John, Paul, George and of course Ringo

I remember the Beatles as nothing short of transformative. I remember hearing them for the first time as kind of a throw away on the Rick Shaw show.

Then of course there was Ed Sullivan's three shows, they filmed one in Miami, my home town.

We were so hip!

I still think the Beatles were a fantastic Rock and Roll Band, Rubber Soul and Revolver are two of my favorite albums of all time.

Fame and fortune seem to be flames many, maybe all of us, seem to be drawn to. For those who have really gotten close to the flame, the heat ... it seems to consume almost everyone.

I haven't read You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup yet but is going on my reading list today. I have attached a wonderful review http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/04/a-hard-day-s-night.print.html

I guess reading it is akin to watching a car crash ... I can't look away.

The Beatles changed my life forever.

I recently had the opportunity to have dinner with some musicians who have achieved a wee bit of success (3 Grammy's). They were talking about a contemporary of theirs who had achieved hyper stardom. They referred to it as "they took the blue pill and went down the rabbit hole, we didn't". That said there lives are different than the average guy and always will be because they have touched the flame.

One of the things I have enjoyed about Face book is that some of the people I lived those times through with are back in my life and for that I feel that I have been truly blessed.

If you haven't listened to Revolver or Rubber Soul in a while do your self a favor on this fabulous Sunday and turn them on, they'll return the favor. JD

Goodbye Coach

One of histories greatest sportsman and philosophers died today at age 99.

the great John Wooden is a legend. His success as the coach of the UCLA basketball program has never been equaled.

His example of how to live your life is more important.

I'm a wrestling fanatic and have always disliked basketball, we had to compete for space, time, recognition and funding with them.

That said, I have always admired and respected John Wooden. He has inspired generations and as the earth will be less with him gone, heaven will have one more great angel today.

Here are some words from the Coach that I have always loved;

"Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books -- especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day."

advice from Coach John Wooden

The Emperor wears no clothes!

Author and blogger Virginia Postrel, in an interview in the June issue of Reason magazine:

"Glamour is a particular form of illusion. It's an illusion that tells a truth about the audience's desires, and it requires mystery and distance. During the campaign people projected onto Barack Obama whatever they wanted in a president or even in a country. Lying is usually a bad thing, but they would project onto him that he was lying about his positions because he secretly agreed with them: 'Anyone that smart has got to be a free trader at heart. He's just saying this to pander to those idiots. He can't really mean it.' . . . There is always this capacity for disillusionment. People have projected so much of what they think, including things that are sort of impossible, onto a glamorous figure, that when any flaw shows up the glamour is dispelled and suddenly he becomes terrible."

Just Breath

Do these seem like crazy times to you?

Maybe it's just that we are so connected, what happens on the other side of the world is instant news to us.

What happens in New York is news in little old Gainesville, not in the time it took for news to be hand delivered but in the instant it happens.

I know that in the investment business it is probably the worst thing that could have happened. We have gone from investors to traders.

In my experience people don't get rich overnight.

The overnight success has been at it for 15 years. there is always the exception, the person who inherits a fortune or wins the lottery (maybe there the same thing?)

As a respected friend recently said to me, "If I were king I would only price stocks once a year and maybe even not that often".

The feedback is causing most of us more problems than it is solving.

Maybe it's time to take a step back and catch our breath.

Technology

Technology is advancing at such an amazing pace.

I'm driving through South Carolina right now, on my way to meet with my Study Group, The Hole in the Wall Gang.

So while Donna drives, I have been writing and answering emails. connected to the Internet so my laptop gives me all the options I need to be productive while driving 70 (well actually donna is driving so if you know her you know we are traveling a wee bit faster than that) mph on I-95.

Smart phones are giving people access to their email from anywhere as well as an opportunity to go right to the Web.

Donna and Rachel have an app for their Iphones called Knock.

Last week were walking thru Ring Park, the Nature Preserve with Hogtowne Creek running through it behind our home. Donna called Rachel, put it on the speaker phone and then using Knock she was able to connect via video to Rachel's phone and talk to her as well as let her see where we were going.

Not two way yet, just a matter of time and two way will be available.

So enjoy these wonderful options, make them tool for your productivity, don't become slaves to them.

If you happen to go out with out a phone or not have your laptop with you it might just be a nice break.

Time

Where did the time go! Every day seems to fly by, hours are minutes, weeks are days and last month seemed like yesterday!

Time doesn't seem to be slowing down.

I wonder how fast it can get?

Then again maybe I don't.

Maybe this is some perverse trick I am playing on myself and instead of stomping through the roses with cleats on, smelling the puree of rose in the air I really may want to, maybe I need to stop and smell the roses .... ahhh, I don't think so.

At least not today.

As Scarlet said in Gone With the Wind, " Tomorrow, I'll think about it tomorrow".

For today, it's full speed ahead!

Saving a million dollars!

A few years ago I was walking through an airport, I don't even remember where, and an attractive young woman started asking me to apply for a credit card. I told her no thank you but she insisted that it was a contest and she only needed a couple of more applications to win.

I had my identity stolen a few years ago so there is a block on my credit reports. I have to be contacted before they give out information which I explained. No problem she said. Well a few weeks later I got a new credit card from US Airways (Lehman Brothers) with a $25,000 credit limit.

I used it once to pay for some tuition for one of my sons when cash flow was tight. Had the best of intentions to get it paid off and then the bottom fell out of the financial system. The $25,000 credit limit fell to essentially what I had outstanding, approximately $5,000.

As a small business man the last 18-24 months have challenged us all. It's getting better every day but in an attempt to manage the cash flow during the crisis I was just paying the minimum and I was holding on to the cash.

I really wasn't paying attention because when Lehman Brothers fell they were acquired by the Barclay's Bank and my nice little 7.9% interest rate went to 30.9%!

I know, I know, I'm a CFP. I should have been paying attention.

Unfortunately I was focused on the 85,000,000 I oversee and I took my eyes off my own "shtuff".

Wow, long story to tell you that when I realized that the balance wasn't going down I checked the statement. Credit card statements now have the information on what it will take to pay off the balance in 3 years and how long it will take to pay it off at the minimum balance and how much you can save by paying it off in three years.

I'm not even going to ask you to guess, I do with clients when I tell this story. At the minimum payment it will take 1,761 years to pay off the balance of less than $5,000.

And the savings if I paid it off in three years ..... $1,055,630.

I think we'll write them a check this month. Then I can tell Donna I saved a million bucks!

A lesson to be learned here, pay attention to the credit cards, set yourself a goal if you have debt and pay it off.

Another Sunday and everything else

Sunday's are one of my favorite days. For Donna and I there is really only one deadline, Mass at 5:30.

It's a day when I really can wake up when I wake up and nothing else is going to end up being pushed back.

I'm not ready for that to be the rest of my life. I have a million things that I want to or need to do.

I hope the day I die I have a million things that I want to or need to do.

Donna and I took a walk through Ring Park this morning, it's a thirty acre linear park with the famous Hogtowne Creek flowing through it.

Its also our back yard.

It is a beautiful walk 30 minutes from one end to the other and back. Always full of people out enjoying the beauty of Gainesville.

Back for a healthy breakfast from Chef Me and then some time reading my email and one of the best Internet sites I peruse.

If you are not familiar with Realclearpoltics.com check it out. It is an aggregater, it culls articles of interest from both points of view on topics of interest ranging from the oil spill to the latest political news.

Now a few minutes to write and then for me a few hours at my office.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday and for my son John, Happy Birthday!

The Strategic Coach

I attend an entrepreneurial coaching program called the Strategic Coach.

Every 90 days I attend a one day workshop, mine are in Chicago. I have been in Coach for 10 years now and I am being modest to say that I have learned a lot.

I have to give the program credit for much of the success that I have enjoyed over the last 15 years (I dropped out of the program but returned after 3 years, a mistake I won't make again).

My coach is the creator of the program, Dan Sullivan. Dan has had some amazing insights that I value. In addition, the opportunity to set aside one day every quarter to review what we have accomplished and to make plans for the next 90 days is a huge value for me.

Even more important to me than the knowledge products and coaching has been the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs. The network has been an incredible value.

I have have met some of the most amazing people and gotten the opportunity to see what they are doing. Many are the visionaries that really will change our lives in the future.

The program has also taught me how to do something other than work. Still trying to get better at his part but it is really about seeking progress not perfection.

If you are entrepreneurial or have any interest in getting help taking your business and more importantly life to another level check out the Strategic Coach program.

You can find them at strategiccoach.com.

The cool aid is tasty.

'Saturday Night Live' with Betty White attracts big ratings

'Saturday Night Live' with Betty White attracts big ratings

What a hoot! The NPR sketch about muffins will one of my all time favorite moments of SNL. As funny or funnier than Alex Baldwin and the "Shweaty balls" sketch with the same NPR theme.

I can remember when the show first started, it was a must see for my friends and I. What ever was going on Saturday nights often included getting in front of a TV set for Saturday Night Live. Then again my kids start getting ready to go out at 11:30, I was closing down or at least trying to convince someone that closing down with me was a good idea.

I'm sure there will be a replay and when there is try and catch her if you missed it.

If your technologically up to I think it is now available on the NBC site.

Enjoy and three cheers for Betty White!

Mothers Day 2010

I love my wife and appreciate all she has contributed to raising our children.

I miss my Mom today, she past away about 3 years ago. I think of her often, maybe daily. I was fortunate to be raised by her. I don't mean to diminish what my Dad contributed. I am who I am because of them.

Today though, I miss my Mom. I don't have regrets, I talked to her regularly and saw her as often as practical for folks living in different cities. I love you Mom.

I love you Donna.

And for all you Mothers out there. Happy Mothers Day and God Bless.

Uncle Sam

King or no King?

In my my goal to write 5 minutes a day I can sometimes sit there with nothing to write, then there are days like today that give me so much to say that the only thing stopping my writing is earning a living and the clock.

I have been thinking a lot about the Founding fathers lately. It seems that we are going through one of those defining moments in history.

Just what do we want the government to be?

Opinions can be different and nobody has to "wrong".

The fundamental question, to me, is how much power over our day to day life do I want to give the "government".

There is no question we need an organized government, a government organized from the the local to the state to the National level.

I'm not ready to cede our national governance to an International government.

So how much government do we want in our daily lives?

Some people argue that the most efficient capitalistic country to day is China, an autocratic capitalism model.

If we had a King and an autocratic government system we could be much more efficient. You want to change health care, done. What's next?

Sorry, I have more questions than answers on this issue. Maybe it's time to re-read the Federalist papers and see what James Madison had to say?

Ding!!!! There goes the clock, time to move another project. Have a great day. JD

The ISM Index

This is the most accurate indicator of an expanding or contracting economy. I have used it for several years and it has pointed us in the right direction even during the most difficult times.

If you are not familiar with it check it out.

APRIL 2010 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES

---

PMI

Manufacturing continued to grow in April with the rate of growth accelerating as the PMI registered 60.4 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage point when compared to March's reading of 59.6 percent. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

A PMI in excess of 42 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the PMI indicates growth for the 12th consecutive month in the overall economy, as well as expansion in the manufacturing sector for the ninth consecutive month. Ore stated, "The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January through April (58.7 percent) corresponds to a 5.6 percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, if the PMI for April is annualized, it corresponds to a 6.2 percent increase in real GDP annually."

THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Month	PMI		Month	PMI
Apr 2010	60.4		Oct 2009	55.2
Mar 2010	59.6		Sep 2009	52.4
Feb 2010	56.5		Aug 2009	52.8
Jan 2010	58.4		Jul 2009	49.1
Dec 2009	54.9		Jun 2009	45.3
Nov 2009	53.7		May 2009	43.2
Average for 12 months – 53.5 High – 60.4 Low – 43.2

A new look!

Donna carved out some time this weekend to make some changes to our blog.

Start with the new look, I hope it makes it more adventurous looking.

We are all on a Great Life Adventure and through this blog I hope Donna and I can share some of our adventures.

Donna also has a blog linked to Metaversal Research, her consulting company and I am trying to get the rules for a blog on FFM's website so I can comment more on the markets.

Meanwhile this adventure blog is part of my effort to write 5 minutes a day.

Check out the opportunity to follow our blog, sign up, pass it on and if you have something to add or comment on don't be bashful ... write us!

So for today let me leave you with a tip; listen to Rob Thomas' incredible song' Now comes the Night.

I hope you can find some one to love like that, I have and I'm grateful beyond words.

A great weekend

We enjoyed a great weekend this past weekend.

Donna walked across the stage of the O'Dome to receive her PhD in the morning and the evening followed with my sisters son, Ryan walking across the stage to receive his bachelors degree.

Family was here to celebrate and with the exception of a few micro bursts from the Storm on Friday ripping a few tree tops off, everything went smoothly.

I hope that everyone enjoyed their weekend.

I am currently trying to figure out to make this blog more accessible to friends and colleagues. I'm not sure what the rules are going to be if I add economic or market related info. My designation as a a Registered Investment Advisor and CFP mean that I fall under some interesting restrictions, what we call compliance.

So I apologize that this sometimes seems so bland.

There is a learning curve to blogging and building a Tribe. Soon I hope that I will have the kinks out and can really make this a useful tool for those who are friends and those interested in my thoughts on the economy and money.

Thanks for our patience. JD

Hugh MacLeod

I will experience Joy at least once a day. I don't care what it costs me.

This is a personal mantra of mine that I've had for many years. I try to live it at least once a day, even if it's just for a fleeting moment. If I can do that, then the day will not have been wasted.

You can do it if you decide to. It takes practice and yes, sometimes it cost you a lot of time and effort, but the older I get, the more grateful I am that I invested the time and energy teaching myself how to do it, even if sometimes it seemed silly and idealistic.

This is one of my favorite emails every day. His book Ignore Everybody is a must read. Check out his blog at www.gapingvoidgallery.com

The Constitution

I continue to hear a steady drum beat from people today, a refrain of concern for the future. More and more people seem to feel challenged by the long reach of the government and what it will mean to them and their children.

I have been involved in a discussion about the constitution and I think that there is a basic question we all have to answer; is the Constitution a limiting document or a living document?

That basic question can resolve many of our concerns and questions.

I think that the Constitution is a limiting document. I believe that the framers of Constitution want ed to limit the governments ability to control our lives.

You must remember that we were rejecting the monarchy of Europe and specifically England. Each State wanted to insure that they would have rights that were clearly defined by Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Any one who has been a parent has known how children try to constantly stretch the boundaries of their lives and test the rules we put in force for them.

As citizens we have done the same thing, we have constantly tried to expand the role government.

Well now we have allowed ourselves to grant over 50% of the population the right to decisions about how the government spends money with out having to contribute a penny.

10% of the population pays 70% of the taxes. the majority seems to want that 10% to pay more.

My question is how much more and when is enough enough?

When will the 10% say it isn't worth the extra effort anymore and the tax revenues actually begin going down?

What happens then?

I hear the beaches in Costa Rica are white and beautiful .... hmmmm.

I've been a Travelling man

Well I am feeling a wee bit guilty. I want to write every day, kind of like practicing a music instrument or a sport. Just 5 minutes a day is the goal.

Unfortunately I didn't write while traveling last week.

Pretty amazing week, started with a great Strategic Coach session in Chicago. The I attended the Barron's Top Financial Advisor conference, recognizing the top 500 Independent Financial Advisors in the country. Got to meet some great folks and picked up some great ideas.

Then Donna and I celebrated our birthdays in Disney. I just love the parks. I know Donna puts up with me, I am her big kid, she smiles indulgently at my antics.

Life has been good Baboo.

So there is 5 minutes, I'll write again tomorrow! Now to the staff meeting.

Today is my birthday!!!

Been a wonderful day today, full of love. Everybody needs a day like this and I am grateful to everyone for taking the time to wish me a happy birthday.

The birthday cards seemed to have a theme that was rather disturbing though. Lot's of butts! All old, fat or saggy .... what's with that. I am doing all can to not take it personally.

I was talking about turning 58 with one of my clients who is 85. I told her I can't believe I'm already 58, she said she said the same thing, she can't believe she is 85. Guess it doesn't matter what the age. At some point the years just keep coming at you faster and faster.

I really to resemble that old saying, if I had known I would live so long I would have taken better care of myself!

Thanks again everybody, have a fabulous weekend. JD

The Small Cage

The United States has an intricate system of checks and balances, and a government structure based on a separation of powers, and a Bill of Rights that safeguards the rights of states and the rights of the people precisely because the greatest collection of political talent and philosophical insight ever assembled on this continent -- and maybe anywhere on this planet -- looked at the concept of government and said, "We need to make a really small cage for this thing, then be careful not to overfeed it."

We seem to have lost the care-and- feeding instructions about a century ago. We let government out of its little cage and it has been consuming everything it can lay its paws on ever since. In the last 45 years, it has been on a real binge, and in the last year and a half, it has taken bigger bites than a lot of people thought possible.

Whine, whine, whine .... would you like some cheese with that whine?

I feel the need to write, even though I don't have anything on my mind. I guess this is a little bit of writers block or maybe it's just the end of the day.

I am feeling a wee bit tense lately. I think it is the combination of stress and fatigue. I get grumpy and my mind just doesn't seem as productive.

It's almost 7 PM and the day seems to have flown by yet I feel like I have accomplished nothing. Actually I have felt like I haven't accomplished anything for a few days, maybe weeks. Even when I do a Positive Focus I seem to be struggling to fill it up.

Whine, whine, whine .... would you like some cheese with that whine?

Blogging

So why am I doing this?

A couple of reasons; Seth Godin the author of one of my favorite books "The Purple Cow" challenged me to blog 5 minutes a day.

That got me thinking, some would say a dangerous thing, about how much I enjoy writing and reading.

So I asked another friend who is an accomplished teacher and writer, "if I want to start writing where do I begin"

His response was "at the beginning". Yes he's also an accomplished smart ass.

So this challenge to blog 5 minutes a day is my "beginning".

I'm going to send it to my friend the teacher and author to see what he has to say. He said he wants to comment on my QR letters so this will warn him that I expect some "free" help becoming an accomplished author!

gapingvoid cartoon #55 - 'CDF' April 5, 2010.

gapingvoid cartoon #55 - 'CDF' April 5, 2010.

Posted using ShareThis

That had to be the laziest blog post of all time! That JAD is a bum!!!

Ouch, this getting weird, criticizing myself now.

Easter on Hogtowne Creek

What a beautiful day to live in Gainesville.

The sky is blue and the sun is orange.

We like to think that means God is a Gator.

For Christians the world over today is the special day recognizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I got to attend mass this morning with Rachel and Donna, followed by a wonderful breakfast at Ivey's.

Donna and I took the dog's thru for a walk thru Ring Park, the 30 acre nature preserve that Hogtwone Creek runs thru.

Amazing.

For those who haven't been to our home, it's our back yard.

Not going to work on work today! A real free day.

Doing a little writing, reading and then some time on the drums.

Have a wonderful day, for those celebrating Easter, embrace the renewal and opportunity for forgiveness.

More questions than answers

Today starts with more questions than and answers ... Donna's fault!

Can I work a few hours a couple of days a week from home and my office still run efficiently?

Can I get 8 hours (well maybe 9) sleep and still be as productive as I was 15 years ago?

when can I start eating pasta and bread and those delicious baked potatoes with all the add ons again?

Do we still get to have sex (yea I know it's a guy question) as we head toward 60?

Why are all those glorious muscles of my 20's hanging down around my waist?

Will the Health thingy (I still don't know what to call it) really save all of us money?

How do you increase expenses with out increasing your income?

Is this global warming (brrrrr)?

When is Hammel taking us out on his new boat!

Love is humanity's killer app

Love is what makes it all possible. Love is what makes us strive, build and create.

Without Love, our species would've been wiped out millennia ago.

Love is humanity's killer app.

From Hugh MacLeod's blog; gapingvoid.com.

Check it out great stuff that aligns with the way I want to live my life.

JD

People are getting way to wealthy?

Sen. Max Baucus (D): "Too often, much of late, the last couple three years the mal-distribution of income in America is gone up way too much, the wealthy are getting way, way too wealthy, and the middle income class is left behind. Wages have not kept up with increased income of the highest income in America. This legislation will have the effect of addressing that mal-distribution of income in America."

I started my own business in a 8x10 office rented from a good friend, I worked as many hours a day as it took and still do to get the work done. That little office has grown into my own building, 4 other full time team members and the opportunity to oversee almost 100 million dollars of investments for my clients.

If I or anyone else is willing to take on that kind of challenge why should there be a limit on what I can earn?

Donna and I have committed time, talent and treasure to those who have not been as fortunate, for those who life has dealt a bad hand.

But don't tell me that I am limited by someone else's decision that I earn too much. I say work hard, build your own business and if you take on that risk you should be rewarded. It is those who are taking that risk, the risk of their financial future everyday who make this country great.

Macy

It is crazy how life comes and goes.

We lost a great, great friend yesterday.

One of our family dogs, the beautiful Macy, died yesterday. She was a beauty to the eye ... more than anything she was a beautiful spirit, just a beautiful spirit.

I am so glad we were able to get the extra few weeks we had with her. She was a blessing to everyone who came in contact with her.

What an athlete, she was the best athlete of us all.

Thank you God for the time we had with her and thank you God for the peace that she left us.

I love you puppy, we all love you!

I am going to see Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Ford Amphitheatre At the Florida State Fairgrounds. Want to get tickets a

Donna, here you go sweetie. Love you the most!

I am going to see Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Ford Amphitheatre At the Florida State Fairgrounds. Want to get tickets and join me? Here is my event info: sec: 5, row: E, seats: 19-20

Holy Cow, Batman!

Wow, I leave town for a few days to go watch the NCAA wrestling tournament with my "posse" and this what happens!!!

You guys have to do a better job of controlling the government.

Here is a great analysis by Victor David Hansen;

"Obama has thrown down the gauntlet, and is trying to reify the sloganeering of the 1960s. He apparently reasons along the following lines: that centrist talk was campaign fluff; the voters fell for it, and now it’s his turn to remake America with 51% of the House and 44% of the people. Think Sweden, or, better, Greece as our model at home, and something like America as Brazil in matters of foreign policy."

Sometimes I feel like a chump, sometimes I don't.

We’ve Crossed the Rubicon

An Interesting dichtomy

I was attending a Catholic Charities Finance Council meeting this morning.

I can't get over my sense that as our country has become more secular and people don't want to mention God in any context that our government has looked to faith based communities to step into the void.

A void created by the current and future budget crisis.

As we discussed new programs that we are being asked to help I realized that with out the faith based communities there would be no one to take up the slack.

I'm grateful that we have as much as we do and I do feel a "need" to help.

So I guess the real answer for me personally is,

Jeff ... stop bitching, be grateful!

‘They Just Want This Over’

‘They Just Want This Over’ - Robert Costa - The Corner on National Review Online

I greatly admire Mr. Stupak and his efforts to be sure that abortions are not paid for in this Health bill. Frankly, I want this ordeal over with too. I can not accept abortion as something we support with this legislation.

I know that there are circumstances where a couple makes a mistake, there is a health issue or God forbid, a pregnancy because of a rape. In our country I can not tell some one how to handle this issue.

That sad, I am personally against abortion and Donna and I have on more than one occasion offered to take a child that was in danger of being aborted. Thank God, in every case the child was born and today is the apple of someones eye.

Abortions are not contraception.

Personal responsibility is to often abandoned in our lives.

This Health bill should not make the decision to use my tax dollars to pay for abortions.

Maybe those that want to provide for this option could check a box on their tax return to give the government a dollar of two to choose to support abortions.

I know that this is a difficult problem for all of us and there is a difference of opinion, an honest difference of opinion. A difference we need to respect as our right in America.

A little fun on a Saturday afternoon

Well here I am in my office trying to get some work done and stay out from under Donna's feet. So I check my email ( a fabulous time waster and procrastination tool) and up pop's this cool link from Set Godin. Seth wrote the book "the Purple Cow" a great business book hidden in some fun stories ... or maybe its the other way around. Anyway, the book boils down, at least for me, to two words; be remarkable.

Here is a link to his ADVERTISING SLOGAN GENERATOR.

http://thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan.cgi?word=Seth%20Godin

My two favorites when I played with it were The Great Life Adventure, Mother Approved and Watch out! There's A Great Life Adventure about!

PS, if you see Donna around please don't tell her that while she was slaving away on the last few pages of her dissertation I was doing this! Mucho Gracias

Musings on a rainy day

It's raining here in Gainesville today. I really do love rainy days, not sure why. I especially like staying in bed in the mornings when its raining, I'm such a lazy bum!

There are a bunch of great songs about rainy days. My favorite is Ricky Nelson's "Rhythm of the Falling Rain".

Ricky's singing at the end of the Ozzie and Harriet show was always one of my favorite parts of the show. Of course I am now showing my age. Anyone born after 1960 is wondering who the heck is Ozzie and Harriet?

So all of you old people out there take a trip down nostalgia street and check out www.ricknelson.com.

Heres another random thought (which I think are promoted by blogging!) we used to love to watch my Mom and Dad dancing the Jitterbug to the music of the 40's and 50's. Took a little prompting to get my Mom up but all you had to do was hint and my Dad was "cutting the rug".

One of the really cool things is that he hasn't changed, now 85 and a widower, he'll still get out there and have the women spinning and grinning.

Hope I got his energy at 85! Have a great weekend!!

The Dinner Roll

I have a good friend who spent three years in a Cuban prison in the 1960's. He fears that America is heading down a road he has seen before. I have told him it can't happen here. We will be ok. I hope he is wrong and I am right.

We are in a Civil War. Not being fought with bullets but with our voices. Is an autocratic government more efficient and capable of running our country or is the great experiment in free market, with all it's blemishes, still the way we want to live.

Many argue that the future is China i.e. Tom Friedman.

Their leaders decide it is must be done now and it is so. Not nearly as messy as our form of democracy. Then again, not nearly as free.

The Dinner Roll

Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President.

I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics.

There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a FREE country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was EARNED honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room.

We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen..

"Sorry 'bout that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry."

"I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass.

Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty," said the President.

I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don't want to seem unkind..

My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite.

"Eric's children are also quite hungry."

With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me.

I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room.

And their grandmother can't stand for long."

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game.. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken.

I turned back to the President.

"Their grandfather doesn't like the cold."

I wanted to shout, "that was my coat!" But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled.

Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table.

I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home.

Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

"Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do."

My hands were shaking. I felt faint I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor.

The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak, and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops.

"By the way," he added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories.

I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind.

There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars...we need to spread YOUR wealth around..."

I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule.

He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss.

I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle.

Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.

What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, President Obama suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands.

"You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

Happy Birthday to The Big Bopper

Well folks today is a special day in a few ways.

First of all my brother Bob, who is known to friends and enemies as The Big Bopper, is having his birthday today. He will 94 years young! Just kidding. He is approaching 60 though.

In addition, yesterday was the bottom of the Bear market, the Dow closed around 6500. One year ago today the latest Bull market began. Todays Dow is almost 10,600. Not close to the high water mark of over 14,000 but certainly better than it was.

Don't expect the stock market to rise straight up. It is always go up. It doesn't. I was taught earl in my career to think of the stock market as a series of temporary declines followed by permanent gains. In the investment world any time you say something like that you have to have a disclaimer so here it is .... past performance is no guarantee of future returns!

So Big Bopper enjoy your day and we'll see you this time next week at the NCAA Wrestling tournament!

The Iraqi election

It was a pleasure to watch the Iraqi people take on the opportunity to vote.

Could you imagine what the turn out would be in America if there were people trying to kill us for voting, we had to be frisked and then walk through a metal detector?

There is so much contradicting information about what is happening over there that I have to admit to my own biases.

I want them to find there own form of democracy. I want them to become a beacon in the desert that tells people that they can be free to create their own path.

To often I think we ignore the history of the US. The struggles for independence, the arguments over the type of government, the animosity that ultimately led us to the Civil War, brother against brother; Americans killing Americans.

And here we are today. As dysfunctional as any one in the family of man.

At the cross roads of history.

What path do we take?

Airline Security

I was listening to the radio on the way to my office this morning and they were talking about the new full body scanners that are being introduced at airports around the country.

Since the introduction of all the new measures to assure our safety the only guys who have tried to blow up planes got on the planes.

Doesn't that make you feel safer?

This another one of those things I have questions about but no answers. I can't help but feel there has to be a better way, then again maybe not.

Something to think about

First, reforming Health Care is something that most, if not all of us can agree to.

My problem with the current bill is the dishonesty that appears to be a mainstay of Washington. I don't think that we have watched to production of a bill as closely as we have Health Care. Maybe all bills are inherently dishonest.

There is an old saying attributed to several people, you don't want to watch either sausage or laws made. After watching this bill go through congress I will definitely pass on the sausage making.

The bill is a non starter if it is to be revenue neutral. You can not collect ten years of taxes for six years of expenses and say it is revenue neutral.

Fix step one and then go to step two.

That is simple. We must pay as we go. Just as a family can get in over their head financially so can our government. If a family wants to clean up their financial situation the first step is to go to a cash only budget. A cash only budget is the same as pay as you go.

It requires the family to make hard decisions on what to spend on. The family can't live as they have, there will be sacrifices.

The government is the same.

Are you willing to saddle our children and grandchildren to debt we have created? Condemn them to a lower standard of living, higher inflation and more taxes?

If you think this can't happen then read about what is happening in Greece and then with that knowledge let's talk.

Thanks!

Dearest Donna, thank you for sending me the link so I can be part of The Great Life Adventure blog.

Let the Adventure begin!

Back up and runnin'

OK... so it's been a REALLY long time since posting. What can I say!? Life IS a great life adventure and mine has kept me busy in TOO many places! But, be on the lookout for lots of changes soon and for lots of postings from Jeff Davis, CFP, the co-pilot in this adventure! Cheers!