An amazing gift

Think the world does not have much left in it? Want to see true love in action? Give me fifteen minutes and I'll show you.

2009!

We're here! 2009 is finally here. One of the most interesting and challenging years is behind us. We can now look ahead, start afresh, think clearly again. A tabula rasa.

There are many changes ahead of us in 2009. For a start, a new president. He has a lot to accomplish, but he is a smart, capable and motivated fellow. The financial system's overhaul will continue. Politicians will continue to flounder. Gas prices may rise or may continue to fall. The financial markets will continue to be their random selves. Black swans will be sighted.

But, you and I enter the last year of the first decade of the twenty-first century. Let's use this opportunity to re-focus our lives to accomplish what is important in creating a better, healthier, happier, kinder, and selfless community. After all, we do have a stated mission as Americans:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union... insure domestic Tranquility... promote the general Welfare... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

So let's do it! Focus on Domestic Tranquility and the promotion of the General Welfare.

On a personal level, there are many new challenges ahead for me. Stay tuned!

And, finally, keep this in mind:

"Keep a clear eye towards life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God's creature. What you are in His sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received... but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage." -- St. Francis of Assisi

My Christmas Gift to You!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

I promise you'll get something out of it.

Merry Christmas!

America's Worst Breakfast Foods

I recently came across this list and was in complete disbelief. You have to check it out. Here's a summary:

Worst side dish

Burger King Hash Browns (large)

• 620 calories
• 40 g fat (11 g saturated; 13 g trans)
• 1,200 mg sodium
• 60 g carbs

Calorie equilavent: 12 chicken wings

Worst breakfast sandwich

Hardee's Monster Biscuit

• 710 calories
• 51 g fat (17 g saturated)
• 2,250 mg sodium
• 37 g carbohydrates

Sodium equivalent: Six large orders of french fries

Worst kids' meal

Denny's Big Dipper French Toastix with margarine and syrup

• 770 calories
• 71 g fat (13 g saturated)
• 107 g carbs

Fat Equivalent: 23 chicken McNuggets

Worst pastry

Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll

• 813 calories
• 32 g fat (5 g trans fat)
• 117 g carbs

Calorie equivalent: Seven bowls of Froot Loops

Worst smoothie

Smoothie King Grape Expectations II (40 oz.)

• 1,102 calories
• 256 g sugars
• 740 mg sodium

Sugar equivalent: 12 Haagen Dazs ice cream bars

Worst combo meal

McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast

• 1,360 calories
• 64 g fat (22 g saturated)
• 2,325 mg sodium
• 160 g carbs
• 49 g sugars

Saturated fat equivalent: 22 strips of bacon

Worst omelet

IHOP Big Steak Omelet

• 1,490 calories
• (No additional nutrition information available)

Calorie equivalent: More than seven glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts

And the Winner is...

The worst breakfast in America

Bob Evans Stacked and Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Hotcakes

• 1,543 calories
• 77 g fat (26 g saturated; 9 g trans)
• 2,259 mg sodium
• 198 g carbs
• 109 g sugars

Saturated fat equivalent: 26 strips of bacon

Sugar equivalent: 12 chocolate chip cookies

Sodium equivalent: 12 small bags of potato chips

So, there you go. Most unfortunately I quite enjoy the McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast. It's quite a bummer.

Charles Ponzi vs Bernie Madoff

Why exactly is it called a "Ponzi Scheme?" Who was Ponzi? What did he do? All the answers to all your questions about the mastermind of the fraud named after him.

Click here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/20995

Enjoy!

Countdown!

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Wall Street needs a makeover

I recently got to thinking about the role of Wall Street - asset managers, hedge funds, etc - and whether they really promote society's well being, and whether the field is over saturated today.

I certainly believe that we, as a society, are better off with the likes of Vanguard - low-fee index fund king - who allow the general public to invest at least part of their hard-earned money in stocks, which have shown to be a relatively good investment in the long term. However, I think the glitz and glamor of the industry has now attracted far too many individuals for the wrong reasons - greed and money - and society as a whole is probably worse off as these talented individuals go to Wall Street to - essentially - shuffle a deck of cards, instead of working as engineers to, say, build a better bridge, or come up with a new treatment for an illness, or research better ways to produce energy, etc.

Buying and selling stocks is really not very difficult - you click a button these days. So the question is what do you buy and what do you sell. Some generally ask why, but many do not. Regardless, in today's world, we have an industry in which people make 'careers' out of trying to shuffle around other people's money, and in the process they hope to become ultra wealthy. It's really ludicrous, but understandable if you are really producing something good for society, i.e. returns consistently in excess of the average like Warren Buffett. But, given that over 90% of asset managers cannot even beat the S&P 500, I really don't know why they exist. Moreover, I don't know why people happily give them their dough. Wait, I know - financial illiteracy.

Wall Street has become a gigantic card shuffling machine, where the cards are other people's money. This money has been earned by people who actually 'produce' stuff - tangible and intangible - and contribute to the economy's goods and services. Wall Street, on the other hand, simply tries to catch the wave and hopes that other people (those working at companies like GE, MMM, etc) will be successful at building stuff or providing services, but that they (Wall Street) will be enriched. Hedge funds engage in the most sophisticated form of gambling using options, credit default swaps, and other derivatives that are nothing but a zero-sum game, e.g. for the option buyer to win, the seller must lose. (It is not so with stocks in the long run). Anyway, the whole thing is absolutely absurd and I am not surprised that it is falling apart right in front of our delicate eyes.

Goodbye Madoff

Ah the world of finance - one giant card shuffling machine.

Snippets from the article:

"A Wall Street powerbroker for nearly 50 years who built an influential firm has confessed to a massive fraud scheme that will cost investors at least $50 billion, federal authorities say.

"In 2001, Barron's reported that Madoff's firm was one of the three top market makers in Nasdaq stocks and the third-largest firm matching buyers and sellers of securities on the New York Stock Exchange.

"The criminal complaint signed by FBI Agent Theodore Cacioppi said Madoff told at least three senior employees at his Manhattan apartment Wednesday that the investment adviser business was a fraud and had been insolvent for years, losing at least $50 billion.

"Madoff told the employees he was "finished," that he had "absolutely nothing," that "it's all just one big lie" and it was "basically, a giant Ponzi scheme," according to the complaint filed in court."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ExNasdaq-chairman-arrested-on-apf-13815890.html

Having a bad day?

Time marches on...

Peter Schiff was right

America: The Greatest Nation

Insane and freaky.

Pop Corn téléphone portable micro-ondes
Uploaded by sassiere

The Merton Prayer

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

--Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
(Website found here.)

Credit Crisis: The First Year

From Marketwatch:

Why the change?

In light of the recent bleak macro-economic and political environment, I felt it was best to symbolize my feelings about the world by changing the layout of this page to black. It symbolizes the demise of Bear Stearns, the 20%+ drop in the markets, the record oil prices (oil is black!), and the potential for things to get worse, including - God seriously forbid - another war (with Iran).

Just remember, things always get darkest right before it gets pitch black. So, hang in there.

Hopefully, this will only be a temporary move and we'll be back to happy days again soon. In the meantime, tread carefully!

Gas price stopping you?

From Reuters:

A Nevada brothel is trying to stimulate business by offering free gasoline. ...

"It's rocking along. We're doing quite well. June and July historically are not big months," said [the owner].

Not sure how I should react to this - should I be disturbed about the prostitution aspect, or the fact that we're so easily lured into morally depraving activities? And, students of economics should note that prostitution is a normal and elastic good, at least according to this story.

"Family First" Mortage Corp Irony

As you may know, hundreds of mortgage lenders have had to shut down recently due to the ongoing economic hell / real estate recession.

Here's a voice recording from Family First Mortgage Corp that alerted employees who were terminated. You should listen to it - it's quite horrifying to know that a company will fire you in this manner. (Message courtesy of Implode-O-Meter).

http://ml-implode.com/info/fam-first-orig-message.mp3

So anyway, that's just the dire state of things these days.

Buns and Guns

Would you eat here?

Cool concept, eh?

11 Best Food You Aren't Eating

From the NYTimes:

1. Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
   How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
2. Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
   How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
3. Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
   How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
4. Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
   How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
5. Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
   How to eat: Just drink it.
6. Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
   How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
7. Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
   How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
8. Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.'’ They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
   How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
9. Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,'’ it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
   How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
10. Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
    How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
11. Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
    How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Any surprises?