it just feels good.
4.) Still using the Red Dragon and I haven't smoked an analog cigarette in over a month and it feels good.
5.) Been working out every day not super exerting mind you but enough that I feel better and have more energy.
6.) I have really good at not drinking during the week and it feels really good and saves a ton of money. And to tell you the truth I don't miss my two cocktails a night like I thought I would.
7.) Work is going good I have been digging in and my goal for this year is to keep turning up the heat and knocking stuff out to make more and more of a name here.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
On the Nature of Rock Bottom
I think one of the problems with the concept of hitting rock bottom is that people think is a destination that can viewed and accessed via criteria by a third party. That there are set of checklist items that can be crossed off a list to determine when someone has hit rock bottom.
There is an old saying that if you think it can’t get any worse you lack sufficient imagination.
This failure of imagination is often why we find ourselves breathless with wonder saying this must be it since it can’t get anywise and yet it undoubtedly does.
In this way I think the nature of rock bottom is similar to being tortured.
Unfortunately it is self inflicted torture, a battle with our own inner ego.
Unfortunately for those who have to watch it play out it is every bit as heart breaking as watching someone you love actually tortured.
Everybody has a breaking point but everybody’s breaking point is different.
While having your toenails pulled out with a pliers may seem to be enough for some people for other people it is just a Saturday afternoon. The amount of self mutilation that a person can do to themselves is all relative to that individual. Pride, stubbornness, lack of options, fear of defeat all manifest themselves in different doses from one person to the next.
I cannot speak for what other people feel or other peoples experience but I understand completely when people say reaching the breaking point is an almost religious experience. There is something in that moment when you realize you have to change, you surrender, you submit your will and check your pride. There is a release, a liberation, a freedom that comes from being honest with yourself.
I don’t find it at all unusual that 12 step programs focus a lot on God because for most people in that darkest moment when you have admit defeat, that you have lost control. For most people when they get to that point they have broken so many relationships, pushed so many people away that in that moment there is no one else to call out for help to.
I am not a religious man in fact quite the opposite but I understand that point. It is not about who or what you reach out to in that moment only that you realize you need to reach out.
I am not really sure what you can do to help someone who is trying to find their point, other then keep an open door and try to show positive alternatives.
There is an old story..
“Once upon a time a man walked to visit his friend. As he arrived closer he could hear his friends dog howling in the door way. As he walked into his friends house past the wailing dog he asked his friend what is wrong with his dog. His friend replied that his dog was standing on a nail. He asked why doesn’t he move? His friend relied back, because it doesn’t hurt enough.”
It is the enough that is the hard part.
The only thing I guess I really know about this is that everybody has a breaking point, everybody’s breaking point is different and it sucks watching them try to find it.
There is an old saying that if you think it can’t get any worse you lack sufficient imagination.
This failure of imagination is often why we find ourselves breathless with wonder saying this must be it since it can’t get anywise and yet it undoubtedly does.
In this way I think the nature of rock bottom is similar to being tortured.
Unfortunately it is self inflicted torture, a battle with our own inner ego.
Unfortunately for those who have to watch it play out it is every bit as heart breaking as watching someone you love actually tortured.
Everybody has a breaking point but everybody’s breaking point is different.
While having your toenails pulled out with a pliers may seem to be enough for some people for other people it is just a Saturday afternoon. The amount of self mutilation that a person can do to themselves is all relative to that individual. Pride, stubbornness, lack of options, fear of defeat all manifest themselves in different doses from one person to the next.
I cannot speak for what other people feel or other peoples experience but I understand completely when people say reaching the breaking point is an almost religious experience. There is something in that moment when you realize you have to change, you surrender, you submit your will and check your pride. There is a release, a liberation, a freedom that comes from being honest with yourself.
I don’t find it at all unusual that 12 step programs focus a lot on God because for most people in that darkest moment when you have admit defeat, that you have lost control. For most people when they get to that point they have broken so many relationships, pushed so many people away that in that moment there is no one else to call out for help to.
I am not a religious man in fact quite the opposite but I understand that point. It is not about who or what you reach out to in that moment only that you realize you need to reach out.
I am not really sure what you can do to help someone who is trying to find their point, other then keep an open door and try to show positive alternatives.
There is an old story..
“Once upon a time a man walked to visit his friend. As he arrived closer he could hear his friends dog howling in the door way. As he walked into his friends house past the wailing dog he asked his friend what is wrong with his dog. His friend replied that his dog was standing on a nail. He asked why doesn’t he move? His friend relied back, because it doesn’t hurt enough.”
It is the enough that is the hard part.
The only thing I guess I really know about this is that everybody has a breaking point, everybody’s breaking point is different and it sucks watching them try to find it.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Be That Guy – Friday Update – Short Change the Group
In an effort to save all of us from the over indulgence of worrying about everybody’s feelings all the time and testing the bounds of the long held assumption that nice guys finish last I am giving everybody permission to be an asshole, tool box douche once a week.
This weekend’s challenge - Short change the group.
We all have people like this we currently go out with you know the people they drink grey goose vodka redbulls and the filet and then suggest the bill be split and they still short change the table, but for some reason you keep going out with that person. Well now it is your turn.
Order whatever you want all night. Leave a $20.00 bill under your glass and walk out.
They will not make a big deal about it. If they do tell them they are stupid and don't know how to add....throw in they should stop being cheap and walk away.
This weekend’s challenge - Short change the group.
We all have people like this we currently go out with you know the people they drink grey goose vodka redbulls and the filet and then suggest the bill be split and they still short change the table, but for some reason you keep going out with that person. Well now it is your turn.
Order whatever you want all night. Leave a $20.00 bill under your glass and walk out.
They will not make a big deal about it. If they do tell them they are stupid and don't know how to add....throw in they should stop being cheap and walk away.
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