Overpopulation

I've been reading a lot on world population recently. Currently the world's population is slightly below 7 billion people.

But what's most shocking is that it took approximately 12,000 YEARS for the earth's population to reach 3.3 billion, and only 45 YEARS to DOUBLED.

An additional 3.3 BILLION people have arrived on this planet since 1965, roughly my lifetime. This statistic amazes me.

Why all these people? Where did they come from? I guess I know where they came from, but still.

100 Greatest Hits of YouTube in 4 Minutes

One Irrelevant Struggle After Another

Recently, my life seems to have been one minor, insignificant, annoying struggle after another: 1) faulty computer backlight (Apple replaced my computer after 12 days and 7 trips to the Apple store); 2) getting a tuition refund from NYU; 3) qualifying for free airline fare; 4) internet connection gave way; 5) returning online purchased items; 6) SLR camera repair, etc.

And to top it all off, almost every dream I've had recently has had a "struggle" motif. The most significant is discovering I did not complete my dissertation. Then I wake up, stumble to my office and verify my degree is there. And it is. Turn on the computer, stare at the screen, and continue the argument in my head, with whom every I was arguing with in my dream.

Plus I really hate autumn. I only means winter is on it's way. Looking back on this year, I haven't a clue where it went. Come January it will be five years since I left work. Dang.

Why Leave the House?

Once upon a time, humans left their homes (me included) to buy newspapers, shuffle through CDs racks, watch movies in theaters, browse book stores, visit the drugstores, buy shoes, etc.

Today there's the NYTimes online. No need to purchase a newspaper with day old news anymore. iTunes for instant downloads, hence no more CD/music stores. Netflix for DVD mail delivery, plus 12,000 + downloads direct to the TV for no additional cost, with purchase of the Roku Box. A $100 one time cost. Why purchase a DVD? When downloads are free and readily available.

Amazon.com will deliver virtually any books in print to your doorstep free of charge. Granted, you don't get to leaf through books, but you can read the online reviews prior to purchase. Who needs professional book reviewer anymore, when anyone can review book. DrugStore.com delivers personal and sundry care products free of charge. BuyShoes.com offers free delivery of shoes, along with free return shipping, if you don't like 'em or they don't fit. And since I hate shopping with a passion, this is all good.

So why leave the house? Groceries? Gym? Maybe.

It's Always the Year that Ends in a Seven

At 7, I got my first "new" bike. It was blue.
At 17, I passed my drivers test, but was still (and still 'em) afraid to drive.
At 27, I knew I didn't want to work for a little small town bank and applied to grad school.
At 37, it dawned on me that I was nearly middle age. I was clearly on the north side of 30, and 40 was just around the corner.
At 47, I realize I'm getting old. When I walk by a wall mirror in the train station or gym, or even store windows, I take a second glance. My reflection often surprises me (graying, thinning hair, stooped posture, slow stride). I also recently viewed my passport photos side-by-side from the past three decades. Striking difference. No need to wait to 50, old age is almost here.

The GOP Health Care Plan

I really don't care one way or another whether Obama's health care plan passes or not. Personally, I don't have a health insurance, but if Obama's plan does pass I'll have to purchase it, which is a bummer (even though possibly beneficial in the long run).

Currently, I exercise regularly and eat properly, and almost never get sick. And when I do get sick and visit a doctor, I pay for it out of pocket (of course, barring any serious injuries or illness).

I've looked into health insurance, but the cost per year would be about 10 times what I currently pay my health care providers. I feel like I'd be subsidizing all the unhealthy people who don't eat right or exercise, which results in high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Personally, I'd like to see health insurance risk rated similar to car insurance, I'm be more apt to purchase for it.

But even with that said, the GOP is FURIOUS at the Democrat Congressman in the video. This seems to be the GOP's modus operandi these days: scream and shout and criticize, but don't offer an alternative.

What is the GOP's alternative to Obama's proposed health care plan? Do nothing? The GOP is becoming the party of old, white, Christian, knuckle-dragging, neanderthal men that are afraid of change. All change seems to be bad to them and confronted with great opposition. But then again, I guess most humans find change frightening, especially if one doesn't educate one's self. And the easiest thing to do is vehemently reject it. Change can be scary.

How Children Learn

Beyonce Rocks

Sings "Halo" to a very young Leukemia patient in Sydney.

Right To Remain Violent Trailer

Last summer's movie project.

Stock Market Over Valued, Already?

Stock Market P/E (10 Year Ave Earnings)


Road to Recovery


Bear Turns to Bull

6 Days Without A Computer

The backlight on my computer has given out. I've been without it since Saturday. Apple Care is STILL trying to fix it, but there's a huge number of computers in the queue before it. If it wasn't under warrantee, I'd take it someplace other than the "public Apple Care option".

Nevertheless, since Saturday I've read three books, watched a bunch of movies, hit the gym almost daily, cycled in west NJ, cleaned my entire house (corner to corner, top to bottom), taken leisurely strolls around the neighborhood, scribbling notes on tablets long hand, replaced all existing light bulbs with eco-bulbs, returned a bag load of plastic soup containers to Chinese takeout, etc.

Life sure is boring without a computer!! But on the other hand, I also realized how much time I waste puttering around clicking.

Equities Market Still Shaky But Improving

With large sums of cash moved to the sidelines, valuations attractive and selling exhausted, there is no where to go but up — even if its only for a period of weeks or months.

The chart above looks at how far above or below the 21-year average allocation of 60 % invested in stocks individual investors are presently. As seen above when stock allocations drop 15 % or greater below that 22-year mean, (red circles) which has occurred only 3 times in the last 22 years (1990, 2002 and late 2008/early2009) it has equated into significantly higher stock prices 3/6 months up to several years later.

Even given the extent of the current rally, investors remain 6% below their mean allocation to stocks, and significantly below fully invested levels of 10-15 % above the mean. Sideline liquidity remains strong, investors are still not fully invested, and dips have remained fairly contained.

Does this mean the investors out of the market are missing the bull market? Or will they catch the next bull market after the current bull market recedes/ collapses? ( Big Picture )

"Cautiously, Small Investors Edge Back Into Stocks" NY Times Like everything else what goes down must come up, I think?

Another element of comfort, market jitters are down dramatically!

One of the most remarkable characteristics of the '08/'09 market crash was the daily volatility that occurred. On December 8th, the average absolute daily change of the S&P 500 over the last 50 days reached a record 4.02%! With the entire US stock market gaining or losing 4% to 5% of its total value on a daily basis for two months, how did any of us stay sane?

Since peaking late last year, however, the average daily change for the market has cratered. As shown below, over the last 50 days, the average absolute daily change for the S&P 500 is now under 1% at 0.87%.

( Bespoke )

What Birthers Believe

Education, Education, Education

Education Vs. Ignorance

Clearly, the Socialist label is starting to stick. Is it good or is it bad, I don't know. Having spent 3 months in socialist Poland back in 1987, witnessing the failure of the Soviet style socialism, I'd say that style of socialism doesn't work, so many people were suffering. I suspect Cuba will be the same. However, on the other hand, observing China's unprecedented economic growth these past few decades. I'd say there is something there. China's centralized government makes most of the country's major economic decision, and then allows market forces to prevail. Could it be that these centralized economic decisions are the key?

As for education and reading, vs. no education and reading. I'm all for education and reading. Spend Obama spend.

The Concept of "One World"

I found this pledge on a conservative blog. The author of the blog was appalled that this pledge was hanging in a second grade US classroom. After traveling, I've come to realize that regardless of race, nationality and learned beliefs, humans on this planet are biologically and basically the same. Almost every human wants to be happy, feel useful, be loved, to love, to raise their family, to provide for their self and their family, etc. It's the governments and people in power that want to divide humans into "countries" according to "borders" to maintain their power. The same goes for religion. It is 100% "learned", preys on the uneducated and ignorant, and is basically used to divide.

In the future, the concept of "one world" will undoubtedly prevail. Just because a person lives in a particular country and/or has difference beliefs, doesn't make them the "enemy". Much of their beliefs are learned, as are ours. As the world becomes "smaller", these beliefs will undoubtedly homogenize.

"shitmydadsays"

Via TWITTER : I'm 28. I live with my 73-year-old dad. He is awesome. I just write down shit that he says.

"I just did an hour on the gym machine. I'm sweaty and I have to shit. Where's my fannypack, this workout is over."

"You know, sometimes it's nice having you around. But now ain't one of those times. Now gimmie the remote we're not watching this bullshit."

"Your mother rented this film, What Happens In Vegas. I thought it was going to be non-fiction, but it's fiction, and it's about some idiot."

"You need to flush the toilet more than once...No, YOU, YOU specifically need to. You know what, use a different toilet. This is my toilet."

"Your brother brought his baby over this morning. He told me it could stand. It couldn't stand for shit. Just sat there. Big let down."

Decent Returns of August

(Via Capital Spectator)

Contributions to the Economic Recovery

1) TARP bailout funds stanched the precipitous hemorrhaging of bank capital
2) The Fed's policy of easy money (i.e. liquidity) and the purchasing of mortgage-backed securities
3) Federal governments $787 billion stimulus program

Financial stocks have been some of the biggest winners of Wall Street’s recent rally, but analysts have warned that the gains may have outpaced reality. Banks, they say, still face big losses as mortgage delinquencies rise and credit-card holders default on their loans.

(Via NY Times)

The problem with all this, especially the stock market, is that it seems to have recovered too quickly. Moreover, Sept/Oct are traditionally down months.

Rachel Maddow vs. Tom Ridge

I'm no huge fan of Rachel Maddow. Basically, she and Keith Olbermann are the lefts version of Bill O'Reilly and Shawn Hannity.

They all preach to their choirs and don't necessarily stimulate thought, but in this clip Maddow has a point.

Even if Bush/Cheney were sincere about their motives to go to war. They got it WRONG. Opps, we kill 4000 Americans, hundreds of thousand of Iraqis, and destroyed a country, but it was only a small country. So what? We'll do better next time.

Why should Americans trust Republicans on nation security again?

According to Tom Ridge's rational: an "upstanding" citizen that suspects a random stranger to be a terrorist has the right to kill the random stranger. And if the random stranger is not a terrorist, the "upstanding" citizen should not be punished, because he did it in good faith.

This rational doesn't make sense.

McCain Whacks Cheney

"I think the interrogations were in violation of the Geneva Conventions and the convention against torture that we ratified under President Reagan," said the Arizona Republican.

The Bottom Line: Torture violated the law and helped terrorists.

Cheney Needs To Go Away

The guy is whacked. He keeps saying the post-9/11 Bush/Cheney policies kept this country safe. What want about the FAILED Bush/Cheney policies that allowed the terrorist attack to occur?

1) If Bush/Cheney were doing their job, the attack on the WTC would NOT have occurred.
2) Bush/Cheney then tortures (water boards) victims and instills fear in Americans to OVER compensate for their FAILURE.
3) Bush/Cheney then declares war on an innocent country for no legitimate reason. The war kills over 4000 Americans. 3000 Americans died in the attack in the WTC.
4) The world despises Bush/Cheney because of their stupidity and arrogance. America's world image wanes.