Interesting links

$98 billion in improper payments in 2009. That's about $650 per taxpayer.

Now's probably not the time to jump back into the market.

What are the odds of recovery?

Don't forget we're still paying for two wars.

Tomorrow I am off for the "North Carolina Mountain Bubba Buddies," what our womenfolk call "Man Fest." A weekend retreat with the guys, an annual tradition that's been going on for 30 years among my father-in-law's friends. He has some venerable colleagues and over the years the next generation have made our way to the retreat. We gather at an old, uninsulated cabin in the woods of North Wilkesboro. We play cards, drink too much, tell stories, and shoot guns. I figure this will be good practice for the post-apocalyptic days not too far hence.


After a couple days of this he and I will head to Maggie Valley to meet Bri & Tassie for some civilization and warm food.

finance and investments

I continue to read daily on finance, investments, broad based global macro economics, and sector specific stuff. Here is a summary:

-Buy stocks, they only go up
-Sell stocks, they are overvalued and earnings are inflated, accounting is fraudulent
-Japan is going to have all sorts of problems
-The US is going to default
-The US will lead the world out of the economic doldrums
-Buy gold it is a hedge on inflation/deflation/systemic failure
-Don't buy gold, it has no yield or inherent value
-Buy commodities, the world will be starving soon because of taking various production offline
-Don't buy commodities, they are manipulated by the shadow empire
-Diversify to smooth out your risk
-Diversification is for idiots and fools
-Real estate is expecting a new wave of bankruptcy and defaults
-Now is the time to buy a new home!

There you go. You're ready to take on the world of high finance.

I just sent out our Q3 checks to the IRS and NCDOR. Here is a visual display.