In the USA there are protests today, on Wall Street and Main Street. Across the country there are People (the 99%) acting out their disatisfaction with a (stated)lopsidedness in the country's financial system and the way that Politicians represent their interests. The Washington Post's Color of Money column asked for observations; here are a few......

It is fairly obvious by now that the Wall Street and other cities' protestors do not have a single voice nor do they know specifically what they want. The message is fairly clear though. They want those in society that are designated by us all (read Representatives/Senators/Judges/ETC) to protect the interests of all not a few. And, they want that done in an even handed, fair, manner.

That does not mean that they want the advantaged to be messed over; they just want them not to be favored over everyone else: they want fair. OH, you say, there is no such thing as fair; AU CONTRAIRE, everyone knows what is fair – it is just that those who are in a position to act fairly on behalf of everyone often choose to act in a way that benefits the few when it benefits them. In old times, they used to call it corruption, collusion, etc. Now, they call it acting on behalf of the people who really don’t know what it takes to run things. (the country, government, courts, companies, financial institutions, etc.). What they are really saying is that if we take care of the big boys they will take care of us and the “We The People” crowd can be placated with a few bones and fancy speeches.

Well guess what, the “We The People” crowd are really mad. And, they are beginning to voice that anger in many different ways, with many different voices. That is what you are seeing down on Wall St. and in so many other locations around the Nation. It is often the way when injustice or unfair practices affect the masses; eventually there is some noise, then a dull roar and finally all hell breaks loose. We would seem to be somewhere in that cycle.

Our President recognizes this; and he’s saying that change is still needed, we need jobs, etc. Yes, the Administration did organize Financial Bailouts, with good reason , for if our Financial System had collapsed we would not have kept unemployment at 9.x% it would have soared to ??.X% and we would be in the throes of an even Greater Depression than we are in now.

BUT, the “We The People” crowd can’t see that very clearly. (you will note our President trying to explain in ever increasing frequency). All they can see is that we are in a Recession that feels a whole lot more like a Depression, that there are few good jobs available (here in the USA), that the Politicians (Representatives/Senators) are still fighting about Party Politics while the People suffer and things are not getting better as a result.

It is a correct observation that the message they have is not clear; that is because its clarity is still in the formative stages. But, make no mistake, their existence is a message unto itself. The message is that the days of Modern Carpet-bagging Politicians who are elected and re-elected forever at the behest of special interests and who get to Washington only to make decisions on the basis of who gave and who wants what; those days may be short.

We may just be getting back to a government Of the People, By the People and For the People. This road could easily lead in that direction unless The People find it impossible to reverse a Political System of self-interested representatives that think it is OK for them to interpret everything and vote accordingly rather than vote for what the People they represent sent them there to do.

Yesterday...it happened....you know....Steve Jobs passed. Now, there isn't much one could have done for him; he had everything, almost.
You can't give the gift of health to anyone...it is given by the Universe, GOD, Life itself; and it is taken away by the same forces.
This is not about me...it is about a man who was also a great spirit. And, about how he impacted people and his thoughts that can impact us today.
Like many people from around the world Steve Jobs inspired me to do things, when I saw his later technologies they impressed me and changed how I did things. But, it is his words that remain and always will.
I want to share something today. These words are especially poignant to us at this point in our lives. We are living through difficult times, the Great Recession and in support of a Nation finding its way in uncharted waters. I hope you enjoy this collection of three paragraphs from Steve Jobs 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, 2005. May it be my/our small tribute to consider these words in our situation.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Thank You Steve Jobs, from people across the USA.

Oh my, how the time does fly! It has been quite a winter for us here in Ct. The cold came in November and still comes and goes; tonight we have a frost warning. No matter, we are heating with wood; warm and with oil prices, cheap!
While it is still cold at night, it is warming and Spring is definately here. The greeing of New England is underway. In fact, there is this huge patch of green grass out in the field that is already in need of mowing; here come the annual Grass Wars 08'.
My Street Rod club had its annual show this past weekend. It rained part of the day and that hurt turnout, but we still had over 300 Show Cars. Not bad, and the proceeds go to charity!
My insurance agency continues to grow. We are looking at adding another person to the team this month, and we need the help.
The economy is fluctuating, seemingly moving in a worse direction. Some say it will be short lived, some say we are in for trouble. I don't think it is going to be shortlived. The price of oil is being pushed up traders. Supply is actually not bad. They are draining the economy and the people's pockets. I do not envy the next Administration as they will have years of war debt and rising prices to contend with. (among other things). AND, how long will it be before wages begin to spiral up as everyday people can not make it on current wage levels. OH YEAH, have you been paying attention to the increasing food crisis; add that to oil, housing, etc. YOU get the picture!
The PEOPLE will find solace at home. They will be staying home more because they can't afford to go anywhere. This will prove to be good for the country. We need a time of retreat from over exposure to everything "wonderful". We need a time of national introspection to find the greatness that Americans have misplaced. I have all the confidence in the world that we will emerge stronger.
America will get on with it, people will find their way, a new Administration will have to respond to the outcry that is coming. I am glad I will not be President.
We are approaching a time in the market where there are good buys; don't miss them.
Have a wonderful Spring, more again and sooner!

My Street Rod......

It’s a 35 Chevy, chopped, dropped and ready for a ride. If only I could figure out how to make time when it isn’t raining or I’m not doing chores. After all, my planning netted enough extra cash to fund this hobby, why not enjoy it?

Many of us that have these hobbies and yet we can’t seem to figure out how to prioritize in a way that lets us enjoy them. Why not just set aside an afternoon?

Well, there is the yard, the house, the new deck, the bathroom remodel, cleaning the office, the basement and more. But, I promise myself, I am going to go for a wonderful ride in this beauty before the winter comes. I am also going to take a day with my wife at the lake to kayak, swim and picnic. I am going to find time to enjoy life; how about you?

Will we follow through or will it just slip through our hands for another year? My wish to you is that you find time, along with me, to enjoy these things while young enough to do so.

AND- We can also think about planning for our financial future another day: or can we? Gooday!

The Beginning.........August 7, 2007

Gooday! That's my way of letting you know I wish you well! ON the serious side: what are you doing today? Working, vacationing, enjoying, what? I am doing all of these and more.
Don't get me wrong, I am not yet financially independent: but I am on my way. On my way because one day it dawned on me that you really do have to start somewhere; the big surprise was to realize that you start wherever you are when you finally realize it!
Well now what?
I have no magic spell for success, in fact our definitions of it are most likely going to be very different. So there is the beginning point, complete your definition of success. It is "hard work" because to find it, you have to cast away all the cliche's, strip out all the "old stuff" imposed on you by life experience and just figure out what you would consider to be "success". HOW much of that is just lifestyle versus financial.
When you get there, you will be ready to begin the rest.