tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22286320459764516762024-02-07T17:22:33.580-08:00THE BIG PICTURERyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-3634319206202544632011-11-11T19:31:00.001-08:002011-11-12T09:38:00.116-08:00Cost of Living Creep“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war.” –<br />
<div>
Abraham Lincoln - In a letter written to William Elkin</div>
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The average United States citizens continue to have less and less control over the money that they earn. I feel this is due to the following two causes: (1) Hidden Taxes from our government and (2) Capitalism raising costs on goods and services. Both of these result in an upward "creep" of costs on our daily cost of living that essentially makes living, or making ends meet, difficult or nearly impossible to achieve.<br />
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<strong>Hidden Taxes:</strong><br />
The term 'hidden' is not to represent that we do not know about these taxes, but they are not quantified into are tax bracket. The fact that the government collects their 20-30% in federal taxes as listed above does not include all of these other taxes that we pay that ultimately show up in our 'cost of living' column. And hence are hidden from the amount we think we are being taxed.<br />
<ol>
<li><em>Gasoline Tax:</em> The average combined federal & state tax across the US is 0.46 cents per gallon (cpg). [Connecticut is the highest at 0.68 cpg, Alaska is the lowest at 0.26 cpg and Nevada is 0.51 cpg] <a href="http://www.commonsensejunction.com/notes/gas-tax-rate.html">http://www.commonsensejunction.com/notes/gas-tax-rate.html</a></li>
<li><em>Gas Guzzler Tax:</em> When you purchase a car if it is categorized as a gas guzzler, you are taxed. Could be as little as $1,000 or as high as $7,700. <a href="http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/guzzler/index.htm">http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/guzzler/index.htm</a></li>
<li><em>Hidden Taxes on Travel:</em> Every time you go to a popular destination in the United Stated you are assisting the government. <a href="http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/27486.html">http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/27486.html</a></li>
<li><em>"Sin" Tax (beer, liquor, cigarettes):</em> I find this one somewhat interesting because it is essentially taxing segregation of lifestyles, or judgment of bad lifestyles and imposing penalties. Politicians love the idea of this sin tax because their options become somewhat limitless. Rather than promote healthy living, they charge you for your poor choices. Some of the following "sin" taxes may already be in force, but others are being debated on implementation: Fat tax (airplane seats; trans-fatty food purchases; soda pops) Drug tax (legalization of marijuana, brings revenue) Legalized prostitution; Gambling taxes (How many states have casinos now?) </li>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-09-21-column21_ST_N.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-09-21-column21_ST_N.htm</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/weekinreview/18rampell.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/weekinreview/18rampell.html</a></li>
<li><a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-09-08/news/17934410_1_sugary-drinks-soda-consumption-health-care-reform">http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-09-08/news/17934410_1_sugary-drinks-soda-consumption-health-care-reform</a></li>
</ol>
<li><em>Hobby Taxes:</em> A fishing enthusiast pays 10% of the sales price on sport-fishing equipment in taxes. That's enough to make you switch to another sport. Maybe archery? But wait, an archer pays 40 cents tax per arrow. And quivers are taxed at 11%! If you buy a shotgun or other firearm, you'll pay 11% of the sales price in federal tax on the gun as well as any ammunition. Handguns are taxed at 10% of the sales price. I'm sure there are several others here: hunting tags, national park permits, etc...</li>
<li><em>State Taxes on Insurance Premiums:</em> This little doozy brings in $15.7 BILLION in revenue (2008) a year! States charge insurance companies a tax on the insurance premiums they receive from customers in that state. And who do you think the insurance companies pass that cost along to? You got it. You and me.</li>
<li><em>Excise tax:</em> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excise_tax_in_the_United_States">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excise_tax_in_the_United_States</a> The sneakiest of all the hidden taxes that we pay is in the form of excise taxes on many of the products we import. The tax makes the prices of imported products artificially high to make it easier for domestic products to compete. Here are just a few of the items and the percentage that their prices are jacked up by import taxes:<br />
<ul>
<li>Bicycles 11% </li>
<li>Brussel sprouts 12% </li>
<li>Cotton hammocks 15% </li>
<li>Infant formulas 18% </li>
<li>Flashlights 18% </li>
<li>Peanut butter 143% </li>
<li>Girdles and panty girdles 24% </li>
<li>Brooms 32% </li>
<li>Plastic school supplies 5% </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
</li>
<li><em>Payroll Taxes:</em> Forget about your income tax withholding. When is the last time you looked – really looked – at all the other taxes coming out of each and every one of your paychecks? You've got your Social Security tax, your Medicare tax, your unemployment tax, your workers compensation... It all adds up to a serious percentage of your money going into someone else's pockets.</li>
</ol>
These are just 8 hidden taxes listed. There are many others that would take to long to research and state in this blog but a few are tied to utilities and government fees: water, power, sewer, city, state permits, business permits, etc.<br />
<br />
Our politicians are scared of talking about raising taxes. Scared to make a hard decision. This stems from the inherent risk of being kicked out of office or losing votes. In addition, they are committed to corporations and the small society that controls the majority of the money (they fund their campaigns). The chart below shows the gross misrepresentation about what citizens think their tax rate is over the last 30+ years. This does not include the hidden taxes that we pay.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4coKC8eNlohkPJiE0MlsasjF3UVhF6zdNrVdBay3VS5DQTLfnQo_395tmAYrKeEag0zPGnl74PmoWICM0HeQ-2iuxldIA_uSYqaxHfhMjqDxFyG_0jh7hfHQDjVLAQlPXVklew7JX_as/s1600/EffectiveTotal_FedTaxRate%252520copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4coKC8eNlohkPJiE0MlsasjF3UVhF6zdNrVdBay3VS5DQTLfnQo_395tmAYrKeEag0zPGnl74PmoWICM0HeQ-2iuxldIA_uSYqaxHfhMjqDxFyG_0jh7hfHQDjVLAQlPXVklew7JX_as/s400/EffectiveTotal_FedTaxRate%252520copy.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
This creates a gross misrepresentation to the taxpayer that the tax rate is what is shown in this graph. By the time one adds in all the hidden taxes that we discussed and the ones that were not discussed. I would think the overall tax rate could be above 50% of gross income.<br />
<br />
Congress has imprisoned American taxpayers in a cave where the tax code we see is merely a distorted image of what we truly pay in taxes. The tax code is a grossly distorted shadow that cannot, and should not, pass for truth!!!<br />
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<strong>Capitalism raising costs on goods and services:</strong><br />
When I refer to capitalism here, I am referring to the people that control corporations that set product prices for consumers in an effort to maximize company profits which in term increase market share.<br />
<br />
Capitalists understand money. They understand when consumers have extra cash and when cash is a premium. They understand that governments will not increase the federal income tax as indicated above, they also understand that governments apply the "hidden" taxes that we discussed. <br />
<br />
So in an effort to build company profit they analyze where this increase in money can come from. It is my opinion they categorize the gross money that an average family brings in into three categories:<br />
<ol>
<li>Taxes (Federal, State, and Hidden taxes)</li>
<li>Cost of living</li>
<li>Disposable Income</li>
</ol>
From their analysis they determine there is an excess in disposable income and they work to build profits by seeking after this cash available in household disposable incomes. This is done by creating artificial "cost of production increases" where goods and services now cost 2 to 2000 times as much as they did in the past just to push their profit line while sacrificing US citizens capability to LIVE.<br />
<br />
Essentially, I think that a large portion of the "cost of living" term used by financial planners and industries is somewhat of a conspiracy to have an excuse to push prices higher. <br />
Now, I do recognize that costs do inflate and fuel has become more expensive (along with the taxes added onto the fuel that we discussed) so there is some "cost of living" increases. But I think capitalists have leaned too heavily on this excuse and have spiraled costs beyond reason just to improve market share.<br />
Examples:<br />
<ol>
<li>Can someone please explain in detail the financials that made the snickers bar increase from 0.25 cents when I was a kid in 1985 to the $1.25 that I see in convenient stores today? I think this is a prime example of solely increasing revenue. The same could be said for many products: soda, bread, meat, shaving razors, pop corn.</li>
<li>Will it really cost my son (7) $25-$30 for a big-mac meal when he is my age by the time inflation plays it course?</li>
<li>Does it really cost $55,000 to make an F250?</li>
<li>Here are a few examples of mark-ups at the grocery store, this is to drive home the point that capitalists are there to add the squeeze from our disposable income:</li>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/finance-grocerystoremarkups/produce%20/">http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/finance-grocerystoremarkups/produce%20/</a></li>
</ol>
<li>Here is an example of other overpriced items:</li>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/27/10-most-overpriced-products-you-should-avoid/">http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/27/10-most-overpriced-products-you-should-avoid/</a></li>
</ol>
<li>Other good links:</li>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-food-inflation-spiraling-out-of-control-91848684.html">http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-food-inflation-spiraling-out-of-control-91848684.html</a></li>
<li><a href="http://inflation.us/charts.html">http://inflation.us/charts.html</a></li>
</ol>
</ol>
Below is a chart that shows how the percent of disposable income has decreased over time which is a testament that the US citizen is being squeezed from all sides to (1) to pay for big government (2) maximize profits for large corporations (3) sacrifice their own disposable income (financial health) by barely making ends meet ( or not staying afloat) and likely facing an unfortunate retirement scenario.<br />
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The average United States citizens continue to have less and less control over the money that they earn. I feel this is due to the following two causes: (1) Hidden Taxes from our government and (2) Capitalism raising costs on goods and services. Both of these result in an upward "creep" of costs on our daily cost of living that essentially makes living, or making ends meet, difficult or nearly impossible to achieve.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Now, since this is happening to us, how do we make this right/proper/fair for our children and future generations?</span></strong></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-46636783397480951322011-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:002011-09-02T14:00:40.039-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">The BIG Labor Day Celebration</span><br />
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So it is labor day weekend, Yeah!!! <br />
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What is Labor Day anyways, for most of america it is just another 3 or 4-day weekend for a vaction. In looking at the United Stated Department of Labors webpage, they state Labor Day, "is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."<br />
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Well, hell yeah, let's celebrate the american workers!<br />
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However, most workers across the United States are concerned about their employment stability and the future of our great nation. Our politicians are trying to solve the nations current unemployment problems and get Americans back to work. Approximately 14 million Americans are unemployed or 9.1%. <br />
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I just find it interesting that our politicians are trying to solve a problem that they produced! Do we not recall that thousands of american jobs are being shipped out of the US? The decisions to do this was made multiple times by our government over the las two decades. Now we are trying to create more jobs when we have been shipping jobs overseas for 20+years, is the answer not right inbetween their noses?<br />
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-83230821045445357982011-08-22T11:43:00.000-07:002011-08-22T12:12:01.558-07:00DEAR MR. BERNANKE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bhwciCTOlBnxT3eKukeEh-CLjLkQgH183cdzDd3tNPoGVgMdyr0ChTtLxsAlA2xn7bc-Qzll-wqEguhnVwoQa2e6kXW6vWr-PBUmE_7XRBSsUdEchHOKWVwj3sgeMx5osmM_iFqNK0k/s1600/63120-B.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643760020357575842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bhwciCTOlBnxT3eKukeEh-CLjLkQgH183cdzDd3tNPoGVgMdyr0ChTtLxsAlA2xn7bc-Qzll-wqEguhnVwoQa2e6kXW6vWr-PBUmE_7XRBSsUdEchHOKWVwj3sgeMx5osmM_iFqNK0k/s320/63120-B.jpg" /></a>
<br /><div>I just wanted to thank you for the promise that you made on August 9th 2011 to keep rates at zero through mid 2013. This is great news for my family financial forecasting.
<br />
<br />See my wife and I have been deliberating on when we should build our new home. We understand that an increase in the existing rates is eminent. We have been studying financial data to determine when we think the rates will increase, or increase to the point where we might not be able to build the size of home that we desire.
<br />
<br />Recently we thought we had reached the optimum point to build our house in order to take advantage of a low mortgage rate. So we were about to embark on the journey of home building. Savvy investors say to do the opposite of the crowd and building in Nevada definitely would be opposite of the crowd. Just as we were ready to start putting money into the local economy to build our house we decided to listen to your speech on August 9th 2011.
<br />
<br />We are grateful for your insight because now I figure that I can save my money for at least another year before I need to start construction. I figure it will take me 1 year to build my house. If I plan it just right, I should complete my home in May of 2013. This will enable me to capture the tail end of your promise so that my future mortgage rate should be the lowest possible rate (unless you can give me a personal rate like you did to the banks for the $1.2 Trillion TARP money - <strong>1.1%</strong>, that would be sweet!).
<br />
<br />Either way, I sure appreciate your promise. I know that many politicians can not make good on your promise but I know that you will! After all, my family finances are dependant on it. I would hate for you to break your promise or I may have to contact my lawyer.
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<br />Thanks again and I look forward to your next speech...
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<br />Sincerely ME! </div>
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-75800135981153121292010-08-11T14:37:00.000-07:002010-08-11T14:39:10.939-07:00Awesome ManSearch "Damien Walters" on YouTube<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cNvJy0zoXOY&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cNvJy0zoXOY&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-28674740704410709692010-07-29T16:10:00.001-07:002010-07-29T16:10:26.934-07:00Too Funny<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.todaysbigthing.com/betamax/betamax.swf?item_id=3729&fullscreen=1" width="480" height="360"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" quality="best" value="http://www.todaysbigthing.com/betamax/betamax.swf?item_id=3729&fullscreen=1" /> </object><div style='padding:5px 0; text-align:center; width:480px;'>See more <a href='http://www.todaysbigthing.com/'>funny videos</a> and <a href='http://www.todaysbigthing.com/'>TBT Videos</a> at <a href='http://www.todaysbigthing.com/'>Today's Big Thing</a>.</div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-78733188333959886162009-12-17T15:34:00.000-08:002009-12-17T15:58:23.997-08:00The Big EndThis is great!!! Too Many people FREAKING OUT like crazy. Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics. Our society is nuts!<br /><br />Okay if you have trouble viewing the video below, you can see the whole thing at http://www.todaysbigthing.com/2009/12/15<br /><br /><br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1924853&fullscreen=1" width="640" height="360" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="movie" quality="best" value="http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1924853&fullscreen=1"/><embed src="http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1924853&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="640" height="360" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><div style='padding:5px 0; text-align:center; width:640px;'>See more <a href='http://www.todaysbigthing.com/'>funny videos</a> and <a href='http://www.todaysbigthing.com/'>TBT Videos</a> at <a href='http://www.todaysbigthing.com/'>Today's Big Thing</a>.</div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-83579021989335081452009-10-24T19:45:00.000-07:002009-10-24T21:40:09.072-07:00THE BIG BAFFLEWhat's that old definition of insanity? "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396373679002787826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdbfysyiZFC14wJmYXr3QDSeca8Dr4QH1EmbonrB8ILpnM7tMmQWS5oGFs23bGoX44BSkIUQOaPoXGeuUHm3yplelDJrOYwZO4aNBpMLxJTRYjGI4iLcW5ekxv-fk_8QAxDjZNem2fy0/s320/insane.jpg" border="0" />Well this blog is about a few government programs that I think have a little bit of insanity to them, and I will tell you why.<br /><br />First of all the programs: <ol><li><strong>Cash for Clunkers</strong> <a href="http://www.cashforclunkers.org/">http://www.cashforclunkers.org/</a> Was this program set up so everyone could buy (spend their money) a new car or so the government could have their constituents spend their money to help out a failing industry? I believe the later. The interest is not in the people but in the companies. </li><br /><li><strong>$8,000 First Time Home Buyer Credit</strong> <a href="http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/glance.php">http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/glance.php</a> Again, is this to help first time home buyers or is this to try and save a industry that imploded. Either way it encourages the general public to spend, spend, spend. Yes, it may be a good time to buy a home now but the overall incentive is to get in debt. An acquaintance told me that they bought a home and tried to use this 8,000 but in the paper work, it is worded that the 8,000 has to be paid back through the life of the loan? I wouldn't mind hearing if others have had similar experiences?</li><br /><li><strong>Cash for Refrigerators (Yes Refrigerators)</strong> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/aug2009/db20090821_304909.htm">http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/aug2009/db20090821_304909.htm</a> Wow what will they they think of next, Cash for used toilet paper? Again, this effort is to help the companies Whirlpool and Electrolux. </li></ol><p>Please tell me that someone else sees the underlying problem here? </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396378993926048994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 229px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgYMeoRwDWVYFTau5aTqGA6xmOKv3GwVFeYxVKOrOSk7EVOmQ0qla4WPV1kalV8Dqbalx8qifVv0FWjFcU0IVMOCPFgki7rXBaaniG9Dc4qLNNB3qS2utt4Gt_MkV8vrY5pTOaQHRd1E/s320/tax+theif.bmp" border="0" />Does it make any sense at all that during a BIG recession that our very own government leaders put out incentives for Americans to spend their money? </p><p><strong>Is this not one of the biggest OXYMORON's of all time; nation in recession, nation encouraged to spend and go in debt (by the leaders???).</strong> </p><p>In most cases, the average American does not have any money to spend. The average American is in debt, yet the government finds a way to advertise cars on sale, refrigerators on sale, houses on sale, spend-spend-spend. Yes, spend money you don't have!!! </p>Our government clearly spends money they do not have. That is ever evident by the national debt clock about to hit <strong>12- TRILLION</strong>.<br /><br />They say we are almost out of the recession and things are looking up, however I fear they are wrong.<br /><br />The next presidential candidate that will take on national debt as if it was Saddam Hussein has my vote.<br /><br />PULL YOUR HEAD OUT...Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-48779853536598690922009-09-18T21:44:00.001-07:002009-09-18T22:03:34.098-07:00Today's BIG Thing!!!I came across this great website called "Today's Big Thing". I quite enjoy the website and the name parallels with the title of this blog, the BIG Picture! It is a site that posts one video clip every day. The video clip that day is probably selected amongst thousands but this site knows how to pick funny videos. So I added a "liked links" to the page. Last week I added the national debt clock counter which I was excited to have on the blog as well. For those that follow this blog, you know how I feel about the national debt.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383039031910757586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_z00PVnQIVHHwkiy37P6PUzr2xYZjKpBTFgKsIjWAwlvIu-F9F7Awn3Q27HCrnsH5OM2XkHg_vIN2VK0-YmetlY9xTJlqbWheNa0QyIPMGnq85ahDJuD-AIuKb0VcDXMOR8hz91Zvl60/s320/todaysbigthing_Hippo+chase.jpg" border="0" /><br />Enjoy the website, I do. Here is a brief listof a few recent videos worth looking at:<br />September 17<br />September 15<br />September 11, favorite<br />September 2<br />August 26<br />August 11, favorite, I found the site on this day<br />August 6<br />August 5, fake<br />August 4<br />I haven't really looked at videos prior to August. </p><p><br /><br />PULL YOUR HEAD OUT!!!</p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-29524039160243483502009-09-05T21:15:00.000-07:002009-09-05T21:25:05.058-07:00How do you waste your time?I read an article the other day about an 11-year old whiz kid who just graduated from LA College. I liked the article. I like reading about societies potential next Einstein or the next great mind. At the end of the article it discusses Moshe's dislike for video games saying they are a waste of time because it doesn't help others. I thought that was interesting coming from an 11-year old . So below is the article, and keep in mind: HOW DO YOU WASTE YOUR TIME?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">11-YEAR OLD GRADUATE</span><br /><a title="Moshe Kai Cavalin" href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/topics?topic=Moshe+Kai+Cavalin">Moshe Kai Cavalin</a>, 11, graduates with honors from <a title="East Los Angeles Community College" href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/topics?topic=East+Los+Angeles+Community+College">East Los Angeles Community College</a> with a Associate Arts degree in Liberal Studies this week, but just don't call him a genius.<br />"I consider myself a regular kid who works hard and does his best," says this only child of a Taiwanese mother and an Israeli father.<br />When Cavalin started college at the age of 8, he may have been the youngest person in class, but he ended up tutoring some of his 19- and 20-year-old classmates in math and science. Cavalin was one of 3 in the school graduating with a 4.0 GPA.<br />Astrophysics is his passion. <a title="Albert Einstein" href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/topics?topic=Albert+Einstein">Albert Einstein</a> and <a title="Bruce Lee (Actor)" href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/topics?topic=Bruce+Lee+(Actor)">Bruce Lee</a> are among his idols.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378204808885742146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhez1sjfhEgC0sdH34oQh5MR0RuKXKvOChrNnc9EQRVkBOLsx76Xq1CsgnOzocxpgN6BlEFzHnLp0l16gWHCHaosTyfa3ocVz8MgB6YaZfd6AxVvgeNmIxqKfOJ-SIhEzGeTEvCkrul_pE/s320/11-year+whiz.bmp" border="0" />Yet like a twist out of a Hollywood action flick, Cavalin combines his exceptional smarts with fearsome martial arts abilities: The preteen has won numerous national martial arts championships.<br />Up next for the tireless boy wonder: In the next take six months to a year he plans to devote himself to martial arts, write a book for kids on how to succeed in school, and take up scuba diving. </div><div align="justify"><br />Not on the agenda: playing video games.</div><div align="justify"><br />"I feel it's a waste of time playing video games because it's not helping humanity in any way," says the 11-year-old, who wants to use his knowledge to change the world.</div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-23938621143092125692009-08-21T21:07:00.000-07:002009-08-21T21:51:51.586-07:00THE BIG ALERT<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-CzFQkpPZa0m67PnjzzVcL8hKiYkLbV8AgHOZN4s5RZQAEPmEaS8LFwHq1ZkunPbeCEm2mHg3jJATObeKYsxGEu3tvRJAuwQjKe8GeJAVXt9qe7BEnoDmDnAT9VugiCxIbOeQ5lXeDY/s1600-h/heat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372636443056294322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-CzFQkpPZa0m67PnjzzVcL8hKiYkLbV8AgHOZN4s5RZQAEPmEaS8LFwHq1ZkunPbeCEm2mHg3jJATObeKYsxGEu3tvRJAuwQjKe8GeJAVXt9qe7BEnoDmDnAT9VugiCxIbOeQ5lXeDY/s320/heat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I grew up in southern Nevada and have lived here most of my life. However, the other day I was checking the weather and realized there was a weather warning in effect. I figured it must be a flash flood storm or high winds coming our way. However, to my dismay, the weather alert was EXTREME HEAT??????????<br /><br />I was dumbfounded!!!<br />That is like going to Alaska in the winter time and packing shorts? Or bringing a jacket to Hawaii in the summer time? SO STUPID...<br /><br />I'm glad that I checked the weather that day because I viewed the warning telling me, dude today is going to be HOT!!! If I hadn't sat at my computer and checked the weather, I would have gone outside and experinced HEAT, EXTREME HEAT?? Wow, that warning almost kept me from going outside and doing what I normally do outside every day here.<br /><br />If any of you are familiar with the southern Nevada climate, you know that pretty much from June to late August you can expect temperatures from 105 to 120 on any given day.<br /><br />A few tips the natiaional weather service provides for this EXTREME HEAT ALERT, are provided below: </p><ol><li><div align="justify">Spend more time in air conditioning places</div></li><li><div align="justify">Drink plenty of water (not alcohol)</div></li><li><div align="justify">Slow down, dont work outside in hottest part of the day</div></li><li><div align="justify">Do not take salt tablets<br /><br />Then I realized that this warning just must be for stupid people. </div></li></ol><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJcj8x8Td8XljoR2TWvULdIq9Jy8ORQFSfhjMD0LU7LSdPxEJVgk1DatBhYGyZN5MFhO9OKt4PjZEPgAhS-xtIFXLVy-pzhd_zLHJVRjiRE8jfgJOmv5qvEYU6bwYQZo4TusjuxzVhP8/s1600-h/stupid.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372640276201629922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 211px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJcj8x8Td8XljoR2TWvULdIq9Jy8ORQFSfhjMD0LU7LSdPxEJVgk1DatBhYGyZN5MFhO9OKt4PjZEPgAhS-xtIFXLVy-pzhd_zLHJVRjiRE8jfgJOmv5qvEYU6bwYQZo4TusjuxzVhP8/s320/stupid.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I imagine someone sued the weather service station after a trip to southern nevada because they were not forewarned about the HEAT.</p><p align="justify">PULL YOUR HEAD OUT!!!</p><p><br /></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-62357265742964346212009-07-30T21:54:00.000-07:002009-07-30T21:55:53.519-07:00BIG SLIDESI need to create these.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qXF-VMIWi3A&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qXF-VMIWi3A&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3q0u8aq2PGU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3q0u8aq2PGU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-30345485374158949892009-07-27T17:04:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:23:06.789-07:00ECONOMICSI received this via email the other day and figured I would share.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363295588844275634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 403px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNyLfcAHUbMUisJGVjoLH-vLMimVN2W0c1eg2E7BzIrbJwYHy-Z6Si1c9zHqt7_VmqIf-Myv9fWRyR_ToZFAK0x5mGsUow58FASROOyqxBSnnawNqlZHFemb7YIhSJmmg-tF01fkpagU/s320/image002.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before,<br />but had once failed an entire class.<br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br />That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.<br /><br />The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".<br /><br />All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.<br /><br />After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.<br />The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.<br /><br />As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.<br />The second test average was a D!<br />No one was happy.<br /><br />When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.<br /><br />The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.<br /><br />All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. </p>_________________________________________<br /><p></p><br /><p>So maybe this story is not true. But the principle is interesting and reminds me of another story of a person that tried to provide all solutions to everyone. Are we not known by our works, our efforts, our desires. Are we each given agency to learn for ourselves to figure out if there is something worth standing up for? </p><p>The key word in the last sentence is "succeed". How do you define success, how can you achieve success in the time you have been given in this life?</p><p> </p><p>PULL YOUR HEAD OUT!!!<br /><br /></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-31793028321885286262009-06-15T22:12:00.000-07:002009-06-15T23:26:38.365-07:00What's up with 401(K)'sNothing!!!<br /><br />Not much is up with 401Ks. When I was out of high school my dad told me how great the 401k plan is and I do agree it does have it's positives.<br /><br />Now it might be easy for me to discuss why I don't like 401ks given the recent turn of the DOW index from 14,000 to 6,600 in about 6 months. However, I will give you a few reasons of my disgust with the 401k retirement plans.<br /><br />I have lost money in my 401k plan and I recognize that I have no one to blame but myslef for that. Luckily though I am not 50+ and have not lost half my investment/retirement. However, I am young (or I tell myself that) and did lose 50% of my money, but that pot of money is relatively small compared to most others.<br /><br />Here are a few reasons why I do not like the 401K plan:<br /><br />1: By investing in a 401k one automatically signs up to become a mutual fund manager, or market investor. Are you qualified? Do you have what it takes? Most people are ignorant and think I have a retirement plan (a 401K), I will be safe....<br /><br />2: You pay someone to manage your retirement money whether that fund goes up or down. Many people lost a great deal of money, but their mutual fund managers still made great money. In-fact they probably received a bailout on top of what we have been paying them every time a portion of our checks enter a 401k. Do you think our ancestors would roll over in their graves if they new we pay others to hold our money?<br /><br />3: A financial planner will tell you that the market since inception has averaged over 12% a year. This is a true fact, however will that trend always remain? There are lots of existing factors that do not point in that direction. Lets say it does though, if the DOW were at 10,000 in 2010 and it averaged a 12% gain for the next 20 years, in 2030 the DOW would be at 96 thousand and change. Yeah right!!!<br /><br />4: HIDDEN FEES, gotta love those!<br /><br />5: A 401K plan provides a false sense of future security, which increases a tolerance of debt and promotes bad spending habits of living beyond ones means.<br /><br />6: Your money is essentially inaccessible until you 59.5 or whatever the age is now. Sure you can borrow against it which is a stupid idea and you can pull money out of it which is another stupid idea! This equals a loss of other investments that you could have made during this time.<br /><br />7: Limited choices of funds and lack of education. Red=risky but high returns (go for the lottery wins) Green equals having your money in the bank. Choices based on risk, yes you are a good investor. Can anyone name a stock in their mutual fund?<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeYRIplODp9Eq8kRW-AhYNUEyl2X9ZNiCEScEomoyh0tSVZj4eBWI4ozQ8gL5mn8Fln85rXVWugkOXiijA6zwObQKhOMTFJfyydx6ghOwLFnLga2cHlN7Vt0vlrBk3HzMfrSZZgKqGsY/s1600-h/citigroup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347805864823625074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeYRIplODp9Eq8kRW-AhYNUEyl2X9ZNiCEScEomoyh0tSVZj4eBWI4ozQ8gL5mn8Fln85rXVWugkOXiijA6zwObQKhOMTFJfyydx6ghOwLFnLga2cHlN7Vt0vlrBk3HzMfrSZZgKqGsY/s320/citigroup.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The solution...<br /><br />Figure it out yourself!!!<br /><br />I think it is simply to not put all your eggs in the same basket. I believe that future generations will not bank on 401Ks the same that we have been told to not count entirely on Social Security. I think younger generations will need an assortment of investments to retire properly: real-estate, bonds, business ventures, stock investments, passive income, collectibles and other types of investment vehicles.<br /><br />May we not be as the picture when I started this blog.<br /><a href="http://ryansbigpicture.blogspot.com/2008/09/big-picture.html">http://ryansbigpicture.blogspot.com/2008/09/big-picture.html</a><br /><a href="http://ryansbigpicture.blogspot.com/2008/09/big-picture.html"></a></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-14569220547561440982009-06-10T09:27:00.000-07:002009-06-10T09:32:25.090-07:00Learn Faster<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cL9Wu2kWwSY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cL9Wu2kWwSY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-42212259984711520542009-03-12T14:36:00.001-07:002009-03-12T15:19:00.893-07:00BIG MONEY!!!<div align="justify">Many of you might have seen an email being flown around trying to depict to the public what comprises a trillion dollars. I previously showed you this in zero's in a previoust post. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://ryansbigpicture.blogspot.com/2008/09/money-thats-problem.html">http://ryansbigpicture.blogspot.com/2008/09/money-thats-problem.html</a><br />No matter how you may try to conceive a trillion dollars, I think that many of you do not fully understand a trillion dollars. I liked the e-mail I received so I am including it on this blog. Although it is shown what a trillion dollors is, it is still unfathomable.<br /><br />Shame on ourselves for allowing our government to be ELEVEN trillion dollars in debt and throw around trillion dollar bills in congress.<br /><br />Here you go...<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uz0FNYRGb_NfJp10UAxsZisvN2oB52gkDzlA20FtYImw4cT-XLkjH7OghxmZcYCDSftQYMyqeX7G1UMUFIQWGqUj_hzUq1m1nE0mqN11zcYOZ-ZwS88YgLLo9neJGCLhwk1tr6hehyI/s1600-h/$100.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312420702892759074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uz0FNYRGb_NfJp10UAxsZisvN2oB52gkDzlA20FtYImw4cT-XLkjH7OghxmZcYCDSftQYMyqeX7G1UMUFIQWGqUj_hzUq1m1nE0mqN11zcYOZ-ZwS88YgLLo9neJGCLhwk1tr6hehyI/s320/$100.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>A $100 Bill (The remaining piles of money are composed of $100 Bills) </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><br /><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkG0aE7BgaQHnCk4gOMsubKXv7s_olHVK6eKEW5bt1ufv8-66Se4s2ETKXOC8MIXAQELFOXDM0z7NrNkK6OuFshMEEZEvQ5mMw9svMY0vNl1djRgvMPS9_TALD6MTdhg66gvXIulozFNQ/s1600-h/$10000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312420884654492658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkG0aE7BgaQHnCk4gOMsubKXv7s_olHVK6eKEW5bt1ufv8-66Se4s2ETKXOC8MIXAQELFOXDM0z7NrNkK6OuFshMEEZEvQ5mMw9svMY0vNl1djRgvMPS9_TALD6MTdhg66gvXIulozFNQ/s320/$10000.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>$10,000 </p><p align="center"><br /><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsQjgSSXD05ViiNTYG_lGiqM77i2yiN-cB8aBPz3u6QfPZfiGhSGlg13jvYAWWASwq6XBIGIL9Zl94tZdrjSr2H4Cd4_H6h-xvHEOGbCRD5-OttjPtgIPIga9Ikpv9UmKOyO3tpmm9MU/s1600-h/$Million.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312421002924918578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsQjgSSXD05ViiNTYG_lGiqM77i2yiN-cB8aBPz3u6QfPZfiGhSGlg13jvYAWWASwq6XBIGIL9Zl94tZdrjSr2H4Cd4_H6h-xvHEOGbCRD5-OttjPtgIPIga9Ikpv9UmKOyO3tpmm9MU/s320/$Million.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>This small stack of bills is One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) </p><p align="center"><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjJ-S2MQpb6W3Sjmdz4hYKqiUnd1xqUOZM2x0R8bZMp_w4YZjW4HxxGFJq1Zp9zrofuMNvDVbgjkZrZXo2WoriLbcTnhVdGaP1t0ECD17L_W7QMXc046J5XjNIm4uhKH0cDbaD6bjIeE/s1600-h/$100millioin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312421092150013154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 204px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjJ-S2MQpb6W3Sjmdz4hYKqiUnd1xqUOZM2x0R8bZMp_w4YZjW4HxxGFJq1Zp9zrofuMNvDVbgjkZrZXo2WoriLbcTnhVdGaP1t0ECD17L_W7QMXc046J5XjNIm4uhKH0cDbaD6bjIeE/s320/$100millioin.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p align="center"><br />This crate of money is 100 million dollars ($100,000,000) </p><p align="center"><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7tHrucQoRa76ABU5GBDnrclTZYTUJtSKkb1QGTgEDrrUG9WOUVbI1Q-7PkvCSvNu8YvymKF9UwfjpPZazsFPpGnkBfR2XgHlbqiD0TY0IAef5zQjPbthkly2ZCdafpNJMnwrTYPN-hg/s1600-h/$billion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312421214501391090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7tHrucQoRa76ABU5GBDnrclTZYTUJtSKkb1QGTgEDrrUG9WOUVbI1Q-7PkvCSvNu8YvymKF9UwfjpPZazsFPpGnkBfR2XgHlbqiD0TY0IAef5zQjPbthkly2ZCdafpNJMnwrTYPN-hg/s320/$billion.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>A billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8yyUZOOCxigG13R3-kS-iorADq2uDfSJ5eh2olYAMFxS2jTRofnmLyo4QP_hKpaXcHQ7geuhS-hDXMAP_Otpu-tHmVxcbObhanPn-vmjed_3NNNCUkdOmZxsQEOEzlmCh8MvsjD1Eew/s1600-h/$Trillion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312421340626795858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8yyUZOOCxigG13R3-kS-iorADq2uDfSJ5eh2olYAMFxS2jTRofnmLyo4QP_hKpaXcHQ7geuhS-hDXMAP_Otpu-tHmVxcbObhanPn-vmjed_3NNNCUkdOmZxsQEOEzlmCh8MvsjD1Eew/s320/$Trillion.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p align="justify"><br /><strong>Behold, a trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000)!!! Note the man is still there to the left of the picture, the crates are stacked two high. </strong></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">If I count correctly the area that is shown here is representative of the area within a highschool track, the football field and supporting area between the football field and the track. That is still stacking two high too. </p><p align="justify">One trillion dollars! May I remind you that the US is eleven trillion dollars in debt so stack 20 more crates high on the original two shown in the picture and you have our national debt. That means that the crates would stack to be about 100 feet high. Can you fathom it? <a href="http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/">http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/</a></p><p align="justify">Let's all pull our heads out together!!!<br /><br /></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-85723302087537423342009-01-25T21:54:00.000-08:002009-01-25T21:57:43.678-08:00Stand by MeKeep the Big Picture in Mind....<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Us-TVg40ExM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Us-TVg40ExM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-43628609218590913722009-01-13T21:35:00.000-08:002009-01-13T22:56:04.608-08:00THE BIG JOB OPPORTUNITY!!!This post goes out to all my relatives or friends that are either single, newly married, about to retire, or just need to get away for 6-months. Australia is advertising the best job in the world. Yes, they are taking applications so go ahead and apply, the deadline is February 22nd. See the details of the article below.<br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291019938633929554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKtxHA1HprJvu_O0-KK7pI8vgz7WEJfuvmmgd09Pnmu1cZXODCmJE1lLNP4gOzDzOSOy05marB56bZ0PI3k7T7noafnhjcKLGEeFFV-sHSrc0tlu8yDsYtAoaMBblPH-r5iMBnxdeIcE/s320/capt_photo_1231816541838-1-0.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.<br />The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.<br />In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of "a few minor tasks" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.<br />The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.<br />"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.<br />"The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."<br />Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state's 18 billion Australian dollar a year tourism industry during the tough economic climate caused by the global financial meltdown.<br />"Traditional tourism advertising just doesn't cut it sometimes and we are thinking outside the box by launching this campaign."<br />Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown person become an unofficial tourism spokesperson for the state.<br />"I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won't want to go home at the end of the six months," she said.<br />"This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone."<br />Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.<br />Job-seekers can apply on .<br /><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/afp/od_afp/storytext/lifestyleaustraliatourismoffbeat/30549293/SIG=112t1crpi/*http://www.islandreefjob.com/en/" name="">Islandreefjob.com</a><br /></div><br /><div>Good luck to all that apply for the "Best job in the world".</div><br /><div>Pull your head out and apply!!!</div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-20923608181430316082008-11-11T21:21:00.001-08:002008-11-11T21:51:32.011-08:00The Big Scam!!!<div align="justify">The thoughts of oil companies, rich families that own the oil companies, world governments, and who else knows shown in the graph below.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYEPdTf7MqmXpkjGEvu074pgNBycAI1hMYyQCbOvmYOPCEdUk3udtZMUlcIUVq_CDPg7eHMPOSPRdiy-ClHv6sY_i-lIVv_NynswBYihhsVI-vw6HYIebK3ytyWPUEJ7AsSPltSIOt5k/s1600-h/Gas_prices.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267637085114900738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYEPdTf7MqmXpkjGEvu074pgNBycAI1hMYyQCbOvmYOPCEdUk3udtZMUlcIUVq_CDPg7eHMPOSPRdiy-ClHv6sY_i-lIVv_NynswBYihhsVI-vw6HYIebK3ytyWPUEJ7AsSPltSIOt5k/s320/Gas_prices.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I saw the price of unleaded at $5.00/gal early last summer, yesterday I filled up for $2.44 and a colleague said they recently filled up their tank for less than $2 a gallon. Over a year and half the gas prices rose 150%. And within the last 7 months they decreased the same amount. I wonder why our loyal reporters don't call out for answers to this highway robbery and corruption in the gas price debacle? Probably because there would be no truth in their investigations! I have my theories about what happened, but I won't get into the details. The bottom line, is <strong>WE GOT RIPPED OFF!!!</strong></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Pull your head out!!! </div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-5017572191809998742008-10-19T20:07:00.000-07:002008-10-19T22:06:50.655-07:00THE BIG PROJECT<div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw4143FC0LPDudpRv2odrq_O_BTM0k3Q4ArPmdGq3kfDHScUduS7yUUqSzMQykUxniRmdQAdrsyha4Spqr8rREDbEReFpkg4DDZK1fnX180Y6wxW_IS7MswMRISCf0VC6zr9T9FvkIu4/s1600-h/DSCF0438.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259068913842450706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw4143FC0LPDudpRv2odrq_O_BTM0k3Q4ArPmdGq3kfDHScUduS7yUUqSzMQykUxniRmdQAdrsyha4Spqr8rREDbEReFpkg4DDZK1fnX180Y6wxW_IS7MswMRISCf0VC6zr9T9FvkIu4/s320/DSCF0438.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">On October 10th I went to visit my old jobsite. The Colorado River Bridge being built just downstream of Hoover Dam. You can see all the details about the project at <a href="http://www.hooverdambypass.org/">http://www.hooverdambypass.org/</a> A great website to see construction photos, live webcams of the project and how the arch is being constructed. </div></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259075967287472018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHC84vcoi_K1iRxwGdxci2qOYmuaOEO7Ridp2aawZ2S3ZNibsUvR7boVHVWulElYvmjNA4xrnfe99BWB7gYI3rBSoRXuSPDdqNRJG_15xrdTxCTVNPPlVP02T-Uyo6FqshEEqvUzKrdUE/s320/pano2+(2).JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259070207792352674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBenw7g3XbLM2rKxDTB0qIbqYq93KyHpy4nsB05-VOluwRVV8-_tGmxqRHHYHH04twaEXMN9nzJej9ypUfDZO6pBKWCbrj0SjDUQhj7pEUy_vjX6RPP7Z_wanwl1-0k8WcRTjWQpcvz3o/s320/DSCF0406.jpg" border="0" />Here is the arch under construction, it is being cast in place with the form travelers seen in the pictures. As the arch is constructed segment by segment, a stay cable is attached from a supporting tower above. You can see the first stay cable attached to the arch in the picture. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259071391275316530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlC5WiVcZBnWhnM3aUFVgLvEekacstDS4eBkjC7gBcOqZb4E8D3K_k-yWehfV5hNPUPyS_c2mr516QPz2usS0sOgxusG35-WXiirTrPkTRbkvJPCNUCZMxZxpHhZKUyDCR6TUdIdunDg/s320/DSCF0423.jpg" border="0" />Another view of the arch, looking straight down at the arch from the bridge deck above.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259096247966474802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMqLAveM95kB2kI915lrPdZYj99AfCoLlU9ZcGycb6kQxP7YZCikPNuTVQSctxmFmXNLg2tBqzify5j28HxxRngLXOEpEkjuxw5gqdTA8EKn-C0qfIL7KeNFLsy6NhfLupdAWeYq9sqs/s320/C-FHWA-003-1049_lowrez.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259094612509953746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y_DpEb2i4XWZt4oUSsn7Fc5ifhCkkrFcl78oL0RSkqCY_xGO2f495aQFO_NKcGj0lM5fX_-DxbQZRc1aCoPXC0xbG4zWLhWV6Y8mi_WPzcmuIViuhgyc1Qm1YsZExeUVk1CFfH3Gr6w/s320/CO_RiverBridge_cable_supports(rendering).jpg" border="0" />The schematic above shows how the arch will be constructed. Note that all the cables and their supports (towers above the deck) will be removed once the arch has been connected in the center. The arch from cliff to cliff is 1040 feet. The bridge deck is approximately 900 feet above the river below. Yes there will be a pedestrian walkway out to the center of the bridge. </div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259079672946652802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRT5pBtHJfR0bp6SyK0rfUI2T7SE1bcIr9usgHhoPiGfLcbunRIhnOFllp3sBmQY2SXKhY0siP_WcRL8LB1136Fzf-Z3YJLqVdTW9NOHWBnHjpdp1X0fwHR7gUo19lfTzASW6uKW9To2s/s320/IMG_3886.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="justify">A couple steel workers and an engineer. What a magnificent project in the shadows of the historical Hoover Dam. I really enjoyed the 2 years that I spent working on this bridge. It will be the 4th longest concrete arch bridge in the world when it is finished. It is because of the bigger picture that I decided to discontinue working on this big project. I don't regret that decision one bit! What an awesome project!!!</p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-33483175848067773132008-09-18T20:57:00.000-07:002008-09-19T00:21:31.421-07:00MONEY, That's the problem!!!<div align="justify">I find it funny that the Presidential candidates are now turning to the financial crisis that America is experiencing and each candidate is promising to be the hero of our financial crisis. Just the week before each candidate was promising to rescue every person from Hurricane IKE. </div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">No matter the issue or topic especially the one that the country is dealing with, the new President is promising to be our hero, whether it be: Education, Health Care, Abortion, Economy, Taxes, Social Security, Gun Control, Drugs, Civil Rights, Jobs, Energy & Oil, War, or Foreign Policy. No matter the issue/problem they are going to promise to fix it and say whatever it takes to get them to the oval office. </div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Then what happens, they made thousands of empty promises and are any fulfilled? Are any of these promises that they made over certain issuse solved. Do we remmber any one President for making the US better regarding one of these issues, if so, why are there all these issues that we are still dealing with?</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I don't want to sound like a ungrateful citizen because I do love this country, I just periodically wonder if we are heading in the best direction?</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I believe it all comes down to money. Sure this is easy to say now with today's headlines, but those that know me, know that this has been my number one issue regarding the US government and how they handle themselves. It seems that each candidate in the past, foremost at election time, tip toe around the national debt issue becasue it has become too big for them to solve the problem. And it is a HUGE PROBLEM!</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Check out the following sobering link for the national debt clock:</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.deficitsdomatter.org/index.html">http://www.deficitsdomatter.org/index.html</a></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">At the time of this post, the national debt is $9,650,033,000,000.00 That is 9.65 Trillion dollars which is equal to 9,650 Billion dollars or 9,650,000 million dollars. (basically 9.65 million million dollars, if that makes sense to you). </div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">See a problem yet? If you don't you should realize that each year the US government (with our taxpaying dollars) pays over 300 billion dollars in INTEREST on our national debt (money that goes down the drain). In 2006 that payment was over 406 billion dollars. We spend about 61 billion on education, and 56 billion on transportation, nice comparison to money that we send down the tube huh! (<a href="http://www.federalbudget.com/">http://www.federalbudget.com/</a>)</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The recent government intervention for Fanni Mae and Freddie Mac along with AIG and Merril Lynch all puts the brunt of these financial rescues on the taxpayer. What message are we sending to citizens anyways? We let these huge companies that have many high end salaried workers screw up and we forgive them and bouy them up by placing the cost on the taxpayer. That is very nice for these people I will admit, but it appears we are over the edge.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Next time I go to the bankrupt court for not paying my $51 water bill, I will suggest to the court that we have the government interceed and have the 240+ million Americans flip the bill. No wonder the DOW is plunging 500 points a day!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Why should I even have a 401K?</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I came across a website that actually has a documentary film that came out August 2008 called I.O.U.S.A. It is a documentary about the financial "CRISIS" of the United States of America. I would love to see the movie but it has only come to select cities thus far. I recommend watching the trailer at the following site: <a href="http://www.agorafinancial.com/iousa.html">http://www.agorafinancial.com/iousa.html</a></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I do not like the fact that our government is leveraging against the taxpayer's future and the taxpayer's childrens futures as well. There inappropriate leveraging will be paid by me and my kids and grandkids. The government should lead by example, then maybe the citizens might start saving more than they spend! Could our government even imagine being debt free? Is it attainable?</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Some worry that other countries we lend money from might someday own America! Then what? We go to war because we won't pay our debtors because we can't keep our credit cards in our pockets? To see who owns a percentage of America visit the following link: <a href="http://www.ustreas.gov/tic/mfh.txt">http://www.ustreas.gov/tic/mfh.txt</a></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">With all this in mind and the upcoming elections on the line I can't help but realize what the past democratic president did to the national debt when he took office in 1992. If Obama can do what Clinton did to the national budget than he has my vote.<br /></div><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247611184809148930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEyQCH8uHbXM1CCEoEQrshdSH6AdNQKNvT8Rn0FmkdWx_-g3psnp3y26nF5oAXDR5cEfveYXIb8LF1W_iRtvejU3Mmc6p4MZVfEo0VHar086i4p6QCCeKsRE6nCQEZ-rHdNNPjsOLMYs/s320/US+Debt+Chart.png" border="0" /> <div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em>Note that the national debt actually began to reverse under the Clinton administration.</em> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I will leave you with the following quotation from a news report titled "Global Agenda: Armageddon"</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">"It is actually possible to make a valid case for each of the decisions taken by Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed Chairman Bernanke (and rubber-stamped by Mr. President) over the course of the debt crisis, since it began in July 2007. But taken together, they show a consistent pattern of: a) being reactive rather than <a class="IL_LINK_STYLE" style="COLOR: #990000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #990000 1px solid; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="javascript:void(0)">proactive</a>; b) acting in a sporadic manner, without having thought through what their wider implications were; c) the absence of an overall plan to address the widening, deepening and intensifying crisis; d) failing to communicate effectively with either the markets (Wall Street) or the general public (Main Street) - let alone the wider global community"</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong>May we all strive to be proactive about our own personal debts and strive to make good financial decisions!!!</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong>Pull Your Head Out.....</strong></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228632045976451676.post-68543960432114527692008-09-07T21:17:00.000-07:002008-09-07T21:47:14.387-07:00THE BIG PICTUREThe Blog Begins....<br /><br />Do you ever think that you pay attention to too many details? That your head is focused on only one thing at a time, or maybe you seek to complete only one thing each day. Well, that may be, so I begin this blog with "the big picture" in mind.<br /><br />I think there are times in ones life when they need to pull their head out of the details and take a sniff of fresh air and remember the big picture of this life. I can even remember a few people along the path of life telling me to pull my head out. A father, a brother, a financial anaylst, Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. Either way, I think we all need this once in a while.<br /><br />So hopefully this blog may enlighten or ridicule: ideas, thougts, theories, concepts, to that end.<br /><br />If your lucky I may add a new post each week. Or more than likely this blog thing may be similar to my past attempts to start a journal. Such a journal entry may read, wow I can't believe it's been 6 months since my last post.<br /><br />So until next time, Pull Your Head Out!!!!<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIF9NJq6TB1hYPPx8cwsHoFAYm7_Fdgz7QOA2uWOlMg4Sth8XmNTJzBuVQ2vmPpaQOhlLa8o1BL-53qSPEY07K2wCVTuVUolATUhmfNuFFHpH1te6gdBqtrn7mBhUgJ9Fr3R1hNR5z64/s1600-h/ostrichheadinsand_small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243506566918614594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIF9NJq6TB1hYPPx8cwsHoFAYm7_Fdgz7QOA2uWOlMg4Sth8XmNTJzBuVQ2vmPpaQOhlLa8o1BL-53qSPEY07K2wCVTuVUolATUhmfNuFFHpH1te6gdBqtrn7mBhUgJ9Fr3R1hNR5z64/s320/ostrichheadinsand_small.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14453876999062112148noreply@blogger.com1