Posts Tagged ‘economy’

My Letter To the Economy

// October 3rd, 2009 // 7 Comments » // My Life

Money... this is all thats left

Money... this is all thats left

Dear Economy,

I have recently received several letters from creditors that have blamed you for making them raise their interest rates. I have also received notices that the city will be raising taxes, and will be cutting back on services. The Electric company and the Gas company have also notified me that my rate would be increased this year “due to the economy”  I have also had to do without a raise this year.

I am writing this letter to let you know that I find it interesting that almost every business, federal and local government is able to reduce the stress that you place upon them by charging me more,  However I have no recourse, I cannot write a letter to my boss stating that “due to the economy” I will be raising my salary.  I also cannot notify my creditors that I will be reducing my payments “due to the economy” as they have already played that card and it would just be lame.

Economy, I completely understand you really need all that money, but it is my understanding that a small elite group of individuals are still getting bonuses and raises, ironically these individuals are the same ones that run the companies that are raising their rates. I watched the CEO of Wal-Mart Say last week that even though Wal-Mart made a 13 billion dollar profit this year they cannot afford to pay their employees any more money because there is a “delicate balance”  I strongly suggest you look into how these individuals are running things as I think the “ponzi scheme” is about to collapse. Economy, you have to understand… I am tapped out! there is nothing left! and it is the same way for most of my friends and family.

Finally Economy,  I just feel that I should let you know,  I will no longer be participating in this game, I am turning off all non-essential services and  I will not pay attention to advertisements. I am learning how to barter and would rather benefit the people around me.  I am moving to a smaller home and cutting my monthly expenses in half.  I am cooking my meals from scratch and using cash for transactions. I am completely paying off my debts and I will completely avoid using services from companies that refuse to understand that you cannot simply charge more so that executives and shareholders continue to rake in money while everybody at the bottom suffers. I will no longer spend money because it benefits “The Economy”   I am going the extra mile to let you know I am serious about this.  GO GET YOUR MONEY FROM SOMEBODY ELSE!

Sincerely,

jasonthebaldguy

http://jasonthebaldguy.com

Just a bald guy talking about stuff…

Tags: economy

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When is enough… enough? GET OVER IT!!!

// August 4th, 2009 // 14 Comments » // My Thoughts

man pulling his hair out in frustration

I think this adequately describes my emotions at the moment of inspiration

It seems the media these days is full of news… about the economy, the democratic agenda, the republican agenda, whats happening on Wall Street, how somebody got away with something and everybody else had to pay for it. In some ways.. its good to know the truth about things… to be informed so that you can make good decisions and survive in an increasingly “dog eat dog” world.

I tend to enjoy the social media circle to some extent..I use twitter, facebook, most often and I like to share my favorite websites on Stumbleupon.com . I like being connected to people, my family, friends, and just the occasional acquaintance… I even check in on a few enemies occasionally to see what they are doing in their mad scientist laboratories!

Recently however my social media has become crowded with… how do I say it nicely RAVING LUNATICS!   it seems everywhere I go I am barraged by virtual sign waving screaming crowds of “conservative protesters”  they fill my normally entertaining social media with “this is why obama is evil”, “this is further proof of obamas evil plan”  and “here is even more proof! he was actually born in Australia and they wouldn’t take him!”  the list of antichrist predictions, conspiracy theories, petitions, videos, crappy photo montages attached to sappy music, are more than I can stand!  Please PLEASE!!! I really hoped that the community of Christians was made up of more than this!  the number of people continuously regurgitating unconfirmed and often stupidly one-sided views is absolutely ridiculous!

I am not here to discuss whether I agree with Obama’s ideals or how he is running the country.  Honestly the fact that anyone can keep this flaming runaway wagon of a country within the white lines is a feat of unbelievable skill… America is so fickle that we can single-handedly will bring about our own destruction with or without ANY president’s help.

So you didn’t get the president that you wanted, you are mad.. you lost your 401K, and you may have to pay for someone else’s insurance, or foot the bill for their bonus while you bail them out.  So you may pay higher taxes, the president may be a fraud, he may be the “AntiChrist”, he may be secret friends with someone that is completely vile and distasteful to you. So you are angry… about all of this… but why? why are you angry? did  you expect the world to just come whimpering to your feet and give you every thing you wanted? Who the heck asked you how things should go?  Since the beginning of time tyrants, dictators, coups, and all around nasty empires have risen and fallen… and no one has ever stopped to ask… “oh… so mister John Q Christian, what should we do next?  do you like how things are working out for you?”  America is NOT  YOUR COUNTRY!!! HEAVEN IS YOUR COUNTRY!!! get it through your thick heads!  this country is not a “CHRISTIAN” country! It is the same heathen country that it has always been.  Sure many of the founders were Christians, Almost every great empire has been founded on good ideas and good principals… because they work!  But man is always self seeking and ultimately undermines all the good intentions and even the best laid plans can work to benefit the corrupt. Why do you insist on meddling in the politics of a country that you don’t even belong to?

So again… you are angry, you feel betrayed, you feel taken advantage of, you feel like things are not going the way you like… Get Over It!!!  Focus on what matters, people are jobless, people are homeless, people are hopeless, people are directionless!!!

Instead of just adding to the confusion how about you step away from  your stupid,  Protest-a-matic, Spam-a-holic, mailing list and actually help the people that are hurting!  This is an opportunity to promote “LEGAL IMMIGRATION” to the Kingdom of Heaven!

Tags: capitolism, christian, christians, conservative, decisions, dog, economy, facebook, Family, financial problems, friends, heaven, music, Obama, politics, President, ranting, running, sin, temporal world, thick heads, truth

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Snow Leopard, Iphone 3GS, Iphone 3.0 OS

// June 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // My Favorites

Today is a good day for Apple users! Apple is really throwing down the gauntlet for Microsoft, Announcing a $29 dollar upgrade to Snow Leopard… the next jump ahead of Windows 7… Also it looks like the Iphone 3.0 OS is a fantastic upgrade with the long awaited cut and paste function… something I know I have been really looking forward to. and last but not least a Palm Pre slaughtering Iphone 3GS with tons of great new features… and it looks like the Iphone 3G just got lowered to 99$ which is pretty reasonable given the state of the economy… I think that the real think that Apple understands that Microsoft does not get yet is that consumers would rather simplicity in pricing and in the product that is offered… rather than offering a million solutions to the same problem offer a few really good ones that are easy to choose from. I beleive that is why Apple is growing in leaps and bounds… l sure hope this healthy competition keeps bringing great products and stimulating creativity. Ok guys I will stop geeking out and get back to work…

for more details see http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/phil-schiller-keynote-live-from-wwdc-2009

blessings to all my apple buddies!

Tags: Apple, beleive, economy, Fun, leaps and bounds, microsoft, new features, simplicity, sin, snow leopard, throwing down the gauntlet

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Helpful tips to reduce unemployment woes…

// February 23rd, 2009 // 3 Comments » // My Life

I am increasingly hearing from friends that are struggling with unemployment… there are several ways to reduce the time between jobs before and during your unemployment.

below are some things that have helped me.

  • Build a good resume!
  • in your resume document your employment and unemployment tactfully, it is OK to leave out that the previous job was horrible, you hated your boss, you were treated unfairly etc. If asked at an interview you can explain tactfully that it did not work out.
  • when writing a resume organize your skills and abilities so that they represent a multi-talented person.
  • don’t hesitate to add your hobbies! no need to go into detail but they do contribute to filling out your character for the person that will read your resume
  • find someone you know to help you write your resume! often a recruiter will have a go at it for free!

  • Join professional networks such as linkedin.com and plaxo.com you should do this whether you are employed now or not! these networks keep you connected to people in your field. almost all recruiters are part of these networks and can keep up with your updates. do not underestimate the power of networking with people in your field! regardless of who they are there is always a chance that somone may know about a position that just opened up and you may get the first crack at it!
  • Be sure to take the time to develop your personal online brand… YOU! write a blog, write and submit articles, join communities, and become an expert on something in your field. Be sure to share your expertise and before long who knows what opportunities will come.
  • Put your resume out on Monster.com and careerbuilder.com and make sure to update it everyday. updating your resume everyday keeps it at the top of the list of resumes and more likely to be looked at on a daily basis!
  • always return emails from recuiters and add them to you network… this increases the chance that somone is actively trying to place you.

none of these are “silver bullet solutions” but combining these tips can give you an edge in the current work economy! Good Luck

Jason the bald guy
jasonthebaldguy.com

Tags: Art, blog, economy, friends, sin, tips, unemployment

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The Icy Embrace of Chaos – A rant on the current financial crisis

// January 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // My Life, My Thoughts

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the theories of Entropy, Order, and Chaos so indulge me while I enlighten you.

First of all some definitions

System: a collection of objects that are related and/or interact with each other based on a specific set of rules (Examples: home heating/cooling system, plumbing, the solar system etc. etc…)

Order: the organized symmetry that is observed when objects interact with each other in a balanced manner

Chaos: the lack of balance and symmetry that is observed when objects interact with each other in a random and unpredictable way.

Entropy: The tendency of ordered systems to decay into Chaos

Ok, now that the definitions are out of the way, (they are simplified for all of our sakes)

My head has been really exploding listening to all of the recent opinions about the recession (dare I say depression?) that is beginning to sweep across the nation and even the world! The one thing that I find most unbelievable is that no one is really accepting responsibility for their actions! Everyone seems to be pointing at someone else wanting to shift the blame. At this point we get to see what is really going on in our country.

  • An average US citizen, wants to buy a house
  • An Appraiser wants to increase the value of a house to improve his business
  • A Realtor wants to sell a house and make a big commission
  • A local Bank wants to close on a loan and make a fat load of interest.
  • An investment bank wants to buy high risk mortgages and repackage them as lower risk mortgage backed securities, selling them at a profit
  • A hedge fund is set up to protect the high risk mortgage backed securities in-case a few of them fail.

soooo

  • The average US citizen lies about their income so they can afford a nicer house.. overextending themselves.
  • The Realtor works out a deal with the appraiser and the seller to reduce the down payment by increasing the amount of the loan to the maximum appraisal value and pretending the seller is paying the down payment.
  • The Appraiser gladly raises the value of the house so that the Realtor can make a better commission.. guaranteeing more work and possible kickbacks.
  • The Local Bank looks the other way and closes on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) that is doomed for failure
  • The Investment Bank buys up thousands of ARM loans, slices and dices them to reduce risk and resells them as mortgage backed securities
  • The hedge fund artificially inflates the demand for oil by making enormous futures purchases – driving the price of oil ridiculously high assuring plenty of money to protect the mortgage backed securities .

the result is

  • The average US Citizen cannot afford Gas for their SUV because of high gas prices and bad spending habits.
  • The ARM loan adjusts to the current finance rate increasing monthly payments by hundreds of dollars and the average US Citizen cannot afford their home.
  • Thousands of ARM loans go into default
  • The hedge fund fails because they only bet that 20% of the loans would go into default and they already paid the investors their dividends
  • the investment bank fails because huge chunks of their mortgage backed securities are failing and investors are dumping them at bargain basement prices
  • the local bank fails because the average US citizen pull their money out because they have no idea what is going on with the banks!
  • the housing bubble pops, Realtor’s and appraisers run out of work.
  • Construction dwindles down and contractors run out of work.
  • Unemployment skyrockets
  • General consumer confidence begins to fail
  • Retail begins to fail
  • Unemployment skyrockets
  • The Stockmarket plummets
  • Consumer confidence fails
  • The oil bubble pops
  • Gas prices fall
  • The world economy stumbles.

Ok ok my rant is almost done…

So much of this is caused by greed, It is all about turning a quick buck! and when all the finger pointing is done thousands of families are without homes that they probably could have afforded if they would have done things right.- If the people that should have been there to help them buy a house, would have been honest with them- and told them to buy less and be satisfied. Ultimately the only ones that pay for the entire scam is the homeowners, the folks who bought gas at near 5 bucks a gallon and the taxpayer that foots the bill for a multibillion dollar bailout of the companies that bought the oil and drove the prices up, and sold the mortgage backed securities at a profit.

The cracks are beginning to show in the idealism of capitolism and they are not very pretty. what shows is greed, dishonesty, and irresponsibility. Every little choice to be dishonest for the sake of personal gain added to the enourmous cost that we will pay in the coming years. Entropy is the decay of order into chaos and we have welcomed it with open arms.

So buckle up and prepare to take responsibility for your actions, responsibility can only be avoided for so long before it demands its dues.

Hopefully America will wake up to realize that truth and honesty and responsibility are worth more than a dollar bill. Hopefully… before we must endure the icy embrace of chaos.

Tags: Art, capitolism, choice, depression, economy, failure, financial problems, Fun, greed, one thing, random, ranting, recession, responsibility, rock, sin, truth, unemployment

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