Sorry about the delay in posts around here. Busy times all around. The Missus and I went to Cancun for a week (more on THAT later!) so of course the work-week BEFORE was hell, and the work-week AFTER was double hell. It's really not even worth going away to "relax" if you just have to double or triple up your workload in order to do it. But of course while we were away (and returned) the whole world seemed to catch fire and spiral out of control. I'm no economic genius by any means... as a matter fact, I went to art school. So I have no advice or solutions or ideas as to what to do or what's right. All I know is that I just bought a 2 terabyte drive, and have been working on getting ALL my music onto it, so that I'd be able to comb through the collections better and more easily for this blog. I have no stocks (other than some retirement accounts) so it looks like the all-CD (and cassette, and album, and MP3) investment strategy is really paying off in these trying economic times.
A quick Sidenote/Question:
With all of the bank failures going on around here, why on freaking EARTH can't one of them be North Fork Bank (and or Capital One), my sworn and mortal enemy? (see previous posts for details). I swear to GOD the day that bank fails is the night that drinks for the entire bar are on ME!
I DID get a great email suggesting an alternative to use the billions and billions of dollars proposed for bailing out the financial institutions. I'll post it here, if for nothing else than a good laugh. Thanks to Phil Roc for sending it my way!
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I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a 'We Deserve It Dividend'.
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child.. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00. My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a 'We Deserve It Dividend'..
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00. What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college - it'll be there
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs
Invest in the market - capital drives growth
Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( 'vote buy' ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG - liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
'We Deserve It Dividend' more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC
And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
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And, just for fun, here are some tunes to get you though the meltdown. It's pretty Pearl Jam heavy, but filled with some fantastic covers and ultra-rare collaborations (Bono, Robert Plant!?!??! Need I say more?) But besides Pearl Jam, there are some other great ones in there, not to mention my new obessive-favorite-listen-to-it-over-and-over song by Easyworld! Drink Up. Drink another. Kick back and watch it all burn.
Download: Easyworld: U Make Me Want to Drink Bleach
Download: Bloc Party: Like Eating Glass
Download: Pearl Jam w/ Robert Plant: Money (That's What I Want)
Download: Pearl Jam w/Bono: Rocking In The Free World (N. Young) (+ Improv)
Download: Nine Inch Nails: All The Pigs, All Lined Up
Download: Pearl Jam w/ John Doe: The New World w/ Revolution (Beatles)
Download: Pearl Jam: The American In Me (Avengers)
Download: Pearl Jam: Grievance
Download: Nirvana: Pay To Play (early demo of "Stay Away")
Download: R.E.M: The End Of The World As We Know It (Live)
As always, Enjoy! (And F#CK Banks. Seriously)
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