Studies

Studies for the NASD 6-3 continue:

"These instruments must meet the four-pronged test of the Howey decision. For example, interests in farm animals must represent an investment of money in a common effort of others (the breeder or trainer) to realize a profit from the sale of the animals. A farmer's direct ownsership of a cow is not a security - it is a cow."

Ohh, that cracks me up everytime.

It Wouldn't Surprise Me

It wouldn't surprise me if after a year into the presidential campaign, the frontrunners in each party (Clinton and Obama, McCain and Guiliani) so mortally bludgeon each other that a dark horse emerges from the outside with 9-12 months before the elections.

Lunchmeat

So, I went shopping a few days ago to Super G and not only did they move the deli counter, but they no longer carry my favorite item: Dietz and Watson premium turkey breast. It seems that Boar's Head is taking over the universe so I gave it a try. I got their turkey and it's actually quite good so all is not lost. I get tired of lunchmeat after about one day though. I used to order 1/4 pound at a time, but I kept getting strange looks and snide response from the deli servers. Now I order 1/2 pound at a time. I wish I liked the taste of food more than I do.

Digital Imagery

Okay, so I finally broke down and joined the other 90% of Americans who have a digital camera. I have wanted a Canon Elph since my Indonesia trip in '05 when my teammate took the most amazing pictures with hers. Today, my dream came true. The only bad thing is that I really do suck with technology, and it's probably going to take me about six months to figure everything out.

Back in the day, Mrs. Bean had requested shots of my new pad. I have accommodated.

Super Serious Steve . . .

Not So Serious Steve . . .

Song of the Day: Audioslave - Like A Stone

This is a dreadful day in rock music. Chris Cornell announced he is leaving Audioslave. Dang it, just when there was finally a band out there making some solid rock music.

Financial Tips For The Newly Employed

I came across this helpful article at Morningstar. Enjoy.

Safari Story

A wealthy old lady decides to go on a photo safari in Africa , taking her faithful aged poodle named Cuddles, along for the company. One day the poodle starts chasing butterflies and before long, Cuddles discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch. The old poodle thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!" Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap the old poodle exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?" Hearing this, the young leopard halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. "Whew!", says the leopard, "That was close! That old poodle nearly had me!" Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he goes, but the old poodle sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up. The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard. The young leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine! Now, the old poodle sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?", but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old poodle says. "Where's that damn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!

Moral of this story.... Don't mess with old farts...age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill! BS and brilliance only come with age and experience.

Something Positive From Obama

I am starting to like Obama for the same reason that I like Gingrich. He seems to genuinely want to find solutions to the problems and issues at hand. And he's even willing to piss off the media to make that point which I think is fantastic. As excerpted from the article linked above, Barrack noted

"a theme out there in the mainstream media" that he emphasized rhetoric at the
expense of policy specifics. He said there were plenty of specifics in his books
and his Iraq plan, "The substance is out there," he said, "but that's not what's
been reported. What's been reported is how I look in a bathing suit." Ouch.Then,
at the end of the presser, Obama squatted down next to three student reporters
and answered a question about the No Child Left Behind bill. He answered well,
in detail and without patronizing the kids. Then he looked up at the rest of us
and said, "Take some notes guys. That's how you do it."

Prophecy

I came across this startling passage tonight: "an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or Me" (John16:2,3). This passage has a sadly contemporary feel to it, perhaps most notably in the rise of Islamic Extremism.

Song of the Day: Evanescence - My Immortal

Beautiful, heartfelt song, amazing vocals and a pretty cool black and white video.

More Monkeys

Oh, this cracks me up.

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

The last one is my favorite. I remember waiting for one of my accountants to turn in one of his long overdue reports, and when I went to see him at his desk he was playing Tetris on his cell phone. I really don't miss the place.

Remembering PFPC

This commercial came up during conversation at work the other day. I remember dying to get out of PFPC when this series of ads was playing. Oh, how I could relate. The clip with the sales chart is the best.

Song of the Day: Dashboard Confessional - Screaming Infidelities

Another great song from a few years ago. Kudos to Brianna for having this CD (well, at least the CD case) around at her party awhile back.

Minor annoyances

As I was driving today, a few things came to mind that fit into the category of minor annoyances:

1. Drivers who see no legitimate reason to slow down at all when roads are covered in snow, slush and ice. Extra credit to drivers in SUV's who see such conditions as reason to drive even more reckless.
2. Drivers who believe any presence of any form of wintery precipitation on roads mandates going no greater than 7 Mph.
3. Following the latter while being followed by the former.
4. Stopping at a red light when there is no cross traffic.

Song of the Day: Unwritten Law - Seeing Red

The video kind of sucks but I really like this song from a few years ago.

Fantasy Baseball

Okay, wait, I have found a way to be even more lame. For all my good friends who participated in my Swirve fantasy baseball league (may it rest in peace), I am trying a replacement this year. CBS has a free fantasy baseball league. Unlike Swirve, you have to choose your players in a draft format. I haven't exactly figured out how it all works yet, but I figured I would set it up anyways and see what happens. The league name is Lamponians and password is Kairos. I look forward to having a reason to still follow baseball after the Indians have been eliminated.

Commercials

I have reached a new low of lameness. Since I'm still on the mend physically I decided to stay in from the Super Bowl party. However, I do not have cable and so I couldn't watch the game from home either. I did however discover that I can just watch all of the Superbowl ads online. I'm not really sure why the ads get all the hype that they do. It's been years now since there have been consistently good ads during the superbowl. And keeping to form, most of these suck too.

Can't Get It Together

Do you ever go through phases when you know you're just not hitting on all cylinders? That's how I feel right now. Granted, I think part of that is because I am temporarily out of commission with a sinus infection, but it's been building. The apartment which has hitherto been kept in a rather immaculate state is now overflowing with dirty dishes. I have 707 messages in my e-mail inbox I need to reply to (literally). My neighbor yelled at me this afternoon for doing a rolling stop at the stop sign by my apartment building. I'm trying to study for an exam I can't schedule to take yet (NASD Series 6) so that I can then schedule to take my last CFP class. I was starting to get on a roll at the Y, but obviously I've been sidelined for the last few days. I missed a day and a half of work and will have a lot to catch up on when I get back. And I can only focus on something for a couple hours at a time before I feel an overwhelming compulsion to go back to sleep. I don't mean this so much as a complaint as an apology to anyone who has been negatively affected by my overarching subpar performance.

BVBC

Hey, did anyone else notice the church updated its website? Sweet! I like it.

Bumper Sticker of the Day

"When Jesus said love your enemies, I'm pretty sure he meant don't kill them."