A FUNNY THING ABOUT TODAY'S ECONOMY AND HEADLINES...

is that the general public is learning what many companies have not been doing, or aren't doing, or should have been doing. It's like a dumbed-down version of 'Enron', kind of like a flu-shot you get.

So many public companies are coming undone, and many exposed to the scrutiny of the consumers, investors, our own government, other countries' economies. It is just sad that there is still a lack of transparency admist current policy & regulations that are in place (i.e. SEC, FTC, PUC, FDA, etc). What will it take to restore integrity to our open, competitive markets? What??!!!!

I can't help but laugh when I think that a bottle of water, even a candy bar costs more than a share of a once-multi billion dollar company. Maybe that is the next revolution: stock up on water, candy bars and goodies, and you will be the master of the universe in an economic downturn.

The money is out there-it can't simply have vanished into thin-air. When you are at a casino table [pick your game of choice], you either win or lose money. If you win money, the chips are right in front of you; if you lose money, the chips are in front of the dealer. Regardless, YOU KNOW WHERE THE CHIPS ARE! In aggregate, all the major governments of the world have poured TRILLIONS of dollars in capital into it's financial system, and that still doesn't help? Where has the money gone to? What are companies and banks still not telling us about their debt positions? Who are these creditors? Insurance companies, like AIG - where is all that money you got? These are the questions I ask and wonder about, and I know I am only among millions of others that are asking the same thing.

And no, don't blame it on aliens.

PURGING OUT THE OLD...

AND HOPEFULLY MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW.

I know Halloween has passed, but I can't help but laugh at this picture my co-worker had found and sent to us.

As much as it is representative of "too much partying," in a sort of analogous way, it is representative of the times. Our economy has downed some pretty nasty stuff over the last couple years, and the only way to get back to the road to recovery is to purge the bad stuff, and reset. At the same time, many of us are just kind of caught with a sort of bewilderment-like expression of "man, what happened?" or "what the @#%$$^ is going on with our economy and the world?".

So often, I think about the areas in my life I need to "purge" in order to make way for the new. You know, the customary things, like bad habits, bad ideas, bad diet, bad choices, bad attitudes. As optimistic as I like to always label myself, it has been more challenging to see the positive. It's like I ate a bad taco, or had 2 glasses of regular milk without my lactaid pills, and with cereal that offers 51% of your daily allowance of fiber intake per serving.

I know, TMI analogy. And yes, I am lactose intolerent.

In a funny way, this picture just reminds me of how important my responsibility as an individual, and as a citizen can mean in the context of our homes, our families, our country, and collectively the world. I know sometimes I just look up, and pray that God would just do something. But it is not so much a call upward, but moreso, a call downward. It is a call to DO SOMETHING because we all have a stake in the work of restoration and reconciliation. If we sit idly, and proverbially just stuff ourselves with the same 'bad stuff', we are most likely not going to feel well, or do well. I think we are such creatures of habit, but CHANGE HAS COME (as the new President elect often says). I say: WILL YOU MAKE IT MATTER THIS TIME?

And so that is my theme for upcoming new year. Whoever still reads this (and thanks if you do), spread the word, encourage your friends and family, retool your ideas, and make it matter...

cuz it DOES MATTER!!!

Financial Firms & Banks & the Economy

REPORT CARD GRADE: F - ! ! !

What is bigger than the fall of Enron?

How about, our economy. Bank failures, big investment houses such as Lehman, AIG, Bear-Stearns, WaMu...the list goes on but it's very depressing to write. Retail giants. Auto makers. California. (yes, how could we have 2 consecutive $15 Billion budget deficits in a row, and currently not have an approved budget for a fiscal year that already started? Um, HELLO!!!!

Fannie Mae. Freddie Mac. Indy-Mac....don't name your kids any of these unless you want them to be teased till kingdom come.

So many things have happened to our financial markets over the past year, let alone the last 3 weeks, that I can't help but wonder what justifies selecting & paying executives of those companies, the millions and millions of dollars they receive, only to watch our economic foundations get brittle like termite-invested planks. Even skin deeper, now I question the quality of those fine ivy-league colleges with the big-name graduate business schools and professors. I know these schools have their merit, but right now I move them to my short list. At this point it just feels like some aspects of our higher education system are shallow.

As citizens we push and make education priority; but teachers lose their jobs, and those that do well get paid little & feel less empowered to thrive, and many actually quit.

We push for better healthcare, but many families and individuals can't afford it because the health care providers are too busy figuring out how to give the CEO(s) almost a billion dollars in options & other compensation. Was the priority even straight to begin with?

Our infrastructures across the land are weakening...where is all the money REALLY going toward, hmm?

We asked for higher accountability in our marketplace, but where is the oversight?

It really feels like we are creating a "candy wrapper, without the candy inside" type of society (I heard a pastor use that analogy about a person's integrity and character; in my opinion, I think this notion is useful here). Where is the substance of those values we keep talking about? Where is the substance and integrity of the leadership we count on? After so many books on it, we still can't get it right?

$10 says there will be an FBI report or publication entitled "We saw this coming...5 years ago."

If there are folks that smart that they can investigate and write hind-sight reports like these, why aren't they being responsible enough to say something? And our 'Fundamentals' are still strong? What are 'fundamentals'? They are not fun, and right now, they are completely making me mental!! I think the politicians who keep using it in the press need to define it for the public and the lay-person, because there are still quite a few people that don't know the financial market lingo.

I read/watch CNN, CNBC, listen to AM news radio stations, read different newspapers, Yahoo (yes, YAHOO), the list goes on. All the personalities that write/report our daily news and events get paid big bucks. Sometimes I think "for what?". All you have to do is get out, drive a few miles, talk to your own friends, and you will know more deeply what is truly going on in our economy. And by most measures, that information is free.

So what will it take to get out of this hole? A DEFINITE change in our attitudes. It will take common sense, firm communication and creating a REAL sense of understanding to anyone who has a job, needs a job, or even is retired. I think it will take challenging some or all of the logic that we understand to be the "law of economics" because that logic is leaving A LOT of people behind. Think outside the box? I don't think there was a 'box' to begin with! Duped again!!

I am frustrated with being frustrated!!!!

And what about the poor and the marginalized? They seem to get ignored when the economy is doing well; and they still seem like they are being ignored when the economy, such as now, is bordering on broken. Celebrities are foreclosing on their multi-million dollar real estate?...GIVE ME A BREAK!!! I dare that celebrity to say that to the face of the homeless man or poor family that think about provision for their next meal, and on a daily basis. The reality is that they won't; the sad thing is that it's true.

One of the lessons I learned when my parents passed away, 18 years ago this year, is that there is great value in loss. I think sometimes it will take a tragic event for one to realize the value of what is lost. We grieve, we mourn, and hopefully we rebuild and with renewed understanding. I think in a real sense, that is what probably needed to happen with our economy for many of us to simply understand. Of course I don't like it, nobody does! A change in attitude and perspective are partners in recovery. I seriously hope we become 'students' of our own economy, because right now it is failing on the whole.

Just think for a moment, how it would feel to have an "A grade" economy. I know it's hard to see now; then again, was it ever that high? What if we were empowered by the right kind of political leaders, the right kind of business men and women, the right kind of teachers? Even with those people, there will still be some cyclical action in the transition, but falling and getting a scrape is a far cry different from falling and breaking your bones.

I love my bones.

'FISH' OIL

Question: Since the oil prices (NYMEX Crude Oil) have taken a downward dive this week, with documented news and coverage that supplies have been increasing, then WHY-let me repeat-WHY are gas prices at the pumps still rising? Why is the price of everything else rising?

I am going to research into this one. That is in large part why I support the claim that there is market manipulation in play.

We [the consumer] are at the mercy of what the media tells us.

We are at the mercy of the fuel companies charging what they charge and changing those plastic cards on the gas-station pylon signs week in and week out (yes, Chevron, Exxon-Mobil, Shell-not that I'm naming names or anything).

We are at the mercy of paying tax dollars for the government and governing exchange market boards to investigate the meteoric rise of gas/fuel prices...only, it is about 8 months too late.

Thanks, I guess. Then again, what other choice do we have?

In my opinion, I think there is a cover-up. I think the media, oil executives, and government officials have caused inflation to accelerate faster by first instilling the 'fear', and then putting themselves in the 'position' to be the 'hero', if in fact we ever see reasonable prices again. What do I mean by 'fear?' When you watch the news, or hear on the radio, that the gas at your locale has risen again, what is your initial reaction? Yup, mine too. At this point, asking for lower prices is now like asking for the moon!

Cut the jargon! Cut the rhetoric! Are we in recession? Are we not? WHO CARES NOW! Give me a break! Media and government are wasting money talking and debating over the same thing, over and over, and over....

People are starving. People are losing homes and jobs. Debt is rising. Morale is low. Troops in Iraq are dying unnecessarily (yes, I don't think we don't need to be there anymore). People are flat out frustrated.

Prices are rising and quality is falling. I'm sorry, but I think it's lame for any CEO to receive over a $1 Million in any sort of compensation, especially when things are not going well, PERIOD!!!!!

And those congressional hearings on sports figures doping up with HGH or other performance enhancing drugs? C'mon! We are paying double for that kind of drama (1. our tax dollars; 2. tickets to games). BOO!!!!!!

I just think it funny that the buzz-words-of-the-day are "conserve" or "alternative". Why not focus on reducing waste? I'm not just talking about fuel, or uneaten food (especially in the food services industry), but all the drama listed above, and some I haven't even written about. We need to get out of a "buffet-style" mentality. I will say, if there is one thing that has fallen, I believe it's our values...but that is another topic to write on.

Ok, I may be a bit cynical here...mmm...ok, more like venting. I realize I have a lot of research ahead of me. But the feelings and reactions are real, and justified. Something just smells fishy, and it is not just the oil. Ya know, as if there weren't enough injustices in the world before this 'circus'.

So stay tuned....

(pssst...at least this blogger is still for free...+1 for the little man!)

Jury Duty, um yeah.

Sir, yes sir! Reporting for jury duty sir! At O-frickin-800 hours sir!

Today's 'sermon' is a judge giving an orientation talking about his starting tenure here when the building was first opened and disclaiming if the air conditioning breaks...that it's not his fault.

Yes, your Honor.

So my call date was Friday May 9. The group called for that day had to report at 12:30pm.

The recording directs that my group # is to call after 5pm on Monday May 12.

At 5:34 Monday, I call and get this: "For group #s 5--- through 5---, please report to the Jury Assembly Room at 7:30am..."

7:30am!!!

Plus, it happens to be "Jury Appreciation Week"...we are supposed to get magnets and post-its.

yippee. No, not really.

I will be happy to mention that this is my 1st time appearing in person for jury selection.

yippee. No, not really.

As I grudgingly and respectfully wait, to fulfill my annual 'civic duty', I wait. I wait and hope that the judge was just kidding about the air conditioning.

Cuz it's gettin hot in this mo-fo!!!

I know, this post is about as exciting as my time here at the jury assembly room.

yippee. No, not really.

WILL THEY HAVE 'MOVIE' THEATERS IN HEAVEN?

I know this is just my imagination running wild on me again, but c'mon, I can't be the only person that wonders what REALLY happened behind the most significant events or is reasonably critical of headlines in our history.

DISCLCAIMER: I'm not a history buff, nor an expert in any one area. I'm only including my current TOP 10 that I wonder about. If you have some, leave a comment!

So if I was in heaven, I would want to see these features:

1. What did O.J. Simpson REALLY do the night of the murders?

2. All the sports games that were "thrown" or "fixed" because of sportsbook betting/gambling, or insider strategies. Plus, all referees, coaches and players that actually bet. Since there are some folks that have been caught, I just wonder how many more are still under the radar.

3. The TRUE story behind the media and its operations. How does the media know where ALL the breaking stories are, and how they amazingly get there so fast. I have this belief that the media somehow "creates" some of their stories. Anyone but me think that the news media may be more powerful than our government, CIA, FBI and [add agency/organization name here], combined? And then, whenever the news attempts to report something positive, like after a murder or reported deaths, it gives some lame story about a monkey that can juggle, or birds have the same 'dna' as gigantic dinosaurs like a T-Rex. And who is REALLY controlling the weather??!!!!!

4. The REAL story behind televangilists.

5. goverment secrets (all major countries)

6. Is Bin Laden REALLY alive, and if so, where has he been hiding all this time?

7. Why do the same 'natural disasters' always happen in virtually the same places? Do you know what I mean? Hurricanes tend to happen along Atlantic coast; tornados through the mid-west; earthquakes (the big ones) in the west; typhoons and tsunamis in the far east. I dunno, for things that happen naturally, it's just funny to me that they predominantly occur in very recognizable regions, in predictable and somehow unusually familar "record-breaking" fashion.

8. Are drug and other medical research companies using third-world countries as their 'test subjects', where absent civil rights and corrupt governments are still predominant? The movie Constant Gardner got me wondering. And what independent 'clinical studies' do these drug and diet supplement companies use when they advertise their products? Are they so obsure that you can't release the name of these so-called research facilities? How about a little more disclosure before we decide to put foreign chemicals inside our bodies? Many people pay good, honest money for them, how about a little more transparency?

9. Who is TRULY benefitting from tobacco and oil companies? I bet there is an A-list of politicians and several millionare/billionare folks in there.

10. Are there really UFOs or is it just strategically released pieces of information used to distract people. PLUS, why are almost ALL UFOs round, with a ring-like feature, almost like the planet Saturn. C'mon now, are we getting lazy on imagination or what!!!

These are my current top 10. How did I arrive at these ideas & questions? I am a normal guy, grew up watching most of the same cartoons (now classics), reading/listening to the same news/media, and started with probably the same imagination template as the next person. (How imagination develops, and its capacity, differs from person to person).

Here are the movies/show that fuel my thinking/imagination: Truman Show; Good Night, and Good Luck; The Insider; Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room; V for Vendetta; Super-Size Me; National Treasure; Constant Gardner, Michael Clayton and the T.V. series LOST.

Yes, it is not the most stellar movie list. I'm not offering movie reviews here, and I am open to other suggestions. The media, these certain movies and t.v. shows sparked a unique curiousity, one that leads me to question what has been fed to us as reality, the intepretation of it, and/or what portion to believe. Plus, other recurring events like the massive toy, meat, produce, automotive recalls, and unusually volatile market conditions, which in my opinion, present injustice issues-are issues that we (the consumer) often end up paying double for. Anyone out there lookin out for the 'little man'?!!!!!

As 'crazy' as my imagination can be at times, I am being honest here about my curiousity.

Breaking out of the blogger 'SLUMP'...

Have no fear, I still have plenty to say! It has been a very eventful 6 months since that last time I thoughtfully sat down to write, let alone update my blog here.

As if getting back into the swing of things wasn't hard enough, now there are new features/additions on the blogger--let alone everything else in the world--that are now in the mix of life today. It's funny, often times we are encouraged to stop and smell the roses. But nowadays, the way our local and international economy has been, even them 'roses' are starting to cost too much!

I thought smelling was supposed to be free!

Well, everything in life runs through cycles. I know we each can attest to our own individual life happenings; as well as how our life coincides in the context of today's lifestyle/economy/craze/etc.

The world is certainly NOT VOID of fresh content. I hope to add my 3-cents (2-cents, plus 1 penny of inflation) back into the mix of the public blog realm. Shoot, frickin GOOGLE has a Search page for Blogs alone! (Sorry, that was a random brain fart).

2008....here I come!....minus 113 days.

Oh man, 2008 is a LEAP YEAR! (after-shock).