How Do Kids Come Up With This Stuff?

They used to say my generation was going to pot… I’d say the new one is going to “smarties”

1 Hour Away In Vancouver

Screw those people that think they need to turn off our lights to take part in Earth Hour… it’s the Celebrate Human Achievement Hour at 8:30PM today

The Competitive Enterprise Institute is holding a counter-protest during the same time period called Celebrate Human Achievement Hour, which will “salute the people who keep the lights on and produce the energy that helps make human achievement possible.”

Green and private conservation are fine. We have no problem with an individual (or group) that wants to sit naked in the dark without heat, clothing, or light. Additionally, we would have no problem with the group holding a pro-green technology rally. That is their choice. But when this group stages a “global election” with the express purpose of influencing “government policies to take action against global warming,” we have every right as individuals to express our vote for the opposite

If Human Achievement Hour is at all a dig against Earth Hour, it is so only by the fact that we are pointing out what Earth Hour truly is about: it isn’t pro-earth, it is anti-man and anti-innovation. So, on March 28th, CEI plans to continue “voting” for humanity by enjoying the fruits of man’s mind.

Got all systems ready… let’s light up Vancouver before we the rain rolls in again tonight for another week of dark.

photo credit: @ly$ in wonderland

Running Out Of Time

photo credit: fsgm

Now that Obama has decided to go all in… you might want to take the time to read this article from the The Atlantic on the the implications, and what it will be like when the IMF steps in.

by Simon Johnson, a professor at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, who was the chief economist at the International Monetary Fund during 2007 and 2008.

Emerging-market countries have only a precarious hold on wealth, and are weaklings globally. When they get into trouble, they quite literally run out of money—or at least out of foreign currency, without which they cannot survive. They must make difficult decisions; ultimately, aggressive action is baked into the cake. But the U.S., of course, is the world’s most powerful nation, rich beyond measure, and blessed with the exorbitant privilege of paying its foreign debts in its own currency, which it can print. As a result, it could very well stumble along for years—as Japan did during its lost decade—never summoning the courage to do what it needs to do, and never really recovering. A clean break with the past—involving the takeover and cleanup of major banks—hardly looks like a sure thing right now. Certainly no one at the IMF can force it.

In my view, the U.S. faces two plausible scenarios. The first involves complicated bank-by-bank deals and a continual drumbeat of (repeated) bailouts, like the ones we saw in February with Citigroup and AIG. The administration will try to muddle through, and confusion will reign…

Our future could be one in which continued tumult feeds the looting of the financial system, and we talk more and more about exactly how our oligarchs became bandits and how the economy just can’t seem to get into gear.

The second scenario begins more bleakly, and might end that way too. But it does provide at least some hope that we’ll be shaken out of our torpor. It goes like this: the global economy continues to deteriorate, the banking system in east-central Europe collapses, and—because eastern Europe’s banks are mostly owned by western European banks—justifiable fears of government insolvency spread throughout the Continent. Creditors take further hits and confidence falls further. The Asian economies that export manufactured goods are devastated, and the commodity producers in Latin America and Africa are not much better off. A dramatic worsening of the global environment forces the U.S. economy, already staggering, down onto both knees. The baseline growth rates used in the administration’s current budget are increasingly seen as unrealistic, and the rosy “stress scenario” that the U.S. Treasury is currently using to evaluate banks’ balance sheets becomes a source of great embarrassment.

Under this kind of pressure, and faced with the prospect of a national and global collapse, minds may become more concentrated.

The conventional wisdom among the elite is still that the current slump “cannot be as bad as the Great Depression.” This view is wrong. What we face now could, in fact, be worse than the Great Depression—because the world is now so much more interconnected and because the banking sector is now so big.

It’s a great article… read on.

LA For The Week

Thought of the day…

Breakfast is the only meal of the day that I tend to view with the same kind of traditionalized reverence that most people associate with Lunch and Dinner.

I like to eat breakfast alone, and almost never before noon; anybody with a terminally jangled lifestyle needs at least one psychic anchor every twenty-four hours, and mine is breakfast. In Hong Kong, Dallas or at home — and regardless of whether or not I have been to bed — breakfast is a personal ritual that can only be properly observed alone, and in a spirit of genuine excess.

The food factor should always be massive: four Bloody Marys, two grapefruits, a pot of coffee, Rangoon crepes, a half-pound of either sausage, bacon, or corned beef hash with diced chiles, a Spanish omelette or eggs Benedict, a quart of milk, a chopped lemon for random seasoning, and something like a slice of Key lime pie, two margaritas, and six lines of the best cocaine for dessert….

Right, and there should also be two or three newspapers, all mail and messages, a telephone, a notebook for planning the next twenty-four hours and at least one source of good music….

All of which should be dealt with outside, in the warmth of a hot sun, and preferably stone naked.

Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005)

And perhaps the most rambling interview ever:

Hunter Thompson and Kieth Richards. Where are the subtitles when you need them. Great interview where they discuss everything from the Rosemont concert to J Edgar Hoover. Starts fuzzy then cleans up nice.

Saturday Video – Truth In Advertising

This is the interpretation of the great good one selling the raping of America.

Great subtitles to the world’s longest election campaign.

Is it me, or has he been on the air every day since he’s been elected. Maybe if he would put half as much effort on governing, and solving the financial crisis, he may learn to be a leader.

Time To Go Galt

In Canada, it’s been long accepted that going Galt was simply a prudent way to live – the tax rates are structured to make sure we all stay in the lower zone of income – punishing those that get too far above. It’s the Wayne Gretzky rule – score too many goals and they’ll move the net.

I have long planned revenues around not going over the small business 200K profit allowance, so I wouldn’t fall into the maximum tax bracket. This strategy used by most successful small business has held Canada back for years.

For those that aren’t aware of the “Atlas Shrugged” book, here’s what Going Galt means:

The plot of Rand’s novel is simple -  The United States is governed by bureaucrats, “looters” and “moochers,” who penalize and demonize creative people. The country is in decline because creative people are disappearing — they have followed the innovative John Galt to a mountain enclave, “Galt’s Gulch,” where they watch society crumble. Creativity has gone on strike, and the engine of capitalism cannot run without it.

It pretty much fits the Obama government to a ‘T’. He is forcing the people who can actually turn things around, entrepreneurs, into taking this year off.

So today, where we have a congress of looters in the US that has decided to tax anyone bonuses in bailed out companies at 90% – pretty much declaring that bonuses are no longer allowed (under the manufactured ploy of the AIG ‘crisis’): More »

UN Moves To World Tax – Democrats Move To Control Food

Just so we know what we are up against… if you had any doubt:

$750 billion “green” investment could revive economy: U.N.

“The opportunity must not be lost,” Steiner, head of the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP), told Reuters of a UNEP study that will be put to world leaders meeting in London on April 2 to work out how to spur the ailing economy.

The UNEP report said investments of one percent of global gross domestic product, or about $750 billion, could bankroll a “Global Green New Deal” inspired by the “New Deal” of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt that helped end the depression of the 1930s.

“It would be almost, if not totally, unnoticed by the consumer,” he said, especially since oil prices have fallen from more than $140 a barrel at mid-2008 peaks to about $40.”

Carbon markets, which could also be a source of funds to help fight climate change, were unlikely to contribute enough cash in early years of a new climate deal, he said.

The long and short of it, is that once the UN starts taxing the world, we’re cooked. The “never let a crisis go to waste” socialist mentality is waiting to be sprung on the world.

Now that they’ve admitted that they are not content with the cap and trade market revenues, they’ll need to find all sorts of new ways to tax us.

Canada is ahead of the game on quietly taxing things for environmental reasons. That’s why a bottle of water is over a dollar at the 7/11.  We may not notice all of the hidden taxes stacked up on everything we buy, but it has made us all a lot poorer.

Unfortunately, the UN has a willing partner in the new president of the US.

Next Up – check out HR 875 – coming soon:

This bill will require government-mandated licensing, chemical application and inspections for non-corporate grown food in the USA.

This destroy organic farming and your local farmer’s market, the way the proposed resolution is written, even home grown tomatoes will be illegal.

Remember the “Victory Gardens” from WWII? Well, they’d be illegal without complying with new government regulations and allowing government inspection of your home garden?!

This bill was introduced by Rosa L. DeLauro, whose husband works for Monsanto. Yes, this is the Monsanto that now pretty much owns the seed industry.

The world has gone mad.

photo credit: themikebot

Wednesday Night Art

This is a great example of what happens when you’re in the hills, have plenty of participants, and way too much time on your hands.

Very creative.. HQ is also available here.

Teleprompter Dependancy

Obama Thanks Himself, Irish PM Repeats Speech in Teleprompter Meltdown

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen was just a few paragraphs into an address at a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House when he realized something sounded way too familiar. Turns out, he was repeating the speech President Barack Obama had just given.

Cowen was 20 seconds into his second address when it dawned on him that he was giving word for word the speech that Obama had just read from the same teleprompter.

Here’s what happens when you can only talk with a teleprompter… at least W only got one word wrong at a time. Obama actually can’t perform without one.

When he interviews, listen for the uh,uh,uh… but,but… I,I,I… it means he doesn’t know the answer and is making one up. Which happens every time he is off the script some writer has created for him.

Wonder How Vancouver Would Rate?

A surprising ranking of America’s most depressing cities by BusinessWeek.com. They came up with the list of the 20 unhappiest major cities ranked by rates of suicide, depression, divorce, unemployment, job loss, population loss, crime, amount of green space, and cloudy days.

Emphasis was given to suicide and depression rates, crime, and economic factors.

The city with the highest overall score was Portland,  with very high depression and suicide rates.

1) Portland, Ore.

Overall rank: 1*
Depression rank: 1
Suicide rank: 12
Crime (property and violent) rank: 24
Divorce rate rank: 4
Cloudy days: 222
Unemployment rate (December 2008): 7.8%

You can see the standings here…

To put it into perspective, New Orleans is number 3.

photo credit: Aaron Michael Brown

Today’s Top Al Gore Post

Why Al Gore….

Uncut genius here.

If you don’t follow Kate, now is a good time to start. She makes my day. Great wit from my home province.

(I keep looking for her RSS… let me know if you find it.)

photo credit: Mitch King

Another Business Going Bust

Boob-job biz sagging: Economic meltdown is causing many to delay cosmetic surgery, survey says

A study released Monday shows a business sector that’s really hurting.

Cosmetic surgical procedures have plummeted 15%, and nonsurgical procedures are down 12%, according to the survey by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Nationwide, breast augmentations, which cost up to $4,000, fell from nearly 400,000 in 2007 to 355,671 last year. Tummy tucks, which run $5,400, were down by 37,943 cases, while the number of $2,800 eyelid surgeries was off by 45,659.

Even $443 Botox injections dropped from 2.7 million in 2007 to 2.4 million last year.

Overall, the number of cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. has fallen from a high of 11.8 million in 2004 to 10.2 million last year.

This is one business that could really use a lift from the stimulus. We’re falling apart here…

photo credit: Ian Samuel

Democrats Move Toward Selective Taxation

Bit of a case of buyers remorse.. you’d think that they would have looked into things before handing over 170 billion or so.

AIG bonus checks may be taxed at up to 100%, says Sen. Chuck Schumer

If AIG execs won’t return their $450 million in bonuses, lawmakers threatened Tuesday to pass a special new law taxing the payouts at anywhere from 60% to 100%.

“They should voluntarily return them. If they don’t, we plan to tax virtually all of it,” New York Sen. Chuck Schumer declared in a speech on the Senate floor.

“To those of you getting these bonuses: be forewarned, you will not be getting to keep them.”

Although I am not for the bonuses – they are contractually obligated to pay thm.

Once government decides it can cancel contracts as it pleases, America is in deep trouble. Or even worse, decides to selectively tax anyone that they don’t agree with.

Obama has a bad partner in AIG, but to use it the way they are is chilling. And childish.

Maybe someday we can get the same reaction from the earmarks…

photo credit: darkmatter

Be Leery Of The Small Business Stimulus

LA Times: “Today, too many entrepreneurs can’t access the capital to start, operate or grow their business. Too many dreams are being deferred or denied by a form letter canceling a line of credit,” Obama said after meeting at the White House with small-business owners and community bankers.

Under the new program, the Treasury Department would buy as much as $15 billion in loans made by banks and guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. Banks, which have been unable to sell such loans because of the credit crunch, could then turn around and make new loans.

The White House will use 730 million dollars in stimulus money to immediately cut small business lending fees, and raise loan guarantees up to 90 percent. They also plan to thaw the credit market by taking billions from the bank bailout package to buy many loans from community banks.

Works out to $500 per business.

My guess is it will cost $2-3,000 in time for a small business owner to get through the red tape.

The way they’ve been navigating the stimulus so far, most small business owners would be wise to skip this plan. I was told a long time ago that the best way to lose your business is to rely on government help.

The answer is to have the government get out of the way, drop taxes, and let business do it alone.

There are people out in the small business market that understand the challenge a lot more than the Obama administration… people like Janet Switzer who has a much better better small business stimulus – buy her book, or get her instant income plan.

Your business will be much better off.

Monday Night Movie In HQ – Grab Your Popcorn.

Two months ago I don’t think anyone would have thought that the US could turn the way it has..

Great video to make one think about where we are headed.

The Obama Deception.

Monday Night Viewing

The Guide to the New World Order

… 10  minutes. The controversy continues.

The original Bilderberg conference was held at the Hotel de Bilderberg, near Arnhem in The Netherlands, from May 29 to May 31, 1954.  The meeting was initiated by several people, including Joseph Retinger, concerned about the growth of anti-Americanism in Western Europe, who proposed an international conference at which leaders from European countries and the United States would be brought together with the aim of promoting understanding between the cultures of United States of America and Western Europe… here’s a perspective of what the meeting has become.

Sunday Video Series – John Stossel On BullShit

Bailouts and Bull… in case you missed the show.

Eye opening and spot on. Finally someone being honest about the stimulus lies, and how infrastructure spending won’t work. John takes on all the idiocy of the current situation.

He covers all the issues in these 6 videos… Whether the government should fix the economy; the attainability of the American Dream; a proposal for universal pre-kindergarten; fencing in the U.S. border; increasing traffic and killer commutes; medical marijuana.

Part 1:

Part 2:

More »