I remember watching Hulk Hogan and thinking, 'god this is great'.
"I am a real American, fight for the rights of EVERY man." Kinda what his theme song went. Listening to it now is kind of ironic. Americans were god honest heroes. There is no other way to put it. In my younger and more naive days, no one would have actually doubted me much. They saved us from the Russians! They helped people, they were rich and powerful and we should aspire to be like them.
Not any more. You can thank Bush (II) for that. One man has decidedly destroyed the American reputation (as if you didn't know). I'm Canadian, and honestly, there's nothing but fear and loathing for Americans now. In my heart of hearts I dearly dearly want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but everytime I do, I'm crushed.
After 9/11 the world had nothing but sympathy for America. We were crushed (possibly more than Americans themselves!). Our Superman was hung with a necklace of Kryptonite and we were scared.
But instead of using our sympathy and empathy, you fucking kicked us in the balls and spit in our face. Thanks!
"Fight for the rights of EVERY man", as long as he's American right? For shame. Make me believe again, the world needs Superman back.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Self realization
When I was in Grade 7, I became self aware. For some that might seem a tad late, but I can remember the EXACT moment I was sentient.
Social class, learning the countries that make up the U.S.S.R. If you're really young, we call it 'Russia' now. But back in my day it was the focal point of our lives. I can't say as I was scared of the USSR, but more 'optimistic', focused. We knew who the 'bad guy' was and what we were going to do. Well, not what WE were going to do, but what the Americans were going to do.
Americans were heroes. I knew where I fit in, I was a Canadian shielded by our heroes to the south from the big bad Russians.
Things have changed.
Social class, learning the countries that make up the U.S.S.R. If you're really young, we call it 'Russia' now. But back in my day it was the focal point of our lives. I can't say as I was scared of the USSR, but more 'optimistic', focused. We knew who the 'bad guy' was and what we were going to do. Well, not what WE were going to do, but what the Americans were going to do.
Americans were heroes. I knew where I fit in, I was a Canadian shielded by our heroes to the south from the big bad Russians.
Things have changed.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
How to REALLY make money
Sorry, can't tell you. Why would I? Why would anyone else? No one is that stupid.
You're not going to find all the great ways to make money because no one is dumb enough to reveal those secrets. YOU WILL find all the hard ways to make money (working, investing, saving) etc etc. If you're feeling generous, show me that secret way of making cash. So far I've only figured out 2 of them. They're great!
You're not going to find all the great ways to make money because no one is dumb enough to reveal those secrets. YOU WILL find all the hard ways to make money (working, investing, saving) etc etc. If you're feeling generous, show me that secret way of making cash. So far I've only figured out 2 of them. They're great!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Want to make money?
Buy/sell/short stocks. Warren Buffet said doctors, lawyers are good 'hobbies'. In other words, the only real job to the second richest man in the US is the stock market.
But, YOU are most likely to lose money on the market. Stick to your day job you grinder, and buy an index of the market you like. No mutual fund can consistently beat the market, so don't be a sucker, buy a low cost ETF and follow the market! Don't EVER EVER sell. All investing mistakes can be fixed by NOT SELLING.
But, YOU are most likely to lose money on the market. Stick to your day job you grinder, and buy an index of the market you like. No mutual fund can consistently beat the market, so don't be a sucker, buy a low cost ETF and follow the market! Don't EVER EVER sell. All investing mistakes can be fixed by NOT SELLING.
Long blog posts..
People have the attention span of a gnat these days. Keep it short and to the point. BYE!
NEVER give a 'good deal'
If you want to sell something, NEVER ever underprice it.
1) Buyers will be suspicious of a 'good' deal. They're used to overpaying or 'paying fair value'. Whatever that means.
2) NO ONE cuts themselves short. Everyone takes maximum profit, so #1 is doubly true.
3) You're more likely to sell it if you OVERPRICE it. Veblen good.
For example, I tried to sell my car by 'underpricing'. Right away everyone said, what's wrong with it? GRR! I thought selling it for cheaper than 'market' value would sell it quicker, WRONG. It didn't sell for 3 weeks. I put the price OVER market value (I was angry and wanted to prove a point) and it sold in 2 days. People = stupid.
1) Buyers will be suspicious of a 'good' deal. They're used to overpaying or 'paying fair value'. Whatever that means.
2) NO ONE cuts themselves short. Everyone takes maximum profit, so #1 is doubly true.
3) You're more likely to sell it if you OVERPRICE it. Veblen good.
For example, I tried to sell my car by 'underpricing'. Right away everyone said, what's wrong with it? GRR! I thought selling it for cheaper than 'market' value would sell it quicker, WRONG. It didn't sell for 3 weeks. I put the price OVER market value (I was angry and wanted to prove a point) and it sold in 2 days. People = stupid.
Imperfect knowledge
Doesn't matter who you are or what you do, you're missing out. You're missing out on SOMETHING. Somewhere out there, something GREAT is going on and you don't know about it. I betcha.
If you're older, you've experienced alot of great things, but you still missed out. If you're young, man, you're missing out on EVERYTHING.
And just when you think you find that little niche, the next day you find something better.
Information is king, too bad there is so much 'noise' out there. There is no decent information sources out there. Just the same old blathering (like this post). But I will post something I found today.
You don't need a $600-1000 computer to tune your ECU. There is a FREE opensource way to do it. Free power for your car. If you're into speed, I just found you a new niche. You owe me.
If you're older, you've experienced alot of great things, but you still missed out. If you're young, man, you're missing out on EVERYTHING.
And just when you think you find that little niche, the next day you find something better.
Information is king, too bad there is so much 'noise' out there. There is no decent information sources out there. Just the same old blathering (like this post). But I will post something I found today.
You don't need a $600-1000 computer to tune your ECU. There is a FREE opensource way to do it. Free power for your car. If you're into speed, I just found you a new niche. You owe me.
Stop being so greedy, it's your kid
If you live in Canada and you have a child, you get free money. Take that money, and open up a RESP (go to your bank, they will handle it for you).
Take some (at least $100, don't be cheap, its' your kid) and put it into the RESP every month. It's not your money, it's for your kid.
You as a parent should have NO excuse for not doing this. Your kid deserves a good education. Did you have a RESP? Well, your greedy parents screwed you.
(If you are are so hard up that you can't help our your kids future but giving them THEIR money, then you should get your ass off the computer and do something about it).
Take some (at least $100, don't be cheap, its' your kid) and put it into the RESP every month. It's not your money, it's for your kid.
You as a parent should have NO excuse for not doing this. Your kid deserves a good education. Did you have a RESP? Well, your greedy parents screwed you.
(If you are are so hard up that you can't help our your kids future but giving them THEIR money, then you should get your ass off the computer and do something about it).
Veblen goods
Veblen was a philosopher/economist. He said people are stupid. Well, more precisely he said that people will want certain goods/products the more they cost.
Really. It's true. People will pay more for BMW's because they think they are somehow more desirable or fit into a certain 'crowd' because of how much they cost. If you decreased the price of a BMW, less people would think of them as being 'luxurious' or whatever a BMW is supposed to stand for, and less would be sold.
This stands for things like certain wines, cigars, houses, etc etc.
People in my area went Veblen nuts when house prices started going up. No one wanted the same houses for 100K, but when they were 400K, they SURE AS HELL wanted them like crazy. And when they were 500K (the same house) was seen to be super desirable. Man people are stupid.
The market has crashed and the same house is somehow less worthy of being lived in?? Sigh.
Really. It's true. People will pay more for BMW's because they think they are somehow more desirable or fit into a certain 'crowd' because of how much they cost. If you decreased the price of a BMW, less people would think of them as being 'luxurious' or whatever a BMW is supposed to stand for, and less would be sold.
This stands for things like certain wines, cigars, houses, etc etc.
People in my area went Veblen nuts when house prices started going up. No one wanted the same houses for 100K, but when they were 400K, they SURE AS HELL wanted them like crazy. And when they were 500K (the same house) was seen to be super desirable. Man people are stupid.
The market has crashed and the same house is somehow less worthy of being lived in?? Sigh.
People are stupid
You are people, I am people. See that sentence was stupid (grammar is horrible). We constantly do stupid things, we say stupid things, we live a stupid life.
You can't help it, neither can I. What keeps us going? It's our EGO. Thank god for that. And our self rationalizations.
Humans can rationalize anything. Ugly people think they look good. Fat people excuse their fatness. Stupid people think they're smart. Proof: George Bush. Enough said.
Not only are you stupid (me included), but we have convinced ourselves we are the pinnacle of society. We use our incomes, jobs, houses, cars etc to SHOW how smart we really are. No. You're not, I'm not. We're dumb, let's just recognize that and move on.
We MIGHT be able to do something about it, but I doubt it. We can try, that's what this stupid blog is about. Your stupdity. (Well, it can't be just mine, that would make no sense at all!). Gosh.
You can't help it, neither can I. What keeps us going? It's our EGO. Thank god for that. And our self rationalizations.
Humans can rationalize anything. Ugly people think they look good. Fat people excuse their fatness. Stupid people think they're smart. Proof: George Bush. Enough said.
Not only are you stupid (me included), but we have convinced ourselves we are the pinnacle of society. We use our incomes, jobs, houses, cars etc to SHOW how smart we really are. No. You're not, I'm not. We're dumb, let's just recognize that and move on.
We MIGHT be able to do something about it, but I doubt it. We can try, that's what this stupid blog is about. Your stupdity. (Well, it can't be just mine, that would make no sense at all!). Gosh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)